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| Knighthood won't stop me voting down Brexit deal, says John Redwood | Knighthood won't stop me voting down Brexit deal, says John Redwood |
| (17 days later) | |
| The leading Brexiter John Redwood has insisted that his knighthood in the New Year honours list will have “no bearing whatsoever” on his intention to vote against Theresa May’s EU withdrawal deal. | The leading Brexiter John Redwood has insisted that his knighthood in the New Year honours list will have “no bearing whatsoever” on his intention to vote against Theresa May’s EU withdrawal deal. |
| Theresa May accused of Brexit deal desperation over John Redwood honour | Theresa May accused of Brexit deal desperation over John Redwood honour |
| Supporters of a second EU referendum have accused the prime minister of trying to exploit the honours system to secure support for her Brexit deal ahead of a crucial Commons vote, expected in January. | Supporters of a second EU referendum have accused the prime minister of trying to exploit the honours system to secure support for her Brexit deal ahead of a crucial Commons vote, expected in January. |
| Redwood dismissed the accusation as “an obvious untruth”, and said no suggestion had been made to him that he should change his stance in exchange for an honour. | Redwood dismissed the accusation as “an obvious untruth”, and said no suggestion had been made to him that he should change his stance in exchange for an honour. |
| Redwood was among three MPs awarded knighthoods, alongside the Conservative former minister Gary Streeter and Labour’s deputy chief whip, Alan Campbell. | Redwood was among three MPs awarded knighthoods, alongside the Conservative former minister Gary Streeter and Labour’s deputy chief whip, Alan Campbell. |
| A leading supporter of the Best for Britain campaign for a second referendum, the Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran, said the announcement brought “dishonour” on the system. “I cannot see how it is anything but a desperate attempt to blunt criticism of the prime minister’s Brexit deal by dangling a knighthood or two in front of MPs,” she said. | A leading supporter of the Best for Britain campaign for a second referendum, the Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran, said the announcement brought “dishonour” on the system. “I cannot see how it is anything but a desperate attempt to blunt criticism of the prime minister’s Brexit deal by dangling a knighthood or two in front of MPs,” she said. |
| “Knights of the realm are meant to represent the best of being British, not backstabbing Brexit extremists like John Redwood. It just shows how weak Theresa May is that she is seen to be rewarding him for his behaviour.” | “Knights of the realm are meant to represent the best of being British, not backstabbing Brexit extremists like John Redwood. It just shows how weak Theresa May is that she is seen to be rewarding him for his behaviour.” |
| The Scottish National Party MP Brendan O’Hara said: “Theresa May’s blatant abuse of the honours system is clear, as she continues offering grubby inducements to MPs in an attempt to persuade them to vote for her faltering deal.” | The Scottish National Party MP Brendan O’Hara said: “Theresa May’s blatant abuse of the honours system is clear, as she continues offering grubby inducements to MPs in an attempt to persuade them to vote for her faltering deal.” |
| However, Redwood told Sky News: “It has not bearing whatsoever on my view of the withdrawal agreement. Today, as before I was offered the honour, I think the withdrawal agreement is a very unwise choice for the UK and so, with regret, I can’t vote for it.” | However, Redwood told Sky News: “It has not bearing whatsoever on my view of the withdrawal agreement. Today, as before I was offered the honour, I think the withdrawal agreement is a very unwise choice for the UK and so, with regret, I can’t vote for it.” |
| He denounced the suggestion the award was an attempt to buy his support as “a lie”, adding: “I think it’s a pity to taint the public debate with such an obvious untruth. No one ever suggested that I should change my conduct in return for a knighthood and had they suggested that, I would have given them a very sharp reply and explained to them that is not the purpose of the honours system.” | He denounced the suggestion the award was an attempt to buy his support as “a lie”, adding: “I think it’s a pity to taint the public debate with such an obvious untruth. No one ever suggested that I should change my conduct in return for a knighthood and had they suggested that, I would have given them a very sharp reply and explained to them that is not the purpose of the honours system.” |
| Redwood published a blog days before the announcement of his honour titled “Eight things wrong with the Withdrawal Agreement”. | Redwood published a blog days before the announcement of his honour titled “Eight things wrong with the Withdrawal Agreement”. |
