New Delhi: On Tuesday night, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson found his powers substantially reduced after the Parliament voted to seize control over the house’s legislative agenda for Wednesday. This would let the Parliament pass a bill compelling Johnson to ask the European Union (EU) for an extension on the Brexit deadline.
Immediately, Johnson had announced that if the Brexit delay bill is passed, he would call for a snap election.
To bring about this motion, 21 legislators from Johnson’s Conservative Party had aligned with the Labour Party and won the vote by 328 to 301. This leaves UK on the brink of a snap election and the Conservative Party on the verge of disintegration.
‘Rebel coalition’
The “rebel coalition” – 21 Conservative Party MPs, led by former chancellor (finance minister) Philip Hammond, the Labour Party and other opposition parties – came together to take control of Parliament’s agenda Wednesday.
The rebel coalition aimed to pass a bill that would end the possibility of a no deal Brexit.
The existing Brexit deadline is 31 October and if the EU and UK fail to reach an agreement by then, the UK would crash out of the EU. This would adversely affect UK’s economy and lead to a number of logistical issues for British firms, ports and border patrolling.
The rebel coalition aims to avert this ‘no deal’ Brexit. They plan to pass a bill which would compel the government to seek an extension on the 31 October deadline.
As one of the primary pro-Brexit voices, Johnson wants to avoid seeking an extension. He announced that if the Parliament voted in favour of a “Brexit delay”, he would immediately call for a snap election.
What is at stake here
There are quite a few major things at stake here.
Firstly, Johnson has threatened rebel MPs of his Conservative Party that if they vote against him he would “lift the whip” and ensure that they can’t contest elections on a Conservative party ticket.
The rebel MPs include some prominent faces such as former ministers Hammond, Greg Clark, Dominic Grieve and others. It also included Nicholas Soames, the grandson of Johnson’s hero Winston Churchill.
If these leaders are unable to contest from a Conservative Party ticket, it would make the party’s disintegration imminent.
Secondly, Johnson’s threat to call for a snap election has added further instability to an already turbulent scenario in British politics. The Conservatives have a considerable lead in the opinion polls, over the opposition Labour party. But a snap election over the Brexit question might lead to unexpected outcomes and the possible election of a hard-left Labour leader such as Jeremy Corbyn.
The UK parliament will vote on the possible extension of the Brexit deadline Wednesday. If the vote succeeds, it would likely be followed by another poll on a snap election.
British Brexit Mess and Their Embarrassment
Great Briton specifically for the last five years (probably about 70 years in all) has been making fun of India no matter how smartly India conducts itself. They on the outside give an appearance of the friendliest former colonial overlord, but in fact are encouraging its media and a lot of its hostile population to verbally abuse or break the windows of India’s High Commission. These deeds are always overlooked to favor Pakistan. No media man has ever come out in Briton to compliment India for its fine economic management. They simply wish to report negative news and analysis. Has any media person condemned attack on the Indian High Commission.
Today it is India’s turn to make fun of Briton of its own economic mess in its divorce from Europe. It was Conservative PM Edward Heath in the 1970s and also other former PMs which literally begged the European Common Market to let them get into the trade grouping. After reservations, Germany and France let Briton in. British economic gains were good, but none were spectacular. Both Germany and France stayed as the masters which was to the dislike of Briton. By and by a host of other countries joined the grouping and its charter included the free movement of goods, services, capital and citizens. All other conditions did not bother Britons much except the liberal movement of labor. Suddenly Britons found that they are neighbors of Romanians or other non English speaking nationalities. That didn’t sit well with them, although a similar number of Britons had travelled to Europe seeking better prospects which they did like. Since then a host of other issues have cropped up which they did not like.
A few years back, movement to leave European Market began. It caught steam soon and the British Parliament became a big party to all these discussions. Prime Ministers came and went, but could not get a favorable formula for the divorce. The current PM made plans to leave on October 31st but was unable to persuade the Parliament for a favorable vote. Instead, he found his powers substantially curtailed when the House voted to take away the PM’s power for a un-negotiated divorce. It was partly a few of his own party MPs who voted against going away without a deal. Prior to that a big sticking point had emerged as to where about will the land border with Europe would be set. The only place for it to begin seemed to be Ireland. Untold custom and excise issues emerged, and no understanding could be reached. That is fun, same kind they are critical of India.
Mavericks in the PM’s Party had a large economic concern as they calculated that $16 billion Trade loss (or call it a shock) would be forthcoming, if a Briton leaves without a deal. Future years’ losses could be higher. Hence, the only option left is a new government, a new snap poll, a bitter campaign to re-look at the issue. That is all fun. We must enjoy this British stupidity and remind them that how they laugh at other people’s difficulties.
Today let us sweep aside all above facts and start making fun of them as they have been making fun of India’s economic mess under Gandhi’s. The latter are gone, Indian economic management is better and today India is close to $3 trillion economy. But the Britons never stopped making fun of India or being critical of India trying to attain a super power status of its own (unlike China without US and Europe FDI investment to the tune of nearly one trillion dollars since 1997).
How are the Britons doing today – really poorly. How will they fare in the future – very poorly for 3 to 5 years. Who will bail them out – most likely countries like India, US and so forth with a large consumption centers, provided a proper trade deal is struck.
Then why this anti Indian attitude on the left oriented British Media against India is rife. But in the last six weeks the British media is in an overdrive to criticize India about Jammu and Kashmir re-organization. That overdrive has led to the demonstration outside Indian High Commission and breaking of its windows. This is purely India’s internal matter. India has been never critical of the Britons military occupation for more than twenty years of Northern Ireland. India always supported caution to the warring parties which Briton is unable to do to the Kashmiris.
Well, coming back to Brexit, the outcome could be that by hook or by crook Briton will crash out of Europe and then it will go searching for trade deals elsewhere. India may or may not oblige until Briton drops its anti Indian attitude.