"An election would in effect be a form of referendum on the 2016 vote."
No I am sorry. It is a mistake to confuse a general election with a referendum. Many conservatives oppose Brexit but will have trouble voting for labor.
A referendum on Brexit, now that the public is more aware of its implications, is the best way forward.
How about asking in the referendum three options:
1. do you want to leave the EU with no-deal?
2. do you want to leave the EU only with a negotiated deal?
3. do you want to stay within the EU?
111
@EdH
Or even better, make the Brexit side put a specific plan for leaving, just as say a referendum in a U.S. city or county to build a stadium would have to lay out. For example, "The county sales tax shall be increased by .5% for ten years to pay for a new arena for the Podunk Pirates." A question phrased "Should Podunk County build a new arena for the Pirates?" would never be put on the ballot. What if after passage, its backers in county government later decided that the financing will come from an across-the-board property tax of 99%? When residents object, supporters retort: "Hey, respect the vote! We voted build! Quit moaning about the 99% tax!" Such political malpractice is unthinkable.
The Brexit referendum question was phrased "should the UK leave the EU." The word "should" and the fact that no plan for executing Brexit was included mean that the vote can only be considered advisory, not as an authoritative mandate as the Brexiteers have dissembled. That referendum question does nothing more than authorize a feasibility study about UK withdrawal from the EU.
Finally, the decision to the matter to a referendum with that vaguely worded question shows breathtaking incompetence. I'm still floored that even with as much political nonsense we have in the U.S., a run-of-the-mill city or county here is governed more competently than the UK under its current crew of "Oxford chums" and "Old Etonians" who don't seem to know even the first principles of running a referendum.
162
@batavicus
Excelent observations!
Please post your reply as a main comment. It is absolutely relevant and useful.
Thanks.
36
@batavicus
I like your analysis, ... but - in fairness - and not overlooking the very real possibility that the people (including Boris) who pushed for Brexit were anything but competent or honest - MOST BRITS assumed (reasonably) that this was going to play out like a standard divorce.
Heaven knows, those can be ugly as hell, but 95%+ of the time, something DOES get hammered out.
Yes, Ireland should have put a few million people on the alert that it might be harder than hard, ... and history just may say some nasty things about the folks in Brussels, too.
That Britain was led by a person of GW Bush-level expertise for most of the post-vote period ... and Britain's effectively multi-party Parliament looked like 1960's Italy's
obviously made a bad situation worse.
"Winning isn't everything," but Boris is following DJT's successful 2016 election playbook. Just as Donald was willing to risk the loss of Koch's support (plus millions of others who recoiled at his crotch grabbing or racism) IN EXCHANGE FOR even more millions in places like Michigan who "were angry," Boris and "his Bannon" are planning on more than replacing party members like the 20 who flipped with people who USED TO vote Labor and the numerous wingnuts who voted with Lafarge just a couple of months back.
As is the case in the US & numerous other countries, each adversary can count on 40% or more of the voters. To many a politician, that reminds them of HIGH NOON, and they're all to happy to shoot it out!
9
In the 1975 referendum, the Brits voted to join the European Union with a 67.2% majority vote. In the 2016 referendum, the Brits voted to leave the EU with a 51.9% majority vote. Neither referendum was binding.
There is no mandate to leave the EU. The only mandate was to join, not to leave. If another referendum is put to the voters, the supermajority needed should be settled first. A two thirds majority would be appropriate.
https://www.outsidethebeltway.com/why-didnt-the-brexit-vote-require-a-supermajority-for-leave-to-win/
11
Leave it to the French to get a more balance view :-)
From today's LeMonde (France's leading left of center newspaper) with Clarisse Berthezène, Professor of modern History of Britain, University of Paris Diderot
Q Boris Johnson, his personality, his strategy, can they be held alone responsible for the current crisis?
A No, the crisis is old. The European question has always divided political parties. The Conservative Party is divided between multiple factions and Boris Johnson is the representative of the pro-Brexit stream. The suspension of Parliament is considered by some to be an abuse of power, but in any case it is not a coup d'etat.
His Pro Brexit politics is considered,a s the rest of his ideas, to belong to a conservatism "one-nation" (with social face) model as evidenced by budget announcements, certainly made with electoral considerations, a few days ago , increased budget of education and health. He plays on the fact that we must finish with Brexit to move on and announce the end of austerity"
Roger, who speaks and read French , can read the entire interview at
https://www.lemonde.fr/international/article/2019/09/06/royaume-uni-le-parti-conservateur-a-une-capacite-extraordinaire-de-rebondissement_5507448_3210.html
As can NY Times readers able to read French
4
Remember what happened a few years ago in Canada when the conservatives were wiped out: an election in the UK now will immolate the Conservatives and Farage, that short, pompous, Putin puppet will be prancing around the plush, faux persian rugs in 10 downing Street. With all the Russian money flowing along the Thames, the English will need to start learning to how to pronounce "Moscow-upon-Thames." Meanwhile, Putin with kompromat keys in Washington and London will triumphantly rejoice in a vodka toast: the greatest outcome of "managed democracy" in 21st century. Natasrovia!!!
4
It's the last sentence that carries the sting.
"Where in Trump-land are there 21 Republicans with spines?"
Your sentence, Mr. Cohen, was the pebble that started an avalanche.
I read it--I became aware of that deep, implacable core of ANGER I've been carrying around for some years. And especially the last two and a half years.
Where are the Republicans with spines?
THERE AREN'T ANY, MR. COHEN.
Well--virtually none. The only Republicans that spoke out against Mr. Trump and that ongoing train wreck of an administration--
--are people who were retiring. Well--at least they said something.
And I recall Mr. George W. Bush--and Lord knows, I vented many a hearty yuk as I listened to my son do a Bush impersonation--
--but the man gave what might be the finest speech of his career when (without naming the incumbent) he warned against the bitter partisan feeling--the nastiness--the name-calling that man has inflicted upon his country.
And the Republican-dominated Senate--
--under the baleful eye of Mr. McConnell, the Great Stone Face--
--did nothing. Said nothing. Rolled over. Played dead.
And here your piece was about Boris Johnson's Britain. Not Donald Trump's America. Sorry about that!
But boy! The destinies of our two countries are kind of intertwined, aren't they.
But only "kind of."
Some of THEIR guys--even the supposed Tory allies of Mr. Johnson--
--they got SPINES.
Honorable men, no?
Would to God we had some.
14
Sad that the Redcoats are committing economic suicide.
1
"Where in Trumpland are 21 Republicans with spines?" Only in Lewis Carroll's mind, Alice.
7
Where in Trumpland are 21 Republicans with spines?
Follow the money.
That's all THEY do.
5
The Devil removes Republican Spines. As a signing bonus.
Seriously.
7
Yes! Where are the Republicans with spines?
4
The UK got hot air with wit and charm. We just got hot air.
8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_JOGmXpe5I
Boris' strategy looks a lot like this. Wonder if the EU will buy it?
Seeking Republican Senators with a backbone is like looking for a vertebra in a tank full of jellyfish. They have no spine, they drift whichever way the wind from the White House blows them, and all they can do is sting.
9
Out by Oct 31st do or die? RIP as PM, Boris!
3
And yet GOP cowards do nothing but let Trump the Fake get anything he wants
3
It's only a flesh wound.....
What spine , republicans are trying devolve to anemone.
3
Well written .
1
The best outcome for Britain is to Revoke Article 50 and make amends with a Europe insulted and vilified by a contemptible liar and his rabid band of political lightweights.
4
You, sir, have the best words.
3
At least the British didn’t vote for their Buffon.
1
The ,”No deal Brexit” will be signed soon with the Sharpie Trump sent to Boris just yesterday.
Boris is like the German High Command at the end days of the Third Reich getting all dressed up and going to a Wagnerian opera to watch the stage production of a world collapsing and trying to ignore the real world collapsing outside the theater, in this case, Parliament. How their trumpets blare and Trumpian they are.
2
In a twisted mental back-flip, the English seem to think the EU is leaving Britain! BoJo therefore thinks he's in a position to blackmail and issue ultimata. For heaven's sake, just sign the framework agreement and the particulars will be settled soon after. Business will continue as usual, peoples lives will not be affected and the agreed regulations will stay in place. The only difference will be that Britain will no more have say in Continental affairs and the despicable Nigel Farage and his ilk will lose their raison d'etre and will no more be able to spread their lies.
44
Even though turnout was 72.2 % a great many didn’t participate in the referendum. So was the 52% vote for Brexit really the majority of the British?
SEE: indy100.com/article/brexit-leave-remain-52-48-per-cent-voter-turnout-electoral-register-charts-7399226.
Consideration has to be given to how the promoters of Brexit misinformed the public. Johnson, Farage and others played on the racism of the British and their fear of the country being overrun by migrants. How about the role the Russians played in funding the leave movement?
If provided with something called the truth and reality, would the majority of the British vote to leave the EU? After all the insanity associated with the move and the apparent lack of preparation by Johnson and company, are the British that naïve to support Brexit? Perhaps Johnson, who wasn’t elected by British voters, wants to leave ASAP without a deal because he is afraid that an informed electorate may actually vote his party out and vote to remain on a 2nd referendum.
BTW, Johnson needs to remember that a trade deal made with the stable genius (TSG) needs to be OK’d by Congress and can he trust TSG the man who is always changing his mind? And how much longer will TSG be in power? Every day we learn of what appear to be violations of American laws committed by TSG. Hopefully, full impeachment proceedings are around the corner. But I am not holding my breath that others will follow in the steps of Rep. Amash.
49
Exactly. In America, Republicans are either lying for Trump, or they are running to the lifeboats and leaving women and children behind. Lying cowards.
10
"[Johnson] has lost the trust of all but his inner circle of schemers."
I think I might disagree with that, Mr. Cohen. They don't trust him at all, they never have. They see him as a tool to put their plans in order, a way to to redraw Britain in the 21st century to skew things their own way. A useful idiot, if you will, so they can asset strip the UK and line their pockets.
There's a line going around saying that the people who know Johnson best, trust him the least. For heaven's sake, even his own family don't trust him!
70
The Devil removes Republican Spines, as a signing bonus.
Seriously.
1
Boris Johnson is a clown who has united world opinion and British politicians of all stripes against him. Combined with that, add 1000 years of British xenophobia about Europe and we arrive at the current dog's breakfast.
3
I love how you think another referendum would be based on the "reality". Just because it wasn't the correct result, you impute slanderous reasons for why the UK left.
Roger, if you really want to subvert democracy, why don't you just say it outright? Outright that the experts know better and that the plebians be damned. It would save a whole column.
2
Boris Johnson and Donald Trump are what happens when representative democracy is undermined. In the UK far less than 1% of registered voters determined that BJ would become prime minister. In the USA DT entered the White House even though he lost the popular vote by 2+ million votes. So two men who do not represent the will of the majority are leading their countries into disasters.
As Cohen noted at least 21 Tories have stood up to Johnson. Where in hell are the Republicans with any sense of what is good for the country?!? Those who might have it retire rather than face the wrath of Trump. Spineless and shameless is what the R’s are. At least in 1974 some of them, finally, stood up to Nixon. He resigned.
5
My thoughts: Bojo the clown and dodo the grifter make for great cartoon characters. As leaders of the free world, not so much.
5
"Republicans with spines" is an oxymoron.
6
Those 21 Republicans are more like 52, and just on gun control, a murderous crew all.
2
And just like in the good old USA, the winner is.....Putin!
Also how did the Queen approve “proroguing” Parliament for five weeks?
2
The Brexit people voted for was a lie and a sham, birthed by The Boor himself.
3
Boris "The Mooch" Johnson. He will be in power about the same relative amount of time. Tick-tock, tick-tock.
3
I'm afraid Republicans with spines went the way of the Dodo.
3
I think you'll find it is spelled "pifflepafflewifflewaffle", courtesy of the inimitable Mr Crace.
3
Just like Donald.
White cultural anxiety.
3
Any grown man who wears his hair like a thirteen-year-old is likely to behave like a thirteen-year-old.
Good. At least British politicians still have the integrity to rein in an unelected thug.
If only our own GOP could find it in themselves to rein in the orange-haired greaser, with his silly DA, squatting in the White House.
6
It's not the first time in history, nor will it be the last, that a serious, hard working woman is pushed aside for a blustering, idiotic man.
152
Those 21 Tories are heroes. Where in Trumpland are 21 Republicans with spines?
Roger Cohen I have been asking myself that same question all week. The Republicans though wont walk to the other side, No they just announce that they will not run for reelection , knowing that their Goose is cooked.
Johnson like Trump a Populist wallows in creating chaos and deflection. That is about the only thing either of them excel at, oh and of course lying.
There will now of course be no Hard Brexit on October 31st, or perhaps better yet No Brexit at all.
There does need to be an election though , even factoring in Britain's first past the post system it is unlikely that Johnson or the Tories will regain power. As Mr Cohen correctly points out the British public have little appetite for 'Crazy' and Crazy is Boris Johnson's middle name.
3
Just love your line: "and hasn't even tried to buy Greenland"!
4
Isn’t it lovely watching the pirate ship Boris smash up on the rocks of his own party!
Makes US envious.
While our arsonist in charge continues to fan the flames...
And every front page contains a collection of new fires he has set.
We're long past outrage fatigue and relief is still 14 months away.
How is it, in this case, that Mother England knows best?
For one thing, because England’s ruling class has, for the most part, graduated from Oxbridge — where education, facts, science and accounting still mean something.
There is a bottom line below which their leaders refuse to slither.
Call it self respect.
Trump Republicans have no such inhibition.
They have learned in the American college of hard knocks that there is a constituency of know nothings out there willing to follow them anywhere so long as they are promised less government, lower taxes, and not to kill fetuses.
It really had been, on occasions, such a grand old party, even giving us Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt and Ike.
But Trump, self-educated as developer and tv demagogue, has taken it below what we thought was bottom to Roy Cohn land.
Republicans now are living off fear, lies, ignorance, revenge and election fraud.
The good news is that they can't survive there much longer.
7
"Like 20 other terminated Tories, [Gyimah] put country before career... Where in Trumpland are 21 Republicans with spines?" That is indeed the question that the Johnson debacle in Britain poses. A few -- but enough -- Tories had the integrity and courage to defy their disastrous demagogue of a leader. When will that happen in the US? When??
3
"Johnson is now more likely to return to earthly existence as a twig than survive the current storm.". Oh, come on! Does your use of mixed metaphor need to go berserko to try to make some point! Breathe slowly, Mr. Cohen. Then, write more slowly. As you normally do.
Since Republicans are in office to benefit themselves only, there are none with "spines," or morals.
3
If only we had even five Republican Senators with as much spine as the Tories...
3
Does U.K. still have a say? Or do they have to get in line behind Montenegro and Albania if they want to reapply?
1
I no longer recognize Britain.
Britain is infamous for its deep and seemingly unbridgeable social class divisions. I encountered a whiff of it during a brief visit many years ago — inadvertently stepped into space reserved for “Sloan Rangers”. How very rude of me.
Because I don’t pretend to understand Brexit policy ins-&-outs (does anyone?), forget the leading personalities pushing it (Farange, in particular, perplexes me) I can only theorize that the upper classes in that country feel so threatened by something we Americans can’t see that they are willing to destroy their country in order to save themselves.
1
"Where in Trumpland are 21 Republicans with spines?"
Out with the lot of them, just as I hope the good people of the UK deal with the Tories.
3
“Where in Trumpland are 21 Republicans with spines?”
