Jim Audiomisc
pfm Member
The problem with this argument is that it presumes that all MPs vote, all of the time, and always vote along party lines.
In truth, they don’t, and members often abstain or even vote against Government motions sometimes. God knows, Corbyn of all MPs understands that back benchers don’t always support the party line. So why has there been little or no evidence of work to peel Tory remainers away and, even if not getting their support, getting them to abstain?
There has been - more than once. And the result has been examples when some of the Tories/DUP vote with the opposition (or abstain) to defeat the Government on details *but then go solidly behind that government* as soon as another motion is placed to propose an alternative 'deal' or a vote no confidence in the Government.
Rule 1 for the Tory party is that: what matters is that power must remain with the Tories at all costs - even at the cost of the UK! For them the purpose of power is keep power. Ironically, read '1984' for an explanation!
Only the ERG are potentially barking enough to act otherwise - having shifted their wealth abroad. The Tories are *much* more opposed to the slightest risk of losing power than they are to Brexit arguments. That's why May would rather damage the UK than the Tory party. Their tactic 1 is always 'divide and rule' of *opponents*, not themselves.
A few decades ago many Tories had been though WW2 and had a different view based on their experiences. But they've pretty much all gone now.