The weather is on the side of the people

[claig]

Chucking it down in the East of England. Storms last night. Senior Remain campaigners phoning in minute by minute weather updates to Brussels. To say there is despair among the elite is to do the English language injustice.

Brexiters were out in force, soaked to the skin, some were being carried to the polling booths. As we said "good morning" to each other, there were mentions of "Independence Day" with laughs and winks.

Some Brexiters looked to the Heavens as they chucked down rain upon us and smiled. The Heavens were on our side.

"How are Boris (Eton and Oxford educated, former Times journalist) and Nigel (Dulwich College educated, former Commodities Broker) not considered "elite" by you?"

Boris is but he has switched sides as he has smelt the coffee and has seen which way the future is going and wants to be a part of it.

Farage isn't because it is irrelevant what school you went to or how much money you have, all that counts is are you on the side of the power that is the Establishment. Farage isn't which is why Cameron and the team says don't choose a "Farage future" and is why the excellent independent Etonian Rees-Mogg is for Leave rather than Remain and therefore opposes the Establishemnt.

Oh gosh! Someone mentioned Kate Hoey.

'If you hold this glass of water in this hand, it is half full. If you hold it in the other hand, it is half empty' paraphrased a bit.

Current favourite, slightly paraphrased. 'There is an absolute possibility that turkey might join in the future'.

There is an absolute possibility I might win the Euromillions as I have just purchased a ticket.

Still a bit confused about the rain . My city is 95% remain and we all cycle everywhere in all weathers so I don't think we're going to be ever so bothered to be honest.

Hear, hear Luna!

We don't always agree but I'm actually with you on this.

Current UK rain (13:00).

Note that the French seem to be sending some heavy rain on the way to the UK. No idea what that means.

Ah, I see. Thanks for the reply Claig.

I think that you are conflating 'elite' with 'establishment'. although I'd argue BJ was still establishment too.

Don't let the rhetoric and propoganda blind you to the fact that what Boris, Nigel and indeed Trump (seeing as you are a fan) really want is power.

There's no revolutionary fervour here. They don't want to start with a clean slate and design a new society.

They actually want to go backwards to have less oversight.

I guarantee that none of these men have any idea what daily life is like for "the people" let alone care about them.

You are being manipulated for their own ends.

If you win the cost will be huge.

Lol Squoosh & Flippinada
I agree! Or one of those Victorian cure seller people.
I love Claig threads!

In other news, the weather is warm but humid in West Oxfordshire, I had a slice of orange & lemon cake and an Amerincano in a lovely local caff.
The Thursday market is on right outside the voting place so there's a convivial atmosphere with bunting & outdoor eating vans - not quite the Rio carnival I was hoping for, and sadly no crisp high fives being exchanged - but an enjoyable lunchtime out nonetheless!

Wtf? The weather reporter is called Kate McCann?!? Unfortunate!

'Don't let the rhetoric and propoganda blind you to the fact that what Boris, Nigel and indeed Trump (seeing as you are a fan) really want is power. '

I agree that Boris wants power and Trump wants power and they will do different things with it. Trump recently wants power to do what he wants to do, but Boris has wanted power for years and has no real fixed aim.

'there's a convivial atmosphere with bunting & outdoor eating vans'

Sounds great. All that is missing is the Brexit conga.

I don't actually think that Farage wants power, he has been a one issue campaigner to get out of the EU. He is not a career politician in the sense of being interested in the details of polciy etc. I think he prefers fishing and will probably leave politics soon.

Farage will be kicking himself when he looses his cushy seat and income as MEP.

I'm sure he doesn't really want power, because with great power comes great responsibility. He doesn't strike me as spiderman, more like cockroachman.

Claig Farage resigned from leadership of his party and then pretty much immediately took it on again. He likes the spotlight. He likes to be controversial and start a fight.

I'm pretty sure he's not just going to fade into the background to go fishing.

I have a vision of Farage in a spangly suit dancing the tango on Strictly.........

Farage is not too healthy after a bad accident. He came back because without him, UKIP is nothing. Douglas Carswell and all the ex- Conservative types are a joke. Farage has the common touch. But Farage is not interested in answering questions on the intricacies of education policy etc. He wants to leave that stuff to the professional career politicians who find that stuff interesting.

All Farage wants is "our country back" from the EU bureaucrats. He hopes that the useless political class will be able to do something good with the country. I don't think he will be in politics for long because getting out of the EU is his main concern and then he wants to let the professional political class decide what is best for the country.

It would be a great loss for UKIP voters if Farage goes because they prefer Farage to the political class, but Farage would get bored being a "politician", in my opinion.

A rather anxious remain voter here.

I have to say this metereological thread is cheering me no end

If only the whole debate had been as civilised...

I'm sorry to hear that the man is unwell but he's been seriously involved in politics for about 20 years. He doesn't seem to be bored yet...

Warm and sunny in Kent and lots of Remain posters and stickers.

If we do vote out, at least Farage and his fellow UKIP MEPs will lose their generous EU salary and allowances. Their policy of claiming the maximum cash available while making zero effort to fight for UK interests says everything about their respect for British and EU citizens.

I got soaked on my way to vote leave.

Farage is an utter attention whore. He won't be going anywhere.

That was obviously a pro EU God smiting you down Toria.

' he's been seriously involved in politics for about 20 years'

Only for one cause, getting out of the EU. Farage could easily have been Conservative leader if he had sold his soul, but he wasn't prepared to do that. He remains on the outside fighting for the one cause he really cares about which is UK independence.

Like the Farage love in.

It actually occurred to me last night that Farage and Hannan are risking nothing. If we remain they get to stay in their jobs, if we leave they get their MEP pensions anyway, get to write books and go on the speaking tour circuit, probably with a few cushy non executive directorships thrown in for good measure. Its a really good example of moral hazard, the British population takes all the risks.

But I do love a claig thread.

I agree, I don't think Farage is interested in 'details' either, all those pesky facts getting in the way.

Farage? Selling his soul? I've never seen any evidence that he possesses one. Maybe he sold it a long time ago?

I think he swapped his soul for that natty velvet lapelled coat he likes to wear.