Exactly my thoughts. The current Republicans are spineless or frightened or self-serving - in every instance a blight to the institution they swore to serve
4
If the Wizard runs out of spines, see if he can rustle up some hearts and smarts from the storeroom. Anything would be better than having to deal with these empty vessels. Hollowed out by years of compromising their souls for power, these cowardly lions of the Senate deserve our scorn, our resistance and our vote against their reelection.
1
Boris would rather be “dead in a ditch?”
He’s doing an excellent job digging that ditch right now.
4
Doesn't John Crace of The Guardian have some sort of copyright on use of the word "piffle" in connection w/ Brexit?
4
"Do-or-die" is presumably (?) a reference to Tennyson's The Charge of the Light Brigade:
Theirs not to make reply,
Theirs not to reason why,
Theirs but to do and die.
Appropriately for Brexit, it's "do and die", not "do or die".
2
Sharpie adjusted storm path president to hapless inept prime minister , US and UK stuck with these two last option guys.
Worse some 30% of population is still looking to find what can be lower than these two guys.
APPALLING
3
Indeed the differences between US and GB politics summarized in these 2 sentences:”Those 21 Tories are heroes. Where in Trumpland are 21 Republicans with spines?”
4
Great last line ... where are the Republicans?
3
Stylish writing here, but a tad over-written. It shouldn't be so obvious how hard you were trying to be witty. But it was an entertaining read just the same.
To get a better Brexit deal, one that woks for all parties including the hated EU, everyone involved needs to sit down and seriously come up with an agreed upon compromise. Theresa May tried to do this and failed mainly because it seems the left doesn't want Brexit at all and the right represented by Boris Johnson just does not care whether an uncontrolled brexit will drive the country off of a cliff. So of course the whole process is out of anyone's control and the EU having come up with a deal they consider fair and seeing it rejected by Parliament sit back bemuse as the UK commits public harikiri. Parliament needs to stop the clock and declare a new vote on Brexit before it is too latte no matter how Boris Johnson yells and screams. Someone needs to be an adult in the room and time is running out.
2
I started reading The Telegraph for insights. Now it's for laughs. They are all chugging the pina coladas on BoJo Island.
1
It is extraordinary that the 51% "majority" is taken as meaning 'the people' voted. Robert Tombs' article was even more inaccurate.
Approx. 37% voted at all, for this advisory "plebiscite", out of THE ENTIRE UK electorate!
That means, at best, that 18% of all UK voters voted for Brexit. This is not 'the people'. As well:
1. UK has no written constitution unlike most countries, where referenda require a super-majority - USA, Australia, Canada etc - for any formal referendum question to pass.
2. In federations, moreover, the Brexit-Remain "question", in other words asked, should the entire United States [or other] be broken up? The "United Kingdom" will break up (if Boris succeeds), it comprises 4 non-accepted "states". Only England - the greater part of that pathetic 18% of electorate - could have asked to secede (as possible in the USA or Canada) but that is not what Brexiters want anyway. They don't give a fig about the other 3.
All federations (to my best knowledge] allow a possibility to secede: England with a written constitution could have seceded from Scotland, Wales and N Ireland. Western Australia - boring and rich - always threatens to secede. NSW and Victoria are fed up with WA. It could happen, under written federal rules - unlike the silly UK.
2
Excellent column,
The Republicans are a but a gang of moral pygmies who lack both spines and hearts. They are incapable of doing what is right, including standing up to the depraved and malignant narcissist, Donald Trump. Let's hope it will be their undoing.
3
One can only feel certain that democracy rests in far more assured hands in the UK than it does here, where not only do republicans prostrate themselves over every trumpian folly, but we have a 'supreme" court that can't find the spine to uphold the Constitution.
2
"Where in Trumpland are 21 Republicans with spines?"
Where indeed? They are conviction-less. How could they have the courage thereof? They will not even own it: the racism of their mob and the mob's messiah. The devil's deal is all. A tax cut for the rich, and they overlook treason. Destroy the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and they vow never to impeach. Destroy the EPA, and Trump can smash our democracy. Deregulate the whole shebang, and they say "this one's for you" when he ogles and paws at their daughters and granddaughters.
2
Speaking as a Brit:
1. Proroguing (new vocabulary for the illiterati) parliament normally happens every year. So nothing new.
2. Parliament disappears for party conferences every September for 3 weeks anyway. So adding an extra 5 days to their jolly seems to be of no consequence, nor any great strategic manoeuvre. It's not 5 weeks - they are still in action spewing venom next week too.
3. Seems to me our representatives vitriol has played into everyone's hands - Europe have the upper hand (and don't have to grant an extension) and so does the US.
4. Being related to a great leader of the past century does not by default make you one yourself. What a load of twaddle!
5. The people voted for remain or leave - NOT any great orderly exit. No-one had a clue. So further twaddle.
6. The greatest thing we have all learnt is the precedent that has now been set - when parliament wants to pass a law through they can work miracles and manage it in 4 days.
7. Always lucky to end on. All anyone wants is an end to this agonising battle of political egos, most of whom clearly ceased to represent the people years ago, and yet appear to be being paid to do so without any recourse for their actions. That's no democracy.,....Just anarchy.
Pour your pity on us mere mortals who have no real voice - we are in need of it in bucket loads.
1
“Where in Trumpland are 21 Republicans with spines?”
I fear spines are in short supply. However tails tucked between legs and scrambling for the exits seems to be the current republican answer to their pathetic moral failure. You can run but you cannot hide from histories long indelible gaze.
1
I’ve watched parts of the regular House of Commons Question Time on CSPAN Sundays, but never saw anything like this drama.
But, imagine if with Trump, the US had a British--style WEEKLY “Question Time”.
The Speaker would call out---"Questions for the President!” to start the Q&A, with both parties’ seats facing each other, and the leader compelled to put forth their policies, every week, and answer to the opposition, maybe defended by members of his own party, then with argument from the other side.
Wouldn’t that improve our politics, and inform the public---not just with Trump, but with any president?
Now, the US and Britain are in a crazy period -- will be analyzed for generations in history/political science courses on the ups and downs of supposedly stable democracies.
Let's ask, after Boris J and Donald T are gone—however it happens-- will their countries have the resources to right themselves, to stop their ship of state from continued sinking?
In 1941 Roosevelt sent Churchill a poem by Longfellow to encourage Britain in the war against Nazi Germany:
Thou, too, sail on, O Ship of State!
Sail on, O Union, strong and great!
Humanity with all its fears,
With all the hopes of future years,
Is hanging breathless on thy fate!
(Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, “The Building of the Ship,” 1849).
In the US and UK---we're all hanging, breathless.
2
What Johnson (and the Bannon-Cummings thing et al.) **desperately** want is for Europe to crack.
The Union is moving more and more toward strong societies and sustainable economies. Pressure against corruption is increasing.
There is no profit in peace and prosperity.
3
"Where in Trumpland are 21 Republicans with spines?"
Oh, Mr. Cohen -- you madcap tease! There ARE no Republicans with spines. Those useful bones have been replaced by insulating foam, or beaverboard, or whatever cheap substances Mr. Trump uses to build his sub-par (but seriously expensive) "luxury" hotels, resorts, casinos and apartment buildings. And, really, why should he use lasting materials? He knows they're all going to go bankrupt sooner
or later.
1
Where indeed? No patriots left in the Republican Party. Just grifters.
1
Where is even one Republican with a spine, Mr. Cohen? Can you address that question in an upcoming column?
2
Thank you for not using the T...p word in your article. How refreshing.
1
"Those 21 Tories are heroes. Where in Trumpland are 21 Republicans with spines?"
Cohen has hit the nail squarely on the head. The GOP is no more. It is a Gross Old Party of cowards and profiteers led by an amoral narcissist with only one compass that points to himself. And until that changes Trump is both King of America and a puppet of Putin, all at the same time.
1
Why don't Republicans in this country have the backbone to do what the Conservatives did in Britain? Brexit aside, the British shame us for our cowardice and creepy loyalty to our own buffoon. At least Johnson is intelligent, Trump isn't fit for any office, let alone the presidency. And people like Susan Collins, who I once grudgingly respected, have bent over backwards and sold their souls to this clown. It's called appeasement, and we know what happens after appeasement - dictatorship.
1
If Boris no longer has the confidence of the house then he must resign and I believe he will. A hog-tied Prime Minister is a ridiculous and demeaning sight. What happens after that is new territory, probably a caretaker PM will have to go to Europe and ask for an extension without being able to present a viable scenario. Humiliation indeed for a Britain that saved Europe at least three times in the last 200 years.
39
Strange how the British protesters have a hideous Trump baby balloon, when they really need one of David Cameron who has screwed their country over big time since a Brexit vote was his idea.
The British people voted in 2016 without having all the facts presented to them. The working-class heard only the anti-immigrant dog whistle, and did not take time to really learn about the serious ramifications of such a big change.
I believe, even back then, that there were more remain voters who were lulled by the polls to believe their vote was not necessary...
Democrats - please do not make the same mistake in 2020!
4
To paraphrase his supposed hero, Boris Johnson is certain to do the wrong thing by Britain, after he has tried all the alternatives.
2
'I'd rather be dead in a ditch' says the man who promised he would lie down in front of the bulldozers to stop the construction of Heathrow's third runway'. Apparently he has since changed his mind on preventing Heathrow's expansion (his constituency neighbours the airport). Johnson is not to be trusted.
4
Is 50% plus 1 vote sufficient to create such disruption to UK financial and political stability? In Canada, faced with a similar challenge, our government passed the Ckarity Act in 2000. This enables the federal government to determine the clarity of referendum questions and the majority required for implementation. It is unfortunate that the UK, Cameron and the Conservatives didn't think this through properly in the first place.
As to the original immigration-based grievances, the UK isn't even part of the Shengen zone so it would be relatively easy to impose controls without disrupting the clear advantages of the trade union.
3
the initial pooor wording of the referendum began this tumble: stay is one thing while the opposite side allows for an unacknowledged, at odds internally, coalition to vote for remain (
hard brexit all the irreconcilable version of soft brexit).
what's needed now if a PM vote in which one candidate campaigns on a "remain" platform
3
"Where in Trumpland are 21 Republicans with spines?"
Or even one Democrat in Congress with a spine who is not a Social-Democrat-Unionist or a recently retired Harvard Law School professor grandmother?
Nowhere in sight.
America is not Britain. We have a written Constitution with -by conscious design- absolutely no provision for political parties, and a broken two party system that is crushing functionality, smothering common sense, and slowly wrecking the country, which has been all but blind to this predicament. At least the Brits have a clue what is going wrong over there. You can only begin to really fix a problem if you understand what is causing it.
7
To be fair, parliamentary government is better than ours.
8
Granted that Boris Johnson's no deal Brexit would be a catastrophe for the UK, Roger Cohen. Granted that President Donald Trump's dystopian administration of the US has been America's misfortune for 3 years. Where does that leave our former mother country, England, and us on both sides of the pond?
We are suffering through the Trumpian hubris of "Sharpie-Gate" here, and England's knickers are twisted in knots by Prime Minister Johnson's insanity. Meanwhile, Xi Jinping, PRC dictator for life, is fending off the non-stop protests for democracy in Hong Kong ("one country, two systems").
Lord spare us all from "systems", including climate warming meteorological systems that obliterated the Bahamas in past 10 days. May the Bahamian people, whose homes and lives and islands have been destroyed by a Cat 5 hurricane (symbol of our climate changing world in turmoil), be granted surcease by some nearby country which will accept thousands of refugees from nature's wrath.
The 21 Tories turning against the PM are fine examples of Great Britain's bulldog relentlessness. Your last sentence, Roger Cohen, asking where there are 21 Republicans in Congress with spines, hit the Trump impeachment nail on the head.
4
Re Roger's last line: Republicans under Trump don't lack spines. Rather, they fervently hope (and covertly signal to him) that he must fully and finally seize the reins as President-for-Life. (In a different sense perhaps they do lack spines: because only after they have a real autocrat in charge of the country - ala Putin or MBS - can they feel secure.)
6
It is tacking towards Revoke, as I have often said on doorsteps here in Hove.
5
"Where in Trumpland are 21 Republicans with spines?"
I love the power of the rhetorical question. The concept of Republicans with spines strikes me as oxymoronic.
6
Are we there yet? No? Aren't we tired of this endless back and forth - will they Brexit, won't they? Who really cares at this point. Let us avert our eyes from these horrible little people, so keen to destroy the modern world their fathers and mothers and grandfathers and grandmothers created for them with their blood, sweat and tears. Leave them alone on their cold and soon-to-be lonely island to rail and rant as they will. Let us turn our eyes to the future of our own United States, and the question of how to resolve our own big, Orange problem. We have work to do.
2
The Brits have been at this game of Parliamentary government centuries longer than Boris Johnson.
Boris Johnson's Gunpowder Plot cannot succeed.
Game over: Britain 1, Boris 0.
2
When electors vote their preference based on fear, intolerance and hatred and other demagoguery no based in fact, this is what results. I do not blame the politicians, I blame the uninformed voters who are easily manipulated, the voters who fail to correlate whether the information they are being hand fed is valid or not. Mob mentality is never good.
This is another case of cutting your own nose to spite a ¨perceived¨enemy.
The have only themselves to blame.
3
"Those 21 Tories are heroes. Where in Trumpland are 21 Republicans with spines?"
Where indeed? The GOP passed the point of no return years ago. Every Trump outrage is another nail in their coffin. The "dust heap of history" beckons.
4
Watching Johnson answer questions in parliament was shocking and revealing; he answered no questions at all. It just revealed that Brexit was always a sham; there was absolutely no discussion of all the supply chains that would be disrupted, and the inevitable problems that would occur at ports, at the Irish border. It was all vague "take back the power" xenophobic garbage.
It's so easy to play on fear and hatred and far more difficult to play on reason and understanding of macroeconomics. The whole Brexit thing is depressing; it is human beings that are, to be frank, not being rational.
4
What you are missing here Roger, is the role of Johnson's cheif (unelected) advisor, Dominic Cummins. Johnson himself has never actually been passionate for Brexit per se, for him it was just a tool to propel him to what he believed was his birthright. Cummins, however, is passionate about Brexit, he is also an autocratic control freak. Johnson is just the front man and it is Cummins who has dictated the strategy and tactics. that those have blown up so badly in their faces has given a lot of people here a considerable amount of schadenfreude.
4
Because the UK has tied itself into a Gordian knot over Brexit, maybe the E.U. should give the UK it’s own ultimatum :
You have till the end of the year to make a deal, or article 50 is revoked, unless you have a new referendum.
3
The grand error was to put a deadline on Article 50 in the first place. The obvious thing to do would be to extend the deadline until a deal is negotiated that Parliament approves. Take no-deal Brexit off the table permanently.
2
Oh please! Parliament, and the remain conservatives have taken THREE YEARS to try and conclude leaving the EU, which the British public DEMOCRATICALLY voted to do. They were promised that it would be final, the results would be honoured, and that their vote would be counted. Either you believe in democracy, or you dont. If you are part of a democratically elected government, and you do not honour what the people voted for, you are deeply unpatriotic. If all those parliamentarians who have now lost their whip, had instead, applied their considerable talents and experience towards making a good deal and departure from the EU, we would have been OUT (and very smoothly) a long time ago. But instead they have chosen to sabotage and subvert the people. This is inexcuseable. Boris has done the right thing.
