Forum Topic

A very British coup?

The Sunday Times today has gone terribly excitable about what they claim is a coup that would rob the government of its ability to govern (funny that, I thought they'd lost that weeks or even months ago). In reality, it's groups of MPs who are trying to ensure that all options are considered rather than letting May shut down discussion.https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/revealed-commons-plot-to-seize-control-from-theresa-may-ahead-of-brexit-vote-6zp62hh57And inside the paper, the normally rational Tim Shipman, under a headline proclaiming "A horror story overheard in the cloakroom," says it would be "a political horror to compare with any Victorian Gothic novel" and other overheated stuff.https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/a-horror-story-overheard-in-the-cloakroom-6085c00gjBut what is this coup? Is it troops on the streets, tanks on College Green, colonels taking over the BBC and ITN?  Of course not, it's all excitable nonsense. And what it really is, is the UK Parliament TAKING BACK CONTROL. And I thought that was supposed to be a good idea!

Richard Carter ● 2859d5 Comments

Unfortunately behind a paywall but it has been reported on the BBC. Could have just been some MPs discussing possible options - or even joking - and not necessarily a definite proposal?

Michael Ixer ● 2859d

I suspect it's linked to the Telegraph one about the risk of the Tory part falling apart, which given the current divisions is more of a possibility. So it's probably true that cross party discussions are going on and perhaps moderate Tories are looking for Labour allies to the centre of left as allies. Possibly why Corbyn's playing things low key, he's waiting for the Tory party to start breaking up while trying to keeps in touch with both his leavers and remainers by keeping his options open and not ruling anything out. I noticed he was careful not to contradict Starmer a couple of days ago but came up with a reason of Tory incompetence as to why they were really saying the same thing ...

Michael Ixer ● 2859d

Sorry about the paywall: I was able to access the article(s) and thought that meant others would too.You may be right that it was just ad hoc discussions, but I rather doubt that Tim Shipman would have got it so wrong. He's extremely well-informed, as anyone who's read his books about the referendum and the aftermath, so I'm sure he's on to something.

Richard Carter ● 2859d

In any case, it was clearly not just gossip since the government reacted very strongly: 'A senior government source said that May and her aides were "shell shocked."

Jane Carter ● 2859d

Apologies: that last post was one of mine, but appeared to be from Jane because I used her machine to post it.

Richard Carter ● 2859d