So May has offered to quit in return for her plan being passed. That seems bizarre. Even more bizarrely, it has prompted some “No” voters to switch sides and declare they’d now vote it! That’s a disgrace, either the deal is a decent one or it’s not.
But the DUP have just declared that they cannot vote for May’s deal because the timeless backstop is still in existence. So it looks likely that Mays deal won’t come back to the House.
It seems Labour is now formally wanting a second referendum, which has prompted one shadow minister to quit and may lead to several more.
Parliament have just voted to delay Brexit -as expected and as per the EU agreement last week - and it sounds like the votes on what comes next won’t be held until Monday. Roughly 20% voted NOT to delay, which probably gives an indication of how many hard-brexit proponents there are in the Commons.
They also voted against junking Article 50 if no-deal was the only option! Errr,…
They narrowly voted against a second ref.
They voted against staying in the Common Market.
They voted narrowly against staying in a Customs Union.
They voted against Labours version of a deal (which doesn’t exist yet?)
And as for Option O, I don’t really know what that means but they shitcanned it anyway. Are they saying that if they leave without a deal, they DONT want a trading relationship with the EU!?
Customs Union and 2nd Ref were the two closest to being passed.
The Customs Union would (I think?) solve the border problem with Ireland, but obviously means they aren’t fully independent of the EU. Surely, that’s the best option available (given that they won’t withdraw Article 50) ?
So, of the two results that were closest, seems like MPs still want a customs union and the economic benefits but want to exit from EU so that they can control immigration and not be beholden to European laws?
In relation to the Irish cross border trade, there would be little difference in impact between a customs union and an FTA and there are indications that the EU would be prepared to bend the rules to accomodate Irish interests ( the invisible border).
A straight customs union would be the least trade disruptive and would maintain a common trade border between the EU/UK and third countries , pretty much as you were - although there would need to be some sort of arrangement in relation to those third countries having FTAs with the EU , if the UK ceases to be a party to such treaties.
A customs union would inhibit UK capacity to set its own tariffs within WTO-bound limits and it would have little say in EU decisions, although there are possibilities for sectoral carve outs ( as with Norway in agriculture and fisheries)
Both options would allow the UK to enter into trade arrangements with third countries and to set up its own arrangements of preferences to developing countries within the limits of WTO rules.
The UK also has the option of rejoining EFTA to conclude an FTA with the EU.
With Irish interests uppermost, the EU would not want a hard Brexit. My guess is that both sides have maintained an informal file of negotiations on an FTA as a contingency
There’s an overarching message in this for us too, in the sense that allowing things to quietly drift past for political expediency/gain can lead to irresponsible/uninformed public feeling/decisions.
United Kingdom in what name?
According to OECD reports, regional disparities in the UK are more marked than in other OECD members, in part attributable to the mish mash of local/ regional government systems with overlapping control by central government in Westminster.
Even with partial devolution to Scotland, Wales and Northen Ireland ( where Strormont has not sar for 2 years), the Brexit decision totally overlooked their interests, in particular Northern Ireland, with its direct interest in maintaining stable political and economic relations with the Irish Republic and also with the economic future of Ireland.
The people of Nothern Ireland should not overlook DUP treachery. Following the High Court judgment, it was Parliament, with DUP support, that gave May the power to revoke Article 50.
A government that farms out its decisions to a simple majority referendum on one of the most significant policies over decades in a nation with such regional differences - absent any considered policy document.
A government system which has ceased to operate on Cabinet lines.
A Parliamentary system which results in 8 different options being debated on the floor of the House with all the grandstanding that it involved. And no Parliamentary Committee structure that could have worked through such issues before they reached the floor of the House.
Reportedly, ten Conservatives have put up their hands to replace May.
If that’s the Westminster system of Government, give me a Federal system with a written constitution.
Farrage in the Euro Parliament encouraging the EU to not grant further extensions and force a hard exit. What a piece of turd that bloke is. But we already knew that.