The shoddy performance of his own brother (please do not forget he is married to a Guardian journalist - a newspaper that has a whole department devoted to STOP Boris) was calculated to exact the most hurt and damage. A shameful performance and the Brits will not forget or forgive it.
2
WHO KNEW that rash decisions, based on bigotry and resentments, peddled by clownish demagogues backed by hostile foreign dictators, might turn out badly?
Hard lessons are being learned on both sides of the Atlantic this year.
10
it is time for Jeremy Corbyn to be Prime Minister. Note he was not mentioned here.
1
@David Gregory
Mr. Corbyn is an antisemite and, in his far-left way, as bad for Great Britain as Mr. Johnson.
Here, we have Bernie Sanders (Jewish himself, but hey, he left Brooklyn for Vermont) vs. Donald Trump. Both very bad for the United States.
No, hubris thy name is Alexander.
Boris is for the madding crowd.
Boris convinced them that they were defending the UK from the EU. But, following their Alexander-Boris they are actually being led off the white cliffs of Dover.
5
"Sam Gyimah was one of the purged."
How can an elected legislator be purged? Does it mean that he was removed from office?
"Where in Trumpland are 21 Republicans with spines?'
Wherever they may be, they're certainly not in the United States Senate.
8
England is lucky. It has a form of government where a madman can't rule by proclamation.
3
"Where in Trumpland are 21 Republicans with spines?"
Thanks, Mr. Cohen, for saving the best for last.
5
Bravo ! I hope this presages a turnabout in the states ...
1
Now Britain has its own Donald. Something is going to happen on Oct 31, and my guess is that Boris wont get his way. The whole Brexit idea will likely burn down like the effigy at Burning Man.
2
#45's mini-me will soon get his comeuppance... soon.
2
You won’t see a single GOP Senator stand up to Trump in any meaningful way, ever. Let’s face it: Trump IS the GOP. The GOP intelligentsia have either left the party (Will, Frum, Boot) or hung up their typewriters. The small pro-business GOP elite have realized they have always been just the tail of the tiger created by grafting racists, xenophobes, evangelicals, and now white nationalists and know-nothings onto the party of Lincoln. Our only hope is for a demographic tide to turn Florida and Texas away from the GOP. Hopefully, it won’t take another 20 years.
2
Much easier to find leprechauns in Antarctica than republicans with a spine.
Just vote in 2020.
4
One of the easiest ways to go broke is to continually bet all of your chips when you have incorrectly convinced yourself that your opponents are certain to fold.
Let’s see. Republicans. Integrity.
Coming together on the same day Trump apologies for all his lies, deception, corruption, and self-serving ways. You know, that day he breaks down in tears and apologies sincerely to Americans and humankind for all his wicked ways.
2
Perhaps little England should leave the EU and be kept as a sort of reserve. Where else would you find panto characters as extravagant as Boris Johnson, Jacob Rees-Mogg and his sister Anunziata? Where else would you find shows as entertaining as this week’s?
1
Populism is easy. Politics is hard.
142
Yes - and the best and most important question is?
Where are 21 Republicans with spine who put country and democracy first in this country?
3
What a beautiful article.
Thankyou.
6
You could just rewrite the article. Replace Johnson with Trump. Replace the Conservatives with the Republicans. But instead of people listening to the experts who say a No Deal Brexit would be an absolute disaster for Great Britain, Trump would call it all a hoax and fake news and Mitch and the boys would be like "Ah, Yup, we will go along with whatever you say". Standing up for what is right is called having guts. You out to try it sometime, Mitch. The question I have about stuff like this is: How much money has been spent and lost figuring out what to do only to find yourself still at the starting line?
3
How could this happen?
Surely Cohen is mistaken for Trump just told us not to worry about Boris for he is a winner.
2
And where do we in Northern Ireland stand? No government of our own at the minute, our remain-voting population represented In Westminster by the ardent leaver and Tory props the DUP. We have so much to lose with Brexit, yet we are considered a pesky annoyance by Boris, who faffs on about “alternative arrangements” to a hard border without producing a workable solution.
The ramifications for Northern Ireland are deep and possibly tragic. Teresa May understood that. Europe understands this. Brexiteers don’t care.
6
I would be interested in more information about the politics in Northern Ireland. My perception is BoJo has hung them out to dry. Doesn’t a no deal exit mean, at least effectively, reconstituting borders and customs controls? And thereby driving closer to reunification?
2
I think because Roger sees Brexit thru EU colored glasses he can't see the damage the EU and the Remainers have done.
On the one hand the EU made no bones about punishing the UK lest the Italians and others get the idea to do the same. They also made sure that the "backstop" issue was as unpalatable to the Conservatives as possible. They have bet they can cow the Brits into coming back. They have never had an interest in a sensible agreement.
The Remain folks have basically tossed the results of the largest democratic vote in UK history. Talk of a general election, of a Remain win and then, then another referendum which I assume if they lose again means it still won't matter.
What Boris has done is force a decision - the UK is sick about discussing Brexit and want to move on. Labor, the Libs and most notably the Tory rebels have now all been called out as abandoning the outcome of the Brexit vote - you want an election, let's have one... and they back away again because they fear the voters. If the Brexit party goes full in with Boris, they can ikely bury Labot and the Libs for a decade.
2
@CChris
The backstop issue has been misrepresented from day one. It was actually Theresa May who requested it. Roughly speaking, the story is as follows:
I buy a house and get a mortgage from a bank. The bank will give me a contract, in which there'll be a clause that will say that if I default on my payments and certain conditions obtain, the bank will repossess the house to cover my debt. This repossession clause is the bank's backstop against me defaulting. Now, I could complain that this clause gives the bank an unilateral enforcement right and I have no say in its application, but it is me who wants the contract.
In the real world the uk has entered a treaty with another nation, in this case Ireland. Whether the uk leaves the EU or not is immaterial, pacta sunt servanda! The backstop was to ensure that in the case there was no trade agreement at the end of the transition period(s), the conditions of the Good Friday Agreement would be upheld until a satisfactory arrangement could be instituted.
May insisted on it, and the EU did not like it at all, because she realised that her red lines would endanger the GFA. she had not reconned with the duplicity of the brexit headbangers.
1
Why is the UK's system seemingly more resilient than ours in the US? Perhaps it has as much to do with the obvious nature of their existential crisis? While bombastic, Trump hasn't outright said he'd like to see the country torn apart and he hasn't tried to shut Congress out of the decision making.
Brexit is certainly a terrible and short-sighted idea, but even some of its supporters have enough vision to see that a no deal version will have disastrous consequences that could actually tear apart the United Kingdom. One need not be a seer to foretell that future because it is so very blatant.
Here in the US, we're faced with an immense increase in gov't spending with a significant decrease in revenue during a time of good economic growth. That's a much more subtle danger with consequences that can be assigned to others in a way that a lot of people will believe.
2
It should be obvious to everyone that there are no Republicans left who have spines. They are not fighting back against Trump, but they are retiring (with all the juicy retirement perks of their offices) and going home. Their governing principle is "We have ours and you, the people, are on your own." Today's Republican Party is on track to be recorded in the history books as the most feckless ever. And Boris? Since he operates in a parliamentary democracy, he can be disposed of at any time. And I expect he will be, soon enough.
2
Three years have passed since an election in which pro-Brexit voters tended to be among the older segment of the population.
After three years, the demographics have changed: three years worth of deaths and three years worth of new young voters.
Is it really undemocratic to ask for a new referendum?
4
Yes, the UK needs a clearly articulated referendum.
1. Leave EU now, May deal.
2. Leave EU now, no deal.
3. Remain (rescind notice to leave).
This is what's on the table. And the UK needs a strong and clear show (60%) to take any action, otherwise no action, (3), should be the default.
10
Maybe there is something toxic in blond hair color for men? They include resorcinol, ammonia, persulfates, parabens, propylene glycol and metals such as nickel. How about just going with Roundup instead?
6
Trump and BoJo illustrate a basic political fact that we’ve seen over and over during 40 or 50 centuries of recorded civilization: An irresponsible leader creates big problems for his people. Democracy is supposed to put a check on irresponsible leaders and a way to replace them. Let’s hope.
11
Boris Johnson has lost every vote in House of Commons since taking office. Even House of Lords acts sensibily, passing the final stage of a bill that aims to block the UK leaving the EU without a deal on 31 October.
Johnson, like Trump, is just a grandstanding buffoon, incapable of any sophisticated scheme and strategic planning. Both rely heavily on their spin-doctors.
His senior aide, Dominic Cummings – as influential as Trump’s ex-aide, Steve Bannon – is said to be behind controversial decisions like removing the party whip from the 21 Tory MPs who voted in favour of taking over Parliament.
As intransigent as Johnson is, he will refuse to abide by a bill proposed by Labour MP, Hilary Benn, which would mandate him to seek an extension to Brexit until at least January 31 if, by the end of next month, he has not secured a deal with the EU, or gained MPs’ consent for no deal.
Seeking new election is his only face-saving exit. He wants to speak directly to the public, setting out the vital choice that faces the country, because he is over-confident that his seditious, rabble-rousing rhetoric would convince voters.
“Those 21 Tories are heroes. Where in Trumpland are 21 Republicans with spines?”
Money corrupts US politics. Lawmakers in Congress do their wealthy donors' bidding, rather than serving their constituents. They put personal financial gains ahead of their country's interest.
14
The deal the British are going to get from the EU is going to be bad for Britain, otherwise there would be an exodus from the EU. The Brits think they can negotiate a good deal Brex, a fantasy not yet dead. The British people voted for nostalgia in the referendum and they were introduced to reality over and over again. They are going to get burned badly if they don't have a second referendum. And, if there is another go, they need to silence social media propaganda from Russia.
18
I'm sorry, Roger, but there is a whole EU of 27 countries and a couple of hundred million people who by now want this to be over with as desperately as the most ardent np-deal Brexiteer. We've got better things to do.
Besides, let's be frank, what on earth would yet another extension of several months achieve? May made a deal. It didn't pass. Eight alternatives were proposed and voted on. None passed.
Unless there is any reason to believe that there will suddenly appear a solution that would stay within the framework that the EU agreed upon with the British Government (and which was unanimously accepted by all 27 states and is most adamantly not to be revised in any substantial way) and be acceptable to the British Parliament, there is no point whatsoever to giving "more time".
Other than getting a pointless extension, there are 3 possibilities between now and 10/31.
- Britain accepts the deal agreed with May as it is.
- Britain crashes out of the EU at midnight on October 31.
- Britain cancels Brexit altogether and sets about repairing its ties (and reputation).
My money is on option 2.
8
Putin and the Russian trolls have achieved their aim.They were involved in the Brexit vote which eventually led to the chaotic leadership of Boris Johnson and they likewise interfered in the 2016 election which brought the equally chaotic behavior of Donald Trump. They must be satisfied in Moscow that they have upended orderly government in the West even while Putin knows that he will triumph in his next election.Democracy demands an informed electorate-Putin and Co. have decided to disseminate as much misinformation as possible and to play to the irrational fears of voters.Parliament is trying to right itself-if only the US Senate had some of the same courage.
17
Sometimes, votes are mistakes. Those who wonder why Brexit doesn't just mean Brexit ought to ponder that fact.
Campaigns put out misinformation, aka lies and distortions. Russians and Cambridge Analytics meddle. People who think they know what the outcome will be don't bother to vote.
Complicated issues don't lend themselves to yes or no vote. The UK leaving the EU has shown itself to be very complicated.
This started with a political trick by David Cameron. He's gone now. Theresa May reportedly thought leaving was a bad idea, but she tried anyway to negotiate terms. She's no longer PM. Apparently there are a number of Conservative MPs, who have been cast adrift. The political mess threatens the unity of the UK and its economy.
The news media find this very exciting. I'm worried about what that means for getting out of this. I'm also worried about the similarities with our own situation here in the USA.
23
It's interesting the underlined parallelism between the UK Boris and USA Trump: both look arrogant but quite inept even in pursuing their own policies.
The unnoticed issue is where the long time acclaimed Democratic West, led by the two oldest democracies, is heading under this unbelievable leadership of a TV showman/realtor developer and a son of the so called English ruling class?
5
The problem is, with Britain like this, there is no reason to think the EU will make many more concessions. So the problem is not gong away, either way.
4
"the talented Mr. Johnson"/"gifted" - hardly words one would use to describe a man who chooses to describe one of his predecessors in Downing Street as "a girl's blouse" (which in itself shows the distance between Johnson and the real world, the expression being more or less unknown to ordinary folk like me).
Johnson received a 2nd class degree in Classics at Oxford, where he was accepted because his wealthy family had been able to send him to Eton College. Watching his recent performances in the House of Commons, mumbling and bumbling his way through incoherent arguments, one was struck by how poor his attempts at rhetoric were. Basically he seems to overestimate his skills and should definitely not repeat such an improvised performance (although we can be sure that he will).
The man reminds us of Richard Nixon at the end of his attempts to wriggle free. Both men failed to convince even their allies that they had things under control. And now Johnson has more or less promised to break the law if Parliament orders him to go cap in hand to Brussels and ask for a delay to Brexit. Aptly put: "devoid of the ballast of a moral center" - says it all. As Nixon said: "I am not a crook" - but in fact he was.
21
@Bill George
It has always rankled Boris that both his own brother, Tory politician Jo Johnson AND David Cameron were awarded FIRST class degrees from Oxford (both politics, philosophy and economics).
Interestingly, Johnson's predecessor, Theresa May is also an Oxford alumnus and the holder of a second class degree (Geography).
3
The article staes that the principal remainers are the Liberal Democrats. This is wrong. In Parliament the principal remainers are the Scottish Nationalists. They are the third largest party after the Tories & Labour.
In the referendum Scotland voted 60% remain against 40% leave.
In the upcoming General Election - it's a question of when, not if - the SNP are likely to increase their number of MP's It's likely that they will have remaining in Europe & having a new referendum on Scottish independence as main planks in their manifesto.
If they are successful how can Westminster deny such a referendum? After all the people "will have spoken".
It's a delicious irony that a PM. from the Conservative & UNIONIST Party will drive the break-up of the United Kingdom.
12
Too well the political system/the parlament in the UK seems to be able to halt this hostile attempt to run the country over the cliff edge. BoJo caring only about his own agenda and not for the best of the UK. Directed by his Machiavellian advisor Dom. Like Trump earlier on by Steve Bannon. The country now needs an election, but not before November. The best deal would be crossing the read lines for a soft Brexit, or rather, no Brexit at all.
8
The UK government must now renegotiate the terms of Brexit since the Parliament has outlawed leaving without a deal. A lesson in humility perhaps for Mr Johnson? Why not.
He should stop acting as if the UK were entitled to whatever he and Mr Farrage unwisely promised the leave voters but now cannot deliver.
8
The problem with a general election is that the Boris Johnson could win a majority with as little as 30% of the vote, because the opposition is so fractured. This would be enough to propel us out of the European Union without a Deal and into the economic disaster that would follow. Unfortunately there might well be 30% of the electorate who are sufficiently ill informed to think that leaving without a deal is, if not a good idea, a way of ending this nightmare not realising that the trade negotiations with the EU that would commence as soon as we leave would go on for years afterwards, and that we would be in an extremely weak position. A referendum with some definite choices, unlike the first one, would be better.
9
@G Richardson
In contrary to Mr. Cohen´s view the next general election will exarcebate problems to a much higher extent.
1. The questions "No deal-Brexit", "Brexit with a deal" or "Revoke" will not be on the ballot. There will be candidates of many parties on the ballot, nothing else
2. Nobody will know which party to vote for in this general election because there are no party political lines on all major sides in any way.
