The media is awash with election speculation. The PM confirmed in his remarks yesterday evening to his MPs that he does not want an early election.
It is by no means clear that the Leader of the Opposition wants one either. His party lags badly in the polls. It cannot say what policy it would offer on Brexit, with some  wanting revocation of our notice to leave, some wanting a second referendum and some wanting some unspecified renegotiation with the EU that the EU might reject anyway. Of course he  has to say he wants one, but he seems happier proposing rebel legislation to delay our exit.
It is quite likely an early election before we had left the EU would be an acrimonious re run of the referendum, with parties wanting to do well having to be clearly leave or remain. There is no guarantee the voters would create a good majority for one single view of Brexit in any new Parliament. Politics is only likely to return to some sense once this so far hopeless Parliament has  fulfilled its main task, to get us out of the EU, as promised by both Labour and Conservatives in the last election.
Our main problem is not too few elections. Our problem is the inability so far of this Parliament to implement the decision of the referendum. Until that is done there will be anger about those MPs who have failed to vote and speak on Brexit as promised in the last election, and an inability to move on to discuss how an independent UK will use its new freedoms. Those MPs have to decide today and tomorrow if they will after all uphold the view of voters in the referendum. If they pass legislation to undermine the government they may just be ensuring the end of their time as MPs as they show disdain for the views of the majority on Brexit.
September 3, 2019
Sir John,
I am suffering great unease. The treasonous mob are about to take control of Parliament and Boris will be unable to get sufficient support for a GE to thwart them.
As both he and you say, an election is not wanted. But delivery of the referendum result is. Failure to get out by Halloween will unleash fury, the likes of which have not been seen in the UK for many decades. I hope those responsible are ready to take responsibility for what they seem likely to trigger and start to prepare for the inevitable retribution.
September 3, 2019
It is difficult to know what will happen. Yesterday Conservative Home outlined 15 possible outcomes and that list was not exhaustive.
If Johnson was minded to deliver exit on WTO terms and could delay an election until that happened he would win. However, it is by no means certain in the public mind that he would actually go for WTO and the Labour Party have now realised this might happen and will demand that WTO is ruled out before an election.
If Johnson holds an election before we have left the EU the Brexit Party will take many of his votes. So an alliance with the Brexit Party would be necessary but might not be available.
September 3, 2019
A sovereign Parliament, controlled by Parliament, why, that’s unthinkable, what?
As for your “fury”, remember that only around a quarter of British people voted Leave, many of those are elderly, and most of them are normal, pragmatic, patient folk, not teeth-grinding fanatics like some commenters on blogs apparently are.
September 3, 2019
General election please.
I prefer (and always have) the ballot box.
September 3, 2019
PS – I wish you’d been more picky about the criteria for a majority BEFORE we had the referendum.
I’m sure a quarter would have been sufficient to Remain.
September 4, 2019
Martin in Cardiff
Marty our resident legal and constitutional expert ( self proclaimed) doesn’t know how voting works…. astonishing
September 4, 2019
And while you are remembering, incorrectly, the % tge of leave voters please also remember that more voted to leave than to remain in the largest democratic process in UK history. There may have been a large number of older people who had experience of how the UK was better placed to govern itself without the eurocrats interference and so voted to leave, but also remember that those people would have been involved in the 1975 referendum, and are well placed to have judged the success or failure of the promises made then. Clearly their observed failures of the EEC, now the eu, outweighed the project fear lies sent to every home before the 2016 referendum.
September 3, 2019
Guido highlights Johnson can get the Queen to veto any bill. Ignore it as it is against the will of the people, evidenced by the referendum result. Blaire did as others before him have.
September 4, 2019
You are not called Hope for nothing!
It would be good if you are right.
P.S. How sickening to see May smirking in the back of her car after the defeat. At least she did not actually vote with the rebels.
September 3, 2019
The treasonous mob are using the same guile as their erstwhile mistress: they sprang an unseen bill on Parliament the night before, hoping no-one would spot the treasonous bits or have time to consult and reflect.
September 3, 2019
Boris has laid out that under no circumstances will he ask the EU for another extension beyond October 31st.
That means that any law attempting to force him to ask the EU for such an extension might simply not be submitted for royal assent and by the time the rebels realize that, it will be too late to prevent parliament being prorogued.
September 3, 2019
Indeed it is very worrying indeed. I hope Boris and Cummings have a plan that works to deliver Brexit, to expunge the traitors in the Conservative party and to deliver an election victory that kills the dire dead prospect of a Corbyn/McDonnall/SNP government.
September 4, 2019
Boris will I think get a majority – but only with some accommodation with the Brexit Party. Farage is needed to ensure Boris does not rat, post election, and do something like May’s putrid W/A deal (with fig leaves) post election. If Brexit stand it will be another mess post election.
Vital the 21 traitors and the rest are all expunged from the party.
September 3, 2019
Pominoz, I too are suffering great unease as I am convinced we are being well and truly shafted by a pro-EU establishment that is using all its power and by any means necessary to prevent Brexit.
The Right Honourable Lord Justice Hickinbottom dismissed Robin Tilbrook’s Application to Appeal to the Court of Appeal and used the device of âTotally without Meritâ to prevent a hearing of his Application for a Judicial Review into the legality of the first extension of Article 50. Disappointingly I have not seen any public support of his case from any leading Brexiteers even though very many lawyers, both distinguished and retired members of the judiciary, QCs, barristers and solicitors thought it had a strong legal credibility. Contrast this with the case brought by Gina Miller with the full support and financial backing of Remainers.
You rightly point out the consequences of the failure to deliver the referendum; to paraphrase Tyler Perry, Hell hath no fury than a Brexiteer thwarted.
September 3, 2019
It seems that Alan Duncan is surprisingly going to support the government on this surrender bill (so they will hopefully they will find some other reason to deselect him there is not shortage of them). Nicholas Soames should go too as should Hammond. N Morgan and K Clarke not standing again – thank goodness. Just Hammond’s appallingly economically illiterate performance as Chancellor giving hugely high and absurd taxes is more than sufficient reason.
We might even get to real, small state, UK based democratic Conservative Party soon.
September 3, 2019
I assume his reason is that he thinks it will be carried without him so why put your seat at risk if others will do it for him?
September 3, 2019
It seems to me procrastination pays .Who is getting the money for a cyclical re run of everything Brexity ? Of course there are categories in domestic politics which will go on ad infinitum as social structure requires ethical standards and financing , but with our departure from the EU there is something distinctly ‘fishy’. Perhaps politicians simply cannot focus on the job ahead and get sidetracked like so many who comment on this site into their own petty arguments.
September 3, 2019
Good morning
Over three years ago those that took part in the Referendum expected, no matter how it went, for our will to be enacted by our government. Three PM’s and one general election later we are still waiting. Parliament wants more time to talk some more. Whilst I never pretended Leaving the EU would be easy I never thought that MP’s ever behave in such a way as to deny that which they repeatedly promised they would deliver.
The last paragraph our kind host writes reflects my view of all this. This is why I have been wanting a GE since the beginning of this year. It is time for the government to stand up to the Vichy Remain gang. Personally like many now I fear a stitch up.
September 3, 2019
In the last General Election Conservative and Labour candidates said they would uphold the result of the Referendum. Many of them have found ways of not doing what they promised.
How are we to tell that candidates in a future election would stick to any promises they make in order to be elected?
September 3, 2019
Good morning.
If there is a stitch up, the Conservative party will pay. On the plus side, if a stitch up is successfully delivered, the people can be in no doubt that the Tory party are institutionally dishonest. No sane person could vote for such a party – and we would soon see just how many lunatics there are.
Interestingly, the stitch up might not be subtle if BJ and the gang decide that the least worst option is to push through May’s deal to ensure Brexit is not completely lost – the same logic that prompted him, Rees-Mogg and the rest to vote for it last time.
Otherwise, it’s the emergency government and, probably, another, referendum. The question to be asked of the people? Not clear, but it would probably be no deal or revoke/remain. In those circumstances, the people (with considerable justification) could complain that they’re being consulted too much.
Yes, the first referendum should have been respected and delivered on, but given our rotten political institutions, a second referendum with the option to shout No Deal! is almost certainly as good as it gets. (The Brexit Party winning a GE would be much better, but until BJ and the Conservatives are properly exposed, they will, sadly and pathetically, attract sufficient support to undermine Farage’s crew.)
September 3, 2019
The worst case scenario is that BJ makes an apparently sound but ultimately unconvincing pitch for a good Brexit. Enough voters will, entirely reasonably, distrust him and vote Brexit Party, but in all likelihood the result will be a hung Parliament with a progressive, anti Brexit coalition. In such circumstances, blame would lie squarely with the Conservative party and their dishonesty.
September 3, 2019
Vote Leave and its supporters did pretend that leaving the EU would be easy. Are you admitting they lied?
September 3, 2019
Andy…everybody underestimated the traitorous bastards who did anything -lying, cheating, treason, defying whip etc. to avoid honouring the result of the Ref. Yet you call the Leavers liars? You live in a different reality to the rest of us.
September 3, 2019
Indeed, you live in a fish bowl where a number of the fishies are now swimming belly up. The question is: who’s like that, Andy or FredH?
September 3, 2019
Andy
No we’re admitting that too many MP’s have lied about their intentions and deliberately made a mess in order to keep us in… See P. Hammond for details
September 3, 2019
It’s only because remoan bigots are prepared to deny the very basis they were elected upon that leaving has been made so fraught with challenges. If they think that making leaving difficult is an achievement let’s just see how challenging staying in the eurocracy under their capitulation agreement will be .. if heaven forbid they get their wet dreams fulfilled. Even they couldn’t blame the leave side … but then again remoaners are only practiced at moaning.
September 3, 2019
Andy, Leaving the EU is easy. It’s trying to remain in the EU that’s proved so difficult over the last 3 years. Especially as the Remains don’t want to own Remain.
September 3, 2019
It doesn’t matter much what Vote Leave said in 2016. We have had three years of warnings and Remain led news now.
And in the recent EU elections only 15% voted for pro EU politicians.
General election please. Or better still, just close down the UK Parliament and have done with it.
Clearly we need Brussels to take over our decision making as our own politicians are incapable.
September 3, 2019
There was never a mechanism for enacting a referendum result that parliament didn’t like. The only reason that a referendum was called was to prevent a pro-Leave party from winning any seats or causing the Tories to lose seats in a general election. This is known as catch 22. The Tories want to stay in the EU and they want to proceed as planned with the completion of the transformation of the UK from a monoculture to a third world multiculti sewer which is actually more important to them.
Had this country had a fair electoral system based on PR, we would have been able to leave the EU by a a majority decision of parliament. We would also have been able to deal with the enemy within that hates white people and is trying to marginalise us in every Western country.
