In the latest turn in the soap opera which has become Britain’s attempts to leave the European Union, witness right wing Brexiteers within the Conservative Party imploring the Prime Minister and her Chancellor to spend more public money “preparing” for a “no deal” Brexit. In other words, fiscal conservatives are asking that a Tory leader […]
Everyday at present, the Tories are making Corbyn seem a safer bet
Someone I know who I would never have thought would say anything like the following told me recently: “Getting Corbyn as prime minister for a bit is looking not as bad as what the Tories might be capable of doing, on Brexit and on other things as well.” This is the major danger the Tories […]
If “no deal” Brexit turns into a disaster, the Tories will be out of power for a generation
I, as some of you who read my stuff often will know, am much more optimistic about the Conservative Party’s chances of winning the next general election, whenever that may be, than most people who write about this stuff. There are many reasons for that which I won’t rehash for you now, but a lot […]
What if Theresa May did give the “Alastair Cambell” speech, reversing Brexit? It would snooker Labour
Alastair Campbell wrote an interesting article yesterday about what Theresa May should do now – it is very good, and you should check it out in full. In it, Campbell writes an imaginary speech for Theresa May, one in which she levels with the nation about how impossible Brexit is to achieve whilst maintaining a […]
Can MPs actually prevent a “no deal” Brexit? Why I think Chris Grayling is right on this one
Over the weekend, John McDonnell said that Labour MPs would work with rogue Tory MPs in order to block a “no deal” Brexit whilst on the Andrew Marr show. Marr followed up this declaration with the counter-point, “But there is no vote on that in the House of Commons”, to which McDonnell replied: “When we […]
Why this latest plan for a post-Brexit Britain is really stupid
It is fair to say that the great Brexit experiment is hitting a rocky patch. Yesterday, the prime minister gave an interview in which she was asked whether if the referendum was run tomorrow she would vote Remain or Leave. She declined to answer. For the “Brexit means Brexit” person to be wavering on this […]
The post in which I break down the basic problem now facing a “no deal” Brexit
After May’s Florence speech, some Brexiteers have become a little miffed. Not enough to actually do anything about it like, say, bringing down a lame duck prime minister and installing one of their own in Number 10, but you know, still a wee bit peeved as these things go. For those of you out there […]
Is Switzerland now bad? Why I’m struggling to understand the Leaver argument these days
Despite being a Remainer, I am trying as hard as I can to understand the Leaver position, particularly as Brexit appears to be inevitable. I try and keep an open mind about it all as much as is humanly possible. But man, the Brexiteers are making it hard to keep this up at present. I […]
Theresa May has misplayed Boris and now this is how it is coming back to haunt her
A quick recap for those who don’t bother keeping up with this sort of thing any longer: Boris Johnson’s long awaited thoughts on Brexit 2.0 were published in the Telegraph this weekend. Many wondered if he might be about to say Brexit was a bad idea in the first place, which seems naïve now. Of course, he […]
What I wish Tony Blair’s institute had said about immigration instead
Tony Blair’s Institute for Global Change has issued a paper regarding immigration into Britain, particularly in relation to the UK’s membership of the European Union. It is authored by Harvey Redgrave, a very good policy man who used to work in Ed Miliband’s office during the coalition years. It is not without merit in some […]