There are "BoJo Tories" for hard Brexit, "One Nation Tories" for Brexit with a deal - which one? - and "Remainer" Tories who want to revoke.
On the Labour side of the voting front the situation is almost the same.
3. Many small parties - Libdems, Independendents ousted Tories, frustrated Leftists and Nationalists - will attract voters also. This is extremely detrimental in a First Past the Post system.
4. Then there is a wild man called Mr. Farage who is not interessted to get elected as MP at all but who will raise as much sand as he can but only on the Brexit issue.
5. Above all is the unlimited - justified - anger of Britsh people no matter from which side of the fence over the blatant unability of politicians in general and MP´s in particular to get even the simpliest things straight in politics in recent years.
6. The icing of the cake will come from British tabloid press making a lot of noise no matter of the issues in the forthcoming campaign in a formerly unknown extent. The "red bus" will be a mild breeze in cozy old times then.
5
If Labour had an even remotely acceptable Prime Minister as its leader this whole mess would be long over. A less polarizing figure would have conjured a large governing majority in July 2017 against the hapless Teresa May.
Alas, the opposition is led by a left wing demagogue whose elevation to Number 10 might be worse for the United Kingdom than a no deal Brexit!
What do do.
7
For a start the proroguing of Parliament meant there were 4 scheduled days it wouldn't sit. Hardly end of democracy.
In your country people often complain that Trump didn't win the popular vote, which is true. Brexit won 52%-48%.
PM May tried 3 times to get parliament to agree on a deal Brexit. She failed. Now parliament has voted to stop a no deal Brexit. It seems the UK parliament doesn't know what it wants.
You suggest the leave campaigners lied or didn't explain the problems about Brexit. I look forward to 2020 when Trump and the Democratic Nominee admit the various problems their own Presidency will create. The Remainers - Cameron, institutions, business & media clearly spelt out the problems with Brexit.
The 21 Tories are hardly heroes of democracy.
2
Nothing happens in a vacuum. Something always comes from something else. An essential element of that 'something,' unmentioned in Mr. Cohen's otherwise spot on analysis, is Dominic Cummings, the unelected and possibly mentally unsound adviser-in-the-wings to Boris Johnson. Perhaps the British electorate and the world at large should thank Cummings for driving Mr. Johnson to an unattainable radicalism. It may well be that Mr. Johnson crashes out of office before the UK crashes out of Europe.
11
Every time a European people votes against the wishes of the European Union, it is scolded until it sees its error and votes again. Mr. Cohen appears concerned that chaos will ensue if Mr. Johnson's plan for a "no-deal" Brexit is realized. But Mr. Cohen has no sympathy for the chaos and the loss of British identity and sovereignty that the E.U. policies, particularly mass immigration, have brought. Europe needs to stand up and resist the invasion of non-Europeans or it will simply be dissolved in a sea of undifferentiated humanity. Brexit is a reasonable warm-up for that exertion.
1
Your comment ignores the fact that opening of the EU to eastern countries was the result of UK’s campaign (during David Cameron’s useless prime ministership), because truth be told, eastern europeans accept the low wage jobs in the UK that brits refuse to do, and they carry them out with hard work and conscientiousness.
11
Just like Trump, Boris Johnson is a big man, whose aggressive demeanor inspires trust. We all perceive these men as competent. And whether they win or lose, they are excellent at putting blame elsewhere.
Unfortunately big-man kingdoms are the governance model of humans. Such men left more children in previous generations, and women prefer them as mates. So we are all being led down the same roads as our paleolithic ancestors.
Democracy was less than even a blip in history, and it's quickly giving way to the eternal big-men regimes.
6
BoJo was campaigning in the north yesterday, looking totally ridiculous and out of place in his wellies, leading a highland cow, electioneering to keep the job he shouldn’t have. But the system here, though stretched to its sides, is designed to protect from despots, and I do believe that is what it is doing, as it has done before. It’s a fascinating time to be studying for the citizenship test.
11
The UK claims to be the oldest democracy of the modern world. And yet it is now 'ruled' by a peron elected to be PM by 92.150 persons out of a total UK population of +67 million... That's not even 0,14% of the UK's population. So much for democracy I guess.
As a European and as a strong believer in the EU I do have to point out that within the EU the 'Brits' always seemed to be there only to block or obstruct. I wish there was a way to keep the ordinary UK people in the EU and the 'leave' UK politicians out of the EU. And please take the farage figure back. That anti-EU person is getting paid by the EU, he should be on the trump payroll (not the US payroll of course).
26
@Marc Panaye
In the Westminster system the people elect the government, not the prime minister.
1
In truth it seems that the EU can't wait for Britain to leave. Macron has never hidden his eagerness. Even Angela Merkel is resigned at the prospect. As for the rest of Europe, as far as I can tell, they have other issues that are more compelling and urgent than England's inability to find the exit door. The EU is a club where most still want to "play tennis" or football: still believe in the prosperity and peace of greater integration. England always wanted to "play cricket" instead (just a free market). So remaining may be in Britain's interest, but then please: enough trying to force all of Europe to "play cricket" and start playing the game upon which the EU was founded.
24
Excellent piece. Thanks. "Where in Trumpland are 21 Republicans with spines?"
I am not sure if anything could change in our Congress, Trump or no Trump. It seems that the difference between Reps and Dems overall is much smaller that the differences found between political parties in Europe. Both Dems and Reps cater to the wealthy and contribute to the ever increasing gap between the haves and have-nots. Both Dems and Reps push for military adventures abroad which benefit few. Trump is certainly a horrific person to lead our nation, but at least he is the only president in our recent memory who has not started any new wars (so far!) and tries to make peace.
4
Which military adventures did Carter, Clinton or Obama initiate? What is Trump doing with Iran if not trying to provoke conflict? What about Trump’s childish insults toward Kim Jong Un? Sorry, Trump is a dangerous man because he doesn’t believe in diplomacy. His personal instinct may not be toward war, but he’s placed dangerous hawks like Bolton and Pompeii in positions of power.
I’m not buying the superficial cynicism that both parties are the same. From what I’ve seen one party is working toward the public good and the other is in the pockets of its donors.
3
Where in Trumpland are 21 Republicans with spines? Where indeed. They do not exist -- whether bought out, blackmailed, Putinophiles, or propaganda and Breibart-believers, we in the USA have lacked the guardrails that will check Johnson's headlong drive off the cliff. It was great to see hundreds of thousands British folks protesting in the streets, marching on palaces, and I keep waiting for more of that spirit here.
While there are millions of Americans actively resisting Trump's delusional cruel autocracy-lite, it would have been good if there were Republicans with spines, as the Conservative party had in the UK. Save yourselves, British friends - Keep calm and stay in the EU! As for my country, I am still waiting for more Democratic leadership with spines. Where are our impeachment hearings? They should have started in 2017.
16
Imagine, some of the British Conservative MPs defied the Prime Minister and “put country before career.”
So there really is a country where politicians have both principles and the guts to follow them.
Who knew?
18
Johnson, the posh-accented punter, appears to be Britain's answer to Trump's bait-and-switch. He--and the Brexiteers simplistic bumpf--and nobody has followed the money to the very person it would profit: Putin, who seeks to destroy the NATO and Western Alliance that outlasted his true parent, the Soviet Union.
Like the Germans prior in the 1930s, Putin and his colleagues/stooges went traitor-shopping in their target states.
Sometimes this sort of thing is more easily told in novels, as in the major subplot of Erich Maria Remarque's 1945 "Arch of Triumph," where the refugee protagonist Ravic, finding temporary shelter in 1939 Paris, sees his former tormenter Haak on the street and deals with him.
Britain's Conservatives are now seeing their reputation declining. Americans don't seem to be so lucky in properly perceiving Trump and his collaborating GOP.
Can ei
8
I find this argument saying that the 2016 vote was not about a deal or no-deal completely ludicrous. Quite a dishonest argument.
People who voted for Brexit knew it would not be easy.
They did not know to what end and they did not know they were lied upon by unscrupulous politicians with greed, among them the first one Johnson.,the actual PM,
3
UK's Trump equivalent loses thanks to conservatives with a conscience.
No such luck in the self-declared "greatest country on Earth".
15
“He put country before career.” Can any elected or senior appointed official in Washington say the same?
21
Mr. Cohen has it exactly correct the British people did not vote for chaos or to follow snake oil huckster Boris Johnson off the proverbial cliff. Now that Brits have a clearer picture of the consequences, they should have their vote in a second referendum.
9
@Mark McIntyre
Ms May had turned it into this mess we all have to give today.
Initially it had been a non-binding vote based on a very global question that had an extremely close outcome. Clear but narrow.
The best thing UK politician could have done in this situation would have been this:
"Alright compatriotes, we, the government, have promised to respect the result. The result is clear: A narrow majority has expressed a general will to leave. So we will start to draft some options for leaving and we will this negotiate this with EU right in time. We have to do so with EU, look at Art 50 (mandatory). When we have hammered out some options we will hold a Referendum how to leave because this is a very important question because of the severe consequences That is not answered yet in the recent Referendum. Read the result again. So we will need a binding one then
Let's go. I will call Mr. Juncker tomorrow."
This is definitely within the terms of the 2016 referendum.
And what did Ms May do in fact?
"Brexit means Brexit. My kind of Brexit. I'm going to tell you when I'm ready so only Parliament will have to approve the Brexit you all are craving for so desperately. I will deliver. Let be my great party be my guide (My right honorable friend Mr Rees-Mogg also) and my overwhelming personal interest to be PM as long as they let me do the job. So shut up while I'm going to pull the trigger."
So here we are. You couldn't have handled this case worse than Ms. May did.
5
Britain needs an election and will get it. Pray that the hidden hand of one V. Putin isn’t shuffling the votes around.
10
Just to say that while Russian troll farms will doubtless be generating propaganda during the campaign, their ability directly to interfere with voting is limited as in the UK we use paper ballot forms, marked with a pencil and counted by hand. Just a thought...
1
Unlike our friends in America, our Parliament reigned in our would-be-dictator Prime Minister. PM Johnson will not be allowed to follow the footsteps of Donald Trump.
Unlike our friends in America, the UK demonstrated that our democracy continues to function despite the autocratic challenge offered by Johnson.
The disparities continue. Unlike our friends in America, our schools are not consider "target-rich" shooting galleries.
Unlike our friends in America, we didn't pull out of the Iran deal nor did we embrace Kim Jong un, raising his status on the global stage.
Unlike our friends in America, the UK challenged Brazil and its Prime Minister for their destruction of the Amazon which represents 20% of the oxygen supplied to Planet Earth.
Unlike our friends in America, we don't embrace Putin nor do we want him to rejoin the G-7 which was designed to promote democracies.
We also didn't attempt to purchase Greenland despite its valuable resources.
Therefore, I suggest our friends in America rejoin the British Empire and allow us to manage the colonies till you extricate yourself from that disaster known as Trump and his complicit Republican cabal.
56
“Buffoon?” Check back in 6 months. British pride is not dead, and a majority of voters in the the UK are likely to vote “leave” if the question is presented to them again. There are no problems that cannot be solved and Johnson just may be bright enough to deal with those facing the UK...much to the horror of the London,NYC and Beltway establishments. Again, check back in 6 months.
1
What does leaving the EU have to do with British pride? That doesn’t make sense.
6
"There are no problems that cannot be solved and Johnson just may be bright enough to deal with those facing the UK", while I hope you are correct... Northern Ireland! Three years of negotiating, planning, scheming, and PM Johnson's solution, well we are all waiting to hear what they are. But if we believe him, apparently they are going to be great.
5
Check back in 6 minutes. Yes, still a buffoon.
3
The farther they tumble down the rabbit hole, the more this entire affair begins to resemble Alice’s psychedelic tea party. Perhaps I’ve given Boris Johnson too much credit in thinking him a strategist with his own political endgame. Everyone’s at the table, talking vaguely of the same thing, but sounding ridiculous and accomplishing little more than spectacle. I thought I knew where this was going: Johnson looking for a clear mandate. It seems now, and perhaps I’ve taken the Alice thing too far, that he’s the Queen of Hearts hacking away at anything that moves. There’s little likelihood of any good resolution, no matter how this plays out.
3
Wow!I'm a Remainer, but this article is so biased, it's embarrassing. I am afraid, the ship has sailed and we shall have to leave the EU. Any further delay is pointless. The Labour Party should be blamed for voting down May's deal in preference to seeking a General Election , which they now reject.
Your reporter fails to mention Johnson is far ahead of Labour in the polls and whether an election is in October or November , he will win a majority, since those who voted for Brexit have not moved their position.
The EU need to take their share of the blame in insisting they cannot renegotiate.It is obvious that in the end, there will need to be a zero tariff trade agreement.
2
Remainer? Really? Pardon my scepticism - your EU-bashing and Johnson-boosting (as you must surely know, his polling uplift since taking office a month ago has been modest and there are no indications it is robust) sounds unlike any pro-Remain voter I’ve ever spoken to. The EU should take great credit for its steadfast defence of the interests a small member state (Ireland) against a much larger would-be third nation and soi-disant geopolitical bully with considerably inflated ideas of its own uniqueness (the UK).
3
The question behind the next election whenever it comes is: does a nation that persists in upholding a predatory ruling class, a parasitical monarchy and gulps jingo media swill for breakfast, despite all evidence of its near fatal toxicity, have the brain power and the drive to fight off the blatant piracy now on offer from Johnson's Tories? Johnson is counting on not.
There can be no truer test of Britain's cognitive capacity, now that the truth about Brexit is widely shared. The polls are not encouraging. People who are in pain do not think straight. This is not stupidity; it is an incapacity that has been capitalised upon by wise guys. Hence Brexit.
The UK can only benefit by holding close to Europe and the EU. This is what used to be called a fact. Alignment with the U.S. runs utterly counter to the best interests of the majority in this country (see Blair and Iraq) but is entirely in line with the interests that are driving this thing. Johnson's job is to keep banging the gong, divert, lie and confuse.
To be more optimistic, Johnson provides a magnificent opportunity for Britain to turn its back on the rot at its core.
9
Thank you for the wonderful alliteration!
1
Hear, hear--especially that last line!
2
“seek an extension beyond Oct. 31 for Britain’s exit. “I’d rather be dead in a ditch,” he says. That’s what happened to Muammar Qaddafi.”
Or Sir Edmund Bury Godfrey. If that happened, we could call it The Loutish Plot.
When the British voted for Brexit they expected an orderly departure. When we (not many of us reading this, no doubt) voted for Trump we voted for a boorish loudmouth who approaches problems with junior-high-school-level arguments. The British may feel duped, but we got exactly what we thought we were voting for.
15
Accepting the results of a vote based entirely on dishonest prognostications by Boris and Nigel is the real crime here.
The answer to Mr. Cohen's last question is simply that 21 Republicans with spines do not exist.
7
Independence for Scotland, for sure now.
7
"Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union or leave the European Union?"
-- question put to the voters.
PM Cameron said, “I am absolutely clear, a referendum is a referendum, it’s a once in a generation, once in a lifetime opportunity and the result determines the outcome".
