The clue is in the name. Only their acquired independence from Corbyn truly unites them — otherwise, what is there? It is true that all seven are, to greater or lesser degrees, pro-Remain and in favour of a second referendum. But that disposition scarcely distinguishes them in a House of Commons already sizeably (by about two-thirds) pro-Remain: it is therefore a scant selling point. Why not join the Lib Dems, if that is your chief opposition to Corbyn?
Archiv: paneuropean ideology
This is a party against the people
The arrival of three Tory Remoaners confirms the Independent Group is a purely anti-Brexit, anti-democratic outfit.
Independent Group is a space for anti-democrats to war against Brexit
Taking Orwellianism to dizzy new heights, this new political group poses as ‚independent‘ while aiming to overturn the largest democratic vote in British history
Anna Soubry’s one careless comment says everything about the Independent Group
Soubry might not be quite as far Right as Jacob Rees-Mogg or Liam Fox but she is Right-wing, a Tory who left the Conservative Party but not Conservativism by justifying cruel welfare cuts which drove desperate people to the charity of Foodbanks just to eat.
Potential Labour defectors will now think twice before throwing in their lot with ex-Conservatives.
One of the joys of following politics over the coming months will be witnessing the reaction of the 11 defectors as it slowly dawns on them that, far from representing ‚millions‘, they represent no-one. Their brand of metropolitan liberal ‚centrism‘ is dying fast. Thank God.
Soubry: „The truth is the battle is over and the other side have won. Dear friends now former colleagues who share those one nation values and principles will deny it. But I believe in their heads and in their hearts they know it is over.“
Theresa May ‘saddened’ as Heidi Allen, Anna Soubry and Sarah Wollaston quit the Tories
Theresa May has said she is ‘saddened’ by the decision of Heidi Allen, Sarah Wollaston and Anna Soubry to leave the Conservative party and join the new Independent Group of MPs. In statement released in the past few minutes, the Prime Minister said:
Brexit latest news: Three Tory MPs defect to Independent Group – Anna Soubry, Sarah Wollaston and Heidi Allen
– Tory MPs Anna Soubry, Sarah Wollaston and Heidi Allen defect to Independent Group over Brexit
– Asa Bennett: Tory quitters have proved Independent Group is a Remainer revolt
– Markets: Pound slips on Westminster turmoil
– Theresa May to meet Jean-Claude Juncker at 5pm
– PM could hold meaningful vote next week to avoid ministerial resignations
– Data analysis: Farage’s Brexit Party has more obvious slot in UK politics than the Independent Group
BREXIT planning: MON: Brexit Secretary Barclay meets EU negotiator Barnier TUES: Attorney General Cox speech on legal part of Northern Irish backstop THURS: Corbyn meets Barnier, also EU parliament’s Verhofstadt
The Tories have lost a seven-point poll lead — and are now level with Labour
Forty-two per cent said the UK should delay Article 50 and hold a public vote on the next step. However, the same amount say we should leave with ‘no deal’.
Dear Remainers, We voted to leave. We did not vote to be members of the Single Market, EEA or the Customs Union. The Brexit vote was not a “Right Wing” vote. It was a vote against the devil take the hindmost economic system that the EU keeps us locked in. Cheers, 52% #Lexit
The hypocrisy of anti-austerity Remainers
Leftish EU supporters can invoke EU workers’ rights (despite the EU’s attacks on workers’ right to strike), or blather on about the Social Chapter (despite it immiserating large swathes of southern Europe), all they like. But there is no getting away from it: the EU is the cheerleader for austerity.
GROW UP! Corbyn and his MPs who want to delay Brexit are like squabbling children, Labour veteran blasts
Appearing as a special guest at the Tory Eurosceptic Bruges Group, Mr Stringer said: „Often in discussing the European Union my colleagues use kindergarten language – they say ‚they’re our friends, how could they not have our interests at heart?‘.
