Alastair Campbell and Peter Mandelson Accused of Attempted Coup Against Roland Rudd
After years of pushing to cancel the result of the 2016 referendum, it turns out there is a line some Remainers don’t want to be seen to cross – and the Lib Dems have crossed that line.
Yesterday, Anna Soubry’s sent an email attacking the Lib Dems’ new extremist position, and over the course of today a number of fellow second referendum-supporting MPs have also come out to attack Swinson, including the ‘Independent Group for Change’s Chris Leslie and Greens’ Caroline Lucas who launched a blistering attack of the Lib Dems’ new policy, saying:
Brexit referendum didn’t deliver the outcome many of us hoped for
But you can’t pretend the result didn’t happen. LibDems are doing just that
You can’t turn back the clock.
Nor ignore the 17m who voted LeaveThis doesn’t strengthen our democracy. It further imperils it https://t.co/5C5XfMnjqm
— Caroline Lucas (@CarolineLucas) September 16, 2019
The revolution eats its own…
UPDATE: Anna Soubry’s attack is particularly audacious, given that she herself called for revoking Article 50 during the EU elections.
Reading through the People’s Vote senior team’s private WhatsApp messages, Guido was struck by one particular exchange from the day Boris visited a prison and discovered where lags stuff Kinder Eggs in order to smuggle contraband into prison.
In the exchange, Head of Strategic Communications – hopes the prisoners give Boris “a warm welcome”, to which Director of Communications Tom Baldwin replies “He slipped in the shower”. Who knows what fantasy was going through Tom’s mind?
One unexpectedly joyous by-product of the change of policy by the LibDems, to ignoring the referendum result totally, is that over at the People’s Vote campaign Tom Baldwin wants to purge LibDem MPs. James McGrory, the former LibDem SpAd for Clegg, is trying to keep them on board. Anna Soubry is saying they must be purged. So much for plurality and a new kind of centrist politics. Chaos….
UPDATE: Anna Soubry, a founder member of the People’s Vote, has sent an email attacking the LibDems new position, she argues:
Simply to revoke Article 50 without a further referendum, as my Lib Dem colleagues believe and have adopted as their policy, is simply wrong.
Dressing up the policy in clever semantics about hypothetical and fanciful situations are lost on an electorate tired of politicians playing politics and not being honest with them.
The Lib Dem policy of ‘revoke without a referendum’ stokes fears that they have not learnt from the mistake of tuition fees; that they will again say one thing to win a vote but when in power will do something very different.
The British people need honesty and clarity. And we are clear – we need a People’s Vote – with a responsible “deal” versus Remain on the ballot paper. If voters chose to Leave then at least they will have given their informed consent to Brexit.
Tom Balwin has tweeted that our story is bollocks. Am assured that the question of the LibDem’s status with the campaign is being actively discussed in the office. Perhaps Tom should take the time to explain to campaign staff what the position is with regard to Chuka for example…
Rebel MPs’ planned legislation to force the Government to delay Brexit beyond the 31st will not provide an extension long enough to hold a second referendum, according to darling of FBPE Twitter, Nick Boles…
The former Tory MP has said Letwin’s bill will only extend Article 50 for “a couple of months”; with UCL’s Constitution Unit having said a second referendum would take “a minimum of 22 weeks” to conduct – 12 weeks to pass the legislation and another 10 weeks to organise the campaign and hold the vote. Of course, the biggest barrier to a second referendum remains MPs repeatedly voting against having one…
The Financial Times is reporting splits amongst the rebel MPs, with other Remainers wanting to extend Article 50 until May 2020. The compromise date could be “brought forward to mollify Labour MPs in Leave seats” however. How can No. 10 possibly win against such a united remain front?..
Since Boris became PM and Brexit by the 31st October has become do or die, the People’s Vote campaign have been looking like lambs going to the slaughter. However today they stepped up their hitherto unsuccessful protests by driving sheep past the Department for Trade to bleat out their woolly message about the supposed dire consequences of a No Deal Brexit. Just more fake ewes.
As the Remainers flocked down Whitehall however, one unlucky volunteer was forced to sheepishly walk behind the protest stunt with a dustpan and bucket clearing up their mess Greta-style. Guido has always said those calling for a second referendum are just wolves in sheep’s clothing…