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-britain-eu-cameron/uk-pm-cameron-says-no-second-eu-referendum-if-result-is-close-idUSKCN0Y81WQ
The Atlantic cited in 2016 "dire warnings" by remainers, linking to a Bank of England warning of the possibility of recession.
https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2016/06/uk-brexit-guide/482730/
https://www.bbc.com/news/business-36273448
Roger Cohen argues that the voters didn't approve a chaotic no-deal Brexit. So I would ask him this , is he claiming they voted for something akin to the May-EU deal Brexit? If not, what other orderly Brexit does Cohen have in mind?
Parliament overwhelmingly rejected May's deal, leaving only the no-deal way to Brexit. Hence, it is now disingenuous for Parliament to reject Brexit on the grounds that it would be chaotic.
Cohen wants two new votes, presumably this time for real, no, seriously, for real this time. Tony Blair of Iraq War fame said second vote would "be final."
https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/foreign-affairs/brexit/news/100120/tony-blair-insists-result-second-brexit-referendum-would
While I'm not a Briton, this doesn't sound like British fair-play. No, siree Bob.
5
I doubt that those who voted to leave wanted a chaotic exit. Brexit was dishonestly portrayed as a painless exit that would leave ordinary Brits better off (more money for the NHS, etc.). It may be that voters prefer chaos and pain, but they should have the chance to weigh in now that the stakes are clearer. That’s what I call British fair play.
7
Excellent article, timely and deadly accurate. Mr. Cohen has usurped my favorite moniker for PM Johnson, "buffoon". It's the identical word I've used for the current occupant of the White House, and fits both men to a T. The difference seems to be in their respective parties. The Tories are revolting against their buffoon- stay tuned- but the GOP seems to have a death-wish in refusing to abandon its buffoon. May they share his fate come November 3, 2020.
5
Britons need to stop living in fear of the EU. The world needs comity and unity. Russia poses serious threats to all of Europe. Communist China is on the rise. And the principal lesson of climate change is that it is coming for us ... for all of us. We need to band together to fight this common enemy. Look to the 21 Conservative members of Parliament as the leaders of the future. Boris Johnson is not a leader. He is a dangerous clown in the isolationist mold of Donald Trump. America is on the decline. Do not look there for guidance. Instead, seek to teach Americans how they can begin to extricate themselves from their misfortunes. Have courage, Britain! Join arms and work with your neighbors. It is the right thing to do. It is our best hope.
5
Roger Cohen,a noted columnist,has been hasty in writing off Boris Johnson&declared him dead.Boris Johnson is ver much” kicking& alive”&has many tricks up his sleeve.
Cohen should remember that Boris continues to be Prime Minister.Maybe he did not notice that his Chancellor of Exchequer has opened up his purse&populist schemes are being funded on priority.There is a method in this madness.
What Boris Johnson needs is an early election&Parliament to be dissolved.All that Boris needs is for Scottish National Party to help Boris to pass another simple law to have fresh elections.That may happen as the SNP is considering it.
Talks are on with other small parties for this accommodation.
There is every chance to get a new law passed.
But we have to admit that Boris has done some things never tried in Parliament in recent centuries!Yes,centuries!
1.Proroguing Parliament is unheard of.It was only the Speaker of Parliament who rose the occasion& restored powers of Parliament.
2.Boris has cemented his reputation that he is built on the same lines as his hero Winton Churchill,who was as unflappable&ready for any daring step.Britain knows that behind the comical face of Boris,there is a dagger hidden.
3.The manner in which Boris expelled 21 senior MPs from his party has shocked Britain.But this also got Boris new admirers.
Cohen maybe wrong in writing the political epitaph of Boris so early,without waiting for a sudden turn in politics.”A week is a long time in politics- Harold Wilson
1
The sad thing is, the chief authors and enablers of this whole mess, people like bloviating Boris, the repellent Reese-Moggs, and of course the catalyst of the whole disaster, David Cameron, will never suffer any palpable effects from their gamesmanship and chest thumping.
I’ll never forget reading that the chief conservative whip, since resigned I think, described the homeless as “the people one steps over while leaving the opera.”
9
21 Republicans with spines? Here, in the greatest country on earth? Keep asking Roger,
They just haven’t gotten to voting age yet...yet.
3
Another punch line to the joke that is populism.
5
Without running through the In/Out EU referendum campaign again suffice it to say the question was a simple one IN or OUT. 52% voted to leave with 48% voting to remain. The leave won. There was no supplementary question it was simply stay in or leave. Remain MPs have tried every trick in the book since 2016 to thwart the will of the people. Ex-PMs like John Major who rammed through Parliament the Maastricht Treaty the cause of so much discontent amongst those who value U.K. sovereignty. And Tony Blair, G W Bush’s poodle, who wanted to scrap the pound for the Euro. These are dangerous people encouraging MPs to play fast and loose with Parliamentary convention to suit their own agenda at the expense of democracy. Boris is to some extent playing their game and they cry foul! Well tough. Boris has a few cards up his sleeve, but as exit day approaches we will undoubtedly see more tricks from the Remain brigade. I barely recognise my country these days.
1
The new, best way to say “old” - “At the far end of the actuarial tables.”
5
Probably should be pointed out that if those LibDems “do well” in an election it will mean Johnson wins it. The fact that centrists who insist on “lesser evil” voting when it comes to, say, Clinton, refuse to do the same when it comes to the actual choice in the UK - Tories or Labour - is more evidence that they are unprincipled chancers whose opposition to Trumpism and Brexit is superficial - a means towards their real end, to stop the left.
1
Trump's playbook does not work that much in Europe, even in the least democratic country of the continent.
I supposed we can rest on this.
1
People voted for Brexit. The vote was 52-48.
The loosing side spent last 3 years trying to sabotage and reverse that vote. One of the avenues to
accomplish this is a form of running out the clock and perpetually moving the exit date. The Socialist International never gives up.
The inevitable outcome seems to be a no-deal Brexit with a mess in Ireland. Could I speculate that the North, rather than put up with a hard border with the Republic, might vote for a political merger? In that case, could the US make a special offer of asylum to residents of the North who feel threatened?
2
The 2016 referendum was just that: a non-binding advisory referendum (in other words: a poll) for the purpose of gauging the opinions of the United Kingdom's voters. One side won by a margin of four percent, which is smaller than any reasonable margin for error. The vote was therefore useless for any advisory purpose, and must be considered inconclusive.
"But it's the will of the people!" cry the populists. Tough luck. The United Kingdom is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy, not a democracy. The will of the people is irrelevant. The people did not choose Theresa May or Boris Johnson.
The referendum doesn't matter because UK's parliament does not govern by referendum. A second referendum won't matter. They can have a referendum every week if they like. In the end, the referendum decides nothing.
Parliament has explored the options available for carrying out the people's recommendation. They have found that none of the options are practical or feasible, only one of them is even possible, and the one that is possible will be devastating to the country's security, health and economic well-being. Therefore they will not carry it out, because doing so would be an act of treason.
Not happy? Should have voted UKIP in 2017, then.
13
"It cannot, at this point, decide its future for the coming decades — and that’s what Brexit will determine — without the balance of political forces being clarified. An election would in effect be a form of referendum on the 2016 vote."
Not with the UK's first-past-the-post system of electing MPs. A general election now would resolve nothing.
The actual best thing would have been for Parliament to bring down this government with a no confidence vote, and install a caretaker PM (not Corbyn) who would then seek an extension from the EU for the purpose of holding a referendum on May's deal (the only one on the table) or remain.
Unfortunately, this was not something the anti no-deal MPs could agree upon.
What they are doing now is the next best thing. If there is a general election (which there most likely will be) it should not be held until the threat of crashing out of the EU is eliminated.
2
The last thing reasonable people should want is an election, which carries the same risk as the original referendum - that people will vote for Brexit without knowing what they are voting for. Parliament should instead offer Johnson the opportunity to negotiate the best deal he can (or no deal) by Halloween, with his chosen exit sent to the people for a choice against remain. No actual exit plan has a chance of winning such a vote.
3
"An election would in effect be a form of referendum on the 2016 vote."
This seems to be the actual salient point buried in the garbage heap. The great doubt whether Leave voters in the original referendum knowingly accepted the implications of a hard, no-deal Brexit could be resolved by an election.
Having purged the remaining Remainers from Tory ranks, the combined vote of the Johnson and Farage forces would clearly represent the magnitude of national hard Brexit support. Yes, some of the Tory vote would primarily reflect a rejection of the idea of life under Jeremy Corbyn, but even that cohort would have needed to decide that a hard Brexit was at least a tolerable outcome.
For better or worse, a decisive election would produce a credible democratic result and bring the Brexit uncertainty to a close. A romanticized national suicide is plainly one of the options on the table. But if that is what the people want, who is to deny their right to choose a foolishly noble illusion as their historic fate?
The legitimate objection was to merely stumbling accidentally into an irretrievable disaster. The risk of course is that the election outcome could prove every bit as inconclusive as the current stalemate. But even then the country would at least have a clearer understanding of the underlying political realities it faces.
2
This kerfuffle isn't about Boris Johnson and never has been.
In the Carolingian Empire, in Britain and its former colonies -- that is, from the River Saale westward across the Atlantic all the way to Brisbane -- a substantial portion of voters, perhaps, a majority, has recognized that their governments do not represent them and have not represented them for thirty or forty years. And they are seeking to take back those governments. Thus far, Brexit and Trump are their successes.
The old parties must respond or go out of business.
For the nonce Trump has managed to take over the Republican Party such that he has made it appear to represent this non-metropolitan anti-globalist faction. In Britain neither the Conservatives nor Labour has yet managed to do so.
The Parliament is "hung," because its members looking at the results of the Brexit vote suspect they don't represent the majority of the country and that a realignment of their voters is in the cards.
Parliament needs an election to settle the question of who -- nationalists or globalists -- will rule. But its members are too unsure of the outcome to put the question to their voters.
1
Unfortunately, many people on both sides of the Atlantic agree with your view of the world. I think “globalist” is an Orwellian term without any real meaning. We live in a global economy. We’re all globalists in that we adapt to a global economy, including the farmers who voted for Trump.
I think the real struggle is between monied interests and ordinary folks who work for a living, whether they live on a farm or in a city. Mercantilism doesn’t work with global supply chains, so it’s a dead end for everyone. It doesn’t help workers over the long haul, but it’s tempting to look for something that worked in the past. The only solution are trade agreements that protect workers, something Germany has perfected.
The other struggle is between far-right populism—championed by Putin across Europe and America—and democracy. Unfortunately the hard right appeals to people who feel threatened economically. They use words like “globalist” to demagogue complicated issues.
3
Americans, and the world that once admired us, is beyond aghast at what this thieving conman has done to our so called democracy. Why, oh why, would you Brits ever want to bring anyone, even one less atrocious, down upon your great country? At least, we can put some blame on the Russians along with the truly out of touch people who voted for this corny reality star.
Truly, people don’t realize how good they have it until it is gone. No need to list what this laughingstock, malignant, great brained idiot has done to America and our allies, let alone the rest of the world. It’s too sickening to even mention.
Beware of populist fools. The fact that our fake president is all for your current Prime Minister should at least give you all some pause.
The USA will be digging out from our perverse folly for generations. So much damage has been done in such a short time, two years, seven months, but it seems like it’s been years and years. It takes pieces of one’s soul every day waking up to another ugly assault on the country one loves but seems, unbelievably, not to be able to stop from ruination, no matter the law.
Yes, we’re all waiting for 2020’s election, but the interim has certainly taken far too much from our collective psyches, not to mention the children and young people. It becomes demoralizing, no matter how strong it motivates us all to take back the real America and not this shabby imitation.
2
"Where in Trumpland are 21 Republicans with spines?"
This reference by Mr. Cohen to the disaster that is our heartbreaking Trump reign of terror speaks volumes -- the sadness that is the Republican House of Congress. Self before nation. Death to a Representative Republic. There is hope for the UK, but is their hope for the USA?
6
How can Boris Johnson exrend Britain's exit from the European Union for several months when the EU is the one that's told them Great Britain has until October 31 to leave? It's going to be a hard Brexit regardless.
1
@sthomas1957 the legislation requires that Mr Johnson requests a Brexit extension - it is totally up to the EU whether or not they agree to that.
4
@sthomas1957
They'll go back to the EU hat-in-hand begging for an extension, and the EU will grant it in as smug a manner as possible. The EU does not want Brexit. They want all of Europe to witness how useless and politically destructive it is for any country to attempt to leave. The UK thought they could leave and keep all of the perks. The EU has demonstrated that this is not the case. Therefore there will be no deal, and thanks to parliament there can be no Brexit without a deal. This means there can be no Brexit.
2
@sthomas1957
Two things are required for an extension: the UK must make a request, and all member states of the EU must agree.
An extension is still possible.
3
Two things happened which created the situation in Great Britain.
One was the referendum -- which they should not have had. The job of the House of Commons is to reflect the will of the people. In the past, great questions -- such as free trade and Irish home rule -- have been fought out in parliamentary elections.
Another was the need for 2/3 of the House of Commons to support a snap election. Elections for parliament are required every five years but in the past, the prime minister could ask the Queen for a snap election anytime. During his time as prime minister, Toney Blair brought in a reform which requires that the prime minister can only have a snap election if 2/3 of the House of Commons agree to it.
So we have a situation where a majority of the House of Commons does not support the prime minister on the most important business before it. In the bad old days that would have resulted in the prime minster asking for a snap election. Then it would be assumed that the voters would give the prime minister a majority in the House or elect the leader of the opposition as prime minister. But now he needs the approval of 2/3 of the House of Commons and they won't give it to him.
1
The British people have never wanted to leave the EU. The Brexit vote passed only because the typical citizen was so convinced the referendum would fail that many did not show up to vote. This has been known for 3 years, despite reporters forgetting it and citizens not demanding a re-vote as the Hong Kong citizens have taken over the streets (and airports and subways and police stations.)
5
Johnson is one more more step - albeit accelerated - of the sad decline of the UK from a second rate power to the ranks of the third level .
7
During the era of decolonization in the mid-20th century there emerged the process of the two step referendum:
(1) Vote on whether you want a referendum on independence (or sovereignty or becoming a republic)? If yes, then two years later
(2) Vote on a specific plan.
The result is clear.
There have been occasions where there was strong majority support (i.e., Australia becoming a republic) but the specific plan was rejected (see Australian referendum in 1999).
Perhaps the British could start over and this time do it right?
6
The political changes happening in America, Britain, and other western countries are more about a time of political transformation the planet is passing through than the quality of the replacement leadership that has been voted into power. The old political structure's are being dismantled and don’t even have enough time left to make it to the next elections in 2020. There is no going back in these swift currents of political change, and it matters little who's behind the wheel, taking us out of a situation we should never have gotten ourselves into.
2
Charm and wit are not always the attributes of the hot winded. Winston Churchill had both in abundance, but an intellect to match. He was not without his faults of course, most demonstrated in his disastrous Gallipoli campaign as First Lord of the Admiralty during the First World War, but at least he learnt from his mistakes. The same appears not to apply to Prime Minister Johnson, who is relying solely on brute force, bombast, and bullying to get his way. True leaders have the ability to reflect, to re-assess, to learn the art of compromise, and to keep in mind above all the well-being of their people and their nation. Prime Minister Johnson has a lot to learn in this regard amongst many. Populist clown leaders do little to install confidence in a world beset with geopolitical, environmental, social, and economic issues of great and ever increasing gravitas.
8
Yes, where is the spine in America's Republican party? In front
of one's physical spine is the heart. Below it, connections to legs
and feet well- grounded. Above it, a mind that is capable of contemplating, consideration, coordination and compassion.
But it is the heart/spine alignment that somehow
the Republican party no longer ever seems to register exists.