„I think it misunderstands that actually the bureaucrats in Brussels are a self-interested group of people – self-interested in their own survival and perpetuating their growing power and influence across the whole of the European continent.“
“It also misunderstands the fact that the European Union do negotiate but they usually come to agreements at the last minute – the 11th hour.
second referendum: a rapacious vehicle of europe’s elite.
Written by Finn Anderson, Campaign Director at Socialists for Britain
I would just like to thank those at Students For Brexit for providing me with this platform to lay out a brief overview of the socialist case for leaving the EU. It’s refreshing to find a genuine student-led cross-party platform that is committed to upholding the democratic will of the people.
The European Union at its core is a neoliberal institution; shock horror I know! Brussels bureaucrats worship privatisation and purposefully allow wealthy corporations to avoid paying taxes. It is a capitalist project attempting to impose unity between nations from above, in the interests of the capitalist classes of Europe, particularly those from the most powerful nations.
A great article from our Campaign Director, @Finn_M_Anderson. Well worth a read!
Former Greek Finance Minister @yanisvaroufakis says he was “hoping that it [Brexit] would be a cause within the EU to rethink our democratic deficit” but instead Brussels chose to avoid those conversations about reforming the EU – it will NEVER change!
Cooper amendment on Article 50 extension defeated. Pound falls
Incredibly disappointing that Labour have backed the wreckers‘ amendment to delay (and ultimately *block*) Brexit – the public aren’t falling for these games, they can see plainly the intentions of those supporting this, and this WILL cost Labour many seats. #brexit
Lies, cowardice and Brexit – Westminster might never recover from its deception of the electorate.
(29.1.2019) These people have lied to the country, lied to their constituents. They are determined to stop Brexit, but refuse to do so openly. For all the accusations levelled at the Leave campaign, these people have done far more damage to public trust in politics than Boris could with 1,000 buses.
Regardless of what happens in Westminster today, the political class might never recover from the way it has treated voters. And rightly so.
1) Second Referendum Campaigners withdraw amendment 2) Len McCluskey announces Corbyn would campaign to leave the EU in a General Election 3) More Labour MPs oppose a second referendum Today has been a pretty good day. Labour gradually returning to its Eurosceptic tradition.
(24.1.2019)
The second referendum is off (for now): Remainer MPs DROP attempt to force through a ‚People’s Vote‘ and blame Corbyn for killing their chances of winning
(24.1.2019) The gang of Labour and Tory MPs who were backing a so-called People’s Vote blasted Jeremy Corbyn for killing off their chances of winning.
Tory MP Dr Sarah Wollaston had planned to table the ‚doctor’s amendment‘ to next Tuesday’s crunch Brexit motion to demand a second referendum.
But stood outside Parliament this morning flanked by pro-EU Labour MPs Luciana Berger and Chuka Umunna, she announced a U-turn.
Brexit: MPs drop plan to put fresh referendum to Commons vote
Members of the the cross-party People’s Vote campaign have admitted they don’t yet have enough support from MPs to get another EU referendum.
Most Britons oppose second EU referendum, Sky Data poll reveals
(20.1.2019) The results came as at least two cross-party groups of MPs plan to table amendments in the House of Commons to delay or frustrate Mrs May’s Brexit plans.
One group, including senior Labour MP Yvette Cooper and Tory former minister Nick Boles, is backing a bill to suspend the Article 50 withdrawal process if there is no new deal with Brussels by the end of February.
Furious Labour Member Vows To Vote Tory If Corbyn Backs Second Referendum
Having been a Labour member since the 80’s, he told LBC: “If Jeremy Corbyn goes for a People’s Vote and there’s a general election I will not vote for Labour.
“I will not vote Labour again, I’m absolutely sickened.”
He then turned his anger towards Labour MPs, who he accused of “acting disgracefully”.
