Westministenders: The Zombie PM

[RedToothBrush]

Back from the dead, May carries on whilst the vultures circle.

She had tried to out smart her rivals by running of to the palace to tell the queen she could form a government before they could act.

Definitely she stood and pretended nothing had changed. Except everything had. The wrath of her party was unleashed and there was open revolt. She has been summoned to appear before men in grey suits tomorrow at 5pm to hear their verdict.

How do she decide to make amends and reach out to moderate Tories? By sleeping with the DUP. And appointing Gove to her Cabinet.

How long will this last? How long can it last?

Raphael Hogarth‏ @Raphael_Hogarth 25m
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I worry that all talk of a softer Brexit is coalescing around the EEA (the ‘Norway option’), which still seems politically implausible 1/

“82% voted to leave the single market” thing is tripe. Labour fudged it. BUT 82% voted for parties pledging to end free movement of ppl. 2/

To be clear: this doesn’t mean that proponents of keeping free mvt of ppl are undermining democracy, or any guff like that. 3/

But, imo, it does mean there are political constraints that make an EEA outcome unlikely. (Because EEA means free movement of people.) 4/

But EEA is not the only way of achieving a softer, less economically disruptive Brexit. Here are four others. 5/

First, stay in the customs union. Open Europe (despite the headline) said leaving CU =“permanent cost” of 1% GDP. 6/

[ openeurope.org.uk/today/blog/post-brexit-leaving-customs-union-no-brainer/ ]

Whatever the size of the cost, there is one. And crucially, nobody can see how to achieve a soft border in NI without staying in CU. 7/

Second, soften the line on “taking back control of our laws”. This is TOTALLY fundamental to market access, but everyone ignores it. 8/

The single market is not a club. It is a rulebook that removes barriers to trade. This from @fullfact is brilliant at illustrating how. 9/

If UK regulations are allowed to diverge from EU ones, trade will suffer. That’s even worse news for services than blackcurrant liqueur 10/

The government could say now: we will accept a legal obligation to keep pace with some sets of EU rules. That would soften Brexit. 11/

Third, relatedly, HMG could ditch its red line of “leaving jurisdiction of the ECJ”. Imo this could be the biggest barrier to a deal. 12/

If we promise to keep pace with any EU rules, the EU will want to know who makes sure we keep the promise. 13/

EU says disputes over this should be resolved in the ECJ. There may be other options – a new court, a different ct, arbitration etc. 14/

But EU has always said such bodies must follow ECJ case law anyway. Ditching the red line would make single mkt access, & a deal, easier 15/

Fourth, if there’s any possibility of ceding any sovereignty re immigration, then consider @GeorgePeretzQC's fascinating blog… 16/

…which is here. Summary: UK adopts liberal migration policy for EU citizens. UK is allowed to tighten it… 17/ [ medium.com/@GeorgePeretzQC/free-movement-single-market-a-way-of-squaring-the-circle-3711462a6748 FREE MOVEMENT/SINGLE MARKET: A WAY OF SQUARING THE CIRCLE? ]

…but accepts EU will withdraw market access in that case. Preserves the integrity of the single market, but returns some sovereignty. 18/

Maybe the EEA (Norway) option will gain steam and that’s where we’ll end up, in which case this stuff is largely irrelevant. 19/

But it’s not the only route to a softer Brexit. If it proves politically impossible, that doesn’t mean we must accept where we are now 20/20

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-uk-eu-withdrawal-open-doors-change-mind-german-finance-minister-wolfgang-sch-uble-a7787736.html

Brexit: Britain can still stay in the EU if it wants to, German finance minister says
Elder statesman of European politics saysUK would find no obstacles if it decided to change its mind on Brexit

Did someone upthread mention that it's actually NOT free movement of people, but free movement of workers (and students?). This needs to be explored. Fundamental difference. Anyone know the facts?

www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/michael-gove-calls-for-crossparty-talks-on-leaving-eu-a3563821.html
Michael Gove calls for cross-party talks on leaving EU

The man is a reptile.

Gove's been very vocal since getting back into Cabinet 40 hours ago. Was on R4 this morning too. Isn't Environment thought a more minor Cabinet post?
Where is Hammond these days?

