The Conservative party opposes any delay in our exit

Last night just 133 Conservative MPs supported a motion to delay our exit beyond this week. 98 of us voted against and another 77 abstained. Those unwilling to vote for the delay included 4 Cabinet Ministers and senior whips! They were given permission to miss the vote, presumably because they had no wish to vote for it. Many of those abstaining were clearly in and around the Commons chamber, so they could have voted if they wished. When we had a free vote on delay 188 Conservative MPs voted against and 12 abstained, despite the Prime Minister leading the forces for delay in the division lobbies. In the country opposition to delay within the party is even greater.

The Prime Minister has not made a good case for delay. She has enjoyed almost three years in office to reach an Agreement with the EU that the Conservative party with its allies the DUP can support, or to leave without a Withdrawal Agreement. She always promised us No deal was better than a bad deal. The only sensible answer now is for her to lead us out with no Withdrawal Agreement this week. Why should the EU believe she can get agreement to their Withdrawal Agreement in the next few weeks when she has failed to do so ever since the Chequers policy? That policy about turn led to so much anger and so many resignations from the government and Conservative party senior posts and should lead her to drop it and get on with leaving.

185 Comments

  1. Everhopeful
    April 10, 2019

    Oh please…PLEASE keep saying that.
    Very,very LOUDLY.
    Leave Friday. No Deal!!!

    1. Peter Wood
      April 10, 2019

      The ONLY way to leave on Friday is to remove Mrs. May. She will not go voluntarily/honourably, so she must be evicted. With that bunch of ethics-free, cowardly, hand-wringers we have in the cabinet, that seems unlikely, sad to say.

      1. Hope
        April 10, 2019

        Tories were whipped against its own policy! How embarrassing is that! Regulate more, censure more, snoop more and tax more. May wants to tell you what to think! Traitor May now blaming everyone for not leaving on 29/03/2019! At Brussels she says the U.K. Will leave as soon as possible. So no date just accept what she is given! The UK could leave Friday if not for her. Fact. Call the doctors she needs help.

        I note Idiot Hinds states it is for teachers to decide what they teach on LGBT to infants not parents! NO. Parents will teach morals values and beliefs of their choosing and at what appropriate age not the State.

        1. Hope
          April 11, 2019

          “As Prime Minister I am not prepared to delay Brexit any further than 30th June.” Anoth day another lie.

      2. John Struan Robertson
        April 10, 2019

        The only way to leave is to vote in a Brexit Party. The Conservatives an Europhile party.

    2. Merlin
      April 10, 2019

      Oh please … respect what we were promised at the time of the referendum and the leaflet.

      We want a deal. Seriously. Please do your job and negotiate in the interests of this country rather than sulking and walking away from the table. Because that’s what it looks like to me.

      1. Edward2
        April 10, 2019

        We voted to leave.
        The Withdrawal Agreement is not a deal Merlin.

      2. David Price
        April 11, 2019

        Neither the government nor Vote Leave promised a deal at the referendum and the WA is not a “deal”.

        You speak for no-one for yourself, certainly not for me – I do not want a trade deal with the EU.

    3. Richard
      April 10, 2019

      Martin Howe QC: “She has it in her power to walk away from the table in Brussels tomorrow, and thereby fulfill the pledges to deliver Brexit … If we do stay in the EU for an extended period, that will be the result of the voluntary act and decision of the Prime Minister, not forced upon her” https://lawyersforbritain.org/the-cooper-letwin-act-changes-nothing-theresa-may-is-free-to-reject-a-long-article-50-extension

  2. Alan Jutson
    April 10, 2019

    Quite honestly John I am beginning to actually lose the plot on what is happening right now given all of the various votes, motions, acts, bills etc.

    All I can see is that Most Mp’s do not seem to have a grasp on actual facts, and are running around like headless chickens.
    The fact that Liam Fox had to write a letter explaining exactly the way the EU Customs Union worked because so many Mp’s were confused, just about sums it up for me.

    For 3 years Mp’s have been arguing, debating, voting for motions, and it would appear most do not have a clue what the real facts are at all

    I wonder if many Mp’ actually understand what WTO terms are and how that operates.

    It sickens me to see our useless Prime Minister and others before her, going begging to the EU for anything.

    1. Chris
      April 10, 2019

      Alan Jutson, I am sure that there are many MPs who simly do not understand the WTO terms and that this is a prescribed route to follow should a negotiated deal not be reached. It is in fact a safety net for the country that is leaving. Those talking about “crashing”, “walking off a cliff” when referring to WTO merely display their ignorance.

      Yes, ignorance of the EU and its procedures and its legislation seems to be a real problem with regard to many of our current MPs. How on earth, for example, do large and powerful countries who use WTO rules manage? They haven’t crashed or plunged into the abyss. Can’t those apparently woefully ignorant MPs see that they look very stupid indeed to very many in the electorate.

  3. Colin Iles
    April 10, 2019

    “…and should lead her to drop it and get on with leaving.”
    But she is hell bent on remaining so this is very unlikely.
    The EU has bought her. Hook, line and sinker!

    1. Mitchel
      April 10, 2019

      Third para should read “whether or not we like it.”

    2. Hope
      April 10, 2019

      JR, absolute rubbish. Do not vote for any government legislation, urge Labour to a vote of no confidence. Abstain from all voting until she goes. Your defeatist approach is more to do with loyalty to party than nation.

  4. Sharon Jagger
    April 10, 2019

    As Jacob Rees Mogg said this week, it is Teresa May who is choosing not to let us leave on a managed WTO departure.

    Looking at Martin Howe’s piece in Brexit central this morning, there is nothing legally stopping us from leaving on Friday – apart from Teresa May (and who ever is encouraging her to try not to leave).

    All the while she is PM we will not leave under WTO rules!

    1. Lifelogic
      April 10, 2019

      Indeed. May and Hammond are the main Obstacles. They must be brought down before they waste even more £ billions by agreeing the delay.

      Also ways good to see ‘wimmin’ in high office said Theresa May just now. Not if they are totally useless, incompetent liars, cheats & traitors dear!

  5. Everhopeful
    April 10, 2019

    Not long after Referendum.
    Reported on social media that money had been set aside for E.U. elections.
    Dismissed as rubbish.
    Amazing how accurate “fake news” can be!

  6. Alan Jutson
    April 10, 2019

    Yep looks like we will be given another year to have the life sucked out of us.

    More business uncertainty, more delay before we have yet another 4 years of delay whilst we negotiate trade terms with stage 2 if we ever get that far.

    Is Parliament absolutely blind, can they not see what the EU are planning and doing to our once great Country ?

    Could anyone ever believe the utter chaos that is being caused by remain type politicians who simply have no courage, guts, vision or pride in our future and our sovereignty.

    I truly hope all of the main Parties suffer a complete and utter wipe out in the Council and European elections to be held shortly.

    1. Tad Davison
      April 10, 2019

      I absolutely and totally agree Alan!

      1. Hope
        April 10, 2019

        No, the Tories are I mean govnment not the opposition. You do not think Letwin is acting with cabinet support? This supports May position not to leave unless u dear servitude to return as a defeated nation. May is a traitor. You have to go by facts over the last three years, not her lies.

    2. Julie Dyson
      April 10, 2019

      On the “Every cloud…” side of things, an extension — if granted — also means no immediate revocation of A50 (which would be the PM’s most likely aim if denied an extension). This at least retains the chance of Mrs May being ‘encouraged’ to step down after impending disaster in both the local and EU elections, and therefore the chance of a proper Brexiteer taking the reins.

      In that event the Tory party will be forced to reevaluate its future: either back the new PM in full to reestablish strong government of the country and restore the faith of the electorate, or face certain ruination and years of sitting on the shadow benches while a dangerous Marxist runs roughshod over everything they’ve achieved while in government.

