He requested that the queen suspend Parliament in September, which will cut the number of days lawmakers have to find an alternative path ahead of the looming Brexit deadline on Oct. 31. She agreed, the government said.

Details: Parliament will start a new session on Oct. 14, leaving just over two weeks for lawmakers to fashion a deal with the E.U. to soften the exit. A departure without such terms could plunge the country into a recession, critics say. We have a calendar to show you key dates.

Why it matters: Any legislation developed in the two weeks in September before Parliament is suspended does not carry over to the new parliamentary session, meaning lawmakers would have to start from scratch. And a new session of Parliament begins with a speech by the queen setting out the government’s proposed legislation for the period, which is debated for days, eating up crucial time.

Reaction: The British pound fell on the news, and a “#StoptheCoup” hashtag began trending on Twitter as protesters gathered outside 10 Downing Street. An online petition on a government website, demanding that Parliament not be suspended while a Brexit deadline looms, had collected more than one million signatures by Wednesday evening.

Strategic moves: In the event of a general election, which seems likely, Mr. Johnson’s adamantly pro-Brexit stance will enable him to present himself as the champion of the people against a Parliament that has betrayed voters’ desire to leave the bloc.