Westminstenders: The beginning of the dictatorship and the end of Boris?

[RedToothBrush]

Brexit is being fought in the UK media and parliament on the premise that the EU is being difficult and obstructive.

The fallacy can not be understated.

What the UK fails to understand is the right of the EU to put their own interests before the UKs. It doesn't under that our demands cannot be met even if the EU wanted to for practical and legal reasons - not political ones because our understanding of the situation and law is so poor.

The net result is the slippage of the next phase of Brexit talks being pushed to Christmas by the EU due to lack of progress by the UK. Barnier is open to more regular and intense talks but this is bad news for the UK with the a50 clock ticking.

The main stumbling block is NI a with Barnier warning not to use the border as a way to test EU resolve. Brexit always about the NI border. The UK have never provided a solution to the EU that does not produce a hard border. The idea being pushed by the UK will create one despite claiming it won't. The reality is the only viable solutions are either staying in the single market and customs union or NI being granted special status and being different to the rest of the country. The former is opposed by the government, the later opposed by the DUP.

The DUP are getting a taste of their own medicine. They have been warned that Assembly Members might have pay frozen and if they don't reform Stormont they won't get their Billion Pound Booty. Plus Ian Paisley Jr just found a new scandal for the party.

May is trying to channel Venezuela by getting rid of democracy when it suits. The Great Repel Bill (aka as the Withdrawal Bill) faces it's challenge. The much feared Henry VIII in clause 9 are not only facing criticism from Remainers but also from the secretive crackpots of Tory Bastard Club (aka ERG). The TBC want hard cliff edge Brexit. May seems to support given her goodwill burning interference at the Home Office which seeks to discriminate against all foreigners and make them sign a register. The visa system and how it will attract much needed staff for the NHS makes the mind boggle.

The Repel Bill also could end the possibility of transition due to clause 6 which requires us to leave the ECJ. Given the May's ambition to make EU citizens display their stars in job applications this is totally unable to the EU. If it passes the chances of transition drop dramatically. Bye bye Smooth and Orderly.

Then there is the May-Bot paradox: the one were she gives a friendly speech to the EU and a nasty on to the Swivel Eyed Loon gathering. As if neither will be reported to the other audience.

On top of this May is attempting the Parliament Rigging Act as she has a 'majority Government'. Yep I know, this is the general election version of 'will of the people'. The Rigging Act seeks to stack parliamentary committees with Tory majorities so they can stop any bill they don't like getting anywhere need the main chamber this limiting the power of opposition to irrelevant. Sadly I think this one will get through due to maths of the HoC atm.

We shouldn't forget the role of the HoL though and the lack of a majority government (why do you think May is saying majority government? It's down to the Sewell convention and trying to make the case it applies when the argument is it doesn't for a minority government).

The other development is the rumours that Boris is for the boot. And Rees-Mogg might get a promotion.

With the usual caveat about TAATs, has anyone else been horrified/fascinated/uplifted reading the various and diverse threads that have popped up on Mumsnet about school uniform policy ?

The number of people who just uncritically parrot "it's the rules" is terrifying.

(I may be overly depressed ... we watched the last part of "The Handmaids Tale" last night, and it was a little to easy to see there from here ...)

At the moment many Britons are quick to insist they would never do anything the Nazis would do... because they're not German

Yes, exactly this. It's genuinely creepy - we can do no wrong, however wrong things seem, because we're Not Foreign.

Yes, exactly this. It's genuinely creepy - we can do no wrong, however wrong things seem, because we're Not Foreign.

Which is precisely why, of course, having a knowledge of our real history is painted as unpatriotic.

At the moment many Britons are quick to insist they would never do anything the Nazis would do.

Yes, indeed, because although children learn about Nazism and the War in school, it's through the prism of We won the War, so they 'borrow' the moral high ground. We could and we would, if we thought we would get away with it. Not all of us obviously - there will always be some ready to protest. Too many will just drift along with it.

I agree, prettybird and Peregrina. At the moment many Britons are quick to insist they would never do anything the Nazis would do... because they're not German, not because they wouldn't happily bypass their own democracy in order to get rid of the immigrants they've decided to blame for austerity.

My DF was born under Mussolini, and expected to wear the blackshirt. However Sicily was not Italy, and fascism never really caught on for various reasons . So I grew up with tales of how fascism spreads. And the constant theme was my DF insisting over and over that there was nothing special about being British, and if the British insisted on seeing the world through their arses (sounds better in dialect) then they wouldn't see the sun.

