No-deal Brexit will be stopped, Hammond says

[snoop1130]

No-deal Brexit will be stopped, Hammond says

Guy Faulconbridge, James Davey

 

FILE PHOTO: Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond leaves the BBC studios in London, Britain, July 21, 2019. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls/File Photo

 

LONDON (Reuters) - Parliament will block a no-deal Brexit if unelected people behind Prime Minister Boris Johnson try to wrench Britain out of the European Union on Oct. 31 without agreement, former finance minister Philip Hammond said on Wednesday.

 

The United Kingdom is heading towards a constitutional crisis at home and a showdown with the EU as Johnson has vowed to leave the bloc in 78 days time without a deal unless it agrees to renegotiate a Brexit divorce.

 

After more than three years of Brexit dominating EU affairs, the bloc has repeatedly refused to reopen the Withdrawal Agreement which includes an Irish border insurance policy that Johnson’s predecessor, Theresa May, agreed in November.

 

Hammond, who served as May’s finance minister for three years, said unelected people in Johnson’s Downing Street office were setting London on an “inevitable” course towards a no-deal Brexit by demanding the backstop be dropped.

 

“The people behind this know that that means that there will be no deal,” Hammond told the BBC. “Parliament is clearly opposed to a no-deal exit, and the prime minister must respect that.”

 

The former minister’s first public intervention since resigning indicates the determination of a group of influential lawmakers to thwart Johnson if he goes for a no-deal Brexit.

 

Hammond said he was confident parliament, where a majority oppose a no-deal Brexit, would find a way to block that outcome.

 

It is, however, unclear if lawmakers have the unity or power to use the 800-year-old heart of British democracy to prevent a no-deal Brexit on Oct. 31 - likely to be the United Kingdom’s most consequential move since World War Two.

 

Opponents of no deal say it would be a disaster for what was once one of the West’s most stable democracies. A disorderly divorce, they say, would hurt global growth, send shockwaves through financial markets and weaken London’s claim to be the world’s preeminent financial centre.

 

Brexit supporters say there may be short-term disruption from a no-deal exit but that the economy will thrive if cut free from what they cast as a doomed experiment in integration that has led to Europe falling behind China and the United States.

 

CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS

 

Heading towards one of the biggest constitutional crises in at least a century, Britain’s elite are quarrelling over how, when and even if the result of the shock 2016 referendum will be implemented.

 

Part of the problem is that Britain’s constitution, once touted as a global model, is uncodified and vague. It relies on precedent, but there is little for Brexit.

 

The House of Commons speaker John Bercow told an audience in Scotland that lawmakers could prevent a no-deal Brexit and that he would fight any attempt to prorogue, or suspend, parliament “with every bone in my body”.

 

“We cannot have a situation in which parliament is shut down – we are a democratic society,” the Telegraph quoted Bercow as saying at an event on the sidelines of the Edinburgh Festival.

 

“And parliament will be heard and nobody is going to get away, as far as I am concerned, with stopping that happening,” added the 56-year-old who says he voted “Remain” in the 2016 Brexit referendum.

 

Johnson, who replaced May after she failed three times to get her Brexit deal through parliament, has refused to rule out proroguing the House of Commons and Brexit supporters have vociferously encouraged him to do so if necessary.

 

Hammond said the Leave campaign in the 2016 referendum did not tout no deal as a likely option, so to leave under those conditions would be a betrayal of the referendum that would reduce the nation to an “inward-looking little England”.

 

The United Kingdom, he said, would be under threat with referendums likely on Scottish independence and a united Ireland.

 

Johnson’s top advisor, Dominic Cummings, has reportedly said he could delay calling a general election until after Oct. 31, even if he lost a no confidence motion, allowing for a no-deal Brexit while parliament is dissolved.

 

Clearly with him in mind, Hammond said there were people “who are pulling the strings in Downing Street, those who are setting the strategy.”

 

Cummings declined to comment to Reuters.

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-08-14

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[ratcatcher]

No-deal Brexit will be stopped, Hammond says

We shall see. Shakespeare himself could  have written the script for that which is happening in the British Parliament today. The cast of heroes . villains etc, makes Julius Caesar look like a kiddies picnic.   Brexit with alarum.

[jamesy9368]

“who are pulling the strings in Downing Street, those who are setting the strategy.” Says Hammond who is upset its not him anymore. What we are going to get is Armageddon.

 

Then voting to trigger A50 would trigger Armageddon.

Then any changes to the NI border would trigger Armageddon.

Then not having a 'transition' period would trigger Armageddon.

Then denying a 'People's Vote' would trigger Armageddon.

Then leaving the customs union would trigger Armageddon.

Then not extending A50 would trigger Armageddon.

Then electing Boris Johnson would trigger Armageddon.

