MUZZLED LABOUR HIT BY COVID

While Labour MPs continue their absurd posturing over the wearing of face masks in the Commons, there has been a significant outbreak of Covid in the Commons... among Labour MPs.  The outbreak only came to light after 28 Labour MPs failed to vote in the disgraceful Tory exoneration of Owen Paterson.  Several MPs were compelled to report they were self-isolating after being accused by their own side of gifting the Tories victory (the vote was won by just 18 votes).

The following tweets provide examples of Labour MPs who have tested positive - despite their mask-wearing theatre - and not necessarily a comprehensive list.

Remember this outbreak next time a Labour MP extolls the virtues of mask wearing.

Keir Starmer's own self isolation period ended last week, just in time for him to bask in the virtues of Diwali.  Sporting a smudged bindi - the red dot that Hindus wear on their forehead - Starmer looked like a cross between Mikhail Gorbachev and a victim of domestic violence.

Embarrassing.

MOST UNWANTED POLL

It's a bit later than promised, but the results from the above Facebook post can finally be revealed.  There were almost two thousand responses when we went through them over the weekend and 186 names were submitted.  Not all of them were defending their seats at this election.  The most obvious example was Ken Clarke (six votes) - he stood down.  Around a quarter of the votes were ineligible because they failed to observe the simple rules set down in the post - excluding party leaders, name one MP.  Votes for Corbyn (there were at least a few dozen) and Swinson (a handful) were ignored, as were votes that named more than one individual (hundreds).  There were also a number of votes rejected that we suspect may have been intended for John McDonnell, but were submitted as 'McDonald' and could have been potentially been intended for his colleague Andy McDonald.

These were the top responses and as you can see it was a very close call between the top two.  In brackets we've included the likelihood of them actually losing their seats.

1)   Anna Soubry - 234 (gone tomorrow)

2)   Diane Abbott - 231 (safe as houses)

3)   Yvette Cooper - 137 (under threat)

4)   John McDonnell - 103 (likely safe)

5)   Emily Thornberry - 65 (safe as houses)

6)   Dominic Grieve - 52 (gone tomorrow)

7)   Ian Blackford - 37 (under threat)

8)   Jess Phillips - 35 (likely safe)

9)   Dave Lammy - 32 (safe as houses)

10) Hilary Benn - 15 (safe as houses)

11) Laura Pidcock - 12 (under threat)

11) Barry Sheerman - 12 (under threat)

11) Chuka Umunna - 12 (gone tomorrow)
14) Richard Burgon - 11 (safe as houses)
15) Barry Gardiner - 10 (likely safe)
15) Angela Rayner - 10 (likely safe)
17) Dennis Skinner - 9 (likely gone)
18) Naz Shah - 8 (safe as houses)
18) Keir Starmer - 8 (safe as houses)
18) Anna Turley - 8 (under threat)
18) Karl Turner - 8 (under threat)

MOST SHARED: WEEK 236

All hope of leaving this Thursday was extinguished by our quisling Parliament last week.  We may as well stop referring to each deadline as 'Brexit Day', it would be more accurately described as 'Extension Day'.  The likes of Benn, Starmer, Lammy, Grieve, Letwin, Hammond and 300 others will be cock-a-hoop with their efforts, but we will exact our vengeance at the ballot box sooner or later.

A couple of people noted that whereas the Withdrawal Bill consists of more than a hundred pages, the Benn Surrender Act was a fraction of that.  However, as many others have pointed out, the Withdrawal Bill is very similar to that drawn up by Theresa May's government and that has been in circulation for almost twelve months already.

The above meme is a BTLP2 original, shared 8,213 times via the backup page.  This is the first time since we've been doing this feature that the backup page has produced the 'most shared'.  The backup page is only in use when the main page is out of action and last week saw the worst act of political censorship by Facebook in the four and a half years of our existence.  You can help maintain our presence across social media by depositing a small donation here.  Thank you.

COWARDS IN THE COMMONS

Some Labour MPs spent the first day of prorogation hanging around the Commons like a bunch of bored schoolchildren in the summer holidays.  Rather than return to their constituencies and do some proper work these sulky brats tweeted pictures of themselves skulking around Parliament.  They are handsomely paid to be MPs and their jobs entail much more than just attending Parliament, but here they are taking selfies to presumably score some cheap political points.  Furthermore, they could have been actively campaigning for their re-election right now if it weren't for their own cowardice.

