Westministenders: A week in politics is a long time....

[RedToothBrush]

Lost track of politics in the last week or so?

Someone asked how do I keep on top of this? I’ve struggled this week there is so much going on.

Brexit seems to be on a bit of a back burner and we have become utterly swamped in mud and sleaze and corruption allegations

So here is a summary of the last week:

1. Government defeated over the impact reports due to an ancient parliamentary protocol. They must release papers to the public though this is likely to be heavily redacted.
2. Currently we are holding talks about talks with the EU. Instead of speeding up talks. They are annoyed at us for this.
3. Baroness Anelay, the minister responsible for getting the Repel Bill through the Lords, quit citing an injury caused by jumping out of a helicopter several years ago. She was the second person to quit this role. Lord Bridges quit saying it was impossible task.
4. Michael Gove has joined the Brexit Cabinet, which now has a majority of Leavers.
5. There is currently no one employed at the Brexit department for strategic planning.
6. Brexit Bill likely to face even more opposition in the face of Williamson’s self promotion. More Remainers who have been loyal to May talking of joining the Rebel Forces.
7. The has been a threat to rig the Lords to pass the Repel Bill according to Lord Adonis
8. Clegg, Adonis and Clarke went to see Barnier. Farage got jealous.
9. Talks for Stormont broke down. No direct rule but not home rule. Who is ruling is a mystery, but the same can be said in England at present. DUP are not getting their dosh.
10. FTA may not be possible on lines UK want as it would be better than Canada and South Korea and that’s not legally allowed. The real problem for the UK is services.
11. EHCR related issues – prisoner voting rights and letter to Romanian which brings into question whether the EHCR is deliberately being flouted.
12. Clause in the data protection bill which allows it to be ignored ‘cos immigration’.
13. The Electoral Commission are being sued for allowing over spending by Vote Leave
14. Arron Banks is being investigated by the Electoral Commission over how he donated to political causes
15. UKIP whistleblowers reported donations they thought were odd and not declared but only just has come to light
16. Arron Banks is winding up a charity under investigation by the Charities Commission
17. Arron Banks paid for Kate Hoey to go to Washington DC.
18. Lord Ashcroft apparently exposed by the Bermuda hack, like Robert Mercer
19. Steve Baker reported for taking money from the mysterious donor to the DUP
20. Priti Patel breaks ministerial code with an undisclosed trip to Israel with lobbyist. May says she has done nothing wrong, despite it being clear breech of the rules.
21. Michael Fallon quit over multiple incidents
22. Damien Green embroiled in accusation over Kate Maltby. Also having a fight with former counter terrorism copper who he has history with over ‘extreme porn’ found on his computer during a raid. Copper previously said he had been set up in the paper but dropped the accusation. Green is denying everything
23. Charlie Elphicke has had the whip removed and case has been referred to police. Says he has done nothing wrong and isn’t even aware of what he has been accused of.
24. Steven Crabb under investigation for sexting. Has apologised.
25. Michael Garnier under investigation for dildo buying. Has apologised
26. Daniel Kawcyznski allegedly tried to set up dates with aides and wealthy friends
27. Dan Poulter reported by fellow tory MP Andrew Bridgen for allegedly putting hands up skirts. Whips told in 2010.
28. Chris Pincher alleged pound shop Weinstein who attempted to untuck the shirt of former Olympic rower and tory activist Alex Story.
29. Gavin Barwell former whip and May’s special adviser. Broke special advisor code by tweeting politically controversial things. Is accused of being complicit in hiding the bodies and not taking action.
30. Gavin Williamson gave himself a promotion and pissed everyone off. As former whip knows all the dirt but is vulnerable as a result of that, as he didn’t report or discipline offenders.
31. ‘The Lift Lunger’ – as yet unnamed Tory MP said to have ‘attacked’ Labour MP in taxi. Date rape drugs possibly involved.
32. Boris Johnson, Alok Sharma and Tobias Ellwood all named as having contact with the mysterious Maltese professor named in the Papadopoulos indictment.
33. Farage makes anti-Semitic remarks on LBC. That’s Farage, a person of interest to the FBI.
34. Three indictments in USA for Trump Russia. Which implicate a whole load of people by association.
35. Some stuff is going on in Saudi Arabia which should have half an eye kept on it.
36. Jared O’Mara, Clive Lewis, Ivan Lewis and Kelvin Hopkins on the Labour Shit List. Also a rape allegation against a Labour activist which was shut down by a senior Labour figure

This week the Repel Bill and the Budget. Plus no doubt, lots more scandal.

I know what you mean, Peregrina .

I'm trying so hard not to feel that way. All these Leave areas (geographical and economic) asking to be lifted-out of sharing the consequences of what they've voted for - which inevitably means that the cost then falls disproportionately on others (eg. money spent in subsidising x area, eg. cars, fish, means money not spent on Y area, eg. education, health).

