webfact Posted February 20, 2019 Share Posted February 20, 2019 Three UK Conservatives quit party in protest at 'disastrous Brexit' By Elizabeth Piper, William James and Kylie MacLellan British Conservative Party MPs Heidi Allen, Anna Soubry and Sarah Wollaston arrive at a news conference in London, Britain February 20, 2019. REUTERS/Simon Dawson LONDON (Reuters) - Three lawmakers from Britain's governing Conservatives quit over the government's "disastrous handling of Brexit" on Wednesday, in a blow to Prime Minister Theresa May's attempts to unite her party around plans to leave the European Union. The lawmakers, who support a second EU referendum and have long said May's Brexit strategy is being led by Conservative eurosceptics, said they would join a new independent group in parliament set up by seven former opposition Labour politicians. The resignations put May in an even weaker position in parliament, where her Brexit deal was crushed by lawmakers last month when both eurosceptics and EU supporters voted against an agreement they say offers the worst of all worlds. While the three were almost certain to vote against any deal, the hardening of their positions undermines May's negotiating position in Brussels, where she heads later to try to secure an opening for further work on revising the agreement. With only 37 days until Britain leaves the EU, its biggest foreign and trade policy shift in more than 40 years, divisions over Brexit are redrawing the political landscape. The resignations threaten a decades-old two-party system. "The final straw for us has been this government's disastrous handling of Brexit," the three lawmakers, Heidi Allen, Anna Soubry and Sarah Wollaston, said in a letter to May. Soubry later told a news conference that the Conservative Party had been taken over by right-wing, pro-Brexit lawmakers. "The truth is, the battle is over and the other side has won. The right-wing, the hard-line anti-EU awkward squad that have destroyed every (Conservative) leader for the last 40 years are now running the ... party from top to toe," she said. May said she was saddened by the decision and that Britain's membership of the EU "has been a source of disagreement both in our party and in our country for a long time". "But by ... implementing the decision of the British people we are doing the right thing for our country," she said, referring to the 2016 referendum in which Britons voted by a margin of 52-48 percent in favour of leaving the EU. Asked what May would say to others considering resigning, her spokesman said: "She would, as she always has, ask for the support of her colleagues in delivering (Brexit)". INDEPENDENT GROUP The three sat in parliament on Wednesday with a new grouping which broke away from the Labour Party earlier this week over increasing frustration with their leader Jeremy Corbyn's Brexit strategy and a row over anti-Semitism. Another former Labour lawmaker joined their ranks late on Tuesday, and several politicians from both the main opposition party and Conservatives said they expected more to follow from both sides of parliament. What unites most of the group of 11 is a desire to see a second referendum on any deal May comes back with, now that the terms of Brexit are known in detail - something the prime minister has ruled out. For May's Brexit plan, the resignations are yet another knock to more than two years of talks to leave the EU, which have been punctuated by defeats in parliament, rows over policy and a confidence vote, which she ultimately won. Britain's 2016 EU referendum has split not only British towns and villages but also parliament, with both Conservative and Labour leaders struggling to keep their parties united. May has faced a difficult balancing act. Eurosceptic members of her party want a clean break with the bloc, pro-EU lawmakers argue for the closest possible ties, while many in the middle are increasing frustrated over the lack of movement. Those who have resigned have long accused May of leaning too far towards Brexit supporters, sticking to red lines which they, and many in Labour, say have made a comprehensive deal all but impossible to negotiate. But May will head to Brussels hoping that her team will get the green light to start more technical negotiations on how to satisfy the concerns of mostly Brexit supporters over the so-called Northern Irish backstop arrangement. The "backstop", an insurance policy to avoid a hard border between the British province of Northern Ireland and EU member Ireland if London and Brussels fail to agree a deal on future ties, is the main point of contention in talks with Brussels. British officials are hoping they can secure the kind of legal assurances that the backstop cannot trap Britain in the EU's sphere to persuade lawmakers to back a revised deal. But May's argument she can command a majority in parliament if the EU hands her such assurances is getting weaker. A government defeat last week showed the eurosceptics' muscle. One pro-Brexit Conservative lawmaker, Andrew Bridgen, said: "I would find it very difficult to accept a legal document from the same (party) lawyer whose definitive advice four weeks ago was that we could be trapped in the backstop in perpetuity." (Reporting by Kylie Maclellan, William James and Elizabeth Piper; Writing by Elizabeth Piper; Editing by Stephen Addison and Mark Heinrich) -- © Copyright Reuters 2019-02-21 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve187 Posted February 21, 2019 Share Posted February 21, 2019 they were voted in as conservatives, so they should have a by election. the same for the labour defectors Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laughing Gravy Posted February 21, 2019 Share Posted February 21, 2019 Good riddance. These are hypocrites. Calling those that voted for brexit as far right. Nonsense. Seems to be the rhetoric now from those who don't like a GE or referendum result. Not just in the UK but in Europe and the USA. Soubry was asked would she stand down for a by-election. She said people don't need another vote now., But she then wants another referendum. Hypocrite of the highest level. Self serving, vile MP with her nose in the trough. The sooner she and the likes are gone the better. I imagine the people of Broxtowe are happy she has left the Conservatives and hoping a by election is triggered so they can show her the door. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sammieuk1 Posted February 21, 2019 Share Posted February 21, 2019 Of course this has nothing to do with Brexit will say the air heads???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grouse Posted February 21, 2019 Share Posted February 21, 2019 I think the three of them are splendid! An great example to other MPs They are acting precisely as Edmund Burke stated and putting their honest opinions on what is best before cheap popularity. Well done! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vogie Posted February 21, 2019 Share Posted February 21, 2019 2 hours ago, webfact said: Britain's 2016 EU referendum has split not only British towns and villages but also parliament, with both Conservative and Labour leaders struggling to keep their parties united. And failing to deliver on a referendum result is hardly going to heal any wounds. Double double toil and struggle The next election they will be rubble. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grouse Posted February 21, 2019 Share Posted February 21, 2019 May be Utilitarianism should be our guide? https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utilitarianism Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pedrogaz Posted February 21, 2019 Share Posted February 21, 2019 1 hour ago, Grouse said: I think the three of them are splendid! An great example to other MPs They are acting precisely as Edmund Burke stated and putting their honest opinions on what is best before cheap popularity. Well done! Shame we can't find 3 such principled people in Parliament when it comes to voting for wars! How many MPs had principles when the vote to illegally invade Iraq was held? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Proboscis Posted February 21, 2019 Share Posted February 21, 2019 2 hours ago, steve187 said: they were voted in as conservatives, so they should have a by election. the same for the labour defectors I don't think that anyone in the UK would appreciate another election (even by-election) right now and it would not change a thing. Everyone is very pissed off with politicians and parties over the nonsense. Very soon there is likely to be an election anyway. Already there are 11 people in this "independent group" and there may soon be more, at the rate things are going. The independent group ties with the Lib-Dems as the fourth largest group in Parliament. Might be the start of something new, something less extremist other than Corbyn's lurch to militant and May's "I'll do anything to keep ERG on board." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonnapat Posted February 21, 2019 Share Posted February 21, 2019 At long last, a few Tories showing some backbone. Never thought I'd see the day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Percy P Posted February 21, 2019 Share Posted February 21, 2019 3 hours ago, steve187 said: they were voted in as conservatives, so they should have a by election. the same for the labour defectors I agree. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Percy P Posted February 21, 2019 Share Posted February 21, 2019 3 hours ago, steve187 said: they were voted in as conservatives, so they should have a by election. the same for the labour defectors I agree Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SheungWan Posted February 21, 2019 Share Posted February 21, 2019 3 hours ago, steve187 said: they were voted in as conservatives, so they should have a by election. the same for the labour defectors They were voted in as Conservatives, not Hard Brexiteer nutters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evadgib Posted February 21, 2019 Share Posted February 21, 2019 2 hours ago, Grouse said: I think the three of them are splendid! An great example to other MPs They are acting precisely as Edmund Burke stated and putting their honest opinions on what is best before cheap popularity. Well done! Moves were afoot to de-select prior to their balcony-jump. If they had any integrity they'd step down and fight by elections. Meanwhile what will this new party call themselves? The Denial of Democracy Party (DoDP)? Brexodus? Bremain? I saw Jethro Tull at the latter while based in Germany in the 80's???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evadgib Posted February 21, 2019 Share Posted February 21, 2019 24 minutes ago, SheungWan said: They were voted in as Conservatives, not Hard Brexiteer nutters. Can any on the receiving end expect wit or humour from your direction before time runs out in March..? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Garvie Posted February 21, 2019 Share Posted February 21, 2019 3 hours ago, Grouse said: I think the three of them are splendid! An great example to other MPs They are acting precisely as Edmund Burke stated and putting their honest opinions on what is best before cheap popularity. Well done! Splendid...I couldn't agree more, and the 8 Labour MPs also. What a breath of fresh air into an atmosphere of parliamentary venality, inadequacy, and dishonesty. Hopefully people are finally getting fed up with the self serving neo fascists of the far right, and the mind boggling idiocy of the looney left. Then you have the DUP who feature a number of creationists among their brain damaged representatives, and Corbyn being a puppet in the hands of Len McCluskey - a man for whom the Germans would have invented the word Gross if they hadn't done so already. Surveys show that a very significant proportion of the public would vote for a party that is not Labour or Tory, sadly for them, the Libs have proved themselves unable to take this opportunity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Garvie Posted February 21, 2019 Share Posted February 21, 2019 29 minutes ago, evadgib said: Moves were afoot to de-select prior to their balcony-jump. If they had any integrity they'd step down and fight by elections. Meanwhile what will this new party call themselves? The Denial of Democracy Party (DoDP)? Brexodus? Bremain? I saw Jethro Tull at the latter while based in Germany in the 80's???? It is quite unusual for MPs in this situation to step down and fight by-elections, and not required by Parliamentary rules - you elect the person not the party. In practice the fact that they are