      In short: salvation for the Tory party is in a No Deal brexit. It’s only a matter of time before they come to accept it. An extension puts the odds back in our favour.

    3. Gary C
      April 10, 2019

      +1

  7. Oldrightie
    April 10, 2019

    Herr Gunter Verheugen, a past senior EU Commissioner is reported to have severely criticised the present Commissioners in their manner and approach to Brexit. Today Tusk made conciliatory similar remarks. meanwhile the dark forces of the liberal left, deep state hit squads begin to talk of a remain push to keep us trapped.
    The leave vote, MPs and 17,417,742 voters continue to be slated and marginalised as “far right” extremists. The full might of the global legacy bought and paid for media push these memes for all they’re worth. Democracy dies slowly. Mrs May a lead assassin.

    1. Mitchel
      April 10, 2019

      How nice to have “Big Sis” beamed into our homes earlier this week,letting us know we are going to have some of the tightest controls on the internet in the world!

  8. ian wragg
    April 10, 2019

    Why is it difficult to get rid of May. Instead of endless speeches, walk away and deny her the oxygen of your support.
    You are just as guilty as Hammond, Rudd etc. for not walking away from her. It’s no good saying you were elected for Conservative values when every action she take is counter too these.
    Are you willing to participate in the destruction of your party by giving your en dorsementn to May and her cohorts.

    Reply I have been voting against her Brexit scheme! There would not be more votes against it if I resigned from the Conservative party, but I would then lose my vote for the leadership of my party. I am sticking to my party’s promises at the last election so have no need to leave it.

    1. ian wragg
      April 10, 2019

      anyway, you have no say on the extension, Brussels will decide how long and on what terms. Government my aunt Fanny.

    2. Lifelogic
      April 10, 2019

      Sound Tories need to join the party now not leave it!

    3. James Bertram
      April 10, 2019

      Sir John, with respect, you have done a great job resisting the Remainers within your party – but the game has now changed. Only about 40 Tory MPs have remained honourable to the manifesto by refusing to do May’s bidding – they are the Real Torys. Your Conservative Party has abandoned its manifesto, and abandoned you. They take advantage of your loyalty so as to stay in power and so as to carry on with their skunk behaviour. Loyalty to the Wehrmacht would not be a moral reason to stay with such an organisation when the SS has taken control. Changing the Leader of your party will not be enough whilst all the rotten Remainers are part of your party. You need a clean sweep. True ‘Leave’ Tory MPs now need to resign the whip on masse, and fight the election as the Real Tory Party (I write more on this on today’s other thread/article).

      1. John Struan Robertson
        April 10, 2019

        Totally agree. Supporting a Europhile party is pointless.

    4. Helen Smith
      April 10, 2019

      Reply to reply, I trust you have written to Sir Graham Brady Sir John

    5. Ian wragg
      April 10, 2019

      But there won’t be a leadership election
      Another EU fanatic will be crowned.

      1. Lifelogic
        April 10, 2019

        Hopefully not Jeremy Hunt or Theresa in Trousers as his is know (TIT for short). Yet another PPE chap whose only talant seem to be that he is quite good at apologising profusely for the dire death causing NHS. Alas he did nothing much to sort the NHS stucture or funding out so it could actually work.

        1. Richard1
          April 10, 2019

          Not really fair. the job of a Tory health sec is to be an emollient ambassador to the medical unions and try to keep the nhs out of the headlines. It’s always and everywhere a vote loser for the Tories!

    6. The Prangwizard
      April 10, 2019

      I would say we are all judged by the company we keep. If I were to be in a club which turned against all I believed in and was led by a proven liar, I would leave.

      Anyone who does not oppose her is a supporter. Hiding behind the manifesto which the leader treats with contempt is cheap in the present circumstances.

      Reply I wish to change the direction of what is still my party, not to join some other party.

      1. Fedupsoutherner
        April 10, 2019

        Reply to reply. Good luck with that John. There aren’t enough honourable members of your party to change it. Your party is defunct and we could see it a long time ago when you should have got rid of May and most of the cabinet. Your party is an utter disgrace and that’s how much of the world sees it too.

      2. Mike Wilson
        April 10, 2019

        Your party is a disgrace and anti-democratic.

    7. Stred
      April 10, 2019

      JR. Your party has left you.

      1. Lifelogic
        April 10, 2019

        No the party will move towards JR and the sound wing. The members, reason and above all the voters will win out. The Libdim/EUphile wing will be pushed out eventually. Hopefully before we suffer under Corbyn.

        1. margaret howard
          April 10, 2019

          Lifelogic

          “No the party will move towards JR and the sound wing. ”

          Heaven help us if it does. I don’t want to live in a South American style banana republic.

          However, I feel confident that the British public have too much sense to fall for the kind of dangerous nonsense the members of the ERG stand for.

          1. Edward2
            April 11, 2019

            Strange that you think respecting the referendum vote to leave the EU is “dangerous nonsense”
            Read the leaflet Margaret
            “This is your decision
            We will respect what you decide.”
            The Withdrawal Agreement is not a deal and it is not leaving the EU.

      2. Jagman84
        April 10, 2019

        My thoughts entirely. It began to die when the coalition with the Lib Dems was brokered. Incidentally, with a certain Oliver Letwin an over-enthusiastic negotiator. Was it was his interest in the Liberals and the Fabians, during his time at Cambridge University that fuelled it?

    8. Andy
      April 10, 2019

      It is not difficult to get rid of her.

      She just needs to lose either a vote of confidence in the government called by the opppsition. Or a vote of confidence her leadership of the Conservatives – called by MPs.

      Mrs May has faced both in the last 4 months and has won both. What part of democracy are you struggling with?

      1. Edward2
        April 10, 2019

        The part where we vote to leave and MP’s refuse to obey us.
        You know Andy that part.

  9. Mark B
    April 10, 2019

    Dear Sir John

    You make many fine points but, what you, with respect, failed to observe, is that the PM is not in control of this process. It is in the control of the Civil Service and the EU.

    1. Tad Davison
      April 10, 2019

      Then it’s high bloody time we had a revolution and the people took back control!

      I wouldn’t trust the civil service to hang the washing out and make a decent job of it!

      As for the EU, one only has to take a look at the mess they’ve made of things to realise the UK ought to have no part of it.

      1. Mitchel
        April 10, 2019

        “I wouldn’t trust the civil service to hang the washing out….”

        Certainly not on the Siegfried line!!

      2. margaret howard
        April 10, 2019

        Tad

        “As for the EU, one only has to take a look at the mess they’ve made of things to realise the UK ought to have no part of it.”

        What sort of mess do you mean?

        From the rubble of WW2 the EU has become the world’s largest wealthiest economy whose trade power accounts for more than one-third of the world total!

        Nothing short of miraculous then that after centuries of wasted warfare they have managed to turn the EU into this great enterprise which is so successful that it was awarded the Nobel Peace Price in 2012.

        I remember the day in 1975 when we were finally admitted as one of the most joyful in my life.

        We must not allow a minority of people destroy the future of the many.

        EXIT BREXIT!

        1. Edward2
          April 11, 2019

          The EU only started in the 1990’s
          It is strange how in your mind Margaret, anything good is ascribed to the EU and anything bad is blamed on individual EU member nations.
          Huge recession austerity and high unemployment is due to individual nation’s fault for example.

        2. Alan Jutson
          April 11, 2019

          Margaret

          “the Eu has become the Worlds largest wealthiest economy” ?

          Take out Germany and the UK, and the other 26 combined are way, way behind many other Nations. take a good look at the debt figures.

          That is why they need us in, for our money and our Market !

