Fresh EU talks as court set to rule on parliament shutdown
●Johnson says he will ‘step up tempo’ of negotiations amid mounting protest
Boris Johnson and his opponents have pledged to step up their efforts to prevent a no-deal Brexit, with the government announcing a new series of intensive talks between UK and EU officials next week.
Following a visit to Brussels by the Prime Minister’s top Brexit adviser David Frost, negotiating teams are set to meet twice a week through September.
But talks will unfold against the backdrop of unrest on the streets and opposition in parliament, with campaigners threatening sit-in protests and parliamentarians pledging to debate through the night to pass legislation blocking a no-deal Brexit.
Meanwhile, a judge at the Court of Session in Edinburgh will rule this morning on an emergency application by dozens of MPS trying to block the suspension of parliament. Amid a growing backlash against Mr Johnson’s decision to close parliament for five weeks, the government now faces legal challenges in London, Edinburgh and Belfast.
After Ruth Davidson’s resignation as Scottish Tory leader, Mr Johnson suffered a second blow as Lords whip Sir George Young became the first
member of the government to quit over the decision to prorogue parliament, saying he was “very unhappy”.
The Prime Minister said fresh talks in Brussels showed he is still committed to getting a Brexit deal in the final remaining weeks.
“I have said right from my first day in office that we are ready to work in an energetic and determined way to get a deal done,” the Prime Minister said.
“While I have been encouraged with my discussions with EU leaders over recent weeks that there is a willingness to talk about alternatives to the anti-democratic backstop, it is now time for both sides to step up the tempo.
“The increase in meetings and discussions is necessary if we are to have a chance of agreeing a deal for when we leave on October 31st, no ifs no buts.”
Labour and opposition parties vowed to press ahead with attempts to block a no-deal Brexit using legislation.
Shadow international trade secretary Barry Gardiner said: “It is going to be extremely difficult.
“That’s why the government is disingenuous to say this is not about trying to stop us doing that.
“We will be seeking measures on Monday to try and have what is known as a Standing Order Section 24 debate.”
The parliamentary challenge facing the government continues to mount, with another Tory MP - the former minister Richard Harrington saying he would vote to block a no-deal Brexit next week.
Another leading voice against no-deal, the former justice secretary David Gauke, warned that next week could be the only chance for MPS seeking to block a chaotic exit from the EU. “It’s probably not in our interests to be very specific about what the proposals might be as to how we would do that,” Mr Gauke said.
“I think there are many of us who would be inclined to say that Parliament doesn’t need to take action for a while yet.
“But given the announcement that Parliament is only going to be sitting for a week next week and then really at the end of October by which point it will be too late for Parliament to do anything effective.
“Then I do think we have to look at what our options are next week.”
Laura Parker, the national coordinator of campaign group Momentum, urged its members to “protest, occupy and blockade” at demonstrations planned across the UK on Saturday.
“Eton educated millionaire Boris Johnson is stealing our democracy so he can sell off our NHS to big US corporations in a no-deal, Trump-first Brexit,” Ms Parker said.
“This is an establishment coup by a tiny, privileged elite who have been eroding our democracy for decades.
“Real power doesn’t sit with the Queen or in parliament. It’s with us, the people - and that’s why we need to take action.”
Tory MP Alex Clark was confronted by protesters outside his constituency office, and faced angry shouts as he insisted that “the actual concrete practical difference” of prorogation was small – although he admitted “the political implications are great”.
“I’ve made my position clear, what the implications of that are will be for the chief whip,” Mr Clark said.
Sources in the House of Lords were quoted saying they were prepared to sit through the night next week to ensure legislation is passed before prorogation takes effect.
Leader of the Commons Jacob Rees-mogg, who faced calls yesterday for a protest outside his home, hit back at critics, insisting the prorogation move was not intended to limit the time available for MPS to debate Brexit but will allow the government to tackle other issues.
