Westministenders: Wake up and smell the coffee, shit just hit the fan.

[RedToothBrush]

Since the last update 12 days ago:

1. We have had the proposal to give barista visas. If we are giving out visas for this, what aren't we going to give visas for. Its just the announcement of a lot of red tape.
2. EU Banking and the Medicines agency are moving so they can serve the EU. In the EU. As serving them outside the EU is just weird. This is apparently a punishment for leaving the EU.
3. The number of students applying to become nurses has plummeted due to the removal of bursaries. This is as EU nurses leave.
4. The Brexit department published a couple of graphs promoting staying in the EU.
5. Theresa May said we were unified behind the idea of Brexit in her Easter message
6. The environment is being sacrificed for trade.
7. Turkey apparently has voted to become a dictatorship. This was a vote that Erdogan won by a whisper. His executive will not need scrutiny from parliament. Rather the UK referendum which at 0.6% more than the Turkish one is decisive. Donald Trump has congratulated him for it.
8. Trump has been dick swinging about nukes over North Korea. China are telling the children to behave.

And now we have a General Election.
Well if she can get 434 votes in the HoC tomorrow. That's ANOTHER broken promise. I'm sure its nothing but a formality.

What will Labour do? Support it? To get rid of Corbyn? Corbyn has backed the election. Given Corbyn is in charge, I'm not sure I'd have confidence to say that Labour will all vote for it, even with a three line whip. One Labour MP has already said he will not stand for reelection. (Tom Blenkinsop‏) I suspect there will be more.

Tim Farron has given support to the GE though, so it seems likely it will pass as that's a few of the votes that would be needed to block a GE.

(Note here abstentions do not count to the 434 votes needed.)

Trouble is what would happen if they didn't? Would the government collapse anyway? Might take May's head with it, but...

I guess the good news is that Corbyn will be gone by the end of June.

Otherwise the news is shit I fear. We will vote to give power to the executive with no parliamentary scrutiny. This is about getting rid of any opposition even from within her own party.

How will the campaigning go? Here's a clue:

Tim Montgomerie @montie
Tories want the exln to be about Corbyn and May; LibDems want it to be about Brexit; Labour want it to be about ?

then there is this:
fleetstreetfox‏*@fleetstreetfox*
I wonder what'll happen to the SNP. Polls not too chuffed about 2nd indy ref, Labour screwed... could parts of Scotland go blue again?

there will be lots of this about:
Dan Rebellato‏*@DanRebellato*
^Right. If we don’t want a huge Tory majority, we must all hold our nose and vote tactically. This MUST happen. How to organise that?

and the strategy is this:
Laura Kuenssberg‏*@bbclaurak*
Clear from May and hearing IDS that tories will go after idea of Labour Lib Dem coalition as risky

Council officials are now seeking legal advice over the Gorton By-Election that is scheduled for next month.

One more thing: Does this bury the election expenses row that is brewing and involves May's close adviser Nick Timothy?

Oh and the bottom line?
Alberto Nardelli‏ @AlbertoNardelli
Difference size of Tory majority will make to EU27 negotiating position: 0

Sigh.

Place marking

One more thing: Does this bury the election expenses row that is brewing and involves May's close adviser Nick Timothy?

Yes. Good move, Mrs May.

BBC Breaking News‏ @BBCBreaking
^Labour leader @jeremycorbyn "welcomes" PM's decision to seek a general election bbc.in/2puCsZ4^

Is she really that delusional to think the people are behind it now and won't see a GE that will be largely based on Brexit issue will not be further divisive?

Corbyn did not mention Brexit in his statement.

FFS.

There's no head-in-hands MN emoticon.

Which is unfortunate, I feel.

Hashi Not exactly "breaking" news, more like news that limped in late like the rest of Corbyn's leadership......

Thank you Red. Interesting times indeed.......

I must admit my first thought was "so the election fraud news will be buried now then"

I just hope to God 18-24 year olds get registered and get out there to vote

I'm voting Lib dem

And I say that as a lifelong labour voter

Is this because if the derision her easter message caused?

Hashi.

She's not delusional. She just wants to get the Great Repeal Act through. Then its all irrelevant anyway. Public opinion can be overruled in the name of Brexit.

Its a power grab. Pure and simple.

Lots of people like May. What happens if May goes and the Great Repeal Act is still in force?

Who comes next?

Just realised that this means we're going to see a huge surge in poli-trolls.

I don't think my blood pressure can stand it.

checking in

True, she also doesn't give a shiny shit about uniting people as she's long proved.

James Landale‏*@BBCJLandale*
"When will pre-election purdah begin and civil servants begin to down tools...? And what impact on preparations for Brexit negotiations?"

Guido Fawkes‏*@GuidoFawkes*
"Downing Street director of communications Katie Perrior is quitting"
Interesting

Just a little place-mark, well within the permitted budget. Nothing to see here.

Not sure what to think. Can't see a Labour come back. Oh well we have survived worse in the past and we will survive this. It's the young and the poor I feel sorry for. Their future is bleak.

Placemarking for this terribleness. Haven't been on these threads for ages.

We've already had on BBC news "Tim Farron does 'look' like a potential Prime Minister."

Er what? What does a Prime Minister 'look' like? You mean he doesn't have a posh, accent, comes from a working class background and doesn't wear an expensive tailor made suit.

You mean he looks 'ordinary'...?

Elites and snobs...

....a missed opportunity if ever there was one...

'I guess the good news is that Corbyn will be gone by the end of June.'

Well that's something I suppose. But yes, power grab indeed paired with neatly getting rid of that expenses scandal business.

I admit it wll be the relief to see the back of the current Labour leadership. The question is whether they take the party down, permanently, with them. I am struggling to imaging a scenario in which they would win back my support (except as a tactical vote as would be the case in my former constituency).

I think that many labour voters will vote LD. I also see the LDs getting votes back from remainers in the Con. party.
I am very interested in what this will do to the 57 SNP PMs the house of commons. I feel they will loss a fair few to LD and Con. The only thing the LDs have against them, I think in their leader. I certainly don't like his style or manner.
As for Labour! well I think we will have more and more of their MPs using this as a reason to give up their seats.
So with this all in mind I think we will have a Con. government but with an opposition with a new leader and a bigger LD and smaller SNP.

Just realised that this means we're going to see a huge surge in poli-trolls.

We need a thread strategy to not respond to provocation. Only respond to substantive points, do it once, if they don't engage, ignore.