Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Brexit

Westministenders: Amber Alert

977 replies

RedToothBrush · 29/04/2018 19:25

The coming week is a busy one.

First on the menu is the fate of Amber Rudd, who after her long awaited fifth apology and denial that she saw a memo with targets on (and Brandon Lewis took the responsibility for her) ANOTHER leak has come out of a letter from her to the PM, talking about, you've guessed it Home Office targets.

She is to give a speech to the HoC on Monday. After avoiding the chop/resignation on Friday and receiving the PM's kiss of death with a "The Home Secretary has my full confidence" statement, rumours are most definitely not going away about her resignation.

If this happens, she is almost certain to go to the Naughty Corner to add to May's woes with the other rebels. This is not the week that May will appreciate it.

Watch out for Sajid Javid making more unsubtle hints that he wants the job and how it will be great PR for the party.

The EU withdrawal Bill is in the HoL again tomorrow. Last week it suffered numerous government defeats relating to the Customs Union and the limiting of Henry VIII powers. With the LDs and Labour control most of the house and together with cross benchers and the (to date no less than 17) Conservative Rebels, expect more defeats and amendments to be sent back to the Commons.

Today there is an amendment tabled by Viscount Hailsham (ex-MP Douglas Hogg) with Labour and Lib Dem support. It is being touted as a 'Lords Veto' to block Brexit by some, but is about making sure the government is held to account and does not overstep its powers by not consulting with parliament over final terms. It would in effect strengthen the power of the House of Commons (rather than the Lords) to influence the Withdrawal Bill.

So its quite a big and significant one.

If this wasn't enough, there is a key crucial vote over the Customs Union. Its been touted as Schrodinger's confidence vote. Its not the final vote on the matter (that's later in May) nor is a true confidence vote due to the Fixed Parliament Act, but at the same time it is a real test of May's commitment to leaving the Custom's Union and a real test of the resolve of the rebels. Last week several Conservatives who previously had not rebelled were dropping large hints they would, plus there is the fate of Rudd, who if she wants a future as an MP will find it difficult not to rebel due to her constituency being hugely remain and only having a majority of 300.

If May fails to follow through and bows to pressure from the rebels, Johnson and Davis have threatened to resign and there is some suggestion that letters will go to the 1922 Committee's Graham Brady.

May also has been put under significant pressure by Brexiteers to sack civil servant Ollie Robbins from the Cabinet Office (who has effectively taken over Brexit negotiations from Davis) because he's too Remainy got his hands tied with no where to go because reality.

Other things on the cards:
Tuesday: The Sanctions and Money Laundering Bill is back in the Commons. It might be worth a look at what goes on there (and who takes part).
Wednesday: Labour's Opposition Bill is about Windrush. Expect it to be last minute campaigning for the local elections every bit as much as about the scandal.
The Withdrawal Bill is in the Lords again.
Thursday: We get to listen to David Davis (if he hasn't resigned) making excuses in the HoC whilst in the Lords there is a debate on 'Brexit: Sanctions Policy' so another chance for them to point out great big wacking holes in government Brexit Policy.

Thursday is also the day of the Local Elections, so although Parliament adjourns on Thursday, we have a full day of spin on how Labour 'won' and are going plant magic money trees everywhere (to replace the ones they cut down in Sheffield no doubt) or how the campaign for bins now means that the Tories now have a 'mandate to leave the customs union'. Joy.

Also on the radar are sexual misconduct allegations against Labour's John Woodcock (the much hated by the left John Woodcock) and Labour and the expulsion of Marc Wadworth in the midst of the anti-Semitism row and threats the grass roots will revolt over it. Tuesday is also MayDay (a chequered day in Labour's history) and a mass resignation from the Labour Party by women is planned.

And I'm definitely not betting against there being a likely to be another scandal that rears its head because that's just British Politics at the moment.

But GOOD NEWS.

Eurovision starts next week!
(Israel have to be my fav - and are favs to win - but I do like our entry. Though this year looks to be a good year and our unashamed goodbye to the EU probably will be lost amongst them unless she pulls a blinder).

OP posts:
Thread gallery
51
mathanxiety · 07/05/2018 22:00

Were your parents definitely born in Britain? If you're from an army family- maybe you fell through that loophole?

This happened to one of my uncles who was born in the Raj in 1907. Moved with my grandparents to Ireland in 1916, finished school, graduated with a B. Eng. from University College Dublin, worked in Argentina, married a woman born in Chile to expat Brits, joined the army as an engineer, saw action from D-Day to Arnhem to the liberation of Belsen. Not entitled to British citizenship despite service and rank of major and birth in the Raj. Returned to chaos without a passport under Peron in Argentina (they were after all letting pretty much anyone in after the war), seized an opportunity to move to east Africa, worked on civil engineering projects there and ended up being taken in by South Africa. Part of the problem of passports for him was that his wife, my aunt, hated the idea of an Irish passport and refused to live in Ireland. So in due course when their adult children tried to leave SA under apartheid they got on waiting lists for Australia and NZ, and only some of them were able to leave.

