Brexit cannot define us, says UK PM's deputy as ratings dip

By William James

 

Britain's Minister for the Cabinet Office David Lidington is seen outside Downing Street in London, Britain, April 1, 2019. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis

 

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's ruling Conservative Party cannot let itself be defined solely by Brexit, Prime Minister Theresa May's de facto deputy said on Sunday, as polling showed failure to leave the European Union on schedule has badly damaged its support.

 

May's authority has been shattered by her three-time failure to get an exit deal approved by parliament and a pledge to quit once Brexit is delivered, driving speculation about her successor and a possible national election.

 

The once-prized stability of British politics has disappeared, threatening to break apart both the Conservatives and their main opponents Labour, and leaving the world's fifth-largest economy facing an uncertain future.

 

Without any consensus in parliament, reflective of a deeply divided population, all outcomes remain possible in the coming weeks and months: leaving the EU with a deal, a disorderly exit without a deal, or another vote on whether to leave at all.

 

"We mustn't define ourselves as the Brexit party," said David Lidington, cabinet office minister and effectively May's second in command.

 

"We've got to deliver the outcome of the referendum ... but, the Conservative Party has got to remain a broad church, a national party, and it's got to be talking about things that matter to people in their everyday lives: housing, health service, living standards."

 

May, 62, took power in the aftermath of Britain's surprise 2016 vote to leave the EU and has seen her government paralysed by divisions over Brexit and unable to enact an ambitious reform agenda to tackle social injustice.

 

An Opinium poll published in the Observer newspaper showed the Conservatives at 29 percent, down 6 points from March 28 and 7 points behind Labour.

 

An analysis of polls since the original intended March 29 exit day, published in the Sunday Telegraph, showed the Conservatives would lose 59 parliamentary seats if an election were held.

 

"Much of this drop reflects disappointment among Leave voters - around a half of whom would prefer 'no deal' - at the government's failure to deliver Brexit," polling expert John Curtice wrote in the Sunday Telegraph

 

The analysis showed Corbyn's Labour Party would win the most seats but still fall short of an outright majority in the 650-seat parliament, with Scottish nationalists and the small centrist Liberal Democrats party also picking up seats.

 

"KICKED THE CAN"

Lidington told the BBC compromise talks with Labour would continue, with both sides seeking agreement over a plan for Brexit that could win parliament's approval.

 

He warned the talks could not be allowed to drag out for months, but showed little indication the government may drop its requirement that future EU ties cannot involve a customs union.

 

With parliament on an 11-day break until April 23, Britons are wondering what happens next.

 

Steve Murrells, chief executive of retailer Co-op group, told the BBC the government had "kicked the can down the road" on Brexit, but that his firm would continue to plan for the worst-case scenario of leaving without a deal.

 

Despite being handed an extension of EU membership until Oct. 31, May is hoping to pass a withdrawal agreement and lead Britain out of the bloc before May 23 to avoid taking part in elections for the European Parliament.

 

Eurosceptic Iain Duncan Smith, a former Conservative Party leader, said May should be ready to quit in June. He described the delay to Brexit as "political death" and urged May to avoid taking part in the European elections.

 

"What the prime minister has to do now is aim everything towards departure before the euros (European elections) which would then allow her to step away having done what she said she would do - get the UK out of the European Union one way or the other," he told Sky News.

 

(Reporting by William James; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-04-15

28 minutes ago, webfact said:

"We mustn't define ourselves as the Brexit party," said David Lidington, cabinet office minister and effectively May's second in command.

<removed>  You called the referendum, you had Article 50 triggered, you screwed up the negotiations and now you don't know what to do next.

This is your show and yours alone. You broke it, you own it. Because of the civil war in your party. <deleted>

When the Brexit negotiations started people were concerned that this might break up the EU. Some people thought 27 countries would work against each other.

By now we know that the 27 are pretty much all going in the same direction. They know what they want.

Now lets compare this with the UK...

