So, what is there to say about Brexit anymore? We’re all just waiting for the May-EU drama to play out, for the prime minister to present the deal to parliament – and then the actual unknowable, namely will such a thing get a majority in the Commons or not. As has been obvious for a while, May is going nowhere until this drama plays out over the next few months.
In the meantime, we political obsessives can try and have fun with the mutterings of the shadow front bench, as usual saying stuff that makes no sense whatsoever. Take John McDonnell on Radio 4 this morning. Here’s the quote in full so that we can properly make fun of it with full context:
“We need to respect the original decision of the referendum … we have got to respect that decision, but Parliament will decide on the question that will be put to the people and we are keeping all options on the table. That’s what we have agreed, our party at conference. We are trying to bring the whole country together, the country is still divided right down the middle so we have got to get to a situation where in these coming weeks and months we bring the country together. I think the best way of doing that, to be frank, (is) have a general election.”
The “respect the referendum” bit that kicks it off is the latest in a long line of statements from the shadow front bench that amount to a thinly veiled version of the following:
Listen, Remoaners, we are Brexity Brexit on toast made from extra-strength Brexit. We aren’t going to go for the whole People’s Vote idea, however much you push for it. If you don’t like it, join the Lib Dems. Oh wait, you’re not going to are you? So just shut up already!
The next bit is classic Corbyn-McDonnell era nonsense, however. The country is divided “right down the middle” so the best way to solve this problem – to be frank – is to have a general election? Because general elections are known for really bringing the country together? Huh? Further, the country is split down the middle, as McDonnell himself eludes to, on what to do about Brexit. But both the Tories and Labour want to go ahead with it with only very, very minor variations (becoming more and more minor every day, as May “comes to terms” with the Commission). So, what exactly would the general election tell us on this front, whatever the result?
I can just imagine a general election called in early 2019, and with it the unavoidable interview with Brenda from Bristol, who will comically freak out for us all (thereby giving us one of the few moments of said general election that actually will bring the country together). I hope one of the journos lets her know that John McDonnell thinks this will heal all divisions between Remainers and Leavers, leaving us all like one big, happy family when it’s all done.
Doubleplusgood duckspeaking.
Nick
It is becoming clear to me that labours policy or corbins will cost them the next election on brexit
Theresa may agreeing to a permanent customs union with the eu solves the irish issue gets what parliament wants soft exit
Leaves the erg impotent
Labour impotent
Public will support pm brino
For as long as I can remember, whenever politicians have been talking about Brexit, they have been playing politics rather than pursuing principles.
That includes the Lib Dems, about a decade ago, saying that what we really needed was a vote about whether to leave the EU – which was a transparent political manoeuvre to avoid adopting a politically inexpedient position on the Lisbon Treaty. They should have been careful what they wished for!
Quite frankly, it’s political manoeuvring by the Lib Dems and the Tories that’s got us into this situation. Labour’s response hasn’t been to my liking, but using Brexit as a stick to beat Labour with seems a pretty unreal reaction.
Well done, Chris, blame it on the Lib Dems, ha ha ha ha ha
Well, am I misremembering about Nick Clegg calling for an “in/out” referendum a decade ago?
Wasn’t that precisely the same political tactic later copied by Cameron, which got us into this whole mess in the first place?
Well, am I misremembering about Clegg calling for an “in/out” referendum a decade ago?
Wasn’t that precisely the same political tactic later copied by Cameron, which got us into this whole mess in the first place?
Indeed you are misremembering (as you put it).. At some point between 16.22 and 1840 (GMT?), you forgot about context of the Lisbon Treaty.
Lib dems are irrelevant thanks to clegg sharing his duvet with casino cameron
Brexit is tories pandora box
This will be worst defeat and humiliation for these Isles since
1066
NIck –
“…in these coming weeks and months we bring the country together. I think the best way of doing that, to be frank, (is) have a general election.”
I expect John McDonnell fondly remembers Tony Benn calling elections a “healing process” after Labour’s fratricidal deputy leadership election in 1981.
Still, Nick, I think Comrade Blackadder would be proud of your
“Listen, Remoaners, we are Brexity Brexit on toast made from extra-strength Brexit.” Well done.
Great bring it on
Brexit will be a rerun of what happened to the conservatives in the 1840s
RIP
Straight remove – these are several cards in the identical suit,
organized in a sequence.