3 December 2018
Professor Tim Bale was interviewed on BBC’s The Week in Parliament (listen from 7 minutes and 57 seconds) about the meaningful vote taking place this week. He said: “It’s really a measure of strength from all the various factions within the Commons. I think the eventual result does matter, in the sense that it will give us all a clue as to how possible it will be for Theresa May to pass the withdraw bill on the second attempt. I think we’re already assuming that this first attempt won’t make any difference. For the Government, it gives her another chance to sell to the country, perhaps the withdrawal bill, after all, it will feature on the news headlines every night for five days. If she can make some good arguments for the withdrawal bill perhaps that will help her in what is effectively a long term war of attrition.”