Some people thought at the referendum UK politicians will create a better future outside of the EU. And now? Looking at this bunch of incapable politicians who are telling lies to each other and the people and who are a lot more interested in their parties than the country, and comparing them with the EU politicians: How can anybody still think the UK with these people in charge will do any better?

Most of the UK politicians should quit politics and get a proper job - or at least try if they can get one.

12 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

When the Brexit negotiations started people were concerned that this might break up the EU. Some people thought 27 countries would work against each other.

By now we know that the 27 are pretty much all going in the same direction. They know what they want.

Now lets compare this with the UK...

Some people thought at the referendum UK politicians will create a better future outside of the EU. And now? Looking at this bunch of incapable politicians who are telling lies to each other and the people and who are a lot more interested in their parties than the country, and comparing them with the EU politicians: How can anybody still think the UK with these people in charge will do any better?

Most of the UK politicians should quit politics and get a proper job - or at least try if they can get one.

Where's Guy Fawkes when you need him?!

It defines me as having a worthless pound????

Quote

Brexit cannot define us, says UK PM's deputy as ratings dip

Bit late for that!

2 hours ago, webfact said:

"We mustn't define ourselves as the Brexit party," said David Lidington

Well he would say that wouldn't he. He's a Remainer who has been working against a real Brexit. The party has far too many of those for it to be defined as the Brexit party, which is why they have got themselves into the mess. Of course they were assisted into the mess by the Liebour Remainers and the other Remainers in Parliament overall.

The trouble with the Conservative Party is that it is not conservative enough and hasn't been for sometime. There's only a few good men in the ERG who are saving CON from imploding, but if it does that's OK too.

8 minutes ago, Loiner said:

Well he would say that wouldn't he. He's a Remainer who has been working against a real Brexit. The party has far too many of those for it to be defined as the Brexit party, which is why they have got themselves into the mess. Of course they were assisted into the mess by the Liebour Remainers and the other Remainers in Parliament overall.

The trouble with the Conservative Party is that it is not conservative enough and hasn't been for sometime. There's only a few good men in the ERG who are saving CON from imploding, but if it does that's OK too.

What about the "we wrecked the country" party; cf UN poverty report on the disgraceful state of the nation. To say nothing of hostile environments, and the brexit mess.

One consolation point is Labour is not doing much better.

20 minutes ago, flossie35 said:

What about the "we wrecked the country" party; cf UN poverty report on the disgraceful state of the nation. To say nothing of hostile environments, and the brexit mess.

With the exception of Ted Heath's lies to us about the EEC, most of the wrecking was done by the New Liebour governments of Princess Tony B.Liar and the one eyed Scottish idiot Brown between 1997 and 2010. They are responsible for most of the UK's decline and the numerous imported problems.

The hostile environment was another of May's smoke and mirror tricks. That one failed because it was not hostile enough and the PC brigade bled their hearts all over London.
Brexit, it may have escaped your notice but only half of the party are supporting it, while the fifth columnist Remainers in the party are voting with Liebour to prevent Brexit. Hence the cross party mess. 

Leaving the EU at this point in time is nonsensical, as the disruption to the pound, economy, and businesses has been demonstrated by the Government, the Confederation of British Industry, and the Bank of England, to be far more devastating then initially thought.

 

What May should have done before enacting Article 50, was to have a PLAN. For example, examine and publish the pros and cons of leaving against staying, taking into account the effect on Scotland and NI, with a bottom financial line and a timetable to rectify all adverse effects on the population.

 

'What's best for Britain' ought to have been her mantra, which is more far more important than honouring the referendum result which was in favour of only 27% of the total population. It would have been the same principle had the remainers won the vote, because the same 'What's best for Britain' should have been the mantra - see para 2. 

 

Unfortunately, Brexit became the mantra, and I don't think anyone on here and elsewhere would say it's has been anyway near a satisfactory outcome, as the government and parliament have made a pig's ear of the negotiations resulting in a poor deal outcome that is just not workable. 

 

I surmise it will be remaining in the Customs Union  - or whatever political statement to agree that -that would push May's deal through, and IMO that's the least damaging to the economy, businesses and pound.

