Andrew Rosindell’s Problem

Andrew rebelled over Theresa May’s Brexit negotiations. He joined the European Research Group (ERG) with Julia Lopez to force a change.¹Then Covid-19 struck. Once again he rebelled as successive lockdowns were inflicted. Restrictions are probably going to be extended missing the 21^st June target date.

Andrew has been disappointed by Conservative prime ministers twice. He said in parliament, “….I cannot justify…a fundamental assault on….liberties and livelihoods. Removing people’s most fundamental rights and freedoms and confining them to their homes is a political decision.” (my emphasis)²Andrew objected to Johnson’s focus on Covid-19. He said other illnesses were neglected causing untold harm.

Johnson sacked him, “Romford MP Andrew Rosindell….called his sacking “counterproductive and bizarre” as he hit out at Mr Johnson in a Twitter rant. Over the past week he has been highly critical of the Prime Minister’s three tier lockdown plan, which he said would inflict huge damage on the economy and people’s mental health.”³

Andrew believed in Johnson and has been disappointed. Johnson’s sell-out Brexit deal has left agriculture, fishing, northern Ireland and Wales in total disarray.⁴ Meanwhile Covid-19 has shown him at his dithering (corrupt?) worst. Johnson has out-sourced policy to advisors to Andrew’s dismay.

How much more can he take?

1 See Andrew Rosindell MP, Romford – TheyWorkForYou See Julia Lopez MP, Hornchurch and Upminster – TheyWorkForYou She joined ERG as a career move, like Johnson.

2 Selected Quotes: Covid-19 Debate 6th January 2021 | Odeboyz’s Blog (oedeboyz.com)

3 Boris Johnson sacks Tory MP Andrew Rosindell for voting against new COVID restrictions | Politics | News | Express.co.uk

4 There are question marks about the damage Johnson’s Brexit deal has caused to the city of London and thousands of Havering jobs.

Hornchurch and Upminster’s MP: Julia Lopez

Julia Lopez’s political career began with her strutting along Downing Street with ‘secret’ papers. Eager photographers who’d been tipped off, zoomed in, making her front page news. Her reward was Hornchurch and Upminster. She’s held it since 2017.

Julia joined the extremist European Research Group (ERG) in parliament. This ideological group had an ‘all or nothing’ view of Brexit. In pursuit of their goals they wrecked Theresa May’s career and Johnson succeeded her. He won in December, 2019 with the slogan Get Brexit Done. Regardless of this, Johnson doesn’t have a Brexit implementation plan and negotiations have stalled. Unless Julia is a True Believer in the ERG view of Brexit, she may be dismayed by this outcome.

Julia became a minister in 2020 and in a Brexit related speech said Britain had a“bright future.” She explained how stalled negotiations would lead to her desired ‘No Deal’.

“As the Prime Minister has set out, there needs to be an agreement with the EU by the time of the European Council meeting on 15 October in order for it to be in force before the end of the transition period on 31 December. By then, if there is no agreement, there will not be a free trade agreement.”** (my emphasis)

(Her statement is ministerial hogwash as negotiations continue as of 14th November, 2020).

Julia’s political career began with brazen opportunism. She’s progressed from destroying Theresa May’s career to ministerial office. Now she’s faced by the 1st January, 2021 cliff edge, where there will, according to Julia, be a “bright future.” Let’s hope her careerism isn’t paid for by the people of Hornchurch and Upminster in higher food prices and delayed medicines.

Notes

* For Julia Dockerill’s (Lopez) ‘accidental-on-purpose’ revelations see https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3979302/No-single-market-Norway-style-deal-Extraordinary-blunder-Downing-Street-FINALLY-gives-glimpse-government-s-Brexit-tactics.html

** Parliamentary speech 5th October 2020

https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2020-10-05/debates/915A231C-FE1E-4E7D-A512-060DB8C10F94/details#contribution-2C65C14D-9F0F-4702-B1EC-818A76D41055

Sources

https://www.julialopez.co.uk/news

Relevant blogs from the archive

Havering MP: Julia Lopez: the Brexit Debate, 6th December, 2018

Havering’s Brexit MPs: Are They Conservatives?

Andrew Rosindell, Julia Lopez and Nigel Farage: Three Peas, One Pod

Damian White: an unlucky general?

Napoleon famously preferred lucky generals. A lucky general ruthlessly exploits an advantage for victory. Or, if disadvantaged he retrieves the situation. Napoleon didn’t like generals who squandered advantages.

Damian was triumphant in 2018. Romford’s Conservative heartlands provided a core of councillors but not a majority. He was prepared for this eventuality. Three Harold Wood Resident Association (RA) councillors were squared off and came on board. A further coup enticed Michael Deon Burton (RA) into the Conservative fold. Sally Miller (RA) followed Michael.

Damian was lucky with his opponents who are a splintered opposition. He controlled the agenda without a majority. The political sun shone on Damian in 2018.

Unfortunately Damian caught a nasty dose of hubris.

Damian doesn’t do ‘arm round the shoulder’ TLC. He should. Stomping on people’s finer feelings is fun but usually rebounds. Bob Perry’s expert, unpleasant and notorious secret recording of Damian’s bragging about his political genius was a coup. Bob’s recording added to Damian’s own goals and may have given other Conservative councillors ideas. Will he ever speak freely again?

Damian’s personal decision to get the council to invest £14.7M for the Marks and Spencer site wasn’t a great idea. The Covid-19 pandemic has made it a disaster.* As an ardent Brexiteer, Damian loved Nigel Farage’s simplicities. Unfortunately Farage’s fantasy world included ‘fighting’ every Labour seat in 2019. Damian lost the Dagenham and Rainham seat because of him. Damian’s bad luck means his future comprises of soft soaping Conservative councillors in order to prevent mutiny.

Note

* The charges for this investment are about £500,000 p.a.