Support grows for a new Brexit poll amid fears over Johnson's plan

[Eugene]

Source: The Observer

Support grows for a new Brexit poll amid fears over Johnson’s plan

DUP raises doubts on customs union, while Labour says it will whip MPs to support a second referendum

Toby Helm and Michael Savage
Sat 12 Oct 2019 21.06 BST
Last modified on Sun 13 Oct 2019 00.00 BST

Pro-remain MPs predicted on Saturday that they were gaining sufficient cross-party support to secure a second Brexit referendum as fresh doubts were raised over whether Boris Johnson can secure a deal with the EU that can pass through parliament.

The push for a second vote appeared to be gaining momentum before what promises to be a dramatic “super Saturday” showdown in parliament next weekend. That emergency House of Commons sitting, called by Johnson, will be held after a critical EU summit in Brussels on Thursday and Friday. It will coincide with a pro-referendum march through London, which organisers say a million people could join.

On Saturday the chances of Johnson securing a deal that will win the crucial support of the 10 DUP MPs appeared to be in growing doubt as Nigel Dodds, the party’s leader in Westminster, questioned key elements of the proposed deal – including the idea of Northern Ireland being in some form of post-Brexit customs partnership with the EU.

“Northern Ireland must stay in a full UK customs union, full stop,” Dodds said. Asked if the ideas that are reportedly being discussed behind closed doors by the UK government and the EU could work, he added: “No, it cannot work because Northern Ireland has to remain fully part of the UK customs union.”

For Johnson to stand any chance of getting a deal through parliament, he will need the DUP to be firmly behind it. Many Tory MPs in the hardline pro-Brexit European Reform Group say they will take their lead from the DUP.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/oct/12/support-grows-for-new-brexit-poll-amid-fears-pm-plan

[Hoyt]

1. Seems only sensible thing to do, but Johnson, like trump, aren't particularly smart or democratic.

[Haggis for Breakfast]

2. Either the BBC or the London Times

should be doing is an expose of ALL the manipulation of information, the disinformation campaign, the foreign interference (especially on social media platforms), et al that preceeded that vote.