Since yesterday the MSM are full of the launch of “The Independent Group” – if you really missed it, look here – they’ve already got their own wiki page! There are too many reports and opinion pieces to link to – here’s a good one by Richard Littlejohn – but as always, it’s worth reading what the inimitable Sir John Redwood has to say about that Group in his Diary today.
The main point is this: all seven splitters want a 2nd Referendum. Keep that in mind, because we’re used to politicians pontificating about noble and august reasons for why they’re doing what they’re doing when in fact it’s about their own egos, about hogging the limelight of publicity. Yesterday’s performance of those seven former Labour MPs couldn’t have been bettered to illustrate that.
It’s no secret that there’s a broad streak of anti-semitism in Labour, so making that the main reason for splitting from the Party is window dressing. Their explanation – ‘Labour cannot be reformed from the inside therefore we leave’ – combined with their desire to stay in the EU to ‘reform the EU from the inside’ is fundamentally contradictory. It’s about Remain plain and simple, and to get a 2nd referendum.
The media glare is now focussing on possible other ‘splitters’, with speculations of which other Labour and especially Tory MPs – front runners: Nick Boles and Anna Soubry (here, paywalled) – might take that plunge. The MSM also noted, with more or less concealed glee, that this ‘Independent Group’ originally started out as ‘Group of 30’, but 23 had got cold feet, mainly because they distrust Mr Umunna:
“it is significantly less than the 30 Labour MPs who were said to be in talks over quitting Labour and forming a new party. A senior Labour source said they had been deterred by leading roles of Mr Umunna and Mr Leslie in forming the new group.” (link, paywalled).
Remain Central, a.k.a The Times, bewails the timing of the split: “Labour split: Disillusioned MPs waited for moment of maximum impact” (paywalled link), also reporting: “Labour split: Voters despair at timing of walkout as Brexit looms” (paywalled link).
One wonders why The Times reporters assume politicians wouldn’t dream of announcing something for ‘maximum impact’! One also wonders if the reporters and voters realise that this is indeed a deep wound to their dreams of preventing Brexit by a 2nd referendum. One final observation making the rounds last evening: the 7 said at their press conference that ‘they wanted to hear from the people, the voters, what they say’. What a programme!
While we await with bated breath who else of our elected representatives (MPs to you and me) will join this new Remain Party, two other points need to be kept in mind. One is that none of them will do the honourable thing and resign, to stand in a by election. The other is that, since they all intend to keep their current seat in the HoC, this will make for an interesting few weeks until B-Day in 38 days. Calculating the majorities for Ms May’s WA will now become a proper guessing game.
Next to the ongoing ISIS Bride saga, this spectacle is welcome for the Remain MSM to keep the people’s attention away from what is really going on in Brussels and the EU. The Remain Cabinet ministers are travelling to Brussels, again about the Backstop, with the Attorney General to the fore. Tory Brexiteers are watching. Sir Bill Cash said: “if the changes were just “flowery words”, then the deal “won’t wash”, while the Irish Foreign Secretary said ‘Dublin would not be “steamrolled” into making compromises on the backstop.” (link). So far, the EU and Ireland are singing from the same song sheet: it’s all Britain’s fault … but see again yesterday’s report on this saga of obfuscation here.
The MSM were full of the Honda story: “closing because of Brexit.” Jonathan Isaby reports in his BrexitCentral email news:
“The Honda UK boss [said] “This is not a Brexit-related issue for us”. This chimes with what the Wiltshire town’s two MPs, Justin Tomlinson and Robert Buckland – the former a Leaver and the latter a Remainer – said in a joint statement issued yesterday after speaking to the company, pouring cold water on the claim that the move was related to the UK’s departure from the EU: “Honda have been very clear – this decision has been made because of global trends and is not related to Brexit. The Turkey factory will also close as all European market production is being consolidated to Japan where the company is based. This consolidation is made easier by the new EU-Japan trade deal which will allow Honda to produce their cars in Japan and import them into the EU, rather than produce the cars in Europe.” (my bold)
Never mind – facts don’t matter to the Remain MSM, especially not when the actual culprit is the EU.
A rather more interesting report on banking was given short shrift. The DM reports:
“Major banks on the Continent will be able to carry on using London for £60 trillion of crucial trading activity even if there is a No Deal Brexit. […] These clearing houses allow banks to trade complicated derivatives which underpin vital lending to households and businesses. Banks based inside the EU are legally only allowed to use clearing houses within the bloc – and it was feared a No Deal Brexit would cut them off from London, the main hub for clearing, causing chaos.”
Thus another pillar of Remain Project Fear – now better called ‘Project Lie’ is demolished by the EU – so no, of course we mustn’t talk about that.
But rest assured, help – for Remain – is at hand, or rather, is in the ‘hands of God’. Yes, really. That’s what M Juncker told a German paper:
“In an interview with German newspaper Stuttgarter Zeitung, the eccentric European Commission president said that Brexit was now being dictated by higher forces. “When it comes to Brexit, it is like being before the courts or on the high seas; we are in God’s hands. And we can never quite be sure when God will take the matter in hand,” Mr Juncker said.” (paywalled link, my bold)
All I can say is ‘good God’ – or would that be blasphemous?
