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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
RedToothBrush · 08/05/2018 17:25

Adam Langleben @ adamlangleben
To my great disappointment the Labour NEC Working Group on Antisemitism have been meeting for one hour now. We, @JewishLabour, have been waiting patiently for an hour. We will not be allowed in. They are discussing antisemitism without the only Jewish affiliate.

There are people tweeting #forthemanynotthejew again.

OP posts:
DGRossetti · 08/05/2018 17:32

I really, really, really want to be sensitive, understanding, non judgemental, and supportive. I also agree that tackling all forms of racism is an important issue for all political parties.

But that said, is now really the best time for Labour to decide to ramp up the antisemitism blasters ?

It strikes me as like a fireman who wants to make sure his boots are clean, his fire engine serviced, all his equipment in order, and there's enough fuel to go just after they've had a call to a fire ?

(Adopts the stance of a man expecting a shitstorm Sad)

VivaKondo · 08/05/2018 17:48

Brexit still has the potential to tear both main parties apart
That would be one of the best things coming out of Brexit.

Both the conservative and labour need to split from their extremes (right and left).
There is a need to get out of the two parties system that the U.K. seem to want to work from (seeing that both the libdem and the greens are just ignored, despite the number of people voting for them) both in their representation in the news in general and in the HoC and HoL.
(That means also a change in the electrical system to allow a better representation of the population too).

But what has to stop is the right or left extremists getting a coating of respectability as well as power from the two big names.

missmoon · 08/05/2018 19:55

Lords have voted in favour of single market amendment!

missmoon · 08/05/2018 19:55

Majority of 27

OnTheDarkSideOfTheSpoon · 08/05/2018 20:02

It’s fantastic!

Baroness Hussein-Ece
@meralhece
Labour Brexit spokesperson Lady Hayter just urged the 'House to abstain' on amendment on not exiting the EEA unless it is a negotiating objective of the government to enable the UK to continue to participate in the EEA after exit date. Tory minister thanked Labour frontbench. #

Jo Maugham QC
@JolyonMaugham
"Tory Minister thanked Labour frontbench." It's come to this.

ScreenQueen · 08/05/2018 20:15
Glitterball
woman11017 · 08/05/2018 20:19

@Andrew_Adonis
Almost all Labour peers just backed continued membership of the European Single Market, despite leadership suggesting abstention. Lot of Tories too. The baton now passes to Labour & Conservative MPs to do their duty by the country

@IanDunt
Extraordinary moment.

mrsreynolds · 08/05/2018 20:22

Well

Thank God for the lords

^another thing pre brexit I never thought I'd say...

woman11017 · 08/05/2018 20:22

@tnewtondunn
I’ve been in Tel Aviv all day, talking to Israeli military and intelligence figures. NONE wanted Trump to pull out, just Bibi Netanyahu and a few other politicians. So this should not be in Israel’s name.

woman11017 · 08/05/2018 20:23

#teamadonis MrsR Smile

OnTheDarkSideOfTheSpoon · 08/05/2018 20:37

Reuters Top News
@Reuters
DEVELOPING: Israel declares high alert over 'irregular activity of Iranian forces in Syria'; instructs authorities to 'unlock and ready' bomb shelters in Israeli-held Golan Heights (link: reut.rs/2KIZS4u )

BigChocFrenzy · 08/05/2018 20:41

3 cheers for the Lords ! Grin 👍 🥇

< but a resounding raspberry for the official Brexit spokespersons of both Tory & Labour >

woman11017 · 08/05/2018 20:55

@faisalislam
Current text of EU Withdrawal Bill, returning, at some point to Commons:

  • commits Govt to negotiate EEA membership
  • prepare for customs union membership
  • has no exit day
  • commits to the Charter of Fundamental Rights
  • a “meaningful vote” that would in effect stop No Deal

@krassenstein
BREAKING: Iran's President Hassan Rouhani says his country will remain in the nuclear deal, and simply deal with the other countries which signed it.
Iran will come out of this looking like the honest nation which lives up to their word. American won't. SAD!

@AsafRonel
Asaf Ronel Retweeted רשת
#BREAKING: Israeli army is calling in reservists from the air defense units, Home Front command & the army intelligence. DM @AvigdorLiberman is reportedly holding consultations with the heads of the army

@EU_Commission
The EU regrets today's statement by President of United States on #IranDeal. It is not a bilateral agreement & not in the hands of any single country to terminate it unilaterally. EU determined to preserve it.

woman11017 · 08/05/2018 20:59

@haaretzcom
BREAKING: Explosions heard near Damascus as Israel braces for imminent Iranian attack from Syria

BigChocFrenzy · 08/05/2018 21:28

More to look forward to … Hmm

Older workers face paying Jeremy Hunt’s ‘care tax’

Those working beyond retirement age do so mostly because they can't afford to retire,
rather than they have such fascinating jobs.

So it's often workers on the lowest incomes - and a lot of women, who have had career breaks, or SAHMs who have been dumped etc

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/older-workers-face-paying-jeremy-hunts-care-tax-slww2bc65

Nearly 1.3m “silver strivers” ---- those working beyond the state pension age - would have to start paying national insurance to prop up the social care system, under plans being considered by the government.

At present, people stop paying national insurance when they reach state pension age. But under the proposed “care tax”, the 12% charge would continue to be levied, raising about £2bn a year.

The measure is one of a range to be published next month by Jeremy Hunt, the health secretary, in a green paper on care and support for older people, to meet a huge shortfall in funding.
The care tax will also be backed in a report by the Intergenerational Commission to be published on Tuesday

DGRossetti · 08/05/2018 21:29

So much for the UKs influence with the US, and BoJos lamentable Fox News telethon-style appeal ....

BigChocFrenzy · 08/05/2018 21:33

It would be better to modify the income cutoff limit for NI, so payments for higher earners don't drop to 2% after the limit, but say 5%

BigChocFrenzy · 08/05/2018 21:33

Special Relationship, my arse

mrsreynolds · 08/05/2018 21:34

Well that's gonna go down like a cup of cold sick....

BigChocFrenzy · 08/05/2018 21:36

The main reason for Trump's hatred of the Iran deal is because Obama created it:
Trump is a lifelong racist, who wants to undo every achievement from Obama

Remember, it was Trump who really pushed the "birther" agenda, to try to stop Obama getting elected

OlennasWimple · 08/05/2018 21:39

This happened to one of my uncles who was born in the Raj in 1907

Mathanxiety - sounds like he was one of those "citizens of the world", so pah, he obviously doesn't count Wink

BigChocFrenzy · 08/05/2018 22:21

If the RoI keeps its nerve, then even if there is a hard Brexit, it could end up much richer at the UK's expense, after a few years

Recent news: Bank of America have transferred 400 billion euros from the UK to Dublin

OnTheDarkSideOfTheSpoon · 08/05/2018 22:22

Andrew Adonis
@Andrew_Adonis
The majority in the vote on staying in the EU Single Market in the Lords earlier was 29 not 27 - yet again chaos in the administration of the Lords and the figures were misreported in the chamber. This is the 4th vote just on the EU Bill where voting figures have been misrecorded

woman11017 · 08/05/2018 22:30

chaos in the administration of the Lords
I'm Confused Hmm or Angry or all 3.
Good vote though.Smile

@faisalislam
Labour rebel numbers on Brexit are down from 7 or so to about 2... also a number of Tory Remain rebels are in their last Parliament... so it’s all quite close.

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