“Taking back control” was never about the British electorate or its representatives acquiring a greater say. “Sovereignty” was never about parliamentary sovereignty. Both were about gaming FPTP so that Rees/Mogg et al could use executive control to pursue their interests. /1

And pursue them free of constraints imposed by EU rules, democratically concluded by the European Parliament and Council of the EU. Pursue them free of any parliamentary accountability. /2

Cynical self-interest wrapped in a Union Jack and sold to a gullible population conditioned by the Mail, the Sun, and the Telegraph, etc. The vote yesterday against Parliament having a say on trade deals concluded by the UK laid all of this bare. /3

The Tory Party and the elite interests they represent and are funded by have “taken back control”. They have wrestled it from elected representatives, who heretofore had a say over trade deals concluded by the EU. They have put the NHS on the table too. /4

And that’s the thing: FTAs are not mere technical external agreements. They will shape the kind of economic model the UK pursues and will have profound economic and political impact on life in the UK. And such changes will be made by purely executive decision. 5/5