Has anyone heard how the Mayor of Palermo has taken the EU to task over migration - but not how you think ?

www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2017/apr/18/he-fought-the-mafia-and-won-now-this-mayor-is-taking-on-europe-over-migrants

As an aside, Sicily has always had a soft spot for Britain - Nelsons quite a big deal. And as a further aside, Sicily could teach the "U"K a thing or two about integration and multiculturalism - Roger II in particular.

Btw, I'm being a uniform rebel with my dc. They've implemented some changes to uniform policy including newer own brand items, but haven't bought enough of them for us to purchase. So they're both going in close to, but not actual, uniform - in most cases last year's branded stuff. They've argued they have alternatives, but I refuse to fork out for them (like pe tops can be worn instead of polo shirts, etc) only to have to buy proper stuff when it comes in.

Thankfully I'm not alone in that!

I think many people think that the Government do exactly what they want anyway. They don't understand how Parliament works (it's not taught in school, other than the bare bones of the electoral process at Election time). So any sort of "Enabling Act" will just pass them by. The usual reaction to almost anything is "just get on with it".
The problem with welcoming people pushing against school uniform policy and other petty rules is that that stuff is just a distraction, even in school. Be a rebel by not doing up your tie properly, and you won't rebel about important things, such as not being taught how our political system works and real preparation for life (how banks work, what employers really want, what tax is, how raised and used etc.)

Beth Rigby @ BethRigby
Told Tory amendments to bill already filed with backing of 12 Tory MPs. More might join. Big concessions on Henry VIII powers surely on way

news.sky.com/story/amp/brexit-bill-scrapes-through-first-vote-as-tories-threaten-rebellion-11031464
Brexit bill passes through first vote - but Tories threaten rebellion

The PM gets her way but senior Tories warn the bill goes beyond what is "acceptable or necessary" and say changes must be made

The PM gets her way but senior Tories warn the bill goes beyond what is "acceptable or necessary" and say changes must be made

So wtf pass it in the first place ???

Or is this a signal to the HoL that if the amendments are not made, the HoL would be justified in voting against ?

Bunch of mimsy bastard quisling fucks

Badders

I daren't post on the uniform threads. I'd sound very sanctimonious pointing out that ds' (and most many state schools in Scotland) school understand the need for inclusion and that cheaper options are perfectly acceptable. The only "compulsory" bit is the tie (£3); the rest is just black or dark navy and white.

Seems like Ken Clarke didn't vote in the main part of the bill last night.

Keir Starmer talks about the power grab in this short clip. Says he's 'not having it'.
Something about him I like.

m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1921194784816643&id=1586251881644270

Oh, uniform! Don't get me started on the logo PE top at £27 😡😒
Ds1 is doing PE GCSE so I relented this year
But I begrudge every sodding penny

At the moment many Britons are quick to insist they would never do anything the Nazis would do... because they're not German, not because they wouldn't happily bypass their own democracy in order to get rid of the immigrants they've decided to blame for austerity.

Yes, my grandparents lived under the Nazis, the echoes of the past are so chilling

rtb made mention of this before and asked why it wasn't being discussed
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/uk-412345399*
TBH, i don't really know what to say. I'm not that surprised, but that's not a view you're meant to hold.

Yes, indeed, because although children learn about Nazism and the War in school

Badly ....

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/sep/12/college-cleaners-outsourcing-soas?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Tweet
College cleaners defeated outsourcing. They’ve shown it can be done

They swept up after Soas’s lectures on exploitation, but got no sick pay. Then one worker decided she had to act

Little people can defeat the system. Its hard and difficult but it can be done. Its just finding people hard nosed and stubborn enough to not back down when something is fundamentally wrong.

Persistence pays off.

Inspiring story.

So the Bill has gone through. With people saying it asks for too much over and there is a need to talk about the Henry VIII powers.
Why voting for it then?
These people are votingnhoping that someone else is going to do th dirty job for them. What if no one does?
They are just irresponsible.

The fact the bill is still subject to parliamentary process is intriguing ...

The old saying about more than one way to skin a cat seems to be in play here ?

I am quite shocked to see Dennis Skinner voting with the Tories. I don't agree with his politics but believed him to be a man of integrity, and unlike Kate Hoey, one who does do his homework on what he's voting for. Does he really want May to have the power to cancel General Elections if she feels like it? An abstention would have been better for him.