UK - Politika i društvo

otto katz wrote:

Germany's Maas: No Brexit extension beyond October

MPs to be given fresh vote on Brexit customs union as Tories face Euro election ‘wipe-out’

EXCLUSIVE: Commons will get new vote on customs union within weeks

The Commons will get a new vote on a customs union in a few weeks in order to try to break the Brexit deadlock, amid warnings that Theresa May’s Conservatives are walking into a “wipe-out” in the European elections.

Veteran MP Frank Field told the Standard that he plans to move a motion with the Father of the House, Kenneth Clarke, to show that a smooth trading bloc is a solution that commands cross-party support.

Mr Field said a backbencher-led move would also get Mrs May and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn “off the hook” of having to sign a formal compromise deal that could trigger civil war in their parties.

“I think if it comes from the backbenches, neither of the party leaders can be accused of dividing their parties. I would be confident of getting it through,” he said.

Mr Field’s move came as polls showed Tory support plunging following Mrs May’s decision to allow European elections to go ahead if she fails to get her thrice-rejected withdrawal agreement through the Commons.

A YouGov survey found the Tories down to 28 per cent in Westminster elections and 16 per cent in the European contest.

...

“I think if it comes from the backbenches, neither of the party leaders can be accused of dividing their parties. I would be confident of getting it through,” he said.

European Parliament voting intention:

BREX: 27%
LAB: 22%
CON: 15%
GRN: 10%
LDEM: 9%
UKIP: 7%
CHUK: 6%

via @YouGov, 15 - 16 Apr

— Britain Elects (@britainelects) April 17, 2019

Conservative 15
Labour 23
Liberal Democrat 10
Scottish National Party (SNP) / Plaid Cymru 4
Green 8
UK Independence Party (UKIP) 7
Brexit Party 26
Change UK - The Independent Group 5
Some other party 1

Conservative 15
Labour 15
Liberal Democrat 15
Scottish National Party (SNP) / Plaid Cymru 5
Green 10
UK Independence Party (UKIP) 6
Brexit Party 25
Change UK - The Independent Group 7
Some other party 1

Theresa May could face an unprecedented no-confidence vote among grassroots Tories as local party chairman look to trigger a little-known process that could be "devastating to her authority".

Party chairs have been circulating a petition that could force the National Conservative Convention - the most senior body of the Tories' voluntary wing - to hold an extraordinary general meeting where the vote could be held.

If the petition attracts more than 65 signatures, the party is obliged to hold the meeting. According to the Daily Telegraph, between 40 and 50 chairs have already signed it and that figure could hit the threshold as early as next week.

Dinah Glover, the London East area chairman started the petition, told the newspaper: "There is a lot of frustration and anger within the party – this is a route that we have to demonstrate those feelings so we can encourage MPs to make those feelings known.

“What we need is a new leader who can break the impasse, who passionately believes that Britain has a bright Brexit future.”