The Westminster Arms

I bet lack of signal helps with lower crime rates though!

I'll have you know there were two reported crimes in this village in 2019: a report of bats being disturbed by building work, and a "disturbance" outside the village hall one summer evening. The case is still "open - under investigation" according to Wiltshire Police. They can't get to the bottom of it but we in the village know. In any case, his mother gave him a clip round the ear for making a show of her so that's the end of the matter. He's in his fifties.

Howabout, that article by TB is gobsmacking, isn't it? He has a well deserved AA award plus he was responsible for the decision not to put a temporary brake on FoM for the East European accessions in 2004. Immigration was never one of my reasons for voting Leave but the vastly underestimated influx arising from his decision, exacerbated by the lack of proper planning for it on his watch, put huge strain on some communities.

He has perfect 20/20 hindsight.

Seven hours and 17 minutes to go...

One of my favourite bits of Wiltshire is Hindon, especially The Lamb Inn there. It's my happy place and a great pit stop on the Brussels to Cornwall schlep.

Singing “ They're just desperately trying to find a signal ”

I bet lack of signal helps with lower crime rates though!

A positive Brexit story to celebrate today. The UK is not implementing the EU's meme ban. Dusty keep doing what you do so superbly.

www.wired.co.uk/article/uk-article-13-copyright-brexit

I am no fan of Tony Blair. However his ability to write this sort of forward looking positioning is why he won 3 GEs and why none of the Labour Party Leadership candidates look credible.

institute.global/tony-blair/tony-blair-after-brexit

Sir Keir, even after yesterday's Guardian article seeking to move on and accept Brexit, is still talking about making the case for FoM as are the rest.

In contrast the Blair line is "We need to see immigration, with proper controls, as a vital component of economic success, not as a threat to our cultural integrity."

Walking is faster than driving here, Autumn

On the other hand, I could drive into Bath and reach the Royal Crescent in 20 minutes on a good day (while still observing the speed limits). However, it would then take me one hour and 20 minutes to find somewhere to park.

I envy your access to good public transport. And mobile phone signal strength. When banks go on about moving to a cashless society, it provokes an eye roll round here. Any visitor to the village would be bemused by the number of residents wandering around looking at their phones. They not engrossed in social media. They're just desperately trying to find a signal

Investment in infrastructure? Bring it on!

how long is the drive from Wiltshire?

not been to Wiltshire. Sounds lovely and quiet!

Indeed Lily I think it will be very interesting to see how the SNP / rejoiners tackle that point.

Totally agree with you on the BBC Licence fee as well. Non payment of it has no place in a criminal court. About time it was downgraded and the BBC will have create processes to agree repayment plans for those people who have not paid instead. The sooner they move to a subscription model the better as well.

I'm rural Oxfordshire and the lanes here are scary at night. But tonight I walk to the village hall for a quiet celebration. No driving.

Another one here for holding firm on the fisheries policy. I eat a lot of fish as I don't eat meat and Scottish fish is excellent. And I think it will be hilarious watching (Nickers, as my Scottish friends call her) arguing to let Brussels control it. You couldn't make it up.

I am still expecting Gina Miller to come racing into the high court with Bercunt on her back "yelling stop the treachery and treason" followed by spider Brenda walking slowly with the aid of a stick.

Enjoy the day. Happy Independence Day, everyone
🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🍾🍾🍾🍾🍾👏👏👏👏👏😀😀😀😀

Morning, Howabout, thought you might like that . I make a point of reading Tom Harris, Alan Cochrane and (even though I don't always agree with him) Alex Massie.

Morning, Holly, the CFP had a damaging effect on fish stocks, if I recall. Owen Paterson is on the case this morning in the Telegraph and I'd like to think that Michael Gove, himself a Scot whose family was made bankrupt through the rapid decline of UK fishing, will help to inject some steel into the subject.

