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  • oxfordsimonoxfordsimon Posts: 5,842
    For some reason, I am minded to think of a Betjeman poem this evening

    Come, friendly bombs, and fall on Slough!
    It isn't fit for humans now,
    There isn't grass to graze a cow.
    Swarm over, Death!

    I just need to substitute Westminster for Slough and come up with a good rhyme to replace now/cow...
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 52,621

    Foxy said:

    GIN1138 said:

    Ten Tories supported the vote to Revoke.

    I’m amused as one of them is Alan Duncan, who approached Vote Leave to be their leader before the start of their campaign.

    Hunky Dunky! :D
    https://twitter.com/AVMikhailova/status/1111025457661648896?s=19
    The three ministers and whip should be fired.
    They should all be deselected. They stood as Conservatives, on a Conservative manifesto that pledged to implement Brexit.

    They've committed a fraud on their electorates.
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 53,874

    DavidL said:

    Foxy said:

    GIN1138 said:

    Ten Tories supported the vote to Revoke.

    I’m amused as one of them is Alan Duncan, who approached Vote Leave to be their leader before the start of their campaign.

    Hunky Dunky! :D
    https://twitter.com/AVMikhailova/status/1111025457661648896?s=19
    The three ministers and whip should be fired.
    Yes. This is a minority government but there must be limits.
    It was a free vote.
    Not for government ministers I thought. It directly contradicts what passes as government policy.
  • AlastairMeeksAlastairMeeks Posts: 30,340
    kle4 said:

    The vote is educational.

    Norway and variations thereof look to be dead. So are revoke and no deal. The Malthouse unicorn has been shot between the eyes, and nobody wants a “Corbyn Brexit”, whatever the fuck that is.

    And a GE solves nothing and is not wanted.

    It really is either May’s Deal or May’s Deal with a Customs Union - and perhaps a confirmatory vote into the bargain. The only question is how we get there.

    No one expected a result this time round. I’m surprised how close we came to one. The winnowing process continues and looks set to produce - finally - a realistic outcome.
    It's a shame the vote to go down this route did not pass the first time, would have saved us about a week of aggravation.
    Well yes. The government would also be much better placed if it had recognised reality and facilitated this instead of try to sabotage it. As can be seen, Theresa May’s deal doesn’t do too badly at all by comparison and would now have some renewed momentum at this stage if the Prime Minister had not already shot all her bolts.
  • MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 38,868
    IanB2 said:

    Endillion said:

    HYUFD said:

    Endillion said:

    Danny565 said:

    That’s more informative than I expected. Note how close Beckett was. It looks like when other options are struck out it will be the last standing.

    EDIT Clarke is even closer. Those are the two serious contenders now.

    Yes, I'm very surprised by how close the second referendum idea came. A lot less Labour MPs opposed than expected, presumably.
    It's not a second referendum. It's a confirmatory referendum on the Deal. Remain wouldn't be on the ballot paper.
    I believe Remain and Revoke Art 50 would be the default alternative based on Kyle's statements and he drafted Beckett
    He won't get to implement it though. If the amendment says confirmatory then it has to be a Yes/No question.
    A confirmatory vote is a yes no question. You have a proposition, and are asked whether you want it or not. If you vote yes, you get it, and if you vote no, you don't, and things stay as they are.
    Yes, things stay as they are - n days from leaving with no deal. A no vote in a confirmatory referendum brings us back to this point.
  • dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 29,414

    Foxy said:

    GIN1138 said:

    Ten Tories supported the vote to Revoke.

    I’m amused as one of them is Alan Duncan, who approached Vote Leave to be their leader before the start of their campaign.

    Hunky Dunky! :D
    https://twitter.com/AVMikhailova/status/1111025457661648896?s=19
    The three ministers and whip should be fired.
    Which is entirely the opposite of free vote.
  • nico67nico67 Posts: 4,502
    Danny565 said:

    The Tiggers all voted against Ken Clarke's customs union motion. Had they voted for, it would've been carried.

    Purist, posturing idiots.

    Regardless being in a CU out of the EU is nuts . Better to be in the single market and not the CU but of course the anti EU migrant mob couldn’t cope with that.

    As a Remainer the best thing about the EU was freedom of movement , I could care less now what happens unless it involves FOM .
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 96,163
    Given how confused even us wonks can get about what is the customs union or a customs union and what the single market is or Norway+ and Malthouse and Chequers and this and that, I don't think there would be as much difficulty in trying to sell customs union Brexit as Brexit enough for most people.
  • edmundintokyoedmundintokyo Posts: 17,708
    MaxPB said:

    Endillion said:

    Danny565 said:

    That’s more informative than I expected. Note how close Beckett was. It looks like when other options are struck out it will be the last standing.

    EDIT Clarke is even closer. Those are the two serious contenders now.

    Yes, I'm very surprised by how close the second referendum idea came. A lot less Labour MPs opposed than expected, presumably.
    It's not a second referendum. It's a confirmatory referendum on the Deal. Remain wouldn't be on the ballot paper.
    More to the point, it didn't specify what would be on the ballot paper. I guess it would have got fewer votes if it had.
    They don't get to specify what goes on the ballot paper, the electoral commission does that based on the enabling act. This having the wording of "confirmatory" leads to a yes/no answer. The point of this isn't to have a second referendum, it's to fool gullible idiots into believing Labour are in favour of a second referendum.
    The Electoral Commission has to approve it but the question goes in the referendum legislation, eg see
    https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2015/36/section/1/enacted
  • ReggieCideReggieCide Posts: 4,312
    GIN1138 said:

    _Anazina_ said:

    GIN1138 said:

    Silly bloody Letwin strikes again. :D


    What has he done wrong exactly? The IV has gone exactly as expected - it’s an exercise in finding out what Parliament dislikes the least ffs.

    Edit: Grieve saying exactly this on ITN.
    We'll see.

    The golden rule of politics in the past 30 years is that anything Letwin is involved with usually turns to ashes pretty quickly...
    He didn't play in the Spofforth test did he?
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 49,871
    And to bed.
  • _Anazina__Anazina_ Posts: 1,810
    SeanT said:

    Bravo that editor - or sub-editor. Excellently clever front page.
    👍
  • AramintaMoonbeamQCAramintaMoonbeamQC Posts: 3,855
    edited March 2019
    Bill Cash having a totally normal one, praising Cromwell on BBC News.
  • ReggieCideReggieCide Posts: 4,312
    Foxy said:

    SeanT said:

    The Clarke option will be defeated more heavily if the Cabinet/Tory Whips vote next time around.

    Yes, I agree.

    I can only see a GE or a new vote now.

    Given that a GE will terrify the Tories, with the polls so volatile (and who would lead? And what would be their policy?) I think a 2nd referendum is now the most likely outcome.
    A GE doesn't address the issue, only a #peoplesvote does, and with a real chance of closure either way.
    not another one!!!
  • MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 38,868

    MaxPB said:

    Endillion said:

    Danny565 said:

    That’s more informative than I expected. Note how close Beckett was. It looks like when other options are struck out it will be the last standing.

    EDIT Clarke is even closer. Those are the two serious contenders now.

    Yes, I'm very surprised by how close the second referendum idea came. A lot less Labour MPs opposed than expected, presumably.
    It's not a second referendum. It's a confirmatory referendum on the Deal. Remain wouldn't be on the ballot paper.
    More to the point, it didn't specify what would be on the ballot paper. I guess it would have got fewer votes if it had.
    They don't get to specify what goes on the ballot paper, the electoral commission does that based on the enabling act. This having the wording of "confirmatory" leads to a yes/no answer. The point of this isn't to have a second referendum, it's to fool gullible idiots into believing Labour are in favour of a second referendum.
    The Electoral Commission has to approve it but the question goes in the referendum legislation, eg see
    https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2015/36/section/1/enacted
    But that's the point, the question would be based on this wording of "confirmatory" and the enabling act would have to reflect that.

    Labour is leading it's remain supporters up the garden path with this wording. Otherwise why not just come out and say "deal vs remain"?
  • Philip_ThompsonPhilip_Thompson Posts: 65,826
    dixiedean said:

    Foxy said:

    GIN1138 said:

    Ten Tories supported the vote to Revoke.

    I’m amused as one of them is Alan Duncan, who approached Vote Leave to be their leader before the start of their campaign.

    Hunky Dunky! :D
    https://twitter.com/AVMikhailova/status/1111025457661648896?s=19
    The three ministers and whip should be fired.
    Which is entirely the opposite of free vote.
    But still ...

    If there were 8 different proposals on how to reform the NHS and parties said there would be a free vote and a Labour whip voted for the proposal "privatise it all" then I would expect that whip to be fired.
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 49,871
    MaxPB said:

    IanB2 said:

    Endillion said:

    HYUFD said:

    Endillion said:

    Danny565 said:

    That’s more informative than I expected. Note how close Beckett was. It looks like when other options are struck out it will be the last standing.

