Westminstenders: Rebel or Reveal

[RedToothBrush]

The EU Withdrawal Bill made it through the Commons. Though May did not manage it unscathed.

In an attempt to divide and conquer the Rebels, May might have damaged trust. We shall find out. The Grieve Amendment faces the Lords. We also will see if the Lords will back down on their amendments or apply some new ones for the Commons to deal with in Parliamentary Ping Pong.

Aaron Banks has been exposed as being pally with the Russian Embassy in a plot twist that absolutely everyone saw coming.

Meanwhile the EU thinks we have already run out of time and is preparing options to extend talks beyond the a50 deadline. These include having MEPs for the 2019 - 2024 session.

There is also growing talk around Europe that freedom of movement in its current form is unsustainable. Ironically we might see the EU adopt something akin to Cameron's pre-referendum proposals as the EU reforms.

Theresa May has also announced - at a moment when she is looking particularly weak - a new tax for the NHS, cunningly disguised in spin as 'the Brexit dividend'. Of course shareholders don't always get dividends and at times of poor economic performance instead might be asked to stump up extra capital...Expect to see buses with £350 million of the side just in time for the next general election cycle.

And so the Zombie PM limbers on towards the end of the summer session and the relative safety of the summer holidays. More drama, cringing and disbelief guaranteed before we get there.

Very belated place mark

Are there likely to be enough Tory rebels to defeat the government ?

Good question. I'll tell you the answer at 3pm

Humans as bargaining chips.

The Maria Braun of Maidenhead must be proud.

I Can’t Go Without My Son,’ a Mother Pleaded as She Was Deported to Guatemala

As a growing number of families are separated as part of the Trump administration’s attempt to control illegal immigration, some parents are being deported before recovering their children

www.nytimes.com/2018/06/17/us/immigration-deported-parents.html

Times reporting that the tories are whipping labour brexists.

@PickardJE
best guess for today is that a handful of Eurosceptic Labour MPs will save May’s skin
www.thetimes.co.uk/article/brexit-theresa-mays-in-final-effort-to-thwart-a-tory-rebellion-lfqhcc6f0 …

National socialists.

Kevin Schofield @PolhomeEditor
Labour source: "This vote looks extremely close. The Tories really could vote against May in numbers to give Parliament a meaningful vote. Imagine being the Labour MP that gives her a wafer thin majority."
www.politicshome.com/news/uk/political-parties/conservative-party/theresa-may/news/96143/theresa-may-piling-pressure

Laura Kuenssberg @bbclaurak
Today is a real Brexit test of nerve - not just for potential Tory rebels but for Labour leavers in Parliament as well - who wants to be Labour MP who saves May from a defeat by a handful of votes?

That Caroline Flint is a piece of work.

Could you not be a labour leaver that still wants Parliament to have a say in the final deal?

The UK is a tiny island that cannot feed itself (fact).
It therefore has to import significant quantities from 'abroad'.
Since the EU is apparently 'not good enough' who is it going to turn to to be a 'best buddy'?
China, Russia or the USA being the candidates that have sufficient to export over and above their own consumption.
Now none of these have a glowing HR reputation.

Someone commented a few pages ago about my assertion that the EU will be paying it's own high price for the UK leaving. I was meaning, and expressed badly that apart from the obvious figures that are bandied about EU based companies they will have to consider withdrawing manufacturing capability they have in the UK. Stopping production of Airbus wings and building new facilities within Europe will not be cheap and the same will apply to any large scale manufacturing. Airbus could I suppose offer relocation to the UK workers which would be beneficial to Airbus, retaining the skilled workforce.

@IanDunt
The energy sector - like pretty much every other sector - is starting to give up on the government's ability to offer answers on Brexit www.politics.co.uk/comment-analysis/2018/06/20/thickening-brexit-fog-obscures-future-for-uk-energy …

65 million 'human chips'.

As in 'bargaining' Although, with this lot, one never knows.

@BritainElects

Westminster voting intention:

LAB: 41% (+2)
CON: 38% (-1)
LDEM: 11% (+1)
UKIP: 4% (-)
GRN: 2% (-1)

via @BMGResearch, 05 - 08 Jun
Chgs. w/ 04 May

I forget if the new proposed Nuclear power station is going ahead or not. That was a French/Chinese collaboration.
I wonder if the French could/would pull out? I expect the Chinese would happily take full control but what strings would be attached?

Could you not be a labour leaver that still wants Parliament to have a say in the final deal?

I don't think Corbyn is anywhere near the everyman he plays at being if he thinks Labour can win a commons vote for the Tories when they are so decided.

I really can't see any of the Northern strongholds championing voting with the party of the miners strike - even if it is to back Brexit.

I really can't see any of the Northern strongholds championing voting with the party of the miners strike - even if it is to back Brexit.

I have to agree. I think the last election showed that - Brexit strongholds still returned Remain MPs.

I am not holding my breathe however, until the rebels actually do so. I too can't see why anyone objects to Parliamentary democracy.

Sorry Mother you are mistaken. This is a contest to see who can sit in the big chair at Westminster, the country going 'to the dogs' is not important.
If the country was important there would have been a cross party group set up years ago to understand and present all the intricacies and following the triggering of A50 unravel the mess and discuss the possible options with the EU parliament.

My point would be that the country has lost irrespective of whichever government.
It is now a case of 'how badly will we lose' but the infighting continues and the rest of the EU will get angrier as they are being forced to 'lose' too. It's as if far too many within government (on all sides) have no comprehension of the amount of damage already done and the remainder of the 'iceberg' that is yet to come.

Mother - I've amended your final paragraph slightly

....if they vote against this they are doing nothing for democracy - one of the things that was supposedly crucial to the whole brexit vote

norman smith @BBCNormanS
Last minute "meaningful vote" amendment tabled by Govt suggests minor panic stations in Govt ranks

Kevin Schofield @PolhomeEditor
Looking increasingly like enough Labour MPs will vote with the Government later to hand Theresa May victory. Then ... fireworks.

norman smith @BBCNormanS
Last gasp Govt "meaningful vote" amendment designed to crank up pressure on Tory rebels by forcing them to vote down a Govt motion. #highnoon #showdowntime

I am originally from a mining community area in the North East which is a Labour stronghold where the leave vote won. I can totally see the MP there voting with the government as his stance will be that he was voted in to represent the views of the people who vote for him, similar attitude to that of Dennis Skinner.