Post by PamelaPost by Norman WellsPost by PamelaPost by Norman WellsPost by The TodalPost by OmegaAt this moment, Yahoo news is reporting, Boris will definitely not
ask Brussels for a further extension even though it may put him in gaol.
Simultaneously the BBC news site report, the government has said it
will not break the law.
How the hell are lay people to know what the hell is going on?
omega
Thank heavens that there is a solution to the conundrum. The letter
will be signed, certainly, but by someone other than Boris Johnson.
The Foreign Secretary? The Brexit Secretary? The Queen's Secretary?
The Groom of the Stool?
The Bill (https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/lbill/2017-
2019/0202/lbill_2017-20190202_en_2.htm#l1g1) specifies that unless a
deal has been agreed and backed by Parliament or Parliament has
backed "no deal", the "Prime Minister" specifically must seek the
extension by the end of the 19th October. Looking at the required
wording of the letter they've clearly tried to prevent someone else
from signing it other than the PM.
No-one else is empowered to sign it anyway. It has to come from the
departing state, which means no-one else but the PM.
But I also wonder what happens if Boris resigns as PM at 23:59 on the
19th October? Has he broken the law if a new PM isn't in place to
send the letter by 23:59 and 59 seconds?
He resigns on 18 October without signing the letter. There then
follows a Conservative Party leadership election taking until early
November, leaving the country without a Prime Minister to sign the
extension letter until after we've left when it will be too late. He
stands in that leadership election, possibly by arrangement as the
only candidate, retains his position with the enviable support he
received when he was appointed the first time, and again becomes Prime
Minister as the leader of the largest party in the Commons.
Once back in post, he calls a general election which Labour would not
then have any Brexit excuse to refuse, hoovers up all the Brexit Party
votes, and cruises to victory over a divided opposition which then,
rather uncomfortably, has to reposition itself as re-join rather than
remain parties.
You must have had a bad day to propose that addled nonsense. It fail
son many counts.
(1) It has been established that a deputy can sign the agreement if the
PM flees from his responsibility by refusing or resigning.
Not when the law is absolutely specific, as it is.
Which law? I'm sure there are pefectly good arrangemnts for a stand-in
when a PM falls sick or can't do his duties for some reason and the new
Act doesnt say Boris can't be substituted.
Post by Norman WellsPost by Pamela(2) Boris's return in the position of PM is not assured simply on
account of heading the largest party. It doesn't work like that. If
other parties, who are now working ever closer to prevent Boris's
sabotage, nominate an alternative then that person becomes PM.
Who is that going to be then? How much support will he or she be able
to muster, and what formal agreements will be put in place to ensure a
majority in the Commons and the ability to govern? Do please give your
calculations and time scale.
The details wil be worked out over the next few weeks.
Isn't absolute faith wonderful? It must be so comforting for you.
Post by PamelaThe impetus to get
this right is growing as it become clearer a replacement PM can be
appointed without an election. The opposiiton parties have been working
together to deny Boris an early election and this will be on their agenda.
Oh, they know what they don't want all right but, just like Parliament
itself, they have no idea of what they do want or how to go about it.
Post by PamelaPost by Norman WellsPost by Pamela(3) Corbyn doesn't need a "Brexit excuse" not to support the
government's call for an election under the FTPA. If Corbyn thinks the
good of the country in the long term is better served by not calling
for an election then he will do just that.
A general election is required for a functioning government. Everyone
knows that. Only Corbyn is standing in its way, and the electorate will
rapidly get fed up with his obstruction and prevarication.
A general election is not required for a functioning government.
Of course it is. Even that nice Mr Coprbyn thinks it is:
"When a government finds itself without a majority, the solution is not
to undermine dedmocracy. The solution is to let the people decide and
call a general election. It is the people, not an unelected Prime
Minister, who should determine our country's future. An election is the
democratic way forward."
Post by PamelaHowever
a new PM who appoints a new government will gets things back to normal.
But any new PM needs to be able to command a majority in the Commons.
That's mathematically impossible in the current Parliament as it's
constituted, so we need a general election to churn it about a bit.
Post by PamelaPost by Norman WellsPost by Pamela(4) The Brexit party splits the Tory vote, not augments it. Boris
does not gain any votes while they are fielding candidates.
BUt they won't once we've left the EU with no deal, which is the
scenario. They will have achieved everything they stand for. And
Farage has said in such circumstances that he would give Boris his full
support. So, Boris will get the vast majority of the Brexit Party's
votes while the remain parties remain irreconcilably split.
Sorry to break this to you but your premise that there will be a No Deal
exit is misplaced. No Deal goes against "smooth and orderly departure" in
the Tory manifesto,
Not necessarily. Anyway, can you tell us please on which page of the
manifesto that pledge is made? I don't seem able to find it.
Post by Pamelathere's insufficient support for No Deal in Parliament,
There's insufficient support for *anything* in Parliament. That's what
all the indicative votes in March established.
Post by Pamelathere's litle more than 20% support for it in the country
Cite?
Post by Pamelaand the new Act prevents it.
No it doesn't. It can't because it's not completely in our hands.
Get over what?