Money Tree

Dianne it seems got here finance numbers mixed up when stating that a Labour Government will recruit another 10,000 policeman but the short answer to how a Labour Government will pay for its programmes, is that they’ll grow the economy and thus increase taxes collected, they’ll borrow for infrastructure, they’ll print money for liquidity they’ll collect more taxes from the rich and close tax loopholes to ensure the rich and that companies pay their share. …

Nidan

The Independent reports that Dr. Andrew Watt plans to go to court to see if any agreement replacing the Lisbon Treaty as a result of the UK’s Article 50 notice requires a referendum under the European Union Act 2011. The parliamentary draftsman carelessly states that a treaty or decision amending the “Treaty of the European Union” cannot be ratified unless there’s a referendum. In the pre-amble, it states that amendments include amendments taken under Articles 48 & 49, but it’s not exclusive i.e. other amendments to the Treaty also trigger the Law. Part 1 §4 lists the type of changes which must trigger a referendum and they do not include any arrangements on leaving, but they do include “extensions of competence”, new obligations (for the UK) and new sanction powers for the EU.

I would argue that any transitional treaty which does not extend time of the UK’s rights to appoint a Commissioner, appoint Judges to the CJEU and elect MEPs will require a referendum and other clauses may also do the same. Even if some disagree, there can be surely no doubt that it will require a statute mandated Parliamentary statement and an Act of Parliament and it’s the Act of Parliament that determines if there should be a referendum.

This could be one reason why they are so keen to be thrown out. …

Parliamentary Sovereignty’s best sell by date

Parliamentary Sovereignty’s best sell by date

I went to the Labour Campaign for Human Rights meeting in the Commons yesterday, the keynote speaker was Kier Starmer, the Labour Brexit spokesman. He opened his speech stating he had voetd “Remain” based on jobs and rights and woke up on 27th June asking what world we live in. He argued that now we needed to accept democracy and that UK’s politics is about the new relationship with the EU. He argues we need to re-root our rights in UK law! (What like the Human Rights Act?) Labour is proposing a new Law to transcribe the EU’s rights and protections into UK law, but under the Tories this will be weak since the Tories are not planning to bring the “Fundamental Charter of Rights” across into UK law. …

Power

The neighbouring constituency of Lewisham West & Penge’s MP stood down and this created an unseemly rush to replace him. It was won by Ellie Reeves, an ex member of the NEC, a sub-committee of which appointed her  but a local resident it would seem.

At least one friend of mine applied, and unsurprisingly wasn’t short listed.  …

And out of the traps

And out of the traps

Labour has selected Vicky Foxcroft, the sitting MP to stand as Labour’s Candidate for MP in Lewisham Deptford. I am pleased to support her and already have my “Vote Labour” poster up. Anyone who thinks that this election is about anything other than Brexit is fooling themselves. She was one of the rebels who broke the whip to oppose the bill authorising the UK’s Article 50 notice, an action I supported. Corbyn has a problem in presenting Labour’s policy as he needs/wants to say one thing about winning and being in Government, and another should we lose. …

Promises

While catching up on my news this morning, I am struck by the cleft stick Tim Farron has put himself in, with his preference to go into coalition with the Tories and his promise to have a second referendum … while I admit that working with Labour is difficult for him, there are potential “Remainer” LibDem voters that will ask how that is a coherent “remain” promise. …