5
Roger Cohen is only too happy to see Boris Johnson as representing only “92,153 members of his own party, most of them at the far end of actuarial tables.”
Ageism is an example of the cheap-shot score-points trashing-talking language of contempt which is served up in lieu of analysis of issues, because “politics” is not about thinking, understanding, or deciding what is to be done, but about winning, like any other sport. What can’t be mentioned is anything that brings the rules of the game into question.
What Cohen can’t bear to look at is what happens when the EU neoliberal game no longer works for most people.
A majority of the British voted for Brexit because it was seen as a rejection of the established order, in Britain and in Europe — an order that has been failing them.
Sadly, Brexit is a rabbit hole — not an answer. An isolated UK will eat itself up in endless conflict.
The UK is preoccupied with the wrong question. Without something positive to fight for, most British people will remain trapped, either within or outside the EU.
But out of chaos, new ideas can emerge.
My hope is in the children’s crusade against climate change. Their vision points the way out of neoliberal bondage. Our species’ survival requires moving towards a just order which minimizes hierarchy — a transformative international Green New Deal.
Now to get the adults to break their role-playing habits and enter the fight for our lives!
4
@Bernard Tuchman to suggest that it is not apt for an analyst to highlight the fact that the leader of a nation has been elected by a demographic unrepresentative of that nation is complete nonsense.
2
Boris Perplexed
To Brexit or not, Boris Johnson, he knows
That stirring the pot is as far as it goes,
But no one cares; we all are nonplussed
If they fumble again and the UK goes bust;
No effect here across the wide pond,
No worries for us to cogitate on –
What me worry we say, declaim it out loud –
The U.S. of A, it’s the best and we’re proud
That we are the engine that drives the world
With the Brits in the backseat, almost third world.
Are you kidding sir? At this moment the U.S. is in shambles. President Trump is a “lunatic”. My America seems lost, all it does is spread chaos. The Southern bigots are running wild. America is going backwards. Muslim’s are spewing hate and using American freedom’s for Anti American values. Shame on us. We are supposed to be leaders but now we appear like clueless bullies. Remember the Twin Towers. America has to crush the Muslim threat, and stop the Muslim bigots. We are at war with them and they are winning. Time to grow up.’
Those dissatisfied with Brexit, post or otherwise, will still be able to live in Bulgaria with a long term visa & residence permit. Good lord, with realty prices as sky high as in Britain, anyone owning a home can sell out, buy & live in that beautiful country for years on the proceeds. What an opportunity for retirees seeking sustainable rural living in a rustic or renovated farmhouse.
2
Bravo, Roger Cohen. Excellent piece, topped off by the final sentence.
11
The UK Parliamentary system, much like that in my country, Canada, operates within the framework of custom. rules the House of Commons & the House of Lords have each enacted to govern their respective proceedings & a few statutes. That system is quite flexible & thus able to adapt to the needs of changing times but do so in a balanced way that respect the dual concepts of representative & responsible government.
The system assumes that the people periodically elect MPs who form the House of Commons, the PM & Cabinet, in order to govern, must have & retain the support of the majority of MPs, & enactment of statutes require the approval of both Houses.
The system works very well provided:
(a) direct democracy (referenda, plebiscites, etc.) in place of Parliament are not attempted to deal with major issues, &
(b) a competent Loyal Opposition stands ready to pick up the pieces & form a Government if the Governing Party becomes incompetent or unsupported by the public at election time.
For the past 3 years, we see the chaos that builds in this system when these requirements are ignored; especially when ignored in conjunction.
This is a unique situation without precedent, but there are signs that MPs & Parties are regrouping to deal with the breakdown, but that some time will be needed for this healing of the system to be completed.
11
Where indeed, Mr. Cohen, are even 2 Republicans with a spine. Although, to be honest, you really don't need a spine to put Country before party, just some very, very, basic decency and the minimal level of a sense of responsibility.
And I'd like to add a follow up question:
When did the world decide it was time to elevate leaders who, by THEIR OWN estimation, are not fit to govern?
27
Britain's Parliament gives America a good lesson in how to protect their democracy.
Well, one thing is certain; the national leader less fit for high office is Donald Trump.
How this comes out for the UK is still not clear, but at least Brexit Boris's power grab was stopped in its tracks.
Good luck everybody.
20
He likes democracy about as much as Mitch McConnell. I have a serious question. I know that Donnie has promised a very big trade deal, the biggest in history after brexit, but what does Britain sell that we would want? We already have our own bloated financial sector which is, I understand, their greatest source of income.
13
@runaway
but what does Britain sell that we would want?
Jaguars, Johnnie Walker, Downton Abbey, and the Great British Bake-off to name a few.
5
A quibble, JeanneDark: The Indians sell Jaguars.
1
Also Tea and great accents. The British are like a fun movie with no point.
1
Boris and the elected parliament have lost their way. Three years post-referendum, and the public can now see Brexit for what it really is. The U.K. is in desperate need of another referendum on the whole idea, after which they can elect a government that will do what they now want.
20
Could it be that history will write that the Johnson defeats will mark the nadir of the worldwide malignancy of right-wing populism? If so, the British Parliament will have provided the backstop the world needs and, poetically, the Old World will return the favor of 75 years ago and rescue the New.
23
Boris Johnson travelled across the United Kingdom for months giving over a hundred stump speeches calling for Brexit. He parked his enormous bus as a billboard, proclaiming that with Brexit 350 million pounds A WEEK extra should be given to the NHS. Unlike Theresa May, who promised more but qualified her remarks by that there would be a brief period of adjustment first, Johnson kept saying that the money would start immediately, the very first week. He repeatedly made this a personal promise - despite the fact that the UK will have to pay far more than 350 million pounds a week extra on a Brexit border, and that economists expect the economy to contract under Brexit.
Parliament should act on his promise. Enact now an extra 350 million pounds a week for NHS from the start of Brexit. To be fair to Johnson, this should only come into effect if he gets the sort of Brexit that he personally wants - a No Deal Brexit.
5
The Economic Cause of Brexit
1. When Britain joined the EU, it joined a coalition of
similar wage countries : France and Germany. Some
French and Germans moved to the UK, some UK
citizen to France and Germany , but that did not
disrupted the UK society.
2. During the UK stay in the EU, the EU expanded into
Eastern Europe, adding Poland (wages 1/4 of the UK)
Bulgaria (even less), Romania even more so.
3. Under the EU rules of free movement of people, goods
capital and mutual recognition of accreditations,
(if licensed to plump in one country you are licensed
in others) Polish plumbers and doctors moved to
England. Cheap Bulagrian meat depressed farm
earnings. Macturing moved .( Much of Europes
car industry is now in Eastern Europe)
4. All this benefited the London elites more
reasonable plumbing repairs, more doctors for
understaffed hospitals, easier laundering of Russian
oligarchs'money through Latvian banks , to name a
few
5. It did not benefit working Brits and Farmers. British
Plumbers lost their jobs, farm earning fell....
6 . Raising economic inequality leads to political
polarization.
The Brexit vote was the showdown
The outcome was to leave the EU
24
@Woof
This is a very limited view of the causes of economic problems in the UK.
A very substantial cause is the austerity policies put in place by the coalition government starting in 2010 which slashed the social safety net, cut funding from public services and sold services off.
Meanwhile, the government blamed immigration and the EU for their own failings. The voting public narrowly took the bait.
7
@Joan That is such a distorted view of events. Woof was spot on with his analysis. But it wasn’t just plumbers who suffered, electricians, plastered, bricklayers etc were hammered and as Woof rightly points out businesses were overjoyed at the lower wages they could employ at. What Woof failed to point out clearly was the U.K. joined the EEC (European Economic Community -it Common Market) that was in 1973 and in a referendum voted by a majority of over 60% to remain in 1975. Subsequently by various treaties, often rammed through, the EEC became the EU after Maastricht and Lisbon. They now want “Ever Closer Union” which takes away more sovereignty from member states. They now want an EU army. (Only the U.K. currently meets the NATO commitment of 2% of GDP spending on defence). The Euro brought extreme austerity to Southern Europe, meanwhile Germany enjoys a massive trade surplus because the Euro is undervalued for them and so they have enjoyed export booms - admittedly they make great cars! 👏 So what is the real reason behind Brexit? Immigration? Sovereignty? Since 2010 you claim austerity slashed the social safety net, it created over 1,000,000 jobs - where unemployment rocketed in the EU in the U.K. it plummeted to its lowest level since the 1970s. Germany is now if not teetering on the edge is in recession. The EU project is now failing the citizens of Europe, the U.K. want out and will get out but unfortunately they don’t want us to prove it can work being outside.
6
@rds
And that is the reason why I voted Leave.
Many on the Remain side have been at pains to paint Leavers as ignorant, easily misled bigots.
On the contrary, many of us were concerned about the future viability of the “Europe” project, quietly developed over decades by unaccountable politicians and Eurocrats, and including ever more nations who take more than they can contribute.
What concerns me most, here as in the US, is the fact that we seem to have lost the ability to respect other people’s opinions and instead feel the need to regard them as the enemy who must be defeated.
A 52%/48% referendum result in favor of Leave, a mere 4% margin, is NOT a mandate. David Cameron should never have had a referendum, certainly not without requiring a super-majority, e.g. 2/3rds./1/3rd.
Referendums have no place in Representative, Parliamentary democracies anyway, except - and only except, if seeking a complete change in constitution (e.g. abolishing Britain's constitutional monarchy). Otherwise, where do they stop? And why have Members of Parliament (MPs)?
With that referendum, the government relinquished its responsibility & authority on Brexit - and it's been desperately seeking to recover it ever since, to no avail. It must now call for a new referendum, a non-binding one, immediately followed by a General Election. "Non-binding" because it will ask three, not two, questions:
1. Are you in favor of remaining in the EU?
2. Leaving the EU on the terms negotiated?
3. Leaving the EU without any agreement?
Informed by this second, final referendum's results, voters will then elect their MP in a General Election. They'll choose who they want representing them in Parliament, depending on the candidates' position on Brexit, and the other issues important to the electorate.
After three years, the people must have their say. Only then will Parliament have the authority to make a decision. And if Parliament still cannot make a clear cut decision, then the default position must be to remain in the EU, i.e. the status quo.
11
@Michael Northmore. No mandate? The U.K. employs first past the post as does the USA. As Churchill once said “one vote is enough to win in politics”. The British were promised the government would honour the result of the referendum “no ifs, no buts”. Unfortunately a cabal of MPs with the support of ex-MPs, ex-PMs and unelected Lords have tried every trick they can find to reverse the result of the referendum. I look at what’s been going on over the past 36 months and what is now likely the denouement currently playing out in Parliament and I don’t recognise my country anymore.
I wish I had come not to praise BoJo but to politically bury him.
Sadly, he's not actually politically dead yet. Far from it. In fact, he's probably in a much stronger position after this week.
He's consolidated the Leave vote under the Tory banner (marginalizing Nigel Farage and his Brexit Party) while the Remain vote is split across multiple parties that have very divergent goals.
And he can just spend the next month taunting Labour and pointing out that they aren't agreeing to a General Election because they know they will lose. And, when he is legally bound to request an extension (Oct 18th I think), he may simply refuse or (more likely) resign and challenge Corbyn to form a govt.
I don't see a good counter-strategy. Legislatures can constrain governments, but it's not clear they can effectively compel an executive to act counter to their wishes.
I don't think rebel Tories or Lib Dems will EVER support a Corbyn govt, so the legal default is that the UK leaves on Halloween without a deal. Boo.
6
@Roger
I agree that if Boris resigns Corbyn would have trouble forming a new government under his banner. But a government of national unity could be formed, with one of the angry Tory rebels at the top. Clark would be a possible candidate. His political career is over but I have no doubt he would be inspired to block Boris.It would promise to be 8 week government, just long enough to send a new PM to get the extension and get past the Halloween deadline and then go to elections. Boris's brutal behaviour has united the other parties desire to block a no deal .
3
@KJ Peters. Boris’ brutal behaviour? 😆
Roger I respectfully disagree about the proposed new referendum on Brexit. The people of Britain voted as they did to leave the EU. Johnson became PM. They got what they wanted and deserved just like trump and the do thing Republicans in Congress. As painful as it may or not be they need to suffer the consequences of leaving the EU whether in an orderly fashion or in a firestorm. Sometimes people need a good swift kick and to suffer to see the light and make a course correction. The UK will not dissolve as a result of Brexit, the rest of Europe will not sit by and watch that happen
4
Not a believer of the 51% majority ruling at the expense of the 49% but didn't 51% vote for Brexit? Why hasn't the majorities vote become rule? Isn't that what some Americans want? I might be missing something? Shouldn't we all be for Brexit? The majority of people voted for it.
Let's hope when it's time for North America to unite, whatever that would be called, and with an eventual unification with the EU, whatever that would be called, it gets to be done with 2/3's of the vote and not 51%. There's a few bugs to work out first but someday?
30
@JoeG: What you stated is correct... the majority voted to leave the EU. What they unequivocally did not vote for was to leave the EU without terms and conditions that protect the citizenry's and nation's rights and obligations. That's what this is about, Not whether or not to leave (i.e., Brexit).
166
@MB
Poor Theresa May tried. So what gives?
5
@JoeG
Mr. Cohen explained it well. The 51% voted for the fantasy of a painless Brexit sold as snake oil by people like Johnson and Farage. We will see if they can still manage the majority when the reality sets in.
233
"Johnson once observed that his chances of becoming prime minister were “about as good as the chance of finding Elvis on Mars..."
Does this mean that the Mars rover will find Elvis any day now?
5
The British elected to leave the EU. The Americans elected Donald Trump president. The endless griping from pundits suggesting both Brexit and Trump were somehow foisted on innocent and unsuspecting citizens (Russians! Facebook! Electoral college!) is to avoid the critical questions as to how electorates came to make such disastrous choices. And it’s also gotten very tiresome.
18
@JFB
"..is to avoid the critical questions as to how electorates came to make such disastrous choices."
A large part of that critical question has been answered; with the answer supported by extensive research, thorough documentation, and direct testimony from those involved.
I'm surprised that you didn't hear, but it was Russians! Facebook! and the Electoral College!
5
Tiresome, but true, at least in the US.
One disagreement with the article Johnson is not talented, he is like Trump a long winded clown who shouts and bullies and as long as those around him kowtow it works. For Johnson his chief strategist is Cummings and both of them are connected to Bannon. Guess what it is coming apart and what should be noted is when the bully is shown to have no clothes because people stand up to them they lose their power. Him he would rather end up in a ditch and guess what the majority would say they have no problem with that. Here in the US the reruns of Trump have won thin and even the jobs numbers last month were not good the recession is coming or as arrived. Johnson said anything to get the job and like Trump has no idea on how to govern. They have their base and have not grown it at all. Johnson like his others who believe that they are royals and have a god given right to rule. In reality they are a pack of not very bright and I think the old Monty Python skits had it right or Jeeves and Wooster lazy people who sit in their men's club and throw rolls at one another. He keeps pushing and what will be left will be England as Scotland and Northern Ireland will join the Irish Republic. Maybe in reality what the English have done to other countries they were driven out a myth that they were not and brought democracy are finally getting their payback it always comes eventually. Jim Trautman
11
Here's the best satire:
“Americans Shocked by Spectacle of Legislative Body Taking Action” By Andy Borowitz, The New Yorker Magazine.
