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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:
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BigChocFrenzy · 09/05/2018 08:55

mother iirc, the HoL cannot delay a bill longer than 1 calendar year (or a budgte / money bill longer than one month)

However, the Brexit legislation is very time critical
and also May's majority in the HoC to override the HoL amendments is ever more precarious

BigChocFrenzy · 09/05/2018 09:00

As MissMoon said, that is the normal state of affairs
… but May - typically - didn't think ahead when she gave herself a 2-year Parliamentary session

The main issue is the delay - the govt was struggling even before this to get their legislation through in time for Brexit

and they have not yet started on any bills to deal with a hard / no-deal Brexit.
That is more likely to be under the Emergency Powers Act, if there are food shortages and the need for rationing and troops etc

Motheroffourdragons · 09/05/2018 09:20

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ on behalf of the poster.

RedToothBrush · 09/05/2018 09:39

I said some time ago this would happen: brinkmanship over time to push us over the cliff.

Its all about who will blink first.

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RedToothBrush · 09/05/2018 09:41

Sam Coates Times @ samcoatestimes
This from @paulwaugh is, shall we say, striking.

Investigating EIGHT THOUSAND cases

Westministenders: Amber Alert
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RedToothBrush · 09/05/2018 09:44

Emily Dugan @ emilydugan
Exclusive: leaked report from the MoJ reveals explosive testimony from judges who have seen a rise in people facing criminal charges without a lawyer

www.buzzfeed.com/amphtml/emilydugan/the-government-tried-to-conceal-this-testimony-from-judges?utm_term=.iiwQR7L7k&__twitter_impression=true
This Leaked Report Reveals The Stark Warnings From Judges About Defendants With No Lawyer
“Some of them just sit there like a rabbit in the headlights and haven’t got a clue what’s going on," one judge said in a report leaked to BuzzFeed News.

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SusanWalker · 09/05/2018 09:54

www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/more-leavers-remainers-cornwall-changed-1485113

A nationwide survey but they have picked out the Cornish results. Things are moving. My hope is that staying in either the CU or the SM will make it easier for us to rejoin the EU at a later date.

Am laughing at some brexiteers on Twitter, you know the ones who dislike the unelected EU, saying that we need to go back to hereditary peers. 😂

prettybird · 09/05/2018 09:59

Next thing to watch for on the Windrush and other Commonwealth countries scandal: the Home Office claiming that those that left "voluntarily" Hmm before they were forcibly deported or after enduring the "hostile environment" for too long don't count and weren't counted and are nothing to do with them. After all, the illegals "leavers" admitted their guilt by "choosing" to stay.

OhYouBadBadKitten · 09/05/2018 10:10

8000 cases? bloody hell.

DGRossetti · 09/05/2018 10:14

If nothing else, Rudds departure seems to have sharpened their fact-checking ... Oscar Wilde would be amused Smile ...

OnTheDarkSideOfTheSpoon · 09/05/2018 10:20

Jack Maidment
@jrmaidment
Understand DUP is holding talks with Matt Hancock, the Culture Secretary, this morning regarding the votes on press freedom later. Source says the group is still undecided on how to vote on Leveson II and Section 40.
Could swing the balance either way.

mrsreynolds · 09/05/2018 10:22

Fiddling while rome burns

Yes

Exactly the phrase I used to ds1 a few days ago.

OnTheDarkSideOfTheSpoon · 09/05/2018 10:23

More institutional racism:

UK accused of flouting human rights in 'racialised' war on gangs
Amnesty International claims gangs matrix used by Met police stigmatises black men
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/may/09/uk-accused-flouting-human-rights-racialised-war-gangs

And

Grenfell Tower: fire-resistant cladding plan was dropped
Exclusive: Nonflammable panel system may have saved lives, expert says, and ended up cheaper
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/may/08/grenfell-tower-more-costly-fire-resistant-cladding-plan-was-dropped

DGRossetti · 09/05/2018 10:57

It's a little like the spinning plates starting to come falling .... here's another Brexiteer trope blasted out of the water: the idea that the US and UK are just sittin' in a tree kissin' ....

