Queen 'didn't debate' Boris Johnson's request to shut down Parliament

The Queen did not question Boris Johnson's request to shut down Parliament - and realistically would not have been able to, a top Tory has said.

Jacob Rees-Mogg , the Lord President of the Privy Council, said there was "no chat, no debate" after he flew to Balmoral to make the request yesterday.

He added: "The Queen says 'approved'. That’s it."

Mr Rees-Mogg spoke after Her Majesty approved the PM's request to suspend Parliament from September 12 to October 14, just weeks before Brexit .

Some suggested the Queen should have blocked the 'prorogation'. Labour MP Kate Osamor tweeted yesterday: "The. Queen. Did. Not. Save. Us."

But Labour MP Debbie Abrahams said: "Please do NOT blame the Queen. She had no choice. Blame the rogue who put her in that position."

Jacob Mr Rees-Mogg was one of three top Tories who met the Queen yesterday (Peter Summers)

Mr Rees-Mogg was one of three top Tories - along with the Lords leader and Chief Whip - who met the Queen to approve the decision yesterday lunchtime.

Their meeting of the Privy Council - which has a large membership of veteran MPs, only a few of whom meet the Queen at a time - came after a personal phone call to Her Majesty from Mr Johnson.

Explaining the process, Mr Rees-Mogg said: "What happens is that as Lord President I read out a statement as to what is to happen.

"So yesterday, for example, I read out that [Tory chairman] James Cleverly was to become a member of the Privy Council.

The Queen at the State Opening of Parliament (Getty Images)

"And the Queen says “approved”. That’s it. There is no chat, there’s no debate, it’s all held standing up. It’s a very formal process."

Asked if that meant the Queen just said "approved" to the request to prorogue Parliament, he said: "That’s absolutely right.

"It’s important that people understand this is a Prime Ministerial decision. It is not a decision of the sovereign and hasn’t been… the position of the sovereign of this reign."

Protesters have hit out at the decision to shut down the House of Commons (Ray Tang/REX)

Jeremy Corbyn wrote to the Queen yesterday requesting a meeting to discuss the "smash and grab on democracy".

But Mr Rees-Mogg claimed: "That would confuse the situation. The Queen is not in a position where she can pick and choose the advice she takes.

"Constitutionally she’s not allowed to do that. She cannot have any formal capital a Advice from anyone other than the Prime Minister."