“NJ....I am somewhat surprised that you, of all people, should not be siding with the law in this case.”
If you read my post, Mikey, you will find I made no comment on the judgement whatsoever, other than to say that I doubted it will be overturned in the Supreme Court. Much could, and should have been done before the referendum to ensure these problems didn’t arise. But we are where we are. What I’m suggesting is that the government now needs to get on and comply with the judgement by putting a Bill before the Commons for approval to invoke A50. That’s all that’s needed. There is no need to get involved in the terms of our leaving because they can only be discussed with the EU after A50 has been triggered. In any case, as I explained in my first post, whether or not MPs agree with the terms of any deal is neither here nor there. The issue is being made unnecessarily complex by suggesting that the triggering of A50 is conditional upon our leaving deal being acceptable. It is not.
“As regards to the Fixed Term Parliament Act, might I remind you that the Bill was brought in and agreed upon, by the Tory Government of 2010 to 2015.
Or, if any of our pedants are still on here, the Tory Majority so-called Coalition regime of 2010-2015.”
I am among those pedants (or more properly, one who is prepared to examine the facts). The Act was introduced by the Coalition and formed part of the Coalition Agreement. It was among the terms Mr Clegg insisted on in return for his party’s support of the Tories. He wanted to make sure that Mr Cameron did not, as he should have done, go to the country a few months later and it allowed him (Clegg) to hang on to the spare keys to No 10 for a guaranteed five years. I am not only just criticising it in the last few days. I have criticised it consistently ever since it was passed. It would never even have been considered by the Tory Party had they been governing alone and not just for Party Political reasons. This current problem demonstrates quite clearly that an obstruction has been placed in the way of government to get things done. It is clear that if an impasse is reached then the Prime Minister must go to the country to receive a fresh mandate (though quite why this should be so is arguable, but once again, we are where we are). The Act, in my view, has no place in the UK’s constitution.
“…sounds fair enough. but all the remainers have to do is infest it with all manner of unacceptable amendments,…”
I have read somewhere over the past few days that a Bill can be put before the Commons for which no amendments will be considered. (I’m not 100% sure on this). If so, that would be the obvious solution.
“What happens after Brexit, will those already here maintain that right? Will British folk in Europe have the right to remain?”
It would be a matter for the UK to discuss with the 27 nations (either individually or, if true to form, the EU insists on negotiating on their behalf). Until those negotiations are concluded the status quo remains (i.e. nobody is chucked out either way). If obfuscation prevails from the EU then we make our own rules unilaterally (as “normal” countries do). It’s really not that difficult (provided the will is there).
What MPs opposing an immediate and unconditional withdrawal seem to fail to grasp is that the Commons voted six to one to grant a referendum and the electorate was told, in writing, that its outcome would be enacted by the government. No provisors, no conditions. But that, of course, was before the result was known when almost everybody who mattered (including most MPs) believed that a "Leave" vote was more than the electorate would dare to cast.