‚It’s rubbish!‘ French president Macron BLASTS Brexit saying UK’s bid to leave Europe ‚can’t be delivered‘ and had ‚torn society apart‘
– Macron was speaking on Thursday evening to an audience in Bourg-de-Peage, south of Lyon, in a ‘people’s debate’
– Some were so-called Yellow Vest anti-government campaigners who themselves want France to leave the EU
– Mr Macron rubbished the 2016 June referendum and warned the assembled crowd to be wary of people ‚who sell you dreams‘
Queen’s speech calling for ‚common ground‘ seen as Brexit reference
As head of state, the monarch remains publicly neutral when it comes to political matters and does not express her views. But commentators were likely to see her words as a veiled reference the debate on Britain’s departure from the EU.
Similar in tone to her Christmas Day address, the Queen expressed the importance of “never losing sight of the bigger picture”.
Corbyn is no democrat
Indeed, some of the more stinging critiques have come from the left. Guardian columnist Owen Jones, a supporter of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, declared the People’s Vote campaign an ‘absolute disaster’. If there is another referendum, he says, ‘and they run the Remain campaign, we might as well chalk up a second Leave victory now’.
The Campaign For A People’s Vote On Brexit Has Descended Into Infighting And Splits
(22.1.2019) Pro-Remain MPs and officials on the People’s Vote campaign are split on the overarching strategy of how to secure a public vote, on campaign events and tactics, whether People’s Vote should run the Remain campaign if a second referendum is called, and over the actions and motivations of its leading politicians, the sources said.
The ongoing internal wrangling is making it less likely that the Labour party will ultimately back a public vote, a shadow minister and a senior Labour backbencher told BuzzFeed News.
Diane Abbott breaks with Labour policy to back second EU referendum
(29.11.2017) After her comments were disclosed, the Shadow Home Secretary said her remarks were “poorly worded” and insisted there was “no important story here”.
Diane Abbott misses historic Brexit vote because she was ‚taken ill‘
(1.2.2017) She added: “Are we going to vote with the Tories come what may? This is a question of opening the process. We will seek to amend and, if we are not able to get any of our amendments through, clearly we will have to review our position.”
“Why is Diane Abbott so unpopular? It isn’t because she is black. It’s because she is the most patrician, condescending politician in modern Britain who looks upon the Brexit-voting plebs with barely concealed contempt.”
(22.1.2019) Brendan O’Neill on the QT row
ABBOTT IN JOB ‚FURY‘: Jeremy Corbyn has been slammed for secretly appointing Diane Abbott to a rule-making Executive role
(24.1.2019) According to Labour’s rule book the NEC must include “three frontbench Members of Parliament, at least one of whom must be a woman, nominated by the Cabinet (or Shadow Cabinet in opposition)”.
But two senior members of the Shadow Cabinet told PoliticsHome they were not told of the decision to put Ms Abbott on the NEC.
EXCL Row as Jeremy Corbyn ‚appoints Diane Abbott to Labour’s ruling body‘
(23.1.2019) Jeremy Corbyn has been accused of ignoring Labour rules to appoint Diane Abbott to the party’s ruling body.
CORBYN CAVES! Labour leader BACKS plan which could force second Brexit referendum
(22.1.2018) Labour’s move was welcomed by a leading anti-Brexit campaigner.
Speaking to The Daily Telegraph Eloise Todd, chief executive of Best for Britain, claimed it represented “a momentous day in our campaign”.
She added: “Labour have put a second referendum on the table with this amendment and this is a massive step forward.”
Tony Benn on European union – Best Bits #Lexit #GreenLeaves
Re-released today – Best of Tony Benn – talks European union (todays EU) and democracy to Roy Jenkins in 1975 – These are the highlights and have never sounded more relevant than today with the Brexit debate.
For full debate see playlist. Subscribe to our channel and share our playlists if you agree with Tony Benn.
Comments welcome below on anything to do with the current EU / Brexit debate.
The left leave case for democracy from Tony Benn – President of the Stop the War Coalition – 2001 – 2014 –
Tony Benn 1975 European Communities debate highlights
With thanks to Why Vote Leave
A 2nd referendum would be many politicians‘ worst nightmare. Continuous video replays of them saying they would ‚respect the result‘, fast-forwarded to speeches in parliament calling for a ‚people’s vote‘.