Discussing funding for the Israeli army?

How can that be spun as not sackable? In any universe?

I actually can't believe the mess we're in.

Patel sacking could be pretty convenient in some ways for May. It does tick a lot of boxes with demographics she needs.

Meanwhile others are doing what they do in plain sight.

Absolutely peregrina
Absolutely

I think we can honestly say if Liam Fox defends you, you've done somethign sack worthy.

I'd feel more optimistic if the message was we've changed our mind, now think we should all remain. But it's not, it's fuck the rest of the country but not us.

Since a lot of the Leave campaign was "We're going to leave but nothing will change", it's not that surprising that voters/industries that bought into this message still want to Brexit but don't want it to affect them. The whole idiocy of their position still makes my brain melt.

@RosamundUrwin
If, somehow, Priti Patel doesn't go, a reminder that Emily Thornberry had to resign from the shadow cabinet in 2014 after tweeting a picture of a house.

She's on hercwsy hi.e from her Africa trip
Come on Teresa
Show some bloody backbone and sack Patel and Johnson

I certainly would not mind costs being shared around the country more fairly if it was investment in health, education, transport, and housing. It's just that I am fed up with prominent Leavers wanting special deals when it suits them, instead of saying that this is what they voted for and telling us how they plan to make it work.

2014 seems such a long time ago, when Gideon did the same;

The affair highlights fracture lines in domestic British politics. In December 2014, then-Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne was on a private vacation in Israel for Christmas when he took the opportunity to meet Netanyahu in Jerusalem
.
That visit passed without incident. The meeting was coordinated and in the presence of then-British ambassador and former Osborne school friend Matthew Gould

read more: www.haaretz.com/world-news/europe/1.821379
www.haaretz.com/world-news/europe/1.821379

Is a meeting with the Ambassador present the same as Priti Patel's meetings which were kept secret and have only come out now.

It's sounding like Priti Patel is in fact an Israeli state asset embedded within our Government.

Peregrina I see, thanks. Do you think that civil servants now are powerless to advise people like Patel and Johnson in these situations?

Laura Kuenssberg @ bbclaurak
Confirmed Patel en route back having been ordered home by the PM

Potted!

(Surely?)

LouiseJohnson @ charlotdearling
Just heard Bernard Jenkin blaming civil servants for Patel’s duplicity. Expect more of that as Brexit unravels

Robin Kellett @ robinkellett
He also called her "inexperienced" twice. Threw her under the bus. Brexiters clearly despise each other as well as the rest of the country.

Xpres1self @ xpres1self
Longest ever walk of shame?

How on earth do you spin Patel's actions as Civil Service incompetence?

That's a stunning level of equivocation. Jenkins clearly has super-powers in that area if he can do that. He'd better watch out for zebra crossings (black is white, etc.).

Seb Dance Mep @ sebdance
Nadhim Zahawi MP just blamed “Labour remoaners” for Priti Patel’s misconduct and misleading public about it. Tories have lost the plot.

I think Jenkins is second rate compared to Zahawi

Laughed out loud when I heard this on the radio this morning.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-41908302

"Mr Stevens will tell delegates gathered in Birmingham: "The NHS wasn't on the ballot paper, but it was on the Battle Bus. Vote Leave for a better funded health service - £350m a week.
"Rather than our criticising these clear Brexit funding commitments to NHS patients - promises entered into by cabinet ministers and by MPs - the public want to see them honoured.
"Trust in democratic politics will not be strengthened if anyone now tries to argue: 'You voted Brexit, partly for a better funded health service. But precisely because of Brexit, you now can't have one.'
"A modern NHS is itself part of the practical answer to the deep social concerns that gave rise to Brexit.
"At a time of national division, an NHS that brings us together. An institution that tops the list of what people say makes them proudest to be British. Ahead of the Army, the monarchy or the BBC. Unifying young and old,

Here's another one

Quentin Letts @ thequentinletts
If Patel erred with freelance diplomacy, what about Privy Counsellors Clarke, Clegg and Adonis who travelled to Brussels?

Well...

Since a lot of the Leave campaign was "We're going to leave but nothing will change" ( lalalonglegs )

Worse, they claimed that things would get better - a veritable land of milk and honey and ever lasting cake

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5060343/amp/Priti-Patel-s-overwhelming-ambition-crush-her.html
Overwhelming ambition that may crush her: ANDREW PIERCE on how Priti Patel's desire to succeed Theresa May could scupper her dream of reaching Downing Street

Daily Fail

Quentin Letts there, demonstrating he either has no grasp of the basic levels of moral and professional conduct required for a high state office or that he is prepared to drag those levels down to the mud in order to cling on to the truck of power.

Um, Clarke, Clegg and Adonis aren't in government.

Interesting to discover that Priti Patel is even more ghastly than I had previously suspected. Hoping very much that this will be the end of her political career.