 

Even if that happens the UK is still in a mess, and I've seen sod-all how to rectify it during the transition period. The lack of a plan...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 hour ago, OneMoreFarang said:

By now we know that the 27 are pretty much all going in the same direction. They know what they want.[/quote]

It's the EU bureaucrats and the leaders of the 27. United only in their deep fear of the own people, the strengthening EU-scepticism and the upcoming elections. United in having a never electet anti democratic EU commission more and more simply overruling national parliaments. They know they have to show "strength" or their bubble will implode.

Now lets compare this with the UK...

Some people thought at the referendum UK politicians will create a better future outside of the EU. And now? Looking at this bunch of incapable politicians who are telling lies to each other and the people and who are a lot more interested in their parties than the country, and comparing them with the EU politicians: How can anybody still think the UK with these people in charge will do any better?

GB as the smaller partner for sure will face a lot of severe problems after Brexit. But in the long run you may have a better future without the EU than within. The next Euro-crisis is already waiting next door and that's only one threat of many.

Most of the UK politicians should quit politics and get a proper job - or at least try if they can get one.

That may be true. But do you really think they are much different to their cronies in Germany and France?

 

37 minutes ago, JustAnotherHun said:

United in having a never electet anti democratic EU commission more and more simply overruling national parliaments.

Did you notice that soon there will be elections for the EU? They do that every couple of years. It's part of democracy.

DUMBASTHEYCOME

 

Melbourne USA? Sounds like one of those places in USA named after others. Ie. Sparta USA ,Carthage USA ,Athens USA.

What's the history of Melbourne in USA? How old is it.

21 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Did you notice that soon there will be elections for the EU? They do that every couple of years. It's part of democracy.

You do not know much about the European institutions an the law making process do you?

There's the EU-Parliament to be elected. It has close no rights an can simply be overruled. The "European Commission" has the power. None of these people is elected. The democratic EU is a fairytale

27 minutes ago, JustAnotherHun said:

You do not know much about the European institutions an the law making process do you?

There's the EU-Parliament to be elected. It has close no rights an can simply be overruled. The "European Commission" has the power. None of these people is elected. The democratic EU is a fairytale

More likely it is you who doesn’t understand the European Institutions........

When the Brexit negotiations started people were concerned that this might break up the EU. Some people thought 27 countries would work against each other.
By now we know that the 27 are pretty much all going in the same direction. They know what they want.
Now lets compare this with the UK...
Some people thought at the referendum UK politicians will create a better future outside of the EU. And now? Looking at this bunch of incapable politicians who are telling lies to each other and the people and who are a lot more interested in their parties than the country, and comparing them with the EU politicians: How can anybody still think the UK with these people in charge will do any better?
Most of the UK politicians should quit politics and get a proper job - or at least try if they can get one.

The majority of the current crop of UK mp's could not hold down a " normal job for any length of time.
Think bout it..leave secondary scool..Uuunnniiii..studying politics..leave Uunniii..get job with political party..then become town councillor..then become an mp.
Real life working experience..you're having s laugh.

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Of all the interviews yesterday I'm surprized that David Lammy isn't in the cross hairs for his racist drivel during the same programme.

 

45 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Did you notice that soon there will be elections for the EU? They do that every couple of years. It's part of democracy.

Every 5 years,,,

England, you really do need another Cromwell, don't you?

 

" 20 April 1653, London, England

It is high time for me to put an end to your sitting in this place,

which you have dishonored by your contempt of all virtue, and defiled by your practice of every vice.

Ye are a factious crew, and enemies to all good government.

Ye are a pack of mercenary wretches, and would like Esau sell your country for a mess of pottage, and like Judas betray your God for a few pieces of money.

Is there a single virtue now remaining amongst you? Is there one vice you do not possess?

Ye have no more religion than my horse. Gold is your God. Which of you have not bartered your conscience for bribes? Is there a man amongst you that has the least care for the good of the Commonwealth?

