Mike Vickers' Blog

I was fool enough to switch to Corriere della Sera late this evening and found the EU was in fighting mode; so I opened the Guardian and found a long article on what the EU Leaders had decided.  This was followed by what was going on ‘Back in the Ranch’.

The full article

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/mar/21/mays-appeal-falls-flat-as-eu-seizes-control-of-brexit-date

We need a Government of National Unity as with WW2

Here are my experts in my Heat of the Moment

EU leaders moved to seize control of Britain’s exit date from the bloc after an unconvincing appeal by Theresa May on Thursday for a three-month Brexit delay.

In an address to the leaders described by one source as “90 minutes of nothing”, the prime minister failed to persuade leaders that she had a plan to avoid a no-deal Brexit.

….

But her appeal “dismally” failed to offer any answers as to what she would do if the deal was blocked by MPs again, sources said, provoking EU leaders into taking matters into their own hands and in effect taking control of her future.

“She didn’t even give clarity if she is organising a vote,” said one aide to a leader. “Asked three times what she would do if she lost the vote, she couldn’t say. It was awful. Dreadful. Evasive even by her standards.”

…..

It was then that the EU decided that “she didn’t have a plan so they needed to come up with one for her”, the source added.

With May out of the room, EU leaders delayed their plans to discuss relations with China and launched into a marathon late night session in Brussels.

…….

But if the withdrawal agreement failed to pass the Commons by 12 April, the UK could then request a long extension. “If the withdrawal agreement is not approved by the House of Commons next week, the European council agrees to an extension until 12 April, and expects UK to indicate a way forward for the consideration of the European council,” a draft summit communique said.

“What this model is designed for is to make it clear that no deal is the not the EU’s choice, it is the UK’s choice,” a diplomatic source said.

………………

The EU had initially looked at solely offering an extension up until 22 May, the day before European elections would be held, on the condition May had her deal pass next week at the third time of asking.

But such was the lack confidence in the prime minister following her latest performance that the EU’s member states acted in their own interest to shore up against a no deal Brexit and allow the British parliament to take control.

Back in the UK >>>>>>>

MPs, including many of those whom the Tory whips were hoping to win over before a prospective third meaningful vote next week, reacted angrily to May’s claims that they were blocking the people’s will

…………..

Does the Leader of the House agree with the prime minister’s statement last night, in which she pitted MPs against the general public?”

Leadsom appeared to distance herself from the prime minister’s words: “MPs need to be treated with respect and given the opportunity to represent their constituents and their country in alignment with their own beliefs and with doing the best they can possibly do.”

………………..

In a rare joint letter, TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady and the CBI’s Carolyn Fairbairn described the situation as a “national emergency”, and called on the prime minister to seek a plan B.

“The current deal and no deal must not be the only choice,” they warned, demanding a meeting with May to discuss the next steps.

Finally

Liz Truss, the chief secretary to the treasury, became the latest cabinet minister to argue openly on Thursday that a no-deal Brexit would be preferable to a long delay.

Truss must be Mad