          1. margaret howard
            April 11, 2019

            Alan

            “Take out Germany and the UK, and the other 26 combined are way, way behind many other Nations”

            Oh really? A quick check has revealed that its members contain the world’s 6th largest economies (France), Italy 8th, Spain 13th, Netherlands 17th, Sweden 16th, Denmark 15th, Poland 22nd etc etc.
            Contains the richest countries and the top three world tourist spots: France, Spain and Italy

            Added to that north European countries consistently top the world development index. The best places on earth in terms of governance, for women and children, caring states.

            It is the envy of the planet and most of the rest of the world would give up everything to join.

            Can you name another trading bloc with such a record?
            And you want to give it up?

        3. a-tracy
          April 11, 2019

          I’m sorry margaret but ‘exit brexit’ is just not on the cards, or is it? Even though this group of parliamentarians don’t want the sovereignty back in their hands, the majority say they still want to Brexit, a majority of them voted for Article 50 knowing the deadline.

          If they wish to now Revoke A50 they need to be honest with people or remainers are just going to completely melt down.

        4. Jiminyjim
          April 11, 2019

          Margaret, if you want to be taken seriously and not dismissed as a peddler of untruths, you’ll need to be more careful with your facts.
          In 1980, five years after the best day of your life, the EU’s share of global trade was just under 30%. It is now just over 15% and falling fast, most economists think it will halve again in the next 30 years. Please stop peddling stuff that is blatantly untrue.

        5. Tad Davison
          April 12, 2019

          I am deeply disappointed my reply to you of Thursday morning is still not published. I don’t like it when I am, for whatever reason, prevented from countering such blatant remainer nonsense that is aimed at me personally.

        6. Tad Davison
          April 12, 2019

          I am deeply disappointed my reply to you of Thursday morning is still not published. I don’t like it when I am, for whatever reason, prevented from countering such blatant remainer nonsense that is aimed at me personally.

    2. Stephen Priest
      April 10, 2019

      The Civil Service seems so politicised now I think the top level should be replaced whenever there’s a new administration, which I think is what happens in America.

      The same is true of the BBC. The licensed fee should be scrapped and the BBC should fund themselves however they see fit: adverts, non compulsory subscriptions, voluntary donations, sacking Gary Lineker.

      1. Lifelogic
        April 10, 2019

        Not just Gary Lineker they have loads of talentless dopes on £200K plus. When many people would do the job far better for less £25K. Cameron even appointed Lord Patton as Chair of Trustees. One of the early signs he was a wrong ‘un. I assume to ensure the BBC continued with its absurd line of propaganda on the EU, climate alarmism, magic money tree economics, lefty lunacy, PC drivel and the likes.

      2. Chris
        April 10, 2019

        Yes, SP, the swamp needs draining and swiftly.

  10. Duyfken
    April 10, 2019

    With appreciation for all that you have done, I note your sensible answer is for the PM to lead us out this week with no WA. Agreed of course, but she will not do this willingly. Do your colleagues and you have some cunning plan to force her?

    1. Lifelogic
      April 10, 2019

      Hopefully they do it will be a disaster if she gets her way.

    2. Tad Davison
      April 10, 2019

      JR’s colleagues might not have a cunning plan, but I bet the voting public has if she doesn’t take us out. Constituencies are up in arms at her continued pathetic leadership and indecision!

  11. Paul
    April 10, 2019

    You can oppose all you want but you don’t have the power to stop a delay and take us out this week. Decisions are made by a Remain-controlled parliament and a Remain PM. That is the problem. Why the Conservative party elected a Remainer to lead your party in the first place is the biggest gaffe in modern times. Did you not see this mess coming?

    1. Stred
      April 10, 2019

      She was chosen as the most duplicitous politician to stop real Brexit and follow the Norwegians in not really leaving or a reverse referendum, put in by the majority of Remainers in the party.

    2. Andy
      April 10, 2019

      If a leaver had led the Tories instead of Mrs May literally the only difference now would be the name of the person you are whining about.

      The problem is not Mrs May. The problem has always been that the great Brexit you were promised is undeliverable. The only Brexit deliverable is rubbish.

      You can change the people all you like. The facts will remain the same.

      1. Gordon Blear
        April 10, 2019

        Andy you need to check your perameters your opinion does not constitute fact!

      2. Edward2
        April 10, 2019

        We could have left ages ago if we had a PM who wanted too.
        But she is a remainer like you Andy and she has chosen more remainers as her cabinet and more remainers as her team to negotiate not leaving.

      3. David Price
        April 11, 2019

        So you admit and accept that remainers are responsible for this shambles. An important step forward in the process.

  12. Denis Cooper
    April 10, 2019

    I’m afraid that you’re living in the past, JR; the past before Theresa May took the advice of Jean-Claude Juncker and asked the country for her own mandate, and instead lost the small but adequate overall majority she had inherited from her predecessor when he deserted his post; and the past before it became clear that you and your ERG colleagues had made some fatal miscalculations, above all by assuming that as it has been written into the law of the land that we would leave the EU at 11 pm on March 29th 2019 then our opponents would have no choice but to allow that to happen as the default.

    1. Denis Cooper
      April 10, 2019

      … it had been written …

    2. Roy Grainger
      April 10, 2019

      But let’s say May had not called the election – what do you think she would have done with her small majority ? Answer: Exactly the same.

      1. Denis Cooper
        April 11, 2019

        She was the same person and she may well have done the same thing. The change was in the composition of the House of Commons and you should ask what the MPs elected in 2015 would have done if she had not held that unnecessary 2017 election and they had all still been there. For a start, the Tory government would not have been forced to depend on the DUP MPs for a majority, and so the Irish government would not have been given the same kind of opportunity to deprive the UK government of its majority by engineering a split. The tide started to turn against Brexit immediately after that disastrous election, as I detailed in several comments which our host has chosen to reject because they contained too many facts.

  13. Freeborn John
    April 10, 2019

    There is no good outcome with a Remainer in Downing Street and a remain dominated parliament. The conservatives need to elect a new brexiteer leader. And that leader needs to initiate deselections of Dominic Grieve, Oliver Letwin, Phillips lee and the others who have done so much to subvert the referendum result. If your party can’t deliver brexit then I don’t see it forming a majority government again. The anger over delay has to be sued to drive these changes. One of the mistakes May made was to dawdle in her nine months before triggering a50 so dissipating her authority over her own party to deliver on the referendum result. The EU and its backers in Westminster and the media are now relying on a long delay to remove time pressure to get any exit and ultimately to dispatch anger at the failure to deliver brexit. May has to go as soon as possible and new rules created in the Tory party to remove her. Action this day.

  14. Norman
    April 10, 2019

    I read your speech, and thought it was measured, sound in judgement and manifestly true. It showed us what COULD have been, and set in stark contrast the despicable and utterly perverse manner in which that wrecking Bill went through. Should that be the last word, it would spell the end of parliamentary democracy – in many ways, not undeserved, given the many ungodly trends endorsed by our representatives over recent years (yes, OUR representatives – so we are all involved) .
    But these bizarre events are a ‘SIGN THE TIMES’ – part of a pattern we see going on worldwide, on many fronts. Even as judgement and the final Antichrist system looms, the faithful God upon whose Word our noble Constitution was founded, always holds out in mercy – and that’s what many like me have been praying for these past 3 years. Whilst a few MPs are still ‘valiant for truth’, there’s still a little hope.

    1. Tad Davison
      April 10, 2019

      And that says much about the iniquitous and deplorably dishonest members of both houses of parliament who treat a sacred obligation to uphold the will of the people with such disdain. Less eloquent than your own post perhaps, but far more descriptive – they’re toe-rags!

  15. Tom Rogers
    April 10, 2019

    1. Any further delay must be taken as an implied revocation of the Article 50 notification, and as such, must be considered unlawful.

