Theresa May set to wait until last week of March to start Brexit

[brooklynite]

Source: The Guardian

Theresa May has quashed speculation that she would trigger article 50 on Tuesday and is now likely to wait until the final week of March to start Britain’s exit from the EU, the Guardian understands.

Whitehall figures had earlier said the prime minister was likely to move quickly this week if MPs and peers signed off as expected on legislation to allow the formal process of leaving the EU to begin.

Downing Street sources have repeatedly said May would take the action “by the end of March” but had failed to dismiss days of media reports that article 50 would be triggered this Tuesday.

That led to rumours in Westminster that a delay – perhaps until 27 March – was linked to the decision of Scotland’s first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, to push for a second independence referendum by the spring of 2019. One suggestion was that May did not want to appear cavalier about the future of the union by rushing to trigger article 50 a day after Sturgeon’s statement.

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/mar/13/theresa-may-unlikely-to-trigger-article-50-before-end-of-march

[Demsrule86]

1. So unelected Theresa May will preside over the dismantling of the UK

Ireland and Scotland will leave...perhaps Ireland will unify finally.

[brooklynite]

2. Um, "unelected"?

While it's true that she wasn't directed elected as PM, that's the case for most Parliamentary democracies.

[Demsrule86]

3. She didn't even run...the other guy resigned...she is a POS...like Trump.

[brooklynite]

4. This suggests you have no actual understanding of UK politics...

On 30 June 2016, May announced her candidacy for the leadership of the Conservative Party to replace David Cameron, who resigned following the outcome of the European Union membership referendum in which 52% of voters voted in favour of leaving the EU. May emphasised the need for unity within the party regardless of positions on leaving the EU, saying she could bring "strong leadership" and a "positive vision" for the country's future. Despite having backed a vote to remain in the EU, she insisted that there would be no second referendum, saying: "The campaign was fought... and the public gave their verdict. There must be no attempts to remain inside the EU, no attempts to rejoin it through the back door... Brexit means Brexit". An opinion poll that day found 47% of people choosing May as their preferred candidate to be Prime Minister.

May's supporters included a number of Cabinet ministers, such as Amber Rudd, Chris Grayling, Justine Greening, Jeremy Hunt, Michael Fallon and Patrick McLoughlin. She won the first round of voting on 5 July, receiving support from 165 MPs, with rivals Andrea Leadsom receiving 66 votes and Michael Gove 48. After the results were announced, May said she was "pleased" and "grateful" for the support of other MPs and confirmed that she wanted to unite the party and the UK, to negotiate the "best possible deal as we leave the EU", and to "make Britain work for everyone". The two candidates with the fewest votes, Liam Fox and Stephen Crabb, immediately announced their support for May. May came in first place in the second ballot on 7 July with an overwhelming majority of 199 MPs, compared with 84 for Leadsom and 46 for Gove, who was eliminated. Afterwards, May stated that she was delighted with her support among MPs, and she progressed to a vote of the Conservative Party membership against Leadsom.

On 11 July, Leadsom announced her withdrawal from the leadership contest hours after May had made her first official campaign speech, saying her lack of support amongst Conservative MPs compared to May would be too great a hindrance to becoming a credible Prime Minister. As the sole remaining candidate, May was formally declared Leader of the Conservative Party that evening--Wikipedia

[Demsrule86]

5. I understand how it works...She is a conservative. She will destroy the UK.

She was not elected by voters. She could and should call for another election.

"Just over a year after the last general election, the Conservatives have plunged the UK into chaos with David Cameron gambled with the country on Brexit, and now a Tory leadership election has turned into a coronation.

It is simply inconceivable that Theresa May should be crowned prime minister without even having won an election in her own party, let alone the country. I believe there must be a general election. I thought it when Gordon Brown became prime minister and I think it now. The Conservatives must not be allowed to ignore the electorate, particularly now their mandate is shattered and whatever programme May offers can’t look like the platform she stood on in 2015.

Britain needs a strong, united and effective opposition and I believe the Liberal Democrats can provide it.

In an early election the Liberal Democrats will set out an optimistic, positive plan for Britain. We will stabilise the economy, improve education, deliver a new deal for our NHS, restore the green agenda, and secure Britain’s place at the heart of Europe.

The Fixed Term Parliaments Act contains provisions to dissolve parliament early
Theresa May should show leadership and tell the Queen when she visits Buckingham Palace this week that there will be an election in due course. Because the case for an early election is overwhelming."


https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jul/12/general-election-government-mandate-theresa-may
Some people have raised the Fixed Term Parliaments Act as an obstacle to an election, but I don’t buy that argument.

[brooklynite]

6. Lib-Dems?

If I were British, I might well vote for them, but at 8% (down from 10%), I don't see them leading the opposition.

[Demsrule86]

7. I am just saying that if they are going to take this step...the person doing it should be elected.

I don't like and fail to understand how the Brits vote for these people...I have family in Ireland and England. In fact Hubs is first generation and has the right of return to Ireland which we may very well do it things get too bad here.

[Demsrule86]

8. I often use the UK as an example when people cry about how we need multiple parties.

Obviously, this often leads to minority rule.

[muriel_volestrangler]

10. And that requires about 100 Labour or SNP MPs to vote for the election

(so, over 40 Labour, at least) which Labour won't do without breaking itself apart - and if they did that, they'd do even worse in the election. So it's not going to happen.

Farron's article is either disingenuous, or he's really clueless. I normally expect better of him. He ought to know, and be honest, about a fixed term parliament.

[Demsrule86]

13. Thanks for the informatiion...wasn't sure what to think.

[Demsrule86]

9. I should say...I admire a parliamentary system in general...

There does not seem to be gridlock like what we experience.

[OnDoutside]

11. It isn't perfect either, especially as the Conservative seats are heavily based in the south of

England rather than Scotland/Wales/Northern Ireland/Northern England, so a lot of their policies/views are shaped by the more affluent population. Labour are a basket case under Corbyn, so there is no effective opposition.

On top of all that, the Conservatives have completely ignored the border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, which is going to be a massive problem, no matter what deal the UK gets from Europe.

[Demsrule86]

12. It sounds very complicated...my cousin

is fairly well off ...and not political. Although he was horrified about Brexit.

[OnDoutside]

14. It is a mess. I cling to the hope that SOMEHOW there will be a second referendum to give the final

yes/no to whatever deal is thrashed out.

The entire EU project is in peril by what the UK did in voting for Brexit. If the UK gets a good deal, it will encourage other countries like Denmark, Holland etc to do the same. Perhaps with Putin in the background, Le Pen might win in France. If that happens the EU will split, and then the unprotected Baltic countries (along with the likes of Hungary to the south) might come back under the Russian sphere of influence. The dangers are obvious and great.

[roamer65]

15. If the fascist Le Pen steals the French election, then the Euro will come unglued.

The unraveling of a major reserve currency will mean a world wide depression.