BGD

Labour aren't going to unite Ireland and the DUP know that. You're falling into the same trap as May thinking the DUP will support her no matter what. Nigel Dodds himself has said that the backstop is a bigger threat than a Labour government.

Simple really, they see the backstop as a bigger threat than a Labour government.

No because parliament is sovereign and the referendum was advisory, nothing in law forcing parliament to act on the result. Well the people pushing for a second referendum argue at this point the only way to break the deadlock in parliament is to take the decision back to the people. Of course even if there wasn't deadlock in parliament the usual suspects would be pushing for it because they simply want to stop brexit at all costs. Hearing that Labour and DUP talks have been quite successful today with the DUP saying that they'd support a vote of no confidence if May doesn't come back from Brussels with satisfactory assurances on the backstop. Nothing official yet though, we'll see what happens on Monday...

That's what it's all about pal. Loads of classic Christmas films up on Netflix we'll be working our way through them as a family I'm sure. Proper special when you've got a wee one having their first Christmases too, enjoy these early years. Hope you and yours have a good one

All the family travelling from far and wide to gather together, wee kids going mad and getting spoilt rotten, eating great food until you're fit to burst then eating some more and a good film or two on the box. What's not to look forward to? Favourite time of year for me.

Don't be silly, it's Corbyn does the riding

....there was a leadership election following that vote which he won with an increased majority.

Certainly not a strong enough victory to shut up her critics. Like I said earlier they'll just be emboldened and start looking for other ways to undermine her. Divisions have been deepened, not healed.

So they're stuck with her for a year now, will they live to regret it?

Boris will get his chance to run and lose again in the next leadership election and depending on who the next leader is could probably get another cabinet position in the future. Mogg has never really had any hope of being anything more than a well known backbencher TBH.

Aye if the bill somehow passed the DUP would definitely vote no confidence in May, hell I wouldn't be suprised if they called the vote themselves! But even if it's voted down their support in a confidence vote isn't guaranteed especially after she's tried to play them with this renegotiation that hasn't changed anything regarding the backstop. May is foolish if she thinks the DUP are so scared of a Labour government that they'll support her regardless of what she does. We'll know which way they're leaning if Corbyn actually calls a vote of no confidence because he's not going to call it until he's fairly certain it will be successful. Sounds like May has survived quite comfortably tonight with less than 100 voting against her. Of course that just means the MPs who are really against her will start looking for other ways to undermine her leadership, going to be interesting times!

You underestimate how much of a red line the backstop is to the DUP. If it isn't removed the government will not have their support anymore and if the bill passes with it intact they will see it as a major breach of their confidence & supply arrangement. Labour were having backroom talks with them up to the point when the brexit bill vote was pulled and were feeling quite positive in the DUP joining them in both voting down the bill and voting no confidence in the government.

Honestly unless May (or the next leader is she loses the vote tonight) somehow manages to pull an amazing brexit rabbit out of the hat I don't think it really matters when the next GE is they're not going to win it regardless. In fact you could argue that the longer they cling on to power the bigger their defeat will be when the country finally goes to the polls...

Charlie Elphicke has also had the whip restored, he was suspended from the party because he's currently under investigation by the police for alleged sexual offences committed against members of his staff.