1) What Dominic did
There may be solid behind the scenes reasons for Grieve voting against his own amendment, but what he did today is very symbolic
Other votes were important but this was the big one, the meaningful vote, and Grieve has made a grave error for a number of reasons
There may be solid behind the scenes reasons for Grieve voting against his own amendment, but what he did today is very symbolic
Other votes were important but this was the big one, the meaningful vote, and Grieve has made a grave error for a number of reasons
2) Firstly the entire Labour "soft #Brexit" strategy was built around the meaningful vote. It may have been real, it may have been fluff, but it was one potential line of defence that Grieve has now weakened.
Labour were clear and the 6 tests were being mentioned again
Labour were clear and the 6 tests were being mentioned again
3) Secondly the meaningful vote amendment was something everyone could get behind & was hard to criticize.
EEA amendments had pros & cons and didn't satisfy all anti brexiters but this was easy to defend and support across the spectrum
EEA amendments had pros & cons and didn't satisfy all anti brexiters but this was easy to defend and support across the spectrum
4) this will discourage hugely any future "rebellion" - why would any MP who was wavering stand up and be counted in future if a big beast like Grieve will fold.
Yes, maybe he didn't fold, maybe he won some concessions, but the optics are, he folded
Yes, maybe he didn't fold, maybe he won some concessions, but the optics are, he folded
5) it will be very difficult if not impossible to attack any Labour party mass abstentions or pro Brexit behaviour in future.
I remain convinced that Corbyn is a Brexiter, but if I attack him in future Corbynites will point at Grieve, with some justification
I remain convinced that Corbyn is a Brexiter, but if I attack him in future Corbynites will point at Grieve, with some justification
6) in fact if Corbyn *is* a Brexiter, this gives him the perfect out. "We wanted a meaningful vote but the Tory rebels messed it up"
7) Finally....of course every MP should vote with his conscience, we've been saying it all along. But when Grieve spoke against his own amendment he was turning his back on all the MPs & Lords who took frankly a lot of shit to get his amendment in
8) the fact is Grieve wasn't only talking for himself, but for the hundreds with him, and his admittedly personal decision threw their work and hopes in the bin
A terrible decision & a grave strategic error. He's let a lot of people down
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A terrible decision & a grave strategic error. He's let a lot of people down
End/
Ps) that all said, I haven't lost hope. #PeoplesVote remains our best chance & I still have faith in the incompetence of David Davis, I still believe #Brexit will reverse as the pressure mounts...
But what was Grieve thinking?
But what was Grieve thinking?
