Westministenders: Johnson defends his President whilst we try to defend Britain

[RedToothBrush]

Theresa and Donald
Sitting in a tree
K-I-S-S-I-N-G
First come Brexit
Then comes the Ban
Then comes the
Removal of Human Rights
… Damn

(Shamelessly stolen from a protest sign)

A couple of weeks ago people were still asking why we were talking about Trump on a Brexit thread. I think the answer has made itself all together too apparent.

What is happening in the US is not going to stop. It’s not going to get any better any time soon. The situation is grave with suggestions there has been a coup. What happens next is not going to be pretty. American institutions are struggling. The rule of law has been undermined. We are not talking about a developing country. We are talking about the country which has stood for freedom and democracy.

Our leadership looks weak in the face of this. We look like we are not only appeasing but endorsing. For what? A trade deal that he could revoke in 30 days?

We have but one question. How many of our ‘British Values’ will have to be sacrifice for the special relationship?

Make no bones about this: Cosying up to Trump threatens our national security. It threatens our democracy. It ruins what little moral authority we have left. It threatens our ties with Europe who we DO still need to have a relationship even if we are outside the EU. This is not world leadership. This is appeasement. This is cowardly weak and downright desperate.

Let us also not forget ‘Good old Boris’ pretending to be Churchill and calling the EU Nazis and Hitler during the Referendum and on several occasions since. He has now had the bare faced audicity to stand in the House of Commons and call MPs out repeatedly for ‘trivalising the holocaust’ or for making comparisons with the 1930s when they saying they have been told this by survivors of the holocaust. It is SHAMEFUL. I also note how many times Johnson referred to Trump being democratically elected as if this makes all the difference and he can’t possibly be a dictator if elected.

Why do they want to use the parallel themselves and HATE it when its used for things they use? Fascists hate being pointed out as fascists.

What would happen if you put it to the public? You have a choice, The EU or Trump? What would they say. At its most basic this is what Brexit is now. You can not hide it or disguise it any longer.

Get used to this. Be prepared to protest, to keep challenging, to keep calling things as they are. Fatigue might set in, but we need to keep on. This is for the long haul.

Today the a50 Bill starts in parliament. It’s not looking good, as it looks like MPs will completely fail in their DUTY to hold the government to account and will not have the balls to add amendments to the bill.

If it passes without any, get worried. It is not just about the EU.

It never was.

Trump's assurance about NATO is not worth the fake tan its written with.

He tells 'pussy' what she wants to hear to STFU.

Peas - I guess it depends on the quality of the MP and how much they care about their constituents' concerns. Most MP's letters are written by their office staff rather than personally but, imo, they should still check them before signing to make sure that the questions have been addressed. Doing otherwise obfuscates and shows utter contempt for their voters. I would be happy if my MP wrote to me trying to persuade me of her change of heart (Remain to Leave, represents a 75% Remain constituency) but she has ignored my letters. I would be absolutely disgusted if she simply outlined the process .

I wasn't too bothered about the expenses scandal as I took the line that, if you offer people a way of getting extra money, most will probably take it. I am really horrified, however, by the way our MPs have rolled over for a policy only a tiny minority have any belief in.

Mother and Peas I think it's worth annoying them, but that's me. I have tory ex remainer.
Had one long email back on June24th, quite conciliatory and positive about soft brexit, I thought.
Then a standard letter last week, saying he'd get back to me after meeting Brexit committee.
Then today a phone call with the little boy who works for him, which got heated as I explained the difference between a delegate and a representative, and what an MPs job was,: to act on his conscience, and not mob rule.
So, I've got some of my money's worth.
He knows I'm here. I know he's there. It's political engagement?
I also think I'll see if I can go to a constituency surgery meeting, listed on his web site.
I won't change the result, but if we can keep putting our points, especially through the democratic channels, that as well as other actions are all part of the work!
And Anne Soubrey seems to have me on her mailing list after I wrote an email of support when she was getting death threats. And she emailed back thanks. She might appreciate support, just on a human level from other women. (I'm not tory )

I realise this is ridiculous to ask,but is it a standard response from an MP to completely ignore the questions?

Before the Referendum, taking my MP Nicola Blackwood as an example, I would say she was slow to answer, but answered properly when she did, and if necessary would refer correspondence to others, who may or may not have answered.

My first letter post Brexit got a response which answered questions I hadn't asked and didn't answer the ones I did ask. Since then, 11 letters later, I have had automatic acknowledgements to emails, apart from the one where in passing I threatened not to vote for her, which produced a response from a PA, but none from Ms Blackwood herself. In the one letter I posted, all three pages, I didn't even get a postcard to acknowledge it. So I think post Brexit, expect silence or being politely told to F* off - depending on what you say, of course.

