I think it's time to stop the nonsense that it's only those who voted Remain who want parliament to be fully involved in the Brexit process, and to be provided with all the information it needs to make decisions on the process. This letter from Bill Cash, eurosceptic extraordinaire, has been published today:
Parliament is sovereign.
Brexit must not change that.
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“The process of exiting the UK”, eh? If it’s a Freudian slip, I don’t know what it signifies…
Thanks for drawing this to my attention. It is good to hear that there is still some support for the democratic process among hard core Brexiteers.
However this does not mean that we can let down our guard about the mainstream Brexit leadership ,of whom Bill Cash is not one. They are still determined in my opinion to use Brexit as an excuse to start an economic war with the EU and then drive the country into the embrace of Trump. They have no regard for the democratic system and are determined to keep Parliament out of the decision making. Theresa May is probably not one of them but she has shown neither the ability nor the will to face them down.
Although she has now committed to giving Parliament a vote at the end of the process she is going to make the alternative to accepting her terms the hardest of Brexits leading to the “different economic model” of Trumpian economics. In other words no choice at all.
If needed Parliament must be able to subject the eventual settlement to another referendum or seek another Government to negotiate more effectively. I know I have said this before but the key is not repealing the European Communities Act until satisfactory terms are reached.
Labour as a whole seems to be getting its eye in and regaining some confidence. Jeremy Corbyn is not getting in the way too much. Perhaps there is hope for us yet but the courage and carefulness of our MPs is still needed.
I am still reeling from the fact that a private individual seems to have initiated the Supreme Court action that led to the ruling (Gina Miller). Where was the call for democracy from the political parties? Too cowed by the BREXI-BRATS by any chance?
It seems to indicate that Parliament is lost to bad politicians – never mind ‘rotten boroughs’ – rotten MPs.
It points to a future where the ordinary citizen has to stand up for democracy and preserve it. ‘Taking back control’ seems to be a theme more apt for internal politics in this country, never mind the EU.
Politicians talk of ‘broken Britain’ when in fact it is POLITICS that needs bloody mending.
Entirely agree. We are ill served by our politicians. But with the tabloid press we have it is not surprising that politicians are drawn from a very limited pool.
Agreed, Labour, and by Labour I don’t mean just Corbyn but also the craven fools who have undermined him without putting their own names forward are an utter disgrace on this. ‘I’d rather protect my future salary than do the right thing’ seems to be the order of the day.
So, let’s be clear, we had a vote where over 33 million people voted, the result was we should leave the EU. That’s democracy, we all were inundated with facts, lies, propaganda on both sides. Now judges on a technicality over rule millions and decree that parliament has the power to decide on brexit, parliamentary sovereignty had already decided to give the people the choice, now because it didn’t go the way they wanted their trying their best to go.against the people.
No, that’s what the law always was
The referendum was never binding
Parliament always remained in control
You were conned, but the law was clear
The constitution of the United Kingdon is hardly a legal technicality, but as most of it isn’t written down, it can be difficult to say precisely what it is with certainty.
No doubt everything looks clear in retrospect, but can it really be said that the law was always clear, if a decision of the Supreme Court was required to confirm what it was? Three justices of the Supreme Court accepted the government’s case: if three men (or two men and one woman) from the majority had changed their view, the law would be “clear” that the executive could trigger Article 50 without an Act of Parliament to approve it first.
(Of course the referendum was not “binding” in a legal sense, as there was never any legal mechanism for its decision to be implemented: the question was whether the executive could just get on with obeying the result of the referendum, and start the process to leave the EU, without going to Parliament first.)
We were all conned. Where is the £350m per week? Where is the “punishment” Budget and the economic downturn?
I voted Leave and stand by that choice, did not buy into the horrendous campaigns on either side but in many ways the court case was not about whether the referendum was binding or not but about the limits of executive power, therefore whether leave or remain any democrat should welcome the ruling.
Part of the the problem lies with the way the EU have treated with contempt referendums in other countries, Ireland, Greece and Denmark where when the “wrong” results have occurred either the result is ignored (Greece) or the people have been told to vote again until the “correct” result is achieved. The EU is far from a paragon of democracy but merely a vehicle to protect big business and neo-liberalism
Andrew, neither the punishment budget nor the economic downturn may have happened yet but they’re sure as hell on the way.
Oh yes
This idea that things take time to work through seems to pass supposedly intelligent people by. Why defeats me
Oh, I expect the economy will hit choppy water this year. But some commentators were talking about an immediate downturn after a Leave vote, and have recognised in retrospect they were wrong.
George Osborne said there would be a need for an immediate emergency budget after a Leave vote. Perhaps I missed it.
Just wait
Andrew
Our constitution may not be written down as intent but we certainly keep a record of what we do/how we do things!
This is why we had to involve the supreme court in order look at precendent. The fact that Parliamentary sovereignty took us into the EU saved the day in 2017 and the SC is correct in saying that Parliament has a role in the way we leave.
I just hope that our more sane politicians make the most of it.
But which parliament is sovereign? The UK one or the EU one?
Do you know anything about the EU parliament?
Of course quite a few Economists and analysts including Richard I think were predicting a downturn anyway because of government policy
It will be a miracle if we avoid a downturn this year
Miracles happen though
But right now I am not expecting one