Andrew’s entire political career has focused on Euroscepticism. The Referendum result was manna from Heaven for him. It’s been downhill ever since. He quickly discovered that ‘Brexit means Brexit’ is meaningless in the hands of Theresa May. She’s a Machiavellian politician who’s quite prepared to split the Conservative Party into bite sized chunks to maintain power. Theresa is leading us into Brexit-in-name-only. Theresa’s Conservative party isn’t that of Andrew. Who will crack first?

Theresa postponed the Meaningful Vote on Brexit because it was doomed. Andrew is faced by the certainty that his life’s work is crushed. He already knows that British independence has gone for ever. But what’s worse is that his position is scorned within parliament. The No Deal WTO solution has been written off and the alternatives are grim. The Norway option includes payments to the EU, plus free movement of labour. Canada+ is hopelessly complex and a transition deal could last for decades. Meanwhile the Irish Backstop is a constitutional prison cell.

Andrew isn’t alone. There are other like-minded Conservatives who agree with him. Is it possible that the outcome of all of this will be a Conservative Party Mark 2? Andrew has a huge majority but how much is personal or will he be a Brexit martyr? Does he fancy martyrdom or is he addicted to parliamentary air miles and the good life?

Julia was selected for the safe Conservative seat of Hornchurch and Upminster knowing it was solidly Eurosceptic. The 23^rd June, 2016 Referendum forced the government to negotiate withdrawal from the EU. Julia, as a student of political thought from Cambridge University, relished the prospect of putting theory into action. However Theresa May had lost her leadership skills when implementing the Referendum. Immediately Julia knew this wasn’t a ‘strong and stable’ government and that her Brexit ideal was threatened.

Her speech began:

I recall, not long after the Chequers plan was announced, looking across the Chamber during Prime Minister’s questions and feeling a terrible sense of dread as I realised that the moment of reckoning was coming that could see this House completely out of step with the wishes of the British people. That moment is now upon us, with each and every parliamentarian facing a choice that could profoundly influence trust and faith in our democracy.¹

Julia’s speech denounced the EU, the centralising power of the Euro and British politicians using Brussels as a get-out clause for their own failures. Julia’s speech didn’t discuss the economic consequences of withdrawal from the EU, which economists assume will result in us all being poorer. Julia’s argument is purely political. Britain should ‘take control’ of its destiny in her view. The speech is academic and entirely unworldly. Hornchurch and Upminster has a large number of people reliant on the City of London’s financial centre. They might prefer an MP in tune with reality.

1 For the full speech https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2018-12-06/debates/6DF8A870-48CC-4304-9051-564F94D74E88/EuropeanUnion(Withdrawal)Act col 1166 following

Chris

Local democracy depends on decision makers being scrutinised. This used to be done by local newspapers many of which had political reporters. They attended council, committee meetings and sundry other events of local importance. None of this now happens. London Borough of Havering isn’t exceptional in this regard.

 

The point of this blog is to make a small contribution to local democracy by writing about local politics and politicians.

Chris