Westminstenders: Stuck in the twilightzone

[RedToothBrush]

Just want to remind everyone if what really matters and what the priority if Theresa May is.

May isn't interested in a new referendum. There is barely time to hold one, and anyone remotely interested in one, isn't named Theresa May. Forget it. Its not happening.

Nor are Brexit talks the most important thing. Whilst Jeremy Corbyn seems finally to be playing with some sort if EEA type solution he's not the one named Theresa May. If she doesn't want one, then it won't happen.

May does seem to favour something along these lines but she has to sell it to her party. If she ends up relying on the support of Labour to push it through against what her party want, then that doesn't end well for her or her party. So Corbyn seeming to squeeze her here isn't necessarily a good thing. It could push her to no deal.

Why?

Cos petty party politics.

THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT THING, and don't forget this, is the EU withdrawal Bill. As it stands, May has to concentrate her efforts on this. If it doesn't pass by the art 50 deadline then we have legal chaos. May isn't big on the courts, but I'm not sure she would want that situation either. It would be even more unthinkable than queues at Dover coupled with food shortages.

If it doesn't pass, and the Lords will do all they can to delay and obstruct as long as they can, May's only option is to beg for an art 50 extension. Which the EU might not be inclined to give. Which might leave us in a situation where our only option is to revoke a50.

The only predictable thing, is this will be last minute brinkmanship.

All the talk of a second ref is a distraction. Talk of Labour's position at this point, is all about positioning for the next election and not about Brexit at all.

So try to keep your eyes on what really matters and what battles are May's big ones and which are merely side shows.

I wonder who Side Show Bob will turn out to be.

[RedToothBrush]

Anyone new thread:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/eu_referendum_2016_/3153945-Westministenders-KAAAAABBBOOOOOOOOMMMMM?watched=1

[RedToothBrush]

Well, here we've no hero around, just all the villains fighting on the roof, so I wish they'd all fall off.

That's the script to the Christmas episode of EastEnders. You wanted Max, Abbie and Lauren to all fall off the roof.

Unfortunately, it really is like British politics, Abbie Branning is still alive a month later despite being declared braindead after failing off the roof.

[Peregrina]

I'm fond memories of the 1970s action films where the hero would grapple with several villains on the roof of a speeding train as it shoots around hairpin bends …

I remember the man running along the top of the train, but that was because the Lady loved Milk Tray. Pity no one is going to come and give us a metaphorical Milk Tray or other favoured treat.

[BigChocFrenzy]

I'm fond memories of the 1970s action films where the hero would grapple with several villains on the roof of a speeding train as it shoots around hairpin bends …

Well, here we've no hero around, just all the villains fighting on the roof, so I wish they'd all fall off.

But is there anyone left in the driver's seat, keeping the train on the tracks ?

[BigChocFrenzy]

The A50 clock is going tick tock …

Two years before Brexit, the Tories call a GE
One year before Brexit, would they call a party leadership battle ?

Could they be such irresponsible time-wasters ?
With Boris, Moggy, DD, Patel, ERM … The Irresponsibles R Us

[Peregrina]

"It would have been a huge success if it hadn't been for the BBC, Remoaners, the New York Times, Hammond, the Supreme Court, Juncker, Barnier, WhatsApp, Buzzfeed, the government's own EU Exit Analysis—Cross Whitehall Briefing ..."

Oh dear, oh dear, they are all out of step except our Willy.

Ah a Tory bloodletting, what sport.

[RedToothBrush]

Slightly off topic: Yay for the Irish Referendum!

If Ireland do repeal the 8th, where does that leave NI and its stupid, EHCR breaching position on abortion? And how does that sit with the DUP?

[woman11017]

I don't put it past them, in a last ditch gamble to win a mandate
Arron Banks.