    EDIT Clarke is even closer. Those are the two serious contenders now.

    Yes, I'm very surprised by how close the second referendum idea came. A lot less Labour MPs opposed than expected, presumably.
    It's not a second referendum. It's a confirmatory referendum on the Deal. Remain wouldn't be on the ballot paper.
    I believe Remain and Revoke Art 50 would be the default alternative based on Kyle's statements and he drafted Beckett
    He won't get to implement it though. If the amendment says confirmatory then it has to be a Yes/No question.
    A confirmatory vote is a yes no question. You have a proposition, and are asked whether you want it or not. If you vote yes, you get it, and if you vote no, you don't, and things stay as they are.
    Yes, things stay as they are - n days from leaving with no deal. A no vote in a confirmatory referendum brings us back to this point.
    No, if people don't want the proposition then the process ends.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 52,621

    Graun front pages can be a bit dry, but that is excellent.
    It did make me think "They're all DUP-ers now....."
  • Black_RookBlack_Rook Posts: 8,905
    No no,
    No no no no,
    No no no no,
    No no,
    They're all nitwits!
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 53,874
    MaxPB said:

    Ken Clarke’s customs union + WA seemed to have the broadest range of rebel Tory support, with 33 Tory votes in addition to over 200 Labour ones.

    Feels like where it might go to me.

    In yesterday morning's PB poll it was the second choice for Sean Fear and DavidL.

    So sensible Tories can live with it.
    I think we can live with it in the short term much as we'd live with the backstop, but it's not a viable long term solution for a country the size of the UK. We'd need an independent trade policy which reflects our strengths in services exports rather than EU strengths of goods and agricultural exports.
    I agree with that but what is clear is that we need to do a lot more homework and preparation before setting out into the bright new world and we haven't even started. My priority at this stage are to get out of the EU with the minimum of disruption to our trade. A Customs Union does that and really ought to get even Corbyn's support since that is supposed to be his position allowing the ERG, DUP and sundry other nutters to be outvoted if necessary.
  • JonathanJonathan Posts: 21,676
    I for one am glad that Brexit has been resolved and will sleep soundly tonight in the knowledge of a job well done.
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 48,741

    GIN1138 said:

    Ten Tories supported the vote to Revoke.

    I’m amused as one of them is Alan Duncan, who approached Vote Leave to be their leader before the start of their campaign.

    Hunky Dunky! :D
    Egoy Dunky.

    Bit like Bercow he cares not what he leads as long as he ends up leading something.
    From 2017, showing Sir Alan Duncan has excellent judgment.

    For some political balance, someone who was seated next to Tory MP Sir Alan Duncan at a function recently asked the right honourable gentleman for his opinion on Theresa May, his party's beleaguered leader.

    Hoping that he'd spill a little something juicy, they were disappointed to hear Duncan diplomatically explain the various issues he had with her style of leadership, her lack of core ideology and her unending dependence on bad advisors.

    So they asked him for his opinion on Boris Johnson instead.

    Which was, simply: "Cu*t".
    It takes one to know one.
    As someone who has met Duncan on a number of ocassions, I can confirm that he is an arrogant and obnoxious snob. Not as big a twat as Andrew Bridgen or as useless and invisible as Tredinnik amongst Leics MPs, but a git even though right on this issue.
  • MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 38,868
    DavidL said:

    MaxPB said:

    Ken Clarke’s customs union + WA seemed to have the broadest range of rebel Tory support, with 33 Tory votes in addition to over 200 Labour ones.

    Feels like where it might go to me.

    In yesterday morning's PB poll it was the second choice for Sean Fear and DavidL.

    So sensible Tories can live with it.
    I think we can live with it in the short term much as we'd live with the backstop, but it's not a viable long term solution for a country the size of the UK. We'd need an independent trade policy which reflects our strengths in services exports rather than EU strengths of goods and agricultural exports.
    I agree with that but what is clear is that we need to do a lot more homework and preparation before setting out into the bright new world and we haven't even started. My priority at this stage are to get out of the EU with the minimum of disruption to our trade. A Customs Union does that and really ought to get even Corbyn's support since that is supposed to be his position allowing the ERG, DUP and sundry other nutters to be outvoted if necessary.
    Yes, it's not where I would have started but it's certainly the best of a bad bunch.
  • ReggieCideReggieCide Posts: 4,312
    Foxy said:

    MaxPB said:

    Ken Clarke’s customs union + WA seemed to have the broadest range of rebel Tory support, with 33 Tory votes in addition to over 200 Labour ones.

    Feels like where it might go to me.

    In yesterday morning's PB poll it was the second choice for Sean Fear and DavidL.

    So sensible Tories can live with it.
    I think we can live with it in the short term much as we'd live with the backstop, but it's not a viable long term solution for a country the size of the UK. We'd need an independent trade policy which reflects our strengths in services exports rather than EU strengths of goods and agricultural exports.
    Surely a Customs Union excludes services, so we could arrange whatever Deals on these we could fix.
    fix?
  • GardenwalkerGardenwalker Posts: 21,298
    I’m surprised 30-odd Tories voted for the CU.
    They didn’t need to.

    May could end this all now if she swung behind a CU or behind a confirmatory ref.

    Which is the least awful option from her perspective?
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 62,772

    Foxy said:

    SeanT said:

    The Clarke option will be defeated more heavily if the Cabinet/Tory Whips vote next time around.

    Yes, I agree.

    I can only see a GE or a new vote now.

    Given that a GE will terrify the Tories, with the polls so volatile (and who would lead? And what would be their policy?) I think a 2nd referendum is now the most likely outcome.
    A GE doesn't address the issue, only a #peoplesvote does, and with a real chance of closure either way.
    not another one!!!
    Yet, a GE avoids the explicit rejection of the people's original vote.

    For that reason, and the historical precedent that a GE is the safety valve of our system, then we are well past the point that one needs to be called, no matter how inconvenient to all concerned.
  • Philip_ThompsonPhilip_Thompson Posts: 65,826
    MaxPB said:

    MaxPB said:

    Endillion said:

    Danny565 said:

    That’s more informative than I expected. Note how close Beckett was. It looks like when other options are struck out it will be the last standing.

    EDIT Clarke is even closer. Those are the two serious contenders now.

    Yes, I'm very surprised by how close the second referendum idea came. A lot less Labour MPs opposed than expected, presumably.
    It's not a second referendum. It's a confirmatory referendum on the Deal. Remain wouldn't be on the ballot paper.
    More to the point, it didn't specify what would be on the ballot paper. I guess it would have got fewer votes if it had.
    They don't get to specify what goes on the ballot paper, the electoral commission does that based on the enabling act. This having the wording of "confirmatory" leads to a yes/no answer. The point of this isn't to have a second referendum, it's to fool gullible idiots into believing Labour are in favour of a second referendum.
    The Electoral Commission has to approve it but the question goes in the referendum legislation, eg see
    https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2015/36/section/1/enacted
    But that's the point, the question would be based on this wording of "confirmatory" and the enabling act would have to reflect that.

    Labour is leading it's remain supporters up the garden path with this wording. Otherwise why not just come out and say "deal vs remain"?
    They don't say it now as they want to win that without scaring the horses.

    Confirmatory is just part of a motion now, there would need to be legislation going through all the motions and both houses of Parliament to enact it. No way it gets through that without Remain being an option.
  • another_richardanother_richard Posts: 26,628
    MaxPB said:

    Ken Clarke’s customs union + WA seemed to have the broadest range of rebel Tory support, with 33 Tory votes in addition to over 200 Labour ones.

    Feels like where it might go to me.

    In yesterday morning's PB poll it was the second choice for Sean Fear and DavidL.

    So sensible Tories can live with it.
    I think we can live with it in the short term much as we'd live with the backstop, but it's not a viable long term solution for a country the size of the UK. We'd need an independent trade policy which reflects our strengths in services exports rather than EU strengths of goods and agricultural exports.
    Things can and are changed over the long term.

    But as we know we're in no shape to conduct an independent trade policy at present.
  • DecrepitJohnLDecrepitJohnL Posts: 13,300
    isam said:

    SeanT said:

    Have British politicians ever been held in such contempt as they are right now?

    At least in the catastrophe of the Iraq War you could accept that Blair argued his case passionately and eloquently, and his opponents- like Robin Cook - were equally articulate and plausible (and, it turned out, much wiser than Blair).

    There is no one on any side of this argument who is emerging with credit, certainly not the turncoat Tiggers, certainly not the ultra-Brexiteers, and certainly not Corbyn's Labour. Stupid mediocrity and desperate careerism prevail throughout.

