Is a Gerneral Election the only way to break the Brexit gridlock?

Today MPs voted to extend the Brexit deadline but also voted (by about 80%) not to have a second referendum. May has pretended to offer labour MPs a deal and offered almost nothing, gone back to Brussels to renegotiate what couldn't be renegotiated and failed. Tory MPs voted to have a leadership contest but then voted to (more or less) keep her in place.

Its a PM with no authority, leading a party with no majority trying to deal with a complex historically important issue which nobody in the country can agree on. We can't extend the deadline forever and something has to give. I think eventually there will be some kind of Brexit but not a hard Brexit and nobody will be happy.

The twin truths are that the referendum voted to leave the EU and that there is no mandate to change that. Also that Brexit is more complex than anyone imagined and that it can't deliver what it promised.

This page is a permanent link to the reply below and its nested replies. See all post replies »

Braveheart · M

If Brexit doesnt happen there'll be riots. Forget a general election. Brexit will happen. Mays deal will be tweaked and accepted by June. Not saying I agree just what I think.

Burnley123 · 41-45, M

@Braveheart Sadly that could be it.

MartinII · 70-79, M

@Braveheart I doubt there would be actual riots - just pent-up resentment which would be vented on the political class, in a very British way, if future elections provided an opportunity. One of the many odd things about the Brexit saga is that remainers, who are on the conservative side of the argument, have been much more vocal, and used more extreme language, than leavers, who are on the radical side.

As to the deal, I think you may well be right.

Braveheart · M

@MartinII Possibly but I wouldnt rule out violence at the specific time the final outcome is determined. Trust me, a lot of leave for various forces in specific locations is on restriction and constantly being varied. We recently witnessed how quickly the French riots snowballed.

MartinII · 70-79, M

@Braveheart Yes I can see that. Of course there would be dancing in the streets where I live in London - and I don’t think I would risk a riot on my own!

Picklebobble2 · 56-60, M

@Braveheart I fear you could well be right.

Braveheart · M

@Picklebobble2 Thanks Picklebobble, do you sense it too? It's seems to be lawless out there at the moment and we know from the last riots that the violence was caused by people just waiting for any excuse to loot and cause havoc

Picklebobble2 · 56-60, M

@Braveheart Insecurity brings out the worst elements in society.
Some may decide to vent their displeasure, but others will seek to gain advantage,and it's [i]them[/i] you don't want to be caught up with.