| Streeter, who backed remain in the 2016 referendum, has already made clear he supports May’s deal. | Streeter, who backed remain in the 2016 referendum, has already made clear he supports May’s deal. |
| Redwood was one of the Eurosceptic cabinet ministers branded “bastards” by John Major as he fought to ratify the Maastricht Treaty in 1993, and has continued to fly the anti-EU banner in the Commons ever since. He headed the 10 Downing Street policy unit under Margaret Thatcher from 1982-87, where he was a champion of privatisation. | Redwood was one of the Eurosceptic cabinet ministers branded “bastards” by John Major as he fought to ratify the Maastricht Treaty in 1993, and has continued to fly the anti-EU banner in the Commons ever since. He headed the 10 Downing Street policy unit under Margaret Thatcher from 1982-87, where he was a champion of privatisation. |
| If MPs reject the deal, there are seven possible paths the country could go down next. | If MPs reject the deal, there are seven possible paths the country could go down next. |
| May brings it back to MPsPerhaps with minor tweaks after a dash to Brussels. MPs knuckle under and vote it through. | May brings it back to MPsPerhaps with minor tweaks after a dash to Brussels. MPs knuckle under and vote it through. |
| May resigns immediatelyIt is hard to imagine her surviving for long. After a rapid leadership contest, a different leader could appeal to a majority in parliament, perhaps by offering a softer deal. | May resigns immediatelyIt is hard to imagine her surviving for long. After a rapid leadership contest, a different leader could appeal to a majority in parliament, perhaps by offering a softer deal. |
| Tory backbenchers depose herJacob Rees-Mogg gets his way and there is a no-confidence vote. A new leader then tries to assemble a majority behind a tweaked deal. | Tory backbenchers depose herJacob Rees-Mogg gets his way and there is a no-confidence vote. A new leader then tries to assemble a majority behind a tweaked deal. |
| May calls a general electionMay could choose to take the ultimate gamble and hope that voters would back her deal, over the heads of squabbling MPs. | May calls a general electionMay could choose to take the ultimate gamble and hope that voters would back her deal, over the heads of squabbling MPs. |
| Labour tries to force an electionThe opposition tables a vote of no confidence. If May lost, the opposition (or a new Conservative leader) would have two weeks to form an alternative government that could win a second confidence vote. If they were unable to do so, a general election would be triggered. | Labour tries to force an electionThe opposition tables a vote of no confidence. If May lost, the opposition (or a new Conservative leader) would have two weeks to form an alternative government that could win a second confidence vote. If they were unable to do so, a general election would be triggered. |
| A second referendum gathers supportThis is most likely if Labour makes a last-ditch decision to back it. | A second referendum gathers supportThis is most likely if Labour makes a last-ditch decision to back it. |
| No dealThe EU (Withdrawal) Act specifies 29 March 2019 as Brexit day. Amber Rudd has said she believes parliament would stop a no deal, but it is not clear how it would do so. | No dealThe EU (Withdrawal) Act specifies 29 March 2019 as Brexit day. Amber Rudd has said she believes parliament would stop a no deal, but it is not clear how it would do so. |
| Redwood has been the MP for Wokingham in Berkshire since 1987, and became Wales secretary in 1993, memorably struggling to sing along to the Welsh national anthem at his party’s annual conference in Wales. | Redwood has been the MP for Wokingham in Berkshire since 1987, and became Wales secretary in 1993, memorably struggling to sing along to the Welsh national anthem at his party’s annual conference in Wales. |
| His clash with Major over Europe came to a head in 1995 when the prime minister called on his critics to “put up or shut up” and resigned to trigger a leadership contest. Redwood stood against him, but received only 89 votes to Major’s 219. After being defeated in a second bid for the leadership in 1997, he returned to the Tory front benches from 1997-2005 under William Hague and Michael Howard. | His clash with Major over Europe came to a head in 1995 when the prime minister called on his critics to “put up or shut up” and resigned to trigger a leadership contest. Redwood stood against him, but received only 89 votes to Major’s 219. After being defeated in a second bid for the leadership in 1997, he returned to the Tory front benches from 1997-2005 under William Hague and Michael Howard. |
| New Year honours list 2019 | New Year honours list 2019 |
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| European Union | European Union |
| Europe | Europe |
| Conservatives | Conservatives |
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