He said: “I think the outrage is phoney and it is created by people who don’t want us to leave the European Union and are trying very hard to overturn the referendum result and don’t want the benefits of leaving the European Union.”
Ido like posh people. The posher the better, actually. Mind you, I’m not a fan of Posh Spice as I’m not sure she is proper posh. And proper posh is what today is all about.
I feared that posh people may be a dying breed. I’ve felt this for a long time as the chav era expands and we lose manners and good oldfashioned discipline and culture.
But, just when I thought posh was part of a bygone era, up pops my favourite posh person.
Enter Jacob Rees-mogg.
I think Jacob – or as I like to refer to him, the Jay-man – is probably the poshest person alive in the UK. And the best thing about it is, he doesn’t need to prove it.
The Jay-man doesn’t feel obliged to overtly show off his posh-ness. No, it comes naturally. No finger buffets with pickled onions and cheese cubes on sticks at his parties. No fancy “signature” pieces of furniture from art shops adorning his living room. And no need for fancy pants gadgets in the kitchen.
I bet he has a wood-fired range that heats half his manor.
And that is why the current Prime Minister sent him up to see the Queen at Balmoral this week. Who else would one send to Her Majesty at a time of crisis than the poshest person in the UK.
And I bet she just loved it. Of course, we have been told the ceremony was all brief and businesslike. But, I bet she couldn’t wait to offer Jacob tea afterwards. I bet they both loved it, actually, as proper posh meets Royal posh. What one might call a posh-fest.
A stroke of genius on the part of the Prime Minister.
But, Jacob is more than just a posh voice with posh little spectacles and pinstripe suits.
No, this chap is clever and educated
and cultured and a presenter on LBC, no less. And it is by listening to him on the tranny that one gets a full appreciation of what it means to be posh. Otherwise I would have no access to him. When answering questions from the public who, by the way, adore him, he excels.
Not only can he make vastly complicated problems of statute and parliamentary procedure seem clear and reasonable to people like me, he always comes across as credible and honest. In fact, there are times I think he and I could be good buddies and he could babysit the kids while I head to yoga. He would like that I do yoga and not play fivea-side. Puts me in the posh bracket.
And while he is posh, he is also a self-made millionaire, running his own investment business.
So, while not aristocratically funded and posh, he is self-made posh. This gives him even more credibility in the posh leagues as he has gotten his hands dirty – the Jay-man has worked for his dough and is now bringing this ethic to politics.
I don’t know where he gets the time.
But to be fair, as he is so posh, he doesn’t do the chores that we do. Only this week, I was doing my ironing. Crazily, I find it therapeutic. I listened to the radio and Jacob was being interviewed.
And at that moment I knew I was not, and am never going to be, posh. I don’t have a butler. No, Jacob doesn’t appear to like to do the washing, ironing or the putting away of clothes. As proper posh he has a personal butler who looks after all that sort of thing. And that is exactly what I am going to get if I win the £107 million on the Euromillions tonight.
I shall get him from the same place the Jay-man got his. There must be school for butlers some
where and I want the top of the class.
Living outside Westminster is all well and good for many. But not Jacob. No, he has purchased a big hoose just along the road from the Palace of Westminster. He’s not making a statement of intent or showing off his cash, it’s a signal that while he may never be the head honcho at No 10 Downing Street, he jolly well could buy it – and Number 11 – if he wanted to. And it lets his kids know where they belong in life. Deeply embedded with posh people. I don’t think they will ever ride the Tube on sweltering hots days.
I honesty cannot think of a more decent chap living on these islands who could scoop the national award – poshest man in Britain. Jacob would win it hands down, then give an eloquent speech leaving us laughing and in awe at his demeanour and humility. If you get the chance and want a lesson in proper posh from the number one parliamentarian of our times, then get listening to the radio.
Jacob is not hiding away in his castle somewhere, plotting and shooting. No, he is a man of the people and is not afraid to mix it up a little.
If you do know anyone posher I’d be surprised. But, up until that time, hail Jacob Rees-mogg, the poshest man in Britain.