Updated 11:59 a.m. ET, August 28, 2019

The British pound sterling fell sharply after British PM Boris Johnson announced he was asking for Parliament to be suspended from mid-September until mid-October ー a highly controversial move known as "progrogue" which was given formal approval by Queen Elizabeth II Wednesday.

Critics say the move is intended to keep MPs from avoiding a no-deal Brexit and plunged the British government into crisis once again, two months before a looming deadline. The surprise move drew immediate outrage from opposition leaders, and the leader of the Liberal Democrat party had even written to the queen in hopes of her witholding consent for the suspension.

At midday in London, the GBP was down 1 percent against the U.S dollar, a sign that investors once again believe the UK is increasingly likely to "crash out" of the European Union on October 31.

Johnson's plan would extend a previously planned suspension for political party conferences and would further shorten the time Parliament has to debate Brexit after it returns from its summer recess next week.

Other members of Parliament took to Twitter to express shock at the maneuver to keep Parliament from assembling.

An online petition to demand Parliament not be prorogued had received more than 300,000 signatures in a matter of hours. Meanwhile, word of organized protests spread across social media.

The news from London helped push Treasury yields lower in the U.S., which had already been under pressure over China trade tensions. The yield on the 30-year Treasury dripped below 2 percent ー a signal that the combination of geopolitical worries from London to Beijing is increasing the odds of a global recession.

Share:
More In Business
Gas Prices Take Up Large Share Of Retail Spending
Gas prices took up a big share of consumer spending in March. Retail sales climbed 0.5% from the previous month as Americans are forced to spend more money on food, gasoline, and other necessities. Kayla Bruun, Economic Analyst at Morning Consult, breaks down her outlook on consumer spending as prices continue to rise.
New York Auto Show Puts Big Focus on Electric Vehicles
Lisa Whalen, Automotive and Mobility Analyst at Morning Consult, joined Cheddar News' Closing Bell to break down the famed auto show's emphasis on electric vehicles this year, reflecting a shift toward electrification in the automotive industry.
Load More