My new Brexit Party, supported by Nigel Farage, will fight for our democracy
When young children are losing at board games they demand to change the rules. Yet this same juvenile intent drives the cabal of democracy defying MPs.
Brexit: Delay is ‚most likely‘ option, says former chancellor
Speaking to BBC business editor Simon Jack in Davos, Mr Osborne said that the prospect of no deal meant „the gun is held to the British economy’s head“.
„Russian roulette is a game which you should never play because there’s a one-in-six chance that the bullet goes into your head,“ he said.
Nigel Farage to lead new pro-Brexit party if EU departure delayed
(20.1.2019) Former Ukip leader says he will ‘re-enter the fray’ if Brexit is put back beyond 29 March
Labour opens door to SECOND vote: Corbyn shift makes new referendum more likely as May suggests it would lead to civil unrest and refuses to rule out no-deal Brexit
– Corbyn tables amendment for Government to debate alternative Brexit plans
– It would require the Government to give Parliament time to legislate for new vote
– Mr Corbyn’s move is the closest he has come to backing a second referendum
– The move reflects the pressure he is under from party members to shift to a position of trying to block Brexit
It’s MPs, not Leavers, who don’t know what they voted for
Can you smell that? It’s the stench of decay. With every layer of pretence and political posturing that Brexit rips away, it gets stronger. And now the locus is shifting from our rotten Government to the corroded mess of our Parliament.
I think Remain MPs who are using unprecedented Parliamentary chicanery to try and keep us in the EU – with no mandate for their activity whatever – have gone quite mad. I mean, seriously. Have they really considered the potential consequences of their current actions?
NEW: Labour MPs from leave constituencies going to see their chief whip this afternoon furious about People’s Vote amendment. One tells me “We’re pissed off, just because we’re silent people forget we’re in the majority. It’s like our working class communities are being ignored”.
Brexit: Theresa May set to meet top Corbyn ally Len McCluskey for talks in No10
The Unite general secretary has been issued the unprecedented invite to No10 as the Prime Minister desperately tries to win support for her deal.
A union source said GMB leader Tim Roache and UNISON’s Dave Prentis had also been invited for one-on-one talks on Thursday.
Britain’s EU referendum was „dangerous, even stupid“ says @eucopresident Donald Tusk – claiming David Cameron only promised it because he thought there was „no risk“ of it actually happening
[tap to expand] http://bbc.in/2DqA9wf #Brexit
Macron and Merkel now fully back a European army. That’s great news! I explained why we need it at the #ALDECongress in Madrid. Watch my intervention
If you want to support us, please become a member or consider making a donation to us so that we can keep going with our campaign. We have big, game changing plans, but need your support now to enact them. Please help us to #StandUp4Brexit and #democracy:
(27.9.2018)
Are you a young Labour leaver? We want you to have a space in which you can network & build friendships without the fear of abuse.
Join us: studentsforbrexit.com
Not only would #PeoplesVote lose, also #Labour would be tainted as so many of their MPs are behind this. #labourleave supporters in Midlands and North would not be keen to turn out. It would be Leeds Morley and @andreajenkyns all over again. #Labour would lose next election.
‚A second referendum would be seen as a denial of the democratic decision taken by voters, and reinforce the sense that their voices were not being listened to.‘ Labour ex-heavyweight and long-time EU opponent Bryan Gould socks it to the establishment.
Imagine if we’d voted Remain and a pro-Leave establishment • took us out ‘temporarily’ anyway • attacked the legitimacy of the vote • spent 3 years quibbling over the terms of remaining • delayed rejoining. It would be called corrupt.
Not sure I get the logic of the Labour amendment. Clearly pointing towards a second referendum (hi Pasok!), but what is the question meant to be?
Some deal or proposition that can command a Commons majority, versus—what?
