Brexit vote

[firstfloor]

Thanks. I appreciate your perspective on this.

There is much more that could be said. The border in Ireland is currently invisible. At Brexit it becomes the visible boundary of the EU. All acknowledge that this would be disastrous for peace in NI.

Will update later.

[EvoUK]

Last night's votes were a major embarrassment. As is noted here:

Sensible propositions had been put before them to give them power over the Brexit process. They rejected them one after another. Dominic Grieve wanted to give MPs six days to explore options and direct the government. They voted to deny themselves this powepr by 301 to 321. Yvette Cooper wanted to give them the power to extend Article 50 if it looked like Britain was about to crash out the EU without a deal. They voted to deny themselves this power by 298 to 321.

The one and only glimmer of hope was an amendment from Caroline Spelman which said MPs rejected leaving the EU without a deal, but contained no actual mechanisms to enforce it. This MPs accepted by 318 to 310. So they were insisting that no-deal should be ruled out but refusing to take any role whatsoever in preventing it themselves. They were like babies in suits.

What a shambles.

[One Bad Pig]

Any new developments on the Brexit front?

[Cow Poke]

Any new developments on the Brexit front?

This just in...

Theresa May humiliated as she loses ANOTHER Brexit vote after Tory MPs pull their support

THERESA May has once again been humiliated over Brexit after Tory MPs pulled their support for her plans.

The PM’s strategy was left in tatters on Valentine's Day after more than 50 Brexiteers refused to back a motion of support for her, leaving it to be defeated by 303 votes to 258.

Furious Brexiteers said the motion would effectively rule out Britain leaving without a deal, and destroy our negotiating hand.

But she vowed to push on ahead with her Brexit plans anyway, insisting that fighting to rip up the hated Northern Irish backstop was the only thing Parliament had said they wanted her to do so far.

A Downing Street spokesperson blamed Jeremy Corbyn for "putting partisan considerations ahead of the national interest" and "voting to make No Deal more likely".

They also noted the "concerns" of Brexiteers who voted the motion down because they thought it would effectively take away the threat of leaving without a deal.

No10 added: "The motion on January 29 remains the only one the House of Commons has passed expressing what it does want – and that is legally binding changes to address concerns about the backstop.

"The Government will continue to pursue this with the EU to ensure we leave on time on March 29."

A total of 59 Brexit hardliners either abstained or voted against the motion after a meeting of the European Research Group headed by Jacob Rees-Mogg.

And another 10 Tory MPs who back a second referendum refused to back the Government.

The defeat represents the eighth time Mrs May has lost a Commons vote on Brexit and a fresh humiliation as she battles to save her deal.

Critics blasted the PM for not even turning up to see the result of the showdown....

[firstfloor]

Any new developments on the Brexit front?

The main political parties seem to be tearing themselves apart. The vote tonight was about ensuring that the no-deal Brexit possibility remained the default outcome in the event of a failure to reach an agreement with the EU that Parliament approves – I think!

[firstfloor]

This just in...

If the UK goes belly up, can I come and live with you?

[Cow Poke]

If the UK goes belly up, can I come and live with you?

Jake might share his crib.

[firstfloor]

Jake might share his crib.

That’s not a bad offer, CP, thanks. They say that beggars can’t be choosers.

[One Bad Pig]

Any comments from across the pond on the Brexit-spawned new party?

[firstfloor]

Any comments from across the pond on the Brexit-spawned new party?

So far, a total of 11 MP’s from the Labour Party and the Conservative Party are standing together on the centre ground of politics, fed up with anti-semitism in the Labour Party, and no-deal Brexiteers in the Conservative Party. There is no new Party at this point. Some people are calling for By-Elections.

The craziness is getting well out of hand.

[Cow Poke]

So far, a total of 11 MP’s from the Labour Party and the Conservative Party are standing together on the centre ground of politics, fed up with anti-semitism in the Labour Party, and no-deal Brexiteers in the Conservative Party. There is no new Party at this point. Some people are calling for By-Elections.

The craziness is getting well out of hand.

I think you should call them up and offer to get this thing back on track.

[firstfloor]

I think you should call them up and offer to get this thing back on track.

I probably should do exactly that, but I am somewhat distracted by the worry that if break dancing became an Olympic sport it would loose a degree of authenticity.

[One Bad Pig]

So far, a total of 11 MP’s from the Labour Party and the Conservative Party are standing together on the centre ground of politics, fed up with anti-semitism in the Labour Party, and no-deal Brexiteers in the Conservative Party. There is no new Party at this point. Some people are calling for By-Elections.

The craziness is getting well out of hand.

Interesting. It's been reported over here that they were forming a new party, with a platform and everything.

[Sparko]

As an army brat, every time I see MP's I think "Military Police"

[firstfloor]

On Tuesday, there will be a full day debate followed by a final vote on May’s deal. It is currently expected to be rejected, in which case votes on the following days will seek to clarify the way forwards.

They should have hired Trump.