For us Brexit Battle observers, this morning looks rather strange: no news, no leaks … Is this the calm before the Brexit Storm? Are the prominent Brexiteers and Remainers suddenly all playing possum? Are they perhaps preparing for a show-down in today’s PMQ, the spectacle performed every Wednesday at noon in the HoC? After all, Ms May must reveal her hand …
We’ve been told that she’s writing a letter to the EU, asking for an extension. She ought to have sent it yesterday, but after a ‘stormy session’ in Cabinet, she didn’t. Apparently Cabinet ministers told her that they and indeed the Tory party would not stand for an extension longer than three months as opposed to the nine months she was going to ask for. Read this report to get the full flavour of the confusion prevailing. There are other, paywalled reports here and here.
The main question remains unanswered: how it is possible that Ms May, her sidekick Mr Olly Robbins, the cabinet or indeed the HoC (and never mind the Remain MSM) are ignorant of what the EU, in the form of M Barnier, keeps telling them? Do they still not understand that there will either be another big fat ‘No, Non, Nein’, or that Ms May will be told yet again that she has to accept the EU diktat? Here’s a summary in the (paywalled) Times:
“Mrs May’s letter to Donald Tusk, the European Council president, spelling out the exact extension request was held back by a nervous No 10 last night. Senior ministers said that she appeared undecided whether to ask for a longer extension and anger Tory Brexiteers or risk the humiliation of having terms imposed on her.
In what appeared to be a co-ordinated effort to limit her options, EU leaders set a series of conditions before tomorrow’s summit, the last before Britain is scheduled to leave.
Michel Barnier, Brussels’ chief Brexit negotiator, said that if the prime minister failed to get backing for the withdrawal agreement in the coming week she would have to commit to a change in political direction. […] In a meeting with EU foreign and European affairs ministers Mr Barnier said that only a change to the government’s red lines, a general election or a referendum would justify a long delay, according to a diplomatic note.”
Eagle-eyed readers will of course have spotted the interesting fact that 10 Downing Street is scared of leaks to us, the people, but that the EU always seems to know beforehand what Ms May will say … The alleged close relationship between Mr Olly Robbins and M Barnier’s German sidekick, Ms Weyand, is of course purely coincidental …
Meanwhile, on the opposite side of the Chamber, Mr Corbyn held talks with other opposition leaders where he made clear that he is not keen on a 2nd referendum (paywalled, here). Indeed not – what he and Labour want is a GE which they believe they’ll win: Corbyn for PM!
The Brexit omnishambles, from the PM all the way down is due to one single fact only: they all put Ego before Party before Country. This is now no longer hidden behind lofty words, a shibboleth of our horrible, hardcore Brexit conspiracists’ imagination – it’s out in the open, for all to see.
Then there’s the constant, breathless drip-drip-drip of our TV ‘reporters’ grabbing any MP they can get hold of for their on-air harassment. Just look at the many little reports in The Express … even the discredited Tony Blair gets a – thankfully brief – airing. Why the mainly lady TV presenters think they know better than certain MPs is beyond me …There’s one video report though I recommend you watch: an interview with Sir John Redwood.
Expect to see more of the same talking heads in this morning’s run-up to PMQ and in the aftermath. It will be populated by the same talking heads giving us their unchanged opinions, boring us to tears.
Nothing could illustrate better the decline of our Parliament, the emasculation of this once proud institution after 40 years in the EU! MPs and indeed the PM can talk all they want – they cannot make decisions without the EU! It’s Juncker, Tusk, Barnier who tell them what they can and cannot do and what they must vote for. Why the blood of our craven MPs isn’t boiling I don’t know!
Next to the EU there’s one other entity which has been driving these negotiations: Big Business. Their role, except when coming up with ‘Project Fear’ scenarios, has been left mostly unexamined. Their pronunciations have been taken on trust by all the Remainers, but Remain Big Business is now also very upset:
“Business executives attacked “dithering, debating and political games” in Westminster as they prepared to tear up contingency plans based on Britain leaving the EU next Friday. Industry leaders have branded the millions of pounds spent on stockpiling for the days and weeks after March 29 “the price of avoiding a no-deal Brexit”. Companies are reporting spiralling costs in the face of uncertainty. […] “This delay will cost members money, but will be the price of avoiding a no-deal Brexit on March 29. For most people, that would be preferable.” (paywalled source)
“Most people”? Or just the CBI? It must be galling to be hoist with their own petard …
In these final days before Brexit Day, the Brexit enemies are now daily revealing themselves, the faces of the real conspiracists in the Remain establishment longer hidden.