The man is a reptile take that back red he's tickety wickety and he's a woodland elf.

Hammond, is busy doing his job rather than speaking to the press and trying to work on his leadership bid.

woman12345, I think calling him those things makes him seem more harmless. He's not. He's a cold blooded political animal who would happily eat his political buddies.

There are some models elsewhere in the world that have restricted FOM (although they are mutual and vvv small)

My understanding is that caricom the carribean caricom region allows FOM for workers and students with some restrictions.caricom.org/movement-of-people/

I think Labour have to be very careful about sharing a platform with the tories no matter what the reason is.

Look how sharing a platform with the tories has affected those that have, LD's electoral oblivion in the 2015 election, Labour sharing a platform with the tories during Indyref, electoral oblivion in Scotland, so I would advise caution before opening that box.

hester Starmer suggested that as an exploratory option. But that is essentially fom. There's completely fom up to 3 months. This is essentially a tourist ticket, and it's take an almighty fool to crash the tourism industry. After 3 months there's no right to remain unless you can self support and/or have comprehensive medical insurance. We don't currently do anything to remove people who don't self support. The public idea of fom and what fom actually is are two separate things. The Starmer fudge is essentially tighten controls this end. With a nice human element on it that it's also worker's families as opposed to person to person currently.

Actually it's not even complete fom up to 3 months. There are restrictions on that regarding defined elements of criminality.

I guess they are all forgetting about our expats in the EU? What is sauce for the goose and all that.

I think Labour have to be very careful about sharing a platform with the tories

Labour, especially the current incarnation will not go near the tories, in a million years, if their families' lives depended on it, for all the tea in China etc. Never. Pob is having a larf.

@faisalislam
Jeremy Corbyn receiving rapturous applause from Opposition benches, as bemused Conservatives watch on as Commons returns:

@faisalislam

DUP have left through the backdoor of Downin Street without making a press statement

@faisalislam

Just ahead of No 10 DUP-Tory talks, @dupleader presents her new MPs
says "The future's bright".
"The future's orange" quips @ianpaisleymp

I can't find the tweet, but DUP could speed up SF moves for UI.

I don't think May has thought this through.......again.

I'm not sure if this article by Fintan O'Toole has already been linked to. It's a good read.

Britain: The End of a Fantasy

Out the tradesman's entrance? Maybe they were putting the bins out?

Comments like 'the future's Orange' won't piss anyone off will they.

uk.businessinsider.com/major-warns-may-her-dup-deal-will-risk-violence-in-northern-ireland-2017-6?r=UK&IR=T
John Major warns Theresa May her DUP deal risks violence in Northern Ireland

Thanks squoosh good article She’s a terrible actor mouthing a script in which there is no plot and no credible ending that is not an anti-climax
The reliance on a spurious notion of the “popular will” has left Britain with no clear notion of who “the people” are and what they really want

Thanks hashi.

The DUP could insist on Nigel Farage having a role in Brexit negotiations
metro.co.uk/2017/06/11/the-dup-could-insist-on-nigel-farage-having-a-role-in-brexit-negotiations-6701540/

I think this has been referred to previously in the thread?

They hold a few cards,’ a source told the Sunday Times. ‘They want Farage as a lord or a role in government or he and Arron will put something together that will cause trouble for May. ’

Read more: metro.co.uk/2017/06/11/the-dup-could-insist-on-nigel-farage-having-a-role-in-brexit-negotiations-6701540/#ixzz4jtKxlP3x

Yes I saw that...he us not an MP. His party has no MPs. As an MEP it is a conflict of interests. I have akready decided to complain to any terrestrial TV company if he is invited to speak and the Greens are not. Watching you BBC and C4

That is undemocratic.

DUP can kiss my arse

I know that TM is shameless in her desire to cling to power but surely involving Farage in negotiations would be a red line even for her?

I'm feeling a march a coming on

If there was one thing that could make the UK seem an even bigger laughing stock it would be bringing Farage to the negotiating table. Have the DUP not seen his the 'performances' in the European parliament? Nothing more than cringeworthy temper tantrums.