By
N. Peter Kramer
Yesterday Theresa May’s spokesman said that the Prime Minister is determined to stick to her Brexit principles in the cross-party talks, including rejecting a customs union and a second referendum.
The conversations with other parties would be approached ‘in a conservative’ spirit, Theresa May’s ‘principles’ remain in place because ‘she believes (they) honour the result of the referendum’.
On the issue of a customs union, the spokesman said, the prime-minister is absolutely clear on the importance of having an independent trade policy in order to honour the result of the referendum. On the question to mention areas where compromise might be possible, the spokesman suggested there could be stronger guarantees on workers’ rights and environmental protections.
The PM met yesterday some senior Conservative Brexiteers. One of them, John Whittingdale described the meeting as ‘constructive, and said that ‘an agreement that can command support of almost all Conservative and DUP MP’s is still possible’.
According to Commons Leader Andrea Leadsom, the Prime Minister will make a statement on Monday about her Brexit ‘Plan B’, and will table a motion. The debate in the Commons will then be held on Tuesday 29 January.
Although it still needs a unanimous decision by the European Council, British ‘Leavers’ will be strengthened in their believe by certain new plans of the European Parliament this week.
One is, to hold EU money from memberstates which jeopardise European values (wat ever that may be), not tested in a juridical process but by the civil servants of the European Commission.
The other plan is to change the unanimity vote for tax rules in the European Council in a qualified majority vote system, what mens that individual memberstates can be overruled. More and more power for ‘Brussels’…..
