Despite today's farce, which lost me potentially hundreds of profitable betting winnings (According to an analysis by the Financial Times, there could be a majority of five for the Brexit deal — if MPs stick to their voting patterns based on the Letwin amendment, which was passed to avert the prospect of a no-deal exit on October 31. Some 320 MPs appear set to back Mr Johnson’s deal, with 315 opposed — excluding the two tellers from each side.
The amendment, tabled by former Conservative minister Oliver Letwin, essentially turned the meaningful vote into an indicative vote without legal force. Many MPs who backed the Letwin amendment will not support a deal when it returns to the Commons — possibly as soon as Tuesday in the form of a second reading on the withdrawal agreement — but others will.
The whole of the Conservative parliamentary party supported the government in opposing the Letwin amendment, with the exception of two MPs who abstained: Anne Milton and Caroline Spelman. These MPs will be cajoled into supporting Mr Johnson’s deal when it is voted on again, with the threat of being kicked out of the party if they do not.
A reading of Saturday’s vote also suggests that out of the independent Conservatives — Tory MPs who have lost the party whip — 20 are expected to support Mr Johnson’s deal.
), I still think the votes are there for Boris to win in the next week as per the FT article above.
We are inching closer to a orderly Brexit outcome, helped by the fact that the EU are now desperate to get this sorted.
Parliaments reputation has sunk even lower among the mass of the population who just want Brexit sorted. There will be consequences at the next ge.
As for the DUP, my anger towards them is growing. If the Irish Republic want northern Ireland back I will be happy to hand it to them.
And many English and Welsh Brexiteers will be feeling the same now.