Theresa May fights a two-front war with her own party



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For the Customs Act, the British Prime Minister renounces the supporters of a "hard" Brexit

Markus M. Haefliger, London

  For the first time , May is openly open to radicals

For the first time, May openly caress the sails in front of radicals "Brexiteers". (Photo: Matt Cardy / Pool via Reuters)

On Monday night, there was a tumult in the British House of Commons. Members verbally insulted each other and insulted each other, yet everyone sat on the benches of the ruling party. Anna Soubry, a former minister of the economy, accused her conservative colleagues of sowing the inherited wealth and endangering tens of thousands of ordinary citizens. His opponents on the right wing of the party interrupted him with derogatory remarks. Newspapers wrote the following day about a "civil war" between the Conservatives. In winter, supporters of a "soft" EU exit of conservatives, deputies like Soubry, were rebelled against Theresa May's course. Now, after the Prime Minister's Ladies 'Plan last week, it's the eurosceptics' turn.

Influence through Whatsapp

The reason for the showdown was the presentation of a customs law. EU opponents among the conservatives had proposed four additions, May brought in surprisingly to avoid a defeat. Their meaning (see the supplement) is not relevant, but the symbolism weighs heavily. For the first time, May leaves the sails open before the radicals "Brexiteers". She avoided humiliation in the lower house, but rare. Rebel camps at war are in balance; The May course between Skylla and Charybdis has become even more dangerous for the prime minister. Supporters of a "hard" acclaimed Brexit. The lazy Compromise of Checkers was now dead, they said, because Brussels could not refuse the London trading proposals otherwise. (The government denies it, the British position is not changed, said Brexit's new minister, Dominic Raab.)

Who are the rebels led by Jacob Rees-Mogg on the right wing of the party, the self-proclaimed Brexit? a week is putting stones on the way? They call themselves European Research Group (ERG). The group has narrow political objectives: a clear cut with the EU, preferably no payment obligation in Brussels. The UK should not comply with EU rules, deregulate its own legislation and operate a sovereign trade policy. Under David Cameron, the leader of the Conservative Party of 2005 and Prime Minister from 2010 to 2016, the Brexit ideologues had led a Wallblümchen existence. Under May, his influence increased.

Voting success for May

mhf. · The House of Commons approved two additions to the Customs bill on Monday night. It is now forbidden for the customs authority to collect royalties for the EU, unless the EU imposes corresponding tariffs on the British side. This amendment was adopted with 305 votes against 302. It clarifies what the position paper already presented last week (white paper) is. Theresa May suggests that London and the EU transfer their respective customs duties to the external borders (Article 17). Any difference in tariffs must be remunerated by the British Treasury. The goal is to ensure a harmonious trade. Brussels has not responded to the proposal, but is likely to refuse it anyway. Another amendment to the Customs Act prohibits London from joining the EU VAT system. It was accepted with 303 votes to 300. The May White Paper suggests that London and the EU agree on common procedures (Article 18).

The club is compared to Momentum, the socialist movement that supports left-wing Labor leader Jeremy Corbyn. Both organizations are parties in the party and use dubious methods. As a core organization, however, Momentum operates in public, while the ERG operates behind the scenes of parliament and the government. The group does not run a website and does not advertise the name or number of members; there should be 45 to 80 Conservative MPs. Thirty parliamentarians pay dues to help the workers. Officially registered as an office community, the group can be paid from the expense allowance. Opposition MPs demand that GRE be reviewed by the independent parliamentary oversight agency, as funds are used for illegal propaganda.

The founding of the ERG goes back to the 1990s, when the Conservative party was torn apart by the dispute between its supporters and its opponents. To counter the political integration of the EU in the Maastricht Treaty, several conservatives put the group on its feet. They pledged themselves more to agitate within the Conservative Party than to join the anti-EU Ukip party, founded roughly at the same time. Later, during the years of opposition, the group became calmer, but after the EU vote two years ago, the leaders of the victorious campaign, like the Minister of Brexit Raab, have breathed new life into it. The lobby group initially supported Andrea Leadsom as Cameron's successor to the prime minister, but as it soon emerged, Theresa May, who was running, was as open as rival against the whispers that Brexit must be "hard" and get out of the customs union. l & # 39; EU. May has softened her mind in recent weeks, with Checkers' compromise as a result

Snappy Ideologues

The Times has called the ERG the strongest opposition force in British politics. The self-proclaimed Brexit Vanguard is tense, but organized without formal hierarchies. Of central importance is a Whatsapp group. The members told the newspaper that the embassies would be closely coordinated, but that they would close immediately – an effective way to put pressure on the government. Opponents are unjustly attacked, a year and a half ago, Ivan Rogers, then ambassador to Brussels, as well as the highest judges who allowed Parliament to intervene in the exit of the EU. Federal Reserve Chairman Mark Carney and Chancellor Philip Hammond also became campaign victims.

The ERG has influence. At least six ministers, including junior ministers, have been members of the group for the past two years, even though they have violated government policies. They include Steve Baker. The former WhatsApp organizer joined the government in 2017 as state secretary at the Brexit Ministry. Last week, he resigned in protest and stands by his side with help and advice. May is even more afraid than moderate rebels like Anna Soubry.

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