“LONDON (The Borowitz Report)—Americans were shocked on Tuesday by the spectacle of a legislative body appearing to take action.
Across the U.S., TV viewers watched with mouths agape at startling images of legislators seemingly intent on performing their constitutional duties.
Adding to Americans’ sense of astonishment, the legislators showed evidence of putting their country before party in an effort to rein in the actions of a reckless leader who hadn't garnered the majority of his nation’s votes.
Even more baffling to US viewers, the legislators were furious that the leader had reduced the number of days they had to show up to do their jobs.
Harland Dorrinson, watching the bizarre proceedings on TV at a bar in Pittsburgh, was “totally perplexed”.
“From what I could tell, the legislators were providing oversight over the executive branch to protect their country from disaster,” he said. “It was so weird.”
Weird! Americans are proud that our early colonists fought for independence from King George’s rule. But how independent is America today from political dominance by wealthy elites? They’re just not called kings and dukes now.
Just who is running our show?
Should America have 'remained' with the British, like Canada and Australia? Do we have what the colonists demanded of King George---Representation For Our Taxation?
228
Piffle! Boris and Jacob (Rees-Mogg) floccinaucinihilipilificate this cheeky fellow Cohen. (Not our kind, dear. Sniff.)
4
For all the tedious, frustrating, inept, and often laughable shenanigans across the pond, now coupled with the crafty (and yes..frequently eloquent and formally politically astute) posturings of Prime Minister Johnson, it is Mr. Cohen's last sentence that grabbed my attention as a Brit, and now US citizen more than any other - ..."where...are 21 Republicans with spines?"
Where indeed.
911
@DL
Certainly there are not 21 Republicans with spines in high office. Add all the Republicans with spines in Congress, in the Administration from Assistant Secretary on up, and on the Supreme Court (possibly on Appellate Courts as well, but I am not sufficiently familiar with those judges to estimate) and you do not get close to 21 with spines.
110
@DL
McConnell and his spineless minions would normally be laughable, but they have allowed Agent Orange to undermine and threaten the very existence of our democracy - where is their breaking point of country over loyalty and greed?
68
@DL They are getting exactly what they wished for: an oligarchy.
41
Just so: where are the GOP leaders placing patriotism and loyalty to truth and the Constitution over their fear of Trump?
We can scoff at the UK's mess, but it's on the way to being solved. What are we doing to restore rule of law and common sense and basic decency here?
14
Gladstone, Churchill, Lincoln, FDR are all rolling over in their graves. Mr. Cohen is right, where are our 21 Republicans?
40
@Brian Perkins In the grave.
1
Britain, alas has a democratic parliament, but it is first and foremost, until further notice, a constitutional monarchy. Not a small point.
2
@gking01 And that is the strength of its democracy. Like the UK, we have the same in NZ. Guards against an out of control President.
12
What if the Europeans at the October summit insist on the mutually agreed agreement on the table--the one negotiated by Theresa May--be accepted by Parliament or nothing. Some other future arrangement is a chimera.
Europe could simply announce that if the May Agreement is not accepted that it will stand ready on November 1 to negotiated interim agreements with the UK to maintain working order until more permanent arrangements can be agreed.
What further elaboration of options is required? What good does another extension do?
At some point the Parliament and UK voters have to take responsibility for what they've undertaken.
5
Where, indeed!
12
“But the people voted for this in the 2016 referendum! No, they did not.” Correct. First, this was an opinion poll, not an actual vote upon a proposed law. Second, 28 percent of those who could have voted yawned and stayed home. So the yeas were only 35 percent of the eligible.
Calling this a “mandate” is ridiculous. And, in addition, Britain has a representative democracy. Not rule by plebiscite. Representatives are supposed to take the time to sort out the facts, the pros and cons, deliberate, and compromise. They are not supposed to driven by mob sentiments inflamed by misinformation and wild imaginings of a Promised Land.
And sober deliberation of fact is the furthest thing from the circus of puerile debating tricks clowned in parliament by Boris.
60
What a lovely phrase--- "borne aloft by the hot air of wit and charm but devoid of the ballast of a moral center..."
The US president is ALL hot air, devoid of wit, charm and any moral center.
Our ruler buffoon with no gifts at all. He couldn't write a biography of anyone, much less Winston Churchill. I read a library copy of Boris Johnson's 'Churchill Factor' book, found it informative, and laughed at some of Johnson's entertaining prose.
The British conservatives are different than our right wing extremist Republican Party, which here has its own state media, FOX News--- a la Putin. The Brits aren't quite as cruel and exploitive as our GOP is to Americans.
Our GOP wants to destroy Obamacare--- our high cost HC, which in the 21st Century can't reach 20th century intl norms of access by all---but is an improvement over our previous.
The UK Tories don't aim to destroy their well supported NHS--in place since 1948.
A column on that difference would be informative.
And let's have a column on WHY 21 Tories could oppose their leader, but our GOP can't do same. What's the difference, Roger?
You've experienced politics both sides of the Atlantic. Trace cause/effect of why our GOP puts party, power and money over country---in all matters--- health care, guns, taxes, voting rights, corporate influence in politics, etc.
Bashing Boris and Donald is needed, but not enough now.
7
Where is one?
1
Delay Brexit? Again? The EU has already given extensions. Boot Britain out!
3
The progressive elites' push for a second referendum, simply because they don't like the result of the first one, is truly disgraceful. And they claim to take this position in the name of "democracy."
34
@R.P. — a sensible democracy allows people to change their minds when circumstances change.
198
@R.P. The riposte to your argument is in Cohen's article: They voted for the smooth, orderly exit promised by Johnson and his ilk". In other words the people were duped by Farage etc. Only 35% voted for Brexit. No wonder Parliament is taking control now.
161
@R.P.
Democracy was sold a "tidy" exit, not a disastrous one. It can similarly be poorly argued that Democracy voted for a wall on the border...a beautiful one that Mexico would pay for, not the current reality.
It's irksome when defenders of democracy demean it with their poor reasoning.
192
In my humble opinion, despite himself, Boris has provided a way out of the Brexit mess. In the next UK election, voters will know that:
a) a vote for the Conservatives or Brexit party is a vote to leave the EU and allow a 'no deal'
b) a vote for Labour is a vote to leave the EU but it must be with a deal
c) a vote for the Lib Dems or Greens is a vote to think about remaining in the EU, or at least as a mandate for another referendum.
23
Where are 21 Republicans with a spine? "Influenced" by the money is speech concept of Citizens United decision of the Supreme Court.
17
The key point is that a chaotic, no-deal brexit is NOT what the UK voted for. Boris, Nigal, and the rest of the leave campaigners always claimed withdrawal would be clean and simple. Sounds an awful lot like what we heard here in the US about replacing Obamacare and winning trade wars.
82
Roger Cohen writes :But the people voted for this in the 2016 referendum! No, they did not. They voted for the smooth, orderly exit promised by Johnson and his ilk.
This is not quite correct.
The details of what would happen were after a Brexit vote were spelled out clearly by the UK government in a 16 page brochure sent to every UK household .
Quote
"What happens if we leave? Voting to leave the EU would
create years of uncertainty and potential economic disruption. This would reduce investment and cost jobs. The Government judges it could result in 10 years or more of uncertainty as the UK unpicks our relationship with the EU and renegotiates new arrangements with the EU and over 50 other countries around the world. [1]
The UK voters were informed what would happen - with no promise of smoothness at all - and voted to leave 52:48
Robert Tombs,a professor of history at Cambridge University sees a reason for the turmoil much deeper
From the NY Times
"The introduction of referendums into a parliamentary system was always, in theory, a source of potential conflict. But until now it had never become one, for the simple reason that every referendum vote until 2016 went the way that most of the political class wanted. The Brexit referendum was the first time that the majority of the electorate tried to impose its will on the elite. The elite was and still is horrified."
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/05/opinion/britain-brexit-johnson-constitution.html
9
@talesofgenji I think it would be fair to say that the 16-page was well and truly trumped by the misinformation spread far and wide by Farage etc
16
@talesofgenji The people voted for self immolation because they were lied to. It was non-binding, meaning it was just a suggestion. But, go ahead. Living in America, I'd love to see a world wide recession caused by Brexit to take down Trump. And I won't shed any tears for "white man's burden," England being stripped of whats left of her empire (Scotland and Ireland).
2
@Tony Merriman. 16 pages. So much to read. Feh!
2
Cameron and the Tory party introduced the non-binding advisory referendum. Because it was so vaguely written, with no specifics on what form of Brexit would occur, soft, hard, or no deal. the voters had no idea what they would get in leaving. The Tory party elected a new leader, Theresa May, to lead them out of Europe. Because the Tory party was so divided on how to achieve leaving they have not been able to get anything done. So the Tory party gives the UK their third choice to lead them into some form of leaving. He promises that he will get a deal when the entire world knows that he is simply trying to run out the clock for a no deal Brexit. He has lost every vote so far and he has kicked out 21 members of his party , losing his majority so he can't pass any legislation.What is the logic of the campaign for the Tory party? Look, we have been running things since 2015, we have totally botched this process, we can't get anything done, Vote Tory again!
5
In Texas they have a competition for the stupidest person in the state. The winner is proclaimed governor. Then they brought that governor to be president. Now, even he is outdone by the new Republican they installed. Britain is just following the lead of their American allies.
35
21 Republicans with spines? Seems like when they wake up one morning to find they still have one they quit the Party or announce retirement. The rest, and more than a few of the Democrat Party, really have no backbone or any commitment to the Constitution they swore to protect and defend. Invertebrates are they all, which includes such delectables as worms, sponges, clams and a whole bunch of stinging, annoying insects and vermin. Yep. Sounds like the lot of them. Sheesh. And we elected these losers. Kissers of the rear of the Donald.
5
21 Republicans with spines might be found on Mars, along with Elvis
25
where are 21 republicans that have spines? on Mars with Elvis or reincarnated as olives...
8
Thanks for the column...the last two lines says it all!!! Roger Cohen raises a question that is central to the health of our democracy.
4
Trumpian all the way, Boris Johnson seems intent in destroying British democracy. Arrogant to the tilt, though smarter than Trump, his days are counted...unless he shows some humility and bends towards reason, and obeys the will of it's people. why is it there are so many despots in the world, trying to make make themselves indispensable for the trampling?
3
Too little, and too late. It is thanks the Tories that we have this charlatan as Prime Minster, and it was David Cameron, another Conservative, who set this whole fiasco in motion, and then just walked away from it all.
651
@Joanne Dean Indeed! Cameron carelessly promised a referendum that he thought did not have a chance of passing. Then he left Downing Street whistling -- not a metaphor, since he audibly whistled a happy tuned when he walked back into No. 10 after addressing journalists. And then came the Russian trolls, Trump's good friend Nigel Farage and other snake oil salesmen. The question citizens were then asked to decide on really provided no context or reasoning. What a disaster! The world has truly gone mad on both sides of the Atlantic.
39
@Joanne Dean
Sometimes bad things have to happen in order for people to learn. We like to think that we are better than that, that we adapt based on our mistakes, but Brexit apparently indicates that we are not always so fortunate. So does the election of Donald Trump.
Best of luck to the British people. And to their American allies across the pond.
24
@Joanne Dean And yet, who in the UK is behind Jeremy Corbin? That's a problem too!
4
Ah, 21 Republicans with spines. I guess we'd be back aroiund 1965 or 1970.
45
The earlier piece on this about pro-brexit people calling the politicians flailing about dealing with brexit "idiots" was a delicious bit of glass-house-stone-throwing.
2
This is the best analysis of the Brexit mess I have read to date. Whatever happens, BoJo is is burnt toast rapidly dumped into history’s dustbin.
8
Many old Laborites may hate the EU but you can bet they hate an Etonian toff like Johnson or Rees-Mogg even more. They would cut off their hands before voting Tory. They will simply indulge their xenophobic hatreds by voting for Nigel Farage's Brexit party. Kicking out the moderates is going to come back to haunt BoJo.
Cameron is going down in history as the Tory who broke up Great Britain. Johnson is going to be the Tory who broke up the Tories. Congratulations! Even privileged white men despise the two of you.
36
The old Northern working classes would vote for Boris over Corbyn. So many former labour supporters have been turned off by Corbyn and the growth of the momentum movement within Labour. Both parties are trying to staunch the loss to either the Lib Dems whose entire platform is to stop Brexit or The Brexit party. Corbyn is actually a Euro sceptic who has been forced after much faffing about to finally come out & state where he lands. Boris is going to have the support of The Brexit party (former labor voters), if he supports a hard Brexit.
“Where in Trumpland are 23 Republicans with spines?”
-here here
13
Every day I thought, Egads America has become a looney toon! (showing my age of course), but ha! we then have Brexit! Just goes to show there are many stupid white guys. 20 Republicans doing the right thing? Hark I hear Angels (must take my meds).
42
BoJo is an ill-informed, narcissistic poseur. Just like his mentor DTrump.
40
Republicans with spines: oxymoron. Evangelicals with morals: oxymoron. Our commander-in-chief: a plain old moron (channeling his first Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson).
535
@Lesothoman
Mr. Tillerson added an adjective.
101
Excellent read. There is a reason Trump is a Boris fan, they are both serving themselves not their countries. I must say, at least British Parliament has some love of country left unlike our republican friends.
63
Ouch! Well done sir.
Apparently there are no Republican senators nor Congress people with spines. Many of them have quietly 'retired' rarely uttering a word.
Was John McCain the last republican with a spine? Apparently.
42
Beautifully written. The Brits have the advantage of seeing what 2 1/2 years with a madman in power can do to a democracy. Our own dear spineless mindless "representatives" in Congress would be wise to remember Proverbs 26:18, "Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows and death, so is the man who deceives his neighbors and says, 'Was I not joking?'"
28
In retrospect, I think B. Johnson's career highlight will be dangling from a zip line - what a metaphor that's become for the UK!
7
Each failure gives UK a weaker hand. Every week provides another example of failure. Boy, am I glad we don't have a leader like Johnson.
1
Its okay to admit when you've made a horrible mistake, UK. Perhaps you could show us the way. I am rooting for you.
22
Roger Cohen is unable to suffer fools gladly. His indispensable commentary is our reward for that, and for that I thank him.
23
"So this gifted buffoon, who could be dismissed as inconsequential if he had not done so much damage to his country, proves that anything is possible."
Was this about Johnson or Trump?
32
@Sha Johnson. In what sense is trump gifted with anything worth having?
3
@Sha Trump is not gifted in any way that has been noticeable. Just saying.
3
trump isn’t gifted
3
Please God, Save us from any and all Stable Geniuses.
Seriously.
21
It didn't take 21 Tories very long to find their spines.
There clearly aren't 21 republicans equally endowed.
30
@LKF
There clearly aren't 21 republicans equally endowed,
and like their president, not endowed in any manner.
3
Forcing Boris to ask the EU for an extension is one thing; getting an extension from the EU is another.
The EU tires of this farce; on Halloween the UK may have to make its choice: revoke the notice of intent to quit the EU, take the May deal, or crash out with no deal.
We know what Boris would choose, but what would Parliament pick?
302
@Sam I Am
I predict the EU will be happy to give an extension. My confidence level is 98%. We'll see.
25
@Thomas Zaslavsky
Ah that may be wishful thinking.
Take a look at Simon Kuper's recent analysis in the FT: https://www.ft.com/content/110207f2-cea2-11e9-b018-ca4456540ea6
I'm convinced that one issue driving Brexit and UK Leavers' rants and crazy claims is the country's monolingualism.
