PM Boris forms a government

Unless Labour decide it's not in their interests to hold it right now. They send Johnson back to the EU to 'get on with it'.

But yeah I don't think there is any suggestion the opposition won't back an election. They might try to put some laws around it to prevent No 10 from moving the date.

---------- Post added at 22:38 ---------- Previous post was at 22:37 ----------

Philip Hammonds constituency have just 'confirmed his reselection'. So Tory HQ will have to override his constituency party and force someone else into the seat to deselect him (which I believe they have to power to do)

[jfman]

Originally Posted by Hugh

What a film!

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by Damien

Philip Hammonds constituency have just 'confirmed his reselection'. So Tory HQ will have to override his constituency party and force someone else into the seat to deselect him (which I believe they have to power to do)

Credit where it's due, that's quite a cunning move from his constituency party. I wonder if other constituency parties will follow suit?

Originally Posted by Hugh

Point of order.

Boris Johnson cannot call a General Election/dissolve Parliament - not his decision. It requires (at least) one Commons vote, and needs 2/3rds of MPs approval.



btw, not sure of the logic process that seems to believe if a majority vote for the bill (which has now been published by Hilary Benn) which would force the PM to request a Brexit delay to 31 January 2020 unless MPs had approved a new deal, the same majority would then vote for a dissolution of Parliament/General Election which would cause a No Deal Brexit to happen...

No point of order required- the whole point of trying to reassure Corbyn is that they need his votes to call an election.

And the reason why the Commons might vote for an election is that it dangles the possibility of a Labour government being in post before the end of October.

Tony Blair is right, of course, it’s a bear trap. But it’s one Corbyn’s messiah complex might just oblige him to fall into.

---------- Post added at 23:45 ---------- Previous post was at 23:41 ----------

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

Credit where it's due, that's quite a cunning move from his constituency party. I wonder if other constituency parties will follow suit?

Reselection planning in Hammond’s constituency has been in the planning for a little while now. It’s not quite the ringing endorsement it appears by the way; they contrived to get it rubber stamped by a sub committee rather than the whole local party. Someone down there seems to have wanted to avoid a scene. There might even be those who would be happy to see his selection overridden by central office.

[denphone]

Originally Posted by Hugh

Point of order.

Boris Johnson cannot call a General Election/dissolve Parliament - not his decision. It requires (at least) one Commons vote, and needs 2/3rds of MPs approval.

Actually teacher l know l am not one of the brightest lads in the class but l did know that it needed 2/3rds of MP's approval.

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

Credit where it's due, that's quite a cunning move from his constituency party. I wonder if other constituency parties will follow suit?

That meeting was planned way in advance. The one where it’s members were not allowed to attend. Doesn’t matter. Remainiac Hammond, would still face Whip being withdrawn.

---------- Post added at 06:45 ---------- Previous post was at 06:41 ----------

Originally Posted by Hugh

Point of order.

Boris Johnson cannot call a General Election/dissolve Parliament - not his decision. It requires (at least) one Commons vote, and needs 2/3rds of MPs approval.



btw, not sure of the logic process that seems to believe if a majority vote for the bill (which has now been published by Hilary Benn) which would force the PM to request a Brexit delay to 31 January 2020 unless MPs had approved a new deal, the same majority would then vote for a dissolution of Parliament/General Election which would cause a No Deal Brexit to happen...

That’s not a valid point of order. It doesn’t need two thirds vote to revoke the fixed term parliament act altogether.

[1andrew1]

Looks like Hammond and allies believe they have enough numbers so the unelected Australian Cummings v democratically-elected British Parliament battle is on!

[denphone]

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

Looks like Hammond and allies believe they have enough numbers so the unelected Australian Cummings v democratically-elected British Parliament battle is on!

We are not even up to mid morning yet and both sides have started already with Gavin Barwell calling the government’s Brexit negotiations a sham and Dominic Raab saying that attempts to block a no-deal Brexit is a deeply reckless and irresponsible piece of legislation.

[pip08456]

Justine Greening will not be standing for the Conservatives at the next election.

[denphone]

Originally Posted by pip08456

Justine Greening will not be standing for the Conservatives at the next election.

Keith Simpson, the MP for Broadland in Norfolk is another one who is standing down at the next general election as well.

Keith Simpson, the MP for Broadland in Norfolk, has joined Justine Greening in announcing he will step down at the next general election on Radio Norfolk. Simpson said he made the decision “months ago” but now feels like “the first officer to man the lifeboats on the Titanic”.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics...al-brexit-live

An interesting piece of speculation from the BBC’s Norman Smith this morning. If, as is sounding increasingly likely, the no-no-deal bill passes and Labour then refuses to support Boris’ call for a general election, Boris could go to the European Council on 17 October and, as mandated, ask for an extension to Art.50. Then, as a member of the European Council, he could veto the granting of an extension.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-politics-49557734

Just beat me to it- interesting approach.

No 10 has warned the prime minister would push for a general election on 14 October if MPs successfully vote to block a no-deal Brexit.

But to trigger an election Boris Johnson would need the backing of two-thirds of MPs - including some opposition MPs.

BBC assistant political editor Norman Smith says there is a growing indication Labour would not support Mr Johnson's attempts to call an early general election because they fear he could then delay the polling date until after the UK has left the EU without a deal.

So what would be Mr Johnson's options then?

Firstly he could table a motion of no confidence in his own government to trigger an election. This avenue only requires a simple majority but there is still no guarantee it would get the required support.

Secondly, Mr Johnson could simply sit on the no-deal legislation passed in the Commons to prevent it from gaining royal assent and becoming law. However, MPs would almost certainly take him to court over this and seek a judicial review, which they would most likely win.

The last option would be for Mr Johnson to go to the EU summit on 17 October with Parliament asking him to seek a delay - but then veto this. To secure a delay would require the support of all 28 members of the EU. As the UK is still a member, Mr Johnson could - however bizarre this might sound - veto his own government's position.

I wonder whether Norm came up with that idea himself, or if he’s being fed by a No.10 source. The latter, I suspect. There are a lot of mind games being played this morning, seemingly to underscore the futility of opposing Boris on this. He was quite emphatic that he wouldn’t ask for an article 50 extension yesterday ... politicians are rarely so explicit. Yet it is still much, much easier for Boris in the immediate term if the bill falls and there isn’t an election before 31 October. The government clearly wants rebels to see the pointlessness and futility of sacrificing their careers on a gesture that ultimately won’t change anything.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-politics-49557734 @11:03

Claims that Boris Johnson's top adviser does not believe in a new withdrawal agreement could be "the most damaging leak" for the prime minister, the BBC's Andrew Marr has said.

The Daily Telegraph reports today that Dominic Cummings said in internal strategy meetings he considered fresh negotiations with the EU to be a "sham".

The comments directly contradict what Mr Johnson has previously said about wanting to secure a new deal with Brussels.

From the Telegraph, BJ's/Brexit's biggest supporter.

https://twitter.com/pmdfoster/status...itics-49557734

EXC: Inside Brexit War Cabinet:

- Dominic Cummings described EU negotiation as "a sham" in internal strategy meetings, per two highly placed sources.

- AG Cox warned Johnson it was "complete fantasy" to think EU would bin backstop

https://t.co/jU8TkvAtow?amp=1

At the heart of this story is the question as to whether:

a) the Johnson administration is sincere about getting a new deal with the EU

b) if they seriously trying, having not yet presented any substantive proposals

In that meeting Sherpa David Frost made presentation entitled “Approach to engagement with the EU on renegotiation” - in which the repeated idea was to "run down the clock". That was adopted as 'formal policy'.