Then not having an all-female national disunity remain government would trigger Armageddon.

And now no deal will trigger Armageddon.

Every time remainers lose they shift the narrative. But what never shifts is the basic truth that it's not Armageddon they're afraid of but democracy

[Loiner]

What if Hammond and his Remainers cabal are stooped instead? They all try to play out too much in the MSM. Remainer biased press just laps it all up.


Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

[Topdoc]

If the EU are not prepared to change 'Merkels Withdrawal Agreement' then it's going to be WTO terms which is what was voted for in the referendum.

 

[stevenl]

8 minutes ago, Topdoc said:

If the EU are not prepared to change 'Merkels Withdrawal Agreement' then it's going to be WTO terms which is what was voted for in the referendum.

 

No. Voted for was 'leave', which was not specified.

[Mavideol]

29 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

“Parliament is clearly opposed to a no-deal exit, and the prime minister must respect that.”

Boris is the boss, he will try (without success) to dissolve parliament, for him MP's have no say so, looking forward seeing him arguing with the speaker of the house...  unelected people at 10 downing, appointed by Boris, it's democracy at its best

[CG1 Blue]

The UK need the backstop to be removed or drastically altered in order to get a deal through Parliament. That is the reality as proven by 3 decisive votes against the deal in the HoC. 

The EU are saying the withdrawal agreement is now non-negotiable. 

 

If you ask me Mr Hammond, it's the EU's current position that will lead to a no deal. You're blaming the wrong side. 

[NCC1701A]

I'm from Merica and I say you UK boys need to go to Walmart big time. 

[Mavideol]

2 minutes ago, CG1 Blue said:

The UK need the backstop to be removed or drastically altered in order to get a deal through Parliament. That is the reality as proven by 3 decisive votes against the deal in the HoC. 

The EU are saying the withdrawal agreement is now non-negotiable. 

 

If you ask me Mr Hammond, it's the EU's current position that will lead to a no deal. You're blaming the wrong side. 

or maybe you are looking at it from your perspective only... why should the EU and not the UK bend over, always easy to blame the other side for one's mistakes

[OneMoreFarang]

Please don't stop it. Let them crash all the way.

Otherwise the Brexiters will blame the EU and anybody else again.

Only when they get their 100% independence they will be able to see how that works. Enjoy the ride!

 

[Topdoc]

15 minutes ago, stevenl said:

No. Voted for was 'leave', which was not specified.

Not specified? By who? Snowy and Tintin?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BFSJRH1q-A&t=15m55

 

[Topdoc]

12 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Let them crash all the way.

It's crashing already, just look at the German banks. Commerzbank at all time record lows, down nearly 5% today. 

 

 

 

[evadgib]

36 minutes ago, Mavideol said:

Boris is the boss, he will try (without success) to dissolve parliament, for him MP's have no say so, looking forward seeing him arguing with the speaker of the house...  unelected people at 10 downing, appointed by Boris, it's democracy at its best

Innit just...

[stevenl]

25 minutes ago, Topdoc said:

Not specified? By who? Snowy and Tintin?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BFSJRH1q-A&t=15m55

 

Ok, let me make this real easy for you: on the ballot form, did it say 'leave and trade on WTO terms'?

Edited August 14, 2019 by stevenl

[CG1 Blue]

30 minutes ago, Mavideol said:

35 minutes ago, CG1 Blue said:

The UK need the backstop to be removed or drastically altered in order to get a deal through Parliament. That is the reality as proven by 3 decisive votes against the deal in the HoC. 

The EU are saying the withdrawal agreement is now non-negotiable. 

 

If you ask me Mr Hammond, it's the EU's current position that will lead to a no deal. You're blaming the wrong side. 

or maybe you are looking at it from your perspective only... why should the EU and not the UK bend over, always easy to blame the other side for one's mistakes

Fair comment, but I'm just looking at the facts. The current deal will not get through Parliament. There is nothing the UK government can do to get it through Parliament. But there is something the EU could do to get it through Parliament. 

I suppose the reality is at this stage neither side will bend over; hence no deal is on the way! 

[stevenl]

35 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Please don't stop it. Let them crash all the way.

Otherwise the Brexiters will blame the EU and anybody else again.

Only when they get their 100% independence they will be able to see how that works. Enjoy the ride!

 

They'll still find someone else to blame.

[CG1 Blue]

1 minute ago, stevenl said:

Ok, let me make this real easy for you: on the ballot form, did it say 'leave and trade on WTO terms' or 'leave'?

The ballot form said Leave or Remain. In the run up to the referendum the public were given all different versions of Leave, and were explicitly told all the dangers of leaving.

The public, knowing all the different possible Leave outcomes, and taking on board all the dire warnings from Cameron and Osborne voted to Leave. They didn't vote to Remain in the EU. 

