There does seem to be a certain misunderstanding among some senior Tories about the rage that is driving the Brexit Party. Sure, there are those simply preferring what they’ve always preferred. Let’s leave, leave now and bugger J-C J and all who drink with him. But that isn’t all, that isn’t all by a long shot. There’s a very definite rage in the background there too.
The thing being that people – some to many – are pissed off with being dicked around. The last two and a half years have been spent negotiating so badly that it can only be by insistence not chance. And we Brits – perhaps the English more – do tend to take quite badly being illtreated. Hey, the universe doesn’t go our way, ah, well. The other blokes won did they? Well, that’s democracy.
Hmm, we’ve given you your instructions and you’ve pissed all the opportunities to gain it up the wall? Are you trying to defy us? Ah, you are?
I do not say this is everyone but I do indeed say it’s some. As Nigel has pointed out in his radio show:
[perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]On his LBC phone-in Nigel Farage, the Brexit party leader, has just claimed that remain voters will be among those voting for his party. One of his candidates even voted remain, he said. He said that was because people were supporting the party because they supported the principle that the referendum result should be honoured.[/perfectpullquote]Yep. You asked, we told, whaddayameanyourenotgoingtodoit?
Which brings us to this:
[perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]In my judgment, we are going to have to come to an accommodation with the Brexit party. The Conservatives, as a Brexit party again, being very clear about their objectives, are almost certainly going to have to go into some kind of electoral arrangement with the Brexit party, otherwise Brexit doesn’t happen.[/perfectpullquote]The thing is Sir Crispin. What makes you think the Brexit Party wants a tie up with the Tories? For a significant section of the first party actually are Tories, they just don’t think you are any more.
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It seems more than possible that if there were a GE The Brexit Party might choose to come to an arrangement with the last few remaining Tories, rather than vice versa.
And Farage was right, I was a remain voter and will probably be voting for the Brexit party.. We just need to pull the plaster off fast and get on with it. There will be pain, there will be periods of instability and issues, but in the long run it really isn't going to make all that much economic difference. By far the worse position is what labour is proposing and the conservatives seem to be swaying with - being half in and half out, although the only thing Labour seem to be want to be out of is the decision making process.
I can see the benefits for the Tories, but what are they for TBP?
If it were me, I would announce that TBP will not stand against Brexiteers that leave their respective parties and stand as independents (NB stand in an election, not just do a Soubry)
They need to be separated from the fetid embrace of their own party organisation
Conservatives who are by majority leavers are led by a remainer, the Labour Party is predominately remain but is led by a leaver. No wonder they can't cobble together a fudge deal for a pretend Brexit.
Meanwhile a party of leavers, with a few democratically orientated remainers, is led by an increasingly skilful leaver.
What deal could The Brexit Party make? A very clever one, offer not to stand MPs at a GE if the incumbent is a true Brexit supporter, irrespective of party. A even handed approach that won't let the Tories off the hook nor alienate the Labour heartlands that are within The Brexit Party's grasp.
The reds and the blues are so habituated to fighting each other, often over illusory turf, that they still don't grasp that a different hue can attract both their core votes. That hue is going to win 23rd May and things are going to change.
In Labour seats, you need to have a Brexit Party candidate and the Tories stand aside. That would maximise votes for any alliance.
But really the ERG and others need to bite the bullet and defect. Many Leaver Tory MPs are in marginal seats, so they are the ones who will suffer if they do not.
The danger of that strategy is that by allying with the Tories many possible Labour voters (or even with the way things are going Tory ones) might be put off The Brexit Party.
Let's see.
After having decades to check out possible leaders the PCP used its judgement and chose May.
After a GE in which it became clear that the country thought her little better than Corbyn they stuck with their choice.
After numerous ministers walked out of her government they stuck with their choice.
After May's central policy was voted down they stuck to their choice.
After it had been voted down a second time they reaffirmed their choice.
Either May is indeed the best they've got in which case they all deserve to be out of public life.
Or the majority of Tories have appalling judgement in which case they deserve to be out of office.
And that is being charitable.
Finally if it necessary to form a new party and get it to dominate the polls before you can get the Tories to take your point of view on board it seems simpler to just continue with the new party. I don't suppose there's anyone willing and able to start a new party every time the Tories decide not to carry out their promises.
Hopefully some of those Tory MPs who have shown good judgement will eventually join the new party. And a few Labour MPs similarly.
We were threatened with the plagues of Egypt and still voted to leave. No one voted for ‘a deal’, but to leave. Rather than accept May’s deal or some half-arsed compromise cobbled together with Labour I’d vote to stay, to revoke Article 50 – it’s clean break or stay. So bugger the frogs and boils and locusts and vote Brexit Party next week. You know it makes sense.
I'm watching Politics Live on the BBC. There's an election in eight days, and they have a tory, a labour and a SNP talking head discussing Brexit. What's missing? Is it legal in terms of BBC balance?
Incidentally none of those parties have changed their polic ies. The tory wants the WA, labour is on the fence, the scotnat wants remain. No change, coulda seen it six months ago.
There's an election on in eight days and the BBC is hushing it up. Democracy be damned.