The whole purpose of voting in general elections in this country using FPTP is to ensure that parties that represent the people can never get elected.
September 3, 2019
This parliament is indeed “hopeless” as you point out. It remains to be seen how far opposition attempts to take control of parliament succeed and if so what terms they seek to inject into legislation they propose. This will be very revealing. I cannot see the British people accepting revocation (either in specific terms or in effect) of the referendum result after all that has been said and done. At least we will know who will have voted for it – if that is what the coming week produces.
September 3, 2019
The remoaner mps have been shouting from the rooftops about a peopleâs vote weâll surely a General Election is a peopleâs vote the only difference between the two is that mps can be booted out of Westminster in a General Election, when a General Election does come itâs going to be great to see the remoaners removed lawfully from office and having to work for a living, as for the liberals they wonât be satisfied until we stay in the dreaded Eu so hopefully they are reduced to a single digit in Parliament , and the snp well thatâs up to the wonderful Scots who Iâm sure will see through the snp for what they are
September 3, 2019
A lot of ignorance re the EU in Scotland. But yes, from what I’ve seen, the SNP are discovering that more and more people here are wise to their ineptitude.
September 3, 2019
If there is an election before we leave and Boris wins he would foist a modified WA in us.
He is not to be trusted.
September 3, 2019
We will return a minority Tory Govt dependent on the Brexit Party and DUP. I will be voting Brexit Party if we have a GE prior to full, clean âno dealâ Brexit. If we get a modified WA-ex-Backstop Brexit and then a GE, I will be voting Brexit Party. If we get a clean Brexit and then a GE, I will be voting Tory.
September 3, 2019
Certainly this is the Farage viewpoint and he is usually right.
At least we will be rid of these circa 20 traitors. They are all Libdims and always were. Only pretending to be Conservatives, as it is easier to get a seat that way one assumes. The dire Justine Greening on radio 4 just now, will stand down too it seems rejoice, rejoice. We will be rid of Clark, Gauke, Tax to death Hammond and the rest. They all stood on a leave manifesto and now want to destroy the party and hand the country to Corbyn.
But will Boris win a majority. I think he needs a deal with Brexit. At the last election Brexit had nearly 32% and the Conservatives in fifths with 9%. How can he get a clear majority without a deal?
September 3, 2019
Hammond saying that he accepted the Brexit referendum and was working for the UKâs economic interest, just now on radio 4. What a complete and utter, tax to death, and disingenuous man he is. His incompetence is the main reason we were never offered a deal that was remotely acceptable. May and his putrid W/A is remain in name only, indeed it is even worse than remain. Get rid of this dire man from the party now. If he is allowed to stand it tarnishes the whole image of the party.
September 3, 2019
Farage today in the Telegraph:-
“I hope Iâm wrong about Boris Johnson, but I fear a great Brexit stitch-up is coming”
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/08/20/hope-wrong-boris-johnson-fear-great-brexit-stitch-up-coming/
I hope Fararge is wrong but we shall soon see. He is usually right.
September 3, 2019
It will be the Conservative splitting the Brexit vote in many if not most seats. A deal with Farage is essential.
September 3, 2019
If Boris allows the undemocratic Remainers to stand as conservative candidates he will lose any GE. There are some trustworthy individuals, but the party as a whole is highly undemocratic. Heath and Major gave control to the EEC/EU without electoral consent. I will never trust the party again until the whole party becomes more democratic and stops foisting pro-EU candidates upon us.
September 3, 2019
If Johnson doesn’t win then the swinsons and equivocating corbyns of our world will invite the eurocracy in to walk all over us .. it will offer even worse than the capitulation agreement … if that is possible.
September 3, 2019
Ian,
No one knows if Boris can be trusted !!! He is the only option at this time though.
I would suggest that if I was negotiating this, to say that the “backstop” is the problem is a reasonable first step. If he CAN get that removed then any other changes would be much easier, if he can’t then all bets are off in any case.
“In Boris we trust”….
September 3, 2019
Agreed !
September 3, 2019
This is indeed a fear many off us have.
September 3, 2019
Brexit Bertayal Borris the Quisling. we need Nigel, who we Trust and the only one who has not done a U turn YET! GE you have to work with BP, otherwise the vote will be split, the remoaners are doing just that.
September 3, 2019
If there is a general election before the 31st October I couldnât vote for the Conservative Party. I donât trust Boris Johnson not to bring back the Withdrawal Agreement. I also worry he will threaten the ERG with the removal of the whip if they donât back him. Iâm putting my trust in The Brexit Party who have always been true to their word.
Of course it could be a ruse by Boris to make the opposition think the election will be before Brexit day to get them to vote for it but he intends to hold it after we have left, therefore shutting down Parliament for a second time.
September 3, 2019
Exactly, words are cheap, we already saw that with Theresa May after so many rousing speeches it turns out that she had already agreed a surrender treaty with Frau Merkel while her Brexit Minister (David Davis) had been kept in the dark.
Never trust a Tory.
September 3, 2019
That’s always been my view too.
September 3, 2019
Agreed.
September 3, 2019
I have the same fears, Ian. However, perhaps Cummings will be the one to keep Boris on the straight and narrow simply to try to defeat Nigel Farage.
September 3, 2019
Completely agree.
September 3, 2019
Boris foisting the WA on us. Maybe – but he’s putting it on the line over No Deal, so there’s at least that.
September 3, 2019
Parliament has adopted the EU mantra of not allowing the electorate a choice. If we are not allowed to choose who governs (instead of political parties and Parliament choosing who governs) then we do not have a democracy.
We need root and branch reform, where local members choose the candidate, and once elected the chosen candidate is forced to explain any lies they made in order to get elected and replaced if the answer does not gain the confidence of their constituency.
We are being manipulated by all the parties. It’s time for more direct democracy, as too many politicians cannot be trusted.
September 3, 2019
Phillip Hammond was chosen again by his local party last night Shirley
September 3, 2019
I understood he excluded the the local party members from that meeting. Do you think that is democratic, or self serving?
September 3, 2019
you mean the local assoc members. It remains to be seen what his constituency think of his actions.
September 4, 2019
Apparently it was the local association executive and specifically excluded the association members.
Reply Which is normal under Conservative party rules.Party members elect the Exec
September 3, 2019
There is very little in the free to access media about the costs of remaining and the eus federal plans. We know the rebate is gone but no one mentions it. A federal Eu means being ruled from Brussels and paying hugely for it. There would be no remain if everyone was told the truth about the costs of remaining. There has to be a way of telling people and undercutting remain,
September 3, 2019
Good comment, Frances. One has to question why this hasn’t been done!
September 3, 2019
Brussels controls everything, including most of the Quisling MPs. Brussels Brainwashing Corporation blames Russia for every thing. If YOU want to know the truth about the UK look ar RT news.
September 3, 2019
@FT
Join the dots.
Why do you think the Tory govt allow the Remain propaganda to go unchallenged in the media time after time? They’ve delayed and delayed in the hopes that Brexit fatigue will set in and allow them a BRINO fudge.
The Tories are a EUrophile party, they only pretend to be EU sceptic.
You cannot trust them.
September 3, 2019
Plus the cost of Remain AND Corbyn, because that’s what you’ll be getting.
September 3, 2019
IMHO, to defeat Nigel Farage, the PM needs an election after 31 October, in order to have achieved a deal, he would have to revisit the current UK red lines.
September 3, 2019
Why is it always the UK who have to revisit their red lines. The more you say this the even more arrogant you sound.
September 3, 2019
@Nig l: There is the problem of incompatible red lines on the UK side.
September 3, 2019
Unless he unequivocally drops the WA he will be wiped out by Farage and company.
There has been a dramatic shift in the opinion of the voters towards Brussels and our MPs.
Interest times.
September 3, 2019
At least Boris is *talking* No Deal, even if he doesn’t mean it.
September 3, 2019
You mean like staying under the jurisdiction of the ECJ, staying in the CU, single market, continuing to allow the French and Spanish to pillage our fishing grounds, whilst paying in billions every year for the privilege ?
….. No thanks.
September 3, 2019
He won’t defeat Farage by caving into the EU!
September 3, 2019
@Oggy: No I mean the red line that the UK (Mrs. May) has erected for N. Ireland. If the UK would accept to be one country with two systems (like China) even only temporarily until a technical solution for a no border – border had been agreed.
September 3, 2019
@rose: Maybe not. But if he manages to leave the EU with a deal (his stated objective) before an election, what will be the use of the Brexit Party? Destroying that deal? I doubt it.
September 4, 2019
Incorrect. Boris’s stated objective is to leave the EU on October 31’s, with or without a deal. His actual objective may well be different.
The immediate relevance of the TBP depends on when the election happens however it does not become irrelevant after October 31st, their purpose extends beyond leaving the EU to address the issues afterwards, not least the unrepresentative shambles of parliament and government.
September 3, 2019
Why “defeat” Farage – when Farage is willing to help Boris win?
The threat to Sir John in Wokingham is the Lib Dems. If the Brexit Party field a candidate, it will dilute his share of the vote and possibly let them in. I’d far rather have a group of Brexit Party MPs in Parliament than more Lib Dems… but BJ would have to accept a WTO exit as the price.
The BBC in Birmingham yesterday went to the wholesale Vegetable & Fish markets there and neither Traders they spoke to thought WTO was a problem. The guy in the Cut Flower market thought Florists might have more issues (but who eats cut flowers?). Later on I noticed that the Beeb were not repeating these interviews but had found people in the street who were worried about “No Deal”….
BTW – Good interview on Sky Businees with Roger Bootle, the well known economic forecaster (and Leave advocate). Pity we don’t see more of him… and of course a very brief interview from Sir John himself later in the day…
We live in Interesting Times as the Chinese like to say..
September 4, 2019
@IanT: I imagine that Boris Johnson perceives the Brexit Party and its leader as competition for the Conservatives. That is why he has moved so much to the right, whereas in 2016 he was still in doubt which side (remain or leave) he would go for to become prime minister one day.
September 3, 2019
@PvL
Your best suggestion yet!
September 3, 2019
PvL, That is the reverse of reality. Re-visiting “current UK red lines” is EU code for accepting the Barnier/Robbins/May dWA. That is the surest way of ensuring Farage’s Brexit Party defeats Boris and the Tories.
September 3, 2019
@NickC: see answer to Oggy
September 4, 2019
PvL, You answer to Oggy does not answer the fact that the UK being a colony of the EU (the EU’s word) is the surest way that Farage’s BP would defeat Boris’s Tories – the reverse of what you claimed.
