Westministenders: Happy Xmas (War is Over) - if only

[RedToothBrush]

When is lying not lying. When you can get enough of your mates to agree it is not lying.

And so we have David Davis, who has made two statements to parliament which deliberately contradict each other and must constitute some sort of lie to parliament at some point however you cut it.

Will the Speaker risk the wrath of his party to uphold democratic values? We watch carefully.

Davis also reveals and exposes May too though. May one way or another is complicit in Davis’s lie, either through not doing her job in reading the reports or by protecting Davis when she knew the reports did not exist. This is gross misconduct in her inability to ensure her staff do their bloody jobs. All so she can keep her own job.

This is where whistleblowers in other institutions pop up.

It has also become apparent that May has not had THE conversation with the Cabinet over what shape Brexit should take. After 18months.
Why not? Is she incapable of consensus building or is she just incompetent?

And then we have the DUP seemingly not being properly being involved in the wording of the all important document.

Vote Leave’s Oliver Norgrove is perfectly right in saying that Hard Brexit is all but dead. Don’t let that make you feel happier. Hard Brexiteers know that there only option now, is No Deal and that’s what they will try and pursue.

There is no deal until everything is settled. Right now, nothing is settled, not even what the UK want out of Brexit, never mind the EU position.

May might well have blown the only opportunity for a deal too, because of her failure over NI and the DUP. Where does she go from here? The idea that she will stand up to anyone, is ludicrous given her track record.

We might all wish we could John Lennon's song was apt when it comes to this Christmas and Brexit, it seems the war for our future post Brexit, it seems it is only just starting.

Apparently one of my DBs US colleagues made an interesting observation on the powers being accumulated by the government:

Of course they'd also make it much easier to roll back and cancel Brexit, when the time comes, as they can ram stuff through without opposition

Talking to my dad last night as I was taking him to the airport: he was saying how he no longer liked Krishnan Guru-Murthy on C4 News for being overly sycophantic to our lying politicians. And don't even get him started on the BBC EBC (we already considered it to be the "English" Broadcasting Corporation, not just because of Indyref and the lying Nick Robinson but because of the way things are news if they happen in England especially the South East of England or involve English sports teams) which has now morphed into the Establishment Broadcasting Company.

He agreed that Faisal Islam is about the only political editor who is doing a decent job.

He's an almost 81 year old who believes strongly in the EU (not that he didn't think it had its flaws). But there again, he also believes in Scottish Independence . I'm relying on him having his aunt's constitution and living to 101 so that he can see it in his lifetime He saw apartheid overthrown, without a bloodbath, which he never thought would happen, so anything is possible!

The EU isn't perfect
No remainer ever said it was did they?
But the alternative?....

Indeed mrsreynolds - but let's through the baby out with the bath water To continue badly the metaphor, let's instead jump naked into a freezing ocean of free trade and assume that we'll learn to swim in time to reach land

By the same token, the NHS is not perfect - but still better and more efficient but no opportunity for profit than the alternative of US style private healthcare.

Compare and contrast.

Damian Green may be cleared of wrongdoing 'because he was not minister at the time'
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/12/12/damian-green-may-cleared-wrongdoing-not-minister-time/

Brighton's elderly may look at 'inappropriate material' if given free WiFi
www.carehome.co.uk/news/article.cfm/id/1590195/brighton-council-elderly-inappropriate-wifi

I told my son yesterday - It's a good time to be a white middle class male that's for sure
Even better if you're a UK MP or US senator...because it's clear they are untouchable no matter what they do or to whom
😡😡😡😡

Sure is MrsR lucky we spotted it just in time.
Beverley Nelson and Alabama Dem organisers

Alberto Nardelli‏Verified account
@AlbertoNardelli

Wording in EU27 draft guidelines have been tightened:

1. paragraph on transition now makes specific reference to ECJ: 'All existing Union regulatory, budgetary, supervisory, judiciary & enforcement instruments & structures will also apply, including the competence of the ECJ'
2. The same section also now says that the UK "will have to continue to comply with EU trade policy" during the transition
3. the draft guidelines will also spell out that negotiations on "the framework for the future relationship" can begin once additional guidelines adopted – in March 2018
4. This was already clear, but to clarify any confusion, draft guidelines are crystal clear that future partnership framework is a political declaration accompanying and referred to in the Withdrawal Agreement (i.e. future partnership deal – on trade, defence etc comes later) Last point important because it makes clear (for those who questioned this) that not only what has been agreed so far has to be firmed up legally before there can be proper progress on transition, but withdrawal agreement will be binding before detailed trade negotiations begin TL;DR despite tighter language, substance of the guidelines is unchanged – and a key underlying point remains: UK has to spell out what it wants soon if future partnership talks are to go anywhere

David Allen Green‏
@davidallengreen

Significant.

