And so Parliament enters round 3, 6, 9, or is it 19?, of the never-ending Brexit war which appears destined to run and run. But, hey, that's democracy! We go on for decades with the usual 'boring-snoring', tit-for-tat of party politics which most people ignore until they attempt to shake off their lethargy and vote in a general election which they know in their hearts will not change anything very much.
But Brexit is different!
Not only do most people have a view on it, their views are likely to be very strong. As a subject it refuses to be bound by the old party politics, hence the shambles to which Parliament has descended. There is, of course, only one solution, not another referendum which will simply add fuel to the fire but a general election in which the feet of the candidates from any and all parties can be held to the fire.
Do not despair, my fellow Brits, what you have seen recently is democracy in action. No governmental decrees backed up by threats of prison or firing squads, a la Russia or China, but messy, mixed-up, sometimes malodorous, democracy where at least our dodgy politicians have been forced to show their true nature. Not very admirable in many cases but an election will allow us to reward the decent and dump manure on the malefactors. Not, of course, that our individual views en masse are likely to be imbued with wisdom but at least it will be our choice - and thus our responsibility.
In the meantime, be glad the Gauleiters and Commissars are not let loose!
test
Posted by: David & Son of Duff | Tuesday, 22 October 2019 at 09:51
"But, hey, that's democracy!"
I beg to differ. Were it democracy, we would be outside the EU discussing the usual stuff like NHS funding and educational standards. This is rule by constitutional lawyers and procedure-mongers.
Posted by: Whyaxye | Tuesday, 22 October 2019 at 11:25
If I was Boris, I would announce that given the present composition of the House of Commons, I cannot honour the result of the 2016 referendum. I thereofore revoke Article 50 and we will remain in the EU. We can then have a Conservative government till 2022. We can then ignore the EU and concentrate on domestic affairs. I would then order the Tory MEPs to work with the Brexit MEPs to create mayhem in the Euro parliament.
Posted by: Backofanenvelope | Tuesday, 22 October 2019 at 12:23
I watched a bit of footage from the streets outside Parliament of "tens of thousands"of anti Brexit demonstrators. Where were the thousands of pro Brexit demonstrators? I'm guessing that there like here, the Brexit side was at work making the 'country run'.
Diplomad has a dead on right title to his current post on the subject....
https://www.thediplomad.com/2019/10/brexit-runs-afoul-of-deep-state.html
Posted by: Whitewall | Tuesday, 22 October 2019 at 12:30
My step daughter was on that march. But, we can't discuss these things - too disruptive. Its quite interesting, half my family is in Cambridge and London, and they are all remainers. The other half of my family live in Lancashire and they are well to the right of Atilla the Hun!
Posted by: Backofanenvelobpe | Tuesday, 22 October 2019 at 12:39
Hell you say BOE.
Puts me in mind of my family reunions, on my paternal side, had they their way we'd still be English.
Or I guess, rather, Europeans as your stepchild and Loz would as likely have it.
Posted by: JK | Tuesday, 22 October 2019 at 13:24
By George and all the Saints, JK's a closet Englishman!
Election. Referendum. Remain.
And then let slip the dogs of English war in Brussels, a la BOE above. They won't know what's hit them. Resistance friends to be rescued and joined with: the Nordics, Baltics, Ost Blockers, maybe even the Club Medders.
3 1/2 years is long enough couped up on this island. Dunkirk to D-Day was about the same. All the anger, the rage, joined as one as we storm up the beaches.
SoD
Posted by: Loz | Tuesday, 22 October 2019 at 15:07
There are lots of closet Englishmen over here. They're types who sometimes enjoy the trappings of monarchy, empire and (corporate) fiefdoms but more often the 1950's, when our cultures were much more interchangeable.
It's encouraging Brits have finally decided voting to end democracy isn't such a hot idea. Well done, y'all.
Posted by: Bob | Tuesday, 22 October 2019 at 15:45
Do bear in mind SoD my Mum's side.
That'd be the Galloways.
Even one of them shows up for a reunion of the "K" side they're suddenly quite taken with republicanism. That'd be the K side I'm speaking about switching allegiances right smartly.
Where the Galloways are concerned even changing socks takes time a'cause the chieftains has to gather and mull. 'Cept for when there's a dancing involved being about it.
Posted by: JK | Tuesday, 22 October 2019 at 20:18
Did I just read that with Parliament's lack of action tonight and kicking it to the EU, Boris can now call for a national election? The Daily Beast has been known to confuse matters in haste.
Posted by: Whitewall | Tuesday, 22 October 2019 at 22:39
Don't ask me, Whiters, all I can say is that "there's many a slip 'twixt cup and lip"! Personally, I am desperate for an election but I will not hold my breath!
Posted by: David & Son of Duff | Wednesday, 23 October 2019 at 13:20
Boris can try to call an election but he needs a 2/3's majority via one route or 50% via another, neither of which he can get because he's a minority government.
As soon as the Euros announce they've agreed to extend until 31st Jan the opposition will be happy there's no chance of a No Deal and there'll be a majority for an election and it will happen.
The Euros will press the extension button before the 31st to be sure, otherwise there'll be No Deal and they don't want to take the blame for that happening.
Election. Lib-Lab Pact. Referendum. Remain.
I will be voting Lib-Dem as I did at the last election for three reasons: they're for Remain, it's about time a left of centre party took over from Labour and relegated them to the Bolshevik extremist party they are, and in the final analysis the award should always go to the girl with the biggest tits ...
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6qscza
SoD
Posted by: Loz | Wednesday, 23 October 2019 at 15:35
It's like Parliament said to the voters, okay okay...we were just kidding about that Referendum stuff. Who knew the simple minded voters would actually cross the Deep State? Take a good long look Britain at who and whom really rule. Hold a healthy grudge.
Posted by: Whitewall | Wednesday, 23 October 2019 at 17:45
Mind you, another option is looming out of the gloom.
Labour, Lib-Dems, DUP et al are realising they can BRINO the hell out of BoJo's deal by adding amendments to all of its constituent parts. However, although each of them might get their own part amended, when the final sign-off of the whole thing comes they'll all vote it down because each party won't like the amendments made by all the other parties.
So it might take a while with yet more requests for extensions to the EU. For all their bluster so long as Blighty keeps paying they'll extend. The Jerries have just gone into formal recession, so they're not gonna press the No Deal button and risk No Deal chaos and uncertainty driving the recession deeper.
Could Blighty go all the way on "flextensions" to the 5 year time out when the next election has to happen?! So that's early 2022.
SoD
Posted by: Loz | Wednesday, 23 October 2019 at 18:29
Oooh, it's getting hot under the collar! ...
https://www.google.com/amp/s/news.sky.com/story/amp/violence-against-mps-worth-it-to-get-way-on-brexit-say-majority-of-voters-in-poll-11843952
Are we really very far from civil war?
SoD
Posted by: Loz | Thursday, 24 October 2019 at 20:48