Monday 2 September 2019

We need an immediate opposition electoral pact to stop Tory dictatorship.

First we had Boris Johnson by asking  the Queen to  prorogue Parliament
. By choosing to prorogue, Johnson's government ensured that opposition members can't cancel the recess to focus on stopping Brexit.

Then Tory minister  we have news that Michael Gove has refused to say whether the government would abide by legislation designed to stop the UK leaving the EU without a deal.
Shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer told the BBC MPs would introduce a bill seeking to do that when Parliament returns this week.
But asked if the government would abide by this if it succeeded, Mr Gove said: "Let's see what the legislation says."
Sir Keir described Mr Gove's comments as "breathtaking".
Sir Keir told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show: "The legislation is intended to ensure we don't leave without a deal, that will require an extension.
"The length of the extension is secondary, frankly. We have simply got to stop us leaving without a deal."
Labour's shadow chancellor John McDonnell told Sky's Sophy Ridge on Sunday that plans to block a no-deal Brexit will be published on Tuesday.
He said the "ultimate goal this week" was to "ensure Parliament can have a final say".
But when asked if the government would abide by legislation preventing a no-deal Brexit, Mr Gove, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show: "Let's see what the legislation says.
"You're asking me about a pig in a poke.
"And I will wait to see what legislation the opposition may try to bring forward."
Sir Keir responded on Twitter, saying Mr Gove's response was "breathtaking", adding: "No government is above the law."

Then it appears that reports also emerged on Saturday suggesting Downing Street would stop any Conservative MP who votes to block a no-deal Brexit from standing for the party in a general election.

Aberconwy MP Guto Bebb,  seems likely to ignore the threat he has been a vocal opponent of no deal, said the prime minister had shown "signs of weakness" by proroguing Parliament.
He added a no-deal Brexit would be "anti-democratic".
Mr Bebb has already stated that he is standing down at the nexy election so has nothing to fear from the whips or deselection.
However  But Antoinette Sandbach, Conservative MP for Eddisbury in Cheshire, told BBC Radio Wales' Sunday Supplement programme she would oppose a no-deal Brexit, even if it meant she lost her job.
Ms Sandbach, who was an AM for North Wales from 2011 to 2015, said: "I am very clear that I have to put the interests of my constituents above my political career.
"I am well aware that that means I may lose my job. I cannot allow a 'no deal' to go ahead without trying to stop it."
Mr Johnson has a majority of one  and it would even if he can bribe the DUP once again that threats to his own MPs , especially those standing down and who like Mr Bebb are Demob Happy , have the opposite effect.
He could be saved by Labour MPs abstaining or voting with the government, but if defeated has the option of calling a General Election in which only Hard Brexiters will be allowed  to stand for his party.
But it seems he is also considering the option of ignoring any vote in Parliament  and just carrying on.
Given the recent polls he seems likely to win.

General election voting intention polls

PollsterConLabLDGrnBXPCon/Lab
gap
Fieldwork
Deltapoll35%
(+5)
24%
(-1)
18%
(nc)
-%(-)14%
(-nc)
11%29-31/8
Survation31%
(+3)
24%
(nc)
21%
(nc)
-%
(-)
14%
(-1)
7%29-30/8
YouGov33%
(-1)
22%
(nc)
21%
(+4)
7%(-1)12%
(-1)
11%28-29/8
Opinium32%
(+1)
26%
(-2)
15%
(+2)
4%
(-1)
16%
(nc)
6%21-23/8

There is perhaps  only one way  we can prevent what is a move to a Tory dictatorship and that is the unlikely scenario of the major parties agreeing to not stand against each other and support  the sitting opposition MP and who ever was in second place against the Tories.
Small chance of this happening but we may live to regret it.

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