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I Like Politics

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!
SW-User
@SW-User That's a fair assessment but the DUP are against the withdrawal bill and I don't believe they would prop up a Tory government with the proposed deal. Jeremy Corbyn did not run a campaign in 2015 , that was Ed Milliband but his 2017 campaign was the best by far although he had the help of Theresa May who cost herself votes and seats with the proposed dimentia tax. Once the U-turn on that was done the words 'strong and stable' vanished from her campaign
SW-User
@SW-User sorry slip of fingers on the date you're right I meant 2017
SW-User
@SW-User I'm not writing off Jeremy Corbyn but he needs to re-connect with Labour voters and taking a Brexit neutral position in an election that will be Brexit dominated could cost his party seats in the heartlands that voted overwhelmingly to leave.

A poor election result could see a change in labour leadership with the vultures like Hilary Benn , Owen Smith and Yvette Cooper circling.

But the same could be said for the conservatives. A bad result for them could spell the end for Johnson and step forward Andrea Leadsom , Dominion Raab and heaven forbid Esther McVey
SW-User
@SW-User I don't disagree. I thought conference got that wrong being neutral. But to be fair to Labour what they have fought for in the commons was what they previously promised in the 2017 manifesto ie orderly exit with maintaining workers rights, environmental protections and free trade.

Not Owen I used to work with him. He never had a Welsh accent when working for a USA pharmaceutical company lol. Typical politician...
SW-User
@SW-User He's always fancied himself as a possible leader but would not have huge support from the party membership. Starmer would throw his hat in the ring as would Emily Thornberry. But , as has been proved in the past , it's not always the favourite that wins. David Milliband was almost a shoe-in to replace Gordon Brown and lost to his brother. And Jeremy Corbyn stormed in from nowhere to replace Ed Milliband. So who knows?

I can't wait for it all to get started
SW-User
@SW-User Thornberry would be good just because it's somewhat more than ironic that Labour (the party of equal rights, comrades) still has never had a female leader.....
🎼 We'll keep the red flag flying here (as long as a white man is holding it 🤦‍♂️)
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.