[RedToothBrush]

www.thesun.co.uk/news/5454428/tory-mps-warn-theresa-may-that-inaction-will-let-jeremy-corbyn-into-no10/
TORIES' STARK WARNING Tory MPs warn Theresa May that inaction will let Jeremy Corbyn into No10
Ex-ministers Nick Boles, Sir Nicholas Soames and Rob Halfon issue the broadside in a joint article for The Sun

[RedToothBrush]

have to “accept the reality” that there are not the numbers in Parliament for hard/clean Brexit

Its either this, or kill the party. If they rebel then the government collapses.

I don't put it past them, in a last ditch gamble to win a mandate.

Carl Gardner @carlgardner
"It would have been a huge success if it hadn't been for the BBC, Remoaners, the New York Times, Hammond, the Supreme Court, Juncker, Barnier, WhatsApp, Buzzfeed, the government's own EU Exit Analysis—Cross Whitehall Briefing ..."

[woman11017]

Disappointment:

[RedToothBrush]

Julia Hartley-Brewer @JuliaHB1
I voted to leave the EU in June 2016.
I didn’t vote to leave the EU sometime FOUR AND A HALF YEARS later. That wasn’t on the ballot paper.

Remind me what WAS on the ballot paper?!

[RedToothBrush]

Harry Cole @MrHarryCole
Fingers pointed at the No10 Brexit unit as being driving force behind the new doc

[SusanWalker]

Andrew Neil @afneil*
The Government's Own Brexit Analysis Says The UK Will Be Worse Off In Every Scenario Outside The EU
Link to the Buzzfeed Article.*

No shit Sherlock.

Carl Gardner @ carlgardner
I'm starting to suspect the government, and Brexit itself, could implode before long.

Time to stock up on red wine and popcorn, sit back with my crochet and enjoy the show.

Shuffling off over to yahoo comments to watch the rabid brexiteers trying to put a shine on this one.

[thecatfromjapan]

I'm being too negative. Sorry, my fellow-people-of-the-thread.

[thecatfromjapan]

Oh, it's not that sensible, Irene. You'll notice he's still sending out the bat-squeak to the Brexit reactionaries and the swivel-eyed people to say that it;s the numbers (of Remoaners) in Parliament that are betraying the Brexit dream, rather than 'fessing up that Brexit is an almighty pile of poo, that will cut the guts from the UK, and he is mightily relieved to have been spared the horror of implementing full (insane) Brexit.

That message, sadly, will not call the Brexiteer dogs off.

[RedToothBrush]

That's where we are.
Newsnight just quoting an anonymous mp saying, "you journalists are looking at this the wrong way. Its not the 48 letters that are needed to trigger a leadership election. We are after the 159 votes for a vote of no confidence in Theresa May".

This is significant. It speaks of how little support May has within her own party.

[woman11017]

@faisalislam
In that vein, a Tory Single Marketer MP tells me re Tory Brexiters flexing their muscles: “If they are threatening a leadership challenge, then this new leader will find himself in charge of a much smaller party, and will effectively crash the Government”. (“Him” was on purpose).

[IrenetheQuaint]

Liam Fox says something sensible? That can't be right

[woman11017]

@faisalislam
In tonight’s Brexit news avalanche: Trade Sec Liam Fox tells The Sun that Brexiters have to “accept the reality” that there are not the numbers in Parliament for hard/clean Brexit, & defends Hammond

[RedToothBrush]

Carl Gardner @ carlgardner
I'm starting to suspect the government, and Brexit itself, could implode before long.

And I think I need to repost this.

Will May make it til the 7th Feb.

[RedToothBrush]

Sam Coates Times @ samcoatestimes
Parliament will now want the full document. And the Commons probably has the numbers to force it out of government...

Omg today just keeps on giving, if you are into Brexit related pain.

[IrenetheQuaint]

"Asked why the prime minister was not making the analysis public, a DExEU source told BuzzFeed News: "Because it's embarrassing.”"

Fancy that, eh? WHO'D HAVE THOUGHT IT?

[RedToothBrush]

Gosh

Andrew Neil @afneil
The Government's Own Brexit Analysis Says The UK Will Be Worse Off In Every Scenario Outside The EU
Link to the Buzzfeed Article.

So far, no rebuttal from Neil. He must be pissed at this.

[DGRossetti]

bazooker