Remainers is no more relevant than if they were all Chelsea supporters, they could and did vote that way before anyway. It is nothing to do with Denial of Democracy, we elect our representatives to use their own judgement, they are free to vote as they see fit. If you believe that MPs should be controlled by their constituents after they are elected you are looking at a Stalinist type of rule, as in the current LP, where swearing allegiance to the great Leader is what many party members think should be required. I never got to see Jethro Tull in Bremen, but I saw them in the Marquee club in 1967 (Possibly the 1960s are a bit of a haze to me). Mick Abrams was still the lead guitarist, very good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newatthis Posted February 21, 2019 Share Posted February 21, 2019 5 hours ago, steve187 said: they were voted in as conservatives, so they should have a by election. the same for the labour defectors Yes, but they all still want their pay packet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluespunk Posted February 21, 2019 Share Posted February 21, 2019 I'd be grinning like that if I'd escaped the debacle that the tory party has become under the maybot's "leadership" over brexit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melvinmelvin Posted February 21, 2019 Share Posted February 21, 2019 1 hour ago, evadgib said: Moves were afoot to de-select prior to their balcony-jump. If they had any integrity they'd step down and fight by elections. Meanwhile what will this new party call themselves? The Denial of Democracy Party (DoDP)? Brexodus? Bremain? I saw Jethro Tull at the latter while based in Germany in the 80's???? Brunch - Britain under new cabinet/charter/charlatans/councel - have your pick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evadgib Posted February 21, 2019 Share Posted February 21, 2019 13 minutes ago, Bluespunk said: I'd be grinning like that if I'd escaped the debacle that the tory party has become under the maybot's "leadership" over brexit. ...on £77+k p/a til 2022/the next GE???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evadgib Posted February 21, 2019 Share Posted February 21, 2019 1 hour ago, Nigel Garvie said: It is quite unusual for MPs in this situation to step down and fight by-elections, and not required by Parliamentary rules - you elect the person not the party. In practice the fact that they are Remainers is no more relevant than if they were all Chelsea supporters, they could and did vote that way before anyway. It is nothing to do with Denial of Democracy, we elect our representatives to use their own judgement, they are free to vote as they see fit. If you believe that MPs should be controlled by their constituents after they are elected you are looking at a Stalinist type of rule, as in the current LP, where swearing allegiance to the great Leader is what many party members think should be required. I never got to see Jethro Tull in Bremen, but I saw them in the Marquee club in 1967 (Possibly the 1960s are a bit of a haze to me). Mick Abrams was still the lead guitarist, very good. Appreciated but that's where integrity kicks in...& they ain't got none! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black arab Posted February 21, 2019 Share Posted February 21, 2019 Another bunch that cannot be trusted, forming a private co. Instead of a party to hide where they get they're financial backing from . Also have right wing policies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laughing Gravy Posted February 21, 2019 Share Posted February 21, 2019 25 minutes ago, evadgib said: ...on £77+k p/a til 2022/the next GE???? And the expenses she claims. She is as dodgy as they come and has her snout in the trough. Luckily slipped under the radar but has been investigated. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-46069418 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluespunk Posted February 21, 2019 Share Posted February 21, 2019 49 minutes ago, evadgib said: ...on £77+k p/a til 2022/the next GE???? As are the brexiteer incompetents leading the negotiations debacle, oh wait, no, those fools are ministers and are therefore on even more money, money well spent eh... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enoon Posted February 21, 2019 Share Posted February 21, 2019 4 hours ago, Pedrogaz said: Shame we can't find 3 such principled people in Parliament when it comes to voting for wars! How many MPs had principles when the vote to illegally invade Iraq was held? 149 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Garvie Posted February 21, 2019 Share Posted February 21, 2019 46 minutes ago, evadgib said: Appreciated but that's where integrity kicks in...& they ain't got none! My impression is that integrity is in pretty short supply wherever you look in British Politics nowadays (SNP, Greens, and PC excepted of course!). It is always the other guy who needs to have some. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basil B Posted February 21, 2019 Share Posted February 21, 2019 6 hours ago, steve187 said: they were voted in as conservatives, so they should have a by election. the same for the labour defectors At this time I think all of them have just resigned their party whips, they have not joined or formed another party as yet, maybe after Brexit they maybe invited to rejoin if wish to their respective parties, in the event of of a by-election they could stand as independents and split their parties vote allowing another party to win. Will more follow, I think so, both major parties are impotent on Brexit, the choice is breakaway or be a nodding donkey... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evadgib Posted February 21, 2019 Share Posted February 21, 2019 47 minutes ago, Nigel Garvie said: My impression is that integrity is in pretty short supply wherever you look in British Politics nowadays (SNP, Greens, and PC excepted of course!). It is always the other guy who needs to have some. That's what happens when National Service & discipline in general vanish from everyday life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theoldgit Posted February 21, 2019 Share Posted February 21, 2019 Offensive post removed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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