John Baron MP: General Election is becoming more likely

MP says remain-dominated Commons seizes control

Yesterday evening, MPs voted to approve an amendment which wrests control of the business of the House of Commons from the Government. For around the last 140 years, Parliament’s rules have given Government control of the business of the House, without which any Government will find it very difficult to progress and implement the legislation it was elected to enact. MPs have voted to, in effect, make themselves the executive branch of government in order to pursue different Brexit options. Tomorrow a group of back benchers will organise ‘indicative votes’ on different types of Brexit, probably with a view to using further days, possibly next week, to advance these ideas.

John said,

“The remain-dominated House of Commons has seized control of the Brexit process, and has in effect set itself up as a rival executive to the Government. We are now in uncharted waters, not least because it is not clear how, if at all, the legislature holds itself to account. No-one can be sure what will unfold next – the MPs who tabled yesterday’s amendment themselves uncertain how the process of ‘indicative votes’ will operate tomorrow.”

“The Government has sensibly not committed to implementing the outcome of the votes tomorrow, because it is not certain that MPs will vote for something that is achievable and MPs could suggest a course of action contrary to Labour and Conservative manifestos at the last General Election. I will continue to support my election promises of leaving the Single Market and the Customs Union, of keeping ‘no deal’ on the table and of leaving the EU as soon as possible, as anything short of this is not honouring the referendum result.”

“A snap General Election is becoming more likely. Whatever the outcome of the votes on Wednesday, the numbers inside the current remain-dominated House of Commons will not change. It may be that an election is necessary to redress the balance in favour of MPs willing to implement the referendum result, for history suggests it is unwise for any Parliament to distance itself from the people. The events of the next few weeks will be critical.”