The Labour Party is moving in a direction of becoming an unelectable force which represents metropolitan elites, rather than the working class voters, which it was created to stand up for. Is this what you came into politics for @jeremycorbyn?
„The chairman of the People’s Vote campaign joins us from Davos,“ announces the interviewer on @BBCr4today. No further comment required.
This is shameful! The Labour Party have just betrayed the working class and the millions of Labour Leave voters. This will cost Labour the next election and will keep the Tories in power for years. #StandUp4Brexit #Brexit #PeoplesVote #NoDeal
Lets be clear. If Labour backs a second referendum we will not win the next general election, and we wont win the one that follows. We will be out of power for a generation. Is this really what you want .@UKLabour and @jeremycorbyn
Would Rosa Luxemburg have been for Brexit? Red Rosa once called the idea of a European Union an ‘imperialist abortion’.
When it came to external relations, Luxemburg pointed out, the idea of a European Union was also deployed to divide Europe from the rest of the world: ‘Every time that bourgeois politicians have championed the idea of Europeanism, of the union of European States, it has been with an open or concealed point directed against the “yellow peril”, the “dark continent”, against the “inferior races”. In short, it has always been an imperialist abortion.’ They could write those last words on the EU’s tombstone.
If Labour supports a second referendum and campaigns to remain it will be in opposition for decades to come. Millions of voters will abandon it. Labour will no longer be the party of ‘labour’ but of capital. It will cease to represent working class communities.
(28.11.2018)
Jeremy Corbyn Calls For MPs To Get The Right To Trigger Second Brexit Referendum
Corbyn’s move, tabled on Monday night, “requires” ministers to vote on alternatives that would avoid a no-deal Brexit.
EU-TURN: Jeremy Corbyn backs Labour MPs’ plan for second Brexit referendum despite hating the EU for decades
Corbyn’s u-turn came Labour MPs today openly defied Jeremy Corbyn by heading for a Downing Street meeting with Theresa May’s top aides.
Chuka Umunna, Chris Leslie and other leading moderates visited the Cabinet Office this morning for talks with ministers along with Tories such as Anna Soubry.
Jeremy Corbyn backs MPs‘ plan to force a second Brexit referendum
Jeremy Corbyn has endorsed a plan to force a second EU referendum as he bowed to pressure from Labour party members and MPs.
Mr Corbyn wants the Government to give MPs the final say next week on a second referendum. If a majority back a referendum, Parliament could force Theresa May to hold a new in/out public vote that could lead to Brexit being reversed.
Theresa May is using Jeremy Corbyn to avoid blame for her Brexit mess
Corbyn’s rejection of the Downing Street invitation has turned out to be a bit of a gift for May, as she can deflect attention from her own procrastination and failures in people management onto the Labour leader. She now has someone else to blame for the ongoing struggle to reach an agreement on Brexit.
She also appeared to invite MPs to put the matter of a second referendum to a vote, not just in order to kill talk of it off through a Commons defeat, but presumably because this will force Corbyn to take a position on a matter which he has been very reluctant to approach.
Tory plotters need to understand the concept of winning and losing and not hand victory to those defeated in the Brexit referendum
Shifty Dominic Grieve fancies himself as a Remain superhero, outwitting the Government to rob 17.4million voters.
He doesn’t give a damn about the little people, of course, being a grand QC and former Attorney General.
But Grieve is doing catastrophic harm to his party, to Parliament and our democracy. History won’t be kind to him.
Grieve’s Brexit amendment could destabilise British government for years to come
As you might expect from Grieve, a QC, it’s well put-together. It identifies a weak point in Britain’s constitutional architecture, and proposes to take a shot. If he hits his target, it might not just take down Brexit but a whole lot more besides.
Grieve’s amendment would overturn basic principles of government, allowing rebels to take control of the parliamentary timetable with only 46 per cent of MPs, writes @nmdacosta.