    I think May has emerged with credit. I certainly like her more now than I did 2 years ago
    May has messed up completely. She has persuaded almost no-one that her deal has any merit, and has barely attempted to do so. It has been a complete failure of political tradecraft. Even if you take the view that the deal is the best possible, the Prime Minister has made no attempt to understand her opponents' objections, let alone to compromise or persuade. And the six million signatures remind us that Blair or Cameron, Brown and Major, right back through Wilson, Macmillan and Churchill, would have addressed us -- the nation -- directly. May has been inflexible, perhaps except for the truth, and her last throw of the dice is not to make a case for her deal but to offer her resignation. It is absurd and appalling.
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 49,871
    MaxPB said:

    MaxPB said:

    Endillion said:

    Danny565 said:

    That’s more informative than I expected. Note how close Beckett was. It looks like when other options are struck out it will be the last standing.

    EDIT Clarke is even closer. Those are the two serious contenders now.

    Yes, I'm very surprised by how close the second referendum idea came. A lot less Labour MPs opposed than expected, presumably.
    It's not a second referendum. It's a confirmatory referendum on the Deal. Remain wouldn't be on the ballot paper.
    More to the point, it didn't specify what would be on the ballot paper. I guess it would have got fewer votes if it had.
    They don't get to specify what goes on the ballot paper, the electoral commission does that based on the enabling act. This having the wording of "confirmatory" leads to a yes/no answer. The point of this isn't to have a second referendum, it's to fool gullible idiots into believing Labour are in favour of a second referendum.
    The Electoral Commission has to approve it but the question goes in the referendum legislation, eg see
    https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2015/36/section/1/enacted
    But that's the point, the question would be based on this wording of "confirmatory" and the enabling act would have to reflect that.

    Labour is leading it's remain supporters up the garden path with this wording. Otherwise why not just come out and say "deal vs remain"?
    Effectively that's what it is, if you read up on what Kyle and Wilson intended, as I did yesterday. But, as is Labour's way, they are talking in vaguer terms because of their Leave MPs.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 96,163

    Bill Cash having a totally normal one, praising Cromwell on BBC News.

    Cromwell is good for a quote and a more nuanced figure in many ways that people give him credit for, but I don't know that he is perfect for people to call on in these situations. He spoke out against perpetual parliaments for a start.
  • Richard_TyndallRichard_Tyndall Posts: 32,580

    I’m surprised 30-odd Tories voted for the CU.
    They didn’t need to.

    May could end this all now if she swung behind a CU or behind a confirmatory ref.

    Which is the least awful option from her perspective?

    If she actually believes what she says then resigning. She has made clear she will not go back on the manifesto pledges. That means neither the Losers Revote nor a Customs Union is acceptable to her
  • EndillionEndillion Posts: 4,976
    IanB2 said:

    MaxPB said:

    IanB2 said:

    Endillion said:

    HYUFD said:

    Endillion said:

    Danny565 said:

    That’s more informative than I expected. Note how close Beckett was. It looks like when other options are struck out it will be the last standing.

    EDIT Clarke is even closer. Those are the two serious contenders now.

    Yes, I'm very surprised by how close the second referendum idea came. A lot less Labour MPs opposed than expected, presumably.
    It's not a second referendum. It's a confirmatory referendum on the Deal. Remain wouldn't be on the ballot paper.
    I believe Remain and Revoke Art 50 would be the default alternative based on Kyle's statements and he drafted Beckett
    He won't get to implement it though. If the amendment says confirmatory then it has to be a Yes/No question.
    A confirmatory vote is a yes no question. You have a proposition, and are asked whether you want it or not. If you vote yes, you get it, and if you vote no, you don't, and things stay as they are.
    Yes, things stay as they are - n days from leaving with no deal. A no vote in a confirmatory referendum brings us back to this point.
    No, if people don't want the proposition then the process ends.
    Well, that means No Deal. Not Remain. The process didn't start with the first referendum.
  • kle4 said:

    Bill Cash having a totally normal one, praising Cromwell on BBC News.

    Cromwell is good for a quote and a more nuanced figure in many ways that people give him credit for, but I don't know that he is perfect for people to call on in these situations. He spoke out against perpetual parliaments for a start.
    Newsnight have just opened with a Cromwell quote. He's having quite the day.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 60,503

    MaxPB said:

    Ken Clarke’s customs union + WA seemed to have the broadest range of rebel Tory support, with 33 Tory votes in addition to over 200 Labour ones.

    Feels like where it might go to me.

    In yesterday morning's PB poll it was the second choice for Sean Fear and DavidL.

    So sensible Tories can live with it.
    I think we can live with it in the short term much as we'd live with the backstop, but it's not a viable long term solution for a country the size of the UK. We'd need an independent trade policy which reflects our strengths in services exports rather than EU strengths of goods and agricultural exports.
    Things can and are changed over the long term.

    But as we know we're in no shape to conduct an independent trade policy at present.
    I don't like it at all but nothing is forever
  • dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 29,414

    dixiedean said:

    Foxy said:

    GIN1138 said:

    Ten Tories supported the vote to Revoke.

    I’m amused as one of them is Alan Duncan, who approached Vote Leave to be their leader before the start of their campaign.

    Hunky Dunky! :D
    https://twitter.com/AVMikhailova/status/1111025457661648896?s=19
    The three ministers and whip should be fired.
    Which is entirely the opposite of free vote.
    But still ...

    If there were 8 different proposals on how to reform the NHS and parties said there would be a free vote and a Labour whip voted for the proposal "privatise it all" then I would expect that whip to be fired.
    Then you ought not to have offered a free vote then. It isn't a free vote if there are consequences of any kind.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 62,772

    I’m surprised 30-odd Tories voted for the CU.
    They didn’t need to.

    May could end this all now if she swung behind a CU or behind a confirmatory ref.

    Which is the least awful option from her perspective?

    She would have to change her opinion and show imagination. She hates a CU as it stops trade deals with Outer and Inner Moravia.

    No problem there, none whatsoever.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 96,163
    Was there a particular reason the Letwin cabal have to wait to take control again until Monday, and not, say, tomorrow?
  • EndillionEndillion Posts: 4,976

    Graun front pages can be a bit dry, but that is excellent.
    It did make me think "They're all DUP-ers now....."
    I think a lot of people have been DUPed.
  • MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 38,868

    MaxPB said:

    Ken Clarke’s customs union + WA seemed to have the broadest range of rebel Tory support, with 33 Tory votes in addition to over 200 Labour ones.

    Feels like where it might go to me.

    In yesterday morning's PB poll it was the second choice for Sean Fear and DavidL.

    So sensible Tories can live with it.
    I think we can live with it in the short term much as we'd live with the backstop, but it's not a viable long term solution for a country the size of the UK. We'd need an independent trade policy which reflects our strengths in services exports rather than EU strengths of goods and agricultural exports.
    Things can and are changed over the long term.

    But as we know we're in no shape to conduct an independent trade policy at present.
    There aren't enough votes in parliament to put remain on the ballot paper. This odd yes/no question is the best they are going to be able to do and even it didn't get a majority (without the government whipping against). It's literally the labour leadership trying to keep remain voters on the same boat as leave voters.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 60,503

    I’m surprised 30-odd Tories voted for the CU.
    They didn’t need to.

    May could end this all now if she swung behind a CU or behind a confirmatory ref.

    Which is the least awful option from her perspective?

    I think permanent CU gets her back up to c. 100 Tory rebels but these could be offset by Labour votes
  • WhisperingOracleWhisperingOracle Posts: 9,167
    edited March 2019
    Meanwhile, even with the deflating factors of the government having officially "rejected" it, and the guarantee that parliament will debate it, the petition is still creeping up - only 95,000 away from 6 milion, now .. :

    https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/241584
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 96,163

    kle4 said:

    Bill Cash having a totally normal one, praising Cromwell on BBC News.

    Cromwell is good for a quote and a more nuanced figure in many ways that people give him credit for, but I don't know that he is perfect for people to call on in these situations. He spoke out against perpetual parliaments for a start.
    Newsnight have just opened with a Cromwell quote. He's having quite the day.
    Which quote? The dissolution of the Rump speech gets a lot of play (and isn't it that which made Hannan famous?)
  • sarissasarissa Posts: 1,993
    sarissa said:

    So even for the biggest number of votes cast, there were still 60+ abstentions?

    That’s the first lot I would throw out of parliament.

    Looking at the vote analysis, I take that back. There seems to have been carefully judged abstentions - SNP and LibDems on the Clarke amendment for example.
  • EndillionEndillion Posts: 4,976

    I’m surprised 30-odd Tories voted for the CU.
    They didn’t need to.

    May could end this all now if she swung behind a CU or behind a confirmatory ref.

    Which is the least awful option from her perspective?

    Customs Union by some distance for my money. Guarantees minimum level Brexit, and we can always withdraw at a later date (maybe).
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 60,503
    DavidL said:

    MaxPB said:

    Ken Clarke’s customs union + WA seemed to have the broadest range of rebel Tory support, with 33 Tory votes in addition to over 200 Labour ones.

    Feels like where it might go to me.

    In yesterday morning's PB poll it was the second choice for Sean Fear and DavidL.