It really doesn't make any sense - Scotland having control of its own fishing rights and waters for the first time in 200 years only to campaign to hand them back to Brussels. It will be a tough sell for any Rejoin campaign, never mind a combined IndyRef2/Rejoin campaign.

Happy Brexit Day all.

Struggling to keep up these days.
Just wanted to comment on the Indyref2 piece. This is exactly how I see things panning out. Doesn't help that both Glasgow and Edinburgh Health Boards are now in special measures and there is to be a full review of what is going wrong with the education system. Almost makes me question the wisdom of repatriating anything to Holyrood.

“Boris Johnson’s government will launch its first strike on BBC funding next week, opening a formal process to lift the criminal penalties on those refusing to pay the licence fee”

Now that really is a cause for celebration! 🎉

Lily

Some good points raised in your post above. Especially about the CFP. It will be a hard sell to the people of Scotland that its better to hand control of our waters back to Brussels at the expense of having direct local control. I'm really hoping we stand firm on retaining control of fishing in negotiations. Its a real opportunity to revitalise the fishing industry especially for towns/communities all down the east coast of Scotland and England. It's a chance to create jobs and a real brand about the quality of the fish as well as decide our own sustainable and environmental considerate fishing methods. I remember listening to a Wake Up to Money podcast many months ago and they had a guest on who was a Scottish fish seller. They quizzed him about being able to sell fish post brexit and he said he wasn't worried as the quality of the fish is really superior and there is much demand for it both from UK and Europe despite the threat of tariffs.

Yes, glorious Wiltshire - actually on the Wiltshire/Somerset border. Somerset is approx 150 metres away. Driving here is a cross between luck and skill. John Lewis has a special small van for deliveries round here (we have to remind them if we order anything) because the usual delivery vehicles just can't get through. And don't even get me started on the phone signals. There's an O2 black spot at the front of the house and a Vodafone one at the back.

Just picked this up - it's from the FT.

"Boris Johnson’s government will launch its first strike on BBC funding next week, opening a formal process to lift the criminal penalties on those refusing to pay the licence fee. The consultation on decriminalisation will be one of Mr Johnson’s first domestic policy initiatives since the election - a sign of the importance he is placing on shaking-up the broadcaster and the licence fee system it has relied on since the 1920s. BBC executives fear that if criminal sanctions were removed by law, the corporation’s ability to collect the licence fee would be badly weakened, increasing evasion and blowing a hole in the broadcaster’s programming budget of £200m or more."

You all know how I feel about this punitive regressive poll tax and its disproportionate and damaging effect on the elderly, on SAHMs and on anyone doorstepped by Capita.

You are southwest aren’t you Lily? The lanes are mental down there, I can only imagine at night! We have loads of winding lanes, but typically not as narrow unless you really head off the beaten track.

Village with impossibly narrow unlit lanes and surrounded by countryside here, Epic. Our biggest problem is that our house is on the direct route of the MacMillan Walk. It's a very good cause but lots of townsfolk out in droves for a hike and trying to dodge the sheep and the tractors makes driving round here a bit of a challenge.

“Jeezo, Epic, I couldn't ask Mr Lily to drive 😱
He's worse then me! At least I have a clean licence.”

😂 oh dear! Luckily for me, My DH has amazing eyesight and is a really good driver! The biggest problem around here (rural), is deer crossing. Nightmare!

My dark driving is horrendous, I get DH to do it now, my eyesight is so poor at night

Jeezo, Epic, I couldn't ask Mr Lily to drive 😱
He's worse then me! At least I have a clean licence.

✅ ✅ ✅

🙌🙌🙌

It must be so satisfying.

Election ✅
Stonking great majority ✅
Brexit ✅
Put the BBC on the back foot ✅
Cabinet discipline restored ✅
HoC order restored ✅

Me too until the end of 2020 now, but a virtual drink is always welcome! 🍸🙌😂

My dark driving is horrendous, I get DH to do it now, my eyesight is so poor at night. 😞