Uk politics

Saturday

Tanya Gold

‘Brexit shows democracy doesn’t work’: An interview with Titania McGrath

From our UK edition

Titania McGrath, 24, is a radical intersectionalist vegan activist, feminist slam poet and the author of Woke: a Guide to Social Justice. She won’t meet me in person for security reasons – she fears doxxing – or send me a photograph of her face. Rather, she consents to an interview by email from her gîte in the Buis-les-Baronnies district of France, where she is “working on a new anthology of slam poetry which will end the patriarchy” in the nude. This is from her poem Cultural Appropriation: Plunderbeast of history. My ancestors scream in your hollow wigwam, Ghostrolling in the ectoplasm of your hate. I staunch the flow of simpering tribal sauce, A digital sombrero clings deafblind To a face falsely smeared in a coalish hue.

Friday

Tom Harwood

The myth of the ‘millennial’ Corbyn project

From our UK edition

The myth at the heart of the ‘Corbyn project’ is that it is a grassroots movement of enthusiastic young people. This group, so the theory goes, is disgusted by free markets and longs for industries to be nationalised and collectives of workers to seize control of the means of production. Books have even been written about how the ‘young’ have ‘created a new socialism.’ But if this is true, why does a poll today reveal that support for the newly-formed centrist Independent Group predominantly come from young people? Forty-seven per cent of 18-24 year olds approve of the creation of TIG, with just 14 per cent disapproving of it.

Mark Galeotti

What does Putin really make of Britain’s Brexit mess?

From our UK edition

When it comes to Brexit, Britain's friends, neighbours, trade partners and even antagonists are generally united in one thing: wondering what on earth is going on. In Russia, there is a particular cocktail of satisfaction and bewilderment. The satisfaction is predictable. From the Kremlin's point of view, the whole Brexit extravaganza is a gift, regardless of the eventual outcome. Putin's strategy is essentially to divide, distract and demoralise the West, so that either we are sufficiently worn down to strike a deal that grants Russia the status he craves – essentially as hegemon of Eurasia and a fixture in any global negotiations – or else we are so fragmented, feuding and fatigued that he has a free rein.

Thursday

Katy Balls

George Eustice resigns – will more Leave-voting ministers follow?

From our UK edition

When the week began, there was speculation that a group of ministers would resign over Theresa May's Brexit stance. The Prime Minister had been warned that up to 22 members of government could quit unless she promised the chance for MPs to extend Article 50 if no deal looks likely. In the end, May blinked and paved the way for such a vote if her deal is rejected in two weeks' time. However, that decision has led to a government resignation that few were expecting. This afternoon George Eustice resigned as Defra minister over May's promise to allow MPs a vote on delaying Brexit if her deal is rejected.

Robert Peston

Theresa May can dare to dream that her Brexit deal might pass

From our UK edition

Can the Prime Minister dare to dream that her Brexit deal will pass – perhaps as soon as next week? It is striking how Brexiters from the ERG group are lining up to tell me how reasonable they are trying to be. After well over a hundred Tory MPs failed to vote for Yvette Cooper's amendment last night, which simply captured the PM's u-turn pledge to allow MPs to delay Brexit, one senior Tory texted me to insist this was "more cock up than conspiracy". He said: "Bit of a mess. Nobody expected Cooper to move the amendment. Letwin had said they wouldn’t. People had left the chamber. Others thought the position was to abstain as the government didn’t shout yes and didn’t shout no. Whips didn’t chase people until nearly five minutes in to the vote.

Nick Cohen

A pincer movement is closing around Jeremy Corbyn

From our UK edition

Chaos theory’s assertion that tiny changes can have dramatic effects is being vindicated with a vengeance in Westminster. If not quite as paltry as a butterfly flapping its wing in the Amazonian rain forest, the creation of the Independent Group seemed a small event. Eight Labour and three Tory MPs joined. Eleven in total. Just 11: despite all the provocations of Brexit and Corbyn. Is that it? I thought when the breakaway began, and filed the groupuscule away under “lost causes”. As it has turned out, the small difference has made all the difference. Last night the Labour party removed the whip from Chris Williamson, a supporter of the Maduro tyranny in Venezuela and the Cuban dictatorship.

Wednesday

James Kirkup

The Independent Group is already changing politics for the better

From our UK edition

Most people at Westminster are betting against the Tiggers. Most people, if forced to guess, would predict that the Independent Group won’t become a new political party that wins scores of seats in the Commons. We can all recite the reasons: no membership, no machine, no leader, no policy platform, the electoral system… But maybe that doesn’t matter. Because there are more ways to change things than winning seats. Just ask Ukip – if you can find it these days. Ukip only ever won one seat in the Commons, and in truth it was Douglas Carswell not the party who delivered it. But Ukip still changed history: without it, David Cameron would very likely have got out of calling the EU referendum.

