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Brexit

Westminstenders: Stalemate

958 replies

RedToothBrush · 17/01/2019 20:54

After May's Meaningless Vote defeat and Corbyns Pointless Vote for Your Own Party defeat we are well and truly at Stalemate.

May has invited other parties to come and talk to her to find a compromise. Except she has so many red lines all she is asking is for everyone else to compromise whilst she gets exactly what she wants.

Corbyn made a tactical error in not initially speaking to May, so now she gets to say that its Labour who are being difficult and not wanting to work together in the national interest.

Corbyn has in addition put down the red line of saying he won't talk to May until she agrees to drop no deal. Except since no deal is the default until an alternative solution is agreed! Corbyn is expecting May to say that she would revoke if there was no alternative agreed, whilst is isn't really reasonable from a compromise point of view.

They are as bad as each other. Both too stubborn for the country to move forward. Its long been said that they were alike in this respect, but having it put to the test about which is more stubborn has the potential to destory the country in the process.

In addition to this, Leadsom has removed all other Brexit related HoC business from the schedule until after the 29th January. This is a blantant attempt to try and stop backbenchers having the opportunity to table pesky amendments which the government don't like.

The 29th January is due to be the Meaningless Vote II. Given that May has made it clear that in her head 'compromise' means 'do exactly what I want and capitulate' it looks like the Withdrawal Agreement will be represented to parliament to vote on with little change. Perhaps with a few amendments there designed to attract support, though it remains to be seen where this support will come from given the spectulator level of the rejection the HoC gave it. May's Plan is literally to run the clock down and hold a gun of no deal to the head of remain leaning MPs or to scare Brexiteers by suggesting that she might revoke or there might be an extension.

Its beyond farce.

Of course the role of the Speaker becomes paramount.

Technically speaking no bill can be presented to the HoC twice in the same parliament. Its against the rules. So how is May going to get around this, and will the Speaker indeed allow it?

The Speaker may also try and help backbenchers out by allowing amendments and motions to be tabled outside the normal rules. Normally the government alone control the majority of parliamentary time, with the opposition parties being given so many debates depending on whether they are the official opposition and then according to their size. Backbenchers don't tend to get much parliamentary time. However the Speaker's actions last week showed he was willing to be creative and bend the rules to allow backbenchers more influence and power than under normal circumstances because of the way that the Executive was trying to frustrate the house. So not timetabling any further Brexit Business between now and the 29th January seems a sure fire way to have the Government straight on course for another run in with Bercow.

So what next:

Do not forget that whatever happens May has to agree to it, or we go to no deal. Whether that be a 2nd Ref, Revoking, Staying in the Customs Union, Norway + or Any Other Alternative May has to agree to it on some level.

Backbenchers can table amendments all day long to 'guide' or put pressure on May but they may not be able stop her ultimately. Boles, Grieve, Benn and Cooper seem to be the ones to watch.

So May's stubborness is the biggest barrier and issue there is to preventing No Deal.

Corbyn, whilst he might well be very right to avoid getting sucked into May's trap, isn't helping matters with his own stubborness. His priority is party politics and stopping the Labour Party from splitting. Not solving Brexit.

There is not a shread of pragmatism nor thought for the national interest between them. Party before Country.

So we are to go through all of the last week, possibly with another vote of no confidence thrown in for good measure in another 12 days.

Won't that be fun?

OP posts:
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Hazardswans · 20/01/2019 00:12

Between bombs and medicine shortages let's hope we all make it to the summer...

LonelyandTiredandLow · 20/01/2019 07:41

energy supply this makes me so cross. Rely on Gove to be forward thinking? Assume funds after this chaos of Brexit? We need politicians with at the very least a degree in the positions they hold.

borntobequiet · 20/01/2019 08:07

People in Europe have always liked the Irish better than the English (generic term for Brits in the 70s), IMO.
When travelling in my teens/20s I always said I was Irish (though carried a GB passport) as people were much nicer to me then. Once, having hitched a lift across the Massif Central, I saw painted in big letters across a drystone wall, miles from anywhere, VIVE IRLANDE LIBRE! That was in 1973 I think.

LonelyandTiredandLow · 20/01/2019 08:20

Feeling guilty for merely thinking it, but if we return to 80s style over here...I wonder if they will target leaver groups this time around. After all it's that group that fucked thisballup and are threatening violence if we no Brexit.

prettybird · 20/01/2019 09:40

OMG - this thread is nearly full and I haven't even managed to PMK.

That's what comes of having a life outside of Brexit and coming to London for the weekend to see the Warriors play Saracens. Shock

Sostenueto · 20/01/2019 13:57

Tory party chairman was asked about branches advised to get ready for a GE. His reply was if there was to be a GE he would be one of the first to know and he knows nothing about a GE.

BigChocFrenzy · 20/01/2019 15:07

Sam Coates Times@SamCoatesTimes
·
Team Corbyn

Split with Keir Starmer?

Asked whether they agree with Keir Starmer’s comments Labour would “have to accept” a backstop,
a Labour spokesman declined to repeat his words and said “we would not fall into it”
.......
Labour

Here is shadow brexit Secretary Keir Starmer on the backstop - and how Labour will reluctantly accept it

Is this compromise the most important thing to happen today?

Westminstenders: Stalemate
Westminstenders: Stalemate
Sostenueto · 20/01/2019 15:14

Nope because on the interview he wasn't ascertaining to Mays deal but to whatever arrangements in either another deal or WTO rules. ( I think)

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