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BREXIT TIME

So , finally after 3 and a half years , Parliament have finally agreed , I stress in principle , a form of withdrawal bill to leave the European Union but not in the timescale the PM wanted.

So here's my view. Boris now faces a huge mountain to get Brexit done by the October 31st deadline but if. I were him tonight I would be quite happy for the EU to grant an extension until 31st January 2020 and once that is granted by the EU Boris can go to the queen and inform her that his party does not command a majority and that her Majesty invite Jeremy Corbyn to form a government. Corbyn does not have the support to command a majority and this would trigger a general election.

Boris could attack swing seats in the South West held by Lib Dems. His biggest challenge in trying to reach the magic 326 is Labour held former mining constituencies who , on principle and history , could not vote Tory over how they felt former PM Margaret Thatcher steam rollered the coal industry. This is where Nigel Farage comes in.

Farage does not believe the withdrawal bill does not represent a full Brexit. Now the beer swilling , chain smoking Nigel could negotiate himself a big part of our departure and in return field candidates in the traditional labour strongholds who voted leave in 2016 with the Tories not putting up a candidate. That would almost be the second referendum the remain camp have been baying for. Can Boris win a majority. It's possible.

So what of Mr Corbyn. He said once an extension to article 50 had been agreed he would gladly go to the ballot box. His problem is a large number of his party don't due to Labour's lack of position on Brexit. Many of his party represent leave constituencies and the electorate don't like betrayal. This could make the Labour manifesto very difficult to sell to voters who just want Brexit done. Can Jezza win a majority? Unlikely.

So to the Lib Dems. Their position has been clear and they now have the most MP'S since their disasterous night in 2015 when Paddy Ashdown said he would eat his hat and an almost tearful Nick Clegg resigned. They wish to stop Brexit , demanding a second referendum and stating that if in government they would revoke article 50. Even if they made gains in the South West they could possibly be the difference between a Boris majority or not. They also hold a position to be a thorn in the side of Labour in Labour held remain constituencies. A gain of 20-30 seats and an increase in the share of the vote could be viewed as a successful canpaign. Can Jo Swinson win a majority? Impossible. Can the Lib Dems join a coalition with the conservatives! No. Can they join a coalition with Labour? Swinson would want concessions and assurances about a people's vote. Corbyn would have to run an incredible campaign for this scenario so the answer is no.

My forecast. We will go to the polls on Thursday 5th December ,
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SW-User
Good analysis. I predict a hung parliament and then interesting behind the scenes to form coalitions.

Labour with Lib Dems.... Possibly Jo Swinson carefully only promised to revoke article 50 if they won a majority at the election, which they never will.

Brexit/DUP/Tory likely but will it be happy coalition? I still can see serious arguments once the full deal discussions start with that little gaggle.

BTW don't write off Jeremy, love or loath him he delivered a brilliant 2015 campaign although Boris us much better at twisting PR than May ever was.

My prediction is Dec election then a Tory led coalition which will at least push deal through in January. After that well... Let's just say I don't predict a full term parliament!
ArtieKat · M
@SW-User
A poor election result could see a change in labour leadership with the vultures like Hilary Benn , Owen Smith and Yvette Cooper circling.

As I've said elsewhere in this thread, my money is on Keir Starmer for the next Labour leader.
MartinII · 70-79, M
@SW-User It would be highly ironic if the first female leader of the Labour Party were to be Lady Nugee!
MartinII · 70-79, M
@ArtieKat The trouble is that under the present electoral system, the next leader of the Labour Party is almost bound to be from the hard left. Hence Starmer’s repositioning of himself.
MartinII · 70-79, M
I think it’s a difficult choice for Johnson whether to go for an early election or try to get the legislation through on a slightly longer timescale. Getting a vote in favour of a deal was a great achievement, but it’s a somewhat two-edged sword. Until now, Johnson has had the moral high ground, because he could claim that he would have delivered Brexit had he not been frustrated by remainers in Parliament. But if he now abandons a Bill which has received its second reading, he is open to the charge that he preferred an election to doing his best to deliver Brexit as quickly as possible - and that wouldn’t play well electorally.

That said, I think an early election is the right choice in principle, because the present parliamentary situation is farcical.
ArtieKat · M
@MartinII I actually think it was a smart move by Johnson not to totally pull the bill but to put it on ice while The EU consults and makes up its collective mind. He can then move to the next stage with a possible end-game in view
Nyloncapes · 61-69, M
@MartinII labour will not want election but they have run out of excuses now to have one , so can not vote against having election anymore, this election will also be about going against the establishment who have done everything to keep us in EU , people have been fed up with parliament and establishment for years now as they don't listen to the ordinary people and there arrogance as if they know better and brexit had proved people right , and it will show also these MPs who have blocked brexit , when they campaign in there constituency who voted leave ,
MartinII · 70-79, M
@Nyloncapes Yes, well, once again I hope you are right!
ArtieKat · M
@sarabee1995 Never.
ArtieKat · M
@sarabee1995
Only time? Really? Never for Parliament? Or a local election?

When I was in my mid-teens I read in a student joke magazine:
"It doesn't matter who you vote for..... the government always gets elected.....

I regard that as a truism.
sarabee1995 · 26-30, FVIP
ArtieKat · M
Has anyone else noticed how Keir Starmer is presenting himself through all this? If he's not getting on the starting blocks to replace Corbyn I will be very very surprised.
@MartinII after whom he was probably named.
MartinII · 70-79, M
@ArtieKat I think the reason I don’t like him is his rapid transition from civil servant to Blairite to pseudo- Corbynista ...
ArtieKat · M
@MartinII
rapid transition from civil servant to Blairite to pseudo- Corbynista ...
Yes, indeed!
Very good piece-there is a major problem with holding an election in December.Many places that are used as polling stations and for counting are booked up all month for Christmas events and they won’t be cancelling them and losing money.So I suspect frantic searches are taking place looking for suitable alternatives.
I am sure we will have soon though.
Thanks for the heads up…
I think we willhave another hung parliament and another election won’t be far away!
SW-User
@TheSirfurryanimalWales A hung Parliament is where the real issue lies as none of the mainstream parties would be likely to form a coalition. The Lib Dems are still recovering from their last attempt at government. The DUP dislike the latest withdrawal bill and are unlikely to prop up another conservative government.

If either the Tories or labour could reach 290 seats that could be enough to say we will go it alone and govern as a minority and rely on cross party support on any legislation

Interesting times ahead
Cowboybob · M
Good luck at the polls!
Afc71 · 51-55, M
Rhodesianman · 56-60, M
I agree with you I think what ever happens we will still have a conservative government at the end of it because no one in their right mind wants a corbyn government when it is a known fact the man is a communist terrorist loving socialist who wants to open our borders to all including his best mate putin.
@Rhodesianman oh dear!Someone has fallen for Daily Mail speak.I voted for him in the leadership elections.If he was any of those things I certainly would not have.
MaryJo1996 · 26-30, F
In all honesty I think the country is fucked. The EU has big problems, but without it the lower earners are going to suffer. Prices for basic things will go up, and the low earners will simply not be able to afford everything that is needed.

I'm very lucky in that my Dad is well off and money is of no concern to me, but for so many others my age the future is bleak.

 
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