Westminstenders: The May Compromise

[RedToothBrush]

After a marathon cabinet meeting, which no one seems to have resigned from, May has had another podium moment.

This time instead of blaming everyone but herself, she's gone for the 'let's compromise approach' to Corbyn.

This comes after Nick Boles crossed the floor saying his side wasn't prepared to compromise on anything after May secretly whipped on a 'free' vote against him.

May also said she we needed more of an extension to the 22nd May but without promise of EU elections this means No Deal inevitable if May can't pass the WA by then. Provided EU allow an extension until then without EU elections.

She also hinted at respecting a majority idea over indicative votes, if she and Corbyn fail to agree - remembering she tried successfully to sabotage that last night.

Already many are saying this is a trap to ensnare others into the mess that is Brexit in the blame game. With no deal ultimately the end goal.

The idea that May can find a compromise with Corbyn seems a fantasy.

And the EU might have every reason to refuse a longer extension under the circumstances.

For May to compromise she surely would have to break the Tories to do it as Labour will only go for a soft option which is unacceptable to the ERG. Unless her idea of compromise is simply its the WA or No deal which it seems hard to conceive Labour going near with the realistic prospect of the next PM being a hardliner.

All in all it seems more likely to be a framing exercise in damage limitation rather than something which has more substance and a realistic prospect of working. And if that's really the case, it certainly would explain why no one's resigned yet.

Indicative Votes 3 and a pretty dodgy Cooper Amendment designed to be a last ditch attempt to prevent no deal are both scheduled.

Its desparation stakes and the EU more or less have us down as a failed state. And the pro Brexit bombs don't really add much optimist to the mood.

Lowering the tone
www.thedailymash.co.uk/politics/politics-headlines/may-told-pact-with-corbyn-could-destroy-tories-so-could-she-please-get-on-with-it-20190403184316

A manifesto isn't a commitment. It is a wish list.

Manifestos play an important part in getting legislation through the Lords, who are traditionally prevented from voting down a bill that is delivering a manifesto policy. Rather annoyingly it's not a mathematically complete situation, and the Lords can't veto a bill that reneges on a manifesto pledge.

@Sostenueto - Perhaps they should have put pictures up of uniformed or armed enemies to practise who they should be shooting at not unarmed civilians.

They're members of the paras. They have a bit of history in shooting innocent, unarmed civilians.

IF the talks with May & Corbyn produce agreement on a PD,
then my wish is:

that it would come with an amendment for a PV of this vs Remain
AND that both leaders agree to allow a free vote for all MPs, including the Cabinet & Shadow Cabinet

Embedding the PV in the bill might cause some softer Leave MPs to vote against it and we need to show the maximum agreement for the future - if the voters choose Leave -
including the need now to persuade the EU to grant an extension

If the amendment for PV passes, then it is not as serious if some softer leavers vote against,
once they have shown their support for the future relationship if we Brexit

Laura Kuenssberg
‏*@bbclaurak*
Just been sent this - said to be circulating now in Commons- motion that would censure the Prime Minister and some ministers and even dock their pay - not sure if this will pick up much support, but shows some Tories are very very angry this morning

At the end of the day, I think the value of a manifesto is political rather than constitutional, ie your opponents can question why you have ditched something that was in your manifesto, and at the next election, voters are perfectly entitled to ask "you promised X last time and never did it, why should we trust you this time?"

I think getting a PV included in the PD for is crucial for this to work, but the "how" is tricky. I'm hesitant about having it as an amendment to the WA+PD vote; does that risk it not being included? But BCF is right that the main WA+PD needs to have as much (hopefully cross-party) support as possible in the HoC in order to make it acceptable to the EU. I guess it doesn't matter what margin it passes by, as long as the PV amendment passes...

@lewis_goodall
As a result of Corbyn having to insist on a second referendum my sense is that talks between May and Corbyn will break up (not in an especially acrimonious way) and they'll both hand it over to the Commons because it suits both of them to do so. #PMQ

Short summary of this week: M and C either can’t agree or produce some fudge. HoC votes it down.

Given the unravelling of tuition fees policy I bet Conservatives will be wishing Nick Clegg had dug his heels in rather than enabling.

ONS and thus OBR now counting vast majority of loan funding as Expense rather than Government asset. Bad impact on Tory pledge to balance Budget and eradicate the deficit and effectively caps scope to hide further fee hikes. This means they will need to unwind settlement with Universities and bringing them back in-house would be doable for Labour but probably NOT for the Tories.

Also blame Clegg for Universal Credit debacle. Just heard TM quote increase in income for NMW full time worker. NMW full timer with no dependents and no rent to pay is indeed on a good deal. Unfortunately they have benefited at the expense of all the single mothers in rented accommodation trying to do their best by their kids while working. LibDem policy of raising personal allowance rather than continuing to support TC/UC is part of the reason for this.

LibDems are individualistic at their core and it shows.

Mship First goal for me is avoiding No Deal and avoiding people not having essential meds.

I don't want any deal to be voted down, just because the PV is embedded

If PV has sufficient support, then a free vote by both parties - that is important - should pass the amendment

Agreed Tatiana

Well phase 1 of TMs plan to blame JC just took place....the thorough humiliation of Corbyn who will now be going into that meeting absolutely seething.

He dropped his flagship policy pretty damn quick - scrapping tuition fees - without which they would not have been elected in so many numbers so would not have held the balance of power

It was outrageous and I fundamentally disagree with tuition fees.

But compared with the nasty things the Tories do, I just can't understand why people would rather vote for them than the Libdems if they are remain voters (which clearly happened in 2017).

Mind you the Libdems have annoyed me by voting against the soft Brexit options on Monday as well.

LDems have a liberal, not socialist, economic policy
That can be very hard on those who aren't able to earn enough to take advantage of higher tax allowances

Higher tax allowances benefit rich & poor and those in the middle
We need to concentrate budget "giveaways" on those who actually need them

LibDems are Whigs with some ex-socialists tacked on.

Whigs were Tories that wanted Catholic emancipation in the 1700s.

In the battle of capital and labour, Liberals are for capital.

Bercow ‘Politically homeless’ here too I have adopted to policy of deciding if anyone has a policy I really hate, and looking at trying to vote against that. Can’t remember the last time I voted FOR anything.

I’m seriously considering becoming a member of both Labour and Conservatives so I will always have at least a crack at stopping any nut jobs becoming prime minister !

I agree with you howabout

dolreallyneedto you obviously missed my poor attempt at irony. My apologies.

I've had a LD councillor say I'm a Marxist. Largely because of my views on housing.

Which is really very funny to me and I'm sure a few here.

Nope mate, I just realise that if you don't deal with the basics you end up with a shit load more problems in the long run.

Controversial here but I don't disagree with tuition fees even though I'm still paying mine off nearly ten years later. It goes out of my account at something like £70 per month, it didn't affect my credit rating or mortgage application and it gets written off after 25 years.

I don't really know what I am politically. I'm very left wing on some things and probably slightly right wing on others. I have never voted for any right wing parties.