Means Common Commercial Policy.

Means no UK trade deals with third countries for entire transition period.

Means Brexit in name only.

Means a waste of time and energy, on any sensible view.

Radio 5 had 30 Leavers in a round-table format, talking about why they voted Leave & their satisfaction with results so far. What astonished me was how much they insisted that it would all come good, eventually... but maybe not for 20, 30, 50, or 100 years. Seriously, that was the time frame most of them looked to.

They were also overwhelmingly satisfied with progress so far, and were incredibly diverse in background.

Radio 5 is now the official shouty white man brexiter station of choice. Utterly pointless station, with tumbling listening figures.

Means a waste of time and energy, on any sensible view
Weimar proponents were liable for reparation costs. Same would seem fair in this case.

The EU isn't perfect No remainer ever said it was did they?

But the Leaver narrative is that we're all dewey-eyed Stepford wives in thrall to it.

The real narrative is that rather than put the effort to into making the EU work for the UK (if indeed it wasn't) the lazy Leavers would rather cut and run like the yellow bellied snowflakes they are.

For some reason, they don't like that portrayal ?

Aviation; the EU Commission spelling it out for the UK govt < Phonics & picture books next ? >

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-britain-eu-aviation/eu-sends-stark-warning-to-airlines-on-post-brexit-flying-idUSKBN1E62CC

In a notice to all airlines, the European Commission said
UK air carriers would no longer enjoy traffic rights under any air transport agreement to which the EU is a party,
meaning they would no longer have the right to fly to the EU and between its member states.

They would also lose flying rights under agreements between the EU and third countries, such as the U.S.-EU Open Skies agreement.
…
Brussels has ruled out a separate deal just for aviation
on the grounds that it would be tantamount to cherry-picking.
…
The British Airline Pilots’ Association (BALPA) said the Commission’s note was cause for great concern.

”Here it is in black and white from the EU Commission – UK flights to the EU will be grounded in March 2019 should no agreement be reached,“
said Brian Strutton, general secretary of BALPA.
”We need the UK Government to sort air traffic rights now.
Once again, no deal is not an option.”

< except DD & Bojo think it is and Moggy, Banks & co want to loot >

The EU has been soooo patient with the uk imo
We have always had preferential treatment

Fun Wednesday chat with that nice Mr Wigmore.

J.J. Patrick‏ @J_amesp
So what is Leave.EUs interest in Alabama?

The real narrative is that rather than put the effort to into making the EU work for the UK (if indeed it wasn't) the lazy Leavers would rather cut and run like the yellow bellied snowflakes they are.

And yet, slavishly doing what the Americans want is fine, despite having zero say.

Yesterday there were TWO Tory Rebels on the Single Market amendment that Labour's front bench abstained on.

Ken Clarke naturally.

And Soubry. She actually rebelled.

Nick Gutteridge‏ @nick_gutteridge
Verhofstadt: 'I spoke to DD yesterday and he assured me that it’s absolutely not his intention not the intention of the UK Govt to backtrack on their commitments and I take note of that.'

Guy Verhofstadt‏ @guyverhofstadt
Nobody seems to trust the Home Office anymore - too many bad things have happened to EU citizens living in the UK. #Brexit is not their fault, so why do they have to pay for the consequences of it?

Laura Kuenssberg‏ @bbclaurak
While #pmqs going on, European Parliament votes that sufficient progress has been made in brexit talks to move on but also backs amendment to slap David Davis on the wrist

These are some comments from the EP:

Nick Gutteridge‏ @nick_gutteridge
Estonian minister Matti Maasikas, representing the Council, says: 'Now I believe that we are there. The UK’s new improved offer looks like a solid agreement. This is a significant move from the UK which I expect the EU27 leaders to welcome.'

