Another three-line whip to support the Article 50 Bill from Labour. Here are the reasons
Jeremy Corbyn [Image: Peter Nicholls/Reuters].
But then I remembered that none of the amendments tabled by Jeremy Corbyn’s team were ever expected to get past the Conservatives, who have a majority in Parliament.
The aim was simply to show voters exactly what they were getting, by demonstrating exactly what they won’t get.
So we now know Parliament will not be allowed to demand updates on the progress of Brexit negotiations every two months. Theresa May is desperate to keep her plans secret – draw your own conclusions about the reasons.
Parliament will be allowed a vote in the Commons on any deal devised by the Conservative government (according to a concession being discussed in the Commons at the time of writing). But this will be on a ‘take it or leave it’ basis – either accept the Tory deal or there will be no deal; Parliament will not be permitted to demand re-negotiation.
The devolved administrations of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland will have no input at all. Mrs May wants to be able to shaft all four countries of the United Kingdom equally.
And she will not lift a finger to ensure that the lavish promises of the Leave campaign will be met. So all those of you who voted ‘Leave’ on the promise of £350 per week (or any part of that amount) going to the National Health Service have been betrayed.
This is not what Jeremy Corbyn wanted; it is not what the Labour Party wanted.
It is almost certainly not what almost 52 per cent of EU referendum voters wanted.
But it is, unfortunately, what they supported with their votes.
Mr Corbyn’s tactic, during the debates on the Article 50 Bill, has been to make this explicit to voters.
With regard to voting, Labour is hamstrung. The Conservative Party has the majority so the Bill will be passed into law, no matter what Mr Corbyn does.
In such a circumstance, it is better to support the majority of voters at the EU referendum than to risk being denounced as an enemy of democracy by the right-wing press – as happened to Labour rebels who voted against the Bill last week.
Jeremy Corbyn has shown he aims to face down his critics over Labour’s stance on Brexit by imposing a three-line whip on tomorrow’s crucial vote in the House of Commons.
Corbyn today told the shadow cabinet he would impose the maximum measure – which invites disciplinary measures for those who ignore it – when article 50 is voted on by MPs tomorrow evening, LabourList understands.
Source: You must back Brexit bill vote tomorrow, Corbyn tells shadow cabinet | LabourList
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Can’t agree on this Mike, I thought the first whipped vote was correct to show leavers you won the vote we respect that, but this vote should be voted against, we don’t agree with the deal put forward. Or am I missing something? I would have thought by disagreeing with the deal remain voters would be catered for too and those who were conned into voting leave who now regret that vote, nothing Labour can do can stop it going through but without the amendments being accepted that leaves us in a very precarious position, I think the vote should reqognise that.
I respect your opinion. To be honest, I’m on the fence.
Every amendment has been voted on and rejected, i’m sure most leave voters only regret is that Cameron ran away without starting he process, although many remain supporters have realised they were wrong. We are in a much stronger position that when cameron went cap in hand and got nothing in response for his claim we might leave, now the eu at least the more sensible ones will realise that they will have to accept our trade deals or crash.
Does anybody agree with Barry?
I’m not dismissing his opinion, I would first like to know why Barry believes the EU is so weak and the UK is so mighty.
I can’t see how you come to the idea ‘we are in a stronger position’? I don’t read any main stream newspapers so maybe I’ve missed information about the deals we will be getting? are we staying in the single market or leaving, how much will it cost then to trade if we leave, are immigrants that live here now allowed to stay or will they have to leave emptying our hospitals of vital staff? what about British nationals living abroad will they have to come back? Honestly we are one small island, that hasn’t traded on it’s own since the 70’s the EU trade en mass so how will that deal be done? I doubt all the EU countries if any at all break ranks to trade with us, America we can trade with them but with the current POTUS in charge the odds for decent trade links are small, we will have to bend over backwards for our crust from them.
If the plan is to be a tax haven where does that leave a large proportion of people who don’t have the money to play with to gain anything. In fact the rules in work places we have enjoyed for a long time are already being ripped up, the only way anyone could say we are in a stronger position is if they are quite wealthy.
Maybe’s and theories are no good, we need the facts. I accept a large amount of people got conned into voting leave, even with that democracy must be allowed to take place, even with no 350k a week going to the NHS, which will be sold to American companies. I’m pretty sure that voting remain was the right thing to do, the walls the PM has already built with the EU shows we would have been better of fighting on the inside.
Now that is a statement from ignorance Barry.
Irony alert. The article says don’t “risk being denounced as an enemy of democracy by the right-wing press.” If Labour’s strategy were to be determined by the risk that the Daily Mail/Express would condemn it, it would be paralysed.
People who were furious about New Labour triangulation and political machinations are now trying to justify such tactics because they like the leader.
“Straight talking, honest politics” is being ditched in favour of positions a contortionist couldn’t maintain.
The article says: “In such a circumstance, it is better to support the majority of voters at the EU referendum than to risk being denounced as an enemy of democracy by the right-wing press”. Nobody is saying that Labour’s policy in general should be determined by a risk that the tabloids would condemn it. Please do not quote me selectively and then try to reinterpret what I have said.
Corbyn’s policy was not triangulation. It was acceptance of the EU referendum result, coupled with an attempt to either modify Theresa May’s Brexit plan or demonstrate to voters what it will be.
No contortionism involved.
I at least in this instance am not surprised. Is Dianne Abbot ambulatory? Where has she disappeared to? It seems only like last week Ms Abbott was popping up all over the place like some evasive bolshie rent-a-gob with an eye on the main chance seeking to raise their profile. Has she gone AWOL? Or what? And isn’t it about time MPs were given postal votes, allowed to vote remotely, or by proxy so that the ill, hospitalised and those with migraines could vote on bills in absentia from the Commons?
What about George Osbourn he was missing from the vote too? one of the main players in the leave campaign, you’d think he would show up.
Pairing work for those who are going to be missing if there is enough time to arrange it.