The Legacy Act was an ambitious attempt to close the book on the Troubles. But it was fatally flawed. By prioritising tidy finality over messy justice, it alienated victims, angered parties, drew legal challenge, and lacked legitimacy.
He has an immense appetite for stories, and politicians talk to him because he tries to report with reasonable fidelity what they say.
The Prime Minister has inaugurated a reign of virtue, and as yet has no record against which his pious declarations can be measured.
His critics think he is “a busted flush”: how eager he will be to demonstrate that he is, on the contrary, serious.
The Labour leader refused to be put off by a protester, and went on to give a masterclass in the higher priggery.
Plus: Starmer needs to bring Cooper and Benn into his top team. But will they even want the jobs?
Plus: It’s been a bad week for Starmer. And: is it time to bring back the big beasts of the Labour jungle?
Plus: Where have Allegra Stratton’s live press conferences got to? And why I hate Twitter.
The Business Secretary argues that Parliament’s actions are “discouraging businesses from taking the steps they need to take”, and holding up private sector investment.
“I am not going to discuss a hypothetical situation that may arise if and when the Benn Act were to come into effect.”
He adds that Johnson has reiterated that the United Kingdom will leave the EU on October 31st “avec ou sans accord”, despite Benn’s Act.
Clarke delivered an attack which recalled Howe’s on Thatcher.
But there is method in his madness.
Their real aim is to overturn the referendum result, wreck Brexit and destroy the Government we actually have.
If Benn and others seek to bind the Prime Minister to the letter of their Surrender Bill, then he should oblige – by following it in exacting detail.