Fifty shades of Amendment

Well, the votes of the Supreme Court Jury are in.  8-3.  Interesting that it was a split vote.

Then two things happened almost immediately.  One was the lady who was the chief cheerleader in the bringing of the case, Gina Miller, spoke.  Well, she actually wrote an article in the Telegraph.  And it’s interesting to see a less than subtle shift.  In the case she fronted, it was all about rule of law.  That’s when she repeatedly told us.Now that has metamorphosed into it’s a journey to get parliament to frustrate the will of the people.  She didn’t use these words.  But why else would she so lucidly push the case she is now advocating.  But I guess we all knew the narrative would change to a more open stance against the UK leaving the EU once the verdict came in.  She clearly is of the same mindset as people like Nick Clegg who think there is still a discussion still to be had. 

Does she not realise that the people of the UK did have a debate, they listened to all sides, they balanced the different views.  And by a majority, they rejected the views of those who sought to remain in the EU. The Remain camp seem to be saying Remainers are right, everyone else is stupid. As David Davis reminded the House in his statement, that is an old debate.  We're leaving the EU.  It is just a matter of when.

Then there was Ms Sturgeon.  Always guaranteed to seek the headlines.  And this time it is fifty amendments.  To a Bill that hasn’t even been published yet!  Not really too sure how you can amend something that hasn't yet been created. Has she forgotten what she surely had drilled into her in the fine debating halls of Glasgow University where the likes of James Wilson, Bonar Law, Henry-Campbell-Bannerman, Charles Kennedy, Vince Cable, and "Ming" Campbell preceded her?  They honed their fine debating skills there. 

Nicola clearly has some way to go to join such illustrious company. But why miss yet another opportunity to bang the Independence drum. The people of Scotland voted, she reminds us.  Yes 63% of those who who voted cast their vote to Remain in the EU.  The other 38% didn't.  And as she now knows from the rulling of the Supreme Court, Scotland cannot stop the UK leaving the EU and she should stop pretending otherwise as Tom Harris carfully argues.

Anyhow, let us for a moment consider a situation where the UK government gets an astonishingly good deal for the UK and all its constituent parts, including Scotland.  After all, it is in the interests of the car, wine and cheese makers in the EU and many others across the channel that we do indeed get a good deal that satisfies both sides.

Will the SNP vote against it?