Grieve’s Minority Coup D’etat
If his amendment passes a minority of 300 MPs across five parties – with only 10 Tories needed – would be able to control the parliamentary agenda. Effectively creating a minority opposition controlled legislature.
There’s A Secret Plan By Rebel MPs To Stop A No-Deal Brexit
Legislation could then be tabled by backbenchers to block a no-deal Brexit — something for which there is likely to be a Commons majority.
Previously it has been thought that only the executive would be able to extend or revoke Article 50 to stop the UK crashing out of the EU without a deal.
This band of Remainer MPs pose a threat to Brexit and to democracy
The calamitous situation in Parliament is being exploited by a small band of MPs determined to use any mechanism, however constitutionally absurd and deleterious to the public’s faith in our democratic institutions, to stop Brexit.
Brexit latest: Cross-party Bill bids to force Theres May to postpone leaving EU until 2020
The move, which was launched by Labour’s Yvette Cooper, demands Parliamentary approval for a withdrawal agreement by February 26.
And if the Prime Minister fails, MPs would automatically get the chance to extend Article 50 and delay our exit until the end of the year or even 2020.
The bill is supported by senior backbenchers, including Select Committee chairs and former ministers, from across the House.
Will Brexit break up Labour or Tories first?
Which of the Conservative and Labour parties is most likely to split over Brexit? Or perhaps it is more apposite to say which party will break up first, since the gravitational force of competing visions of the UK’s future relationship with the EU are threatening to fracture each of them.
Rage of the Tory grassroots and why Brexit betrayal will consign party to oblivion
As letters go, it was punchier than most. Sent to party chairman Brandon Lewis, it formed part of an irate postbag received by Conservative central office after one of the most tumultuous weeks in the party’s 184-year history.
Yet for once the highly critical correspondence was not from Momentum thugs or UKIP headbangers but the Tories’ own members.
Starmer shifts Labour towards second EU referendum
The frontbencher stresses the party’s commitment to consider a further Brexit vote if it could not force a general election.
Remainer plot to seize Brexit and ‘deny EU Referendum result’ revealed as Dominic Grieve unveils amendment to stop No Deal
Europhile Grieve is working with other Remainers, including Labour rebels, to try and block the UK leaving the EU on March 29 without an agreement with Brussels.
They plan to put their motion to a vote in Parliament which if backed by 300 MPs could spark legislation to extend or revoke Article 50.
That would be considered highly controversial as it would challenge the unwritten constitution that only an elected majority government can control UK policy.
Brexit: High-profile Germans plead with UK to stay in EU
The letter, published in the Times, is signed by 31 people, including the leader of the Christian Democratic Union – and likely successor to Angela Merkel – Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer and former Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann.
They cited post-work pints and pantomime as beloved British habits.
Times Letters: ‘German friends’ urge Britain to stay in EU
„Sir, Without your great nation, this continent would not be what it is today: a community defined by freedom and prosperity. After the horrors of the Second World War, Britain did not give up on us. It has welcomed Germany back as a sovereign nation and a European power. This we, as Germans, have not forgotten and we are grateful.“
Brexit news latest: Second referendum ‚would take more than a year to stage‘ as Corbyn tells Labour MPs not to talk to PM about solving Brexit
A second referendum would take more than a year to organise, according to civil service guidance shown to MPs holding talks with Theresa May and senior ministers.
The one-page document published by the Daily Telegraph sets out the stages required to mount another poll in bullet-point form.
Corbyn could face string of resignations if he backs ‚people’s vote‘
A string of junior shadow ministers have told the Guardian they are strongly opposed to the idea of a second referendum, which they fear would expose Labour to a vicious backlash in leave-voting constituencies.
Clear Majority Want to Respect the Referendum Result
The latest ComRes poll asked voters whether they wanted to see the referendum result respected and found a clear majority in favour. Excluding ‘don’t knows’ (18%), 65% of people agreed that the result should be respected, while only 35% disagreed.