    So sensible Tories can live with it.
    I think we can live with it in the short term much as we'd live with the backstop, but it's not a viable long term solution for a country the size of the UK. We'd need an independent trade policy which reflects our strengths in services exports rather than EU strengths of goods and agricultural exports.
    I agree with that but what is clear is that we need to do a lot more homework and preparation before setting out into the bright new world and we haven't even started. My priority at this stage are to get out of the EU with the minimum of disruption to our trade. A Customs Union does that and really ought to get even Corbyn's support since that is supposed to be his position allowing the ERG, DUP and sundry other nutters to be outvoted if necessary.
    Corbyn will find a reason to oppose it.

    We'd just have to hope his MPs ignored him.
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 49,871
    Endillion said:

    IanB2 said:

    MaxPB said:

    IanB2 said:

    Endillion said:

    HYUFD said:

    Endillion said:

    Danny565 said:

    That’s more informative than I expected. Note how close Beckett was. It looks like when other options are struck out it will be the last standing.

    EDIT Clarke is even closer. Those are the two serious contenders now.

    Yes, I'm very surprised by how close the second referendum idea came. A lot less Labour MPs opposed than expected, presumably.
    It's not a second referendum. It's a confirmatory referendum on the Deal. Remain wouldn't be on the ballot paper.
    I believe Remain and Revoke Art 50 would be the default alternative based on Kyle's statements and he drafted Beckett
    He won't get to implement it though. If the amendment says confirmatory then it has to be a Yes/No question.
    A confirmatory vote is a yes no question. You have a proposition, and are asked whether you want it or not. If you vote yes, you get it, and if you vote no, you don't, and things stay as they are.
    Yes, things stay as they are - n days from leaving with no deal. A no vote in a confirmatory referendum brings us back to this point.
    No, if people don't want the proposition then the process ends.
    Well, that means No Deal. Not Remain. The process didn't start with the first referendum.
    You know that isn't going to happen. No deal has been rejected comprehensively multiple times now. It is off the table; the PM said as much earlier in the week.
  • tysontyson Posts: 6,117
    kle4 said:

    Given how confused even us wonks can get about what is the customs union or a customs union and what the single market is or Norway+ and Malthouse and Chequers and this and that, I don't think there would be as much difficulty in trying to sell customs union Brexit as Brexit enough for most people.

    If May had said that we need a permanent customs union at the outset to resolve the Irish issue...it would be done and dusted.... She should have put her red line at the single market...

    Seriously, who gives a fuck about doing trade deals with fuck knows where...for fuck knows what.... when we do all our trade in the EU?
  • MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 38,868
    IanB2 said:

    MaxPB said:

    MaxPB said:

    Endillion said:

    Danny565 said:

    That’s more informative than I expected. Note how close Beckett was. It looks like when other options are struck out it will be the last standing.

    EDIT Clarke is even closer. Those are the two serious contenders now.

    Yes, I'm very surprised by how close the second referendum idea came. A lot less Labour MPs opposed than expected, presumably.
    It's not a second referendum. It's a confirmatory referendum on the Deal. Remain wouldn't be on the ballot paper.
    More to the point, it didn't specify what would be on the ballot paper. I guess it would have got fewer votes if it had.
    They don't get to specify what goes on the ballot paper, the electoral commission does that based on the enabling act. This having the wording of "confirmatory" leads to a yes/no answer. The point of this isn't to have a second referendum, it's to fool gullible idiots into believing Labour are in favour of a second referendum.
    The Electoral Commission has to approve it but the question goes in the referendum legislation, eg see
    https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2015/36/section/1/enacted
    But that's the point, the question would be based on this wording of "confirmatory" and the enabling act would have to reflect that.

    Labour is leading it's remain supporters up the garden path with this wording. Otherwise why not just come out and say "deal vs remain"?
    Effectively that's what it is, if you read up on what Kyle and Wilson intended, as I did yesterday. But, as is Labour's way, they are talking in vaguer terms because of their Leave MPs.
    As I said yesterday, it's surprising just how many second vote types are falling for this trick from the Labour leadership team. You're getting played by Corbyn, again.
  • MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 38,868
    IanB2 said:

    Endillion said:

    IanB2 said:

    MaxPB said:

    IanB2 said:

    Endillion said:

    HYUFD said:

    Endillion said:

    Danny565 said:

    That’s more informative than I expected. Note how close Beckett was. It looks like when other options are struck out it will be the last standing.

    EDIT Clarke is even closer. Those are the two serious contenders now.

    Yes, I'm very surprised by how close the second referendum idea came. A lot less Labour MPs opposed than expected, presumably.
    It's not a second referendum. It's a confirmatory referendum on the Deal. Remain wouldn't be on the ballot paper.
    I believe Remain and Revoke Art 50 would be the default alternative based on Kyle's statements and he drafted Beckett
    He won't get to implement it though. If the amendment says confirmatory then it has to be a Yes/No question.
    A confirmatory vote is a yes no question. You have a proposition, and are asked whether you want it or not. If you vote yes, you get it, and if you vote no, you don't, and things stay as they are.
    Yes, things stay as they are - n days from leaving with no deal. A no vote in a confirmatory referendum brings us back to this point.
    No, if people don't want the proposition then the process ends.
    Well, that means No Deal. Not Remain. The process didn't start with the first referendum.
    You know that isn't going to happen. No deal has been rejected comprehensively multiple times now. It is off the table; the PM said as much earlier in the week.
    Revoke just got rejected as well...
  • oxfordsimonoxfordsimon Posts: 5,842
    Perhaps there is a form of language about a Comprehensive Customs Deal rather than Customs Union that might unlock things.

    There will have to be a Customs Deal done - so give it some fancy new branding and it might just fly
  • Ishmael_ZIshmael_Z Posts: 8,981

    Foxy said:

    SeanT said:

    The Clarke option will be defeated more heavily if the Cabinet/Tory Whips vote next time around.

    Yes, I agree.

    I can only see a GE or a new vote now.

    Given that a GE will terrify the Tories, with the polls so volatile (and who would lead? And what would be their policy?) I think a 2nd referendum is now the most likely outcome.
    A GE doesn't address the issue, only a #peoplesvote does, and with a real chance of closure either way.
    not another one!!!
    Yet, a GE avoids the explicit rejection of the people's original vote.

    For that reason, and the historical precedent that a GE is the safety valve of our system, then we are well past the point that one needs to be called, no matter how inconvenient to all concerned.
    It's not just that it is inconvenient, it solves nothing because you cannot make the voters make it be about brexit. It will be about tory dementia tax vs free university fees from magic grandpa, or something. You will end up with a hung parliament and each side droning on about polls which purport to show that brexit was the 17th most salient issue in the average voter's mind. And that's if you can persuade the 2 main parties to ensure that there is clear blue water between their brexit policies in the first place.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 62,772
    tyson said:

    kle4 said:

    Given how confused even us wonks can get about what is the customs union or a customs union and what the single market is or Norway+ and Malthouse and Chequers and this and that, I don't think there would be as much difficulty in trying to sell customs union Brexit as Brexit enough for most people.

    If May had said that we need a permanent customs union at the outset to resolve the Irish issue...it would be done and dusted.... She should have put her red line at the single market...

    Seriously, who gives a fuck about doing trade deals with fuck knows where...for fuck knows what.... when we do all our trade in the EU?
    :+1:
  • Sean_FSean_F Posts: 37,387
    sarissa said:

    So even for the biggest number of votes cast, there were still 60+ abstentions?

    That’s the first lot I would throw out of parliament.

    The Cabinet and Whips abstained. So, in reality, the majority against CU and Second referendum is 47 greater in each case.
  • ralphmalphralphmalph Posts: 2,201
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 43,362
    kle4 said:

    Scott_P said:
    Bet the Tories are wishing they'd just done a deal with Labour, somehow, rather than deal with the DUP.
    Hoist by their stupidity, these Westminster morons know nothing of the rest of the UK , arrogant , pompous tw*ts getting all they deserve.
  • RoyalBlueRoyalBlue Posts: 3,223
    I suspect the conclusive argument against Brexit in EURef 2 will be that it would transfer more powers to politicians in Westminster.

    Who could possibly be in favour of that?
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 123,187

    I’m surprised 30-odd Tories voted for the CU.
    They didn’t need to.

    May could end this all now if she swung behind a CU or behind a confirmatory ref.

    Which is the least awful option from her perspective?

    She would have to change her opinion and show imagination. She hates a CU as it stops trade deals with Outer and Inner Moravia.

    No problem there, none whatsoever.
    The Telegraph said last weekend May could switch to her Deal and permanent Customs Union as a last resort and tonight's votes suggest that could scrape home

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/03/22/theresa-may-gambles-customs-union-vote-boris-johnson-reminds/
  • isamisam Posts: 41,118
    edited March 2019

    isam said:

    SeanT said:

    Have British politicians ever been held in such contempt as they are right now?