September 3, 2019
PvL,
Daily Express website polls should usually be ignored, after all they are completed by Daily Express readers. Nonetheless there is a poll today on who one would vote for. Obviously Lab and Lib poll low with DE readers (5% each last time I looked), but Cons have 52% and Brexit Party 38% – the vote split since Conservatives are not trusted to deliver either no deal or a trade deal is dramatic. Indeed there is no point in voting for the Conservatives if PM Johnson continues to push a withdrawal process agreement and not an immediate exit + free trade agreement. If he gets through a withdrawal agreement like May’s, he also will not win a future election, neither remainers nor leavers would vote for him.
September 3, 2019
And now MPs who stood under Conservative manifesto of leave are defecting to Remain LibDems – no Conservative will be trusted in an election.
September 3, 2019
PvL
“he would have to revisit the current UK red lines.”
That implies compromise. Why should we be compromising anything for Europe ?
……can you give me one good reason PvL ?
September 3, 2019
@steve: in order to have complete freedom from the Single market end from a custum union, you’d have to accept a temporary arrangement which is different for N. Ireland than for the rest of the UK (like in one country- two systems, such as exists in China)
September 4, 2019
PvL, No we wouldn’t.
September 3, 2019
steve
Why should Europe compromise anything for us? We voted for the abominable Brexit, nobody else.
We begged to join the club and have to follow the rules on leaving.
September 4, 2019
@margaret howard: I actually believe the EU is unable to compromise on some of its basic principles, i.e. those underpinning its Single Market. That is why there is this problem with the no border border with N. Ireland.
September 4, 2019
PvL, There will be no problem with the UK’s border with Belgium, so why do you suppose that there is a problem with the UK’s border with Eire?
September 4, 2019
Maggie
Let me explain. When you allegedly represent the interests of 27 countries and a large part of your income and export market is about to walk away you really should try to make some kind of effort to minimise the potential damage to your members economies unless of course you are only interested in being in power and having total control to push through a project that not one single voter has voted for
Germany the new sick man of Europe who would have thought it eh
September 4, 2019
NickC,
Please, kindly lookup the word colony in the dictionary. Thank you
September 3, 2019
I cannot speak for others but the anger I feel is for those within positions of influence (especially MPs) and power who haven’t failed to implement but have wilfully conspired to circumvent the result of a democratic exercise that they themselves voted for in the Commons.
Failure implies an intent or desire to satisfy a stated objective. The influential Remain forces haven’t failed but have openly and wifully conspired to circumvent democracy itself. I call that a success in that they have delayed our exit and cost the nation billions in sterling.
If Johnson is conspiring to keep the UK inside or aligned to the EU through some form of treaty scam he will go down in infamy though an outcome in which the BP is able to partly or wholly replace Marxist Labour would be welcomed by all those who understand the existential threat posed by that once great party
September 3, 2019
Dominic
Agreed
September 3, 2019
Seconded
September 3, 2019
… and a third here.
September 3, 2019
Dominic,
I am sure the majority of people in the UK are absolutely furious with the treasonous behaviour of most of our dire MPâs. I didnât want a GE but now I do, just to gloat watching those MPâs being kicked out of Westminster.
Itâs an outrage that those in the âother placeâ are safe from our anger.
September 3, 2019
I agree with you Dominic. But the greatest anger I feel is for those MP’s who repeatedly say they supported Brexit by voting for the WA. They could not be more disingenuous.
September 3, 2019
John on another note, there are two Borders on the Island of Cyprus, How are they going to stop goods crossing those Borders.
September 3, 2019
Probably the same way as they stop goods travelling between the 1000mile+ border between Norway and Sweden and the xxxmile border that surrounds Switzerland.
Goods are only checked at major crossing points, is that REALLY a problem on the island of Ireland?
Oh I forgot, we don’t negotiate with terrorist, unless they are Irish….
September 3, 2019
The two Sovereign British Bases would carry on effectively constituting an EU customs territory; they will be treated as territory of Cyprus for customs, VAT and excise purposes.
Mrs May reached an agreement (???) using the Act of Succession of Cyprus to the EU. The protocol details certain exemptions to the declaration of the UK at the time of its accession to the then (1973) European Economic Community that the Treaty of Rome would not apply to the territory of the Bases.
Similarly, GATT Article XXIV(3) provides for a so-called âfrontier traffic exceptionâ. It is one way of keeping the North inside the customs union and single market. The clause; never used before, allows that custom provisions under the World Trade Organisation regime which would prevail in both the EU and UK, in the event of a no-deal Brexit.
It would allow the EU to declare the entire territory of Northern Ireland to be a frontier zone to the EU customs union; thereby removing the need for customs controls and putting the EU Frontier in the Irish Sea. But; it would be a very large stretch of GATT24(3). (HT: Irish Times; Dublin City University Prof Federico Fabbrini.)
September 3, 2019
@Yossarion
Goods cross borders all over the world every day, it’s called commerce.
Countries that block commerce tend to decline.
September 3, 2019
Ssshhh. Donât ask about details. Brexiteers do not do details. We are just leaving – apparently.
September 3, 2019
Andy
Dont do details?
Any sign of you answering our questions yet or has your goldfish like brain forgotten them again
September 4, 2019
Libertarin,
IS this like your answer to the question about the built up of stock in UK business before end of March 2019?
September 6, 2019
bill brown
You mean the answer I gave from the BBC fact check website that said there was no stockpiling, that one?
September 3, 2019
Says Fact Free Andy.
September 3, 2019
Part of Cyprus is Turkish, the other Greek.
Turkey is in a Customs Union with the European Union.
Need I go on?
And you people seem to think that your votes should be taken seriously…
September 3, 2019
You are forgetting about the two British sovereign Bases that are Border less with both the Greeks and Turks.
September 3, 2019
There has been a Customs Agreement signed by the EU and Turkey in 1995. So what is the problem?
September 3, 2019
Sir John,
As I understand it, the proposed bill to stop a ‘No Deal’ Brexit would bind the PM’s royal prerogative power re treaty negotiation. Why would this not require ‘Royal Consent’ which has to be given by the Govt. I have read several legal opinions from constitutional layers that it should?
/ikh
September 3, 2019
Interesting take on it. I have no doubt the proposed bill will amount to bad law, but is there any mechanism to hold up incompatible law?
Ultimately it would have to be tested in the courts, which might be a good ploy for Boris to force a no confidence vote (He can claim what you have said above and say either he won’t submit the bill for royal assent or it breaches a royal prerogative so that he can ignore it anyway). Let’s see how the next few days pan out.
September 3, 2019
I believe it is called the Queen’s Consent in Great Britain, and I agree that any modification to the Royal Prerogative requires it. Since it is within the gift of the government I tryst that it will be withheld in this case.
Labour used this device in 1999 to prevent Parliament intervening in the Iraq war.
September 3, 2019
Doesn’t Parliament get suspended once an election is called?
But during that time doesn’t the government continue?
Could this be used as a tool to get us Brexit?
September 3, 2019
Bryan, not much gets past you, does it, you crafty little tinker?
September 3, 2019
Marty
Stop grinding your teeth theres a good boy
September 3, 2019
Our problem certainly is not the inability so far of this Parliament to implement the decision of the referendum, our problem is that no one knows what the decision of the referendum actually was. A whole parade of Leavers (Gove, Davis, Johnson, Paterson, DuncanSmith, Farage) said we could Leave but keep all the benefits of membership because the EU needs us more than we need it. Now the same bunch are telling us we must leave with no deal – that is not voters were promised! Until Leave gets its story straight, there’s nothing to implement. If you are now arguing for no deal, which no one was in 2016 (not even John Redwood who said he would accept no deal but expected a deal), then put it to the people
September 3, 2019
So Les,what is the question on the ballot paper for your next referendum?
September 3, 2019
We haven’t left yet to enjoy those benefits. Leavers promising these things assumed we would leave, not remain.
September 3, 2019
Len, haven’t you noticed that since the referendum we’ve had Remainers in charge, not Leavers, so naturally Brexit is not progressing well. Letting Remainers organise Brexit is akin to expecting the Temperance Society to run a decent beer festival.
September 3, 2019
Len, most of the current batch of ‘protesting’ MPs were in the House during the formation and discussion of the Referendum Bill. Many of them are lawyers by training and practice. How many of them, at least on the Front Benches, had the wit and foresight to protest at the proposal of a stark In/Out ballot paper?
And these same people, the Cooper/Letwin/Starmer Posse, now have the hubris to demand further Parliamentary discussions/negotiations that will undoubtedly last “to infinity and beyond”.
There are differing Leaves and differing Remains – on the basis that nothing in life is certain, it would be nice to think each side could compromise and come up with 2 clear alternatives for the public to consider. In the current state of hysteria (or should that be ‘stasis’?), I won’t be holding my breath.
September 3, 2019
‘… keep all the benefits of membership’? I didn’t hear anyone say that – and nor did I, a Leaver, want all the ‘benefits’ of being in that ghastly club.
September 3, 2019
This is a very unconvincing argument. There were good – and bad – arguments on both sides in the referendum. But the leave argument was quite clear and included an independent trade policy, not being subject to laws and regs imposed by EU institutions, not paying money to be part of a trading block and being able to control immigration. Mrs Mays deal achieves none of that – it isnât even a deal itâs a temporary arrangement which pre-determines the shape of any eventual deal.
I do however agree that the Leave side was absurdly hubristic as to the likely ease of getting a deal with the EU. The trouble with another referendum is, unless itâs a v decisive vote one way or the other, it wonât solve anything.
September 3, 2019
Len Grinds
I think things have moved on so much since the start of ânegotiationsâ ….weâve had Teresa May trying to renegotiate our membership of the EU, and calling it leaving…..weâve had remainers trying to stop us leaving at all and calling it, âmust avoid crashing outâ. Weâve reached the point whereby weâve got to make a clean break or risk being trapped in some form or other with all the theatrics in Parliament continuing on indefinitely.
Once weâve left, I believe that we will get the deal that all the remainers keep harping on about.
A simple analogy…if you were escaping from capture, would you stop to find a matching pair of shoes, or would you just leave and sort out your sore feet later, once youâre home?
September 3, 2019
Leaving with ‘no deal’ is not the end in the process. It is merely an early step. The UK has been betrayed , for the first three (!) years since the referendum, by a weak and inept negotiator and team.
September 3, 2019
Drivel: The decision of the referendum was to leave. Leave with a deal if a sensible deal is offered and without if it is not. Saying we cannot leave without a deal is saying the EU can force us into whatever appalling deal they care too. It is a moronic thing for these 20 fake Conservatives to try to do. Hammond even thinks he can do this and stand again. He should be fired just for his grossly incompetent and hugely damaging tax to death fiscal code.
May’s putrid W/A was not a good deal it was appalling even without the back stop it is far worse than no deal and even than remaining.
