‘It happens every year,’ UK minister says of suspending parliament

Ben Wallace's comments came during talks with his European Union counterparts. (File/AFP)
Updated 29 August 2019
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‘It happens every year,’ UK minister says of suspending parliament

  • The move sparked outrage in Britain

HELSINKI: Britain’s defense secretary Ben Wallace said on Thursday that the suspension of parliament is an annual occurrence, as he arrived in Helsinki for talks with his European Union counterparts.
“It happens every year,” Wallace told reporters when asked about the government’s controversial move on Wednesday to prorogue parliament.

Related: Court bids launched to stop Johnson suspending UK parliament

The move has sparked outrage among opposition lawmakers and many others in Britain, and led to a sharp weakening in sterling as it was seen as increasing the risk of a no-deal Brexit.


Ukraine anti-corruption agency tries to raid parliament

Updated 3 sec ago
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Ukraine anti-corruption agency tries to raid parliament

KYIV: Ukraine’s anti-corruption agency said security services were preventing officers from raiding the parliament on Saturday, as the investigators said some MPs were implicated in new graft probe.
“NABU and SAPO, following an undercover operation, exposed an organized criminal group that included current members of parliament,” the National Anti-Corruption bureau (NABU) said.
“Employees of the State Security Department are resisting NABU officers during investigative actions in committees of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine,” it added, referring to Ukraine’s parliament, the Verkhovna Rada.