    2. I for one hope that Theresa May continues in office – she is destroying the Tory Party and she’s trying to take the Labour Party down with the ship too. Her actions may yet deliver a WTO Brexit, even bring down the EU itself.

  16. Dominic
    April 10, 2019

    Tusk recommends keeping the UK in the EU for another twelve months

    Who gave this runt the authority to dictate to the British people?

    A foreign politician telling the British people what the EU intends to do

    This is intolerable and unacceptable

    The arrogance. The temerity. The sheer, unadulterated hatred the EU now possesses for the British nation

    Who would the USA, Russia, Australia et al respond to such interference in domestic matters? Trump would kick this little pygmy back into his box

    Get us out of this EU now

    1. Stephen Priest
      April 10, 2019

      The good about not voting through her Withdrawal Agreement is that the betrayal in in full view.

      The Withdrawal Agreement would masked the betrayal. It is cunningly called “Theresa May’s Brexit Deal” the BBC, SKY

    2. Know-Dice
      April 10, 2019

      I think you will find that unless the UK changes the wording of the Withdrawal Act that we are tied to the EU Article 50 withdrawal date, which they can move and extend as they (the EU) wish…

      As was shown the 29th March was reliant on the EU not changing their date, a fatal flaw…

    3. Lifelogic
      April 10, 2019

      Who gave this runt the authority to dictate to the British people?

      Well – Heath, Wilson, Callaghan, Thatcher, Blair, Brown, Major, Cameron, May!

      “Lower Borrowing” May just said. Yet more lies from the appalling woman. Hammond is increasing the debt and this despite hugely high taxes and very poor services!

    4. Tad Davison
      April 10, 2019

      I absolutely agree with what you wrote (including the spelling mistake).

      1. matthu
        April 11, 2019

        10/10!

    5. Mitchel
      April 10, 2019

      We have been dictated to since c1942 and generally obediently fallen into line.Or doesn’t it count if it is the USA doing the dictating?

    6. Andy
      April 10, 2019

      The ERG did – by rejecting the only Brexit deal on the table.

      Mr Redwood and his friends have handed power to the EU.

      1. Edward2
        April 10, 2019

        The Withdrawal Agreement is not a deal.
        You realise that Andy and so do I.

    7. Steve
      April 10, 2019

      Dominic

      There’s quite a few of them doing that. Varadkar does a fair bit. He seems to think the UK should be trapped in a customs union just to make things easy for the North West EU territory Formerly Eire.

      Who does he think he is, and he should keep his nose out of our business.

      Same goes to Tusk, Barnier, Juncker and the rest of the mob.

      1. margaret howard
        April 10, 2019

        Steve

        “Who does he think he is, and he should keep his nose out of our business.”

        He is the Prime Minister of Ireland. As for keeping noses out of other countries’ business we have been interfering and exploiting his country for centuries.

        1. a-tracy
          April 11, 2019

          “we” have been interfering and exploiting his country for centuries.

          The majority of British people haven’t been interfering or exploiting his Country, just who are you accusing margaret? who precisely gained through exploitation and what exploits?
          The British have provided the section of Ireland that wanted it their independence with no strings, no costs or big bill to leave, we didn’t tie them in – in fact we did the opposite and gave them no strings attachment free movement and benefits entitlement and voting entitlement.

  17. Brigham
    April 10, 2019

    As I mentioned before, May has no honour. She will do anything to thwart Brexit. She should have been kicked out of office the moment she showed her hand, and a brexiteer replace her. All of the Tory party are still clinging on to the idea that she will do the right thing. Some hopes!!

    1. Denis Cooper
      April 10, 2019

      Misplaced loyalty.

  18. agricola
    April 10, 2019

    I am afraid May does not think logically or with any responsibility to the 17.4 million who voted to leave. Whatever she says you cannot trust a confirmed liar. She lied for two years up to Chequers when her subterfuge was blown. Her continued presence is an embarassment to the Conservative party and the United Kingdom. Why have you not consigned her to the back benches. Under Leave leadership we could actually get on with leaving. The Conservative party will pay the price in the coming local elections. Many good conservative councillors will pay the price of inaction in the removal of May. If we take part in EU parliamentary elections you will have to sub contract negative behaviour in that parliament to the Brexit Party. If May is still around at the next GE then anticipate the end of the Coservative Party. On the other side of the chamber Labour should not get complacent in anticipation of power. Traditional Labour voters are not big on anti semetism or Marxism. As many of them voted leave they will not gravitate to a party that has assisted in denying them leave. You in the HoC have much to answer for so rest assured you will be made to answer.

  19. BrianW
    April 10, 2019

    Just goes to show the voting of the Conservative party doesn’t count for diddly squat anymore with government or the EU who are not paying attention. So if Gov and the EU want to push UK down the road to an A50 extension for another year or two then that is what will happen despite what the Conservative party thinks or votes for.

    She will eventually get her WA through ok with the help of Corbyns Labour and then to round it off she will hold another peoples vote and that will be the end. Some stupid unicorns think it could be otherwise?

  20. a-tracy
    April 10, 2019

    Isn’t this headline misleading?

    The Conservative party voted ‘to delay our exit’ 133 to just 98 who voted against, 77 abstained.

    The Conservatives are not up to Brexit Sir John, perhaps these 175 should join with Labour MPs and revoke A50, it’s what they all want to do so why don’t they actually do it and stand by their decision.

    1. DaveM
      April 10, 2019

      My MP voted for a delay. Bye bye Nokes.

      1. Andy
        April 10, 2019

        She has a safe seat. Hard luck.

      2. Gary C
        April 10, 2019

        Unfortunately Hammond is my MP, fortunately I will be taking great pleasure in voting against him at every opportunity.

    2. Tad Davison
      April 10, 2019

      Confuse, muddle, and procrastination – it is a deliberate ploy and all designed to make people change their minds by grinding them down. My advice to all leavers is to hold fast and don’t accept a compromise.

      There is an election coming up which could be a measure of any given party’s popularity. Local elections are supposed to be about local issues, but any party with a poor track record in government might fare badly locally if the brand itself is tainted by the gross mishandling of a massively important decision upon which the people have already cast their vote.

      However, even the Tories have some good decent honourable people, so I advise potential local election voters to make enquiries of the candidates and what they actually stand for. If the reply on my doorstep to questions about their views on the EU is in the slightest way pro-EU or toward a soft Brexit, I would at that point let them know they have failed to get my vote. I would also make it known that I would do what I could to campaign against them. The opposite is also true.

      1. a-tracy
        April 12, 2019

        I’ve never seen anyone on my doorstep, just a leaflet saying the Tories wish to repair potholes and put back free parking to our dying and collapsing Town Centre! Not one candidate is interested in what I’m concerned about in my local area. They stopped area meetings when the Tories then Labour took over after abolishing a fabulous Borough council and replacing it with an out of area County Council who aren’t interested in secondary towns.

        If you vote Lib Dem they will say that’s a vote to remain.
        If you vote Labour they will say that’s a vote to remain.
        If you vote Tory they will say that’s a vote to support the Prime Minister and her pathetic BRINO deal she keeps trying to peddle.
        We have no other candidate to choose from.

  21. Roy Grainger
    April 10, 2019

    So some of you voted against, some voted for, and some perplexingly abstained. You see our problem John, if we vote Conservative we don’t know which of those three opposing views we’re supporting. That’s why in the local and EU elections we’re not voting Conservative at all, it’s the safest way.

    1. Dave Andrews
      April 10, 2019

      Vote for the person, not the party.

      1. a-tracy
        April 10, 2019

        Our national politicians need to make clear how this local election vote is to be interpreted before May or people just won’t know what to do and local Conservative councillors are going to get trounced through no fault of their own.

