Westministenders: Canada Plus and the Transition Phase

Thank you, Red

Could resist a very early PMK

PMK - haven't got anything useful to say.

Shall post a new picture of my little cat in the morning

Yes listening!

PMK thank you!

PMK with a kitten driven to desperate measures...

PMK thanks Red

Thanks, red 💐

This wilful refusal by the govt to talk about a post-Brexit trade deal is reminding me of Australia burning up, but the govt still refusing to talk about climate change
and Murdoch's newspapers with the fires buried on about page 10

I gather the Australian govt is gradually being forced to take its head out of its very smelly rightwing arse and papers to grudgingly print a little news
but I don't know what it would take to get our govt's head into daylight

Maybe the idea is that not talking about Brexit will make the public lose interest, so that BJ can make yet more concessions to the EU "that no UK Prime Minister could ever do"
- he'll have to unless he only wants the most bare bones FTA

I know have a paranoid theory that certain fed-up members of the RF have been offered mega-inducements to fulfill their role as Weapons of Mass Distraction

One interview. He does one interview, and already the Dunn family know how the Zagari-Ratcliffes feel. Pausing only to junk the Iran nuclear deal that is still officially HMG policy as he goes.

There's a show on C5 about badly behaved pooches that run wild off the lead and hump hairdryers. Made me think of our Dulux Dog PM.

BCF it really would not surprise me.

Ultimately politics has become a game of news management rather than dealing with issues so, who knows what will happen.

Its interesting that the UK is aligning with Europe more over Iran, partly because domestically aligning with the US over war makes us look and feel weak in the eyes of the public. There is a certain irony here.

I also find it interesting just how quiet everything has gone over Brexit. Without politicians publically fighting over it in parliament, the column inches have shrunk. Its not merely the time of year or the government doing nothing. Its just not a media psycho drama either.

Johnson doesn't have to do a lot to kill stories. The stories over Brexit which interested the public were not indepth analysis over trade deals etc, it was the personality politics and the clashes that produced.

.

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-deal-border-check-boris-johnson-uk-eu-barnier-northern-ireland-goods-a9283686.html

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-fishing-rights-uk-eu-city-trade-deal-agreement-france-a9282991.html

Pmk

Did anyone see Tenable today?*

The quiz team couldn't name the UK as a member of the EU, and it was probably filmed a year ago.

*I have no excuse.

Anyway, PMK.

Cat sitting in front of the door, blocking it. No, I don't know either

BJ currently doing wonders for support for Scottish Independence

Thank you for yet another threadRedToothbrush

Prettybird I've always felt that breaking up the UK, a natural unit by virtue of its geography and long shared values, culture, language, religion etc could only ever be ethical if the Westminster government was completely beyond the pail. Sadly, we seem to be reaching the stage at which, in my opinion the long- lasting effects of this horrific government make the justification for an independent Scotland easier.

Mr Johnson's contemptuous letter to the First Minister today will surely further the cause of the SNP.

Please may I have a quick vent? DS wants to do a masters in Cologne in 2021. Fat chance of being able to afford that now. Originally he wanted to go to the States, but decided it was too expensive and impractical. Some of the EU conservatoires were his next choice....

pmk

As Boris Johnson has now formally rejected the demand for a Scottish independence ref what now?

A court case? If I were NS I'd just hold one anyway. Why not just go for a non binding advisory referendum with a 50% threshold
Those refs despite their name are binding, non advisory & give huge mandates.

The one thing she won't do is an unofficial referendum.

The BBC pundits were suggesting that there was no legal route I'm not so sure

Her statement said that she'll outline her next steps by the end of the month (and ensure that the Scottish Parliament is in agreement). I don't think she's got much to lose by taking things slow and letting BJ help her case

Thanks @RedToothBrush as always. Not got much positive to post so here’s Millie the cat posting..

Mr Johnson's contemptuous letter to the First Minister today will surely further the cause of the SNP

Will it further it as much as a second neverendum?

Is there a precedent for a second referendum? Oh yes, says Pixie.

PMK.