September 3, 2019
Les, the question was “Leave or Remain” – and we voted “Leave”
We’ve just spent three years messing around trying to get a deal with all the benefits of EU membership and none of the overhead. This was never going to work and it hasn’t. Right from the start we should have assumed that the default was to leave on WTO terms and simply try to get agreements that eased our exit under those assumptions. But May & Hammond didn’t do that – and it was always very clear that they were not preparing to leave on WTO and therefore the chances of getting anything other than what the EU considered to be in their favour were virtually eliminated.
We cannot go on like this. Let’s just pull the plug and leave. No more delay or uncertainty. There will be problems but they can be overcome – we have to leave not only the EU but this dreadful political Limbo too!
September 3, 2019
Len Grinds, You’d have to be really thick not to know what the decision of the Referendum actually was. After all there were only two options – Remain in the EU, or Leave the EU. The decision was Leave. Not Remain.
So whatever happens in terms of trade deals, the EU cannot any longer control the UK in any shape or form. Gove, Davis, Johnson, Paterson, Duncan-Smith, Farage, wanted a trade deal (trade, not political control). The EU appears unwilling to agree one. Therefore the only option left is the WTO trade deal.
September 3, 2019
Rubbish Grinds. We all voted to leave the EU and the customs union and the single trade market if that is what it took. It is the likes of you and your ilk that have got us into this mess. You just cannot accept what the people voted for..
September 3, 2019
Two simple things:
1) Leave means leave – that was the decision. Nothing else was on the paper.
2) No deal is better than a bad deal. We have been offered the worst deal possible in order to try to keep us in, so why is it hard to understand that we will be prepared take no deal?
Eventually, there will be a Free Trade Agreement which will give frictionless trade which is the only benefit we get from membership, the rest is all cost and inconvenience. The Remoaners know this and are bent on trying to stop it. If the EU decide to cut off their noses and not do a deal with us (deals which they are prepared to do with almost any country around the world it seems), we shall manage. Apart from some agricultural items, the tariffs on most items will be less than the movements on the foreign exchanges and we cope with those. We could decide to use some of the Duties to help certain sections if we wanted via subsidies.
Lower tariffs on goods from outside the EU will offset and cost even further. If the EU continue to play hardball, then no deal it is.
September 3, 2019
The vote was to leave the EU and all of its institutions. Pure and simple. All the rest of the political chatter was personal opinions/predictions. Parliament was not meant to have a veto on the result, as stated in the booklet circulated prior to the vote. “We will implement what you decide”. Is that clear enough for you?
September 3, 2019
” … no one knows what the decision of the referendum actually was …”
https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/who-we-are-and-what-we-do/elections-and-referendums/past-elections-and-referendums/eu-referendum/report-23-june-2016-referendum-uks-membership-european-union
“The outcome of the referendum was:
16,141,241 people (48.1% of all voters) voted to remain a member of the European Union
17,410,742 people (51.9% of all voters) voted to leave the European Union”
So why more than three years later are we still in the European Union?
And why is your rubbish published in preference to sensible comments?
September 3, 2019
Len Grinds
“then put it to the people”
Not through a referendum though, we saw what happened in Ireland.
A general election is the best way.
September 3, 2019
I am very lucky to be married to a woman who usually represents the views of the general population very accurately.
When I asked her how she would vote if there were an election tomorrow, she firmly and immediately said, “Conservative”.
When Mrs May was PM she simply did not vote at all.
September 3, 2019
Boris is hugely preferable to the Libdim remainer Theresa May and Corbyn/Hammond/SNP is clearly an appalling prospect. After all not many English people want to be ruled by Corbynâs Labour wagged by the dire Scots Nats.
But Cameron only won a tiny majority when the UKIP fell away after his referendum promise. Brexit Party support and some deal with them in some seats is needed to win properly.
September 3, 2019
Lifelogic
“After all not many English people want to be ruled by Corbynâs Labour wagged by the dire Scots Nats”
But they had nothing against Mrs May paying ÂŁ1b Danegeld for 10 votes to the dreadful DUP to keep themselves in power?
Strange morality.
September 4, 2019
Magaret Howard, Scotland already gets more money than England pro rata.
September 3, 2019
I fear on this occasion she has misjudged, but she still has time to change after a number of tomorrows. After the rebels get their way, BP will triumph, Conservatives might not be in the top three.
September 3, 2019
Sadly in mine and many other constituencies, voting for the candidate selected by the Conservative party would mean voting for someone who whole-heartedly supports May’s appalling WA. Unless the leadership follows through with its deselection promises, this will not be a party I can vote for.
September 3, 2019
“The PM confirmed in his remarks yesterday evening to his MPs that he does not want an early election.”
But that doesn’t mean he would not try to call one should parliament block the 31st Oct exit date, or if the courts blocks the prorogation of parliament.
Why would the oppression support any attempt to circumvent one or both of the above scenarios, nothing what so ever to do with opinion polls, given the suggested date for any GE.
As for any GE being a rerun of the referendum, perhaps, but it might also be a rerun of the 2017 GE, sure the Conservative party are unlikely to propose a manifesto anything like Mrs May did but Boris is akin to Marmite, people either love or hate the him (as a politician), whilst he might win over the otherwise lost UKIP/TBP voter he might then loose votes from the opposite faction of party – anyone but Corbyn might actually turn out to be anyone but Boris…
September 3, 2019
If the ‘Remainer’ MPs manage to insist on an extension of our membership and BJ is still PM when the EU Commission is due to meet in mid-October, he could veto any extension himself.
The decision by the EU to agree to any extension has to be passed by all the 28 members (of which, of course, he is one).
September 3, 2019
@Mockbeggar; Not if MPs block the UK PM from doing so, this is perhaps why Boris now feels backed into a corner and thus the only option left is a GE and (hopefully) fresh majority manifesto mandate – always assuming MPs allow him to hold a GE at the moment…
September 3, 2019
Slightly off topic, but I understand that one of the brazen proposals in today’s Bill is to hand Brussels the power to set an alternative exit date. What date do they think an empowered Brussels would come up with……2099?
Is there a single working braincell between them in this utterly incompetent and destructive Parliament?
September 3, 2019
@BJC; Any amendment to the exit date has to be agreed between both parties, what is “brazen” about such a fact of international treaty law?!
September 3, 2019
Certainly not many brain cells in the appalling twenty or so Conservative Traitors supporting this bill.
September 3, 2019
A good summary of the Bill is on the BrexitFacts4EU website today (see link at top of page):
‘Yesterday a Bill was lodged with the Speakerâs office by Remainer MPs, which effectively hands control of the UKâs Brexit policy to the EU Council. If passed, 27 leaders of foreign countries will be able to decide when the UK leaves the EU.
The Bill also delays any Brexit until 31 January 2020 at the earliest. If the EU require a longer extension then the Prime Minister must agree to that.
Naturally the Bill is more complicated than our description above, but this is a summary and in practice this is what it means. It precludes a clean break Brexit on 31 October 2019.’
September 3, 2019
Yes there are a large number of brain cells intent on us remaining in the EU. Nothing more subtle than that.
September 3, 2019
There are plenty of brain cells working BJC – for their own and their pals pockets. Joe Public doesn’t matter.
September 3, 2019
20xx
September 3, 2019
You may think 2099 is a joke, but it was suggested in a paper somewhere – cannot remember the details but I am sure someone here will.
September 3, 2019
the backstop was presented as expiring in 20xx.
September 3, 2019
Graham, The original draft of May’s Withdrawal Agreement had the date 20xx in it, so in theory 2099 could have been pencilled in. Actually it was just one of many instances of poor drafting and poor proof-reading.
September 3, 2019
They know exactly what theyâre doing and 2099 is the date they want b
September 3, 2019
Well John, the last snap election went well, didn’t it? What was it, a twenty-six point lead?
Two points, the broadcasters are compelled to allow the Opposition a fair say during the campaign, and so any more headline-grabbing stunts by Al will simply eat into Tory campaign time.
And then there’s Brenda from Bristol, who absolutely nailed it. I’d say that three general elections and two PM change circuses in about four years would cause plenty of punishment abstentions.
September 3, 2019
The first of what I think are your “two points” … the media are “compelled ” to allow the opposition a fair saying is one thing in favour of a tory rout. Corbyn and even more amusingly swinson on stage “explaining” their views. Swinsons view is at least clear, forget democracy, say the lib democrats of all people, its stay or stay, no matter what the people want or how much bending over we have to do for the eurocracy.
September 3, 2019
Not sure that is correct. Actually we are so hacked off we will turn out in droves to rid ourselves of those MPs doing the EUs bidding.
The problem as I see it is that Conservative Central Office wonât have the balls to deselect those traitors once again removing our choice.
September 3, 2019
We need to get with our inner Italian.
September 3, 2019
If Losers’s Consent had not been witheld for the first time in the history of our democracy, this would not be happening. We would be safely and happily out and getting on with our lives.
September 3, 2019
But this time you might find the campaign is being run being people who actually know how to win them…
Of course I might be wrong and all those folk with their pensions tied up in By-to-Let will vote for McDonald for Chancellor…
September 3, 2019
Martin said: “the broadcasters are compelled to allow the Opposition a fair say during the campaign”. Good. That means the BBC will be compelled to give Leave a fair say. For once.
September 3, 2019
I just saw a fat pig fly past my window.
September 3, 2019
That election was deliberately thrown by offering a ‘punishment’ manifesto. Let’s see if the next one is!
September 3, 2019
The thing about Brenda that always struck me is that we never hear the interviewer asking the question, there’s a world of difference between:
1. “Who will you vote for in the upcoming election?”
2. “Have you heard that there’s going to be an election”.
3. “Have you heard that there’s to be another election?”.
4. “Have you heard that there’s to be YET ANOTHER election???”.
Brenda’s response of “ANOTHER one?” was clearly played for by a leading question. It wouldn’t make sense as a response to 1 above, it only makes sense if the form of the question was leading, as in 2, 3 or 4 above. The word ‘another’ in the answer only makes sense if it were contained or implied in the question.
2 is perhaps less reprehensible, 3 and 4 are clearly leading. But even 2 is clearly seeking a particular mindset and response, since the obvious question prior to an election is the wording in 1, which does not pre-suppose anything; it is about how the person will vote whereas 2 onwards are clearly asking how they feel about the number of relatively recent elections and contain an implicit supposition that there have been too many.
Mainstream media, gotta love ’em.
September 3, 2019
Why oh why are people interested in views held by Brenda, Greta et al?
September 3, 2019
General Election or not Bercow must go – for too long now his antics have been tolerated, quite openly showing his disdain and opinions without much protest. This (man ed|) is distorting due process at will, gathering a coterie of coniving admirers,
A few thousand B——- to Bercow stickers are indicated!