Britain has been defunding language teaching and learning for years, but imagining that "everyone speaks English nowadays" is naive in the extreme.
If you can't *truly* understand what's being said in the German/French/Spanish/Italian/etc. press, you're easier prey for populists touting flawed Little England propaganda: enter Boris & co.
I've heard any number of Tory politicians drop a "German" or "French" (or, in the case of Jacob Rees-Mogg, Latin...) phrase into the conversation in a bid to sound cosmopolitan. But most of them are operating at phrase-book level.
Mind you, this could also be a factor in US foreign relations.
15
@Sam I Am
On Halloween, the UK may have to make its choice...will it be tricks or treats?
11
Boris or no Boris, I think the Brexit is good for the world.as it most likely lead to dismantling of United Kingdom and will give some closure to the souls of the folks who suffered under it.
5
Yes Boris is facing pushback to his authoritarian impulses and if he doesn't like it he should resign and do a tv show like the Apprentice. We should do the same to Trump by 2020 show Trump the door and if he refuses to leave office when he loses we can have Rosie O'Donnell drag him out kicking and screaming calling out for Barr to save him.
3
With the British polls having been so unreliable in recent years, no party is likely to support an election which could make them sufficiently worse off to lose on the Brexit issue. Accordingly, a Catch-22 situation with endless extensions seems more likely.
If Labour, the Liberal Democrats, and the Greens want to stop Boris in the next election, they need to do two things.
First, run as a unified slate, allocating the seats in the next Parliament among the member parties and having the best candidate run in each district. Given the "first past the pole" principle, running three candidates against one Conservative/Brexit candidate is a recipe for disaster.
Second, for the good of the country Corbyn must agree to stand aside and not serve as Prime Minister. Let Jo Swinton take that role, with Corbyn in another cabinet position.
And over here we should take that as a lead in fighting the Donald … let the Democrats strike a deal with the Green Party, giving them some cabinet positions.
As Vince Lombardi said, winning is the only thing.
31
The last line of this article is most telling. Where ARE the Republicans with integrity? They left the party 2 years ago.
81
@Game Wazny
Spines will magically grow next fall when their Messiah fades into deserved political oblivion. Oh, the times they disagreed with him, they'll proclaim.
Can't wait to hear the bleats and howls from Trumpians after they fall from political grace.
3
The US Congress is owned by oligarchs such as the NRA, so it does not reflect the will of the people. The President isn't expected to mirror the will of the people or the Congress because of the separation of powers.
The Parliament allegedly does not reflect the will of the people right now, and the PM doesn't reflect the will of the Parliament -- which seems to to add up to chaos, since there exists no constitutional separation of powers, and no judicial authority to resolve conflicts between branches of government over what the constitution requires (i.e., judicial review).
An election seems vital, I agree.
2
Great article but have to disagree on one thing. The EU cannot offer another extension. If they do, the [un]UK will continue to play the insipid games they have. As with children, bad behavior has consequences.
The EU needs to get on with its business, and that should not have to include being held hostage by this distraction. While I would prefer the UK to remain, it is clear that they never really wanted in, just the benefits. Once the deadline has passed, the UK Eurocrats will leave Brussels and the European Parliament, and the mayhem can commence.
There will be great pain on all sides, but this will at least bring closure from which all sides can move forward.
12
But English folks still think that the World revolves around England, even though all their colonies are gone long ago.
With Scotland and Ireland’s future tied to EU, England and Wales will be the next UK, just a tiny island.
Clearly, such a small economy doesn’t deserve a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.
26
@Peter I hope the EU will continue to exercise patience.
The referendum was poorly written and unfamiliar to the country. It should have required two-thirds to pass.
Yeah - give 'em a do over.
7
@Peter
The EU will grant an extension. It is in their interest.
6
Nice takedown of BoJo the Clown but betrays a serious misunderstanding of UK politics. All the opposition parties are committed to a 2nd referendum. The LibDems are in no way the most significant. They have never won more than a handful of seats and there is no chance at all that they could form a government. They did well in the EU elections but this is a classic pattern in British politics - minor parties do well in EU and local elections, but in general elections that decide the government voters know that only Conservatives or Labor can win and they vote accordingly.
LibDems aren't even the most significant factor in a potential coalition. The only time they've served in government recently has been as the Conservatives' allies. Their current leader has ruled out a coalition with Labor, but not with the Conservatives. The SNP are both politically closer to Labor and have way more seats. They are the crucial partner in a Labor coalition government, which is the only way a 2nd referendum can happen.
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@James
LibDems have been soaring in the polls. Packing on the percentage points. Hysterical predictions of gaining 150 seats; piffle, but they'll do very well in election this year. They also have a lot of Tory defectors - greatly loved by their constituents - who may well keep their Parliamentary seats as Liberal Democrats.
What did the LDs have, seat-wise before 2015? 50 seats, 60? And a lot of those were SNP seats.
Make no mistake, the LibDems are back. As Jeremy Corbyn well knows.
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Maybe I am wrong, since I don't understand British politics very well, but my sense is that everyone focuses too much on Britain, and not enough on the Continent. It's what the latter wants, it seems to me, that is most important, and at this point, it's hard to see that they really want to keep this thing going any longer. Yes, a messy exit would hurt both sides, but overtime, my sense is that the Continent would do better, in part, I suspect because they will poach some significant amount of business, including finance. The British seem to think they are a more important country than they are. If the Continent people refuse to renegotiate, which seems almost set in stone, then that's all there is to it. Crash out or accept the May deal. Correct me if I am wrong, but that's the way I see it.
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@Cobble Hill
You're not ENTIRELY wrong, but...
Krugman put it well just yesterday, in one of his constant "Isn't Trump Terrible" columns.
Business, finance, etc. (Some will see an invisible hand. and some will come at that from far left or far right positions, but that's not me!) ABHOR uncertainty and "moving goalposts" and all that.
It turns "good management" into a kind of lottery, and inevitably years of hard work and building can be lost in a matter of months.
You ARE right about a dozen cities in Europe all but salivating about becoming "THE CITY," and some of that has already taken place. But even "finance" is very much international, and my view is that a VERY serious recession (think 2009 everywhere ... and don't forget how close we came to ...) means that all those banks will have problem loans all over the place - IF BREXIT goes from ... drama to tragedy!
Of course, a diabetic worries about his/her insulin "getting through," and it could be that many supermarkets are going to resemble Florida's when a hurricane is bearing down.
And those ARE god awful. But in this context, Mercedes and Airbus and Nestle's and hundreds of others, ... together with the financial services companies and accounting firms and contractors and Lyft drivers ... are heading for a very bumpy ride.
(And, of course, we'll feel it, too.)
All this with the "strongest economy" over there - Germany - barely growing ... and the less salubrious economies "down south" very far from healthy.
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@Cobble Hill
With all due respect there is much, much more involved in a no-deal Brexit than just the minor inconveniences of adjusting to new trade rules.
Something like 70% of UK's food comes from the Continent. there were no tariffs on that as the UK was part of the EU. To say nothing of medecines, industry, technology sharing, foreign business... the list is endless.
The people in the UK have ONLY NOW (after 3 years) realised that agreeing to a no-deal Brexit is the financial equivalent of doing a "Thelma and Louise" and expecting to land on a bed of roses. Think of the South's secession from the Union... and you'll have a better idea of how and why people are freaking out on both sides of the water.
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@cynthia
I have no problem with this analysis. If I had more energy I would look up the Napoleonic System, Corn Laws, etc., but if I am not mistaken, the polls still show about the same support for Brexit. I guess you are implying that it still has not dawned on the pro-Brexit electorate that they may not be able to have their cake and eat it too, but gosh, can people be that obtuse? I have to assume they are willing to live with those consequences. Am I wrong?
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I’m sure Moscow Mitch is stunned to see members of a party abalone their leader over issues like the national interests.
The problem is, the GOP is the retainees of the Rich&Powerful. The GOP have only 1 directive: the ever greater concentration of wealth and power on behalf of the wealthy & powerful. They’ll sell out the National interest on whim.
The problem is, of course, that the wealthy & powerful are wealth&power junkies. And like most junkies, they can’t get enough and they’ll destroy everything and anything to get more and come up with all kinds of excuses to justify it.
In due course they destroyed the middle class and impoverished the working class. So the Working Class is willing to vote in favor of destroying the rest of the country on behalf of the GOP. It’s a vicious cycle.
I will consider it a turning point when the British step away from the abyss by pushing Johnson into it and letting him go.
Bizarre times we live in.
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@Tim Kane
"Abalone" is (presumably) a most delicious Freudian slip-like autocorrection, since I'm sure you meant "abandon." But a spineless, edible mollusk is indeed an apt simile of Mitch's group.
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@Tim Kane....agree.... these elite junkies are pedaling a junk political credo, giving themselves all the power.
They're the very examples of the 'identity' politics they criticize in citizen groups trying to assert basic rights against exploiters. The junkie elites identify themselves as the group most deserving to 'call the shots' in our society.
They're enabled by our highest court in Citizens United---that equated their campaign donations with 'free speech' per the 1st Amendment.
Our highest court corrupted our own Constitution to work against us, muffling the voice of average citizens, amplifying the voice of mega donors.
Doesn't sound too "American" and it isn't, yet the elites and their politicians rationalize this as American Freedom from Big Govt.
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I am part of an online expat community in Italy. The chaos that is raining down on their lives sums up the problems no one discusses. With Brexit they will no longer be members of the European Union. SO...? They have to apply for Visas, their length of stay is now subject to bureaucratic approval, Right to work in EU becomes threatened (even if their job sent them to an EU country), their UK drivers licenses are no longer valid, they can not get medical care without going thru hoops, and getting private insurance, accreditations are no longer valid.
The impact on individual lives is a story in itself.
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@mountainweaver
The Italian 'expats' are right to be worried. It gets worse. There are 1.1 million Brits currently living and working in the EU. Many are retired and the largest number are in southern Spain - enjoying sun, cheap property and living prices and the fact that their UK pensions are payable in other EU countries. Incredibly, many of these voted FOR Brexit! Faced with what they've done - and the possibility that many will have to return to the homeland - they offer a defiant but shaky denial of the massive impact that Brexit will have on their lives. This is a trick probably learned from the arch dissembler, denier and delusionist, Boris Johnson. Well, you reap what you sow. The UK isn't going to welcome these cantankerous, entitled, sun-leathered oldies back with any great enthusiasm.
Note that to a subset of Little Englanders, Brits living abroad are always 'ex-pats' but Europeans with the temerity to come and live in the UK are invariably 'migrants'.
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@mountainweaver
I would love to know how the expats are making out with the decline of the Pound against the Euro. Are any considering a return to the Sceptered Isle because they can no longer afford Italy?
26
The difference between the British government leader not chosen by the voters and the American government leader not chosen by the voters is that the British leader is still constrained by members of the legislature--members of his own party--who will not cater to his every whim, no matter how ludicrous and dangerous.
The British may not have a written constitution, but fortunately, members of their parliament--even those of the same political party as Mr. Johnson--are still devoted to constitutional rule. Republicans in Congress behave more like members of a cult who never question the pronouncements of their leader, no matter how minimally tethered to reality those pronouncements are--and no matter how much damage they do.
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@pczisny
There is much to recommend about the American constitution and the American system of government.
But seeing Boris Johnson called to account in Parliament, babbling and sweating under the stony gaze of lawmakers, battered by 'killer' questions and watching his power grab democratically defeated, openly, by voting, made me proud that we got something right all those centuries back.
It would do my heart good to see US Presidents faced with the same challenges.
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@nolongeradoc
There are certainly some lessons this old colony can learn from its mother country. I share your desire that U.S. Presidents be required to answer for their actions by a legislative branch empowered (but sadly, at least within the GOP, unwilling) to exercise their constitutional authority and responsibility to conduct oversight.
Congratulations for having MPs who put country before party.
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@pczisny....We're taught to be proud of America's written Constitution, but it's distorted by financial elites who call the shots.
The 1st Amendment was distorted by our 2010 Supreme Court with a lie worthy of Trump--- that any limits on mega donor campaign money is anti 1st Amendment Free Speech.
This has removed power from the citizen majority, whose political speech is muffled.
The 2nd Amendment is distorted by mega donors, lobbyists, politicians, ignoring the meaning of 'militia', and pushing guns for all everywhere for profit.
This has left us all in danger for our lives in public places.
So our venerable written Constitution can mean anything our power elites want. What they want is power and profit that contradicts the credo and spirit of America's founding ideals.
At least Britain still has health care for all since 1948. The US still doesn't have it and is fighting about it in 2019.
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The difference is that when Boris' brother bailed on him this week, Boris clarified that while he disagrees with him on the EU, he still loves his brother. Trump would have ran his own brother over with a bus - the same bus that promised 350 million pounds to the NHS. That's why there aren't 21 Republicans willing to bail on him.
Boris just plays Trump on TV.
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@Sasha
Britain still has a democracy. We are in the process of losing ours. If Republicans do not oppose Trump because they are afraid of him, is not that evidence that Trump is running the country like a dictatorship? Along with trying to shut down the press, winking at suggestions of violence against political opponents, circumventing the laws, personally profiting from his position, etc etc
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@Sasha I don't think that's true. He'd run anybody else over with a bus, even a friend, if he has any, but not a family member.
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@roseberry If I am not mistaken, Donald had no problem getting his brother Fred written out of his father's will when Dad had Alzheimer's. He also had no problem cutting off payment for medical care to his dead brother's grandson born with cerebral palsy, despite an earlier promise. You might want to reassess that assumption of loyalty to family over money.
10
Sometimes I think that the British need to succeed in their version of prohibition in order to entirely discredit the pro-Brexit argument once and for all, because it will certainly have the huge negative economic consequences that have been pointed out by so many. Until then, the agitation for a fictive Britain will never stop and the country will never be stable.
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@TJGM
It's understandably easy to say this if one doesn't have to bear the consequences of a no-deal Brexit.
It would/will be grim - dashing the hopes and opportunities of one, possibly two generations of young people.
At the moment, European Britain is most definitely NOT America. Were that to change, not everybody would be delighted.
9
"Where in Trumpland are 21 Republicans with spines?"
Their bravado will appear after the 2020 election, when a Democrat takes over the White House. And they'll be a heckava lot more than 21. And they'll be screaming to high heaven about our national debt. Costs are out of control, infrastructure is falling apart, but there's no way to fund it because Democrats spent it on other stuff a long time ago. And it's not the fault of those tax cuts we gave big business and the upper crust.
Republicans will be stomping the floor with vigor, no more budget increases. Might as well get used to it, it's all they know.
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@cherrylog754
And if he survives the 2020 elections Moscow Mitch will be leading the pack with a banner that reads" Our number one priority is to make President Warren a one term president". People don't change especially conservatives.
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Would love to see that scenario, but think predicting the future is perilous.
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@cherrylog754 If it becomes clear that Trump will be trounced, I bet they will discover their missing body parts about a month before the election (September or October).
6
Sometimes, people actually act in the national interest.
That must be amazing to witness. Courage. Haven’t seen that from a republican here in a long time.
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@Charles Gonzalez
I actually tried to think of a courageous Republican. No name came to mind.
11
@Charles Gonzalez. Well, there's Justin Amash. But that's it.
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Brilliant in best sense of combing analysis, wit and pathos. Yes, where are the republicans with backbone! Let us remove our "twig" as well.
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Great, great column, Roger. So well written - and so true and so hopeful! Wonderful! Loved every word.
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