A record of wanderings
A no deal Brexit is “unthinkable”, Amber Rudd said yesterday, contradicting the Brexit secretary just hours after he said the UK has “the right to walk away”.
I
From the Telegraph. I wonder what Al’s opinion is?
Theresa May has made a significant speech on Brexit in Florence. It seems to set out some clarity, is more conciliatory in tone but still leaves some things left answered. A desire to have a transition phase at least acknowledges reality that the exit date is fast approaching with slow progress being made in the negotiations. How much this moves the process on-who knows?
Brixiteers have reacted with criticism and NF talks of treason- no surprise there.
The reality is that the opposing demands of control and trade and relations are irrecocilable. So where will the line fall?
From Bloomberg:
Perhaps Johnson and his allies don’t want the facts to get in the way of a good story — which is that Brexit should be something to boast about, not a cause for compromise or regret.
The negotiations do not appear to have a clear pathway or desired outcomes as far as the British government as concerned. It seems to be an acknowledged truth that the EU negotiating team are better organised and clearer on the requirements of the process and ‘red lines’- and in the dominant position.
The cartoon below from the Telegraph explains the latest UK version of expectations with a desired transition phase. The announcement was made by the Chancellor rather than by May after more confused position statements from different ministers in the preceding days.
Now, having suffered the almost unthinkable ignominy of losing the majority she seemed certain to extend, Ms May’s first response shifted from the inane to the delusional. Speaking in Downing Street, the catchphrase morphed this time into “safe and secure”, and she repeated the need for “certainty”. She spoke about an agenda “for the next five years”, as though her position in the role were guaranteed beyond the next five weeks. There was no humility, no good grace; the Prime Minister seemed frankly divorced from reality. Not until she appeared for a second time, apologising to the MPs who had lost their seats, and offering contrite assurance that she will “reflect on what happened”, did Ms May show any sign that she understands the startling reverses her party has suffered.
Let us hope that such reflection helps the Prime Minister understand the crushing changes that have come thick and fast since that exit poll stunned us all. There has been no sign so far of any reassessment of her approach to hard Brexit, yet surely even this leader will struggle to pass off such a humiliating result as a mandate for her confrontational, uncompromising attitude to Europe, or of her willingness to take the UK out of the single market.
So in the end it’s a Hung Parliament.
A surprise and welcome outcome.Theresa May’s historic gamble has failed. She brought on the election at a point in time of strength with a large lead in the polls. It is assumed her strategy was to destroy the Labour Party, possibly weaken the hand of the most rabid Brexiteers in her own party and move the inevitable fall out from the Brexit negotiations from the next expected General Election.
However, she has failed miserably because an appalling campaign and possibly the unexpected well run campaign of Corbyn and the Labour Party.
She has been weakened but is it enough? She has not resigned and has negotiated an agreement with the Democratic Unionists- a true unsavory crew.
She talked of stability which is the opposite of the current context that her actions have brought about.
Where this all this goes who knows. The is a change in the political tide and this result has been helped with increased participation of younger voters who have been seriously affected by austerity policies in recent years and who are most concerned about the impact of Brexit on their futures. However, there is a real possibility that the status quo will be maintained, under stress, and the shift in the political perspective will come to nil.
Another election soon? Maybe, but that possibly requires greater turmoil in the Conservative ranks. May will hold on for now as the alternative to too dangerous for them?
Heading for a hung parliament as May faces revolt in party over the results.
From the Telegraph:
My vote went last week to meet this Thursday’s deadline. It will have little impact as the constituency of Stratford-upon-Avon is very safe for the Tories.