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Brexit

Westminstenders: A fully functioning government?

960 replies

RedToothBrush · 10/05/2019 23:50

It's been a month since parliament voting on anything.

The staggering reality of May's premiership is that government has ceased to function. We are stuck not just on Brexit but every other issue, such is the weakness of May's authority.

It begs the question of how long this is tolerable by all sides of the Conservative Civil War?

May being unable to bring anything forward means no deal is probably as inevitable as if a hardliner was PM.

There was talk of May / Corbyn reaching a fudge to get a deal via the backdoor WAB (Withdrawal Agreement Implimentation Bill) as it was politically impossible for them to be seen doing a deal any other way. However news today is that despite pressure from the 1922 Committee to bring it forward, May has slapped just a one line whip on it, meaning it will go precisely no where.

The polling for the European elections is perhaps more favourable to Labour than they might have feared after last weeks local election disaster so the mutual interest for Corbyn to move forward in anyway has already gone. Seeing the Tories be humiliated at the ballot box is too much of a temptation.

The phrase about Shit Creek only gets more apt.

All that is happening is every member of the Tory Party is lining up to take part in a leadership contest. It's harder to think of a Tory who isn't considering standing. It's not just the likes of Johnson, Gove, Rudd and Hunt. It's also the likes of Johnny Mercer and Graham Brady queuing not so patiently.

And its getting harder to argue that May is better as PM than the possibility of a right right candidate, because of the paralysis. Though as Rudd rightly points out, such a PM who wanted to actively have no deal as a policy, would struggle to win a majority in the HoC for that all important Queens Speech vote - every bit as much as May. Unless they were to somehow decide they could abuse the power of the executive and ignore parliament - a feat May has repeatedly attempted but ultimately failed at.

All everything feels, is a massive sense of merely delaying the inevitable.

Remain? Hard to see how under any Tory. A Deal? Hard to see what it might be and how there will be a Parliamentary majority. A PV? Well that still has to get through parliament and needs to be arranged smartish. And might not resolve the Irish border issue if the vote goes 'the wrong way' A General Election? That still seems to be a distinct possibility. But with the seeming resurrection of the LDs that's one the Tories will be desperate to avoid. Not that Corbyn is likely to succeed either. And of course there is now the Spectre of the Turquoise Arrows lurking. The crushing of the purple pound notes feels a hollow and distinct success.

It feels like we are waiting for the political sky to fall in in some sort of never ending Brexit Purgotory.

The cataclysmic event will occur at some point. It has to. But for now, it feels that there is nothing but waiting and waiting to be done.

OP posts:
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DGRossetti · 13/05/2019 11:28

All happening today !

Labour party leaflet (thanks, but no thanks)
Reply from MP via email.
And my Italian Euro Elections voting pack arrived Grin

Westminstenders: A fully functioning government?
Clavinova · 13/05/2019 11:30

Crowdfunder page Grin

DGRossetti · 13/05/2019 11:39

And that reply from my MP:

Thank you very much for taking the time to write to me and for sharing your views.

Whilst I completely understand and appreciate the frustration and disappointment that you feel, I would urge you to reconsider not voting for the Labour Party as I genuinely believe that a vote for any party other than the Labour Party in the upcoming EU elections will help Nigel Farage and the Brexit Party to win more MEP seats.

I want to reassure that I am 100% with you: I am committed to ensuring that the public are given a confirmatory vote on any Brexit deal and doing everything that I can to prevent a damaging Brexit from taking place.

I want to apologise on behalf of the Labour Party for the way that those who voted to remain in the EU have been made to feel recently. Please be assured that myself and many other MPs are being consistently strong voices within the PLP, advocating on behalf of those who know how much unnecessary damage Brexit could do to our country. However, we can only continue to be this voice against Brexit if we are supported by the membership and our constituents. I would therefore urge you to continue to support both myself and the Labour Party at this difficult time.

Thank you again for getting in touch. I take your concerns and anger incredibly seriously and I will do everything that I can to ensure that a pro-remain voice is heard within the Labour Party.

DGRossetti · 13/05/2019 11:41

They haven't been seen since - I hope they didn't run off with the money.

After Uber, and AirBnB, that'll be the next shoe to drop.

Anyone following the Spectrum Vega fiasco would know what I'm talking about ...