But Le Pen is beginning to look strong again, sadly.

Really? I had the impression she had hit a ceiling. I don't think the Quebec massacre will do her any favours - the terrorist was reportedly radicalised after hearing Le Pen speak in Canada - but unfortunately events are keeping tragedies like this off the front pages.

Macron is now the bookie's favourite, for what it's worth (ie not much at this stage). If he makes the second round, the pollsters have him beat Le Pen convincingly; he's a narrow winner in a match-up against Fillon (based on polling before the latest revelations).

I've emailed my MP twice about this - first on 23rd January , and today. Today, along side letting him be aware of my anger at the direction things are going, , I also complained that I hadn't heard back from him, and I presumed that I wouldn't, as I didn't want a C&P job. The reply was from his PA to say it took 2 weeks to answer, and MP did not cut and paste answers , but would reply properly , within two weeks. So they admit that they have read both emails, but no other response. He's a rubbish, non -attending leave voter .

Thanks very much, red.

"Don't really know what she's on about in this tweet but YES Father Jack! He so IS! "

I can only think of Plutarch Heavensbee when I see Bannon. Except that he turned out to be a good guy in the end. Still I suppose so is Bannon if you're a fan of apocalyptic-scale creative destruction, with white supremacist leanings.

I have been writing to my MP for years. We have had a shocking shortage of school places for decades and in that time it has affected my family across two constituencies and four MP. Both Libdem and Conservative Councils have pursued the same strategy of running a shortage of school places so that parents in black holes left on waiting lists get deterred into moving or gong private, and they save by filling up every last space and not having to build as many new schools. Every year hundreds of parents find themselves in that situation and write to their MP. The first Conservative responded with stock letter, basically tough. The Libdem ones wrote personal letters discussing the issues, helped me with appeals etc. (with the help of researchers) and put pressure on the local Council on the issue. The last Libdem in spite of being a busy Cabinet member also sorted out a complicated issue we had with the Council in another constituency that was a manifestation of an unfair regulation and raised the issue with the Minister responsible. The latest Tory MP misunderstands the school issue and comes out with guff, and on Brexit I have only had a holding letter saying she has had so many letters she cannot respond quickly......

DebbieDowners ... if you can't understand and see what she [May] did in an hour meeting by standing there for all the world to see - incld PUTIN...." Mr President I think I am right in saying you are 100% behind NATO"

I can't understand why you're so excited about this. Remember this is the woman who said - with a straight face - that she had "the strength and support of 65 million people willing us to make it [Brexit] happen" attributing a comment to a man who is prone to coming out with any amount of hyperbolic crap and changing his mind the very next day. In other words, a liar said another liar said something. And we're meant to applaud?

Should we put together our MPs responses to 'out' leaver Tories' indifferent engagement with their parliamentary responsibilities?
There is a responsiveness survey on 'write to them' but it's very retrospective and not a qualitative evaluation of responses.
If your lib dems were so helpful ron it might be good to big them up publicly during this 'debate'?

Terrible grammar, there whoops.

Could we collate and rate responses of leaver tories?

I could submit my UKIP PA response for assessment purposes.

How about you turn up with your unanswered letters at constituency surgerys? Much harder to fob you off to your face.

And yes I do know how to spell surgeries.

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How about you turn up with your unanswered letters at constituency surgeries? Much harder to fob you off to your face.

That is my plan. However, my MP doesn't publish dates - you just have to write in to request a meeting. Which I have done. Which has produced the automated response. Which has not yet led to an email saying Ms Blackwood has a surgery on xxx and could see you then. I am not holding my breath.

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Gisela Stuart annoys me intensely. I cannot get my head around how she thinks getting into bed with right-wing tories is going to end well for non-privileged people. And for IDS, the only suitable response is to sot "Fuck OFF" at the telly. Odious, odious, odious.

I have been shouting saying "Fuck Off" rather a lot recently to the TV and/or radio

The statement from my MP. But there again, I wouldn't have expected any different from him.

Incidentally, Stewart Macdonald won the seat from Tom Harris (Labour) in 2015, overturning a 12,500 majority. Tom Harris went on to become the Scottish Director of the Vote Leave campaign.....shows how in tune he was/is with his former constituents

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Oh for goodness sake, Red, Trump does not threaten our national security.
Theresa May did a great job in being the first leader to be invited. Merkel tried it but Trump would not respond.
We are much better off with the U.S. than the EU.

Prettybird, me too, especially when Gove crawled out from under his stone.

Def Trying. Pubs open btw, lock-in tonight

Err think he does, Trying. It's like having a thick Kim-Yong-Un in the WH.