Meanwhile, keep watching the squirrels, sorry, the Remain party splitters …
I have another theory for the 7, or 30 or 50………or……or………….How many are threatened with de-selection?
If it was me, I`d be feeling pretty uncomfortable NOW before an election, I would be considering spiking their guns by nipping out now and have some sort of organisation up and running to get my case out in the open and go for a loyalty and hard done by vote.
The new chap even with the help of the committee does have a cold start
Of course that`s if they have been overtly good MPs looking after their electorate`s interests.
Pity if they are remainers and their electorate voted to leave.
“The Independent Group”
I took great pleasure in commenting on Nigel Farage’s Facebook post yesterday evening, where he wrote: “Looks like the 7 Labour MPs who resigned today aren’t very keen on calling a by-election in their constituencies. Strange, they are usually big advocates of a “People’s Vote” when it suits them!”
https://www.facebook.com/nigelfarageofficial/posts/2069745413073051
While I berated him for failing to give up his MEP seat when he left UKIP, he does actually make a valid point: these “Peoples Vote” advocates wouldn’t dare go to the polls and let their constituents decide if they should continue to serve as their MP.
All mouth and no trousers. The trouble is that the constituents would inevitably just vote for whoever stood as Labour’s candidate. Would Chuka Umunna then demand another vote if he lost his seat? 😀
Remainers: “We need to stay in the EU to protect jobs”
EU announces free-trade deal with Japan: Nissan announces it will move production from Sunderland back to Japan, then Honda follows suit announcing it will close production facilities in Swindon (as well as Turkey) and build vehicles in Japan instead.
Watch for it, I bet Toyota will be next.
“Nothing to do with Brexit” – that is correct. It is everything to do with the EU and globalism though.
At least Honda have been more honest though.
But what about those jobs then? 🙂
The crime is how we in the United Kingdom have been so poorly led for years and years by incompetent, corrupt, greedy self-serving politicians and their friends in the establishment and mainstream media. How in the hell did we ever allow ourselves to be in a position where we can be blackmailed by faceless multinational companies who’s only reason for existence is to make more and more money with little concern for the people who’s lives they impact. Our world leading industries were sold off to the highest bidders, mainly their competition, gutted, closed down causing untold misery with the encouragement and help from our own insipid establishment, most of whom lined their pockets at the expense of ordinary working people. Then we are supposed to be grateful when the likes of Honda, Nissan and other foreign firms move in with subsidies from our own government, our own money give us a break. One good thing about Brexit is apart from freeing ourselves from that corrupt antidemocratic organisation the EU is we now see our ‘betters’ for what they are. I hope and pray once we are rid of the EU noose around our neck some people of principle will come forward and rebuild this country into the great nation it once was and deserves to be.
Suggest you read ‘Back From the Brink’ by Sir Michael Edwards. It will explain to you why Honda is here and other car companies.
The root problem there, was the likes of Speke and similar out of control union run or rather not run, car companies.
I remember at the time, talking to a friend, who was working at Ford Dagenham. He asked the question, ‘how do you keep a plant running when any one of 26 unions can decide they are going on strike, and the other 25 come out in sympathy?’
Nothing to do with big business – everything to do with big unions. You will, I’m sure, remember ‘Red Robbo’, a major contributor the demise of the car industry. Nothing to do with the common market.
If Edwards was still alive, hearing these sorts of ill informed ideas, he would ask himself why he missed Christmas and why he missed burying his father, just to hear this sort of ill informed comment.
Next time you take aim, make sure it is the right target.
Giving unions a proper job to do would help. But you are correct , Michael Edwards, was supposed to be boss of the socialist construct of British Motor Corporation put together by that master of strategy and towering intellect and world class pratt.Wedgie Benn. Who also destroyed other industries in his zeal to put unions in power. You are right. It was union foolishness that forced that pathetic travesty Ted Heath to go for Europe. Although there were other equally damaging problems.. Government hadn’t yet sussed out that you could debase the currency and no one would notice, and you no longer needed to consider balance of payments..That was left to another socialist brain of Westninster, Gordon Brown.. And these people and their half baked theories are still venerated by the likes of Corbyn etc.
Mind you. Big business has its moments [ See ” Trouble at Bank ]. So that’s where we are.And no one [ including UKIP ] has a clue what to do….. On 29 th if we’re lucky, We’re back on our own and we either take off or crash. If we listen to the right people we’ll take off.. Politicians will take responsibility as well as authority….Action has cosequences. WTO is only a tool we can use, WE have to use it not admire it. Luckily its simple to use, but easy to complicate if youre an ‘expert ‘
This is full of huge sweeping statements b but they’re all verifiable to my satisfaction.
Several commentators, including those from the Magnificent 7 has declared that the British politilcal system is broken.