1tisILeClerc · 13/05/2019 11:46

Clavinova
Have you got nothing more constructive to talk about apart from the numbers who were on a march?
Maybe you could tell us all about the great plans that Farage or the Tories have to really boost the UK economy and eradicate the foodbanks and so on.
It would be reasonable to expect after 3 years for SOMEONE to have a real plan.

Wakemeuuuup · 13/05/2019 11:48

I got a leaflet from the Brexit party. I wasn't impressed. One leaflet for Labour came last week too. Unfortunately I live in one of the main brexiteers constituency and our borough voted leave in 2016 so I think LibDems have given up hope here but I wish they'd at least try

Random18 · 13/05/2019 11:50

I am swaying on a Labour vote.

Last week it was a big no no.

But I am worried about how split remain parties are.

Still probably a No but not as strong as last week.

RedToothBrush · 13/05/2019 11:56

First leaflet here today too. Addressed to me. From Lib Dems.

OP posts:
LoonvanBoon · 13/05/2019 12:00

Littlespaces, that's a good article - factual & to the point. Farage's fans don't seem to be interested in facts, though. I'm finding this all totally depressing & wondering how much better Labour would be polling if they'd come out with a coherent position.

LoonvanBoon · 13/05/2019 12:04

I've had a Lib Dem leaflet, too, & DH has had a Brexit party one. We were wondering if the Brexit party are just doing this alphabetically, sending them to the person in the household with the earlier/ earliest initial? Does that fit with anyone else? I'm only guessing on a sample size of 3 households so doubt it Grin.

Haven't had anything from Labour even though I used to be a member and they still email me about other stuff.

TokyoSushi · 13/05/2019 12:07

Nothing from anybody here so far!

Wakemeuuuup · 13/05/2019 12:08

Maybe. I'm first alphabetically in our house

DGRossetti · 13/05/2019 12:10

I am swaying on a Labour vote.

Why ? If :

But I am worried about how split remain parties are.

Labour aren't a remain party. They are a party that has remainers in it. Not the same thing. They've had their chance(s) and managed to fluff them every single time. Fuck Brexit, who needs that level of indecision in a ruling party ?

Random18 · 13/05/2019 12:21

DGR it depends on how things go over the next 10 days and if the talks end.

But who should I vote for then - Change, LD’s or Green?

Random18 · 13/05/2019 12:22

If Brexit party poll the highest % of votes that is not good at all.

TheMShip · 13/05/2019 12:23

Loon I got one, I'm female, also first alphabetically in the household.

tobee · 13/05/2019 12:24

Dd only one to be so lucky as to be honoured in this household with a Brexit party communication. She comes first in the alphabet here too. However, I have a different surname to everyone else and haven't received anything. But that doesn't go against the theory.

DGRossetti · 13/05/2019 12:25

DGR it depends on how things go over the next 10 days and if the talks end.

They've had (checks) over 18 months. If they can't get something done in 18 months, they won't do it in 10 days.

But who should I vote for then - Change, LD’s or Green?

your vote, your choice. For me, CHUK are too new on the block to be worth a vote. I'm not massively Green, and I think the LDs need some love here for being the lone voice of reason for 3 years now. But that's me. Others might have a different take on it ....

tobee · 13/05/2019 12:27

The remain tactical voting thing (from Gina Miller I believe?) said I should vote LibDem. The other one (Remain Voter) said they haven't worked it out yet.

Littlespaces · 13/05/2019 12:28

We were wondering if the Brexit party are just doing this alphabetically, sending them to the person in the household with the earlier/ earliest initial? Does that fit with anyone else?

I am the earliest initial in the alphabet, but so far no sign of any more leaflets.

OhYouBadBadKitten · 13/05/2019 12:40

It does look like it is being done alphabetically I think re the Brexit leaflet.

OhYouBadBadKitten · 13/05/2019 12:48

dd has her postal vote. Think she's sending it back return of post. She lamented how it doesn't fit in the envelope they provide.

bellinisurge · 13/05/2019 13:06

@TheMShip , I'm the only adult female in the house (unless you count the cat) but I'm not alphabetically first.

bellinisurge · 13/05/2019 13:07

I have the Brexshit one but not the other adults who are higher up alphabetically than me.

BoreOfWhabylon · 13/05/2019 13:13

Interesting Radio 4 news headlines

Tom Watson: We area Remain and Reform party

Keir Starmer: Any agreement reached with the Tories must be subject to a fresh public vote