Whether it's a 'hard date' is debatable. We had a previous 'hard date' set for the end of March, BUT, we asked for, and got, our latest extension to October. Part of (most of) the point of Boris being so emphatic about our leaving 'come-what-may' in October was to dispel others' thoughts that this process would be repeated.
Regardless, we've already heard from the EU that they could look favourably on yet another extension. Of course we have. They want our exit to be as dragged out as possible, or better yet, reversed entirely.
It's a hard date because Boris says it is. Simply that. There are plenty who'd want him to change his mind.
But things have moved on. The latest move from the Labour (Socialist) Party is one of an arrogant power-grab ... a form of political coup, in fact ... if they can't make the headway they want against Boris.
It comes down to this: Labour are planning a motion of No Confidence against the Conservatives, to be applied soon after Summer Recess. If they can get one to go their way, Boris has said he'll disregard it, for at least as long as it takes to get Brexit concluded.
Now, time is very tight. Say the No Confidence motion wins. The normal route, then, would be for a General Election to happen. This'd mean time taken out in fighting and winning one, instead of time taken to further fight in the Commons to do what would 'have to be' done to procedurally (even legislatively) throw yet more spanners at the 'no deal' exit scenario that Labour and the LibDems are desperate to stop.
[Tactically ... Boris could follow convention, call the election, making sure that the run-up period to polling day was entirely take up with canvassing for votes, which would deny Brexit opposers any chance of making headway in the Commons with further wrecking motions / directives.]
Labour have an answer for all this, though .... disgusting though it is ... !!! ....
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics...U8XVyIXAKvHDsY
In other words ....
NO election, just a straight seizure of power.
The presumption would be that Labour, as the second biggest presence in the Commons, would be the 'natural' alternative to the present Government. Never mind that in the recent MEP election, the newly-formed Brexit Party (committed to our leaving) trounced Labour to win a lot more votes, this proving the Public's wish to see Brexit succeed !! No. In this scenario, Labour just seizes power, then, if it's true to the newly-affirmed official position of being pro-Remain, they could just revoke Article 50 and kill Brexit off entirely !!
I think this would finish Labour as an electable Party. They'd be defying the 2016 Referendum result. They'd be defying the well-established mood of the British people, who, today, have shown the great level of support Brexit commands. No ... Labour would be riding roughshod over all of that.
Labour could take another route. They could seize power, go to the EU and ask for (& get) yet another extension beyond October ... then use that time to fight a General Election, in the hope of winning a majority of MP's capable of allowing Labour to have a stronger power-base ... THEN revoke Article 50, claiming that their winning an election gave them all the mandate they need to do so.
But I don't think Labour have a prayer of winning that election. If they understand this ... IF ... then they'll just seize power and shun elections for as long as possible. Cue what I've described above. AND .. goodbye, Brexit !!
Originally Posted by Drummond
Whether it's a 'hard date' is debatable. We had a previous 'hard date' set for the end of March, BUT, we asked for, and got, our latest extension to October. Part of (most of) the point of Boris being so emphatic about our leaving 'come-what-may' in October was to dispel others' thoughts that this process would be repeated.
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