Rory Stewart: Deluded about pact with Brexit Party?

Rory Stewart: Deluded about pact with Brexit Party?

Rory Stewart

The  2019 local elections proved to be an absolute disaster for the Conservative Party that was punished for Theresa May's loss of public face. This was followed by the European Parliament Elections in which the Conservative Party was practically wiped out. As if this wasn't enough, in the Peterborough By Election, the Conservative Party was third behind the Brexit Party. The news that Rory Stewart contacted Nigel Farage to seek an agreement is the act of a desperate man that got barely 19 votes in the first round of the Conservative Party Leadership Election. Matt Hancock who got 20 votes walked away. But Rory Stewart went as a far as confirming that he is willing to destroy the Conservative Party following the path established by Philip Hammond. The fact that he was looking for a deal with the Brexit Party merely serves to confirm what Dominic Raab stated: If the Conservative Party doesn't deliver Brexit, the Conservative Party is finished.

Rumours that Boris Johnson could be confirmed even before two candidates are chosen to allow the Conservative Party Membership is given the opportunity to vote indicate that there is an awareness that should a leader be chosen that is not strong enough, not decisive enough, not enough of a believer in Brexit, this would be catastrophic for the Conservative Party. October 31st is the chosen date, the deadline. October 31st 2019 is the date to prove if the Conservative Party is a political force worth voting for. A new failure would not only condemn the new leader to a disgraceful departure. It would sink the Conservative Party. The Brexit Party is watching. Any hesitation in the Conservative Party will be a gigantic boost for the Brexit Party. Conservatives like Jacob Rees Mogg have spoken about including Nigel Farage in any future possible negotiation with the European Union.

In the meantime, in a desperate attempt to hold the Labour Party together, Jeremy Corbyn would be forced to offer a vote to Labour Party members so that any decision is not seen as Jeremy Corbyn's decision but as the Labour Party's decision. The Labour Party has already lost several Members of Parliament without an election being fought - Chuka Umunna joined the Lib Dems as Treasure and Business Spokesman. Not long ago, A high Profile Jewish MP resigned and accused the Labour Party of Anti-Semitism, accusation that was backed up by other Labour MPs who left to become independent. This happened after several MPs had become independent facing the certain danger of being deselected by their local constituencies.

Both Conservatives and Labour are in a state of flux. People are being asked who they will vote for if there was a General Election tomorrow. Lib Dems and Brexit Party come on top in terms of preferences. Some commentators who are politically aligned with the Labour Party have said that should Boris Johnson become leader the next step would be a general election but, perhaps, they are not taking into account the desperate state of both political parties and that in such general election the Conservative Party and the Labour Party risk coming third and fourth.

Confronting the possibility of Parliament being suspended to ensure that no one can prevent Brexit, Rory Stewart talked about using the Central Hall located not far from the Houses of Parliament to organise an alternative Parliament that would challenge the government but this looks very much like a political crisis of gigantic proportions not seen in Britain since the days of Oliver Cromwell and Charles I. Moreover, a motion put forward by the Labour Party aimed at preventing No Deal was defeated just days ago. 

On Tuesday, June 18th 2019, the Second Round in the Conservative Party Leadership Election will take place. There are six candidates left in the struggle. Remainers like Rory Stewart will have to have enough support to survive because facing a Conservative Party Membership vote with grassroots that are mainly for Leave.