Westministenders: Stalling for Time

[RedToothBrush]

After 14 defeats, the Withdrawal Bill exited the Lords. In much worse condition than anyone dared to predicted.

Now we have those who were viciously against Lords reform, all of a sudden shouting about how much we desperately need it. Well fancy that. Tradition isn't so attractive if you aren't getting your own way.

Daniel Hannan has suddenly admitted that Brexit is not 'going to plan' (there was one?) and Johnson is still his weekly resignation threat.

It now throws things back into Corbyn's court. The Tory Rebel Forces think that they have the numbers to stay in the Single Market, but are blocked by Corbyn's opposition to it.

The decision on the customs union has effectively been pushed back to the Autumn by May, but we have to make a decision about the Irish border by June or trade talks won't go ahead as planned.

The trouble is that the Cabinet can not decide on which option they want to take, but neither is particularly viable anyway. Max Fac means a border in the Irish Sea which the DUP won't like and the Customs Partnership isn't acceptable to the Empire Tories. In any case it seems unlikely that either option could get through the Commons in their current form due to the growing number of Tory Rebel Forces.

May also has a problem with the grass roots. It is more or less impossible for her to deliver the Brexit they desire whatever she tries.

The growing backlash about the hostile environment also undermines the point of Brexit in reducing immigration. Its is growing apparent, WHY we need immigration and that the people who are being targeted for deportation are simply the easiest to pick off and not the ones that people see as 'a problem'. Indeed you have to wonder about how many immigrants ARE a problem. The idea to control immigration after Brexit was not through the border but through the hostile environment, yet this seems now to be something that will be impossible to continue with politically.

Leave.EU have now been referred to the police for breaking Electoral Law. It also turns out that they found numerous ways to beat the spending limit legally. The female data controller has also been found to have data protection law. Meanwhile Banks and Wigmore as well as Nix (CA and SCL), Cummings (Vote Leave) and Silvester (AIQ) have all been summoned to appear because the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee. Zuckerberg also does not appear to have completed his answers to the committee as Facebook have had their homework deadline extended to Monday (and has been asked to appear by the 24th May whilst he is in Europe).

Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee Dates
Electoral Commission - Tuesday 15th May
Silvester - Wednesday 16th May
Cummings / Nix - Summoned to appear Tuesday 22nd May
Banks / Wigmore - Tuesday 16th June

Also in parliament in next weeks is and interesting looking ten minute rule bill named 'Representation of the People (Gibraltar)' - Tuesday 15th May

Anyway, we are all set for the predictable 'who blinks first' brinkmanship with the UK aware that if the EU don't blink we go over the cliff and parliament aware that if May delays long enough she bypasses parliamentary democracy or put it in a position with a gun to its head.

Who is looking forward to this year's 'row of the summer'?
It could be a long, hot summer.

Anyway, I want France to win Eurovision and the UK to get some points and not come last. Its not going to happen is it?

Her "3 clear tests" are mutually incompatible

She's a bit thick isn't she?

Which bit of "The UK will be a 3rd country" does she not understand? That the EU will not change its rules because the UK stamps its feet and says it wants it to

She's not a good advert for an Oxford education I thought that they were taught to analyse facts there and come up with considered and argued conclusions

Kevin Schofield @ polhomeeditor
Keir Starmer says Labour is calling for Britain to maintain the exact same benefits of customs union and single market membership without being in either, calling to mind once again the words of Brian Potter: "And I wanna moonwalk, but life's a shithouse."

red
🤣🤣

Keir Starmer has just done exactly the same as May. They are propping her up!

Boris Johnson @ boris_johnson
PM @theresa_may is absolutely right to say once again that Brexit must see us take back control of our borders, laws, and money - so more can go to the NHS - with our own international trade policy and free trade deals.

rolls eyes

The EU negotiators and politicians must be getting sore heads from banging their heads against the desk in disbelief and frustration at the UK's delusions.

I know Bigchoc! It's nice to be on the older side of young again!

Labour/Starmer saying 'exact same benefits of CU and SM' ... I've long suspected that this is a ploy to make it obvious that a) these ARE benefits, plus b) eventually showing that whatever deal we can get WON'T include these. Therefore forget it. I'm sure Starmer knows we can't get them.

I've written to Labour again saying I don't believe we can get a 'jobs-first Brexit' as they want, because it's becoming clear that there will be big job losses. So how can they still support something which is not achievable...?

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/oratory-school-black-face-slaves-oxfordshire-racism-instagram-photo-a8348986.html?amp&utm_campaign=Echobox&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter&__twitter_impression=true
Private school apologises after pupils 'black up' as slaves for Instagram photo
'Zero class despite their toff parents spending ludicrous amounts on their ‘education’,' claims critic

Quick reminder.

It is 2018

I feel like faceplanting onto the desk after reading that long statement of total drivel from May this morning. Isn't the definition of insanity trying to repeat the same behaviour over and over again, but expecting a different result?

I don't know what's more embarrassing. Her utter incompetence and moronic belief that the world will bow down to Britain, or that Keir Starmer essentially repeated what she said.

A tiny part of me wants to believe that he's playing the long game, but I've been dead wrong about everything political since 2010.

I thought I liked Emily Thornberry... until this morning.
Prattling on R5 about "We want something almost exactly like the customs union except must not call it CU ( most important ) & we need to be able to make any trade deal we like that isn't part of CU."

FFS. Jaysus wept.