11.30 Wednesday - it should be #pmqs but Parliament illegally prorogued - I’ve come to the chamber but no sign of the Prime Minister pic.twitter.com/gl118cs7YQ

— Kevin Brennan MP (@KevinBrennanMP) September 11, 2019

Quietly and peacefully I have gone back to sit in my usual spot in the House of Commons. No shouting or scuffles - just a quiet statement about our democracy. Boris Johnson’s prorogation of Parliament is unlawful. MPs should be here debating the national crisis. #recallparliament pic.twitter.com/nEFMIad5vr

— Luke Pollard MP (@LukePollard) September 11, 2019

Reporting for duty pic.twitter.com/2YN6oa46BI

— Jonathan Reynolds (@jreynoldsMP) September 11, 2019

Around 30 MPs also gathered outside Parliament and addressed reporters, including Labour's Hilary Benn, Bambos Charalambous, Neil Coyle, Stephen Doughty, Rosie Duffield, Ian Murray, Stephen Pound and Rachel Reeves.  Change UK's Mike Gapes also spoke, as did Luciana Berger who has this year served alongside Mike as both a Labour and Change MP, but is now a Lib Dem.  Speaking of which, Chuka was there too!

Meanwhile, another bunch of losers travelled to Brussels at the invitation of Labour MEPs, primarily their odious leader Richard Corbett.  Clive Lewis, Rachael Maskell, Chi Onwurah, Lloyd Russell-Wotsit and Alex Sobel were among the honoured guests.  Bet their constituents were well impressed with this use of their time - visiting an institution that will soon become irrelevant.

Great to receive Westminster #Labour MP colleagues from @LoveSocialism at the European Parliamentary Labour Party today to discuss how best to stop the #BrexitShambles pic.twitter.com/p4x3iIWhvx

— Richard Corbett (@RCorbettMEP) September 11, 2019

NO DEAL WAS DISCUSSED IN 2016

The lie that is currently being propagated by Remainers that no deal was not discussed during the referendum is laid bare in this excellent video compilation from Change Britain.

THE LABOUR ONE

The latest Parliamentary attempt to stop Brexit from happening was voted through by 315-274.  The cross-party motion, proposed by Tory Alistair Burt and Labour's Hilary Benn, was designed to prevent the next PM 'proroguing' Parliament in order to ensure we leave in October.  16 of Burt's Tory colleagues voted with him in securing the motion, including the usual suspects Dominic Grieve, Sam Gyimah, Justine Greening, Oliver Letwin and Guto Bebb.  Margot James quit her ministerial post in order to back the motion, but given that she'll be out of a job next week anyway (should Boris win) it's no great sacrifice for her.  There were numerous abstentions and absences for the vote, most notably Ken Clarke.

The DUP voted against the motion, but there were only two other opposition MPs who voted with them.  One was Ian Austin, the former Labour MP, and the other is still a Labour MP (for now).  Can you guess who it was?

That's right, despite all the bluster of Labour's recent 'Leave converts' the only Labour MP to vote down the motion was the one and only Kate Hoey.

Rotherham MP Sarah Champion said only three days ago that she would back no deal if it came to it.  "We have to leave" she told Politics Live.  Two days later she voted in favour of a motion that would block no deal.  Disgraceful.  What of Caroline Flint, Melanie Onn, Ruth Smeeth and Stephanie Peacock?  All of whom have recently voiced support for the Leave mandate.  Every one of them supported the motion.  Disgusting.

It just goes to show that no matter how they talk, you just can't trust a Labour MP.  If Britain does leave in October and a general election is the next step, here's to a Parliamentary breakthrough for the Brexit Party across the Labour heartlands.  Bye bye two-faced pretend Leave converts and bye bye unapologetic Remainers like Yvette Cooper and Mary Creagh.

BENN SHAMES BENN

An excellent interview by Sophy Ridge today with Labour Remainer Hilary Benn.  Presenting the same old tired arguments against a no deal Brexit and pushing for a second referendum (with the discredited Remain as an option, obviously), this guy heaps shame on the legacy of his own late father.  Tony Benn argued for democracy, but his son argues for the opposite.  If Hilary's motives are not purely driven by a desire to stop Brexit then why doesn't he promote a referendum that respects the first one ie. Deal or No Deal.  Remain lost in 2016, to argue for its inclusion is an affront to democracy.

Now let's hear a clip from Tony Benn, another prime example that shows that the act of Leaving the European Union is neither 'left or right' and that both sides of the political spectrum can unite behind one goal - Brexit.