PERIOD OF CHAOS
withdrawal agreement. In the case of Boris’s deal this week, the rejection was badly misguided, for the Prime Minister had pulled off a masterstroke at Brussels.
Against all the predictions of doubters, he secured significant concessions from the EU, came up with a practical compromise on the question of the Irish border, gave us the freedom to negotiate our own trade deals and ended any future control of Britain by Brussels.
Forged by his own charisma and resolution, his deal deserved a better fate than the stubborn antipathy of the Letwin backers.
Indeed, its rejection seems only to have fed the arrogance and intransigence of the Remainers, many of whom gathered in central London yesterday on their march to demand a second referendum or so-called People’svote.
In ugly scenes atwestminster yesterday, several leadingtories were subjected to ferocious abuse by elements of the pro-eu mob. Jacob Rees-mogg and his family even needed a police escort home. But such bullying cannot hide the fact that the Brexit wreckers are without a principle and without a democratic case.
That shone through the Parliamentary debate on the deal, where the pro-government speakers were far more effective.
In a statesmanlike, emollient performance in which he eschewed his usual knockabout style, Boris Johnson set the tone.
He was matched by the impressive Mr Barclay, who displayed a rich grasp of forensic detail, and by Michael Gove who, in his usual eloquent way, warned that faith in British democracy would be shattered if the referendum were overturned. In contrast, most of the opposition contributors were dire. for debate, when in reality Parliament has done little except discuss Brexit for the last three years.
They wailed about the supposed threat to workers’ rights from EU withdrawal, even though the Government has given a commitment that such rights will be protected.
Moreover, when national sovereignty is restored under Brexit, it will be up to Parliament to decide on further safeguards if that is what the British people want.
One of the most offensive sights yesterday was to watch Labour MPS line up to pose as defenders of the Union with Northern Ireland.
“Thetories are putting the Union at risk,” moaned one, while another declared that Johnson had “sold the people of Northern Ireland down the river”.
Such rhetoric is nauseating from members of a party that is led by Corbyn and John Mcdonnell, two ideologues who have been fervent in their support for violent Irish Republicanism.
Just as grotesque was the pretence from Labour MPS that they backed Letwin to avoid no-deal.that is an insult to our intelligence.
In truth, the only way to avoid no-deal is to back a deal, which is precisely what Labour MPS refused to do yesterday.
It was the brave Labour backbencher Caroline Flint, one of the more sensible voices in the party, who saw through this charade.
Describing the Letwin scheme as “a panic measure”, she said that the sole object of the amendment was “to delay Brexit and stop it”.
Even though her own side did not like this truth, she was absolutely right.
Her conviction is borne partly of representing a constituency, Donvalley, that voted for Leave. Unlike most of her colleagues, she respects the democratic wishes of the electorate.
Although he endured a serious setback yesterday, Boris Johnson was magnificently undaunted. As a result of Letwin amendment, he has been forced legally to ask the EU for an Article 50 extension but he is still determined to push his deal through Parliament.
That is why the legislation to enact the agreement will come back to the Commons early this week. Boris may have lost the battle, but with his optimism and force of personality, he will still win the war.