Ye sordid prostitutes have you not defiled this sacred place, and turned the Lord's temple into a den of thieves, by your immoral principles and wicked practices?

Ye are grown intolerably odious to the whole nation. You were deputed here by the people to get grievances redressed, are yourselves become the greatest grievance.

Your country therefore calls upon me to cleanse this Augean stable, by putting a final period to your iniquitous proceedings in this House; and which by God's help, and the strength he has given me, I am now come to do.

I command ye therefore, upon the peril of your lives, to depart immediately out of this place.

Go, get you out! Make haste! Ye venal slaves be gone! So! Take away that shining bauble there, and lock up the doors.

In the name of God, go! "

Let's have a military coup then?!

England, you really do need another Cromwell, don't you?
 

" 20 April 1653, London, England

It is high time for me to put an end to your sitting in this place,

which you have dishonored by your contempt of all virtue, and defiled by your practice of every vice.

Ye are a factious crew, and enemies to all good government.

Ye are a pack of mercenary wretches, and would like Esau sell your country for a mess of pottage, and like Judas betray your God for a few pieces of money.

Is there a single virtue now remaining amongst you? Is there one vice you do not possess?

Ye have no more religion than my horse. Gold is your God. Which of you have not bartered your conscience for bribes? Is there a man amongst you that has the least care for the good of the Commonwealth?

Ye sordid prostitutes have you not defiled this sacred place, and turned the Lord's temple into a den of thieves, by your immoral principles and wicked practices?

Ye are grown intolerably odious to the whole nation. You were deputed here by the people to get grievances redressed, are yourselves become the greatest grievance.

Your country therefore calls upon me to cleanse this Augean stable, by putting a final period to your iniquitous proceedings in this House; and which by God's help, and the strength he has given me, I am now come to do.

I command ye therefore, upon the peril of your lives, to depart immediately out of this place.

Go, get you out! Make haste! Ye venal slaves be gone! So! Take away that shining bauble there, and lock up the doors.

In the name of God, go! "

Wonderful words indeed!!

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Let's have a military coup then?!

Thought ran thro my head a few times

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1 hour ago, JustAnotherHun said:

You do not know much about the European institutions an the law making process do you?

There's the EU-Parliament to be elected. It has close no rights an can simply be overruled. The "European Commission" has the power. None of these people is elected. The democratic EU is a fairytale

Absolute nonsense - it has overruled the commission in the past - you are promulgating fake news

A troll post has been removed

Hopefully this will help some understand Brexitism.......... I doubt if Brexiteers will see themselves, though

 

https://medium.com/the-politicalists/the-17-cognitive-biases-that-explain-brexit-894ec10e03b8

 

Just now, wilcopops said:

Hopefully this will help some understand Brexitism.......... I doubt if Brexiteers will see themselves, though

 

https://medium.com/the-politicalists/the-17-cognitive-biases-that-explain-brexit-894ec10e03b8

 

 

 

I will take Brexitism over EUism any day.

4 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

When the Brexit negotiations started people were concerned that this might break up the EU. Some people thought 27 countries would work against each other.

By now we know that the 27 are pretty much all going in the same direction. They know what they want.

Now lets compare this with the UK...

Some people thought at the referendum UK politicians will create a better future outside of the EU. And now? Looking at this bunch of incapable politicians who are telling lies to each other and the people and who are a lot more interested in their parties than the country, and comparing them with the EU politicians: How can anybody still think the UK with these people in charge will do any better?

Most of the UK politicians should quit politics and get a proper job - or at least try if they can get one.

Agreed, if Brexit has done one thing it has shown how totally useless the current crop of MP's and ministers are. In general doing their utmost to frustrate the will of the people. Suicide by the ballot box.

47 minutes ago, wilcopops said:

Absolute nonsense - it has overruled the commission in the past - you are promulgating fake news

Please tell me which of the EU commission and governing body were democratically elected?

7 minutes ago, jinners said:

Please tell me which of the EU commission and governing body were democratically elected?

Significantly more than anyone in the WTO or the UK‘s head of state and commander-in-chief.