British voters: 75% say current generation of politicians not up to it 74% say politicians not in touch with mood of country 72% say #Brexit shows politics needs a complete overhaul 67% say their voice is not heard in politics today
You’ve LOST respect! Support for politicians PLUMMETS as chaos reigns – SHOCK EXPRESS POLL
Three-quarters of voters say the crisis-hit EU departure process has shown that the current generation of MPs are “not up to the job”, according to the data from polling firm ComRes. A root-and-branch overhaul of the country’s entire political system is wanted by a massive 72% of people quizzed in the survey. But despite the chaos embroiling Brexit, a majority of voters (53%) still want the result of the 2016 EU Leave vote to be honoured by ensuring the UK’s withdrawal from the bloc and do not want a second referendum to be triggered.
Jeremy Corbyn faces split as defiant Labour MPs discuss Brexit deal with ministers
Jeremy Corbyn was wrestling with a growing split in his party on Thursday night as Labour MPs defied his orders and began talks with ministers over a new Brexit deal.
Senior party figures, including Yvette Cooper and Hilary Benn, met David Lidington, Theresa May’s deputy, in the face of pleas in a letter circulated to Labour MPs.
Question Time audience in Derby – a working-class, Labour city – just cheered the prospect of ’no deal‘ to the rafters. Labour is playing with fire. It may never recover the support of people like these if it lets them down.
The starting point for any talks to break the Brexit deadlock must be to rule out a disastrous No Deal outcome. My letter to Theresa May…
The brutal truth is that May is heading towards a softer Brexit
Some in May’s circle think that the Labour leadership’s support can be obtained for a price. Jeremy Corbyn, they reckon, doesn’t want a second referendum. Nor does he want to get any of the blame for a no-deal Brexit. This makes them think that Labour will back a new deal with the EU if it extracts some very visible (and embarrassing) concessions from the government.
May is the right PM for these democracy-loathing MPs
Yet perhaps May is entirely the right prime minister for this pathetic collection of politicians. She is a double-speaking technocrat among 650 MPs who appear to have hardly an honest political principle between them. And she is a Remainer in a divided parliament where we now know there is a majority for only one thing – stopping Brexit, and defying the democratic will of 17.4million Leave voters.
According to the Sun, May will submit her deal a second time if defeated, having been assured of more concessions by Angela Merkel.
Theresa May will force SECOND vote on her Brexit deal despite facing huge defeat
She will tell her divided Cabinet when it meets for a fiery discussion on Plan B this morning that the German leader suggested the EU could grant extra concessions once the troubled agreement is shot down.
And that could include persuading Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to agree to an end date to the hated Irish backstop – which the DUP and dozens of Tory MPs have demanded as their price.
A senior Government figure said the PM and Mrs Merkel agreed there needs to be “a blood-letting moment” first.
Boris Johnson warns of Brexit betrayal backlash against ‘deep state’
(14.1.2018) Mr Johnson said that voters would feel betrayed if Parliament tried to thwart EU withdrawal.
He said: “I think that people will feel betrayed.
“And I think they will feel that there has been a great conspiracy by the deep state of the UK, the people who really run the country.”
Brexit deal vote day: May facing huge defeat and vote of no confidence in the government
Senior MPs are predicting a defeat for the prime minister of between 100 and 200 votes, which is likely to be followed by Jeremy Corbyn calling a vote of no confidence in the government.
Mrs May’s allies insist that whatever the scale of the defeat she has no intention of quitting or calling a general election, but she will come under enormous pressure to unveil a Brexit Plan B.
PM @theresa_may only spoke to #German Chancellor Angela Merkel this weekend. They discussed about #Brexit and assurances yesterday morning. PM Spokesman did no elaborate on the assurances saying the discussion was private and that they would remain in contact. #Brexitvote
(14.1.2018)
Brussels braced for request to delay Brexit by three months
Brussels expects Britain to ask for an extension to Article 50 to allow Brexit to be delayed if the House of Commons rejects Theresa May’s deal tomorrow, The Times has learnt.
