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Brexit
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Westministenders: Groundhog Day

994 replies

RedToothBrush · 14/02/2018 16:20

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.

OP posts:
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47
DGRossetti · 23/02/2018 18:24

Sorry, it starts with Roger Helmer (I know).

Best it ends there, then.

AgnesSkinner · 23/02/2018 18:49

From that Twitter thread: Roger’s got his own post MEP transition period going on

Arf.

thecatfromjapan · 23/02/2018 18:59

How much further forward is the government/cabinet/Parliament/UK negotiating team after this Chequers meeting? It seems to me that the outcome is yet another fudge, another case of kicking the can down the road. The 'demands' they've produced are - clearly - unrealisable and not a negotiating position in any realistic sense. Which means, of course, they will be rejected and ... back to square 1 it all goes.

What, exactly, was that meeting really about? It seems to have produced no realism.

BiglyBadgers · 23/02/2018 19:33

What, exactly, was that meeting really about? It seems to have produced no realism.

I think it was something along the lines of:

"Oh shit, I've just heard Corbyn is going to make a speech calling for us to stay in the customs union or something. We need to look strong and stable, while looking like we are making some concessions to the remainers, but not too much. Quick! Everyone look in agreement! Yes, I know it's a lie, Boris, but just close your eyes and think of the party."

thecatfromjapan · 23/02/2018 19:37
Grin

Do you think that was it, Bigly?

I wondered if part of it was to ensure that everyone was up to speed with the impact reports. And I suppose I hoped there was a workshop or two on what the CU and SM are.

But I agree, even as I write that, I'm probably overly-naive.

DGRossetti · 23/02/2018 19:55

I wondered if part of it was to ensure that everyone was up to speed with the impact reports

That could be done over a coffee ...

SwedishEdith · 23/02/2018 20:13

The Malcontent. 🇪🇺 🇬🇧
‏*@johnleremainer*

Breaking - apparently Mueller has 3 sealed warrants destined for the UK
Any ideas as to the lucky winners ?

thecatfromjapan · 23/02/2018 20:19

Just coming to post that, SwedishEdith.

The anticipation I'm feeling is kind of like Christmas ...

SwedishEdith · 23/02/2018 20:24

I daren't get excited cat.

mathanxiety · 23/02/2018 20:35

YYY to Lala - you would think it was a done deal. Managed divergence sounds like 'non' and 'nein' to me. I seem to remember either Barnier or Verhofstadt saying 'you're either in or out' or words to that effect. They also said no to cherry picking - divergence in goods and association in services and the financial passporting perhaps? Divergence means out.

mathanxiety · 23/02/2018 21:11

Just saw a 30 minute old headline on BBC "Donald Tusk: UK Brexit plans 'pure illusion'".

Didn't take long.

SusanWalker · 23/02/2018 21:20

If we don't have faith in a cake and eat it brexit does that make us cakist?

BiglyBadgers · 23/02/2018 21:56

I don't have a problem with cake, some of my best snacks have been cakes. I just think we need to consider the impact of unlimited cakes being allowed into our houses, pushing native scones out of there jobs and filling up our fridges.

SusanWalker · 23/02/2018 22:22

Do the native scones come with artisan jam?

BigChocFrenzy · 23/02/2018 22:57

My take on the "war cabinet" meeting:

They agree on kicking the Brexit can down the road

… but the furious debate is because they can’t decide which road to kick it down Wink

BigChocFrenzy · 23/02/2018 23:09

Speculation about Mueller's 3 sealed Uk warrants Hmm
Apparently Steve Bannon has been talking to Mueller for a week and he has been mentoring / close to key Brexiters

Consensus of the most likely recipients:

  1. Farage
  2. Arron Banks (donor of surprisingly large amounts)
  3. Andy Wigmore (Leave.EU communications director & Banks’ sidekick)

interesting, that all 3 were in this infamous "golden lift" photo with Trump

Westministenders: Groundhog Day
BigChocFrenzy · 23/02/2018 23:14

Mueller may just use those UK warrants as leverage to get them to talk about Trump
After all, Mueller is investigating interference in US elections, not in the EU ref

