Iain Dale's open letter to the European Research Group
Not best pleased when I arrived home from the council meeting to see that the European Research Group in parliament have been undermining not just the Prime Minister but Britain's negotiating position in Europe.
As Liam Fox put it,
“Our European partners will be watching our debate and listening today to see if they get the impression that if they were to make those concessions Parliament would definitely deliver. There's a danger that we send the wrong signals.”
The European Union is less likely to bother offering concessions to Britain on the "backstop" or any other aspect of the proposed Withdrawal Agreement to avoid a "No deal" Brexit if they think Prime Minister is still not going to be able to get any revised deal through the House of Commons.
Five Conservative MPs who voted against the government today - four pro-Brexit ultras and one pro-Remain ultra - and about fifty who abstained, mostly pro-Brexit hardliners, and caused the government to lose a vote tonight. They may have been trying to "send a signal" in the words of Leave.EU.
But whatever signal they meant to send, there is a danger that the one received by the EU will be that there is no point offering the UK any concessions. As the strongly pro-Brexit commentator Iain Dale tweeted this evening, the "European Research Group" (ERG) have provided, quote,
"An object lesson in how to undermine the Prime Minister's negotiating position in Brussels."
A couple of weeks ago, Iain Dale wrote "An open letter to the ERG" which appears even more apposite now than it was at the time.
He started
"Dear ERG,
Have you gone completely stark, staring mad?
Glad to have got your attention..."
He pointed out the need to
"give the Prime Minister the authority she needs to return to Brussels and tell them exactly what she wants.
Your group seems to think this is something bad. Let me tell you, what would be bad is if she goes back to Brussels with no idea what she can get through the House of Commons."
Quite.
As Liam Fox put it,
“Our European partners will be watching our debate and listening today to see if they get the impression that if they were to make those concessions Parliament would definitely deliver. There's a danger that we send the wrong signals.”
The European Union is less likely to bother offering concessions to Britain on the "backstop" or any other aspect of the proposed Withdrawal Agreement to avoid a "No deal" Brexit if they think Prime Minister is still not going to be able to get any revised deal through the House of Commons.
Five Conservative MPs who voted against the government today - four pro-Brexit ultras and one pro-Remain ultra - and about fifty who abstained, mostly pro-Brexit hardliners, and caused the government to lose a vote tonight. They may have been trying to "send a signal" in the words of Leave.EU.
But whatever signal they meant to send, there is a danger that the one received by the EU will be that there is no point offering the UK any concessions. As the strongly pro-Brexit commentator Iain Dale tweeted this evening, the "European Research Group" (ERG) have provided, quote,
"An object lesson in how to undermine the Prime Minister's negotiating position in Brussels."
A couple of weeks ago, Iain Dale wrote "An open letter to the ERG" which appears even more apposite now than it was at the time.
He started
"Dear ERG,
Have you gone completely stark, staring mad?
Glad to have got your attention..."
He pointed out the need to
"give the Prime Minister the authority she needs to return to Brussels and tell them exactly what she wants.
Your group seems to think this is something bad. Let me tell you, what would be bad is if she goes back to Brussels with no idea what she can get through the House of Commons."
Quite.
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