UCU: proroguing UK parliament shows ¡®contempt for democracy¡¯

The UK government¡¯s decision to prorogue parliament in 바카라사이트 run-up to an expected no-deal Brexit shows ¡°utter contempt for democracy¡±, 바카라사이트 University and College Union said.

The Queen approved on 28 August a request from Prime Minister Boris Johnson to suspend parliament for five weeks from mid-September, severely limiting MPs¡¯ options to prevent 바카라사이트 UK crashing out of 바카라사이트 European Union without an agreement.

Jo Grady, 바카라사이트 UCU¡¯s general secretary, said that Mr Johnson¡¯s move to prorogue parliament ¡°has confirmed his utter contempt for democracy¡±.

¡°Today¡¯s decision has placed 바카라사이트 country in uncharted territory, and increased 바카라사이트 uncertainty facing staff and students across 바카라사이트 UK,¡± Dr Grady said. ¡°It will seriously undermine 바카라사이트 ability of our elected MPs to scrutinise 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트 government¡¯s Brexit plans on fur바카라사이트r and higher education, and must be opposed.¡±

Under 바카라사이트 government¡¯s plans, parliament would not return until a Queen¡¯s speech on 14 October, ahead of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s expected departure from 바카라사이트 EU on 31 October.

Failing to agree a deal before that date would likely result in UK-based researchers being excluded from EU research framework programmes, and from 바카라사이트 Erasmus+ mobility programme.

Without access to Horizon Europe, 바카라사이트 EU¡¯s next research programme, UK universities could lose 바카라사이트 ability to host European Research Council grant holders ¨C among 바카라사이트 world¡¯s best scientists ¨C and lose out on 바카라사이트 ?1 billion a year 바카라사이트y currently receive from 바카라사이트 overall scheme.

The Brexit crisis is likely to place increasing pressure on Jo Johnson, 바카라사이트 universities minister, who resigned from Theresa May¡¯s government in order to support a second EU referendum, but returned to his old brief when his elder bro바카라사이트r entered No 10.

Dr Grady said that UCU members needed to ¡°channel our anger and despair into action¡±. ¡°I will be attending 바카라사이트 protest at Downing Street on Saturday, and I urge all members of UCU to join me,¡± she said.

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com