Dictator Johnson’s latest anti-democratic scheme – call an election and shift the date
What the country should do: But should MPs take an offer of a general election at face value when Dictator Johnson could use anti-democratic powers to shift the date?
It’s one dastardly scheme after another in Dictator Johnson’s regime.
The latest, according to certain sources, is that he’ll mitigate the effects of any legislation to stop his “no deal” Brexit by calling a snap general election – some time within the next three days (so before the end of September 5).
It seems a motion to stop “no deal” Brexit will be seen as a motion of “no confidence” in BoJob’s bodge-up of a government.
Laura Kuenssberg suggested it on the BBC’s Politics Live:
There are "very real, very live conversations happening at the moment" on whether or not the government should call an election "in the next 72 hours", says Political Editor @BBCLauraKhttps://t.co/YDa9R72zOO #politicslive #Brexit pic.twitter.com/eL2imI186y
— BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) September 2, 2019
And here’s ITV’s Paul Brand:
NEW: Remainer source says they expect PM to put down a dissolution motion (calling an election) with what appears to be a “reasonable” polling date before 31 Oct, trick MPs into voting for it, then use prerogative proclamation power to move polling day to after 31s Oct.
— Paul Brand (@PaulBrandITV) September 2, 2019
The “prerogative proclamation power” refers to the Royal prerogative, which the prime minister exercises in the name of the Crown.
It is – once again – anti-democratic in the extreme. Despotic, dictatorial – it would be kicking the British people in the teeth.
And as far as I can tell, it seems open to dispute by MPs as the exercise of such a power has never been fully defined.
In any case, Mr Johnson would have to gain the support of two-thirds of MPs in the Commons before he had approval to call a general election, as set out in the Fixed Term Parliaments Act.
While Labour has said it would support a general election if Mr Johnson asked for one, it would not be in the nation’s interest to do so under the circumstances on offer above.
It would be better to demand a resolution to the Brexit emergency now, and leave a general election for later.
Of course, that applies only to this situation. Who knows what BoJob will be saying tomorrow?
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I can’t decide whether Boris must be getting his advice from the Institute for Statecraft or the Saddam Hussein Appreciation Society, or possibly from the memoirs of Idi Amin or Papa Doc. Or perhaps there’s a book called Politics for Idiots (So You Want to be Prime Minister).
I can’t decide what’s worse, a Prime Minister who is using dubious means to force through his interpretation of the democratic mandate, or those who, for the last 3+ years, have been making a concerted effort to thwart that mandate. I’m truly sick of this. I want to go back to Trumpland; at least I know what I have to deal with, there!
Isn’t there a maximum campaign length of seven weeks, or am I misremembering the rules?
The latest rumour is that an election would happen on October 14, in order to take place before the EU summit on October 17 (if an election takes place at all). But I’m sure you’re aware of this. It’s all moving quite fast, isn’t it?
No sense of moderation, Brexit. It gets stuck in a quagmire for eight months, and now suddenly it’s moving through hyperspace.
What’s equally worrying, in all of this, is the Speaker’s apparent lack of impartiality. He should never have let his feelings become public and since then, he has lacked discretion to the same. He can hardly be calling Boris Johnson, if he, himself, is bringing the Constitution into disrepute. He will be heavily scrutinised and may be seen to be acting with bias, which he will find hard to refute.
Alternatively, he may be seen as defending the constitution that Dictator Johnson is trying to tear up. In such a circumstance, his outrage at the prime minister’s behaviour may be viewed as entirely justified.