BigChocFrenzy · 07/05/2018 22:03

Math They also fear a property crash - a vote loser for any govt, but especially a Tory one

mathanxiety · 07/05/2018 22:07

They only really fear a property crash in the SE.

prettybird · 07/05/2018 22:15

After Ireland being blamed, it will be Scotland who will be accused of having contaminated UK politics: making the advisory referendum too close for comfort with their pesky Remain vote; constantly agitating for independence the right for self-determination; refusing to roll over and give away their hard won devolved powers; not accepting that Westminster would never abuse its "extra" powers (both Henry VIII powers and those devolved powers that they insist that they need back); and all that pesky oil money unbalancing the UK economy and that Scotland needed the "broad shoulders" of the UK (according to Cameron Hmm) to cope with all that oil revenue Confused

So it will be Scotland's fault - as well as Ireland's - that the UK breaks up and FUKD's economy tanks.

Nothing whatsoever to do with leaving the FTA on its doorstep Confused

okdok · 08/05/2018 00:52

Is it just every man / woman for himself? Are you saying that in most cases a politician only cares about his own earnings (from the job, and/or that he can gain from achieving the policies he wants), and his own social status?
What are these MPs getting out of hard Brexit?
Is the idea of a country in which everyone lives in relative harmony something that politicians no longer aspire to?

OnTheDarkSideOfTheSpoon · 08/05/2018 06:58

A privatised nhs that they can profit off?

lalalonglegs · 08/05/2018 07:39

It's not so much about what these MPs get from a hard Brexit, it's what other people don't get: generally the politicians who support the cliff edge hate the welfare state and vilify people who receive benefits. They know that a hard Brexit - any Brexit really - is going to shrink the welfare state through sheer lack of money and severely restrict the number of people who can claim support. It's a "survival of the fittest" wet dream, rolling back decades of small L liberalism overnight (while conveniently ignoring the fact that the fittest, in this country, are usually the beneficiaries of inter-generational privilege rather than, as they believe, the creators of their own brilliance Hmm).

Peregrina · 08/05/2018 07:46

while conveniently ignoring the fact that the fittest, in this country, are usually the beneficiaries of inter-generational privilege rather than, as they believe, the creators of their own brilliance

Quite. Think of Cameron, Rees-Mogg, Johnson. Would any of these have got anywhere if they hadn't been born into moneyed families? Consider the use they have put to their expensive education, for a starter. How would they have fared if they had come from a single parent homeless family and assigned the worst school in their locality?

OnTheDarkSideOfTheSpoon · 08/05/2018 07:59

Is anyone optimistic that the Labour Lords defy the whip and vote through staying in the single market? Adonis seems hopeful

Andrew Adonis
‏*@Andrew*_Adonis
LORDS VOTE ON SINGLE MARKET ON TUESDAY: A bigger deal than the referendum vote last week in terms of Labour peers refusing to abstain as the Leader’s office is attempting. I think most Labour peers will vote for it. Time for vacillation has ended!

mrsreynolds · 08/05/2018 08:04

It has long been Tory policy to destroy the nhs

Brexit means it's happening faster is all

mrsreynolds · 08/05/2018 08:08

Time for a chat to dh again

We need to start budgeting for private healthcare...sadly we all have pre existing conditions so it'll be £££

Peregrina · 08/05/2018 08:08

It has long been Tory policy to destroy the nhs

But the Tories have always been propped up by a working class vote. These are the people who will suffer particularly if the NHS is destroyed. However, I suspect the Tory elite will spin it, so that people aren't aware that it's the fault of Tory policies, and will still vote blindly for them.

mrsreynolds · 08/05/2018 08:11

Thats too simplistic imo. I would argue they have been propped up by aspirational wc class voters....

Right to buy
No such thing as society
Greed is good

The type who assumes that they will be able to afford private healthcare should they need to.

RedToothBrush · 08/05/2018 08:14

I don't think enough Labour Lords will tbh.

Kevin Schofield @ polhomeeditor
Government seriously worried about Tom Watson's amendment to Data Protection Bill on Section 40/press freedom later. Source: "Matt Hancock is doing one to ones with MPs and (chief whip) Julian Smith is ringing round in a state."

amp.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/jan/11/section-40-british-press-regulation-investigative-journalism?__twitter_impression=true
Here's what section 40 would do to the British press – and it's not good

This is important... and it'll be interesting to see who votes in what way on this one...

