For anyone who’s confused by some of the names used in this column, like any good film the cast list is at the end.

 

‘And I can see there’s something wrong with you, But what do you expect me to do’? 1

 

But where was Tsar Boris? He stayed for the pollock served at lunch during this week’s EU summit in Luxembourg but avoided the press conference allowing the Luxembourg PM his moment in the sun.

His grandstanding led to much derision in the British press, so much so that I feared that it might be the Falklands Mk. II until they realised that Luxembourg is landlocked and therefore the Royal Navy wouldn’t be of much use!

‘derision in the British press, so much so that I feared that it might be the Falklands Mk. II’

By way of follow-up, the EU expects our written proposal by month-end. In response, the rat pack has refused to commit to tabling its Brexit plans for replacing the Irish backstop by the required date, branding it an ‘artificial deadline’ and agreeing only to share informal ‘non-papers’ on its preferred solutions.

With time running out, Stephen Barclay (aka ‘The Banker’), the Brexit secretary, said that the ‘purist’ EU would have to ‘take risks’ with the Irish border for a deal to be struck.

Speaking to business leaders in Madrid, he said: ‘A rigid approach now at this point is no way to progress a deal and the responsibility sits with both sides to find a solution. We are committed to carving out a landing zone and we stand ready to share relevant texts. But it must be in the spirit of negotiation with flexibility and with a negotiating partner that itself is willing to compromise.’

Of course, Brexit wouldn’t be Brexit for the rat pack without a threat to break the law and ignore parliament, and the Banker didn’t disappoint, insisting that, irrespective of the Benn bill, which instructs the prime minister to seek and agree an extension of the UK’s membership of the EU beyond 31 October if a deal is not agreed, that this was ‘not an option for this government’.

‘Brexit wouldn’t be Brexit for the rat pack without a threat to break the law’

Which brings me, rather neatly, to one of this week’s main themes; the rat pack’s apparent lack of respect for both parliament and the law. In a recent interview with the Mail on Sunday, Tsar Boris stated that if he to get a new Brexit deal with the EU, he will simply ignore the legislation requiring him to seek an article 50 extension.

The Tsar’s version of the Conservative party subscribes to a fundamentalist vision of Brexit, non-believers can be expelled, whilst believers are free to mock Muslim women in religious clothing as ‘letterboxes’ or ‘bank robbers’.

The law, always a key tenet for the party, is now simply a tool for maintaining order on the streets, particularly useful when there are food riots after the fundamentalists hard Brexit when are all starving. Whilst, as a member of the rat pack, the law is voluntary and fit for purpose only when and if it suits

‘believers are free to mock Muslim women in religious clothing as ‘letterboxes’ or ‘bank robbers’’

As for legislation, it can be considered but, never forget, it’s produced by parliament, the enemy of ‘the people’. The alternative, prorogation, is a truly wonderous option, that overcome those unbelievers, the irritatingly selfless 21 Tory rebels, who were prepared to sacrifice their careers, and decades-long bonds of allegiance, to stop Tsar Boris taking the righteous road to Brexit.

Furthermore, if, the Supreme Court rules that the Tsar’s prorogation of parliament was nothing more than cynical, unjustified and dishonest but not ultimately illegal, parliament can remain shut and the whole process of government is dismantled at a stroke.

No trite departmental questions that might expose gaps in no-deal preparations, no select committees to hear evidence, no urgent questions. MPs will have lost control as, with parliament not sitting, they cannot table a vote of no confidence in the government.  The Tsar’s majority c.-43 becomes an irrelevance, no more than an irritation.

Better still, should the Supreme Court rule that prorogation is legal, what’s to stop the Tsar shutting parliament for another two weeks, taking him past the no-deal deadline? He could then defy the law by refusing to apply for an EU extension, because there is no one to enforce the law. The courts cannot remove him from office, Grieve has no army, the only mechanism, a no-confidence vote, cannot be exercised if parliament is closed.

And this is supposed to be the UK, the benchmark for parliamentary democracy. The chattering classes in the Daily Mail who, if this was another country would be tut-tutting, warmly applaud the Tsar is his victory for ‘the people’.

 

‘You know there once was freedom, You know how dangerous that can be’ 2

 

But let us hope and pray that common sense, decency, and respect for parliament and the law prevail, in which case we are headed for a general election, and the pollsters are already warming-up.

One of the beneficiaries of this election could be the resurgent Liberal Democrats. Since the EU elections the party has surged in the polls, rising from an average of 9% in April to 18% to date.

But where can the party have the most impact? Of the Lib Dems’ 19 top target seats (seats where they are behind their opponent by 20 points or less), just two are held by Labour, there are virtually no Labour/Lib Dem marginals left.

‘as a democracy we should call a second referendum and give them the chance to have their say’

Instead, the Lib Dems pose a bigger threat to Tsar Boris. Thirteen of their top target seats are currently held by Conservative MPs, possibly a major obstacle to his chances of winning a majority.

In addition, the 2017 election created more ‘marginals’; in the 2015 election, just 56 seats out of 650 had a majority of less than five points; since the 2017 election, there are now 96 such seats. As a result, small swings in the popular vote can have a massive impact.

Almost perfectly timed, this week the Lib Dems held their first party conference under the leadership of Snow White. The big story was conference’s unanimous vote to revoke Article 50 should they form a government.

The reasoning was logical; their policy is very clear, it’s Remain, therefore there is no need for a second referendum as they will have a mandate to implement their policy.

Logical, yes; divisive, very. 17.4 million people voted to Leave, as a democracy we should call a second referendum and give them the chance to have their say, only this time off an honest platform.

What concerns me rather more is the parties lack of a ‘joined-up’ approach, allowing local party constituencies to decide whether to stand a candidate or not. As you will know, I have argued strongly that Remain needs to retain its cross-party crusade against No Deal.

By choosing candidates to run against two top former Tory MPs the party is showing a lack of tactical awareness, a lack of governance, and great ingratitude to people who put their careers on the line to protect our democracy.

The seats in question are Beaconsfield, where Dominic Grieve may defend his seat as an ‘Independent Conservative’, and Broxtowe where Anna Soubry aims to stand for ‘Change UK’.

This column says to Snow White, if you want to be PM start acting like one, show leadership and governance. United we stand, divided we fall.

 

 

‘One nation and we’re on the move, Nothin’ can stop us now..’ 3

 

pg 2009

 

OK lyric spotters, a triple whammy this week, and quite an eclectic mix – a couple of old favourites, and one out of left field. I can claim a modest return, although missed one that I should have bagged and fear that Philip’s choice has exposed my lack of his encyclopedic knowledge.

We all know what points make by now, so please redeem them in the usual way.

First off the rank 1 had me kicking myself – you’d have had a shilling on there being a Pistols track, and this one is a favourite, but I couldn’t get to ‘Problems’.

Next up, he’s done it again – another favourite band, but a track that had passed me by – The Clash and ‘Dictator’; very apt and a welcome ear worm.

Last, but not least Philip imaging squeezed into his spangly ‘lionels’ with a chest wig and plenty of ‘tom’ – its Parliament Funkadelic with ‘One Nation Under a Groove’ – enjoy!

 

 

Philip Gilbert 2Philip Gilbert is a city-based corporate financier, and former investment banker.

Philip is a great believer in meritocracy, and in the belief that if you want something enough you can make it happen. These beliefs were formed in his formative years, of the late 1970s and 80s

 

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