Bitter Brexit divisions have resurfaced in Cumbria after Prime Minister Boris Johnson controversially won royal approval to suspend Parliament.

One of the first MPs to publicly back the move was Carlisle’s John Stevenson, who said it would help focus minds - both in Europe and in the Commons and potentially break the UK’s Brexit deadlock. 

Penrith and the Border MP Rory Stewart tweeted a video saying he was against suspension, but he suggested it would not stop MPs  blocking a no-deal Brexit.

Meanwhile, one left wing union activist from Carlisle said that while he was uncomfortable with the suspension of Parliament he felt it may deliver the UK’s democratic referendum decision of 2016.

“He’s done nothing unconstitutional,” said Mr Stevenson, commenting on Boris Johnson’s decision to suspend - or prorogue Parliament, which was approved by The Queen yesterday.

“Parliament has already passed legislation which allows us to leave the EU with no deal. MPs voted to invoke Article 50 and voted through the Withdrawal Bill

“Any intelligent person will realise the existing [Withdrawal] deal is a non-starter. This will get a lot of the distractions out of the way: Europe will now realise that we either strike a deal, or it’s no-deal. It’s a bold move, which tries to clear away the distractions.”

Mr Stevenson, who would prefer to leave the EU with a deal, said he believed Mr Johnson probably aims to use the suspension to show Europe that all sides now urgently need to work towards an amended withdrawal deal that addresses the issue of the Irish backstop so it can command majority support in Parliament.

Rory Stewart said the key issue was ensuring Parliament consents to whatever Brexit is finally achieved.

Of the decision to suspend Parliament, he said: “It should not be used to prevent Parliament voting on a Brexit deal. 

“You need the consent of Parliament. We can use that week when we are back [in Parliament] to bring through legislation on a no-deal Brexit.

“I am confident we can stop a no-deal Brexit. I am in favour of Brexit, but I want a moderate, sensible, pragmatic Brexit and I don’t believe a second referendum would be helpful. It would be divisive.”

Asked about the need to honour the referendum result, the MP added: “We do have to honour it, but we have to honour it responsibly. We have to honour it in a way that works. We have to keep being patient.” The MP said MPs should accept that the majority of people do not want a no-deal Brexit. 

“We have to find a compromise,” he added.

South Lakes Lib Dem MP Tim Farron was fiercely critical of Mr Johnson.
He said: “It’s a deliberate attempt to avoid any kind of democracy or scrutiny. We should be cancelling the conference recess so that we can hold the government to account. This looks very much like the Prime Minister is trying to hide from public scrutiny. It sets a very dangerous precedent. It’s anti-democratic. It’s an attempt to stop the government being scrutinised.”

Workington MP Sue Hayman was scathing about Boris Johnson’s decision.
“I’m appalled,” she said.

“We need to do something to move forward with Brexit, but not at the expense of cutting elected representatives out of the debate, which is what proroguing Parliament  will do.”

She said the suspension of Parliament in the way planned had not been done since Victorian times and it would prevent MPs from debating the most important issue that the country now faces. 

Craig Johnston, a full-time official with the rail workers RMT union, said: “It’s a big step to prorogue Parliament and it would seem that this is being used as a tactic by the Government. I’m no royalist, but it’s wrong for Boris Johnson to put the Queen in this position. But Parliament brought this [situation] on itself. “The people of this country took a decision [in 2016] that we would leave the European Union

Told that Mr Stevenson supported Mr Johnson, arguing that suspending Parliament may ensure MPs honour the 2016 referendum result, Mr Johnston said: “There was nothing said about leaving with a deal or without a deal.”

He sympathised with the view that the Prime Minister was now simply trying to break the Brexit impasse and finally enact the will of referendum voters. 

He added: “We’re in the middle of a constitutional crisis and our MPs have just had a massive summer holiday of the kind that most people can only dream of. I’m amazed I’m on the same side as John Stevenson.”