Vote of No Confidence in UK Government

Support for a national coalition in the UK parliament is in the making. Quite rightly, the opposition in the House of Commons has taken control of the legislative programme. They have been able to stop a general election. A general election would mean that parliament is dissolved. To dissolve parliament at such a critical time in the negotiations with the EU would be completely irresponsible - how would the government be held to account?


Equally, proroguing parliament is irresponsible but it offers the opportunity for  a recall, if all else is lost.

There is considerable opposition to a "no-deal Brexit" and MPs could stop this if they had the mind to. However, the united opposition are now obliged to present an alternative way forward.

It is apparent that the Government has no plan for the economy, the internal relations between the nations of the UK or the UK's external relations. They have no plan for what happens if we leave with or without a deal or remain. They are behaving recklessly; much to the shock of our EU partners and our allies such as Canada and Japan. The united opposition must develop a mitigation policy and present it to the public.

Ireland is one of the major stumbling blocks. There are really only two solutions to this impasse, and these are either to remain in the EU or to leave but stay in the single market and customs union. To propose a solution that Northern Ireland should remain in the single market and customs union, while the rest of the UK leaves both institutions will be to court disaster. The protestant population of Northern Ireland will not accept this.

Parliament should not accept "closing" either the border between the North and South of Ireland or between Northern Ireland and Great Britain. The potential for dissension would be great and could lead to violence returning to Northern Ireland: violence which could emanate from either or both of the competing communities. We have seen a mortar bomb  planted in Northern Ireland today. Britain plays with Northern Ireland politics at its peril - borders mean troubles and a possible return to violence.

Scotland is also another stumbling block: if Britain leaves the EU without a deal, and against Scotland's wishes then there will be a new demand for a border poll. This time a referendum for Scotland to leave the UK will succeed. How is the remaining part of Britain going to negotiate  a deal  with the EU, whilst at the same time negotiating a deal with Scotland to leave the UK? This would  create more problems.

Leave aside the economic difficulties: Britain will be weakened diplomatically if it leaves the EU: it will need a new strategy. Being part of the EU gives us power. If we leave the EU, then Malta will be more powerful than us - think about it.

The new united opposition must plan for a way forward. It should plan to revoke Article 50. If it cannot bring itself to do this, then it must agree with the EU that we remain in the single market and customs union. The latter solution will mitigate the effects on our economy and will go some way to solving the political difficulties surrounding Ireland and Scotland.

Leaving the EU without a deal cannot mitigate the damage that will be done to our power on the world stage. This damage will lead to further economic difficulties when we try to replace all the trade deals that we lose from leaving the customs union. We will also be at the economic mercy of the United States.

The united opposition should be ready to vote the government out of office and install a new prime minister to head a temporary government which will act in the national interest. Of course this premier must have his or her power limited. This could be done by a formal agreement but no one party could be dominant because it would not have a majority in parliament. The united opposition is obliged to act, but will it have the courage to do so and save our country from a potential disaster?