JC Footy Genius
Bringer of TRUTH
- Jun 9, 2015
- 10,568
On my desktop we have reached page 3245, I doubt there is a single page that doesn't include you two repeating this mantra, believe me everyone who has ever taken the most cursory glance at this thread, knows exactly where you to stand. I expect there to be a second referendum, for entirely practical reasons. Whilst both key parties are notionally in favour of exit, I can not see how Brexit Bulldog ace negotiator can come back with a deal that satisfies the majority of his own party let alone the Corbynistas.
If Parliament is not given a vote on the deal there will be a strong push for a vote of no confidence in the government. If you are a remain Tory in a remain area, to support this would be the end of your political career. I am sure that you and many others would urge them to do the right thing for the good of the country and maybe a few will accept the knighthood and life peerage, but the numbers don't look achievable right now.
A vote of no confidence driven by Brexit would be futile if it forces a general election where both main parties are in favour of Brexit. A change of government, would result in a new set of negotiations, followed 2 years later by the same impasse a Brexit proposal that can't proceed without a large government majority in the Commons and a strong party whip.
If you thought the DUP drove a hard bargain, wait until you see Corbyn's Brexit wish list. He holds all the cards, and he isn't ideologically tied to Brexit. He needs a deal far less than half the cabinet who have staked their political careers on Brexit. At the moment it is either a deal on his terms, or he brings down the government, by appearing entirely reasonable, which of course he is not.
I don't derive any satisfaction from this mess and I don't have any great desire to see this outcome, but what I believe can be negotiated is a second referendum, based on the terms agreed/proposed, with a binding agreement from parliament that the result will be respected and passed or rejected based on this outcome.
It's worth repeating so many times because so many people seem to want to ignore it.
Parliament has already been promised a vote. It's a given many will be dissatisfied with the final agreement (assuming there is one) but the choice will be accept the deal or leave on WTO terms .. which should concentrate a few minds. Corbyn, like the Tories leads a divided party and has significant internal opposition to his line on Brexit. More importantly part of his recent electoral success was nullyfing Brexit as an issue (by supporting it) leading to many UKIP voters going to Labour. Therefore rowing back on supporting Brexit or threatening it's delivery for party advantage would most likely lose those voters. It is very messy.