Where are we on Brexit, Part 3,141,527

[andrewducker]

(As usual, a collection of my current understandings. Where I'm wrong, let me know.)

Labour MPs are mostly willing to vote against No Deal. Conservatives have a fair number of MPs willing to vote against No Deal (although by no means a majority). Lib Dems, SNP, Green, PC, ChangeUK are universally against No Deal.

Labour's approach to avoiding No Deal is a Vote Of No Confidence, followed by a government of national unity with Jeremy Corbyn in charge of it.
Various of the parties are completely behind this. Lib Dems have said sure, if you have the votes. But you don't, because most of the Conservative Rebels, and none of ChangeUK are going to back a Jeremy Corbyn government. Which means it can't gain power.

The Lib Dems propose Ken Clarke or Harriet Harman instead, as the "Father" and "Mother" of the house (longest serving male and female MP, who have a fair bit of long-running respect from all sides, and aren't likely to go power-mad). Whether there are enough votes to support _them_ is an unanswered question.

So, a lot of agreement that Boris has to go, no agreement as to who replaces him. This is all opening salvo, of course. There's plenty of time for agreement to be found, if it's findable.

And this is not the only way forward. MPs previously passed a motion forcing Theresa May to extend the deadline. They can do so again even if they don't bring in a new MP. The Lib Dems are in favour of this. Jeremy Corbyn is willing to back it.

As to _how_ MPs can take power back (again), here's a brief explainer.

Comments

[drplokta]

Parliament can’t force a deadline extension. They can force the PM to request an extension, but they can’t force the EU to grant the request.

[andrewducker]

Oh yes. Forgot to stick that in.

We'll need a reason. (like an election or a referendum)

[miss_s_b]

That seems reasonably accurate.

Of course passing a motion to ask for a deadline extension doesn't mean we'll get one: Europe only gave us one last time with the proviso that we use the time wisely and not waste it, and I don't think we fulfilled that condition...

[andrewducker]

Not even slightly

[miss_s_b]

* snuggles dogs a little more *

[cmcmck]

Wonders if Bojo will try to pull the Cromwell trick- but he'd need the army behind him to get away with that...........

[drplokta]

In this scenario, BoJo is Charles II, not Cromwell. He is wielding the power of the executive, not of the legislature. If anyone is Cromwell, it's John Bercow.

[simont]

I've only just noticed there's a 9 missing from your subject line :-)

[andrewducker]

Yeah, I felt pretty dumb when it was pointed out to me!

[mair_in_grenderich]

In fact, last time, MPs passed a motion forcing Theresa May to *request* a deadline extension to a given date.

The motion didn't force her to *accept* what was offered by the EU (which was a different date).

Can MPs force the PM to *accept* a deadline offered by the EU, particularly if it isn't what was requested?

[andrewducker]

MPs can pass a law saying anything they like.
And then it's the law.

(Subject to international treaties and other laws it may clash with, of course)

[mair_in_grenderich]

Well, I hope they do