Westministenders: Boris and The By-Elections

[RedToothBrush]

You lot post too fast!

A50 has made it out of the Commons without any amends. Its on its way to the Lords, but this week is half term, so in theory not much going on (in the UK at least). It hit the Lords on the 20th where it might not get such an easy ride. The Lords will not (and CAN NOT) stop brexit or frustrate it. But the numbers are in perhaps more favour of amendments if they choose to go that way, than the Commons. This would throw the bill back to the Commons. This is pretty reasonable.

In the meantime its 12 days to go until the Copeland and Stoke Central By-Elections.

Leave.Eu think UKIP have Stoke in the bag. They think there will be a 33% turnout. I think a turnout that high is the land of fantasy. Paul Nuttalls who was at Hillsborough is now a devout Stokie who has lived there all his life. Except of course he isn't.

Copeland looks like it will go Conservative. Its theirs to throw away. It would be the first victory for a sitting government in a by-election since 1983 if they make it. They intend to use a victory as another argument for a 'mandate'. But have they managed to drop a nuclear booboo?

One more Question. What are the chances of this thread making it to the 23rd?!

Trump's rants genuinely remind me of Hitler's. He used to assemble his generals and rant at them, they thought he was nuts and used them to get a bit of kip.

My DF asked me incredulously just before the elections why I couldn't like Trump. I told him that aside from the obvious he couldn't speak English properly, which is pretty important for the leader of a largely English speaking nation. He said he talks like a New Yorker. Nope, I said, I've been to New York, they can formulate sentences correctly may have cheekily pointed out that so can a lot of Mexicans that live in NY too

mobile.twitter.com/britainelects/status/832361864675880960?p=v

Lib Dems held the Burton council seat that Red thought earlier they might lose.

Failsworth (Oldham) was a hold for Labour as expected.

Britain Elects ‏**@britainelects** 2m2 minutes ago
Lydbrook & Ruardean (Forest of Dean) result:
GRN: 35.3% (+27.9)
CON: 24.3% (+6.2)
LAB: 22.7% (-2.0)
UKIP: 11.1% (-12.2)
LDEM: 6.6% (+6.6)

Britain Elects ‏**@britainelects** 3m3 minutes ago
Green GAIN Lydbrook & Ruardean (Forest of Dean) from UKIP.

Is that right in Burton?

CON 56
LD 271
LAB 127
UKIP 60

Con in fourth place? Oh dear, oh dear.

Green GAIN Lydbrook & Ruardean (Forest of Dean) from UKIP.

Failsworth East (Oldham) result:
LAB: 58.4% (-7.3)
CON: 25.4% (+1.6)
UKIP: 11.7% (+11.7)
GRN: 3.5% (-4.3)
LDEM: 1.1% (-1.8)

Still some life in the Labour party yet.

Great swing from UKIP to Greens!

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/eu_referendum_2016_/2856552-Westministenders-Boris-and-God-Knows-what-next-Im-all-out-of-ideas?watched=1

Doubt I will be around much tomorrow, so new thread up. Sorry its uninspired. Right now threads are going so fast and I'm out of ideas.

"I'd like to see EU NATO members staying out of all MENA conflicts and only operating militarily within European borders.
No more joining in US wars for oil or to oppose China / Iran / anyone without a Trump hotel.
However, also increase spending, because it is not safe for Europe to be so dependent on the US."
[BigChoc] I agree with this^^

The EU needs to dissociate itself from US geopolitical adventures.

( My dad was also a RAF officer, joined in 1936).

Lib Dem loss to a residents group:

Elsenham & Henham:
RES 59.3% (+32.1)
LDEM 22.5% (-24.2)
CON 10.0% (-11.0)
UKIP 4.8% (+4.8)
LAB 2.8% (-2.3)
GRN 0.6% (+0.6)

I think that's both seats lost.

And Tories lose to Bollington First
Bollington (East Cheshire) result:
BFIR: 50.6% (+13.4)
CON: 17.2% (-13.4)
LAB: 12.9% (-8.6)
LDEM: 10.7% (-0.2)
GRN: 8.7% (+8.7)

Woman:
Hope that these marches no longer take place?
Although I don't want to mistakenly mix up the sectarian and the political, just on a human level I found these marches are provocative and sinister.

Sadly, the marches still go on, along with the weeks of practice beforehand on the Lambeg drums and the burning of enormous bonfires topped by effigies of Catholic/nationalist hate figures, sometimes election posters of nationalist politicians, religious figures like the Pope.

Mixing up the sectarian and the political would not be a mistake at all.

www.urban75.net/forums/threads/cant-wait-orangefest-is-almost-here.336516/
Some cracking comments and photos here if you fancy an insight.

www.irishcentral.com/opinion/others/senior-dup-communities-minister-paul-givan-pictured-lighting-massive-bonfire
('KAT' on the Irish flag = kill all Taigs [= Catholics])

St Thomas's (Dudley) result:
LAB: 60.8% (+3.4)
UKIP: 26.7% (+4.2)
CON: 10.3% (-5.4)
GRN: 2.2% (-2.3)

I think that's all of the 16th's results in. So, a Good night for the Greens, and not for UKIP, OK for Labour, a bit less OK for the Lib Dems but the loss is to a Residents association not to a major party, and less OK for the Conservatives, with again a loss to a local cause and a 4th place in Burton, which doesn't on the face of it look all that good.

Still one more to go, tomorrow in Wokingham.

Happy Green here!

Tony Blair calls on remainers to 'rise up in defence of our beliefs' [[Tony Blair calls on remainers to 'rise up in defence of our beliefs'
www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/feb/16/tony-blair-remainers-rise-up-brexit]]

Link again
www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/feb/16/tony-blair-remainers-rise-up-brexit

Well, that's the kiss of death, isn't it? Why can't you just STFU, Blair?

I was about to post the same thing. This looks like a move carefully designed to get the hard Brexiteers to dig their heels in even more firmly.

I dont think so
He's just so full of hubris that he thinks what he says is of value and will illicit change
I think he really does believe that
Agree that right wingers will have a field day
He is already being called "undemocratic" by IDS! 😳🙄

Right

Sorry everyone i am now a fully paid up leaver

Blair is the nail in my coffin

I am off to the pub!

(Only joking )

Rufus 😂

Much of what Blair says, I agree with - especially the Brexit at any cost, of May, and being totally dominated by her right wing, and the fact that public opinion can change.

My impression? Another one, only too aware how public opinion will change, so getting his excuses in now. He is frit, in Mrs Thatcher's words.

Perhaps Cameron will crawl out of the woodwork next? Probably a bit too soon for him. I expect him to surface in five years time, telling us he was right.

TBF to Blair there aren't many people about who would know better what leading the country into something based almost entirely on lies will lead to.

TBF to Blair there aren't many people about who would know better what leading the country into something based almost entirely on lies will lead to.

He's probably the first in a long line of politicos making It clear they want nothing to do with this clusterfuck