Westministenders: Groundhog Day

[RedToothBrush]

Groundhog day is 2nd Feb.

Its also today. And yesterday. And the day before. And the day before. And the day before. And the day before. And the day before. And the day before. And the day before. And the day before. And the day before. And the day before. And the day before. And the day before. And the day before. And the day before.

We have all turned into Bill Murray.

That's Brexit in the UK.

The only progress seems to be linguistic gymnastics not policy.

No action has been implemented, we are still on words going nowhere.

Tick tock, tick tock.

When history is read 100 years plus, the biggest single trick of Brexit was for the Tories to keep it as a Tory "thing" while at the same time getting Labour to back it.

On a related note, having contacted my local Labour candidate, it emerges they personally support Remain too. Which begs the question what will they do if JC decides Labour doesn't ?

Even if Brexit was rescinded, things would be altered. Agencies are off no matter what. The ball was rolled on that one. Bit of entertainment as Italy are appealing the Netherlands hosting the EMA. Arguing the Netherlands didn't meet the criteria because they won't even have the designated building ready on time.

I imagine other things changed, too. G Verhofstadt very 'clear' on Marr. Things would be written down in detail. So there is no 'misunderstanding' you just now he meant reneging.

Corbyn has already made it perfectly clear that he doesn't support remain (or even a moderate form of leave) so you have your answer... What is your candidate doing about it now? (Mine is choosing to focus on non-Brexit issues ).

Corbyn has already made it perfectly clear that he doesn't support remain (or even a moderate form of leave) so you have your answer... What is your candidate doing about it now? (Mine is choosing to focus on non-Brexit issues hmm).

I'd hope one man does not a party make, for a start ...

As I've noted previously, there's always the LibDems.

At least they were willing to engage with me - respect for that. They also noted my complaint that my MP has ignored Brexit communications, whilst acknowledging my other issues (I'm a high maintenance constituent).

I must say, I can't at present see the point of a new party, it would just split the vote. I would like to see many more informal arrangements were pro-EU candidates from the different parties get together and agree to stand down. But, as far as Labour goes, there has to be a push to distance themselves from hard Brexit. Support for the CU and SM would suit many Leavers and be accepted by Remainers, so that's what they need to take a stand on.

I too think a disaster is probably on the cards, and that it will be only from the ruins that we get a sensible government out of it.

I have heard of renew. They use the phrase tough on brexit, tough on the causes of brexit. They want to reverse brexit then deal with the inequality that caused the vote. It will be interesting to see if they get much support. I have to admit I could be tempted. I suppose if the government did collapse and an anti brexit party garnered a significant amount of votes a 2nd referendum might become either moot or inevitable.

I've literally just heard about Renew via twitter. Apparently one of the there leaders walked out of a press conference. Was mentioned on Daily Politics apparently at which point the man said something like 'yes that was me, I left to do this interview'

Corbyn has already made it perfectly clear that he doesn't support remain (or even a moderate form of leave) so you have your answer... What is your candidate doing about it now? (Mine is choosing to focus on non-Brexit issues hmm).

Where has he expressed that opinion? Was it recently and I missed it?

Our thenTory MP, despite supposedly being Remain, persistently refused to engage with Brexit issues. It was the cue for me to get involved with politics and get her voted out. I had to put my feelings about the LibDems going into Coalition with the Tories to one side, which was hard to do at the time, but the result was worth it.

brain I no longer have the exact reference, but

this 2016 ONS report says public spending was £14,020 per head in NI and that exceeded tax revenues by £5,440 per head
Population of NI is just under 2 million

www.theguardian.com/business/2017/may/23/uk-budget-deficit-grows-to-more-than-10bn-as-people-spend-less

www.ons.gov.uk/economy/governmentpublicsectorandtaxes/publicsectorfinance/articles/countryandregionalpublicsectorfinances/2015to2016

May's bung for DUP support is an extra £1.5 billion or £1 billion, depending on who we believe.

If the govt, as promised, replaces EU subsidies to NI, that would be another £350 million (per year, not per week !) for agriculture & rural development, plus some other peace / cultural grants for which I have no figures.

Adding all this to the ONS figures, looks like £12 billion total subsidy is about right
The NI subsidy is clearly higher than the UK net contributions of £8.6 billion to the EU

Jeremy Corbyn really is an idiotic brexist old man.
Uses/ or was told to use anti semitic, holocaust 'joking' racist and sexist tweeting you tuber as an 'anti racist' ambassador
www.thetimes.co.uk/article/anti-racism-campaign-youtube-star-joked-about-holocaust-hxv3gjql0

As Helen Lewis pointed out; this story gained no traction but oddly the daft spy one did.

He is a fool though, like May, that makes them easy to manipulate, I suppose.

A new party would just pull in a few 1,000 votes,

What might work is a temporary cross-party alliance in Parliament - not for a GE - but they would have to start very soon,
because there is no point voting down a deal in October when the clock has run down and the alternative is the A50 default of no deal.

This is another reason why a 2nd referendum won't work:

no time to organise an informed referendum before deal terms are known
and if the deal is refused, there is no time for anything other than crashing out without a deal.

The govt would never agree to Ref with choices Remain / Deal and Parliament can't create policy like that to force them

"Renew" putting up a candidate in every UK constituency would be stupid . In Scotland there is already a pro-E, anti-Brexit and the causes of Brexit - and left wing - party winning seats with the SNP . So what do they want to do, split the vote and let even more Scottish Tories in? Seems a bit self-defeating

Italy is looking like it's next:
@Brexit
Fake Twitter accounts are rallying behind Italy's anti-establishment parties bloom.bg/2sFXpTp

I agree about JC, woman

The demonising of him in the media gives him street cred for the youth in particular, but does not address his genuine, serious faults

He was an accidental leader, a street protestor with little talent or knowledge of how to run a Parliamentary Opposition - even worse, he won't try to learn.

Like most people who prefer to lead mass demos, rather than use Parliament, he needs to stir up emotion, the easiest way being to work up feeling against certain easily identifiable & vulnerable groups
So being "anti-Zionist" helps him appeal to the worst instincts while not openly appealing to anti-Jewish racists and fascists

His appeal will always be very limited, unlikely to win a GE majority, unless Britain is plunged into disaster and people turn to any hope.

I agree, on "Renew" BCF and *PrettyBird. Divide and rule.

His ill advised little helper was full fat anti semite. BCF not even the 'fig leaf' of 'anti Zionism'.

In contrast to Labour voters, a much larger number of Tory voters than I expected seem happy with the unsubtle dogwhistle politics of their new rightwing heroes.

Yes, Labours figleaf often doesn't cover their bollocks

which turns off a number of more centrist or liberal Labour voters
some of the ones who keep getting sneered at

It shouldn't be necessary to have a rule against party officials & representatives joking about the Holocaust,
but after Livingstone and some others, it appears Labour need such a rule

Maybe, or BlueKip