Theresa May Should Become Mediator, Says Sir John Major

General News of Saturday, January 19th, 2019

Source: bbc

2019-01-19

Theresa May must become a mediator to help get out of the standoff in Parliament about Brexit, said former Prime Minister John Major.

He wants MPs to vote on all Brexit options, indicating their preference for the way forward.

Ms May should consider giving up her red lines "in the national interest" and becoming a facilitator to find out what Parliament wants, he said.

Tory Brexit's supporter, Suella Braverman, rejected her views on "the rest of the elite".

She said, "Thank you Sir John, but no thanks."

& # 39; Open & Frank & # 39;

On his side, Sir Keir Starmer, Brexit shadow secretary, said that there remained "only two options" for Brexit: ask the government to negotiate a close relationship with the EU , including a customs union, or a public vote. .

He told the conference of the Fabian Society in London that this "seems inevitable", that the government will have to request an extension of Article 50.

Workers have the responsibility "at this time of national crisis" to "propose a constructive path to the future," said Sir Keir, adding that there were "no easy solutions for get out of this mess ".

"It is now time to launch a frank and open debate on how to break the stalemate," he said.

This comes after Labor leader Jeremy Corbyn has refused to meet with Ms. May for talks to discuss a course of action unless she abandons the possibility of a "clean up". an agreement without Brexit.

Sir Keir also stated that what Ms. May was doing was "not resilient, but reckless", and that she "was working without a project" and "was reducing the time required for the emergence of the project." a credible alternative ".

Speaking earlier in today's BBC Radio 4 broadcast, Sir John warned that no agreement would be "the worst of the results". He said that "millions of people" – individuals and businesses – would be hurt in such a scenario.

"Tinkering" with his contract will not change the current situation, he added.

Westminster is currently stuck on what happens next with Brexit.

There is a range of different points of view in Parliament, but it is not certain that none of them would get the support of the majority.

Indicative votes are a proposed solution.

MEPs would have a free vote on various proposals, from the second referendum to a customs union to a free trade agreement.

The idea is that it would allow MPs to express what they really think, without any party commitment.

Supporters believe that it could end the bottling.

But as we have documented for a long time in recent weeks, there is no guarantee that he would.

One thing is certain right now. much work remains to be done to reach a consensus.

& # 39; Lack of time & # 39;

Sir John said that the prime minister had "received a poisoned chalice" and that things had been "extremely difficult" for her.

"His position was almost impossible," he said, adding that Parliament "was running out of time".

If Ms. May does not drop her red lines "in the national interest", she then has the choice between cabinet or parliament or another referendum "now that more facts are known than in 2016" Sir John argued.

He said that although the Cabinet is too divided to reach an agreement, it is hoped that Parliament will reach a consensus, with Ms. May as mediator.