    At least in the catastrophe of the Iraq War you could accept that Blair argued his case passionately and eloquently, and his opponents- like Robin Cook - were equally articulate and plausible (and, it turned out, much wiser than Blair).

    There is no one on any side of this argument who is emerging with credit, certainly not the turncoat Tiggers, certainly not the ultra-Brexiteers, and certainly not Corbyn's Labour. Stupid mediocrity and desperate careerism prevail throughout.

    I think May has emerged with credit. I certainly like her more now than I did 2 years ago
    May has messed up completely. She has persuaded almost no-one that her deal has any merit, and has barely attempted to do so. It has been a complete failure of political tradecraft. Even if you take the view that the deal is the best possible, the Prime Minister has made no attempt to understand her opponents' objections, let alone to compromise or persuade. And the six million signatures remind us that Blair or Cameron, Brown and Major, right back through Wilson, Macmillan and Churchill, would have addressed us -- the nation -- directly. May has been inflexible, perhaps except for the truth, and her last throw of the dice is not to make a case for her deal but to offer her resignation. It is absurd and appalling.
    She wanted to Remain but put together a deal that reflected the referendum result rather than indulge her own preference. The people she needed to convince refuse anything and everything that is presented to them as we’ve seen tonight.
  • Danny565Danny565 Posts: 8,091
    edited March 2019
    DavidL said:

    MaxPB said:

    Ken Clarke’s customs union + WA seemed to have the broadest range of rebel Tory support, with 33 Tory votes in addition to over 200 Labour ones.

    Feels like where it might go to me.

    In yesterday morning's PB poll it was the second choice for Sean Fear and DavidL.

    So sensible Tories can live with it.
    I think we can live with it in the short term much as we'd live with the backstop, but it's not a viable long term solution for a country the size of the UK. We'd need an independent trade policy which reflects our strengths in services exports rather than EU strengths of goods and agricultural exports.
    I agree with that but what is clear is that we need to do a lot more homework and preparation before setting out into the bright new world and we haven't even started. My priority at this stage are to get out of the EU with the minimum of disruption to our trade. A Customs Union does that and really ought to get even Corbyn's support since that is supposed to be his position allowing the ERG, DUP and sundry other nutters to be outvoted if necessary.
    I agree a Customs Union bolted on probably gets a majority (even if not Corbyn, there's enough Labour MPs who oppose Remain for whom a CU would be enough), but it would probably come with a big condition - a long Article 50 extension, and proof that the government is negotiating a CU in good faith, before those Labour MPs agree to throw away their insurance policy by ratifying the withdrawal agreement. You can't expect Labour MPs to just have blind faith in whichever Tory leader replaces May.
  • TOPPINGTOPPING Posts: 42,992
    tyson said:

    kle4 said:

    Given how confused even us wonks can get about what is the customs union or a customs union and what the single market is or Norway+ and Malthouse and Chequers and this and that, I don't think there would be as much difficulty in trying to sell customs union Brexit as Brexit enough for most people.

    If May had said that we need a permanent customs union at the outset to resolve the Irish issue...it would be done and dusted.... She should have put her red line at the single market...

    Seriously, who gives a fuck about doing trade deals with fuck knows where...for fuck knows what.... when we do all our trade in the EU?
    Are you disrespecting Tonga?
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 96,163
    malcolmg said:

    kle4 said:

    Scott_P said:
    Bet the Tories are wishing they'd just done a deal with Labour, somehow, rather than deal with the DUP.
    Hoist by their stupidity, these Westminster morons know nothing of the rest of the UK , arrogant , pompous tw*ts getting all they deserve.
    I wouldn't mind but I'm getting what i deserve too, and I like that less!
  • dotsdots Posts: 615

    God, it's been a busy ol' Brexit day, eh?

    Another twisted mixed up day of brexit and twexit
  • Look, we've all had a trying day. Why not lower your blood pressure by following Pete Buttigieg's dogs on Twitter?

    https://twitter.com/firstdogsSB
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 49,871
    Sean_F said:

    sarissa said:

    So even for the biggest number of votes cast, there were still 60+ abstentions?

    That’s the first lot I would throw out of parliament.

    The Cabinet and Whips abstained. So, in reality, the majority against CU and Second referendum is 47 greater in each case.
    Not necessarily. Individually they would break between both sides.

    The main object of Monday's process is to get people to choose between the available options (there may be a case for inserting May's deal back into the process). So there aren't any "no" votes in the same way as electing an MP has no "none" option. Then hope that whatever emerges can carry the house at the end.
  • WhisperingOracleWhisperingOracle Posts: 9,167
    edited March 2019
    isam said:

    isam said:

    SeanT said:

    Have British politicians ever been held in such contempt as they are right now?

    At least in the catastrophe of the Iraq War you could accept that Blair argued his case passionately and eloquently, and his opponents- like Robin Cook - were equally articulate and plausible (and, it turned out, much wiser than Blair).

    There is no one on any side of this argument who is emerging with credit, certainly not the turncoat Tiggers, certainly not the ultra-Brexiteers, and certainly not Corbyn's Labour. Stupid mediocrity and desperate careerism prevail throughout.

    I think May has emerged with credit. I certainly like her more now than I did 2 years ago
    May has messed up completely. She has persuaded almost no-one that her deal has any merit, and has barely attempted to do so. It has been a complete failure of political tradecraft. Even if you take the view that the deal is the best possible, the Prime Minister has made no attempt to understand her opponents' objections, let alone to compromise or persuade. And the six million signatures remind us that Blair or Cameron, Brown and Major, right back through Wilson, Macmillan and Churchill, would have addressed us -- the nation -- directly. May has been inflexible, perhaps except for the truth, and her last throw of the dice is not to make a case for her deal but to offer her resignation. It is absurd and appalling.
    She wanted to Remain but put together a deal that reflected the referendum result rather than indulge her own preference. The people she needed to convince refuse anything and everything that is presented to them as we’ve seen tonight.
    She only wanted to remain in economic terms, not in the immigration terms that are an article of EU faith. As a result, when she saw that the fatuous dream of combining the two was impossible, she pivoted towards a harder Brexit.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 62,772

    Look, we've all had a trying day. Why not lower your blood pressure by following Pete Buttigieg's dogs on Twitter?

    https://twitter.com/firstdogsSB

    Excellent. Soon to be in the White House, living the life.
  • isamisam Posts: 41,118

    isam said:

    isam said:

    SeanT said:

    Have British politicians ever been held in such contempt as they are right now?

    At least in the catastrophe of the Iraq War you could accept that Blair argued his case passionately and eloquently, and his opponents- like Robin Cook - were equally articulate and plausible (and, it turned out, much wiser than Blair).

    There is no one on any side of this argument who is emerging with credit, certainly not the turncoat Tiggers, certainly not the ultra-Brexiteers, and certainly not Corbyn's Labour. Stupid mediocrity and desperate careerism prevail throughout.

    I think May has emerged with credit. I certainly like her more now than I did 2 years ago
    May has messed up completely. She has persuaded almost no-one that her deal has any merit, and has barely attempted to do so. It has been a complete failure of political tradecraft. Even if you take the view that the deal is the best possible, the Prime Minister has made no attempt to understand her opponents' objections, let alone to compromise or persuade. And the six million signatures remind us that Blair or Cameron, Brown and Major, right back through Wilson, Macmillan and Churchill, would have addressed us -- the nation -- directly. May has been inflexible, perhaps except for the truth, and her last throw of the dice is not to make a case for her deal but to offer her resignation. It is absurd and appalling.
    She wanted to Remain but put together a deal that reflected the referendum result rather than indulge her own preference. The people she needed to convince refuse anything and everything that is presented to them as we’ve seen tonight.
    She only wanted to remain in economic terms, not in the immigration terms that are an article of EU faith. As a result, when saw that the fatuous dream of combining the two was impossible, she pivoted towards a harder Brexit.
    She was the Home Sec who oversaw the biggest net migration figures since records began
  • TOPPINGTOPPING Posts: 42,992
    isam said:

    isam said:

    SeanT said:

    Have British politicians ever been held in such contempt as they are right now?

    At least in the catastrophe of the Iraq War you could accept that Blair argued his case passionately and eloquently, and his opponents- like Robin Cook - were equally articulate and plausible (and, it turned out, much wiser than Blair).

    There is no one on any side of this argument who is emerging with credit, certainly not the turncoat Tiggers, certainly not the ultra-Brexiteers, and certainly not Corbyn's Labour. Stupid mediocrity and desperate careerism prevail throughout.

