Westministenders: No Brexit is Better than a Bad Brexit

[RedToothBrush]

Happy Anniversary!!!

These Threads are officially 1 year old today.

I don't know who started the very first thread, but it was about how Cameron quitting had handed the Boris a poison chalice because he had to be the one to trigger a50 as Cameron walked away without having done it.

Of course Boris didn't become PM, and we found out that triggering a50 and Brexit were even more complex than even the majority of the most informed thought it would be.

A year on we have a minority government, a zombie prime minister, a government who don't really know what the concept of democracy, millions of EU citizens (who include British nationals) who face an uncertain future, the fear of the cliff edge, a huge scandal over inequality and Jeremy Corbyn appearing on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury within the hour.

Paul Brand‏*@PaulBrandITV*
Government says it can test up to 100 samples of cladding a day. But so far has done 34. That's 5% of all tower blocks at best. #Grenfell

They may have prioritise the buildings refurbished by the same contractor as Grenfell
Buildings without sprinkler systems
Or where councils let contractors self-certify

Oxford City is refurbishing tower blocks and they say that they have used rockwool insulation - which is some sort of volcanic rock like substance, and not combustible below 1000 degrees. So I imagine that they won't have sent their panels forward for testing.

15 years ago (pre dc) I worked on floor 4 out of 5 of one of the biggest teaching hospitals in the UK
We had a fire safety talk one day by tbe fire service and by coincidence it was by my bils dad.
Afterwards he took me to one side and made it clear if there was ever a fire i was to run. Fast.
He said he had sleepless nights worrying about a fire at where I worked.

I reckon they will concentrate on high rise for the moment, and then fan out.

If hospitals/nursing homes are involved it sends the shivers down though. From an evacuation perspective.

Try to build an extension or do any building work in your own house, guess what? Building control is around like a rash.

Sunday Times

Ministers want Spreadsheet Phil as Caretaker PM

I wonder if 'spreadsheet Phil' wants the job? If he does, goodbye hard Brexit.

The Independent

Nursing Crisis Threatens 'New Mids Staffs' Tragedy

The Observer

Ministers in U Turn Panic over fire safety in schools

Sunday Telegraph

Blackmail fears after MPs hit by cyber attack

Tomorrow is a cracking newspaper day for the Tories.

Hell even the Sunday Express has Corbyn on the front page, though they are bitching about him 'snubbing' armed forces day.

As a friend of mine pointed out "The government treat the ex-armed forces like shit but LOOOK THERE'S CORBYN ON STAGE AT GLASTONBURY ON ARMED FORCES DAY".

It never rains. It always pours.

Sky News‏*@SkyNews*
Justin Welby calls for cross-party talks on Brexit

Looks like everyone is at it.

Maybe DCLG isn't the department most affected by Beer and of course there is a department entirely dedicated to Brexit, but I was genuinely stunned to see an ad for a new role in DCLG as head of their new Brexit unit that is Grade 6 level. (In non-civil servant speak this is one level down from the Senior Civil Service, which is the point at which civil servants may have to appear in front of select committees, for example)

I'm shocked because IMHO it needs to be a more senior level to face off with the all powerful Brexit department, but also because it appears to have taken them a year to decide that such a team is necessary...

Beer = Brexit

Though obviously Beer is far preferable, I'm very in favour of beer

The Tories were going to cut down on school fire safety? Omg! They don't value anyone's lives except their own! First the poor, working class and now children? This is sick! What sort of country are we living in? We don't seem to be putting value on anyone's life. Corners cut in buildings, clear cases of cost cutting and fraud. Greed and money rules is now Britain's new national motto.

More on the Spreadsheet Phil for PM stuff. Apparently this is an alliance with David Davis. Phil for PM. Davis stays at Brexit. Remember the day after the General Election Davis said 'Single Market and In the Customs Union' before back tracking rapidly on that. Conversely Spreadsheet Phil has subsequently said outside the single market and customs union in interviews. Who knows where we are if (when) May goes.

