Westministenders: Danger of "accidental" Brexit (whoops !) ?

[BigChocFrenzy]

i.e. Brexit without a deal - NOT intentionally so - due to UK govt incompetence and mutual UK/EU misunderstandings

The govt is proceeding from abysmal ignorance on a Brexit journey which may blunder into disaster.

Prominent Leave campaigner Richard North:

"The UK Government's narrative seems to rest on the belief that the EU will cave in under pressure, and is thus giving every sign that it is prepared to push negotiations to the wire.

If, on the other hand, the EU are determined not to budge, especially as, with their own White Paper on "The Future of Europe" triggering internal discussions unrelated to Brexit, they are not necessarily fully focused on the "British problem".

As a result, we could end up with an "accidental Brexit",
where the UK negotiators overplay their hand, ending up in the UK leaving without an agreement, forcing it to rely on WTO rules.

Most likely, it will take very little to convince the EU that Mrs May is bluffing – as the effect of the WTO option is likely to be disastrous for the UK economy.

We could thus have each side misreading each other, making the accidental Brexit all the more likely."

www.eureferendum.com/blogview.aspx?blogno=86395

Guy's and St Thomas hospitals in Westminster both in lockdown too - in this case, staff and visitors have been advised to stay inside

Press Association reporting what a juior doctor at St Thomas has said:

• One woman has died
• Others have been hurt, some with "catastrophic" injuries, during the attack on Westminster bridge

Also:

• Police fear injured will be in double figures
• London Eye has stopped and all visitorx remaining inside

It looks as if at least one of the attackers has died (the one shot by police) and one of the people, a woman, mowed down by the car has died too. A medic described some of the others as having "catastrophic injuries" .

I suppose it is standard practice to stop everything.
Sky was talking about a posdible passenger in the car.
If you look at the pictures on the BBC there are a number of fatalities covered up by sheets.

Eye witness report says that the car on the bridge was stopped by shots from police.
It went out of control, over the cycle lane and into the parliamentary fence
At least one person seemed injured, lying on the ground beside the car.

No other attacks reported so far

There's now talk of a possible bomb.

Of course there is.

Surprised Trump did not say anything. He has been informed.

ItsAll, was that intended to be snarky? I'm well aware of the kind of tropes the media use, but a bomb squad has apparently been sent to Westminster.

From Twitter (I wasn't watching the Holyrood debate live)...

@HolyroodLiam: Ken Macintosh said the debate was suspended because news of events at Westminster was affecting the contribution from MSPs.

(Ken Macintosh is the Presiding Officer - the equivalent of the Speaker in the HoC).

was that intended to be snarky

A bit You didn't cite your sources, and what happens next is someone reads what ykunwrote and says on another forum " I heard there is a bomb in Westminster!". And more and more people get wound up due to random rumours and the attack has more and more impact which is exactly what terrorists want.

Far better to not speculate and await facts which are verified by more than one source.

From the Guardian blog
In Victoria Street teams of firefighters, some arriving in unmarked cars, have gathered and are pulling on burgundy overalls with the word “rescue” on the back. They appear to be wearing body armour and helmets and are moving towards parliament.

Well, it was on the Beeb and the Sun. I'm not an academic and I'm not always 100% about citing sources. Sue me.

Not odd the emergency services would be co-ordinating in Victoria Street given the Westminster lock down. Not necessarily indicative of anything else on its own.

Brendan Cox‏ @MrBrendanCox
In the days to come I hope we will remember the love & bravery of the victims not just the hatred &cowardice of the attackers.
Its hard not to love this man.

Has our dear Prime Minister seen fit to comment?

I haven't seen anything from TM, but that doesn't mean she hasn't I suppose. But Corbyn has, and that's pretty phenomenal speed from him.

Corbyn?!

Several French kids are injured as were hit by that car. Unbearably sad.
Can't help feeling puzzled at the BBC repeatedly stating that D Trump has been informed and now that he's spoken to TM. What about other PMs from countries across the channel, whose citizens were injured today? Has TM spoken the them? Appalling under the tragic circumstances.

Statement from Nicola Sturgeon.

Horrific events. Even in these times of high terrorist threat, we forget what it's like to live in fear in our cities (I can remember that when the IRA campaign was at its height)

Brexit news: Michel Barnier has said today that the EU will not be negotiating in secret and wants to keep its citizens fully informed. So much for the British government's "strategy" of keeping the process under wraps .

Good. I like Barnier.

Also looking forward to our delightful Brexit team being shown up for the pathetic shower of unprofessional and incompetent shit they are...which means no more hiding behind secrecy a la dodgy Nissan-esque negotiations.

Let a strong beam of light and truth shine on them all