Katy Balls

Government score an own goal on citizens’ rights resignation

From our UK edition

This evening the government accepted an amendment to ensure the EU citizens’ rights package in the Withdrawal Agreement still stands if the U.K. leaves without a deal. The amendment tabled by Tory MP Alberto Costa won widespread support in the Commons – an endorsement from the Home Secretary and was eventually taken on by No 10. Despite this, Costa will head home this evening having left his role as a Parliamentary Private Secretary for the Scotland Office. Costa tended his resignation earlier today as PPSs are not supposed to put down amendments. I understand Costa was asked whether he still wanted the amendment to be in his name – he said he did and thereby resigned. On a procedural level this is all above board.

Lloyd Evans

Has the Independent Group ‘revolution’ fallen flat already?

From our UK edition

Ten days since the start of the Great February Revolution (as historians are unlikely to call it) and the breakaway MPs must be feeling a bit miffed. The rebels, tagged as ‘TIGs’ in the press, are blessed with every advantage a political movement could hope for – apart from a logo, a creed, a headquarters, a constitution and a following. The 11-strong group have become the silent stars of PMQs. Seen but not heard. The Speaker failed again this Wednesday to ask a TIG to speak. Does their reticence signify anything? Perhaps trouble is brewing and the TIG bigwigs are trying to stop the membership from cracking up into dissident units.

Steerpike

Watch: Kate Hoey’s damning verdict on the Independent Group

From our UK edition

Labour's shift towards a second referendum has not gone down well with the party's MP for Vauxhall. So will Kate Hoey be joining the gang of defectors and throwing her lot in with the Independent Group? Don't bet on it. Hoey said she had no plans to sign up with what she called 'that little rump'. Hoey also told the BBC's Politics Live that the TIGers were 'obsessed about staying in the European Union'. Here is her damning verdict on the new party: I made it very clear that I was going to be supporting the referendum, even though I was in a Remain seat. Some of the people who have left the party made very clear statements that they would honour the referendum, I've seen them on television. And yet, they've gone against that.

Steerpike

Watch: Sajid Javid gets into a muddle over Brexit

From our UK edition

Brexit is confusing for the best of us, but Mr S. would hope that the Home Secretary would at least manage to stay abreast of the latest developments of Britain's withdrawal from the EU. Unfortunately not. Popping up in front of MPs at the Home Affairs Committee, 'The Saj' got in a muddle when asked whether the Government would be backing the Costa amendment on guaranteeing EU citizens rights under no-deal. Here's what happened: Sajid Javid: You asked me what was wrong with that (the Costa) amendment? Stuart McDonald: Yes SJ: Nothing SM: So the Government is supporting it then? SJ: Yes. When was the Government not supporting that? SM: Yesterday SJ: From who (did you hear that)? SM: The Prime Minister SJ: Did you? Well, OK.

Matthew Lynn

A Brexit delay would be bad news for Britain’s economy

From our UK edition

It would stop us crashing out. It would give us enough time to negotiate a free-trade deal. It would allow business time to prepare, and for the government to put in place all the extra infrastructure we might need once we are outside the European Union. As the deadline draws closer and closer, the pressure is mounting for a delay to our departure from the EU. At first that was just likely to be a few week or months. But now Brussels is talking about two years. But hold on. That is crazy. Sure, plenty of big businesses will be supporting that, and lots of people will be arguing it is the only way to avert a potential economic catastrophe. They are understandably nervous about leaving without a deal. But in fact, it would be the worst possible outcome for the economy. Why?

Tuesday

Steerpike

Seven things we learnt from an evening with Jacob Rees-Mogg

From our UK edition

This evening Jacob Rees-Mogg joined Rod Liddle in being able to say he has sold out the London Palladium for a Spectator event. The arch-Brexiteer appeared before a packed crowd – of over 2,000 – for an in conversation with editor Fraser Nelson. Despite a busy day in the Commons on Brexit and a spot on the stage, the Moggster still found time in the interval to help out on the ice cream stall. Here are seven Rees-Mogg takeaways from the event: 1. Most people who want to delay Brexit want to stop Brexit In reference to the news today that Theresa May will give MPs a chance to vote to delay Brexit, Rees-Mogg said he questioned the motives of the politicians pushing to extend Article 50: 'Most people who want a delay want to stop Brexit.