Greg Hands: “The power is with us.” The two EU officials who want to punish Britain, crafted the deal – and claim they are winning.
(8.1.2018) Much attention has focused on Jean-Claude Juncker, the Luxemburger EU Commission President, and Michel Barnier, the Commission’s French chief Brexit negotiator.
But most Brussels commentators maintain that Brexit details are determined by their respective number twos: Martin Selmayr (Chief of Staff to Juncker since 2014, and – controversially – General Secretary of the European Commission since March 2018) and Sabine Weyand, deputy to Barnier.
Both happen to be German. Indeed, Die Welt, the leading German daily, early on in the negotiations did a feature titled ‘The top German players in the Brexit poker game’, with a certain pride, on their central role in the coming talks.
Theresa May says no Brexit more likely than no deal
Prime Minister Theresa May is making a last-ditch attempt to persuade MPs to back her Brexit deal as Tuesday’s key Commons vote looms closer.
She will use a speech on Monday to warn that Parliament is more likely to block Brexit than let the UK leave without a deal.
Remainers unite to call for second Brexit poll – on Theresa May’s deal or staying in EU
A cross-party group of MPs, including Dominic Grieve, the former Conservative attorney general, wants Theresa May to give Parliament a greater say in deciding how Britain leaves the European Union.
It comes after reports emerged at the weekend of a planned “coup” by unnamed senior MPs to grab control of the parliamentary timetable by allowing backbenchers’ legislation to take precedence over the Government’s.
“The most shocking thing about the protests outside parliament is that they aren’t bigger and rowdier. The political class has been insulting Brexit voters and attacking democracy for two years — they deserve huge, angry protest.”
Brendan O’Neill v Anna Soubry on #AllOutPolitics
If Bercow and the remain establishment conspire to thwart #Brexit then trust in democracy will collapse and we will be opening the Pandora’s box to fascism. #StandUp4Brexit #78DaystoBrexit
DAVID STARKEY: Bercow and Grieve think they are political giants, but they represent all that’s rotten in this parliament of pygmies
And there is only one possible name for this one. It has to be the Parliament of Pygmies, presided over as it is by the pygmy-in-chief, Speaker John Bercow, who, early in his period of office, was denounced by one infuriated Minister as a ‘sanctimonious, stupid dwarf’.
Ordinarily all this would be no more than matter for wry amusement. But the times are anything but ordinary. So strange are they, in fact, that the pygmies think they are giants and ape the gestures of the parliamentary greats of the past.
Revealed: Dominic Grieve secretly met John Bercow just HOURS before Speaker allowed his killer amendment as No 10 warns PM could be gone by WEDNESDAY
Commons Speaker John Bercow secretly met Tory rebel Dominic Grieve just hours before throwing out centuries of tradition to allow the MP to scupper Theresa May’s Brexit plans.
The pair spoke in Mr Bercow’s grace-and-favour Commons apartment the day before the Speaker tore up the rule book to allow the former Attorney General to table an amendment to wrest control of Brexit from the Prime Minister, The Mail on Sunday can reveal
John Bercow hurled insults at aides and binned their advice over anti-Brexit bias
SPEAKER John Bercow hurled insults at aides and binned their advice when they tried to warn against anti-Brexit bias, it was claimed yesterday.
He allegedly bawled them down and declared: “I’m not interested in what a gaggle of clerks has to say.”
The astonishing clash came two hours before he ripped up the Commons rule book to allow rebel MPs the chance to frustrate Britain’s exit from the EU.
Sky Views: We may yet be glad John Bercow is still Speaker
But if you think the only thing that matters is that a majority voted to leave the EU in the referendum, then you are likely to think Mr Bercow is a dishonest and biased scoundrel who has broken the rules in his determination to stop Brexit.
It is possible to take a different view of the Speaker’s behaviour. For a start it is entirely consistent with the way that he has done the job over the past 10 years – when a majority of MPs have repeatedly chosen to keep him in the chair.