I haven’t talked much about Brexit recently because very little has actually happened. Theresa May’s Government is inevitably and mercifully over (though she will act as a caretaker until the next Tory leader is selected sometime in July). I imagine she was much kinder to Larry than David Cameron was. The Conservatives are imploding, remembering why, exactly, they hate each and every one of their opponent’s guts and just what a corrupt perverted dope fiend they are.
You know, your typical Tory Leadership election and every scurrilous bit is true. These are deeply evil people.
Meanwhile, events have taken a noticiable spurt forward. Jeremy Corbyn has finally committed Labour to advance a Bill the ultimate effect of which which would bind any Prime Minister from submitting a Bill including a ‘No Deal’ Brexit alternative for debate even more permanently we were sure was already the case!
It would in fact separate the Parliament Remain/Leave (a little simplistic but captures the dynamics I think). ‘Leave’ loses with a thud and that will permanently weaken their grip on Institutional Tories, a clear defeat I think. While the usual suspects (SNP, Greens, Neo-Lib Dems, and Plaid Cymru) are behind Labour, which is United. That’s still about 10 shy given the stand of the DUP.
There is a trickle of Tories who’ve already flipped and Corbyn is hoping it will turn into a torrent which is not a bad bet given May was not able to prevent a similar measure. Whether it does him any good in the general? Jeremy has been less than innovative on Brexit.
Labour to launch bid to block new PM from forcing no-deal Brexit
by Jessica Elgot, The Guardian
Tue 11 Jun 201
Labour will launch the first step in an audacious cross-party attempt to block a new prime minister from forcing through a no-deal Brexit in October.
The shadow Brexit secretary, Keir Starmer, threw down the gauntlet to Tory cabinet ministers including Amber Rudd and Philip Hammond, saying they should back Labour’s attempts if they were serious about preventing no deal.
Rory Stewart, a Tory leadership contender, said he might consider backing the motion on Wednesday – a move that could get him sacked as international development secretary.
If passed, the motion would give MPs control of the parliamentary agenda on 25 June. The same motion could then potentially be used to begin legislation to prevent the UK from leaving the EU without a deal.
The motion, which Labour will table during the opposition day debate on Wednesday, has the backing of the former Conservative minister Oliver Letwin and the leaders of the Scottish National party, Plaid Cymru, the Liberal Democrats and the Greens.
Unlike typical opposition day debates, the motion, if passed, will be binding, but it will need to secure the support of more Conservative MPs.
…
A similar move in April by Letwin and the Labour MP Yvette Cooper passed by one vote after 14 Tory MPs rebelled. Conservative sources who have worked behind the scenes on the proposal believe it may be difficult to convince some party colleagues to back a plan based on a Labour opposition day motion, even if they broadly support its objective.
…
Johnson, as well as Andrea Leadsom, Dominic Raab and Esther McVey, have vowed that if they win the Tory leadership, they will take the UK out of the EU on 31 October, regardless of whether or not a deal is in place.Raab has also refused to rule out the option of proroguing parliament in order to force through a no-deal Brexit, something other candidates have said they would not countenance.
Starmer said the debate over a no-deal Brexit in the Tory leadership contest had “descended into the disturbing, the ludicrous and the reckless”, and had forced MPs to act.
“MPs cannot be bystanders while the next Tory prime minister tries to crash the UK out of the European Union without a deal and without the consent of the British people,” he said.
“That’s why we are taking this latest measure to end the uncertainty and protect communities across the country. My challenge to MPs who disagree either with a no-deal Brexit or proroguing parliament is to back this motion and act in the national interest.”
The motion has been signed by Corbyn and the Labour chief whip, Nick Brown, as well as Letwin, the SNP’s Ian Blackford, the Lib Dems’ Vince Cable, Plaid Cymru’s Liz Saville Roberts and the Green MP, Caroline Lucas.
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Letwin, who has backed Michael Gove in the Tory leadership contest, is likely to face criticism from party colleagues for supporting the move. A Gove campaign source said: “All leadership candidates will need to win support of colleagues across the party. Michael has always been clear that no deal must remain on the table.”Steve Baker, the deputy chair of the hard-Brexit European Research Group, said Tories including Letwin were risking the chance of a general election that could result in the Conservatives being wiped out by the Brexit party.
Baker, who has backed Johnson, said: “Oliver Letwin brings closer a general election which could leave Conservatives holding as few as 26 seats. Colluding with this Labour leadership to deny government control of the Commons business is unconscionable for being firmly against the national interest.”
Man, Tories sure do hate Labour a lot.