  22. oldtimer
    April 10, 2019

    I agree with your analysis and conclusion. But it seems Captain Queeg remains determined to keep gripping on to the wheel of state. This is causing untold reputational damage to the country, parliament and your party and actual financial damage to businesses that have invested and spent £millons in the expectation the UK would have left on the due date. Despite statements to the contrary, it suits the EU to grant the UK an extended delay (with restrictions) because it puts UK business and other interest securely in a box the UK cannot then open. The mess Mrs May has created is beyond belief.

  23. eeyore
    April 10, 2019

    I hope Mark Francois’ suggestion of an indicative confidence vote will be given serious thought. Even if it can’t get Mrs May out it will signal to the EU that she cannot deliver and is not a person they can do more business with.

  24. Caterpillar
    April 10, 2019

    The PM needs to clarify whether the U.K. is prepared for leaving with no W.A.. If the U.K. is not prepared she needs to state why it is not prepared and what else needs to be done and how long it will take (and what is being ramped up for Friday).

    Hopefully she will be asked and give full answers.

    If she avoids answering such a direct question then it is clear that she has neglected to prepare.

    1. Denis Cooper
      April 10, 2019

      This resignation letter of the minister most involved in the preparations is probably a better source:

      https://www.heatonharris.com/sites/www.heatonharris.com/files/2019-04/Resignation%20Letter.pdf

      He was on Sky News earlier saying much the same thing, that we and the other EU countries have now made enough preparations to minimise disruption.

    2. Chris
      April 10, 2019

      Apparently an anonymous civil servant has written that we are ready for a No Deal and that extensive preparations were made but this info has been kept this hidden from the public: from Owen Paterson twitter:
      OP “Further shocking claims from an anonymous Civil Servant. “It has long been No 10’s policy to conceal no-deal preparations from Parliament, the public and businesses alike…It is unclear whether even all ministers are aware of Brexit plans”

      See Briefings for Brexit:
      https://briefingsforbrexit.com/number-10-has-the-brexit-key/
      No 10 has the Brexit key. Written by a civil servant.
      “Britain has made extensive and detailed preparations to leave the EU under WTO rules – the so called ‘No Deal’. But much of this is being kept secret and even held up by Downing Street in order to frighten MPs and the country into supporting the Prime Minister’s discredited ‘deal’. MPs and even Ministers have been acting in a deliberately created information vacuum…”

      1. Stred
        April 11, 2019

        This is important evidence for the dismissal of the PM. If she and her civil service team have been deliberately hiding the preparation for leaving on WTO terms and her agreement to extension of A50 cancels legislation already passed, this amounts to misleading the HoC and the electorate. This should lead not only to the resignation of the PM but prosecution.

        1. Stred
          April 11, 2019

          Trustworthy MPs such as IDS and yourself should ask for a confidential interview with this loyal civil servant and others in order to gather evidence for the shenanigans of no 10 Downing Street and then confront May either by s leading article or in the Commons. What they have apparently done is to deliberately undermine the position of their country im order to benefit another, to which they owe more loyalty.

  25. Anthony
    April 10, 2019

    But she’s not going to. The only way to change this is through a general election. Brexiteers can only achieve their goals with a majority in parliament willing to vote for it. So the question becomes whether we should

    1. Accept this suboptimal brexit and then work towards that majority to achieve our goals
    or
    2. Hold the GE before exiting the EU formally, thereby risking the whole effort, with zero chance of a majority because until Brexit, of any sort, is done, the Tory party will not manage to establish and domestic policies with which to attract swing voters.

    1. Denis Cooper
      April 10, 2019

      Various adages such as half a loaf being better than none, and a bird in the hand being worth two in the bush, come to mind; but unfortunately I think it is now too late for the most determined members of the ERG, such as our host, to decide that they will try to avoid snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

      Replt The Withdrawal Agreement is not half a loaf, but is major delay in exit and signing up to a compeletely unacceptable EU Treaty

      1. Denis Cooper
        April 10, 2019

        I’d rather suffer that “major” delay than the alternative “infinite” delay which the eurofederalist majority in the House of Commons, including Theresa May, would be only too willing to inflict on us.

      2. Richard1
        April 10, 2019

        I agree with JR – the withdrawal agreement puts us in a worse position. It would be better to extend membership and re-negotiate. The whole concept of a ‘transition period’ was itself an EU/Continuity Remain device. Let’s extend for as long as needed, maybe even to Dec 20 – not that it’s up to the uk, and do a complete back to square one exercise with a new PM.

        1. Denis Cooper
          April 11, 2019

          “It would be better to extend membership and re-negotiate.”

          You must be joking. You really think that the EU would be prepared to negotiate better terms after we had shown our weakness by deciding to stay in? And do you not know that according to the ECJ the right to revoke an Article 50 notice is a unilateral right but not an unconditional unilateral right? Under their judgment you cannot decide to stay in the EU but expect to then start fresh negotiations to leave. If we revoke that will be forever, as good as.

      3. Richard
        April 10, 2019

        I agree with Sir John. The Subordination & Servitude WA Treaty is Remain with chains, no vote & no exit.

        1. Denis Cooper
          April 11, 2019

          Who told you that there is no exit?

          1. Stred
            April 12, 2019

            Lawyers for Britain and anonymous civil servants.

      4. James Brown
        April 10, 2019

        The option that the ERG had pushed everyone into is no leave. No deal is too much for parliament, remainers and undecided.

        133 conservative MPs voted for it / via the delay. Only 88 again. John wake up, you are the minority.

        1. Denis Cooper
          April 11, 2019

          Correct.

  26. Lifelogic
    April 10, 2019

    Exactly, as you say:- “The only sensible answer now is for her to lead us out with no Withdrawal Agreement this week.”

    Then for the appalling T May and (the highest and most idiotic taxes for 70 years) P Hammond to go.

    This is the only way to save many £billions, rescue the Country, the United Kingdom, the Conservative Party, to negotiate without a straight jacket on and to avoid Corbyn’s Venezuela. Also to reduce the wipeout in Local and EU elections.

    But given a decision May invariably takes totally the wrong path. We shall see if her record continues.

    Do not humiliate T May says Tusk (well she certainly needs no help at all in that department just nearly every other one).

    1. Lifelogic
      April 10, 2019

      Charles Walker MP just now “we cannot blame the Prime Minister for this situation” We most certainly can. Her failure to prepare properly for a WTO Brexit, dishonesty, incompetence, lack of vision, the election that she threw away, the extension(s?), her choice of Philip Hammond and the rest of the disasters are almost entirely her direct fault.

      Why on earth is she & he still in office?

  27. Richard1
    April 10, 2019

    We will know later today how long the extension will be – when the EU tells us. Conservative MPs who support Brexit then need to do what they should have done nearly 3 years ago – caucus around a specific, clear plan for Brexit. Maybe it’s EEA /EFTA minus the Irish backstop. The current situation where you and a few others say leave on Friday on WTO terms whilst eg Michael Gove and Liam Fox remain in govt while a customs union is discussed is a gift to Remain. I suggest you Also agree a sensible candidate for leader – there needs to be an immediate push to get rid of Mrs May. When we have a new PM let’s re-set, put a sensible proposal to the EU – but make clear it’s WTO exit at the end of the extension of we can’t agree it.

  28. Everhopeful
    April 10, 2019

    House is not sitting on Friday??
    Hasty rubber stamping of SIs to get delay command through tomorrow?
    The End?

    Reply The SIs are likely to be negative resolution.

    1. Carolyn
      April 10, 2019

      Exactly – when do Parliament get a say on, or the chance to debate and oppose whatever extension Theresa May is offered by the EU? For example any conditions that the EU might attach to the extension, which will inevitably cost the UK a great deal of money? Before the signing of any SI…
      Sounds like any extension is now already considered a done deal, if Parliament will conveniently not be sitting on Friday – which is of course also the default (‘exit-without-a-deal’) date. Ie, there is now no chance of us actually leaving on Friday…
      Your comments, Sir John?