    I think May has emerged with credit. I certainly like her more now than I did 2 years ago
    May has messed up completely. She has persuaded almost no-one that her deal has any merit, and has barely attempted to do so. It has been a complete failure of political tradecraft. Even if you take the view that the deal is the best possible, the Prime Minister has made no attempt to understand her opponents' objections, let alone to compromise or persuade. And the six million signatures remind us that Blair or Cameron, Brown and Major, right back through Wilson, Macmillan and Churchill, would have addressed us -- the nation -- directly. May has been inflexible, perhaps except for the truth, and her last throw of the dice is not to make a case for her deal but to offer her resignation. It is absurd and appalling.
    She wanted to Remain but put together a deal that reflected the referendum result rather than indulge her own preference. The people she needed to convince refuse anything and everything that is presented to them as we’ve seen tonight.
    The original sin was that she treated the referendum as though it was a general election ie winner takes all. Fine for a five year term but not for a generational vote. For that you need to include the losers.
  • MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 38,868
    Danny565 said:

    DavidL said:

    MaxPB said:

    Ken Clarke’s customs union + WA seemed to have the broadest range of rebel Tory support, with 33 Tory votes in addition to over 200 Labour ones.

    Feels like where it might go to me.

    In yesterday morning's PB poll it was the second choice for Sean Fear and DavidL.

    So sensible Tories can live with it.
    I think we can live with it in the short term much as we'd live with the backstop, but it's not a viable long term solution for a country the size of the UK. We'd need an independent trade policy which reflects our strengths in services exports rather than EU strengths of goods and agricultural exports.
    I agree with that but what is clear is that we need to do a lot more homework and preparation before setting out into the bright new world and we haven't even started. My priority at this stage are to get out of the EU with the minimum of disruption to our trade. A Customs Union does that and really ought to get even Corbyn's support since that is supposed to be his position allowing the ERG, DUP and sundry other nutters to be outvoted if necessary.
    I agree a Customs Union bolted on probably gets a majority (even if not Corbyn, there's enough Labour MPs who oppose Remain for whom a CU would be enough), but it would probably come with a big condition - a long Article 50 extension, and proof that the government is negotiating a CU in good faith, before those Labour MPs agree to throw away their insurance policy by ratifying the withdrawal agreement. You can't expect Labour MPs to just have blind faith in whichever Tory leader replaces May.
    The EU won't discuss the trade arrangements until we've left. The WA is the basis of any long term deal, it is the starting point of negotiating a trade deal with the EU without the cliff edge of no deal. Any move that we make needs to include ratification of the WA as step one.
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 49,871
    MaxPB said:

    IanB2 said:

    Endillion said:

    IanB2 said:

    MaxPB said:

    IanB2 said:

    Endillion said:

    HYUFD said:

    Endillion said:

    Danny565 said:

    That’s more informative than I expected. Note how close Beckett was. It looks like when other options are struck out it will be the last standing.

    EDIT Clarke is even closer. Those are the two serious contenders now.

    Yes, I'm very surprised by how close the second referendum idea came. A lot less Labour MPs opposed than expected, presumably.
    It's not a second referendum. It's a confirmatory referendum on the Deal. Remain wouldn't be on the ballot paper.
    I believe Remain and Revoke Art 50 would be the default alternative based on Kyle's statements and he drafted Beckett
    He won't get to implement it though. If the amendment says confirmatory then it has to be a Yes/No question.
    A confirmatory vote is a yes no question. You have a proposition, and are asked whether you want it or not. If you vote yes, you get it, and if you vote no, you don't, and things stay as they are.
    Yes, things stay as they are - n days from leaving with no deal. A no vote in a confirmatory referendum brings us back to this point.
    No, if people don't want the proposition then the process ends.
    Well, that means No Deal. Not Remain. The process didn't start with the first referendum.
    You know that isn't going to happen. No deal has been rejected comprehensively multiple times now. It is off the table; the PM said as much earlier in the week.
    Revoke just got rejected as well...
    Because MPs will want us to do it for them.
  • EndillionEndillion Posts: 4,976
    IanB2 said:

    Endillion said:

    IanB2 said:

    MaxPB said:

    IanB2 said:

    Endillion said:

    HYUFD said:

    Endillion said:

    Danny565 said:

    That’s more informative than I expected. Note how close Beckett was. It looks like when other options are struck out it will be the last standing.

    EDIT Clarke is even closer. Those are the two serious contenders now.

    Yes, I'm very surprised by how close the second referendum idea came. A lot less Labour MPs opposed than expected, presumably.
    It's not a second referendum. It's a confirmatory referendum on the Deal. Remain wouldn't be on the ballot paper.
    I believe Remain and Revoke Art 50 would be the default alternative based on Kyle's statements and he drafted Beckett
    He won't get to implement it though. If the amendment says confirmatory then it has to be a Yes/No question.
    A confirmatory vote is a yes no question. You have a proposition, and are asked whether you want it or not. If you vote yes, you get it, and if you vote no, you don't, and things stay as they are.
    Yes, things stay as they are - n days from leaving with no deal. A no vote in a confirmatory referendum brings us back to this point.
    No, if people don't want the proposition then the process ends.
    Well, that means No Deal. Not Remain. The process didn't start with the first referendum.
    You know that isn't going to happen. No deal has been rejected comprehensively multiple times now. It is off the table; the PM said as much earlier in the week.
    So has everything else.

    Point is, confirmatory referendum means Yes/No. As you said, No means we stay as we are. Which, right now, is leaving with No Deal, unless something happens to change it. If we get an extension to hold a confirmatory referendum, then the default is still Leave with No Deal, only later. So if we vote No, we are right back where we started.
  • another_richardanother_richard Posts: 26,628
    Danny565 said:

    DavidL said:

    MaxPB said:

    Ken Clarke’s customs union + WA seemed to have the broadest range of rebel Tory support, with 33 Tory votes in addition to over 200 Labour ones.

    Feels like where it might go to me.

    In yesterday morning's PB poll it was the second choice for Sean Fear and DavidL.

    So sensible Tories can live with it.
    I think we can live with it in the short term much as we'd live with the backstop, but it's not a viable long term solution for a country the size of the UK. We'd need an independent trade policy which reflects our strengths in services exports rather than EU strengths of goods and agricultural exports.
    I agree with that but what is clear is that we need to do a lot more homework and preparation before setting out into the bright new world and we haven't even started. My priority at this stage are to get out of the EU with the minimum of disruption to our trade. A Customs Union does that and really ought to get even Corbyn's support since that is supposed to be his position allowing the ERG, DUP and sundry other nutters to be outvoted if necessary.
    I agree a Customs Union bolted on probably gets a majority (even if not Corbyn, there's enough Labour MPs who oppose Remain for whom a CU would be enough), but it would probably come with a big condition - a long Article 50 extension, and proof that the government is negotiating a CU in good faith, before those Labour MPs agree to throw away their insurance policy by ratifying the withdrawal agreement. You can't expect Labour MPs to just have blind faith in whichever Tory leader replaces May.
    I'd rather have Barron, Flint and Mann helping in the negotiation than half the cabinet.
  • WhisperingOracleWhisperingOracle Posts: 9,167
    edited March 2019
    isam said:

    isam said:

    isam said:

    SeanT said:

    Have British politicians ever been held in such contempt as they are right now?

    At least in the catastrophe of the Iraq War you could accept that Blair argued his case passionately and eloquently, and his opponents- like Robin Cook - were equally articulate and plausible (and, it turned out, much wiser than Blair).

    There is no one on any side of this argument who is emerging with credit, certainly not the turncoat Tiggers, certainly not the ultra-Brexiteers, and certainly not Corbyn's Labour. Stupid mediocrity and desperate careerism prevail throughout.

    I think May has emerged with credit. I certainly like her more now than I did 2 years ago
    May has messed up completely. She has persuaded almost no-one that her deal has any merit, and has barely attempted to do so. It has been a complete failure of political tradecraft. Even if you take the view that the deal is the best possible, the Prime Minister has made no attempt to understand her opponents' objections, let alone to compromise or persuade. And the six million signatures remind us that Blair or Cameron, Brown and Major, right back through Wilson, Macmillan and Churchill, would have addressed us -- the nation -- directly. May has been inflexible, perhaps except for the truth, and her last throw of the dice is not to make a case for her deal but to offer her resignation. It is absurd and appalling.
    She wanted to Remain but put together a deal that reflected the referendum result rather than indulge her own preference. The people she needed to convince refuse anything and everything that is presented to them as we’ve seen tonight.
    She only wanted to remain in economic terms, not in the immigration terms that are an article of EU faith. As a result, when saw that the fatuous dream of combining the two was impossible, she pivoted towards a harder Brexit.
    She was the Home Sec who oversaw the biggest net migration figures since records began
    ...the politcal trauma of which, after being combined with her homespun village toryism, made her a permanent immigration obsessive.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 96,163

    Look, we've all had a trying day. Why not lower your blood pressure by following Pete Buttigieg's dogs on Twitter?

    https://twitter.com/firstdogsSB

    Henry and Baloo are more my jam

    https://www.instagram.com/henrythecoloradodog/?hl=en

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BhxDfMUhxXo/
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 62,772
    https://twitter.com/MsHelicat/status/1111035592765251584

    But only if the sword gets through the HoC.
  • MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 38,868
    IanB2 said:

    MaxPB said:

    IanB2 said:

    Endillion said:

    IanB2 said:

    MaxPB said:

    IanB2 said:

    Endillion said:

    HYUFD said:

    Endillion said:

    Danny565 said:

    That’s more informative than I expected. Note how close Beckett was. It looks like when other options are struck out it will be the last standing.