OP posts:
RedToothBrush · 08/05/2018 08:34

www.conservativehome.com/thecolumnists/2018/05/nicky-morgan-for-too-long-the-party-has-appeased-brexiteer-obsessives-its-time-for-one-nation-tories-to-fight-back.html
Nicky Morgan: For too long, the Party has appeased Brexiteer obsessives. It’s time for One Nation Tories to fight back.

Kevin Schofield @ polhomeeditor
Mark Regev, Israeli ambassador to UK, says he will meet with Jeremy Corbyn but it’s “premature” to say Benjamin Netanyahu will hold talks with him if he visits Israel.

www.politicshome.com/news/uk/political-parties/conservative-party/boris-johnson/news/94957/fresh-cabinet-turmoil-boris
Fresh Cabinet turmoil as Boris Johnson attacks Theresa May's 'crazy' post-Brexit customs plan

Apparently it would create “a whole new web of bureaucracy”. Which of course leaving the customs union and the single market wouldn't...

OP posts:
prettybird · 08/05/2018 08:35

Been pondering TM's unrealistic proposal for a "Custom's Partnership" with the EU ignoring the fact that the EU has already said it's not an option which Boris has been frothing about: the proposal where the UK would collect tariffs on the EU's behalf for goods bound to the EU. Confused

I can understand why the EU says it's not an option (and why border controls will be necessary as the UK cannot be trusted ), given that even as a member we are failing to collect appropriate dues and allowing fraud to go unchecked, even when warned Hmm

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/08/uk-faces-2bn-fine-over-chinese-imports-scam-say-eu-anti-fraud-investigators

But the UK just complains that the fine is inflated Hmm

https://www.politico.eu/article/uk-says-eus-e2-billion-china-fraud-estimate-inflated/

Peregrina · 08/05/2018 08:40

I would argue they have been propped up by aspirational wc class voters...

Yes, I agree. These voters are going to have a mighty rude awakening when they find they can't afford decent health care, housing and private schooling - all the things that are a sign that you have made it out of the working class. Increases in the costs of private schooling are already pricing out middle class voters.

RedToothBrush · 08/05/2018 08:44

Ian Dunt @ iandunt
You couldn't ask for a more perfect encapsulation of the pointlessness of Brexit than ham-faced cretin Gavin Williamson saying we should build our own Galileo system.
He wants to spend countless millions replicating a project we are already invested in. He calls it... you guessed it... "rediscovering our bulldog spirit".

Can't we just discuss the pointlessness of Gavin Williamson.

What is it with MPs named Williamson anyway?

If your name is Williamson and you are thinking about going into politics my advice would be don't do it to change your name.

OP posts:
prettybird · 08/05/2018 08:44

BBC Breakfast had an item on this morning about homelessness and the fact that it has risen for the 7th year in a row. Sad

Ponders what happened 8 years ago that could have resulted in rises in homelessness for each of the subsequent years HmmConfused

Doesn't need to ponder long Angry

RedToothBrush · 08/05/2018 08:56

I would argue they have been propped up by aspirational wc class voters...

Aspirational? Aren't many of them too old to be aspirational? The point being they already aspired and are now home owners with good pensions and assume that its still possible to do that?

Of those who are still of working age, they tend to live in areas where housing costs are still low enough for it to be possible provided you have a job.

Look through the list of places where ukip did particularly well. For the most part they are not places known for their high house prices.

Middle class tory voters on the other hand, live in areas which have high house value.

Everything keeps coming back to housing. Cos its all about housing.

OP posts:
RedToothBrush · 08/05/2018 09:12

Hugo Dixon @ hugodixon
Key battle in Commons today on Euratom. It's not just about making sure we get medical isotopes to treat cancer. If MPs say we should delay quitting Euratom, important implications for whole Brexit process. This article explains what's at stake.
infacts.org/cancer-treatment-rebellion-new-blow-mays-brexit/amp/?__twitter_impression=true

OP posts:
DGRossetti · 08/05/2018 09:13

Fresh Cabinet turmoil as Boris Johnson attacks Theresa May's 'crazy' post-Brexit customs plan

Presumably on the One Show ?

DGRossetti · 08/05/2018 09:14

File under: never gonna happen :

www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-44029808

A £10,000 payment should be given to the young and pensioners taxed more, a new report into inter-generational fairness in the UK suggests.

(contd)

Dobby1sAFreeElf · 08/05/2018 09:22

It's not just about making sure we get medical isotopes to treat cancer.
It's not, but FFS even if you just think about that fact alone Shock

mathanxiety · 08/05/2018 09:23

Thanks, RTB - that Ian Dunt tweet has caused me to spit so much tea all over my keyboard.
Grin [grin Grin @ 'ham-faced cretin'