On Peston an hour or two afterwards, Labour's L. Nandy was incandescent, claiming May had attacked MPs and Parliament itself. The Tory P Lee agreed.Peston raised the stakes still further saying that May was urging constituents to pressure their MPs, which became bullying their MPs (I recall). Nandy remained furious and vulnerable at the same time, as is fashionable.
My own viewing of the speech is different. May was pleading for her deal and suggested the options included no deal, long extension (involving European elections), and abandoning Brexit. She was especially critical of the last two saying they would be even more divisive and piss off the people who voted Leave. That is what upset the Remainers. But it was all dressed up as personal, as is usual.
Today P Toynbee maintains the fury and makes it even more personal.
May’s attack on MPs is the dangerous act of a desperate politician
Attempting to turn voters’ anger against parliament is the dangerous and despicable act of a prime minister thrashing around in her terminal desperation. Tantamount to calling for insurrection against democracy, ...another ill-judged diatribe against parliament, achingly lacking in remorse or self-awareness....an angry farewell, a croaky swan song. As she nails her dead parrot of a plan to the perch again next week... kamikaze mission, with we the people strapped on board...caving in to the unsavoury likes of Andrea Leadsom, Liam Fox and Chris Grayling, she handed power to the deranged no-dealers. Nightly on TV the thuggish Mark Francois struts the ERG’s bully-power, holding her to ransom... the bone-head Owen Paterson...extremist infiltrators...
Dear me! The answer:
All other options are better. Call a general election to end this paralysed parliament. Better still, seize the face-saving Kyle-Wilson amendment whereby the House would nod through [she is sure of this?] her plan on condition it’s put to the public vote for confirmation. Odd how those who call “the will of the people” sacred dare not ask the people if this is what they voted for. On Saturday, expect a gigantic march to demand the voters get a hearing.
So people will be asked to confirm a deal that is unalterable anyway? Bog-standard plebiscitary democracy with no alternatives but accept or reject. This would still never be seen as a vote to leave on WTO terms, of course, even if rejected, but would have to be spun as no Brexit again. Toynbee also reluctantly offers a rebuke to the EC:
Donald Tusk helped propel her on her way: if parliament refuses to vote for her deal next week, that’s it, curtains, the end. Was it orchestrated? He offers a short extension but only if the Commons submits. Later, between the lines, some suggested that just possibly, if the Commons balks at this bullying [sic!], Tusk was not ruling out a long extension.
However, this bullying is at least well-mannered, thank goodness:
With “patience and goodwill”, as ever the Europeans are embarrassingly courteous in the face of boorish British insults [examples? It is an insult to want to leave?]: they have more urgent anxieties at gathering clouds of populism threatening upcoming elections. [Populists should not be demanding a vote then?]
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