Brexit irony overload

It was always going to be the way, that as the clock ticks down on the two year A50 timetable, that things in Parliament, Tory HQ and Brussels get more fraught. So while I am home and not traveling with work, I am able to comment on the day in Brexit.

Early this morning the EU tightened up its clauses in the agreement thrashed out with Mrs May last week, in order that DD knows what he has to do and can't palm off as a voluntary thing.

And then there was the passage of the one Great Repeal Bill. At ten past seven this evening, the Government lost Amendment 7, thus ensuring that Parliament would have to approve any deal DD reached with the EU. The Government lost by 4 votes, even after trying to sway events with an eleventh hour compromise. Some took it and either voted with the Government, or abstained.

Whether it will make any difference remains to be seen, but Parliament being sovereign was one of the main pillars of the who referendum campaign. So, Parliament asserting its sovereignty is now somehow an issue. Holding the Government to account is what Parliament is for, so finally Westminster walking should be seen as a good thing. And if the reasons for Brexit are so good, then the PM should not be worried about some scrutiny. No?

One of the main arguments against the amendment was time constraints; time constraints that May created in triggering A50 before she and her Cabinet were ready. She was warned.....

And your weekly reminder that Article 50 is ticking, it is independent of anything that is under the direct control of any UK politician or political institution. Whatever is going on in UK or Westminster, it is largely the equivalent of re-arranging deckchairs on the sinking Titanic. Might look nice but has no effect. In order for Brexit to be stopped, the Government would want it to happen, and then, in most likelihood, have to ask the EU27 for their permission. We are still a long way from the first part of that, even if Parliament rejects any deal, it is probably that there is nothing that can be done.

Parliament could have inserted all sorts of clauses in the A50 bill, but chose not to.

Of course, if it is in the interest of the EU27 to stop Brexit if asked, they would consider it, but under what terms to the UK? Might never happen of course, but then there have been so many things happen that it was said could not happen......