The furious incontinence of the Brexiteers

Personally I'd have called it the furious incontinence. Inconsistency of policy is one thing, inconsistency of principles and behaviour is another.

The last effort was in the coalition years, when Nick Clegg, with tepid support from Mr Cameron, brought forward legislation which proposed that the Lords be replaced with an 80% elected chamber. That attempt at reform was sabotaged by a rebellion by Conservative backbenchers. And who was prominent in that revolt against democracy? Among the names were one Bernard Jenkin and one Jacob Rees-Mogg, the very same Jenkin and the very same Rees-Mogg who now fulminate against the unelected peers they previously battled to preserve. Also among the saboteurs were Nadine Dorries, Peter Bone, Steve Baker, Bill Cash and other hard Brexiters who now pose as tribunes of the people. Oh, and we shouldn’t forget that David Davis, the Brexit secretary himself, was one too, along with the Brexiter press that now bellows about the “treachery” of the upper house.

Their fury with the Lords is not just hypocritical, it is synthetic. It is anger of the displaced variety. What they really cannot stand is the thought that MPs may well decide to embrace at least some of the changes made by peers. It is not the government’s lack of a majority in the upper house that is the real problem for the hard Brexiters – it is their lack of a majority in the Commons for a hard Brexit.

It is pleasing, at least, to see their eyes opening to the virtues of democracy. Today, we report that organisations representing a million students are adding their voices to the calls for the country to have the final say on whatever exit deal the government finally comes back with. After their sudden conversion against unelected privilege and in favour of democracy, perhaps we will see Jacob Rees-Mogg and his friends joining the next march for a people’s vote.

I'm quite happy to have an appointed second chamber, albeit I'd probably organise things differently. Still, we shouldn't forget the other inconsistencies of behaviour here (never mind policy). Like that time Farage said a 52-48 split would be grounds for another referendum. Or that (apparently) sensible and thoughtful speech that Davis gave about why referendums have to be used quite carefully.
https://plus.google.com/u/0/+RhysTaylorRhysy/posts/C7Cxz8jBVZX

Via Joerg Fliege.

Originally shared by Gilles Bourdin

#brexit: incontinent fundamentalism. I like that.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/may/13/incontinent-fury-of-brexiters-who-rage-against-everything-british