Let’s remind ourselves: we bloody (excuse my French) well did know why we voted to Leave! It’s the Government, the HoC and of course Whitehall who hadn’t and still have no clue. Sadly, one can count those MPs who actually do get it on the fingers of one hand: Sir Bill Cash, Sir John Redwood, Peter Bone, Kate Hoey, Graham Stringer … if you think of some others, do add their names in the comments.
This whole despicable, preventable mess has brought forth one good thing though: everybody now knows that our representatives do not represent us and hold us in contempt. Both main parties will have our reckoning presented to them at the next elections, be it a GE or be it the Local ones in May. Meanwhile – keep fighting!
Howard, My apologies, I am over hasty.
Thank you TG, but absolutely no apologies necessary.
I thought the Gina Miller case established that May could not invoke Article 50 without an Act of Parliament. How can she change the terms of that invocation without another Act of Parliament? The European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Act 2017 authorizes the PM to notify the EU of the UK’s withdrawal under Article 50(2) but does not authorize her to agree an extension under Article 50(3).
The only solution now to secure Brexit is for the Leave faction of the Parliamentary Tory Party to call a vote of no confidence in their government. The government will lose and Parliament will have to be closed thereby stopping any new legislation being foisted on the Country to usurp Article 50 before we leave the EU on May 29th
What about the UKIP omnishambles
But maybe our silence is much more threatening.
What omnishambles is that TG? My experience is quite the opposite.
To quote the Chairman of my constituency branch: “Gerard Batten has got UKIP working again”.
And as for ‘silence’ – the list below is all from within the last week or so (I could have added more, including a Sky News interview).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8l74DDNCdc4
Lord Pearson, Gerard Batten, the irrepressible Freddie Vaccha (for me that’s a ‘must watch’ – 9 mins or so in), Neil Hamilton, Mike Hookem, and also one Remainer Songstress; all with Carl Benjamin outside the Houses of Parliament.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbM6sG4kM9U
GB – EU Parliament
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvOU5cJ2WF8
GB on Raw Politics
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4gCmWlEAKE
GB– UKIP Tour – Durham speech
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZk74NNIsXc
GB – BBC Radio Kent
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GMrL70zqEM
GB – BBC News
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwFL2-b0r5Q
UKIP Youtube Channel – Outside the Houses of Parliament.
And coming up tomorrow 21-03-19 UKIP Tour – Daventry – several more speeches.
I don’t think that’s ‘silence’ TG. I think that’s Geratd, his team, and members working their socks off.
My humble apologies to Freddy Vachha for misspelling his name.
A little reminder to all comment posters, not just Howard:
please do not post more than two links in one comment post! We’re getting into difficulties with the server provider or posts end up in the spam filter.
Duly noted Viv. I was unaware of the problem.
Howard , I have two ways of answering this and i beg your indulgence.
First
I know they are and they have my admiration, My local branch are also doing so. Thety are really working hard. But these are the exceptional people.
Results.:- Speaches
Somewhere somehow something ain’t working.
Our voters from out there, are still there, and in the same numbers, and have been for 3 years. And they are loyal. And they are still waitng.
Publicity, entertainment, brilliance, jokes, confrontation, etc… thats what people want…Editors, and commentators and journalists want as well. A view of Russels Poster truck is worth a thousand ‘likes’ . As is a table day in town centre where people can see and talk or argue. I have seen nothing in our speeches anywhere, just the same thing. A face talking. Speechifying. The only purpose of a speech is to gain disciples. or to enjoy. Talking heads.
It’s a funny thing but the people I see on phones are school kids, university kids, the jobless, those reading on the train, You rarely see a pensioner or a working person or housewife or someone involved in serious communication, because most of the internet is transitory, incorrect, out of date or gossip and advertising of anything.. You can see stuff that hasn’t even been made yet.Cheap, discounted, free delivery. Working phone calls last 2 minutes. Transitory and short attention span can be made to last longer and fill up unthinking time..
All Gerard has needeto do to get UKIP working again was to give us orders. ORGANISE us for impact, for interest , for advice , for this week, for the next space age.
The only call I ever get is for stuffing letter boxes. I’m sorry but nobody is that useless.( Orr maybe that is why they want me for it ). If you can actually find someone answering the door who actually wants to dicuss what you want to talk about.
Written factual information is very very very important. Pushing it thru letterboxes devalues it. I have also noticed that most leaflet gvers do not know the leaflet says. They are giving it away cheap to save themselves bother.. Pathetic. It’s like selling, after a smile, plonk one down, and all you really need to say is “How many ? 10,000 ? ”
Anyway I’m an average reader of newspapers and a regular TV viewer of a slightly above average interest. and if I’m like this you can reckon most othersare similar. I try not to criticise someone who is doing his best but I’m tired.