  29. BR
    April 10, 2019

    You’re way too late for saying this – she’s already been to beg for an extension. use the time to get rid of her (to do that you have to fight fire with fire and abstain or vote against all domestic government business, including finance).

    To be honest, that’s less harmful than it sounds – a country does not need endless changes in the law. Parliament often seems to justify its own existence by debating endless legal change (height of postboxes – really??) when all we really need is a firm hand on the tiller, steady as she goes and deal with emergencies competently as they arise.

    So paralysing government business until May departs is probably, in reality, not a bad thing.

    Priority: MAY OUT!

  30. Everhopeful
    April 10, 2019

    I seriously believe that “they” are moving to abolish politics as we know them.
    There will be no pay back for this betrayal I bet. Because there will be no party politics.
    First they will ban UKIP and such like and then they will squeeze opinion in the main parties
    Supporting Brexit will be illegal.
    A one party state.

  31. Kevin
    April 10, 2019

    I have just read Bill Cash’s letter to Donald Tusk, and Andrea Jenkyns’ letter to Graham Brady.

    Thanks to all of you for your ongoing efforts.

  32. Lorna
    April 10, 2019

    A group of senior Party members need to take over from May now Any delay will,cause endless disruption and lack of confidence in our leaders .The situation is very serious
    A leadership contest undertaken in a hurry will not be good and lead to further disruption

  33. jac collier
    April 10, 2019

    Rather than a “Boris-lock” why not an “arm-lock” on this masquerader to put her out of No.10 and onto the street? When someone’s “church-going” goodness is constantly paraded it’s time to count the spoons. Her cuddle and “done it” facials with Macron on the front of today’s ” Telgraph” say more than ten thousand words. Once a “plant” always a “plant”. I am stomach- sick at the dismantling of our cherished democracy by this person and her EU/Remain cohorts. Her last “red line” will be a referendum re-run with “set-up” questions ( a people’s vote, a real Blairism, cf. the people’s princess).

  34. Remington Norman
    April 10, 2019

    Words, words, words. You and you colleagues failed to act to remove Theresa May. What remained of your credibility is now gone. The Tory party has broken every plank of its relationship with voters. The sooner it is consigned to the dustbin of history, the better.

  35. am
    April 10, 2019

    Testing time for the erg to find out if they are more for their party than Brexit. Why they would not cross the floor is difficult to understand. But in political revolutions there is usually a group people follow because they seem to be for them but in the end disappoint by not going all the way. This group is then swept aside by a group who will go all the way. This looks like the fate of the erg.

  36. hans christian ivers
    April 10, 2019

    John

    You are really beginning to sound like a worn record.

    There is not majority in Parliament to leave without a deal and you keep talking about leaving even if a majority, even if a majority (the one’s that voted) voted for a delay.

    Am I missing something or are you just not listening?

    Reply I am listening. The law says we leave on Friday. I am against changing that law. I am entitled to campaign to avoid changing that law. We will find out soon if the PM seeks to change that law without reference to Parliament, which she might of course do. That makes the position worse!

    1. Peter Parsons
      April 10, 2019

      You are indeed entitled to campaign to avoid changing that law, just as those who would like to see that law changed to something different are entitled to campaign for that.

    2. Steve
      April 10, 2019

      HCI

      Really, Hans, is there any need for you to post such disrespectful comments ?

      1. hans christian ivers
        April 11, 2019

        Steve,

        I am just trying to understand why, Sir JR, seem to be fighting against win-mills and a majority in Parliament

      2. margaret howard
        April 11, 2019

        Steve

        It makes a refreshing change from the brown nosing employed by some of the contributors here.

        1. Edward2
          April 11, 2019

          How rude margaret
          I thought you Greens were all PC and nice to others.

  37. agricola
    April 10, 2019

    If what you title says is true, why not combine with the UDP and in our anarchic Parliament vote through a legally binding bill to do no less.

    If not, assuming a stretching of Art 50, rid yourselves of T May and then get down to leaving in an orderly fashion. By this I mean a Leave PM and Cabinet. An edited WA to contain those items of real benefit to the EU and UK, no political or legal oversite by the ECJ. A proposed FTA for goods and services. A final closure date on which we leave with or without the agreement. An agreement to pay whatever we genuinely owe but only on finalisation of all the above.

    It is clear to me that this is what none political Germany would accept based on opinions and comment I have read. It ought to please the CBI and all in the HoC who can still think logically. So do it, first step get rid of May.

  38. Andy
    April 10, 2019

    In the 2017 election just over 40% of those who voted backed the Tories.

    This gave the Conservatives just over 310 MPs.

    Less than a third of these MPs voted against a delay.

    This means, between you, you represent about 13% of those who voted.

    In other words – what the ERG think is an irrelevance.

    1. Denis Cooper
      April 10, 2019

      32.2 million people voted in the 2017 general election, so 13% of that number would be about 4.2 million, who you dismiss as irrelevant.

      Meanwhile there is a petition with 6.1 million signatures calling for the Article 50 notice to be revoked; however it is not just UK citizens eligible to vote in general elections who can legitimately sign those petitions, but all UK residents of any nationality and indeed any age, if they have an email address; as there are 3.7 million EU nationals living in the UK it could be that fewer than 4.2 million UK citizens have signed it, so are those people also irrelevant in your view?

    2. Edward2
      April 10, 2019

      If the referendum vote was related to constituencies then leave voters would have a majority in Parliament of over 150.
      Your statistical spin is ridiculous Andy.
      We voted to leave nearly 3 years ago.
      Yet here we are today looking at another delay.

      1. Andy
        April 10, 2019

        The referendum was not carried out on a constituency basis. The results were not counted on a constituency basis. So your numbers are both irrelevant and a guess.

        1. Edward2
          April 11, 2019

          Bit like your numbers claiming we all now want to remain Andy.
          And he petition with widespread automation and duplicate voting.
          By people not eligible to vote in the UK.
          Similar voting rules exist in other EU countries.

          The referendum vote stands.
          The biggest turnout in the history of this nation.
          A majority voted to leave.
          No guesswork and very relevant.

    3. Glenn Vaughan
      April 10, 2019

      Andy

      UGH!

    4. a-tracy
      April 10, 2019

      Andy, you’re forgetting as in most of your beloved EU the Tories are in a majority with the DUP that’s how this coalition thing works – in Germany they call it a ‘Grand coalition’ CDU/CSU and the SPD . This is how you Europeans like your elections doing we are told this regularly by PVL and margaret. The DUP policy on the referendum was very similar to the Conservative and Unionist party.

      1. margaret howard
        April 11, 2019

        a-tracy

        “This is how you Europeans like your elections doing we are told this regularly by PVL and margaret.”

        You mean representative of the people? You prefer a system which literally amounts to a 2 party state with one party financed by the unions and the other by big businesses and the establishment.People like me have been disenfranchised after decades of voting. The chance of an independent or green getting elected are virtually nil. I would have to move.

        We live in an oligarchy and going backwards in time with the rich getting richer and the poor poorer. I believe we have among the poorest pensioners in the EU.

        “UK elderly fourth poorest in EU as third of British over-65s live in poverty… better than only Cyprus, Latvia and Estonia”

        and that is a headline in the DMail!

        But as I said, we have no voice in our ‘democracy’.

        1. a-tracy
          April 16, 2019

          I don’t prefer our system margaret. I believe whatever voting method ‘the people’ get what they are given not what they choose. Too many different factions in a ‘ruling clique’ and they all completely ignore their manifesto promises anyway.

