At long last, it looks like there’s going to be a general election to break the Brexit deadlock. The House of Commons has voted to hold an election on 12 December, after MPs on both sides of the political aisle backed a one-line government bill, which now moves on to the House of Lords.
But rather unfortunately, one MP did not exactly react to the news that Parliament would be dissolved for a Christmas contest with good grace. Shortly after the vote, the former Conservative MP Anna Soubry used a point of order to put her bizarre spin on the Commons’ decision. The ‘Change UK – The Independent Group’ MP began by saying that, despite just voting by 438 to 20 for a general election, the House did not actually want one:
‘I know it is uncomfortable sometimes to speak truth to power. But Mr Speaker would it be in order to record that in private, many of us have come to the conclusion that the majority of backbenchers on both sides do not want a general election?
And would it be, because as the honourable lady has said: “fear from whatever quarter it may come, will be an abiding thing that will come out,” and history will record that of this Parliament. And a lack of courage from too many is also a mark of the end of this Parliament.’
Before adding that she believed the House of Commons would rather support a People’s Vote too:
‘Would it also be in order to record, Mr Speaker, that in private again, from the conversations that take place, as you understand, it is undoubtably a fact that the majority of Members of this Parliament support a People’s Vote rather than a general election?’
Clearly Soubry isn’t used to respecting a democratic vote…
Watch here:
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