Theresa May is still Britain’s prime minister this morning after surviving yet another day as a wholly unconvincing, ‘head of Brexit,’ aided by an opposition that fails to take advantage of the hand it had been dealt.
The latest May's supremacy, a vote of ‘no confidence’ tabled by the opposition leader, saw rebel Conservatives and MPs from the all-important Democratic Unionist party, swing behind the prime minister to defeat the motion with a majority of 19.
May’s latest tactic is 'to consult widely,' she now exhorts MPs to put aside ‘self-interest’, and promises to listen to a wide range of views in the coming days during which she has to come up with a Brexit plan that suits the EU and British voters – a task long ago viewed as impossible.
Mr Corbyn initially was to join in the talks ‘under certain circumstances’ but with May sticking to her proviso that the ‘red lines,’ such as avoiding a customs union, remain immutable, Corbyn ducked out.
The prime minister said last night that she was disappointed that Corbyn has not chosen to take part in discussions so far, “but our door remains open … It will not be an easy task, but MPs know they have a duty to act in the national interest, reach a consensus and get this done.”
May now has five days within which to present parliament with an alternative Brexit plan, something that Brussels is keen to review as the clock ticks towards the March 29th deadline.
Labour may table further no-confidence motions as it remains keen to force a general election despite having no stated Brexit strategy of its own.
‘No confidence’ in Theresa May is palpable with a current strategy of ‘consulting different parties,' leading to much concern that this should have been done two years ago and the intervening period has been one marked by indecision, poor interface with the European Commission and a domestic ‘countdown to Brexit’ campaign that has lacked intelligence, truthfullness and skill, leaving a divided electorate intolerant of politicians and polarised in their beliefs.
Corbyn’s angry speech in the Commons sums up the mood, “It is clear that this government are (sic) not capable of winning support for their (sic) core plan on the most vital issue facing this country. The prime minister has lost control and the government have (sic) lost the ability to govern.”
Michael Gove, responding with a blatant leadership pitch, praising the PM’s, “inspirational leadership” and rounded on Labour’s lack of foreign policy and alleged anti-Semitism.
Labour could be in the driving seat but is fumbling. It’s stated policy is to push for a general election, while fielding no Brexit strategies of its own.
If Labour fails to engineer a general election, it’s strategy consists simply of of being annoying, unconstructive and failing to strike home using the advantages it has been handed on a plate.
After yesterday’s defeat for Labour, Corbyn is likely now to feel a growing pressure for him to champion a second referendum.
He would have some serious backing as more than 170 business leaders, including Terence Conran and Norman Foster, have thrown their weight behind a new campaign for a second Brexit referendum.
There is said to be growing support for a “people’s vote” after Theresa May suffered the heaviest parliamentary defeat in the modern age. A letter due to be published in the Times today asks the party leaders to support a second referendum.
The Daily Express today reports anger at politicians from both sides, printing, “You’ve lost respect of the nation”, citing a poll that shows 72% of those asked want a complete overhaul of the UK political system in the wake of the Brexit vote.
The Financial Times this morning, prints, “May starts search for Brexit ideas after narrow confidence vote win,” suggesting, less than subtly, that it’s a bit late in the day to start searching for ideas, with ten weeks to go before Brexit.
Comments
They have convinced many that ordinary people will be financially better off outside the EU.
This does not make sense as there will be no EU working directive to call upon in the event of a work practice dispute, which meens the the employer will determine all the rights of the workforce and this will result in slavery for soom people and less wages for most.
This is only one small piece of EU law that protects ordinary people, it's like our country is going back to the dark ages instead of forwards toward more enlightenment, do we want this for our children and grandchildren, l don't want this.
cant think of any!
and of course it was just over half of the English and welsh who wanted out, the scots and n irish wanted to stay as did 48 % of the English
hardly a mass movement!!!
Germany make the laws, the British obey them, the French break them, the Italians ignore them, the Spanish have never heard of them, the Portuguese just shrug their shoulders, the Irish say "to be sure tey are a great idea" and the Greeks say since they invented the legal system it doesn't apply to them
Tut tut Ivan. Name calling is likely to get yourself blocked from this site.
And I find myself agreeing with Jack Reacher again.
Another referendum (EU tactic - keep voting until you come up with the answer we want) is an insult to democracy and to the electorate. If Remain wins then a third ref will be required, but to what end? May has wasted enough time.
It looks like we have 3 options. Canada + (my preference). WTO terms (nothing to be frightened of). Kick the can further down the road for 10 years by which time the EU will have collapsed anyway.
I predict the last; the worst possible option.
The first vote was to join 40+ years ago. the vote to leave is a CON,,,, stupid...
Hmm.
Your right Jack, But I feel May isn't the person for the job. We should have some one who at the very least wanted to leave..
While Prime Minister May usurped the work of the Brexit Secretary, and chose not to involve other political parties in her negotiations with EU, she had no time to fulfil her pre-election promise to re-enfranchise expatriates.
She also really annoyed me by appearing to negotiate with Junker himself. As Prime Minister of UK, her proper interlocutor is Donald Tusk, President of the Commission. Not Junker, who is merely head of the EU civil service.
In talking with Junker, she demeaned both herself and her country.