Statement of the Obvious

The Guardian reports that the Speaker the House of Commons John Bercow has thrown his weight behind campaigners who wish to see a second referendum on Brexit.

Now given that Leave voters made it very clear that if the result of the referendum had gone the other way, they would have been out campaigning again the very next day - Beercow's comments seem like a statement of the obvious, if you ask me.

Especially as no one voted for this nonsense of a 'hard' Brexit in which the UK inflicts huge damage on the economy by leaving the EU's Single Market and the Customs Union.

  

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/jan/20/voters-should-be-able-to-change-their-minds-on-referendums-says-speaker?


Referendum voters should be able to change their minds, says John Bercow

Commons Speaker says people on the losing side do not have to accept their case is lost for ever

By Rowena Mason - The Guardian


John Bercow, the Commons Speaker, has warned democracy is under threat and said those on the wrong side of a referendum result do not have to accept their case has been lost forever, in remarks welcomed by campaigners for people’s right to change their mind on Brexit.

The Speaker is duty-bound to remain neutral on political issues, but his comments appeared to make a thinly veiled reference to the EU referendum, defending the right for people to argue for a second vote.

He made the speech at a reception on Thursday for Operation Black Vote in the House of Commons, where he warned there were “threats to representative democracy that should concern us”.

“Democracy is not just about one vote once every five years or one vote once on a particular issue causing all argument on that matter to be considered legitimately shut down,” he said.

“That is not the way democracy works. Democracy is a dynamic concept. People who are on the losing side are not obliged to accept that their view has been lost for ever and they are perfectly entitled to continue to argue for it.”

His suggestion that political issues are not always settled by “one vote once” is likely to please those pushing for another referendum on the EU and annoy Brexit supporters, who argue the government must respect the June 2016 result.

Labour and Brexit (19/01/18)

48 Labour MPs rebelled against the Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn (a serial rebel himself) whose softly, softly tactics in the House of Commons are paving the way for the Conservative Government to impose a hard Brexit.

Meanwhile 87% of Labour Party members support continued membership of the EU Single Market and 78% of party members support a second referendum on the final Brexit terms.

Corbyn needs to wake up and start practising what he preaches by listening to the views of ordinary party members rather than his own kitchen cabinet. 

  

https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/political-parties/labour-party/jeremy-corbyn/news/92145/jeremy-corbyn-hit-fresh-brexit?

Jeremy Corbyn hit by fresh Brexit rebellion as Labour MPs defy whip on single market

By Emilio Casalicchio - Politics Home

Jeremy Corbyn was hit by a fresh Brexit rebellion tonight as dozens of Labour MPs backed calls to keep the UK in the single market and customs union after it quits the EU.

Like the Tories, Jeremy Corbyn has insisted the UK must quit the single market and customs union after Brexit - Credit: PA Images

A cross-party amendment to the Government’s flagship EU Withdrawal Bill was rejected by the Commons by 322 votes to 99.

But some 48 Labour MPs voted for it against the orders of their party leader to abstain.

EXCL Jeremy Corbyn facing rebellion as Labour MPs launch bid to keep UK in customs union

SNP chief brands Jeremy Corbyn 'utterly pathetic' over Brexit stance

Dozens of Labour councillors call on Jeremy Corbyn to pledge Brexit rethink

Mr Corbyn suffered a similar rebellion in December when some 64 Labour MPs backed a separate bid to keep the UK in the customs union after Brexit.

One of tonight's rebels, former Shadow Chancellor Chris Leslie, said: "There’s a growing number of Labour colleagues who feel so strongly about the threat of Brexit austerity that they will - with regret - break the whip to defend the interests of their constituents. When it comes to the single market I hope our frontbench will get off the fence before long."

The single market amendment tonight - during the report stage of the bill - was tabled by SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford and was backed by the Lib Dems and Greens.

SNP MP Peter Grant said: "Today was a huge test for Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour party – and they failed miserably. Instead of voting with the SNP to prevent a devastating hard Brexit, Labour instead chose to sit on the sidelines, allowing the Tories to edge ever closer to the cliff-edge – putting the jobs, incomes, and living standards of millions of people at risk."

Like the Tories, Mr Corbyn has insisted the UK must quit the single market and customs union after Brexit, although he has said Labour wants Britain to maintain tariff-free access to the European market.

The Labour leader faces a battle within his own party on the issue - with 87% of Labour members wanting to remain in the single market according to a recent YouGov poll.

The Government won every vote tonight and a set of amendments tabled by ministers went through without a vote as the EU Withdrawal Bill faced its latest parliamentary hurdle.

Brexit Secretary David Davis said: "From the beginning our approach has been to work constructively with MPs from across the House wherever possible to improve the bill.

"This is a critical piece of legislation that aims to maximise certainty for individuals and businesses after our exit.

"We are looking forward to working with peers as the bill enters its next stage of scrutiny in the House of Lords at the end of this month."