“BREXIT BRIEF” – ISSUE 77, 26th July 2019

A sad end and a new beginning 

It has been a troubling week for many UK citizens with Boris Johnson replacing Theresa May as the nation’s Prime Minister. He secured two thirds of the votes cast by Conservative members, handing him the Party leadership and the metaphorical keys to 10 Downing Street. And, after 24 years as a card-carrying Tory, I’m afraid it was just too much for me.

In a letter to Conservative Party Chairman Brandon Lewis – sent just hours before his demotion in Johnson’s ministerial reshuffle – I resigned as Chairman of the Pudsey Conservative Association, together with my membership of the Party.   

I wrote: “My love for my country vastly supersedes my loyalty to my Party. I did not believe in Brexit and campaigned against it. The narrow decision in favour of the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union was the wrong path to tread.” I added: “The hardline Brexiteers in Conservative ranks, hellbent on a no-deal departure, claim to be patriots. I see nothing patriotic about willingly risking untold damage to our economy, to jobs and to our global standing for decades to come.”  

As I have made very clear in an article published in today’s Yorkshire Post, I will miss spending time with the many good friends I have made throughout the years as we campaigned together in the driving rain and howling wind. I supported the Tories because I was proud to call myself a Tory. But the Conservative Party I knew is now a relic of the past.  

I am immensely grateful for the support I have received after announcing my decision, much from surprisingly quarters and from people I have never met. (Less surprising is the online abuse hurled in my direction from ultra-Brexiteers and supporters of Jeremy Corbyn). Be in no doubt that the true battle for the United Kingdom’s future begins now. Theresa May sought to adopt a consensual approach to Brexit but was stopped at every twist and turn by the new Prime Minister, the new Foreign Secretary (Dominic Raab), the new Home Secretary (Priti Patel), the new Environment Secretary (Theresa Villiers), the new Transport Secretary (Grant Shapps) and the new Leader of the House of Commons (Jacob Rees-Mogg), amongst others appointed by Johnson to more junior Government posts.         

Last week I referred to the rise of the “Gaukeward Squad.” On Wednesday, 17 members of Theresa May’s Cabinet either quit or were sacked by Boris Johnson. They included his leadership rival Jeremy Hunt who was removed as Foreign Secretary. Almost all refused to support Johnson’s run to become Prime Minister, a fact not unrelated to their demise. The ranks of the “Gaukeward Squad” have suddenly swollen significantly.      

Strange Cummings 

One Johnson appointment that non-Westminster watchers may have missed this week was that of Dominic Cummings as a Special Adviser to the Prime Minister. Once described by David Cameron as a “career psychopath,” Cummings was the driving force behind the Vote Leave campaign and one the principal reasons why the United Kingdom is in its current predicament. He is credited (for want of a better word) with dreaming up the infamous “Take Back Control” slogan which has arguably left the country less in control of its own destiny than at any time in living memory.  Earlier this year, Cummings was found to be in contempt of Parliament after refusing to appear in front of a Commons Select Committee inquiry into false news during the referendum campaign. It is being reported that all Government Special Advisers – and there were around 140 under Theresa May – will answer to him. 

In other developments, Cummings’ former boss, Michael Gove, has been given a cross-Departmental role in preparing the country for no-deal which, in the minds of many seasoned observers, is Team Johnson’s preferred outcome. Just for good measure, all Ministers already in place or yet to be appointed have been required to sign a pledge accepting a no-deal outcome on 31 October as a condition to serve. Every Conservative candidate standing in a snap General Election, should one be called before then, will be obliged to do the same. Yet further evidence of why I can no longer remain in the Party.

Meanwhile in America… 

The US President was quick to congratulate the new UK Prime Minister when the result of the Conservative leadership election was announced. "He's tough and he's smart," Donald Trump said of Johnson during a speech in Washington DC. "They call him 'Britain Trump,' and its people are saying that's a good thing. They like me over there. That's what they wanted. That's what they need." It’s really not. 

By Wednesday, Trump’s limited attention span was diverted elsewhere when Special Counsel Robert Mueller appeared at a Congressional hearing to discuss his 448-page report on Russia’s interference in the 2016 Presidential election. The former FBI Director made clear that – contrary to White House claims - Trump had not been “totally exonerated” from allegations he had obstructed justice once the Russian meddling had been uncovered. So far, 35 people and three companies have faced charges but, whilst Mueller concluded that he could not charge a sitting President with a crime, he could not exonerate him either. When asked if Trump could be indicted after leaving office, Mueller replied: "Yes." ‘Britain Trump’ was in Buckingham Palace with the Queen at the time, so probably didn’t have the television on.  

Have fun in the weekend sun!  

Jason 

Dr Jason Aldiss BEM

Managing Director, Eville & Jones

You can follow me on Twitter @JasonAldiss