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-44048902

(snipped)

Diplomatically, Mr Trump's decision leaves the UK in an uncomfortable position.

It has expressed its "regret and concern" about the actions of a longstanding ally with whom it clearly does not have a special relationship.

And the UK also finds itself alongside traditional opponents, such as Russia, in defending the JCPOA.

The one upside is that since the alleged Russian chemical weapons attack in Salisbury and the US withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal, the UK has found itself deepening its diplomatic ties with France and Germany.

And who would have predicted that at this stage of the Brexit negotiations?

OnTheDarkSideOfTheSpoon · 09/05/2018 11:03

Laura Kuenssberg
@bbclaurak
Whispers that ministers will accept @sarahwollaston’s amendment later to restrict how much Info NHS is allowed to give Home Office in immigration cases

DGRossetti · 09/05/2018 11:11

Seems interesting when the government obeying the law is now news ...

BigChocFrenzy · 09/05/2018 11:28

Today, 9 May, is the annual Europe Day

held on 9 May every year to celebrate peace and unity in Europe.
Lots of activities in different countries, but in the Uk just seems at the EU Liaison Offices in London and Edinburgh

europa.eu/european-union/about-eu/symbols/europe-day_en

DGRossetti · 09/05/2018 11:33

Much as I am committed to the UK remaining a member of the EU, the idea of "Europe Day" seems slightly unBritish to me. Along with flying your flag off every building and having photos of the president in every public building.

I rather celebrate Europe by simply being in it.

Or is that too dour ? Is Presbyterianism passed down the male or female line Grin ...

OnTheDarkSideOfTheSpoon · 09/05/2018 13:41

Jack Maidment
@jrmaidment
Jeremy Corbyn's spokesman suggests Labour will abstain if/when the Government seeks to overturn the Lords Brexit amendment on EEA membership.
Any Remainer hopes that Labour would keep UK in single market are dunzo.

RedToothBrush · 09/05/2018 14:43

Jeremy Corbyn's spokesman

Seamus Milne has a problem with being named after PMQ. Instead journalists must refer to him as 'Jeremy Corbyn's spokesman' because that's the protocol.

The trouble is that Jeremy Corbyn's spokesman has so much power and influence of his own, he's not just Jeremy Corbyn's spokesman, in the same way that Nick and Fiona were a bit of an issue.

So if you ever see a quote from Jeremy Corbyn's spokesman just after PMQs, take it that its more than likely Seamus Milne.

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SusanWalker · 09/05/2018 14:52

Labour will abstain........

Westministenders: Amber Alert
Motheroffourdragons · 09/05/2018 14:58

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ on behalf of the poster.

TomRavenscroft · 09/05/2018 14:59

I don't think that cartoon is accurate. Diane Abbott is Corbyn's glove puppet. She doesn't give a flying fuck about the impact of Brexit and is more concerned with keeping him, and the handful of Leave voters in her constituency, happy.

I know; she's my MP and I've written to her more than once about Brexit. All I get is 'but people voted and what if the vote were disrespected, they'd never vote again' blah blah blah.

prettybird · 09/05/2018 15:06

Seems a good time to repost the form to tell Labour you won't support them because they are pro Brexit/anti even the EEA and you won’t vote for them until they start fighting against our crazy and damaging EU exit.

Complete the form even if like me you will never vote Labour again.

https://action.labour.org.uk/page/s/policy-contact-form

OnTheDarkSideOfTheSpoon · 09/05/2018 15:08

Ben Bradshaw
@BenPBradshaw
Great speech by my Labour colleague @GarethThomasMP presenting his Bill guaranteeing the public a vote on any final #Brexit deal. Passed without Government even bothering to oppose. #PeoplesVote