A flurry of Brexit activity

'A government that cannot get its business through the House of Commons is no government at all'- Jeremy Corbyn, speaking in Wakefield, 10 January 2019

The whirlwind start to 2019 continues. Everyone had just caught their breath after the steep rise in train fares, but suddenly the Houses of Parliament stirs into life. The general public would have every right to direct some anger towards the government by deciding to engage in some political shenanigans just as everyone is getting back to work, but this should cause relief rather than anguish. Apparently, believe it or not, there's going to be a vote- a big vote. The biggest vote of the year if a sudden general election can be avoided. Next week shall see MPs vote on Theresa May's Brexit deal. It's happening.

Let's wrap up this Brexit debate, shall we?

Tuesday 15 January will be the day that British MPs come together and determine whether or not the Prime Minister's Brexit deal is actually worth it or not. There was supposed to be a vote last month, but with defeat staring her squarely in the face May called it all off. In a way, it's just like when you're playing football as a kid and, after some dubious decisions, the guy who brought the ball along gets stroppy and goes home. The others look on in shock as their mate turns on his heels and trots off home to vent to his mother over a plate of chicken nuggets. It's a bit of a stretch, especially as it is a mystery whether Theresa likes chicken nuggets or not.

Although it would be a good post in the future to assess if prominent politicians enjoy breaded lumps of what is mostly chicken, but for now let's not get side-tracked. The previous vote had been scheduled for 11 December, but Theresa's snap decision to go back to Brussels to ask for changes on the Brexit deal meant it was called off. It was met, understandably, with mass uproar, especially as European Council President Donald Tusk already said there would be no renegotiation. Chairman Corbyn blasted the PM for 'losing control of events', House of Commons Speaker John Bercow called the whole ordeal 'regrettable' and Labour MP for Brighton Kemptown Lloyd Russell-Moyle tried to run off with the ceremonial mace. What a palaver.

This will be a great conversation piece in the living room

May can't hop on over to Belgium this time around, even if defeat is staring at her squarely in the face. With more than 200 MPs writing a letter to the PM and urging her not to settle for a no-deal Brexit, the voices of opposition can't be ignored no matter which side of the Channel she is on. Indeed, the letter was organised between Tory Dame Caroline Spelman and Labour MP Jack Dromey, showing an opposition that now crosses over party boundaries. A two way front is a terrifying thing to face; history has done a fine job at telling us that.

Oh Hitler

7 January saw Operation Brock, in which a convoy of 89 travelled from Ramsgate to Kent, being conducted to test potential traffic levels if the UK was left with a no-deal Brexit. Seems a little late to only be considering the result of disastrous negotiations would have on British transportation now with the country expected to leave by the end of March 2019. Also, 89 lorries seems like too small a convoy to get an accurate result- goodness, this just keeps getting worse.

I'm already scared

The vote next Tuesday is make or break time (again) for the Conservative government. An attempted coup last month was defeated by Theresa, much to the surprise and anguish of the slightly left-leaning curator of 'Absolute Shambles' that was enjoying a work trip in Sarajevo, but this vote will be another chapter in her turbulent career as Prime Minister. Speaking to Andrew Marr, May warned of entering 'uncharted territory' if MPs reject the deal, adding to her claims last year that it was either her way or no way in regards to Brexit. Playing hardball is fine and dandy, but when no-one appears to be happy about anything the government does with Brexit it's quite a weak threat. At least Theresa has her dancing skills to fall back on.

This GIF must never be forgotten

What makes the mounting opposition even more formidable is that the DUP, part of the coalition that ensured a Conservative victory in the general election of 2017, are outraged over the whole issue of the Irish backstop. The DUP's Westminster leader Nigel Dodds declared that the deal 'flies in the face' of May's previous commitments to Northern Ireland as fears rise of the backstop being more than a temporary fixture. The whole issue over a hard border and future trade possibilities is an extremely convoluted issue; one that would surely leave any readers of this post on the verge of a sudden death caused by boredom. To make matters worse, May's own party aren't wholly committed to the deal, as proved by Spelman and her letter. A planned 'charm offensive', much like Operation Brock, may just be too little too late.

