
David Callaghan: Whatever happened to the Liberal Democrats?
Exactly a decade after forming a government with the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats are languishing on the political fringes – where did it all go wrong?
Exactly a decade after forming a government with the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats are languishing on the political fringes – where did it all go wrong?
Getting a deal on the future relationship in a mere 11 months will be challenging, but it is not impossible.
The Brexit Secretary insists that the European Union has to accept a replacement to the backstop, which he describes as a “unicorn”.
Shami Chakrabarti, the Shadow Attorney General, claims the Opposition will seek one after the Benn Act has been complied with.
“I don’t think there’s much to be gained from speculating on what we may or may not do, what tactics we might choose to deploy later on.”
You might blame Parliament for the fact that the Prime Minister will have broken his promise but Parliament didn’t force him to make that promise.
If Benn and others seek to bind the Prime Minister to the letter of their Surrender Bill, then he should oblige – by following it in exacting detail.
The Chancellor responds to reports that Boris Johnson might try to defy the bill mandating him to extend Article 50.
The former Party Chairman and Chief Whip says the only way to save moderate conservatism is to get Brexit through.
Once again, Remainers are bolstering the separatists even as they lecture Brexiteers on the importance of the Union.
Even amongst those keen to use it as a lesson, there is not yet any willingness to take the blame for a no-deal departure.
He praises the work done by civil servants to prepare for exit without a deal – and suggests the Prime Minister has not been fully informed of their progress.
Those who backed the motion included Guto Bebb, Antointte Sandbach and Ed Vaizey.
That’s variously for a customs union; for a custom arrangement plus the Single Market; for a second referendum, and for staying in the EU.
PS: We make that 28 Spartans and six Remainers. The Prime Minister won only nine votes from across the floor, and lost the DUP.