Reply to: Sovereign Parliament

[jamesbrown]

With an unwritten constitution based on centuries of tradition, what people want the rules to mean is rather important.

Ah, but what the rules are, in fact, is even more important.

[jamesbrown]

And the referendum was advisory, but that didn't stop lots of toys being thrown out of lots of prams, death threats, and judges being labelled "Enemies of the People" all for no reason other than suggesting the rules should be followed. Even the Government did everything they could to stop the rules being followed.

The word "mandate" is a moral one. Does TM have a mandate to continue the policies of David Cameron? Yes, probably, nobody would really argue against that. Is there a mandate for Brexit? Yes. Is there a mandate for TM to lead the country in a fundamentally different direction to what was promised in the GE and be the only one to decide what Brexit means and block any moves to let either the people or parliament decide anything? Not really.

But there you go. I didn't vote for it.

Not from me there weren't, but don't let that detail interrupt your Aunt Sally. I always advocate operating by the rules For example, I believe that the Lords have an important role to play. I believe that May should've let Parliament decide from the outset to avoid the inevitable Supreme Court nonsense. I believe that the Daily Fail is a deplorable rag. I even believe that every effort should be taken to honour the 350m per week pledge, although that has nothing to do with rules (which is why Johnson and Gove are on record as stating they would've honoured it, but May did not feel obliged, having not made the argument).

[d000hg]

As a native, you should have a more realistic viewpoint about the importance of the textbook. It's a rules-based system, and the PM is an appointed position, not an elected presidency. I recommend King (2008?) The British Constitution.

With an unwritten constitution based on centuries of tradition, what people want the rules to mean is rather important.

[VectraMan]

As a native, you should have a more realistic viewpoint about the importance of the textbook. It's a rules-based system, and the PM is an appointed position, not an elected presidency. I recommend King (2008?) The British Constitution.

And the referendum was advisory, but that didn't stop lots of toys being thrown out of lots of prams, death threats, and judges being labelled "Enemies of the People" all for no reason other than suggesting the rules should be followed. Even the Government did everything they could to stop the rules being followed.

The word "mandate" is a moral one. Does TM have a mandate to continue the policies of David Cameron? Yes, probably, nobody would really argue against that. Is there a mandate for Brexit? Yes. Is there a mandate for TM to lead the country in a fundamentally different direction to what was promised in the GE and be the only one to decide what Brexit means and block any moves to let either the people or parliament decide anything? Not really.

But there you go. I didn't vote for it.

[OwlHoot]

As a foreigner who has made the UK their home you should learn about UK politics.

May is elected.

Party leaders are chosen by party members including MPs to be the leader.

The party with the most MPs forms the government.

Hence May is as much elected as Camoron.

WSS

Also, the word "complicit" AtW used suggests some diabolical conspiracy. But the votes for this just increase the Government's democratic mandate to push ahead.

[jamesbrown]

As a native you should have a more realistic viewpoint than what the textbooks say.

As a native, you should have a more realistic viewpoint about the importance of the textbook. It's a rules-based system, and the PM is an appointed position, not an elected presidency. I recommend King (2008?) The British Constitution.

[d000hg]

As a foreigner who has made the UK their home you should learn about UK politics.

May is elected.

Party leaders are chosen by party members including MPs to be the leader.

The party with the most MPs forms the government.

Hence May is as much elected as Camoron.

As a native you should have a more realistic viewpoint than what the textbooks say. While this is technically what happens, most people do not vote for who they want as their MP and many probably don't even know or care who their MP is. Their vote is for the party they want in charge, expressed by voting for that party's local representative. The party leader is a huge part of the party's current ethos, direction and manifesto so clearly who the leader is is a very important factor.

Is May following the direction and manifesto Cameron left behind? Because that's what was voted for. Playing DA here to an extent because I don't think a new leader should trigger a GE. But it's not great when the party leader quits so early in a government's term... Cameron should've manned up and stayed on.

[SueEllen]

It's usually run by elected PM - May isn't elected and got no mandate for dictatorial decisions like that - all who voted like she said are complicit now

As a foreigner who has made the UK their home you should learn about UK politics.

May is elected.

Party leaders are chosen by party members including MPs to be the leader.

The party with the most MPs forms the government.

Hence May is as much elected as Camoron.

[d000hg]

I assume that includes:

- Cost of £4,300 per family per annum (didn't happen)
etc......

It didn't happen yet, it was a prediction for several years time.

[AtW]

Well, usually the government is run by the party that have the majority, and those of that party not in the government want to be in, so they'll usually go along with it. 'Twas ever thus.

It's usually run by elected PM - May isn't elected and got no mandate for dictatorial decisions like that - all who voted like she said are complicit now

[NotAllThere]

...

That's what we mean by a "sovereign parliament". One that does whatever the government wants.

Well, usually the government is run by the party that have the majority, and those of that party not in the government want to be in, so they'll usually go along with it. 'Twas ever thus.

[VectraMan]

I was watching some of the Commons debate yesterday. People making interesting points on both sides, but you sensed they knew full well that it was entirely redundant. All that impassioned debate and the reality is Theresa May would order her MPs to support the government's position and that would be that. Which is pretty much what happened.

That's what we mean by a "sovereign parliament". One that does whatever the government wants.

[northernladyuk]

It's every man for himself now, fook the poor.
Perhaps The posh boys Farage, Johnson and Rees Mogg can start a charity "Workhouses for the Brexit Poor".

Jacob Rees Mogg has strong working class support. He even brings his nanny out canvassing.

[sasguru]

Who is going to tell the poor they've been hornswoggled?

It's every man for himself now, fook the poor.
Perhaps The posh boys Farage, Pffelel Johnson and Rees Mogg can start a charity "Workhouses for the Brexit Poor".

Talking to parents at my sons prep school yesterday, I think the Beleavers underestimate the wrath of the Remainers, purely because the latter do not rant.
But there was a a definite desire for revenge and punishment.

[jamesbrown]

Who is going to tell the poor they've been hornswoggled?

The pettifogger?