(and there is no official UK investigation into whether the most important UK vote post-WW2 was improperly imfluenced)

BigChocFrenzy · 23/02/2018 23:51

UK's hopes for post-Brexit trade deal an illusion – Donald Tusk

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/feb/23/eu-pours-cold-water-on-uk-hopes-of-chequers-brexit-breakthrough

frustration with the UK erupted in Brussels
…
Reports that May’s inner cabinet had agreed on a policy of “managed divergence” during eight hours of talks at an awayday in Chequers were met with incredulity by EU leaders.

[European council president] Tusk told reporters on Friday:
“I am glad the UK government seems to be moving towards a more detailed position.

“However, if the media reports are correct, I am afraid the UK position today is based on pure illusion.
It looks like the cake [and eat it] philosophy is still alive.

“From the very start it has been a set principle of the EU27 that there cannot be any cherrypicking of single market à la carte.
This will continue to be a key principle, I have no doubt.”

SwedishEdith · 24/02/2018 00:01

I am afraid the UK position today is based on pure illusion.

And the cabinet knows this. So what is their long game? I spotted Ollie Robbins in that photo who is well-thought of (i.e. not an idiot). He will have told them what they're proposing is bollocks. So, which audience are they speaking to?

prettybird · 24/02/2018 00:16

I said to dh that I thought that Tusk was being extremely diplomatic describing the purported UK approach as an "illusion"

DElusion would be closer to the mark.

SusanWalker · 24/02/2018 00:17

They're engineering it for the blame to end up at the EUs feet. Either we crash out and it's all a disaster or we BINO - both can them be blamed on the EU being intransigent.

After all TM has asked them for deal after deal and they've said no. The tories know that a lot of people will swallow this, never mind that the government knew that the terms were unacceptable to the EU. That's why the press spend so much time discrediting Barnier and Juncker.

They know they will be unelectable under either scenario unless they find a scapegoat.

If it's one thing the tories are good at its shifting the blame on someone else. Like the three day week.

Peregrina · 24/02/2018 00:22

After all TM has asked them for deal after deal and they've said no.

Has she though? All we know is what has been put out for public consumption here - which is all bluster and cake and eat it stuff. The 'row of the summer' was over by one lunch time. (Mind you, that might just have been a reflection of how our summers can sometimes never quite happen, skipping from late winter to autumn and back to winter.)

SwedishEdith · 24/02/2018 00:39

They're engineering it for the blame to end up at the EUs feet.

But Leavers already think this and Remainers know this is probably the Govt's plan. So we're no further forward.

HesterThrale · 24/02/2018 00:49

The continuing soap opera that is UKIP...

'I never split up with Jo’ admits toppled UKIP leader.

But some good advice from Jo about Henry:

But asked whether she could trust him she said: “Maybe the public shouldn’t trust him – but I do.”

www.theneweuropean.co.uk/top-stories/jo-marney-henry-bolton-1-5407665

SusanWalker · 24/02/2018 00:58

From same interview

*Ms Marney was asked about the messages that had sparked the political and personal turmoil for the couple, in which she described Grenfell Tower as a “nest” for immigrants and made racist comments about Meghan Markle “tainting” the royal family due to her being mixed-race.

Speaking to Mr Ferrari, she acknowledged that the messages were “obviously very offensive” but added that some of the points raised are “relevant” and said that there are some things people should be able to discuss in private.

“Should you or shouldn’t you be able to say offensive things in a private conversation," she said. "I think you should.”

She also added that she felt that she had been “used as a political pawn” by the party.

When asked if she had felt like she was the victim in the row that has enveloped the party in recent weeks she replied: “In a way, yes I think I am.*

Hasn't really bothered to reflect on her racist views much has she.