          I believe I’ve read you say you’re a wealthy person with a child that went unconditionally to Oxbridge and attend dinner parties where people discuss nothing but their house prices. The dinner parties (we call dinner ‘Tea’ where I come from) I attend are the ones with the poor pensioners you just talk about, my parent’s pensions are a pittance, my friends are the waspi generation they should have been paying more attention when Labour in government was raising their pension age years ago.

          Why don’t you move? -or- Why don’t you run for election and change your area and give yourself a voice?

          Out of interest who do you believe are the oligarchy where power rests with a small number of people. I believe those small number of people are europhiles taking orders from Europe (not often always in Britains best interest) who do you think they are?

    5. Al
      April 10, 2019

      Except that many of those MPs from any party who voted for a delay were going against both their party’s manifesto and promises made at the time of the election, so they were not representing those who voted for them.

    6. forthurst
      April 10, 2019

      You are clearly assuming that the majority of Tory voters are traitors like you; do you have any evidence to support this?

    7. Dominic
      April 10, 2019

      What you think is of an irrelevance that transcends the very limits of the infinite

    8. Special K
      April 10, 2019

      See it from my perspective.

      In 2016 I’m on the winning side of a referendum in which the Government granting it defined leaving the EU as leaving the single market (see the leaflet.)

      In 2017 I voted on the winning side for a Government whose leader promised that Leave meant Leave (as per the 2016 definition.)

      How am I to feel now ?

      I’ve just ordered a prospective councillor off of my doorstep and I’ll do the same to any other who calls.

      Let the students vote from now on. All the responsible choices I’ve made in my adult life, paying my way and producing successful adult children obviously counts for nothing. And obviously my 1970s A levels and Chartered Institute Diploma is of less value than a Dance and Drama ‘degree’.

  39. gill9
    April 10, 2019

    get her out she is toxic

  40. davies
    April 10, 2019

    Given the duplicity of this PM, it is patently obvious to me that her whole strategy is/was based on getting a brexit in name with no upsides thus making it so bad that it would be better to rejoin at a later date.

    Based on this assumption why would anyone take anything said at face value? Given the resistance on so many levels the only way I can see this mess settled is a GE with a new PM and new mandate. The upside of an extension does give DEX Eu time to complete their projects, the downside being that more time is given to those plotting to overthrow the thing.

  41. A different Simon
    April 10, 2019

    I nearly threw up when I saw the picture of May and Macron kissing on the lips in this mornings paper .

    He has taken granny grabbing to a new low – again .

  42. Bryan Harris
    April 10, 2019

    It seems clear this woman is unwilling change her direction – Not for turning! No matter how good the arguments are against her. We should forget about trying to convince her, and the Tory remainers, and do something much more substantial.

    What about getting support for an emergency debate, along the lines; ‘IF THE UK STAYS ATTACHED TO THE EU IN ANY FORM, THE HOUSE SHOULD CONSIDER WHAT THIS MEANS TO BRITISH PEOPLE. THE EU HAS PLANS FOR THE FUTURE AND IT WOULD BE AN OPPORTUNE TIME FOR MP’S TO ELABORATE ON THEM AND EXPLAIN THEM TO EACH OTHER, AS WELL AS THE COUNTRY.

  43. LukeM
    April 10, 2019

    On and on you go even at this late hour ignoring reality, as if anyone gives two tosses about the Conservative party and how it votes..jeez give us a break

  44. formula57
    April 10, 2019

    A danger that arises is that in whichever manner the UK leaves, the quislings will carry on regardless and bind us to all kinds of Evil Empire foolery.

  45. mancunius
    April 10, 2019

    JR, you and your colleagues need to challenge May on her constant references to an ‘orderly/disorderly’ brexit. This is EU language (Merkel first used the phrase ages ago) and it is just another example of May deliberately internalising the remainer narrative that the UK cannot leave without acceding to the EU’s dreadful WA. We can, and must leave now, and it helps to create a national impetus to do so if MPs constantly point out how misleading and empty the term is, and how prepared we are – or would be if May implemented thye government’s Yellowhammer strategy.

  46. sm
    April 10, 2019

    I have just looked at the D Tel online. The main picture was of the Prime Minister, and underneath was the headline:

    “A black hole is seen for the first time, showing matter being sucked into timeless oblivion”.

    ‘Nuff said.

  47. Fred H
    April 10, 2019

    No one resigned from the Tories today. What a big mistake, if you and the ERG etc had all quit the party today, SHE would have been left adrift. How on earth could the EU offer more delay hoping she could bore the UK to death, and we would meekly accept staying in that dreadful unelected club.

  48. Andrew S
    April 10, 2019

    Except that with the betraytor tories and your new coalition partners you are massively outvoted.

  49. Captain Peacock
    April 10, 2019

    With great respect John this is all BS we are been betrayed and its the Tory party that’s doing it. How May was allowed to remain PM after the last election is plain to see now.

  50. PaulDirac
    April 10, 2019

    The main, primary problem is Calamity Theresa, she has no doubts about her way, she will not listen or take note of the consequences to the Conservative party of her actions.

    Calamity owns most of the blame for this mess and she will make it worse if given a chance.

    You (Conservative Brexiter MP’s) seem to be as helpless as we outside Parliament are.
    The most important issue now is the WA, or surrender deal – we must not sign it, whatever the immediate cost. The WA is the first move towards the breakup of the United Kingdom, no British patriot should vote for it.
    The second issue is the question of getting rid of Calamity, there MUST be a way, isn’t there?

  51. Ian
    April 10, 2019

    Dear John,
    It is right what they say above, this has been a rigged deck , any decent Tories should have left, or atleast kicked up hell when that woman gave you all her W A.
    Had you all jumped on her then and there , it should have been the end of that woman.

    As I have said before, you will all Be lumped in as serving in her Party.

    You said that we would be leaving on the 29/03, because it is written in LAW.
    NOW YOU SAY IT IS WRITTEN IN law for this Friday at 11 pm no doubt , we should believe again ?

    While your leader is still rubbing your faces in this filthy mess, you are not getting rid of her.

    Nothing will change without change, to think otherwise is madness.

    Our best chance of help could come from President Trump, he is are very best friend, non of you should look down your noses, just look how he has done with his Manifesto.

    He is what we need, not what we have got, and the Lords need sorting aswell.

    Nigel Farage, has been fighting for 25 years, that is my vote, and hope that the EU collapses.

    Have you yet noticed all the love and kisses your leader gets on the other side of the English Channel, you still believe your leader will get us out, she is one of the EU

  52. Steve
    April 10, 2019

    Should have got rid when we said, we did warn.

    Oh but wait, MP’s don’t see themselves as obliged to do as the electorate says.

  53. Peter VAN LEEUWEN
    April 10, 2019

    Dutch TV just showed how in Hook of Holland, extra lorry checks are already being applied, partly to finish the training for some of these 900+ extra custome officers recruited last year.

    We’re ready for all eventualities, it seems you’re not.

    1. Richard1
      April 10, 2019

      I hope the UK will not waste time and money checking lorries from Holland unless intelligence is received that some illegal activity is underway. Any filings needed – or tariffs due to be paid, (should the EU want to start a trade war) – can be handled remotely as now. It will be up to the authorities in the Netherlands whether they wish to incur the costs & delays – both to the public purse and to buyers of UK exports – by introducing gratuitously checks which are not needed. I suspect you might do it for a month or two and then quietly drop it and spend time and money on something more sensible.

      1. margaret howard
        April 11, 2019

        Richard1

        “(should the EU want to start a trade war)”

        We can only hope it wouldn’t be as damaging as our 3 ‘Cod Wars’ were against little Iceland over fishing disputes in the NAtlantic lasting from the 1950’s to the 70’s.

