What should the Prime Minister do first?

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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Boris Johnson Raised The Issue Of Northern Ireland Export Forms With Jean-Claude Juncker. And Then Agreed To Them.                                                                                                        The prime minister was fully aware that the issue of export forms would be problematic back home, but signed it off anyway in order to secure the agreement with the EU.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                www.buzzfeed.com

chopples

The labour mps Who voted for it only took issue with environment and workers rights, they defied the whip to back it, you do not do that unless you believe in it imo. I also think this is an area the government could offer assurances on.

There  was at least 5 independent ex Torys who stated they would back it as is, on top of the 299 which we know support it due to the Letwin amendment. Suggests the potential is there to get it through

Pacifico

No it has not..  

psikey

Boris isn't going to risk a 2nd vote being attached to it.

Pacifico

chopples

yep I did mention in another post that a custom union would be the main concern (more so than a second ref), maybe other thread, but as long as the government controlled  timetable the bill could be pulled at that stage, not all of the 19 would back the custom union imo But ken Clarke and a couple of other ex Torys would

chopples

No chance mate, if the numbers where there then it could have been added to an earlier bill, like Benn. Such as in the event of no agreement with eu an extension should be sort in order to ask British public etc.......

some of the labour rebels feel the same way as the Torys on this point

psikey

But many of the deselected Tories do want a 2nd referendum so may be too close to risk.

Looks like he's trying something new now to allow more debate but sign up to a GE on 12th.

chopples

I dont agree mate, customs union is by far the bigger risk, even @Pacifico reply to me suggest 25 labour MPs would not back the ref amendment. Both these amendments would have been heard even with the original timetable so I do not think it’s worth using It as a reason not to revisit the bill unless you did not want the bill to pass in the first place

Interesting re election, not had chance to keep up with the news today, will check it out now

cheers

doug56hl

Seems to be a lot of doubt amongst Conservative MPs and others on the wisdom of going for an election before Christmas. Weeks of party election broadcasts when people are looking forward to a bit of Black Friday shopping and getting in training for switching off/zoning out for christmas revelry  may not go down to well with voters..

Conservative MPs are privately concerned that Boris Johnson’s call for a general election is a gamble that could easily backfire.

Several Scottish Tory MPs have also voiced fears about calling for a winter vote before Brexit has been delivered. One Scottish party source said: “This would not wash with our voters. I hope my colleagues are right when they say that we won’t get an election. We go for a vote in the spring, when a deal has been done.”

Some senior Tories are concerned that Johnson will struggle to portray an election as a fight for Brexit, given that the withdrawal agreement bill was passed by MPs this week at its second reading.
Wary Tories say Johnson’s election gamble could be seen as a stunt

ConservativeHome is very cautious about making a dash for the line now, especially on the basis of a claim about the Bill that doesn’t necessarily stand up.  To win, the Party probably has to win a mass of northern and Midlands seats to make up for losses in London and the south.  Is it really likely that the Tory campaign can, say, decapitate Tom Watson in West Bromwich, as the Party aims to do, without Brexit having been delivered?

To our mind, Nigel Farage complaining that the Conservatives have yet again failed to achieve Brexit sounds more persuasive than him complaining that it has achieved a version he doesn’t like.  And the Brexit Party factor will matter in a campaign: after all, its rise coincided with the fall of Theresa May.
The case for and against seeking a general election this year | Conservative Home