Second,
is judicious and calming and can be ignored. eg Political.
Take your pick.
FYI: the official link to the letter Ms May has now sent to Mr Tusk:
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/787434/PM_to_President_of_the_European_Council.pdf
An obsequious servant reporting to her master about the problems she is having with their common enemy and asking for his help in working around the common enemy to achieve their common goal. This is not a letter written by a leader of a sovereign nation to an opponent in negotiations.
I am a bit of a fan of Andrea Jenkyns (Conservative MP Morley and Outwood) as a Brexiteer. I suggest her for your list.
Mad isn’t it ?
It’s now been 1000 days since Art50 was declared and it only took the USA 1350 days to defeat Japan in WWII.
This morning Juncker put the PM in her place by stating that the request for an extension will have to wait until next week.
Leadsom was on LBC waffling but deftly avoided talking about ‘Operation Yellowhammer’ when asked by Nick Ferrari.
‘Yellowhammer’ is the code word for putting troops on the streets, 10000 of whom arrive for a ‘joint exercise’ on March 30th.
From the EU.
For those hoping for the Queen to prorogue Parliament – to get MV3 back- it’s all a little late for that.
Don’t expect any action from Tory grandees , the ERG or her ministers either. It’s just about self interest now. All soundbites and no action.
I’m going to Westminster next Friday afternoon to either celebrate leaving at 1100 pm or to protest very loudly indeed.
As for all our factional infighting , as far as next Friday goes, we are all Spartacus.
Please join in.
Vivian is the best reporter on the daily happenings of BREXIT and the betrayals, or attempted betrayals by our wonderful politicians. Keep doing what you’re doing Vivian, it is much appreciated.
Thank you so much Arnie – praise like yours is very much appreciated and keeps all of us going here at INDEPENDENCE Daily.
Yes, indeed there are only a handful of Brexiteer MPs who understand the rotteness at the heart of government and Whitehall. I would add Steve Baker MP to your list of credible Brexiteers.
But the question as always to be asked is why these people have DONE NOTHING?
If they REALLY cared about Brexit, and wanted to be principled in the face of the British public, why are they still members of their respective parties? Neither Conservatives or Labour represent the interests of the British people, both parties want to Remain in the EU and both parties are just ‘frontmen’ for the globalist elite and their hidden agenda.
Its all very well resigning from Cabinet positions, and writing ‘strong’ letters and articles in daily newspapers, but that achieves nothing.
There is a political home for any MP that truly honestly believes in Brexit and has a genuine desire for Britain to leave the EU and become a successful independent nation. Whether that be within UKIP, For Britain or even The Brexit Party.
I am absolutely
certain that May asked Bercow to intervene to block the Surrender Treaty on
Monday as she knew it would be defeated again and that this would trigger a
no confidence motion from Labour which I believe she now is fearful of
losing, because 20 or so ERG MPs are not now going to support her . Bercow
was happy to take the faux blame but he was acting totally constitutionally
for once.
I think a “long delay” in article 50 is a bluff. Interestingly I saw “Spreadsheet” saying in an interview just now that he wanted the
shortest delay possible. They are terrified of the electoral consequences :
Tories would be literally slaughtered.
I can’t see a 2nd referendum any time soon if ever and a decision to revoke Article
50 altogether would also be electorally catastrophic for the Tories. However
the Remain/May gang will NOT give in in their war against the people.
General Election is a looming possibility . But maybe EVEN what the people
want : a No Deal Brexit. Trouble is, we are so used to being battered and
beaten by the Establishment, that we cannot grasp that this may still
actually be a possibility. Amazingly with 9 days to go, it is the law as it
stands enacted at the moment. Christopher Howarth, who predicted a No Deal
exit 3 weeks ago may be proved right after all.
Dont think May particularly bothered about the next election so long as the country is run from Brussels.
Radio 4 announces May to apply for ‘short’ Brexit extension! We may now be moving into the final stage of the process of overturning Brexit.
Again, I say, anyone who professes to be a Brexiteer and is still a member of the Conservative or Labour party is aiding and abetting the treachery of the political class.
Nice picture of number 10, and a police officer from the time when we still had a police force!
someone at the speccie finally understands that the EU is run for Germanys benefit – http://archive.is/WDTIB
It must be a good article this, I’d urge everybody to read it while you still can, in certain part of the world it comes up as:
“This link is blocked for security purposes.”
This can be gotten around as I have done, but it makes you wonder what’s going on.
Alexsandr Fully agree the EU is run for German interests but were British banks not rescued against EU rules too in 2009 – HBOS and RBS?
Not blocked here yet but I have a copy – maybe Viv will consent to its posting (590 words) if anyone is interested.