So why isn't Labour challenging why the government hasn't been able to secure trade deals with China, like Germany and Ireland have done while. Being. Members. Of. The. EU. ?

They're getting the jobs. The UK is getting the Cliff Edge.

Newsflash: There is no long game

I don’t think May believes what she has written. It is exactly what leavers want to hear. There’s something odd going on here.

hester I've suspected the same too. Like when he says everything is up for negotiation. If course it is. What he doesn't say is that the negotiation may be exceptionally short and not going in our favour.

Labour don't want the brexit hot potato and have decided letting the tories implode is more important. Both main parties putting themselves first before the country. Its maddening.

When tm says trust me does anyone else hear I'm lying? Much like when she says let me be clear she is going to be anything but.

Faisal Islam @ faisalislam
Irish DPM Simon Coveney to Nick R confirming that negotiations “are stalling” that at the transition deal in March proceeded at the behest of the Irish only when the PM wrote this reassurance letter to Tusk, basically dismissing so-called “Max-fac” as Irish border solution...

^So the fundamental question now the Government acknowledges there will be some new friction
is Max Fac compatible with what PM signed above in March & Dec? Irish saying No. In fact, is it compatible with promises made to car / aviation pan European supply chain manufacturers?^

Gove saying the customs partnership is “novel” and says both models “flaws” being tested... seems to suggest that the UK enforcement on behalf of EU of its tariffs and standards on some goods on NCP partnership would be contrary to “taking back control” of borders

Gove promises that “expertise of different government departments will be brought to bear” to see which of the two customs options meet the PMs tests above...

Would this be such expertise as found at the likes of the Home Office or the DWP?

And yes Dobby, any politician who asks you explicitly to trust them, should have you running for the hills.

My other question is who exactly is she asking to trust her?

Its not aimed at the likes of us...

Now here is why i love the Daily Express (in a I think they're completely awful and I wouldn't lie the bunny cage with their rag never mind read it sort of way.)

A headline they posted 2 hours ago is: Remainers WRONGLY stereotype leave voters and the article is about how we all think they voted because of immigration. Studies show this is wrong
But the 24 minutes ago - so in the news feed it is directly above their last headline they have posted: Theresa May speeds up process for ending freedom of movement with the information that the end of FREE MOVEMENT for EU citizens IMMINENT (their capitals).
Make you're mind up D.E!
Also apparently David Milliband is returning from the U.S to rescue Brexit - I find that... unlikely. (interesting though that the Daily Express thinks Brexit needs 'rescuing')

The torygraph have come out and said TMs lack of clarity on business is damaging the economy (I'm not sure if that was before or after her desperate facebook plea for us all to do as we're told love her.

I can't believe they have the audacity to mention the NHS again.
In fact I can't believe the many bare face lies she told in that facebook post. If she's desperate enough to be writing it, then she realises it's all going wrong - and more worryingly for her - she may well be held to account for it. Adding more lies - on a medium that never dies - not a sensible thing to do in those circumstances.

Nigel Farage is saying there is going to be another election. I'm not sure why - other than he is a shit stirring tit.

The basic problems are political opportunism, stubborn stupidity & reckless gambling with the country's future:

The main Brexit politicians - the Tory right & chancers like Bojo (& Farage) - NEVER thought they would win the referendum

So they made all these fantastic unicorn promises before June 2016

• which are impossible to achieve

Even worse, they made no plans before the referendum and they didn't even agree on the form of Brexit they wanted

Worse still, they are totally ignorant about:
how the EU works & makes its decisions
how the Single Market works
AND how Uk trade works !

Worst of all, they refuse to listen to all the experts - civil service & business - who tell them their fantasies won't work
because it would mean admitting they wer wrong and splitting the Tory party

(Corbyn is either exceptionally dim, or he / Milne is deliberately letting the Tories wreck the economy, so Labour can rerun the 1983 Seige Britain Manifesto)

So both parties are wasting time squabbling over which fantasy to choose,
ignoring the rejection of said fantasies by the EU, with whom the Uk is supposed to be negotiating.

My main men the Daily Express have edited their story on David Milliband. When I read the tagline it definitely said 'rescue Brexit' - it now reads 'rescue from Brexit'. (much more likely - and backed up by Sky News.)
Are the Daily Express even a real paper?

Thanks, Red. Placemarking.

I think for Labour - as for Tories - it's become an existential problem.

If Brexit finishes the Tories, it must axiomatically finish Labour.

It's the only way to cast what is an aggregate 50/50 split when you combine Labour and Tory support (which is what the UKs electoral system has effectively done for years without most people realising it).

For remainers, expecting Labour to deliver us from Brexit is a wasted vote. It isn't going to happen. I suspected as much last year, and spent ages caveating any support for Labour ... in the end it seems the feeling in my water was right.

And, as previously intimated, at this stage of the game, it's a mere sideshow. The damage has been done. And, like icebergs, most of the damage done is as yet unseen, and unfelt. But it will take generations to reverse. Generations my generation don't have.

I'm back now and slowly getting back to speed. Has this been posted?

The gift that keeps on giving....

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-uk-summit-why-join-eu-balkans-serbia-albania-berlin-process-a8347111.html

Perhaps we could do sort of monitoring or mentoring courses for accession countries. Like sort of consultants...

(managed to post this in another thread )

DW made an interesting comment, when she saw her survey in that it's actually got a built in No-Brexit path through it if the UK is unable to secure a deal ...

I'm back now and slowly getting back to speed.

Sod Brexit. How was Eurovision?