I prefer to call it “exposed”, exposed for what it is, a democratic pretence. Why? Because a party MP, being declared the representative of this that or the other party cannot represent anyone else. The party direction or policy is expressed by their manifesto “package”, a collective offer from which no exception is allowed. All parties require you(sic) to accept the package as a whole. Very obvious or ought to be but it isn’t recognised for what it is, an anti-democratic trap. For the last 45 years the three main parties have forced the British people in one direction, away from self-government and turn or turn about you got the same programme..The voters were trapped.
So, when beloved David Cameron (bless his human fallibility)and let slip the chance to have a referendum on this SINGLE ISSUE millions knew that his vote would count for a change. When the majority unexpectedly vote “leave” the party system was revealed for what it is. A sham democracy or “elective dictatorship”.because PARTY MPs cannot represent us, they represent the party programme, as a condition of their “employment”.
It is so bloody obvious but we are so conditioned by the brazen effrontery of the system that we think that changing to another party with “better” policies solves the problem.
The fundamental flaw is this: voting for a party transfers control of policy from you to them. Instead of power being kept under control a party with a majority is granted total power. Even the tiny ERG who are trying to honour the Referendum are aiders and abetters of this corrupt system. Were it not for the Rerendum they would continue to support the party system.
The Magnificent 7 are simply an example of arrogant MPs thinking they have the right to tell us that we must have their particular ideology as opposed to Corbyn’s, or May’s. They are all the same.. http://www.cravenfreedom.com
Martin, i agree. How though does one get things done.. Its a bit like organising UKIP. It is obvious it is needed. But no one has worked out how.. If you look at the present UK system you realise that.you are actually voting for a political party. Not for an MP….However the MPs vote for a leader. ( temporary Dictator ). So the manifesto becomes totally important.and totally relevant. . So we have got a manifesto aand a leader who got there using a democratic process. Just not the one we think. For example MPs , are as captured as us and have no power , but can make speeches somtimes … And SO ON.
It’s all just a bit flawed.
If you agree with my logic such as it is.. . The manifesto could become a time bomb. The existing anodyne is not going to rouse any one. It is good and sensible. But please. Some sarcasm, some wickedness. some bite.. Take the piss out of the american woman cortez or summat. I want a manifesto the BBC will need to discuss.Send all Jihadists to the Bl**dy Orkneys ( poetry )
‘stay in the EU to ‘reform the EU from the inside’ – That’s been tried by the British MEPs numerous times over the years and each time they have been rebuffed. How many times does one have to try something – and fail – before giving up and getting out?
As reported in the Peoples News Online, the new “Independent Group” is not actually a Party but a private company registered in Panama, this means it can subvert electoral law, which requires all Political Parties to provide the full details and the names of all financial backers and donors for public consumption. Private Companies are not required to provide details of their financial backers and theoretically are not required to publish any information on donations they receive. Panama is a well-known “tax haven” for private companies who wish to avoid being taxed by the higher tax rates of Western Countries.
Why would true socialists like these, of the broad range of humble working-class origins they spoke of, be hiding money and their donors’ identities, in Panama?
This looks like a strategic move by insignificant MPs posing as Blairites to take Left-Wing politics into the Centre, in a way to upstage the Brexit Party, UKIP or the Tories, or any other party that is trying to stand away from the extreme end of politics.
Certainly the Labour Party appears extreme in some of its comments and Marxist leanings.
It’s strategic as a prelude to calling the Brexit vote “extreme” – which we have heard said by all Remoaners in the three Parliamentary parties – and that I think is why the 7 painted themselves as very broad, from all over the country, every background………….. Sadly for them Angela Smith messed it up with her “funny tinge” remark. This will be an attempt to prevent Leave politicians, ERG, The Brexit Party, and UKIP, from getting into the centre of politics if the space is taken by the “Independent Group”. This as we know is ironic given the history of the EU and that Remain is really another (extreme) attempt to get us back in the EU by any undemocratic means?
I think these 7 – with their secret donors – want to try to upstage Farage etc and will later return to the Labour “fold” after Brexit and a change of leader. It might be a stunt and not a real attempt to “break the mould”, to push the image of “Leave” to the right and claim the centre-ground for Remain.
The announcement by Honda illustrates the paucity of the UK industrial non-strategy. The truth is this country is beholden to the giants of industry which can brush off weak governments like the UK and do only what suits them and can ignore the effects on communities and countries.
Another excellent piece Viv, at your usual high professional standard.
Must say, I’m very pleased to see Umoaner wander off down this cul-de-sac into oblivion. His group has no future and we’re happy to see them go. Umoaner is a nasty piece of work, tonally self-centred and is not averse to spouting untruths. He is the verruca who kept calling UKIP far right and was never challenged on this accusation by any MSM interviewer on anyone else.
I’m with Jean-Claude on this – the Good Lord has done an excellent job of stirring up division and chaos in Parliament thus far – so keep praying!
‘The 7 said at their press conference that ‘they wanted to hear from the people, the voters, what they say’.
Not in the most direct and reliable way by means of a bye election, however. Maybe they realise that the tribal voting patterns which they may have benefitted from in the past would possibly not favour them now. The 23 on the other hand may have got that.