September 3, 2019
In 2017 many Remain MPs, especially those in Leave-voting constituencies, paid lip service to the Referendum result in order to retain their position in Parliament.
Leave voters have seen over the last two years how many of these Remain MPs have acted against the referendum result. They will not be fooled again.
September 3, 2019
How can Bennâs Bill not conflict with Standing Order 48? Eu membership costs ÂŁ1bn a month nett.
September 3, 2019
The referendum was a fraud and the leave promises are now a joke . The majority , by 10%, wish we had never done it, and the fact that”Both” parties” had the same view is no mandate. 2/3 oppose no deal. There are no negotiations and if unanimous support was precondition for success we should not have embarked on the whole stupid exercise.
We face years and years of the same issues again and again and again .We are promised that the UK will attempt theft for which there will be repercussions , and no-one agreed to . We are leaderless, with no constitution worth the name, and drifting from one confected media gesture to another.
That anyone has a life so empty, so utterly without love or purpose as to need to inflict this on us and themselves to create some facsimile of a reason for the next day , is the saddest thing of all.
September 4, 2019
Newmania, Your Remain view is just completely bonkers. Look out to the rest of the world – they do not tie themselves into knots to become colonies of your EU empire. There is no reason on Earth that we should do so either.
September 3, 2019
[…] What a ringing endorsement âŠ! The unmissable, indefatigable Sir John Redwood has some stern words about the onset of election madness in his Diary today: […]
September 3, 2019
I fear No Deal. I still think it will be the undoing of us. I fear it will both unite remainers and lead to chaos in our ranks.
As usual I’ll get all the taunts about being a remainer. But I think it is a gut response and leads to us throwing away our negotiating hand, but we shall see. And I really hope I’m wrong.
September 3, 2019
Leaver, No one with any sense would walk into a car showroom and say “I must have that car at any cost; I will not accept no deal!” Refusing to have “no deal” as a back-stop is throwing away our negotiating hand.
September 4, 2019
I agree entirely. However, I believe the same argument applies to No Deal.
It is like someone walking into a car showroom and say ‘I must have that car at any cost. No matter the cost.’
We should not leave at any price. You need a bottom line. Mine is No Deal. I want to leave, but No Deal is my bottom line..
September 4, 2019
But if the other party in the negotiations knows that is your firm policy then how well do you think negotiations will go?
What incentive does the EU now have to alter its current position?
September 3, 2019
Spot on Sir John. If The rebels (including Bercow) act illegally and users the Government, Boris must table a Confidence Vote. He will win it and then can proceed to ignore their antics. They are making fools of themselves worldwide. What a shame!
September 3, 2019
Sir John, apparently Boris will table a motion under the fixed Term Parliament Act to be voted on WITH the rebel motion, so that if they pass their âno-Deal Brexit Actâ in the same motion they vote for a GE! I think that means that to get the âbillâ through they will need a super-majority – 66%. A supermajority for no-Deal Brexit?
Am I right?
September 3, 2019
John, I would be more comfortable with a General Election if Boris formed a pact with Nigel. It’s a given that the Brexit party will take votes away from the Tories which could allow a Marxist/SNP Government to come up through the middle which would stop Brexit altogether. Any chance of a pact happening?
September 3, 2019
Looking at those conservative mp’s who are going to vote against the government they’ll probably just be happy to vote against the government and just call it a day anyway.
September 3, 2019
I hope Boris sticks to his word and sacks all those anti democratic EU loving Tory MPs who vote against no deal. They were never Conservatives anyway. They would rather risk handing power to a Marxist in order to carry on being governed by Brussels. These Liberal lefties should have been shown the door long ago. I see Amber Rudd standing up for them this morning. Why she was ever given a post in the cabinet is a mystery. Probably a case of keeping your enemies close. She should be given the boot along with all the other traitors and good riddance to them.
September 3, 2019
Sir John
I fear that there will not be 2/3 support for a general election. Those wishing us to stay in realise that a general election is too great a risk for them.
As politics is the art of the possible I fear a second referendum may be the only way to resolve this.
Staying in the EU has no place on a second referendum paper but again politics is the art of the possible so it is unlikely that legislation would get through without staying in on the paper.
The 2 questions should therefore be:
1 leave the EU on (date) with a deal passed by Parliament or in the absence of such agreement on WTO terms with ad hoc arrangements in other areas of cooperation.
2 remain in the EU with all current opt outs secured, with no commitment to be involved in ever closer union, with no involvement in an EU army, with a five year hiatus on freedom of movement and with our full rebate reinstated until such time as the CAP is reformed.
The questions evidently need to be prescriptive.
September 3, 2019
UNfortunately the problem is the political system is broken- what did for the past is no longer working
There is a great need to get together a citizens advisory group 200 strong devoid of politicians to come up with some fresh thinking on the way we conduct politics and with recommendations that will command action
The brexit situation is not the EU fault but with our own stinking thinking
September 3, 2019
Heavensent, Who selects the 200 strong citizens advisory group? If they are not elected, they will just be an oligarchy. So they will be the next politicians. And you will have solved nothing, and lost democracy.
September 3, 2019
Dominic Grieve on LBC just now. I used to think he was quite a principled man but it seems Brexit has made him go totally round the bend.
Letâs us hope this man, who clearly want to defeat the will of the voters and destroy his party (despite promising to deliver it in the last manifesto) will go and we will never have to listen to him again.
Perhaps he will retire to France and take his LĂ©gion dâhonneur with him.
September 3, 2019
Hammond proposes to stand as a âConservativeâ despite his wanting to destroy what he calls âhis Partyâ with this appalling proposed bill.
He was an appalling tax to death Chancellor and clearlyvis a traitor to the UKâs interests, he must be kicked out of the party and be prevented from standing.
September 3, 2019
He probably canât retire to France. You have taken away the right to free movement.
September 4, 2019
People could choose to retire to France, well before we joined the Common Market/EC/EU. Naturally, it was by request and with the blessing of the French authorities. In essence, the way that it should be for maintaining a stable society. The current free-for-all is akin to gatecrashers at a private party, with all the chaos that ensues.
September 4, 2019
Andy, But we (will) have regained the right to decide who comes into our country. And Italy (plus the other 26) will re-gain the right to decide to exclude you if it pleases them – which I suppose is the downside for us.
September 3, 2019
Personally, I doubt whether the EU will agree to remove the backstop however, if Boris is successful in negotiating it away, there will still be considerable doubt as to whether the House of Commons will vote for the WA as amended.
Over the last year, our host has repeatedly pointed out a myriad of other issues that he finds unacceptable in the agreement. Will you now vote for the WA with just the backstop replaced with “alternative arrangements”, Sir John ?
Reply No, of course not
September 3, 2019
I would still like to know how anyone believes we will ever leave when plans for an EU army with our involvement still seem to be on the cards?
Didnât we have a representative at the EU defence conference recently in Denmark?
Didnât Alan Duncan sign up to all sorts of defence agreements?
Whatever else we have certainly run down our forces with great dedication. Surely an independent nation needs defence?
( of course much is down to interpretation and there is virtually no way of knowing what is fake news or genuine).
So we will leave …except for our defence and oh the migrant pact and whatever else Mrs Mâs govt signed us up to?
September 3, 2019
This week will see remain MPs vote to try to stop a no deal exit.
If they succeed and it becomes a bill it still needs the PM to ask the Queen for assent for it to become the law.
Boris could just place the bill in his pending tray.
There are precedents for this.
Then would Corbyn call for vote of confidence and would it succeed?
Then would the PM call an election?
Interesting times.
Meanwhile, the 31st of October remain the legally fixed default date for leaving the EU.
September 3, 2019
An election at the moment would be a complete distraction. Like going in for tea when you only need five runs to win.
Concentrate on the main business at hand, getting us out of the EU before or by the 31st October. With or without a deal, by which I mean a proposed FTA with a continuity agreement under Art 24 of GATT with agreement or just leaving on bare WTO terms. Please do not allow the resurrection of the WA in any form, leave any acceptable aspects to a formal treaty, but well after we have left.
I hope that much of the present talk is just there to muddy the waters while the real objective is attained.
September 3, 2019
Two questions John.
If we do end up with a mid October general election, and assuming the Conservative Party manages to persuade a comfortable majority, is there still time to implement the Redwood Plan (mutually agree no tariffs pending an FTA)?
Having won an election, is the dWA of no further political value?
September 3, 2019
You could not make it up! ( As they say when all else has been said).
General Election …once a sombre and meaningful ( we thought) expression of The Peopleâs Will ( Ha Ha).
Now bandied about like an old sock.
And all because the political class does not want to implement The Peopleâs Will!
A democratic decision too far.
One face…three masks Liblabcon.
But WHY do they love the EU soooo much?
September 3, 2019
Boris must ensure ALL Conservative rebels lose the whip -it must be a clear signal that this nonsense has to stop. The UK must return to a normal Government post Leaving EU.
September 3, 2019
One could almost feel sorry for the Gaukeward Squad in their hopeless charge against the overwhelming cannonry of Brexit, a futile and pointless gesture resulting in inevitable political ruin, a career defining moment.
Half a league, half a league,
Half a league onward,
All in the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.
âForward, the Light Brigade!
Charge for the guns!â he said.
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.
September 3, 2019
Sir JR
I understand your views and thoughts about your Conservative colleagues.
But we never voted to leave the EU without a deal as this was never discussed and the idea that we can leave and then make a free trade deal after, which will position is an illusion.
September 3, 2019
Bill Brown, What complete tosh. Of course we voted to Leave without a deal if the EU refused to agree one. The Leave option would not make sense unless we could unilaterally Leave if necessary.
September 4, 2019
NickC
It was never discussed before we voted
September 3, 2019
We cannot make a free trade deal before we leave as the EU point-blank refuse to do so. Anything regarding trade will need to be settled post-Brexit. We do not, however, need any kind of deal to leave the EU. May’s rotten ‘deal’ was, to all intents, a EU re-accession treaty on less advantageous terms than at present. Literally, out of the frying pan, into the fire.
September 4, 2019
Jagman – in a nutshell. The smoke and mirrors of arguing about a ‘trade deal’ has been just that. People trade, they’ll go on trading. All the rest is a different matter. We do not wish to be ruled any longer by the EU.
”There is a name for appealing over the head of the Crown to an authority outside the realm, and that name is treason.”
The word’s just used casually nowadays – but this is the nitty gritty.
September 3, 2019
Not again!
Same old Remoaner cobblers has been answered dozens of times. Can you really retain nothing?
September 4, 2019
@Hans – so your advice to your business clients is;
“We will not leave the EU until there is a deal and as we don’t know what the deal will be we cannot advise you”.
