They have acted without honour

JOHN Catt’s letter ( Echo November 20) starts with a wrong premise, namely “Mrs May had some cross-party support for her deal ……” and goes on to suggest the Brexit impasse is down to the Conservatives before concluding that a solution is just to remain EU members. The premise exposed.

The table above is Hansard House of Commons data and gives the votes cast by party with the numbers in brackets representing votes cast against.

The first three rows are Mrs May’s three ‘meaningful votes’ on her deal, then Johnson’s deal and then his timetable for the deal to become law.

Yes, there were some dissenting Conservative MPs (in ever diminishing numbers) but the failure to approve the deal clearly rests with national parties, Labour and Lib Dems.

So very little opposition from within Conservative ranks with the ERG being vociferous but few in number.

MPs by Party at Parliament Dissolution 6th Nov 2019 Total 650

Con 298, Lab 243, Lib Dem 20, Independent 24, Ind Group Change 5, SNP 35, DUP 10, Plaid Cymru 4, Green 1, Sinn Fein Speaker & Vacant 10

Cross party talks were ultimately held between Conservative and Labour parties but by then Labour had fully abandoned it’s position of 2016 (when it supported both the referendum and the leave decision), voted through 2019 against Brexit whilst on it’s relentless path to becoming a fully fledged Remain party.

What could Mrs May have offered to gain any Labour support?

Finally MPs have consistently shown their willingness to amend, derail or delay any legislation which progressed Brexit yet been able to introduce, debate and pass legislation within 24 hours when it’s purpose was to restrict Brexit. Allowing the current governments bill to remain before parliament without a strict timetable would have been incompetent. Most of the bill had been under scrutiny for the whole of 2019.

Leaving the EU (or in popular jargon – Brexit) is done when the extensions end, with or without the UK and EU agreeing and legislating a withdrawal agreement. Then it is open knowledge that we move to the Political Declaration, 2nd Phase, new relationships (describe it as you choose) stage. John Catt details a long list of agreements required yet none of them are new, they exist the world over. Some may extend to localities whilst others are global, it just depends upon what a country requires.

A peculiar advantage we have with the EU, but not with prospective new partners, is that all these agreements exist and just need modifying.

It is amazing what can be achieved when it is done with purpose and determination and no procrastination.

So I stand by my opinion that the national political parties of Labour and Liberal Democrats have not acted with honour, have been dishonest and unprincipled, and shown no respect for democracy in their actions over Brexit. My reasons remain as detailed in my letter ( Echo November 13).

As the General Election draws near, the Echo would like to ask that any letter writer, actively involved with any political party, to declare their interests when signing their correspondence. We ask this in the interest of honest and open debate. thank you Andy Rush Echo editor