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Labour rebels September 12, 2017

Posted by WorldbyStorm in Uncategorized.
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Perhaps no surprise that the Tories managed to get through their Bill last night.
Interesting to see the list of those who voted with the Tories.

The result handed May an effective “Brexit majority” of 36 after seven Labour MPs – Ronnie Campbell, Frank Field, Kate Hoey, Kelvin Hopkins, John Mann, Dennis Skinner and Graham Stringer – defied their own party whip to support the government, arguing that the referendum demanded the legislation be passed.

In fairness to Skinner he’s always been pro-Leave. But John Mann? As for Hoey, say no more. And what of the hapless Caroline Flint who merely abstained, not finding it within herself to vote clearly one way or another.

As to the line from some of them that this represents the ‘will of the people’ and therefore the Tories bill must be supported to uphold that will.

Really? That’s the job of Labour is it?I thought the job of oppositions was to generally oppose. And since there are different forms of Brexit it is entirely reasonable to support one over another. Given that the BLP takes a different line on Brexit (accepting the referendum but seeking a softer version) hard to see that as being terribly compelling as a rationale.

By the by, it will be interesting reading the transcripts to see how much our island figures in the debate.

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1. GW - September 12, 2017

I hope there’s some tactics behind this failure to whip the British Parliamentary Labour party in the his instance, and they are saving their powder for a better opportunity.

The party certainly whipped them to vote to begin the process.

Because if not the Tories & the DUP will drive straight over the hard Brexit cliff without effective opposition. With the consequent collateral damage in Ireland.

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2. roddy - September 12, 2017

So much for SF being urged to take the oath “in Ireland’s interest”. A majority of 36 in a so called “knife edge” parliament!

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GW - September 12, 2017

True dat.

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3. GW - September 12, 2017

I hope that if mandatory selection is introduced the voting record on Brexit will play some part.

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4. bjg - September 12, 2017

A few recent Brexit-related articles:

Pete North on the Legatum Instsitute’s proposals for the border on this island: https://peterjnorth.blogspot.ie/2017/09/smelling-like-set-up.html

The Legatum Institute’s paper is here [PDF] https://lif.blob.core.windows.net/lif/docs/default-source/default-library/irishborder_brexitwebc1a552ff15736886a8b2ff00001f4427.pdf?sfvrsn=0 but I haven’t finished reading it yet

Richard North (from 31 July) on the Legatum Institute http://www.eureferendum.com/blogview.aspx?blogno=86556

LeaveHQ also on the border http://leavehq.com/blogview.aspx?blogno=265

The undeniable truth is that if we seek to avoid a hard border in Ireland then we must negotiate a special status for the province, maintaining much of the technical and legal infrastructure of the status quo.

Chris Grey on the importance of defeating the Brexit Ultras https://chrisgreybrexitblog.blogspot.ie/2017/09/can-brexit-ultras-be-defeated.html

On the juvenile side there are things like the letter from the ‘European Research Group’ insisting on a Brexit even harder than that proposed by the government, or John Redwood’s ludicrous assertion that there is no ‘cliff edge’. And we shouldn’t kid ourselves: it is the latter side which is in the ascendant and which is most effectively framing the politics of Brexit.

Borderlex says “It’s time to face up to the prospect of Brexit Armageddon” http://borderlex.eu/comment-its-time-to-face-up-to-the-prospect-of-brexit-armageddon/ [which may disappear behind a paywall at some stage]

Most EU positions in the negotiations make sense. The problem is that the EU is dealing with a counterpart that cannot currently be seen as rational, but with a state that is heading towards possible implosion.

[…]

A ‘no deal’ Britain will be a Britain where the radical Brexiters on the right of the Tory party will definitively hold sway on power – they already do, but are contested. This new configuration will lead to a rogue-ish type of country, feeling free to set itself free from international human rights standards, more hand-holding with Donald Trump, and desperate to attract business by doing exactly what the EU fears: undermining it through lower taxes and standards. Such a Britain would breed more social instability. Such a Britain is not a comfortable nuclear power to have next door. With no deal in place, there will be no way to weigh on the political process in London.

bjg

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