The things people do for power

Just when you thought the wheels on the Tory bus could not be closer to coming off and spinning down the road of austerity, a minor rebellion occurred in Parliament on 8 January. Sadly, it wasn't on the same levels as Wat Tyler and the Peasant's Revolt, but it still caused one hell of a shock. 20 senior Tory MPs voted in favour of an amendment to the Finance Bill which would limit the government's powers of implementing tax changes if there was no Brexit deal. 'Good Lord! What a way to stick it to the system!' is surely what you are saying right now, and you would be quite right in doing so. The fact that these figures, some of which were former Cabinet ministers, went against party lines to defy Theresa shows a clear message that a no-deal Brexit is not the outcome they want.

The amendment was raised by Labour MP for Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford Yvette Cooper, meaning that this rebellion is once again a sign of cross-party collaboration in stopping the chance of a no-deal Brexit. It appears that May and her government face opposition from all sides, especially when public opinion is added to the mixture. YouGov have run multiple polls on whether the public supports the deal or not, with 'support' always being the runner-up. As the public becomes increasingly frustrated at the inability for anyone to decide on what to do next, there is growing support for a 'people's vote' on whether the deal should be enacted or not. It's already established that Brexit is a certified ball buster and is a drag for the British people, and all the latest developments don't help this one bit.

That's one hell of a flash mob

Much like a bus on a Sunday, news on Brexit was thin on the ground and then suddenly you are swamped. Rebel Tories and Labour once more defeated the government in a House of Commons vote, this time forcing May to announce revised plans within three days if her deal is rejected in next week's vote. Now the door is open to alternative options, such as a 'managed no-deal', another referendum or perhaps the pursuit of a 'Norway option'. Bercow agreed to the amendment and caused a stir after defying advice from officials in a move that he called an 'honest judgement'. The day after, he stood his ground and declared that he '[required] no lessons or lectures' on how to do his job. He may act like an arse half the time, but John Bercow has done MPs a favour by allowing them to voice their concerns over May's Brexit plans.

When you get caught adhering to the majority in Parliament

Chairman Corbyn continues to demand an election to be called to break the Brexit 'deadlock', standing firm over Labour's plans to vote against the deal next Tuesday. Another defeat would surely send us all down the road of a general election and give Corbyn the chance to begin a motion of no confidence; the third election in the space of 4 years. Theresa is trying to weather the storm by considering the proposals of Labour MP for Bassetlaw John Mann to protect workers and the environment once the UK's Brexit future is determined. Business Secretary Greg Clarke called it a sign of 'Parliament coming together' to back the PM, but we all know that this is a desperate move. The sands of time now appear to be running out on Theresa and her government.

You'd be pulling that face if you were in her shoes

The TV screen that cycles through various work/ general tiles, once a tool to mock employees on the incoming Christmas festivities, has supplied plenty of rolling updates on the latest Brexit shenanigans. Every time the eyes of this humble blogger looked away from his screen there would be another story on how the government were doing their best not to screw everyone over as Brexit negotiations rumble on. Unfortunately, Theresa is not rumbling on and is instead held up by rebels in her own party, the Opposition and the general public. Comparisons are already being made between the likely result of the Tuesday vote and the recent match between Manchester City and Burton Albion, with the government playing the part of the League One side and Parliament being the Premier League giant. It finished 9-0 to City, by the way.

It's an apt comparison

No matter what Theresa does, including meeting two leaders of prominent British trade unions on 10 January, or having Japanese PM Shinzo Abe pledging 'total support' to her plan, it seems that the vote will be a crushing defeat for Theresa May. It will be the perfect excuse for ambitious party members to once more call for her head, as well as give Jeremy Corbyn further evidence to show the failings of the May regime. The general public are sure to roll their eyes in frustration once more over nobody's ability to agree on anything. If only we all knew that leaving the EU would cause such a mess. Let's just go chill with a new continent and leave Europe far behind us. Think that would be a better outcome than a no-deal Brexit.

Lush

Ben G 😁 xo