Westministenders: The Art of the Deal

[RedToothBrush]

Well Trump seems to have put his foot in it.

Not that this should come as a surprise. For all the talk of closer ties with the US that was never going to happen. All that was need was for Trump to over step once too many.

By chance (?) Barnier also raised questions about our commitment to working with the EU on security.

Its almost as if we are being asked to choose whom we look to for security.

Meanwhile it sounds like the divorce bill is sorted - though this may not be as settled as that, if it comes with conditions. The deal might also be backtracked on, seeing as that appears to be the done thing presently.

Talks on Ireland are stalemated with Ireland threating to veto. No sign of a breakthrough here yet.

Talks on EU citz rights are reportedly going backwards (again) rather than going forward.

All of this is theatre for a British audience though, with the UK agreeing to everything. Because they gave again their cards when a50 was triggered.

The crunch is coming on whether we move to stage two before Christmas. We have no time to lose.

Oh and Europol. We'd just like to cherry pick please, because we are special.

Disappointingly male, but there we are. Some thoughtful voices on remain on this list.
www.rise.global/the-insurgents-power-250/r/2553173

Not many Leavers interested in even bothering to engage with Martin Lewis and even a few Remainers prepared to admit to switching sides on a Remain biased twitter feed.

Not sure Remain should be lobbying for a rerun just yet.

Scottish council elections this week not showing much hope for LibDems. One swallow and all that.

Re LibDem council by-election results from yesterday. One hold, two wins where no previous LD candidate (Gosport from Lab natural protest choice in Con Westminster area, Torridge from UKIP again in Con Westminster area) and Maidstone win from Con in ultra-safe Con Westminster seat-which again looks like a bit of a protest choice.

Just putting the provocative counter analysis out there.

Come and have a referendum if you think you're hard enough then. Out of date opinion polls do not good policy make.

Place marking

Commenting on Martin's twitter poll from 29 Nov. How much more up to date do you need?

Do you think this bizarre defense of Damian Green is really a cry for help from Davis.? He just really, really wants an excuse to quit.

Think David Davis is being entirely consistent with his usual very strong defence of civil liberties. JRM on DP also full square behind Damian. Reasoning as follows: original search did not follow due process and was in effect politicisation of the police by Government (Labour) against the then Parliamentary opposition, any evidence so gathered inadmissible, accusers are all ex rather than current police. If memory serves they retired / were forced to resign because of original investigation and so may not be entirely impartial.

I would add from a legal perspective it looks to be highly unlikely that any of the dirt can be linked directly and unequivocally to DG in his work environment (assume he would already be long gone if it could).

For the record I am not a DG fan but the whole thing stinks.

woman more shocked by the ML poll that most people would cancel Christmas.

Do you think this bizarre defense of Damian Green is really a cry for help from Davis
Well, Misconduct in Public Office does carry a rather long sentence. bigly

Think David Davis is being entirely consistent with his usual very strong defence of civil liberties

Of all the many, many attacks on civil liberties going on in the conservative government this is the one thing he chooses to threaten to resign over. Yeah, OK.

www.thelocal.fr/20171201/the-local-podcast-brits-seeking-permanent-residency-in-france-told-come-back-after-brexit

Worried Brits in parts of France are seeing their attempts to secure their post-Brexit futures scuppered by French authorities. Listen to this week's edition of The Local podcast as Editor Ben McPartland discusses the issue.

Since Britain's shock vote to leave the EU in June 2016 many worried British citizens in France have been taking steps to secure their status in their adopted country.

While some have gone down the route of seeking French citizenship, others have applied for permanent residency permits, known as a carte de séjour, which can be obtained if you have lived in France for five years continuously.

Tune into this week's episode of The Local podcast to hear Editor Ben McPartland discuss the full story.

Reasoning as follows: original search did not follow due process

So ? The UK doesn't have a fruit of the poison tree doctrine.

Unlawfully/illegally obtained evidence is admissible in court.

Or is this another one-law-for-them instance ?

I'm kind of with how on this in that porn on a work computer is a HR matter, not a criminal offence. It's got bugger all to do with the police and the fact that ex-police members are raising it now is a bit odd IMO. Feels like a witch hunt.

Also, whose login was it on? i worked somewhere with pcs that you could log into without a password. Someone used said computer to look at illegal porn in the middle of the night. We were pretty certain it was a member of security but couldn't prove it.
Anyhoo, if there were people coming and going from his office and more than one person had access to the computer, it may not have been him. Obviously, it may have been, but that's for HR to sort out, not the gutter press.

I'm actually pretty on the fence about whether Green should get the sack without it being clear that it was him that downloaded the porn. I do think it is an odd thing for Davis to choose to fall on his sword over, however.

I'm also with agree with how in that I think there shouldn't be a second referendum, but only because the British public have already shown themselves to lack any level of critical thinking

Ask the people who have repeatedly voted in the most incompetent government I've seen in my life time what the future of our economy should be? Er no. Definitely not.

Oh, wait

@faisalislam
Wow. Tusk announces in Dublin that Irish Government gets formal veto over Brexit sufficient progress - he will consult with Varadkar to sign off any move to next phase

Sinn Fein: If Tories prioritise DUP over people, Ireland should use Brexit veto

www.theneweuropean.co.uk/top-stories/sinn-fein-brexit-veto-1-5304675

Telegraph is the only place so far that I've seen suggested that the state visit has been cancelled.

The Telegraph can be on the ball with news. Or drop hints for those with eyes to see and minds to question.

Well there was a time when the police used to quietly leak this info to the press, but that's somewhat fallen under a lot of scrutiny. Given that a party or government can't apparently sack an mp, then you could argue that this was pertinent information to be in the public domain.

Isn't it already downgraded from a state to a 'working' visit ie he sees Theresa M but not Lilibet and no royal banquet?

Isn't Lilibet the one he wants to see? Not TM.

I don't know; I'm asking what the visit is, because I think (but am not sure) I saw it had been rebranded a 'working' visit and I understood this to mean no royal contact. But I don't know and thought someone else might.

@bbcchrismorris
Friday evening burn from #Tusk: If UK offer is unacceptable for Ireland, it will also be unacceptable for the EU. I realise for some British politicians this may be hard to understand. But such is the logic behind the fact that Ireland is the EU member while the UK is leaving.

I'd love, in a completely macabre and not hoping it actually happens way, to see the fallout of trump trying to grab Brenda's pussy.