Theresa May sowed seeds of failure, says MP Carmichael
Northern Isles MP Alistair Carmichael has renewed his calls for another referendum, commenting after Prime Minister Theresa May announced she was to step down.
In an emotional statement outside 10 Downing Street, Mrs May said she would resign on Friday 7th June – paving the way for a leadership election in the Conservative Party. She left her lectern in tears after saying it had been a privilege to serve the country she loved.
Mr Carmichael said that whoever becomes the new leader “will be faced with the same political reality, that parliament cannot deal with Brexit and the final say must be given to the people in a people’s vote.”
The Lib Dem said: “You would need a heart of stone not to feel some sympathy, but as Prime Minister she has come to the end of a road on which she should never have embarked.
“The seeds of her own failure were sown in the early days of her premiership. Her insistence on red lines about immigration and trying to pander to the right wing of her own party made this day inevitable.”
ian tinkler
It is clear that what Terresa May has done has opened the way for a hard, hard Brexit. The capitulation/appeasement, almost to the point of prostitution, of the EU by May, has appalled most of Britain.
The inflexible, arrogant and intransigent leadership of the EU has forever alienated the UK voter. The result has been near ennoblement of “The Brexit party”, the rise of Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage and the alienation of most of the UK voters.
Look no further than, Shetland and Orkney voter turn out, in the recent election, to see nothing but a complete indifference to the EU by our population. Apart from a handful of die-hard socialists and the “usual suspects “of the SNP, total voter apathy has opened the doors wide for Farage, Johnson and a hard no deal Brexit. The real culprits for this being, Junkers, Tusk, Barnier and assorted rigid planks of the EU directorate. Completely unable to compromise, these prunes have set the stage for the British public to raise two fingers, not for the first time in History and something Britain does rather well when facing down France and Germany.
Graham Fleming
The end of the British state ,Scotland and Northern Ireland will go our way and the dead end little Englanders will go theirs out of the E.U. The daily express will be in nirvana,perpetual illegal wars,the lowest state pensions in Europe ,No European courts to poke their noses in,fruitcake farm will be led by Boris Johnson,and they say there ain’t no heaven or hell.The rump of the Scots tories have some big questions for themselves as has the rest of Scotland, – well this is certainly not for ME!
John Tulloch
She sowed the seeds of her own failure, alright, when she passed up the free trade deal that was on on offer and fertilised them copiously when she ambushed her Brexit team at Chequer, folded at every subsequent sign of EU intransigence and finally – the ultimate folly – she allowed “No Deal” to be taken off the table.
She thus delivered herself to her game-playing political opponents in Labour, The SNP and the LibDems who have been colluding with the EU from the start to reverse the result of the 2016 “People’s Vote”, to the extent that EU negotiator Guy Verhofstad even joined the LibDems election campaign!!!
An unbelievably inept performance, I’ve never seen the like.
Thank God, she’s going!
Brian Smith
John Tulloch thinks that Theresa May failed because she didn’t serve up the whole Brexit Party programme.
For a good account of May’s achievements see this piece by Owen Jones:
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/may/24/theresa-may-worst-prime-minister-brexit-windrush
ian tinkler
Brian, I think some of us can form our own conclusions without needing to be led by the nose by the press, especially such a Rag as The Guardian and Owen Jones. The antics of the Brussels cabals say it all. No wonder there is such a swing to the right. Let us just hope that Boris and Farage are as far as it goes. There are far more extremist views lurking in the wings across Europe and gaining popularity in the multitudes of weak coalition parliaments. Another reason to get out now.
David Spence
I maybe wrong, but wasn’t the whole idea of Brexit, to establish a trade deal with the USA, without the interference of the EU?
It was also, I believe, the first of the stepping stones towards the Conservatives privatising most government responsibilities and duties of care to US companies, where they, the conservatives, would benefit mostly?
One has to ask what was the agenda of having the EU Ref. if it was not for the benefit of the Conservatives thereafter, and to sow the seeds for the privatisation of most government……as mentioned.
One would also have to ask what will be the following increase in the cost of imports and exports to and from the EU, since we are no longer part of it? This will have a significant impact on the UK economy, and it is more than likely the cost of living will go up.
Brexit, is a disaster in the making by the Conservatives, but it is the British consumer who will be footing the bill for 20, 30 or more years thereafter.
John M Scott
The whole idea of Brexit was a gamble by David Cameron that went spectacularly wrong. He was painfully aware that previous leaders of the Conservative and Unionist Party had been ousted from power because of the continuing toxic row within his party over EU membership. He thought that the majority of the British people would vote to remain, and thus put an end to internal party bickering; which is why he campaigned to stay. What he didn’t factor in to the equation, was years of growing resentment in the English regions, particularly the North, and large parts of Wales, where they had experienced a massive decline in their traditional manufacturing industries, mainly due to those industries being transferred to mainland Europe; and in addition, they felt alienated from the prosperous Home Counties and the South East of England.