September 4, 2019
dixie
the advise is we have to be able to deal with any scenario we can envisage and plan accordingly as we have no other options for the moment
September 4, 2019
BB. Leaving first then negotiating a deal was first proposed by EU Commissioner Donald Tusk back in 2016. Did you not know this?
It was not accepted by Mrs May for reasons unknown. It is clear that no one knew what was going on in her head and for strange personal thoughts, she kept it that way.
September 3, 2019
Any government elected before the Brexit deadline of 31/10/19 will probably be an uneasy coalition based on one issue; what happens when they have to consider something else?
There’s only two realistic ways forward; No Deal exit on 31/10/19 or Revoke Article 50, which the remainers in Parliament haven’t got the guts to propose.
Forcing an extension or blocking “No Deal” is a complete waste of time, it will achieve nothing because Parliament cannot agree a way forward and is in deadlock, it’s just a way to make the people of the UK so sick of the whole issue that revoking Article 50 when it eventually sneaks in. will become a relief. It also raises enormous questions over the way that UK democracy operates.
They are basically destroying the UK to maintain the integrity of the EU. Remainers say that Leavers were misled by lies, but I don’t remember the Remain campaign saying that if we dared to vote to leave they would do everything in their power to render it useless; I must have missed that bit in the referendum leaflet and in the 2017 Conservative manifesto.
September 3, 2019
Good Morning
Agreed. Parliament is clearly in a mess and has become a non-functioning entity.
We might have been in a better position if MP’s stuck by their manifestos. The election pledges have just become hollow words to gain power without any recognition as to the responsibility that goes with them.
It would also help the integrity of the whole of the HoC if an individual MP in wanting to change from the party they were elected to serve went back to their constituents to seek a new mandate. As it stands ALL MP’s are seen as charlatans and deceitful liars. I would guess the majority are not but all the time they permit this deceit they get tainted with the same brush.
All the recent phrases of ‘we don’t believe you’ and ‘Parliament against the People’ are getting confirmed as each day passes.
September 3, 2019
Ian, Yes, it must become law that if an MP (or Councillor) decides to change party, there must be a bye-election.
September 4, 2019
and they must individually carry the costs of the by-election.
September 3, 2019
There is talk by remainers that if they succeed today in their attempt to pass legislation through Parliament to delay Brexit, then they will vote against any GE taking place until Brexit has been delayed.
[BTW, the current Brexit delaying proposal would force the PM to accept any length of delay that the EU wanted.]
BJ has said that he will not allow Brexit to be extended past the current date of 31/10.
So does this mean that he intends to ignore any Brexit delaying legislation passed by Parliament ?
According to an article in Guido Fawkes yesterday (10:22 am) there is precedent for this and Tony Blair has himself used this power on a number of occasions to block legislation of which he did not approve.
Or will he use this power to force the remainers to vote for a GE ?
September 3, 2019
While I understand not voting with your own party on some issues is part of the process. As long as they are not the principles you were elected to support – i.e. your manifesto pledge.
However, supporting a Bill that sets out to defeat your own party and goes against your own manifesto is clearly a point at which you are dismissed from your party. It also means you should be going back to your electorate for a new mandate.
Some MP’s want it all ways for their own egos, but not accept the responsibility.
September 3, 2019
The EU split in the CP has been clear since Major’s election win in 1992. What if he had lost? A very different UK would have emerged. BJ is unreliable and he has gone down the wrong line since being PM. No deal and 2359 hours strategy is the only serious option. His approach is hogwash and if there is an election the hard core leavers (one third of EU voters) could vote BP with hard core remainers voting Labour/SNP/LD etc which could give them 350 seats and historians in 25 years would be asking what if BJ had linked with NF.
September 3, 2019
The current round of voting intention polling would equate, in a GE, to a 60+ Tory majority. I’m not quite sure which reality your scenario is based on. ‘Could vote’ is not the same as will vote and the polls currently suggest your assertions are incorrect. However, further polling in the coming days ‘could’ be enlightening!
September 3, 2019
Today’s a day for us all to brush up on our knowledge of ‘Royal CONSENT’. BrexitCentral has a good article on the subject. I trust some minister will find time to read it.
September 3, 2019
All true as far as it goes, but we seem to be faced with a real possibility that the Remainders will be able to force (at least) another delay in leaving the EU. A general election is a far better option than that. Boris should pull out all the stops to make sure there is one. If there is, and Brexit is the priority, he would be well advised to seek an electoral pact with the Brexit Party, uncomfortable as that may be.
September 3, 2019
I’m not angry. I voted for my local Labour candidate. It didn’t take a genius to work out she was my best bet of thwarting Brexit, or at least the most extreme version of it. Labour may have said it wanted to abide by the referendum result but you only had to read her literature to know she was going to do everything in her power to oppose it. Isn’t this the democratic system of governance you claim to so admire, operating exactly as it should? Or are you claiming Labour are a bunch of liars. If so, I’d say that was a bit rich coming from a supporter of the current incumbent of No 10.
September 3, 2019
Toffeboy, You are conveniently forgetting we had a Referendum on the single issue of Remaining in the EU or Leaving the EU. The people were asked by Parliament itself for their decision. We gave it. It is not for MPs to then thwart will of the people.
September 3, 2019
Labour are nothing more than opportunists who have movable principles. For 3 years they have been calling for an election, but now one is looking like being in the offing they are backing off.
September 3, 2019
Interesting times.
To be revealed shortly.
If remoaner Tory MPs defy the Tory whip and if the whip is removed, then âŠ.
September 3, 2019
We would already be out of the EU had you and your fellow “Spartans” not voted to stop it
September 3, 2019
Villaking, No, we would not be out of the EU if MPs had voted for May’s dWA. Read it. Rather than “out”, the dWA would have locked us back in to the EU, and under worse conditions than current membership.
September 3, 2019
That just goes to show how little you understand about the subject. The WA was designed to prevent the UK from achieving a real exit from the EU. Our host voted it down, to try to ensure that we will actually leave with no continuing political ties.
September 3, 2019
From Politico:
“Wednesday: The Commission will publish a checklist to help companies make final preparations. Plus, it will propose using two instruments of the EU budget â the European Solidarity Fund and the European Globalization Adjustment Fund â to mitigate the impact of no deal, to support companies and their employees most affected.
Budgetary risks: The Commission will also propose mirroring âfor the year 2020 the existing 2019 contingency arrangements for the fisheries sector and with regard to the potential participation of the United Kingdom in the EU budget for 2020.â Translation: Brussels is preparing for cuts to the 2020 EU budget and extra contributions by EU countries.
What does that mean? Budget Commissioner GĂŒnther Oettinger has said in the past that half of the missing U.K. contributions to the EU budget will be absorbed by cuts and the other half by additional contributions from the 27 other countriesâ purses â the latter amounting to almost âŹ11 billion for next year.”
Half is eleven billion?
September 3, 2019
Hammond always talks about a smooth transition, what world does he live in ?
The British people were fully aware that Brexit would produce challenges for sometime
and still they voted to leave
September 3, 2019
and your point is?
September 3, 2019
Boris should’nt have taken Rudd back,bad move.
September 3, 2019
But the point, Mr Redwood, is that your party has been unable to deliver the result of the referendum because the referendum result is undeliverable.
Vote Leave won narrowly by promising that we would leave the EU with an agreement which would make our country better and stronger. This was never true.
Sure, we can leave. But you promised Brexit would be better and it wonât be. So much so that when reality Brexit came to the House you and other Brexiteers voted against it. Three times.
This is clearly because you are all too proud to admit you were wrong. I get it. 30 years you had believed in something and it turns out that, all along, it was a dud.
This is why Brexiteers in Parliament are all so angry. They are too proud to admit they screwed up. Never mind. We all know it anyway.
September 3, 2019
So I have been getting ready for Brexit – with the governmentâs swanky ÂŁ100m website tool. (Maybe we should have funded the NHS instead).
Anyway – as a regular driver in the EU I note three things.
1) I will now need a Green Card from my insurer which I havenât needed for 20 years. Some insurers charge an admin fee for this. I wonder if prominent Brexit ………..
2) I now need an International Driving Licence. Actually I need more than one because different EU countries accept different versions.
3) I now need a GB sticker on my car. Which will damage the paintwork.
Now none of this will cost very much. ÂŁ10 for the driving licences. ÂŁ5 for the photos. ÂŁ20 or so for the Green Card admin. ÂŁ5 for the sticker. But the point is that this is money I now need to spend because of your Brexit which I did not need to spend before. It is also hassle I have to deal with because of your pointless Brexit red tape. You promised less red tape remember – and you have created much more.
And in this area what sovereignty have you gained Mr Redwood? The power to stipulate regulations for GB stickers? Multiple this by every aspect of life and you see why the Brexiteers are presiding over such a car crash.
September 4, 2019
Odd because my insurer has written telling me a “green card” will be available to download off their website for free.
A GB sticker has been required over the years we have been in the EU or a number plate with it on.
The UK and EU are talking about the need for international driving licences so it will probably not be required.
For example UK drivers in America only need their UK licence.
PS
Andy is this the best you can come up with?
September 3, 2019
I voted to leave in the Referendum. I was not surprised when the EU demanded money as a condition of us leaving but thought the amount ridiculous. I presume that Germany let it be known that she was not going to make up the shortfall . Obviously the EU have been doing what they can to keep us in and the remainers plus the BBC led media have been their loyal partners . I had almost given up until Boris and Dominic took over. Now the future is looking brighter and I do hope they will occasionally mention the monetary benefits of leaving .
September 3, 2019
Parliament is such a mess at the moment I really wouldn’t want to vote for any of the rabble we have. If I could be sure the Brexit Party would stand a chance then I would vote for them. This country needs change and badly. I don’t think many of us will have any respect for any party the rate it’s going. Politicians have gone down in people’s expectations a lot recently and it will take a complete change of attitude for us to trust any of them again. What a sad time for this country and all because we have liars, traitors and people who do not respect democracy any more.
September 3, 2019
The only sensible thing to do now is to revoke A50 and leave it for another generation. Most of us campaigning for Leave are past middle age and won’t be around in another twenty years- so my guess is to better leave it for the young ones to decide- they can review and decide what they want in say thirty or forty years time.
September 3, 2019
NONSENSE. The EU will not exist in 30 to 40 years time.
September 4, 2019
‘Will the UK still exist?’ might be a more relevant question, unfortunately.
September 3, 2019
Halfway, So it’s too difficult for you? Funny that most of the world isn’t in the EU, and doesn’t mind about it.
September 3, 2019
The more things change, the more they stay the same and I agree a general election may well produce no clear outcome regarding Brexit.