    EDIT Clarke is even closer. Those are the two serious contenders now.

    Yes, I'm very surprised by how close the second referendum idea came. A lot less Labour MPs opposed than expected, presumably.
    It's not a second referendum. It's a confirmatory referendum on the Deal. Remain wouldn't be on the ballot paper.
    I believe Remain and Revoke Art 50 would be the default alternative based on Kyle's statements and he drafted Beckett
    He won't get to implement it though. If the amendment says confirmatory then it has to be a Yes/No question.
    A confirmatory vote is a yes no question. You have a proposition, and are asked whether you want it or not. If you vote yes, you get it, and if you vote no, you don't, and things stay as they are.
    Yes, things stay as they are - n days from leaving with no deal. A no vote in a confirmatory referendum brings us back to this point.
    No, if people don't want the proposition then the process ends.
    Well, that means No Deal. Not Remain. The process didn't start with the first referendum.
    You know that isn't going to happen. No deal has been rejected comprehensively multiple times now. It is off the table; the PM said as much earlier in the week.
    Revoke just got rejected as well...
    Because MPs will want us to do it for them.
    Honestly it's like going round in circles. "This time Corbyn means it". You're getting played. Corbyn is a hard brexit no deal supporter. The wording is precisely the way it is because he's a hard brexit no deal supporter.
  • Wulfrun_PhilWulfrun_Phil Posts: 4,780
    Foxy said:
    Thanks for sharing that.

    What are the odds on Grieve losing the vote of no confidence due at Friday's meeting of his constituency association? Are there moves against any of the others?
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 49,871
    Endillion said:

    IanB2 said:

    Endillion said:

    IanB2 said:

    MaxPB said:

    IanB2 said:

    Endillion said:

    HYUFD said:

    Endillion said:

    Danny565 said:

    That’s more informative than I expected. Note how close Beckett was. It looks like when other options are struck out it will be the last standing.

    EDIT Clarke is even closer. Those are the two serious contenders now.

    Yes, I'm very surprised by how close the second referendum idea came. A lot less Labour MPs opposed than expected, presumably.
    It's not a second referendum. It's a confirmatory referendum on the Deal. Remain wouldn't be on the ballot paper.
    I believe Remain and Revoke Art 50 would be the default alternative based on Kyle's statements and he drafted Beckett
    He won't get to implement it though. If the amendment says confirmatory then it has to be a Yes/No question.
    A confirmatory vote is a yes no question. You have a proposition, and are asked whether you want it or not. If you vote yes, you get it, and if you vote no, you don't, and things stay as they are.
    Yes, things stay as they are - n days from leaving with no deal. A no vote in a confirmatory referendum brings us back to this point.
    No, if people don't want the proposition then the process ends.
    Well, that means No Deal. Not Remain. The process didn't start with the first referendum.
    You know that isn't going to happen. No deal has been rejected comprehensively multiple times now. It is off the table; the PM said as much earlier in the week.
    So has everything else.

    Point is, confirmatory referendum means Yes/No. As you said, No means we stay as we are. Which, right now, is leaving with No Deal, unless something happens to change it. If we get an extension to hold a confirmatory referendum, then the default is still Leave with No Deal, only later. So if we vote No, we are right back where we started.
    There is no point in having a referendum unless both sides of the question take us to a clear end state. And that end state is never going to be no deal. That's the simple political reality.
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 53,874
    Why is May so agin the Customs Union?

    Clearly, if we sign up to the CU we are accepting no freedom to do our own trade deals.
    We are accepting being bound by the deals the EU negotiates. These have greatly favoured goods over services to our disadvantage even inside the EU so they are hardly likely to get better once we have left.
    We are bound by EU tariffs which give EU states a continued competitive advantage in our market.
    We are likely to be bound to comply with EU regulations in relation to goods etc because the overlap between the CU and the SM are considerable in that both are intended to facilitate free movement of goods.
    OTOH
    Disruption of trade and supply chain links with the EU largely disappear.
    The backstop largely ceases to be an issue.
    There is probably a majority for it in the Commons.

    Like Max it is not what I would have chosen but given where we are it seems the best viable option (assuming May's deal isn't).
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 42,253
    So, Labour's Brexit gets more votes if you call it Ken Clarke's Brexit. And both of those Brexits are the same as Theresa May's Brexit given that Theresa May's Brexit (which now comes without Theresa May) delivers a Customs Union via the Backstop, the Backstop that is in the Withdrawal Agreement, the same Withdrawal Agreement that is common to all Brexits and cannot be changed.

    Progress.
  • RoyalBlueRoyalBlue Posts: 3,223
    Which Tories voted for a second referendum?
  • another_richardanother_richard Posts: 26,628
    tyson said:

    kle4 said:

    Given how confused even us wonks can get about what is the customs union or a customs union and what the single market is or Norway+ and Malthouse and Chequers and this and that, I don't think there would be as much difficulty in trying to sell customs union Brexit as Brexit enough for most people.

    If May had said that we need a permanent customs union at the outset to resolve the Irish issue...it would be done and dusted.... She should have put her red line at the single market...

    Seriously, who gives a fuck about doing trade deals with fuck knows where...for fuck knows what.... when we do all our trade in the EU?
    A lot of the 'libertarian pirate island' Conservatives do obsess about trade deals - or at least did, seeing Liam Fox in action has perhaps been a bit of a downer for them.

    It would also be anathema to the ERG death culters.
  • FF43FF43 Posts: 17,208

    The vote is educational.

    Norway and variations thereof look to be dead. So are revoke and no deal. The Malthouse unicorn has been shot between the eyes, and nobody wants a “Corbyn Brexit”, whatever the fuck that is.

    And a GE solves nothing and is not wanted.

    It really is either May’s Deal or May’s Deal with a Customs Union - and perhaps a confirmatory vote into the bargain. The only question is how we get there.

    Conscionable for now. I don't think it would stop at May's Deal plus Customs Union. Vested interests would want agriculture to be in; fisheries to be in; financial services to be in. We would want the EU to help out with third party arrangements. We might even want to buy influence with the EU through big payments. So we could end up close to Common Market 2.0 or the EEA+CU arrangements that have been so massively down voted in parliament today.

    The key point is that accepting a CU add on opens May's Deal to be amended out of recognition, when she has claimed it's the only deal on offer. Those trade offs between disconnection and damage limitation will be made later.
  • dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 29,414
    DavidL said:

    Why is May so agin the Customs Union?

    Clearly, if we sign up to the CU we are accepting no freedom to do our own trade deals.
    We are accepting being bound by the deals the EU negotiates. These have greatly favoured goods over services to our disadvantage even inside the EU so they are hardly likely to get better once we have left.
    We are bound by EU tariffs which give EU states a continued competitive advantage in our market.
    We are likely to be bound to comply with EU regulations in relation to goods etc because the overlap between the CU and the SM are considerable in that both are intended to facilitate free movement of goods.
    OTOH
    Disruption of trade and supply chain links with the EU largely disappear.
    The backstop largely ceases to be an issue.
    There is probably a majority for it in the Commons.

    Like Max it is not what I would have chosen but given where we are it seems the best viable option (assuming May's deal isn't).

    Because "trade deals" were what politicians said we voted for. When they were unable or unwilling to admit it was immigration.
  • Y0kelY0kel Posts: 2,307
    Are we nearly there yet?
  • AndyJSAndyJS Posts: 29,395
    One thing we can say: the days when two men and a dog used to watch the Parliament Channel are, at least for now, over.
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 53,874
    Danny565 said:

    DavidL said:

    MaxPB said:

    Ken Clarke’s customs union + WA seemed to have the broadest range of rebel Tory support, with 33 Tory votes in addition to over 200 Labour ones.

    Feels like where it might go to me.

    In yesterday morning's PB poll it was the second choice for Sean Fear and DavidL.

    So sensible Tories can live with it.
    I think we can live with it in the short term much as we'd live with the backstop, but it's not a viable long term solution for a country the size of the UK. We'd need an independent trade policy which reflects our strengths in services exports rather than EU strengths of goods and agricultural exports.
    I agree with that but what is clear is that we need to do a lot more homework and preparation before setting out into the bright new world and we haven't even started. My priority at this stage are to get out of the EU with the minimum of disruption to our trade. A Customs Union does that and really ought to get even Corbyn's support since that is supposed to be his position allowing the ERG, DUP and sundry other nutters to be outvoted if necessary.
    I agree a Customs Union bolted on probably gets a majority (even if not Corbyn, there's enough Labour MPs who oppose Remain for whom a CU would be enough), but it would probably come with a big condition - a long Article 50 extension, and proof that the government is negotiating a CU in good faith, before those Labour MPs agree to throw away their insurance policy by ratifying the withdrawal agreement. You can't expect Labour MPs to just have blind faith in whichever Tory leader replaces May.
    We don't need to negotiate the terms of the CU. We are already in it and it was updated in 2016. Its an off the shelf bolt on. The only question is whether the EU would allow us to be in it without payment.
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 51,725
    edited March 2019
    RoyalBlue said:

    Which Tories voted for a second referendum?