Peter Hamilton
Preferring our extremists over theirs is the chauvinism par excellence. Pretending Farage doesn’t side with European extremists is absurd.
Back to May though, she has been surrounded by a cabinet that has acted appallingly, stood back and willed her to fail. Many lifelong Conservatives will be scunnered to their boots.
The correct response for the centre-right will be to square up to Boris, Rees Mogg and the Brexit Party and refuse to do the U.K. needless harm. Opportunist capitulation could well win the day though.
It’s going to be a very interesting leadership campaign. Really worrying to see the Conservatives in danger of lurching even further to the right to chase populist votes instead of trying to win the necessary arguments. It’s time to lance this Brexit boil.
ian tinkler
Heavens above, “Preferring our extremists over theirs is the chauvinism par excellence. ” I never even mentioned Corbyn or Sturgeon/Salmon Peter!! One boil well lanced by Farage is the UKIP / Tommy Robinson carbuncle. Now we have the National Front storming away in France alongside The Freedom Party (FPÖ) in Adolf’s birthplace. The FPO was actually in Government in Austria. Until they all resigned!!! But that is the EU for you, interesting to see how the do in the EU elections! Incidentally, the Brexit party is not just Farage, nor is Boris / Rees Mogg an associate of France’s National Front and Austria’s Freedom Party (FPÖ) . I thought you would or should know that!
David Spence
I agree with you entirely, Peter.
This disaster within the UK political arena, is going to cause, I fear, tremendous damage to the country, but moreso, the rise of the extreme right from people like Farage etc etc. This must be stopped.
The country is split down the middle with the relationship (I voted remain) of the EU.
As I have mentioned before, what was the agenda of the Conservatives in having the EU Ref. and what would they have gained from it?
We are beginning to see the collapse of the politics within the UK, and the inhouse fighting of the Conservatives stabbing eachother in the back.
It is worrying times, and I sincerely hope this does not bring to the fore detestable figures like Nigel Farage, who no doubt is rubbing his hands with glee?
It seems we are in a situation, unfortunately, where noone can predict what the political outcome and future of the UK may be, but it seems inevitable a general election may be looming on the horizon?
This could be the reason for the SNP to have another referendum on independence?
We shall see?
Peter Hamilton
Absolutment David! I’m not sure the country is still split down the middle though. Opinion polls since the stolen referendum apparently average at 60:40 pro-Remain. No one voted for poverty. Little wonder a confirmatory referendum is opposed.
It is likely to be a poor result for Remain later tonight, but as a Labour member who has once tactically backed the largely social-democratic SNP (formerly tartan Tories) I hope the Greens have a good night. The Labour position must return to an unashamedly internationalist one.
Much will likely be made of the predicted strength of the Brexit Party vote, but it is not a recognisable party – no real members with actual rights – and parliament has rightly and thoroughly rejected the undeliverable promise of the harmful no-deal Brexit unicorn.
Farage’s connections with AfD in Germany, who Rees-Mogg unashamedly retweeted, must not be forgotten. Farage may have left UKIP, but it remains true to his original intent, and Boris has said some pretty wayward things in the past too: Fxxx business. Really?
The choice is social-democratic cooperation with our neighbours or a cut-throat coalition with unrestrained capitalism in America. As Heseltine rightly says, Britain will lack clout if Brexiteers triumph.
ian tinkler
“The Brexit Party will now be the joint biggest party in the European Parliament”, do you get the message, Peter? Would that not indicate there is something profoundly amiss with the EU?
Now for the good news, Tommy Robinson boil lanced, Cordyn smacked and Torie door opens for a real Brexit leader. A win, win, win situation.
Stuart Hannay
Farage commented that the people ‘armed with milkshakes’ had been ‘radicalised’.
Did he mean ‘pasteurised’?
Mr ian Tinkler
Well, the Tories and Labour were both “liquidised”! (sorry)
Peter Hamilton
The plan is to lactose the intolerant/intolerable Stuart. Not sure whether to egg anti-fascists on with this, but I guess there is no point in crying over spilt milkshakes.
First egg I saw thrown was launched at peace protestors by a British Nationalist Party skinhead in the 1980s. Unluckily for the fascist it missed and hit a policeman. Seconds later four policemen had him by each limb and he found himself flying into the back of a policy van. This maybe gave him an opportunity to rethink his position.
What do you think Stuart, are some prejudices so deeply ingrained people can’t let go of them?
Wondering also what you made of Sturgeon/Salmond being described as extremists above? It seems a bizarre comment for a British nationalist to make.
Peter Hamilton
Northern Ireland results now in. 2 Remain MEPs to 1 Leaver. Scotland result Remainer MEPs dominate 4:2.
How proud of themselves British Nationalists will be if they manage to destroy the United Kingdom in their search for political perfection. And the beauty of it is we are told to believe there is nothing extreme about them. It is those that oppose them that apparently are the problem, and must therefore be smeared.
Such an attractive approach, n‘est pas?