But he cautions: 'This does not mean that we have finished with phase one issues. There’s still a lot to do and any further progress in the next phase depends on full respect of the agreements described in the joint report of the negotiators.'

Glum faces in Brit corner as Barnier praises the Brexit deal reached last week. Farage looking particularly sullen.

Barnier: 'We’ve managed to guarantee the stability of our continent, because we are living through uncertain times and this means that our union together with the UK has to be able to come up with rational solutions.

Barnier: 'It's never been in our minds to proceed to mutual concessions. We’ve never wanted any concessions on rights of our citizens or on peace process in Ireland nor did we want to make concessions when it came to very many projects financed through European budget.'

Barnier to Davis: 'There is no going back on this sufficient progress. The progress is going to have to be translated into a legally binding withdrawal agreement. These obviously are prerequisites and conditions for continuing with the negotiations in a smooth fashion.'

EPP chief Manfred Weber cites an opinion poll showing half of Brits want a second referendum. 'The British people realise now that Brexit means losing many things but not gaining anything', he taunts. 'Absolute rubbish', cry Ukip MEPs.

Weber says the decision UK cities can't become European capital of culture is 'A very easy message that you can understand that the Brits will lose a lot. The EU member states understand that sticking together makes all of us much more stronger.'

Socialist leader Gianni Pittella: 'Now I address the UK Government. That’s enough with these statements like the ones made by David Davis. PM May needs to explain to the people in her governing coalition

Farage on May: 'As an observation of an exercise of power it's fascinating. Whether you like or dislike the EU you cant deny the power it has got. You managed to make a British PM leave Downing St in middle of night and fly to Brussels. It’s a form of ritual humiliation.'

It's not on topic, but the responses to this made me smile: twitter.com/MooseAllain/status/940548069149507585

I'm afraid I've lost touch with the Trump thread as it moved way too fast for me.

I'm starting (not for the first time!) to think that I must be a bit thick, as I don't understand the following:

The UK has agreed with the EU that there should be "regulatory alignment" between Northern Ireland (part of the UK) and the Republic of Ireland. I take this to mean that NI will continue to abide by EU regulations governing the Customs Union and Single Market, in order to prevent the need for a hard border and to preserve the Good Friday Agreement.

The DUP has demanded (and the government has apparently agreed) that Northern Ireland should not be treated differently to the rest of the UK.

This logically means that "regulatory alignment" will continue to apply to the whole UK.

So why are people still saying we'll be out of the CU and SM after Brexit? This is why I'm feeling a bit stupid, as I don't understand how both can be correct. Can anyone help, as I seem to be missing something here.

Nobody seems to trust the Home Office anymore
No matter what parliament 'decides' today, the real decisions are being assisted elsewhere.
And as Green points out in this thread, forcing us to examine in minute detail the actuality of our parliamentary process.
Thank EU. And thanks brexit!

@davidallengreen
Tired of being negative about Brexit, I set myself the task this morning of finding something positive to say.
I found two.
You may not think they are much, but I think they are significant

Laura Kuenssberg‏ @bbclaurak
1. Govt still seems to be confident in the end the rebels will back down... a big miscalculation if they try to tough it out and later turn out to be wrong
2. We know of at least 8 tory rebels who, at this stage, determined to vote against govt, but a lot could change, and potentially v quickly, as the day progresses
3. Hearing PMs chief of staff plans to see some of them this afternoon, but position of labour Brexiteers will also matter to the final arithmetic
4. Last word til later, govt has genuine fear of giving Parliament right to provoke a crisis when Brexit deal is finally agreed - can rebels answer what happens if they voted it down?

Two words for you about how Henry VIII powers will get pushed through

Kate Hoey.

It's never been in our minds to proceed to mutual concessions. We’ve never wanted any concessions on rights of our citizens or on peace process in Ireland nor did we want to make concessions when it came to very many projects financed through European budget.'
Could Barnier have been even clearer that the EU is NOT going the uk to cherry pick, Nor is it going to accept concessions that they deem against the EU???
Is there really still some Leavers around that think they will be able to cherry pick?

I'm not a betting person, but if I were I would bet a tenner that only one or possibly two Tories will rebel.

Im not hopeful

Why the dickens aren't Lammy and Umunna on the front bench?
Matthew Pennycock for labour is no public speaker.

woman can I have a shot at an answer to your question?

They aren't Momentum-y enough?