Eighty years on and once again Continental Europe is a cause of grief here, only on this occasion we are over-supplied with Quislings and they seem willing to act in the open.
September 3, 2019
Formula57, We cannot, unfortunately, completely ignore the EU. But we can change our main focus to the rest of the world, and forget about Europe as much as possible.
September 3, 2019
Today as soon as parliament opens the PM needs to declare a ââno-condifence ââ vote in his own government and re-affirm the government commitment to ââno-dealââ and leaving on the 31st OctoberâŠ..this will push Labour into a general election or commit the hold house to a ââno-dealââ
September 3, 2019
People still don’t get it! Unfortunately our MP also doesn’t get it! Yes, many people don’t want to leave the EU, but most people have accepted that the majority voted to leave (albeit based on a string of lies). The issue is that NOBODY voted to jump off a cliff without a parachute – also known as no deal. Most people with a brain cell and any form of economic understanding will realise that leaving with no deal is very bad in the short and medium term. Most of those who think it will be OK, including our local MP, are wealthy enough to ride the storm, but the irony is that most of those who want to leave aren’t. Everyone wants this pathetic saga to end and I’m all for working towards a deadline – but ruining a country to meet a deadline is childish, arrogant, ignorant and very stupid.
September 3, 2019
The MSM are now reporting that Labour says there can be no General Election unless there is a Law we can’t leave the EU without a deal.
If anyone was in doubt about how the EU runs the UK through their servants in Parliament that should now be erased
Next up is a another referendum, The EU way is you keep going until you get the answer aligned with your master wishes.
September 3, 2019
NO DEAL, WTO, GET THE BREXIT PARTY ACCORD. YOU CAN DO IT BORRIS!
ONE HOUR OF FREEDOM IS WORTH GENERATIONS OF SERVITUDE
September 3, 2019
Purge the Tory party of all MPs determined to bring down a Tory government and replace it with politicians who believe in Marxist totalitarianism because that’s what this country will get if Hammond, Bercow and other members of their grubby ilk get their way
Now is not the time to step back from the fight. Johnson must act with the brutality of a leader determined to take back control from a cabal of pro-EU, red-Tories
Let’s have less of the polite Tory crap. Less of the Gentleman’s club nonsense. This country’s future is at stake.
September 3, 2019
It is very difficult to comment on uncertainties when the situation will be resolved in a few hours time, but my feeling is that any new Parliament will be better than the present one, and if rebelling Conservatives cause an election, it looks likely that they will not be part of it, which can only be a benefit.
September 3, 2019
Dear Sir John, How sad to see three former ministers of long-standing in your party putting their names to the EU extension Bill. This Bill explicitly requires the Prime Minister to do the opposite to what he promised to Conservative MPs, Conservative Party members and the country only a few weeks ago, the very promise on which the majority of Conservative MPs and party members backed him to be their next leader. Under these circumstances, it is hard to see how they could represent your party either in Parliament or in any future election while Mr Johnson remains your leader.
September 3, 2019
I find it astonishing that although the MSM have wall-to-wall coverage of this issue, they hardly ever mention the EU’s part in this – all the blame falls on our own Parliament. I have had a great deal of training in Problem Solving (which of course entails looking for root causes of problems). There is little doubt that there are two key root causes of the mess that we’re in. The first is the Fixed Term Parliament Act, badly drafted and making a complete mess of the Confidence Vote Procedures that had served us well over generations. But the second, rarely mentioned, is that the EU refused to discuss a trade agreement until AFTER we had left the EU. This was a completely arbitrary move, which our previous PM should never have agreed. It is quite possible that if we had negotiated trade together with all the other issues such as money, ECJ, status of immigrants etc, we may well have a real ‘deal’ to vote on by now, rather than this arbitrary treaty, referred to all the time as a ‘deal’ but which is nothing of the kind.
September 3, 2019
JR
I agree with your analysis but rather than join the outrage that I share with others frustrated by the betrayal of the popular vote…I have this question for you.
Do you think modern Parliamentarians are frightened and not independently able to command a country without the direction from the EU?
September 4, 2019
David Slavin
Yes, terrified more like it. Without the eu they have to accept full responsibility and accountability.
September 3, 2019
The BBC yesterday made the following political statement:
The prime minister is wrong to claim the UK’s negotiating power is dependent on a credible no deal threat and is weakened purely by rebel MPs’ push to prevent a no-deal Brexit by 31 October.
Source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-49553654
I would urge everyone to be aware that the BBC is a powerful political player.
September 3, 2019
Boris has looked like a man with a plan up to now, so I was surprised that he seemed to be talking of elections yesterday.
Many people are not aware that the legislative process is not as simple as HoC –> HoL.
At the beginning there is a need for Royal Consent (if a Bill affects HMQ or PoW). At the end there is Royal Assent.
This is not a matter of involving the queen, she acts on advice of ministers so for assent they normally simply have an authorised minister nod the government’s assent for a Bill to proceed. However, it is not a given. In 1999 Blair’s government refused consent for a private members Bill to proceed which would prevent the govt going to war in Iraq without parliament having a say.
A number of other Bills over the years have been refused assent (at the back end) with the queen simply acting on ministers’ advice.
Guido has full details here: https://order-order.com/2019/09/02/labour-governments-forced-queen-block-numerous-bills/
So – why has Johnson seemingly played along when he doesn’t have to? Or at least given the impression that he will play along, as May did…
Well, if they refuse consent and it never starts, how will they smoke out those who are prepared to vote against their own govt? What I hope he’s up to is to nod consent then remove the Tory whip from the rebels once they show themselves, then refuse assent at the back end.
Now he can carry on as a minority government until after 31/10 then call a GE with Brexit in the bag and the BXP having no further relevance. That would be an excellent strategy, job done, 5 more years.
Ofc if they try a VoNC he will wait the 14 days, hold a confidence vote in himself then if he loses, recommend to HMQ that there’s an election, for which he will name the date in November.
September 3, 2019
This sentence in my post above was mistyped:
“This is not a matter of involving the queen, she acts on advice of ministers so for assent they normally simply have an authorised minister nod the governmentâs assent for a Bill to proceed.”
It should of course read:
“This is not a matter of involving the queen, she acts on advice of ministers so for CONSENT they normally simply have an authorised minister nod the governmentâs CONSENT for a Bill to proceed.”
September 3, 2019
Sir John, in common with many I had a sleepless night last night and am feeling utterly dejected.
I am pinning my hopes on Boris having a plan, including refusing to send the traitorous proposed bill, which would hand to the EU the right to keep us locked in the Eu forever, for Royal Consent, which isnât must surely need as it will cost us billions in extra membership fees.
Then they can vote him out of office if they object to his doing this, then, hopefully, a pact with the BP not to get in each otherâs way.
That we are having this de facto second ref at all if heartbreaking.
And if we fail at the last to make our MPs do as they promise I fear the worse for a country, once a proud democracy, reduced to sitting on the naughty step of the EU and held up around the world as an example of what happens when you try to escape.
September 3, 2019
What will be intolerable is if this rotten parliament, indulged by its rotten Speaker, takes No Deal off the table and prevents a General Election from taking place. There will then be only one thing for it – do nothing and announce on Friday 1st November that the UK has (factual, past tense) left the European Union.
If the Commons passes a law demanding that the Prime Minister must ask for a further extension to Article 50, then the Prime Minister must write a vituperative letter to the Presidents of the European Commission and the European Parliament saying what a rotten institution the EU is and giving chapter and verse as to how we intend to be totally disruptive of the EU’s budgetary plans, with liberal use of our vetoes and filibustering capabilities. An extension will presumably be denied.
September 3, 2019
In the event of a General Election, the Conservatives Party MUST do a deal with the Brexit Party. It is foolhardy for the Conservatives to think they will win a huge number of Labour seats on Brexit alone – especially in traditional (Labour supporting) Northern areas. With it increasingly likely a “Remain Alliance” will be formed between Lib Dems/Greens/Change UK and possibly Labour, it would be utter madness for the leave side (a “Leave Alliance”) not to do the same.
Brexit needs to be taken over the line. It won’t happen if two parties that want the same thing are contesting each other. Farage has already made the offer, it is now for BoJO to accept this offer.
One thing is for certain, the Conservative Party can kiss goodbye to itself if Brexit ISN’T delivered!
September 4, 2019
I agree, but by making the rebels show their true nature, then expelling them, Boris has shown that the Tory party really is a Brexit party now, that might be enough to win back many Brexit party supporters like myself. Still need an alliance though, the Tories should indeed stand back in the North, if for no,other reason than the BP has some stonking candidates.
September 3, 2019
Shock horror, Sir John’s face is covered with flour after the revelation today that the prorogation by the PM is nothing more (as stated by numerous media on 29/08) than an effort to cut short discussions in Parliament. Yes, another of Sir John’s discombobulations? What a lark.
September 3, 2019
Gosh, Hefner, such a huge and shocking surprise to see politicians using political tactics to fight political wars …. or is it only acceptable when it’s done by a group you support?
I’d say the current Speaker set the HoC behaviour dial to ‘nasty’ quite some time ago, what a surprise that the House has followed suit!
September 4, 2019
‘Is it only acceptable when it’s done by a group you support?’
You might be among the enlightened ones and accept the rules of the game. Have you tried to count the number of people who fail to do so on this blog and appear to take Sir John’s daily offerings as coming from The Good Book. I would never have thought so many people could be so gullible so many times.
September 4, 2019
Whilst you hefner are never taken in by the endless stream of pro EU broadcasts and press articles.
How clever you are.
September 6, 2019
Obviously not. And you?
September 3, 2019
I cannot understand how it is so easy to wrong a right in Parliament but so very difficult to right a wrong.
We elected to leave the EU and were promised to be obeyed by ALL Parties. A huge majority in Parliament voted to accept Article 50 and the Withdrawal Act of 2018. So how is it that certain MPs can now challenged the very laws they have already accepted? We have been wronged.
Is there nothing in our Constitution or the Bill of Rights from the 17th Century that protects the people from such a corruption of power?
If there is a will there must be a way to right the very bad wrongs that have happen to us since 2016.
Failure to abide by OUR decision to leave the EU could well end up as a protracted civil war with or without arms.
September 3, 2019
Sir John – I don’t think it’s helpful for a local Conservative Association to send out an email to members (as happened today) claiming that the Prime Minister’s priorities are:
1. Getting Brexit done by 31st October, with a great new deal for Britain.
2. Making sure Britain is prepared for a no deal, as the best way to get a great new deal.
Firstly, because any email is immediately read by the EU, who will note that Boris’s primary aim is an EU deal, and he does not actually want us to leave without one. It also tells them that no-deal preparations are only a feint.