    Bebb, Greening, Grieve, Gyimah, Johnson (Jo), Lee, Merriman, Sandbach

    There were abstentions too.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 123,187
    MaxPB said:

    IanB2 said:

    MaxPB said:

    IanB2 said:

    Endillion said:

    IanB2 said:

    MaxPB said:

    IanB2 said:

    Endillion said:

    HYUFD said:

    Endillion said:

    Danny565 said:

    That’s more informative than I expected. Note how close Beckett was. It looks like when other options are struck out it will be the last standing.

    EDIT Clarke is even closer. Those are the two serious contenders now.

    Yes, I'm very surprised by how close the second referendum idea came. A lot less Labour MPs opposed than expected, presumably.
    It's not a second referendum. It's a confirmatory referendum on the Deal. Remain wouldn't be on the ballot paper.
    I believe Remain and Revoke Art 50 would be the default alternative based on Kyle's statements and he drafted Beckett
    He won't get to implement it though. If the amendment says confirmatory then it has to be a Yes/No question.
    A confirmatory vote is a yes no question. You have a proposition, and are asked whether you want it or not. If you vote yes, you get it, and if you vote no, you don't, and things stay as they are.
    Yes, things stay as they are - n days from leaving with no deal. A no vote in a confirmatory referendum brings us back to this point.
    No, if people don't want the proposition then the process ends.
    Well, that means No Deal. Not Remain. The process didn't start with the first referendum.
    You know that isn't going to happen. No deal has been rejected comprehensively multiple times now. It is off the table; the PM said as much earlier in the week.
    Revoke just got rejected as well...
    Because MPs will want us to do it for them.
    Honestly it's like going round in circles. "This time Corbyn means it". You're getting played. Corbyn is a hard brexit no deal supporter. The wording is precisely the way it is because he's a hard brexit no deal supporter.
    In reality he isn't as there is a risk Labour falls behind TIG if it enables No Deal
  • CD13CD13 Posts: 6,366
    edited March 2019
    Mr Topping,

    "but not for a generational vote. For that you need to include the losers."

    So if we have an Indyref2, and leave wins, the Scots have to include the losers. Hmm … How would that work? Give 'em a touch more devolution and call it quits? Do you want to tell them?

  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 49,871
    MaxPB said:

    IanB2 said:

    MaxPB said:

    IanB2 said:

    Endillion said:

    IanB2 said:

    MaxPB said:

    IanB2 said:

    Endillion said:

    HYUFD said:

    Endillion said:

    Danny565 said:

    That’s more informative than I expected. Note how close Beckett was. It looks like when other options are struck out it will be the last standing.

    EDIT Clarke is even closer. Those are the two serious contenders now.

    Yes, I'm very surprised by how close the second referendum idea came. A lot less Labour MPs opposed than expected, presumably.
    It's not a second referendum. It's a confirmatory referendum on the Deal. Remain wouldn't be on the ballot paper.
    I believe Remain and Revoke Art 50 would be the default alternative based on Kyle's statements and he drafted Beckett
    He won't get to implement it though. If the amendment says confirmatory then it has to be a Yes/No question.
    A confirmatory vote is a yes no question. You have a proposition, and are asked whether you want it or not. If you vote yes, you get it, and if you vote no, you don't, and things stay as they are.
    Yes, things stay as they are - n days from leaving with no deal. A no vote in a confirmatory referendum brings us back to this point.
    No, if people don't want the proposition then the process ends.
    Well, that means No Deal. Not Remain. The process didn't start with the first referendum.
    You know that isn't going to happen. No deal has been rejected comprehensively multiple times now. It is off the table; the PM said as much earlier in the week.
    Revoke just got rejected as well...
    Because MPs will want us to do it for them.
    Honestly it's like going round in circles. "This time Corbyn means it". You're getting played. Corbyn is a hard brexit no deal supporter. The wording is precisely the way it is because he's a hard brexit no deal supporter.
    It won't depend on Corbyn. The chances of a referendum are still less than evens - in part because of the different preferences that we are arguing out. But the political realities of the Commons are that IF there is a referendum, the only one that will be offered is Deal versus Remain.
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 48,741

    tyson said:

    kle4 said:

    Given how confused even us wonks can get about what is the customs union or a customs union and what the single market is or Norway+ and Malthouse and Chequers and this and that, I don't think there would be as much difficulty in trying to sell customs union Brexit as Brexit enough for most people.

    If May had said that we need a permanent customs union at the outset to resolve the Irish issue...it would be done and dusted.... She should have put her red line at the single market...

    Seriously, who gives a fuck about doing trade deals with fuck knows where...for fuck knows what.... when we do all our trade in the EU?
    A lot of the 'libertarian pirate island' Conservatives do obsess about trade deals - or at least did, seeing Liam Fox in action has perhaps been a bit of a downer for them.

    It would also be anathema to the ERG death culters.
    Keeping EU customs and agriculture solves the Irish border, and most of the other Channel isdues and keeps out chlorinated chicken. Clearly these are all good.

    Am I right that 3rd party EU trade deals, such as South Korea, don't automatically carry over to UK?
  • Pro_RataPro_Rata Posts: 5,289
    edited March 2019
    If someone can explain to me how the second round of indicative votes is meant to be more successful than the first, given MPs could vote in favour of multiple options today, please do a quick thread header, because I've lost this now.

    Frankly, this evening, I feel that the crew of Air France 447 could do a better job than parliament of navigating us through Brexit.
  • RoyalBlueRoyalBlue Posts: 3,223

    RoyalBlue said:

    Which Tories voted for a second referendum?

    Bebb, Greening, Grieve, Gyimah, Johnson (Jo), Lee, Merriman, Sandbach
    For those who haven’t yet had their association AGMs, I think their political careers are over.
  • MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 38,868
    IanB2 said:

    Endillion said:

    IanB2 said:

    Endillion said:

    IanB2 said:

    MaxPB said:

    IanB2 said:

    Endillion said:

    HYUFD said:

    Endillion said:

    Danny565 said:

    That’s more informative than I expected. Note how close Beckett was. It looks like when other options are struck out it will be the last standing.

    EDIT Clarke is even closer. Those are the two serious contenders now.

    Yes, I'm very surprised by how close the second referendum idea came. A lot less Labour MPs opposed than expected, presumably.
    It's not a second referendum. It's a confirmatory referendum on the Deal. Remain wouldn't be on the ballot paper.
    I believe Remain and Revoke Art 50 would be the default alternative based on Kyle's statements and he drafted Beckett
    He won't get to implement it though. If the amendment says confirmatory then it has to be a Yes/No question.
    A confirmatory vote is a yes no question. You have a proposition, and are asked whether you want it or not. If you vote yes, you get it, and if you vote no, you don't, and things stay as they are.
    Yes, things stay as they are - n days from leaving with no deal. A no vote in a confirmatory referendum brings us back to this point.
    No, if people don't want the proposition then the process ends.
    Well, that means No Deal. Not Remain. The process didn't start with the first referendum.
    You know that isn't going to happen. No deal has been rejected comprehensively multiple times now. It is off the table; the PM said as much earlier in the week.
    So has everything else.

    Point is, confirmatory referendum means Yes/No. As you said, No means we stay as we are. Which, right now, is leaving with No Deal, unless something happens to change it. If we get an extension to hold a confirmatory referendum, then the default is still Leave with No Deal, only later. So if we vote No, we are right back where we started.
    There is no point in having a referendum unless both sides of the question take us to a clear end state. And that end state is never going to be no deal. That's the simple political reality.
    The end of a no isn't no deal, it's just where we are now asking Parliament to make any decision. You may be right that they would vote to revoke if it was a no, but that would be a decision taken by MPs rather than a no vote. If anything I expect it would lead to an extension and an election.
  • trawltrawl Posts: 142
    Looking for the 105 who voted against the SI, seen that anywhere?

  • TOPPINGTOPPING Posts: 42,992
    CD13 said:

    Mr Topping,

    "but not for a generational vote. For that you need to include the losers."

    So if we have an Indyref2, and leave wins, the Scots have to include the losers. Hmm … How would that work? Give 'em a touch more devolution and call it quits? Do you want to tell them?

    Sadly or happily the EU ref gave plenty of scope for accommodating different views and stakeholders.
This discussion has been closed.