Light at the end of the tunnel?
Tomorrow’s Observer reports that support is gaining for a second referendum when Parliament meets on a Saturday next week for the first time in 40 years.
Boris Johnson’s new (old?) Brexit plan looks in trouble, even before negotiators emerge from the so-called EU tunnel where intense talks are taking place.
Nigel Dodds, the DUP leader in Westminster, questioned key elements of the proposed new deal – including the idea of Northern Ireland being in some form of post-Brexit customs partnership with the EU.
That’s a red flag for the DUP, on whose support Mr Johnson absolutely needs if he is to have a chance to get a deal approved by Parliament.
And the ERG say they will take their lead from the DUP.
Said Mr Dodds:
“Northern Ireland must stay in a full UK customs union, full stop.”
Asked if the ideas that are reportedly being discussed behind closed doors by the UK government and the EU could work, he added:
“No, it cannot work because Northern Ireland has to remain fully part of the UK customs union.”
The Observer report states that with hopes of securing any Brexit deal on a knife edge, Labour is understood to be ready to whip its MPs to back a second referendum.
A source involved in the effort told The Observer:
“We believe we are getting closer to the majority it needs. The task now is maximising that majority and seeing whether Johnson finally concedes that it is a way out for him too.”
Keir Starmer, the shadow Brexit secretary, told a conference today:
“If Johnson does manage to negotiate a deal… then we will insist that it is put back to the people in a confirmatory vote. If he can’t – or I should say won’t – get a deal … we will take whatever steps are necessary to prevent our country crashing out of the EU without a deal.”
So there is light at the end of the tunnel – but not the light that Boris Johnson is banking on:
The distinct possibility that next Saturday Parliamentarians may vote for a second referendum – and with masses of passionate Remainers assembled outside Parliament, cheering them on.
Things may be looking up for Remainers.
Helping you balance the head, heart and soul of your enterprise for sustainable business in a better world. Keynote Speaker ? Consultant ? Mentor ? Scientist ? Musician ? Author @ Virgin, Bloomsbury, Routledge, Gower.
5 年Amidst all the bluster, here is some sober reality?https://www.hsj.co.uk/quality-and-performance/hospital-books-hotel-rooms-for-cancer-patients-ahead-of-brexit/7026119.article?
Helping you balance the head, heart and soul of your enterprise for sustainable business in a better world. Keynote Speaker ? Consultant ? Mentor ? Scientist ? Musician ? Author @ Virgin, Bloomsbury, Routledge, Gower.
5 年I keep having this recurring dream ... Remainers decided to stay at Parliament on 19 October to help MPs sitting inside the building to make a principled decision on Brexit. They provided the MPs with cucumber sandwiches and tea to help them work through the nights and days needed to do this. This reverse "prorogation" was conducted with grace, good humour and a degree of English irony, in what came to be known as "THE PEOPLE PLUS PARLIAMENT". I sense that it would only take a day or so to create the right impact with people working in shifts ... The PPP was inspired by Johnson's suggestion of the opposite approach. The Police were unable to prevent this happening through the sheer weight of numbers and the genial behaviour of those who remained. The PPP were supported by others who supplied food, refreshments and tlc ... has anyone else had this dream?
The argument that a second referendum is in some way undemocratic is effectively a paradox.? A second referendum would anyway not simply be a repeat of the first referendum which was a binary 'yes/no' on EU membership. In the same way that one negotiates a demerger, the last three years have been about negotiating the terms of a demerger... Who gets saddled with debt, who gets to keep which assets, and who has what rights etc.? A second referendum would therefore be about the terms of separation.? Indeed, given all that we know now (which you have generously & patiently been cataloguing) it is also a chance to ask the nation whether indeed a de-merger still makes best sense.? The reality is that the arguments to leave or remain have never been simple: the media has done a pretty poor job of clarifying the benefits and disadvantages of either path.? They have chosen to focus on the dog whistle, the froth, the febrility rather than helping the electorate understand the choices at hand.? That said, a second referendum would move us beyond the blatant lies (￡350m a week, Turkey joining the EU imminently etc) and offer a more informed choice.? On such a life-changing issue, not to vote again would be far more undemocratic.