Rod Liddle

My suggestions for Justin Welby’s Brexit prayers

From our UK edition

Would anyone like to join me in the “Five Days of Prayer” that Archbishop Welby has announced to mark the days that we leave the European Union? (Yes, sure, IF we do. Otherwise I assume there will be five days of rejoicing.) I will be praying on Day One for Welby to be replaced by a less gullible, less virtue signalling, less privileged person. Day Two will be a prayer that the Church of England start dealing with personal morality rather than grandstanding political gestures. Day Three will be the prayers to stop Muslims preaching in CofE churches, until such time as Islamic states allow Christians to proselytise without getting their heads chopped off. Day Four will be a prayer that Welby finally grasps that austerity might be a salient response to a serious economic problem.

Nick Herbert

The EU must budge on the backstop if it wants to avoid no deal

From our UK edition

The European Union does not want ‘no-deal’. Neither do the majority of people or politicians in the UK. Most of us recognise that to leave without a deal would be potentially damaging to both the UK and the EU, a risk to be avoided. But unless Brexit is stopped altogether the only way to prevent ‘no deal’ is to agree a deal. The date of the UK’s departure may now be delayed, but even a short delay would be controversial enough. And delay will only postpone the choice which, sooner or later, must be made. In one sense a deal is tantalisingly close to being agreed.

Katy Balls

May offers MPs a vote to prevent no-deal Brexit

From our UK edition

Faced with the prospect of defeat on an amendment to stop no deal, Theresa May has attempted to stave off that rebellion by promising MPs a vote to stop a no-deal Brexit. After a long and fiery Cabinet (James has the details here), the Prime Minister addressed the House to update MPs on her government's progress in the negotiations. She said that Geoffrey Cox was working with Brussels to win changes to the backstop and reconfirmed her promise to hold a meaningful vote on her deal by 12 March. However, should her deal be rejected by the House for a second time, May promised to hold a vote by 13 March on whether this House supports the UK leaving without a deal.

James Forsyth

Amber Rudd, Greg Clark and David Gauke labelled ‘kamikaze’ ministers in tense Cabinet

From our UK edition

Today’s Cabinet was not a happy affair. I’m told that Liam Fox, Gavin Williamson and Andrea Leadsom all made clear their grave concerns about the Government’s new strategy. There was considerable anger at Amber Rudd, Greg Clark and David Gauke for how they have heaped pressure on May to offer this vote on a delay if the meaningful vote fails on the 12th of March. Liz Truss labelled them ‘kamikaze Cabinet Ministers’ and Andrea Leadsom was, I’m told, audibly furious. Brandon Lewis, Julian Smith, Jeremy Wright, Damian Hinds and James Brokenshire all criticised the way this trio had behaved. Michael Gove asked how May would whip in the vote on whether the UK should go for no deal or seek an extension to Article 50.

Brendan O’Neill

Jeremy Corbyn’s Brexit betrayal is complete | 26 February 2019

From our UK edition

Let us consider the gravity of Jeremy Corbyn’s announcement that Labour will push for a second referendum. In siding with the so-called People’s Vote lobby, Corbyn has betrayed Labour’s traditional working-class base, who tend to favour leaving the EU. He has betrayed his party’s own manifesto in the 2017 general election, which promised to respect the outcome of the referendum. He has betrayed his old Labour mentors, most notably his hero Tony Benn, who was the left’s most articulate critic of the EU. And he has betrayed himself. He has betrayed his own longstanding and correct belief that the EU is an illiberal, undemocratic, anti-worker outrage of an institution. Has any politician ever betrayed so many people in such a short space of time?

Monday

Katy Balls

Sparks fly at Parliamentary Labour Party meeting on second referendum

From our UK edition

Jeremy Corbyn's announcement that the Labour party is prepared to back another EU referendum to prevent a 'damaging Tory Brexit' was intended to placate Remain-leaning MPs. However, it's also managed to irk those Labour politicians representing Leave seats. Tonight MPs gathered for a fiery meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party. It was standing room only as MPs crowded in to try and make sense of the latest Brexit development. Addressing MPs, Jeremy Corbyn struck a conciliatory tone – and according to a former shadow cabinet member present he gave one of his best speeches to date as he called on the party to come together.

Katy Balls

How can the government avoid defeat this week?

From our UK edition

Theresa May begins the week with a chunk of her party growing increasingly frustrated with her handling of Brexit. The Prime Minister announced over the weekend that she would not bring her deal back to be voted on in the coming days – instead she has promised to hold a second meaningful vote by March 12. This has led to accusations of can-kicking from members across the House. However, May has grown used to such criticism – the thing No. 10 is worried about is whether ministers will be so dismayed by the move that they vote for an amendment on Wednesday which seeks to force the government to take the option of no deal off the table. On Wednesday, MPs are due to vote on a series of amendments to May's Brexit plan.