This would be before October and only for a couple of years before they bring in a new younger leader. (This completely stuffs Boris Johnson). Think more Priti Patel / Ruth Davidson generation.

They are clearly very worried about the Corbyn effect if this is the case, and they are very worried about the implications of May's hard Brexit.

I see an EEA interim solution on the horizon.

I know that doesn't solve the immigrant issue that is fundamental to this exit. But in fairness, who would come to Britain now and live in a caravan ten to a bed to pick asparagus or whatever for a third (or whatever it is) less of the currency conversion they got before now.

Immigration into Britain will be for the high end, and they won't need to worry about currency issues. But it was ever thus.

Anyway, what do you think about a face saving EEA solution.

Did we forget to talk about Hinckley Point?

Oh well we have a report which says its not very good planning...

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/jun/23/spending-watchdog-condemns-risky-expensive-hinkley-point-c-nuclear?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
Spending watchdog condemns 'risky and expensive' Hinkley Point
Damning report says nuclear project is bad for UK consumers and governments failed to assess alternative finance models

The National Audit Office said the contract sealed by ministers last September with EDF to construct the country’s first new atomic reactors in two decades would provide “uncertain strategic and economic benefits”.

Further, Brexit and Theresa May’s decision to quit an EU nuclear treaty could make the situation even worse, by triggering taxpayer compensation for EDF or a more generous deal for the French state-controlled company.

The watchdog condemned the past two governments for failing to look at alternative ways of financing the power station, such as taking a stake in the construction.

Wrote this a year ago on Facebook...

John Major is starting to look like the best Prime Minister of the last 40 years. Not that I ever vote for the Conservatives but he seems to have done least damage.

1976 Callaghan: the Winter of Discontent, a stitched up devolution referendum and a vote of no confidence

1979 Thatcher: the Miners' Strike but was ultimately defeated and forced to resign by in-fighting in her own party over Europe

1990 Major: surprise win in 1992, only losing to Labour in 1997 when Labour sold its soul to become "New Labour" 😒

1997 Blair: illegal wars, boom and bust 😡

2007 Brown: co-responsible for the above illegal wars and boom & bust 😡

2010-2016 Cameron: Ultimately forced to resign because of trying to appease the different factions within his own party over Europe and an unfounded fear of UKIP. May also be found responsible through his actions for the ultimate break-up of the UK "on his watch".

Would now need to add

May the Maybot 2016 - ? Believes that we can have our cake and eat it despite all evidence to the contrary. Squandered a majority in an arrogant desire to crush the opposition and to take the UK off a cliff because "No deal is better than a bad deal". Thinks that the Empire still exists and the Commonwealth will come riding to our rescue (on unicorns). Only staying PM because no one else wants the poisoned chalice and the men in grey suits will let her take all the blame.

The Tories were going to cut down on school fire safety?

Er they ALREADY watered down the advice that said that schools should have sprinklers to saying they should only advise that new schools should have them in.

I said the same thing re major to my ds last week!!

Why is it when you want a nurse they are not around cos they busy and when you don't want one they come in pairs to poke and prod you with instruments of torture! Nite all peace and love -still waiting for a smoked salmon sandwich!

The Tories were going to cut down on school fire safety?

Yes, they were, and are now hastily backtracking. Personally, I am not wholly disappointed with the way things have gone (obviously upset about the loss of life): May didn't get the mandate she required from her unnecessary and costly election, but has had to form a Government, so it means that the chickens are coming home to roost for the Tories. Imagine how it would have been if Labour had won, and had to clean up the mess?

1979 Thatcher: the Miners' Strike but was ultimately defeated and forced to resign by in-fighting in her own party over Europe

I would disagree with this. It was predominantly the Poll Tax which did for her, and also IMO set the course for the rise of the SNP.

Major was a good prime minister in the sense that he was boring as hell and to all intents and purposes more of an accountant than a ideologist. He also managed a minority government.

Can't think why many Tories are looking towards Spreadsheet Phil as their next leader.