Even without this confirmatory information, the EU already knows that the government is held captive by the remainer parliament, which is determined to allow the voters as little chance as possible to alter that balance.
Brussels has encouraged the constitutional crisis by offering the ex-Chancellor the legal advice he sought on framing the rebel bill. (If you read Section 3 carefully, you can even see the stylistic fingerprints of the Commission’s drafters in the wording of the provisions.)
This alone should be a ground for deselection.
September 3, 2019
Well mancunius it’s me signing off- can only say it was fun- ‘stylistic fingerprints’ indeed
September 4, 2019
PS – I see Hammond has today admitted having consulted EU legal experts to help draft his Bill, confirming my suspicion.
And following removal of the whip, will not be standing again as a Conservative – together with the twenty other rebels.
This will actually enhance the Conservative Party’s national chances at the next election. (And locally, I doubt the voters of Weybridge will be emboldened to vote for Mr Corbyn.)
September 3, 2019
So everyone’s friend in Bracknell is now a liberal democrat ( A contradiction) as the MP stuffs it to his electorate. Leave by 53.9% say his constituents.
Did the People of Bracknell know they were voting liberal? Of course not, another MP in situ under false pretense’s by blatantly lying to his voters. Another MP kicking his sponsors and his workers in the teeth. I guess he did it in the name of democracy, a democracy of one against the many. Total contempt for the people of Bracknell.
There is now no way the UK people or Boris will get Brexit or a GE. A GE will be like asking turkeys to vote for Christmas.
September 3, 2019
I have no doubt right now that a GE will not occur early since the conservative majority has disappeared.
Brexit though is the only question though, if a GE were held after leaving the EU with no WA I have no doubt the conservative party would win it. It sounds like the hard core of remainers will be driven out of the conservative party. I won’t miss them as I see no purpose for a MP who wants the EU to make all the decisions.
September 4, 2019
Gareth Warren
Do any of us?
September 3, 2019
Boris has set a trap and the fools have walked right into it. Bring on general election ASAP.
A deal with BP!
September 3, 2019
Well I have to say I’m truly disgusted by the remain traitors. Their arrogance is staggering. Corbyn says he’s ready for a general election. Obviously therefore either confident the public would be stupid enough to vote Labour, or he’s lying through his front teeth to try and save face. Either way I think he’s believing his own bullshit.
I hope there will be an election, there will be a lot of egg on a lot of remain faces.
September 3, 2019
Parliament is so corrupt and undemocratic that I would be worried about a future GE being rigged, ie. an unusual amount of postal votes, ballot boxes going missing for hours, etc. Trust has been completely destroyed and only a clean Brexit can restore it.
September 4, 2019
Shirley.
Correct
September 3, 2019
Breaking News
LibDem politician moves across the House to the LibDems.
September 3, 2019
JR, the reason why Oliver Letwin and othesr can get away spouting such rubbish in the House of Commons is because under the premiership of Boris Johnson Michael Gove has allowed such rubbish to pass completely unchallenged day after day just as happened when Theresa May was Prime Minister, and to be honest I now increasingly question whether he or Boris Johnson really want to leave the EU any more than she does. “Rapid rebuttal unit” – what a joke, but a sick joke for those of us who genuinely want to leave the EU.
September 3, 2019
Can the govt ask the Queen not to give Royal Assent to the bill if itâs passed, may as well throw a constitutional crisis into the mix at this point as we have had every other type of politics shenanigans and drama from the remainers over the last 3 years
September 3, 2019
Listening to the people in parliament it is striking how dire the quality of our political class is.
The parties really have to up their game in the standard of people they are selecting as candidates.
September 3, 2019
It must be divine intervention. Why would Philip Lee decide this morning of all mornings during the last 3 years, or more, that he identifies as a Libdem?
Nothing to do with him reneging on his promises to the electorate he served, and to the party he got elected with. He even managed to time his revelation to the short period of the PM addressing the House.
September 3, 2019
Our host declined to include my summation of what I thought about the ‘honourable member’…..some of you might guess.
September 3, 2019
A case of “Regardez-Moi” to ensure his burnish his poor self image of himself – I doubt he would ever fall on his sword – bit of a coward me thinks – jumping before being ejected by the Democratic Boot aka the Order of the Boot – the best antidote for Delusions of Grandeur.
September 4, 2019
The timing was obviously prearranged, as the Leader of the LibDems had kept an adjacent seat free for him before he appeared in the Chamber. When he took his seat there she did not even pretend the slightest degree of surprise.
Some MPs love to self-dramatise. I noticed a lot of thespian antics today with MPs mimicking terror and extreme anxiety about the idea of independent WTO trading. They think they’re Laurence Olivier, but they’re more like Donald Wolfit.
September 3, 2019
Fred H
Phillip Lee, hmm….. I hope his constituents give him a mighty spanking.
September 4, 2019
I believe there is already a LibDem candidate who stood in 2015 and 2017; but in case they adopt him – the LibDems polled about 7.5% last time.
September 3, 2019
Am afraid Boris and Cummings have overstepped the mark- gone to far with proroging for five weeks and now threatening to expel fellow party members. Well the truth will out- the tide has turned- wonder what the rest of you ERG crowd are going to do now and while I’m at it someone should tell JRM to sit up straight show the House some respect
September 4, 2019
I’m glad Boris, Dominic C and JRM are enraging our multi-ID poster. That is the purpose.
And now the rebels are no longer Conservative MPs. The tide has indeed turned – but not quite as the remainers anticipated. :-))
September 3, 2019
Robert Courts Conservative MP for Whitney argued tonight that to vote against the government will actually ensure that any deal will become impossible to get with the EU and just kicks the can further down the road as the EU will just need to say we don’t agree to what deal UK proposes.
All the Remaining twitterings as Frankie Howerd would say were trying to assert their twisted views on what constitutes democracy, upside down thinking as the empty vassals I prefer to call them brainwashed by years of alcoholic washed brains cushioned from the outside world on the gravy train now arriving at the end of the line!
Poor things. I noticed it was even sending Oliver Left wing to sleep as well as JRM.
Tonight the HOC Asylum is in full swing.
September 3, 2019
Well basically, that’s it then. We are not leaving without a deal. What deal? The only deal that was on offer from the EU has been turned down by our illustrious politicians so what deal do they want? The EU has said that no other deal is on the table so what do they expect to happen now? Stay in? What the hell has this farce been about. I am disgusted. Unless Boris can win an election it’s all been for nothing and we will be tied to the EU for good, paying more money to be dictated to by bloody Germany. The whole thing stinks. Where is Guy Fawkes when we need him?
September 3, 2019
I am certain that many of the remain clowns, currently performing in Westminster, think that this leaving deal they crave for is all about trade. I too, would prefer to have such a deal before our Oct 31st exit but the EU are having none of it. Do they ever listen to what is being said by Barnier & co in Brussels?
September 3, 2019
Given Hammond let it slip in a interview he was get advice and help from the EU to block Brexit, it is now clear that the agents of Brussels run and dictate what the UK do
The preconditions coming from same sources to only permit a GE if we effectively stay in the EU shows just how corrupt this parliament has become.
It leaves Boris no choice but to sit tight until May 2022, when things can be done on rational terms
September 4, 2019
”… until May 2022…” And give them lots of time to think up even more ways of tying us into their EU? And to continue to pay lots more money into the coffers of the failing ‘project’, that ever-gaping maw?
And to watch as Italy’s problems, and others’ with the Euro, become our problems too?
Yes, great idea.
September 3, 2019
I watched with some amusement Corbyn’s face as he really didn’t look comfortable with Boris pinning that treasonous bill to pass control to the EU over our brexit leave date.
A large number of labour supporters want brexit, just supporting the bill will lose him the north of England, the depths he has plunged in the pursuit of power will haunt him politically. Now also we have many conservative MPs voting with labour – kick them out, along with Aaron Banks deselection campaign and we have a conservative party we can believe in.
A GE is very likely, hopefully with a WTO brexit. Lets clear the Sourberry’s, the Chucka’s and the Hammonds out of parliament and get a government that truly believes in Britain.
September 3, 2019
Brexit! The gift that keeps on giving! We have a bunch of anti democratic MPs running Parliament and a government that is powerless! You canât even call an election because âthey’ wonât vote for it. Stalemate. We no longer have a government! The mind boggles.
September 3, 2019
The UK is not a democracy.
The executive cannot act.
The majority is ignored.
No election will be ‘allowed’.
The military will not intervene to restore democracy.
September 3, 2019
Right, who has got the list of those up for deselection?
September 4, 2019
There is a list of the 21 renegades over on Brexit Central.
September 4, 2019
Hammond,Gauke,Grieve,Clarke(K),Letwin,Greening,Stewart,Clark,Sandbach,Gyimah,Burt, Hammond(S),Soames,James,Bebb, Harrington,Nokes,Vaizey,Brine,Milton,Benyon.
September 4, 2019
The problem we now have is the FTPA, which has created a situation where a government can be held effectively in hostage. It cannot act, but cannot call a general election. Apparently Speaker Bercow is imposing a constitution in which the executive becomes the creature of arbitrary parliamentary votes. He has effectively destroyed the whole process of government.
Is there any process by which a speaker may be demonstrated to have exceeded his powers or acted unconstitutionally, and be removed, or his rulings rejected? He has created a constitutional paradox.
September 4, 2019
What would happen, once the rebels are refused the whip, if Boris resigned as PM?
September 4, 2019
As our own treacherous Parliament has delivered the timing and any terms of Brexit to the EU, I am now presuming that our Brexit decision has been successfully overturned. The EU don’t need to offer a good deal and they don’t need to offer a leaving date without one. Unless there’s an end clause to this process I presume we’ve now handed full sovereignty to the EU.
I’ve said before that we have far too many lawyers in Parliament. They’re trained to win, not to worry about its consequences and they haven’t a clue what they’ve done.
From where I am, our country has just been surrendered in its entirety to a foreign power. Will our wise Queen refuse to allow this true constitutional outrage and be our saviour after all?
September 4, 2019
You say: ‘There is no guarantee the voters would create a good majority for one single view of Brexit in any new Parliament.’ Is that supposed to be an argument against holding an election? When is there any guarantee of a majority from a general election? Of course Johnson wants one! How else does a government without a majority get its business through? The country needs an executive – without a parliamentary majority there is no functioning executive. All your decades as an MP, and you haven’t got out of the political nursery!
September 4, 2019
Oh goodness I haven’t wanted C4 news for a while but my husband has it on, heâs just said to me 35 minutes in and there has been no contrary opinion to the remoaners being presented one after the other in words of fear mongering , derogatory messages, and one sided arguments. They are treating this issue like a dictatorship – Iâve turned it over before he bursts a blood vessel.