        Each of the disputes ended with an Icelandic victory. After the Third Cod War concluded in 1976, with another victory for Iceland we had to concede a 200-nautical-mile exclusive fishery zone after threats that Iceland would withdraw from NATO
        As a result, British fishing communities lost access to rich areas and were devastated, with thousands of jobs lost.

        So on our own against 27 other EU states we are certain to come off worse yet again. What short memories people have.

    2. Edward2
      April 10, 2019

      Oh well seems it is nearly time to move from Hook of Holland to a more flexible port.
      Plenty of alternatives.
      Or apply reciprocal arrangements on the stuff sent to us from Holland.

    3. a-tracy
      April 11, 2019

      Peter you have always seemed like a reasonable man to me, are you really wishing the threaten disruption to the UK on trade when we have extended and aren’t leaving yet?

      We hear every day now, Macron threatens this, Juncker threatens that, Verhosstadt threatens the other. Then the pumped up Varadkar whose Country is dependent on our trade in not just cheese and meat who seems to think he has a whip hand over us, (well he may have one over Mrs May). Brits I know aren’t taking kindly to this.

  54. What Tiler
    April 10, 2019

    If you oppose something, you vote against it, abstention is not opposition, indeed silence implies consent. The abstainers are pusillanimous weasels, yet strangely weasels with no backbone.

  55. Mike Wilson
    April 10, 2019

    Is there no limit to the humiliation you are going to allow this woman to heap upon us?

    Time to act. Time for you and colleagues in the ERG to threaten to resign the whip and become independent MPs unless she goes NOW.

  56. Mike Wilson
    April 10, 2019

    The government will implement what you decide!

    Yet, as soon as the referendum was over the government was promising parliament a ‘meaningful vote’. That’s where it all started to go wrong.

    Then allowing the EU to dictate terms happened.

    Nothing is agreed until everything is agreed

    BULL****!

    No deal is better than a bad deal.

    BULL****!

    The end of democracy – presented and implemented by the Conservative Party.

  57. L Jones
    April 10, 2019

    ”… should lead her to drop it….” Sir john, as you say.
    It ”should”? But WILL it?

    You say it wouldn’t be ”easy” to dislodge her. Of course it wouldn’t.

    Roosevelt said: “Nothing in the world is worth having or worth doing unless it means effort, pain, difficulty….”

    And it WOULD be worthwhile. But NOW! It needs to be NOW.

  58. Fred H
    April 10, 2019

    At this late hour the EU are debating how long is a piece of elastic, or possibly rope. Elastic to give the PM time to drive her detractors into an early grave, and possibly rope to have the UK hung for daring to plead to be allowed to leave the bullies.
    Mrs May is determined to be PM for the rest of this year, or more! Us the electorate stand by in disbelief at the Tories being so weak as to allow this ‘difficult woman’ to shame into inactivity.

  59. Dominic
    April 10, 2019

    The Tory party is the path to self destruction. This PM’s embrace of criminal laws to prosecute those who criticise a certain religion is without question the most despicable, spineless, disgusting capitulation to a member of Labour’s client state is total cowardice and represents the apotheosis of Tory gutlessness

    Your party is attacking our freedoms, free-speech and liberty

    Stop pandering to Labour, Corbyn and his demands and the demands of Labour’s religious base in the north

    Do you not understand the damage you are doing to this nation, its culture and its future?

  60. Gareth Warren
    April 10, 2019

    Since Theresa May delayed brexit twice and then publicly t9old the nation it was stay in the EU (withdrawal agreement) it is clear no9thing good will happen while she is PM.

    Worse Corbyn has played this quite well and is happily watching the conservatives dig themselves in a deep hole. I notice he doesn’t even both turning up to remain protests and instead spends the time actively campaigning. He does not liike the EU, but its not an issue for him.

    There are only three options, I hear the 1922 committee has asked her to go, the other option is to change the rules – a sensible option for the future.
    The last option is open revolt, but that might lead to an election with TM as had of party, your party would be wiped out. Whatever the remain faction of the party decide, the simple truth needs to be explained – no brexit means a wipe out outside London.

    I watch the various squab lings by people who want to take over with some surprise too, clearly a remainer has no chance. But your social media presence is far greater than most of them, the fact is only Mogg (small media following and doesn’t want PM) and Boris are real contenders. As foot loose as Boris can be at least he has public who want to listen to him, the others are hostages to BBC,ITV etc.

    Trump won the presidency with zero national newspaper support, for conservatives to get real conservative values across will require a similar feat.

    Good luck and thanks for your continued efforts on brexit, we will get there!

  61. Rd
    April 10, 2019

    Hey guess what? the pathoigical liar lied about the extension date.

  62. Rd
    April 10, 2019

    They done us a favour John with the long extension, the BBC just said so, It was thanks to Merkels loving kindness.

  63. BBc news awful
    April 10, 2019

    I bet you everything I own the extension to HALOWEEN will be further extended, and extended and extended. Macron played hard cop according to the BBC. But Aunty Merkel came to our rescue with the long extension.

  64. Simon Coleman
    April 10, 2019

    So it’s still all about Conservative MPs and the DUP. A Brexit delivered by them alone – no other MPs need be involved! I can’t help wondering whether, as you amassed your economics qualifications, you somehow lost the ability to count.

    1. Edward2
      April 11, 2019

      If Parliament wants to block the referendum vote to leave the EU then that is something we voters cannot stop.
      But come the next election voters will get the chance to show their feelings.
      It is good to at least a few MPs respecting the result of the referendum vote and their constituents views.

  65. BBc news awful
    April 10, 2019

    Guess what? The EU announces a longer extension that expected yet the Forex markets didnt move, not a jot (the banks already knew).

  66. Lindsay McDougall
    April 10, 2019

    It used to be your proud boast that UKIP was unnecessary because the Conservative Party was a Eurosceptic party. It’s going to take a lot of de-selections of pro-EU Conservative MPs before that is true.

  67. Peter D Gardner
    April 10, 2019

    Latest news is European Council has offered a delay until 31 Oct with review in June.

    This is splendid news because assuming the statutory instrument passes in the house of commons, we would have time to replace Mrs May.
    Or you can vote it down and we can exit the EU tomorrow!
    Give Mrs May a choice: Brexit in October and you resign tomorrow or Brexit tomorrow and you stay until December.

  68. Steve
    April 11, 2019

    Well she’s done it again, yet another delay.

    She has managed to seal the fate of the conservative party, and quite probably Labour too.

    I would say RIP Cons, but frankly they deserve a place on the floor of Dante’s hell for what they’ve done to this country.

    Corruption
    Bribery
    Bigotry
    Lies
    Cowardice
    Treason
    Self interest
    Sedition
    Political correctness
    Vassalage

    Ever vote tory again ? NOT A CHANCE !

    Besides as a political party they’re dead right now.

  69. villaking
    April 11, 2019

    Sir John and others posting on this site,
    Simply as a matter of fact, the government’s leaflet circulated at the time of the referendum did not specify that leaving meant leaving the SM and CU as well. It noted the benefits of the single market and stated that leaving the EU would create “uncertainty and risk”. It did not mention the CU at all. It also noted our opt out from closer political integration which makes a mockery of the Leavers’ own project fear about a compulsory EU army that the UK would have to be part of. “Leave” has not been defined and the kamikaze no-deal version of leave is unlikely to command a majority so perhaps it’s time to realize the mess you have now got the country in and stop blaming others

    Reply The leaflet did describe the downside of leaving which included tariffs and barriers to trade so of course it argued we would b e leaving the sm and cu

  70. Tad Davison
    April 12, 2019

    I am deeply disappointed my reply to you of Thursday morning is still not published. I don’t like it when I am, for whatever reason, prevented from countering such blatant remainer nonsense that is aimed at me personally.

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