[DaddyWarbucks]

As an American of largely British descent, I've always been a keen anglophile and proud of my blood.

Recent events in Great Britain make it look like the Brits are no longer capable of governing themselves.

More's the pity and som-nahm-nah.

Welcome to the Third World.

[stevenl]

30 minutes ago, CG1 Blue said:

The ballot form said Leave or Remain. In the run up to the referendum the public were given all different versions of Leave, and were explicitly told all the dangers of leaving.

The public, knowing all the different possible Leave outcomes, and taking on board all the dire warnings from Cameron and Osborne voted to Leave. They didn't vote to Remain in the EU. 

So it did not say 'wto terms', as another poster said.

[lungbing]

1 hour ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Please don't stop it. Let them crash all the way.

Otherwise the Brexiters will blame the EU and anybody else again.

Only when they get their 100% independence they will be able to see how that works. Enjoy the ride!

 

It worked very well for nearly 2,000 years from the time of Alfred The Great  until we joined the euphemistically called  'Common Market'.

[stevenl]

2 minutes ago, lungbing said:

It worked very well for nearly 2,000 years from the time of Alfred The Great  until we joined the euphemistically called  'Common Market'.

Times have changed.

[vogie]

2 minutes ago, stevenl said:

So it did not say 'wto terms', as another poster said.

You would do well to concentrate on what it did say, rather than what it didn't say, you will end up in a state of confusion.

[stevenl]

Just now, vogie said:

You would do well to concentrate on what it did say, rather than what it didn't say, you will end up in a state of confusion.

Not at all, but apparently the doc is confused and needed some correction.

[Chomper Higgot]

11 minutes ago, lungbing said:

It worked very well for nearly 2,000 years from the time of Alfred The Great  until we joined the euphemistically called  'Common Market'.

2,000 years you say. 

 

[vogie]

8 minutes ago, stevenl said:

Not at all, but apparently the doc is confused and needed some correction.

There is no confusion at all by leavers, confusion occurs when remainers start to make statements like 'it didn't say .........' there are probably millions of things it didn't say, so when you find yourself in a position like that, it would be better to look at what it did say, i e.......leave or remain.

I hope when you get a contract you read what it says and you don't spend all week looking for things it doesn't say.

 

 

[NanLaew]

2 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Clearly with him in mind, Hammond said there were people “who are pulling the strings in Downing Street, those who are setting the strategy.”

Yes, there are people in #10 now that HAVE A STRATEGY to take the UK out of the EU as requested by the people. Unlike former PM Theresa May's barely camouflaged formation remainer team of which Hammond was co-pilot, whose only collective strategy since 2016 was to deny the will of the people while blaming it all on EU intransigence.

Edited August 14, 2019 by NanLaew
sp

[puck2]

18 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

Yes, there are people in #10 now that HAVE A STRATEGY to take the UK out of the EU as requested by the people. Unlike former PM Theresa May's barely camouflaged formation remainer team of which Hammond was co-pilot, whose only collective strategy since 2016 was to deny the will of the people while blaming it all on EU intransigence.

You are deflecting!

The people have not been asked leaving the EU

1.   with a deal     or
2.  without a deal.

Therefore .... it's NOT the will if the people = all leavers.

Obviously the leavers wouldn't have reached the majority of the votes.  Why? The Tory-party is split in laevers and remainers. Logically - the Tory electorate would also have been split. Consequence: NO- ~52% leave majority, but a result far below 50%.

 

And that's not "the will" of the people" !!!

 

 

[sammieuk1]

2 hours ago, jamesy9368 said:

“who are pulling the strings in Downing Street, those who are setting the strategy.” Says Hammond who is upset its not him anymore. What we are going to get is Armageddon.

 

Then voting to trigger A50 would trigger Armageddon.

Then any changes to the NI border would trigger Armageddon.

Then not having a 'transition' period would trigger Armageddon.

Then denying a 'People's Vote' would trigger Armageddon.

Then leaving the customs union would trigger Armageddon.

Then not extending A50 would trigger Armageddon.

Then electing Boris Johnson would trigger Armageddon.

Then not having an all-female national disunity remain government would trigger Armageddon.

And now no deal will trigger Armageddon.

Every time remainers lose they shift the narrative. But what never shifts is the basic truth that it's not Armageddon they're afraid of but democracy

You missed out Tory aspirations based on hope and Boris's better deal out than in will trigger Armageddon when the poor end up paying the bill????  

[Handsome Gardener]

2 hours ago, Topdoc said:

If the EU are not prepared to change 'Merkels Withdrawal Agreement' then it's going to be WTO terms which is what was voted for in the referendum.

 

Where does 'WTO' appear on the voting form ?