I have a post on The Conversation web site on this issue. It's just a click away, here.
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Is it possible that another reason is the announcement about the future locations of the European Medicines Agency and the European Banking Authority?
i.e. that the new locations will be decided in June (after the election?) – and this is therefore the first major example of a Brexit chicken coming home to roost.
Hmm – fair enough – but wouldn’t a normal Tory party go up to 2020, leave the country in a mess and let Labour sort it out like they always do?
All May has done is postpone the inevitable by 2 years? The consequences of BREXIT might well last 10 years or more never mind the extra time she is attempting to garner for herself. Something about this does not make sense. Why?
Wouldn’t a politician want to be in opposition when the merde hits the fan?
I certainly agree that economic matters will be a mess for some time.
And I still believe that the public sector will be punished even more for it – never mind curtailing credit.
And May is already portraying her party as the BREXIT party to throw people off the scent. Maybe this will be the big diversion away from credit tightening and a more moribund economy for the voting public?
Bearing in mind the points you make, it is surprising that the opposition, acting together, has not negotiated a more appropriate date.
Agreed.
I agree with you totally, Richard. Brexit is just an excuse and a distraction from the ever more parlous state of the country. It was a smart tactical move, I have to admit. And I would’ve done the same in her kitten heels. Her Joan of Arc inspired message (sound-bite) will be “Trust in me to do the very best for the future of our country. I am the only one who can bring you all together … rhubarb, rhubarb”. And it will work for enough people to keep her in power. Dear God – why, at this time, do we not have an organised opposition? It’s depressing and a real tragedy for the 80%. Corbyn has a lot to answer for.
If only the parties could do coalition in opposition. Lib Dem, Labour, Greens and the Nationalists have more in common than divides them. Could they not put out some joint policies and argue the rest at another time? A policy like PR which ensure they would have some say in a future Parliament instead of never ending opposition and with the bonus that the Reactionary Party (sorry Conservative Party) could never impose their policies on the nation with a minority of the popular vote.
The problem is that they would have to stand down in some seats and allow others a free run.
It was vey difficult with Liberals and SDP. They did it but it took a long time to agree. We don’t have it now.
If only
I see the quality of comments on the Conversation are still mixed; time to launch an alternate progressive website perhaps?
I think so!
The trolls just live The Conversation
I agree. But this is , I reckon, a reaction to prospective CPS prosecutions and it’s rather thrown me. Tho’ what on earth Labour is doing supporting it I do not understand. Far better to get the government to campaign for a two thirds majority against itself!
Agree re CPS prosecutions, but as important a gathering tide of bad news about Brexit as the consequences become apparent. The removal of EU agencies is just the latest example.
I would have thought it would be far more sensible to keep the Tories in power, taking all the blame for Brexit woes. Sadly Corbyn is so deluded that he thinks he can win despite all the evidence to the contrary. Worse still, he refuses any kind of alliance with others which would have a better chance of defeating the government, let alone a coalition government afterwards, with the potential to introduce PR.
So the betting has to be on a stronger May government, a Brutal Brexit, and savagely reduced or privatised public services. In a strange way, Corbyns complacency and mis-placed self-confidence is reminiscent of Cameron, without the PR skills
Good analogy
Does the deficit matter for a MMT economist?
No
But it does to most others and that is significant
It may not be a particularly scholarly explanation, but I rather liked John Crase’s in yesterday’s Guardian.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/apr/18/dead-eyed-theresa-may-puts-the-tories-interests-first
John Crace is usually good and he sounded spot on to me. If it sounded cynical its only because May’s action is just that. Makes me think that there is nothing on which she will change her mind if it is politically convenient (and appeals to the Mail).
What next? Development budget? Infrastructure investment? Pensions?