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?

The US don't even trust the UK with the nuclear codes.

With good reason - we spaffed their nuclear secrets all over the USSR. Aided and abetted by the British class system of "a chap just doesn't do that"

Mysteriously that's a Britain Brexiteers don't big up ...

Industry calls for ‘Max Fac’ option to be dropped - Published 29 May 2018

Britain’s manufacturers are calling on the Government to abandon further examination of the so-called ‘Max Fac’ option for future UK and EU Customs, describing the idea that it could implemented by 2020 as ‘naïve’ and ‘wholly unrealistic’ with the consequences of getting it wrong as ‘immense’.

The call comes on the back of the cost estimates released last week by HMRC to the Treasury Select Committee and a recent visit to Canadian Customs by EEF Chief Executive, Stephen Phipson. During the visit Mr Phipson was able to see at first-hand how technology operates across the US/Canada Border.

In a letter to the Business Secretary, Greg Clark, Mr Phipson revealed that despite a decade of substantial investment on both sides of the Border by two willing partners only 100 of the most trusted Canadian companies are able to use a ‘fast track’ system across the Border. The vast majority of goods are still subject to normal customs checks.

In response, Mr Phipson is calling on the Government to stop wasting public money and precious time examining an option for ideological reasons which is unrealistic and, instead, put all its collective resources into finding a solution which is workable.
www.eef.org.uk/about-eef/media-news-and-insights/media-releases/2018/may/industry-calls-for-max-fac-option-to-be-dropped

It's hard to shake the image of the government slowly doing the rounds from all the people it was hoping would save them asking about how best to "do Brexit" and getting the accurate - if unhelpful - response that there is no good way to do Brexit.

They did it last year, and now they're doing it again - presumably hoping for a different answer.

Reading between the lines (or in French) Brexiteers need to understand that not only will they get no help from the EU over Brexit, but (and ironically in a nod to how valued the UK is as an EU member) the EU is existentially not capable of helping with Brexit. As Barnier said at the weekend

"Let's be clear: Brexit is not, and never will be, in the interest of EU businesses,"

As I read elsewhere ...

May: Brexit means Brexit
Dail Mail: Hooray !
Barnier: Brexit means Brexit
Dail Mail: Boo !

French company to sort out immigration for Home Office. Sorry if mentioned already. So long as someone sorts it ...

www.theregister.co.uk/2018/05/18/home_office_hands_91m_digital_visa_contract_to_sopra_steria/

Following a letter to Private Eye, I do like the idea that "Brexit Planning" should become a new oxymoron for conversational use ....

Garrett Carr travelled along the Irish border and his resultant book was 'The Rule of The Land'. His picture of this little bridge is so sweet. It is like a little play bridge!

twitter.com/garrett_carr/status/1001728736545464321

And this just looks so peaceful. You could imagine the smell of wild flowers, replete with butterflies, and the buzzing of bees

twitter.com/garrett_carr/status/1001424493712166913

Article about slight fall in some UK university rankings. Cambridge still holding and Oxford just one place down. Research part of the ranking system. Maybe just a single swallow. Interesting to see what happens over the next few years if funding and research programmes aren't on offer.

www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/uk-universities-world-rankings-league-tables-brexit-ucl-lse-durham-a8375731.html

This rather sums up the change in attitude of the Quitlings...

that's brilliant cardinal

www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/may/30/brexit-uk-may-get-poorer-access-than-israel-to-eu-science-scheme

Theresa May’s appeal for a special Brexit deal on science and research collaboration, worth billions to the British economy, is being stonewalled by Brussels as it prepares to offer an arrangement less privileged and more expensive than that given to non-EU states such as Israel.

(contd)

Those nasty French. Making us vote for Brexit.

(But what about our defence plan with the French which takes away bits of our sovereignty?)

(Doesn't sharing intelligence take away our control?)

Just file under "What the fuck did you think would happen ?"

VAT and Brexit: the imperative of staying in the customs union

As well as the Single Market, we need to stay in a Customs Union,
or the VAT issue may cost several billion and wreck many UK businesses because of cheap competition.

HMRC can‘t possibly examine 10s of millions of parcels to check that the quoted value of the contents is correct.

http://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2018/04/19/vat-and-brexit-the-massive-case-for-staying-in-the-customs-union/

It is imperative however that there is a smooth transition and that there is not a period of chaos because
as proven by the Channel Islands LVCR trade,
even a relatively short period of industrial levels of abuse will destroy UK business and alter the retail landscape for years, if not decades.

HMRC can‘t possibly examine 10s of millions of parcels to check that the quoted value of the contents is correct.

Begs the question what else could sneak in, then ?

Theresa May’s appeal for a special Brexit deal on science and research collaboration, worth billions to the British economy, is being stonewalled by Brussels as it prepares to offer an arrangement less privileged and more expensive than that given to non-EU states such as Israel.

Hah, we were just discussing that over breakfast this morning, seeing as we are both involved in scientific research it is a matter rather close to our hearts.

We predict that the Quitling response in this case will, strangely, not be "Out Means Out" but rather "Punishment! Bullying!"

We predict that the Quitling response in this case will, strangely, not be "Out Means Out" but rather "Punishment! Bullying!"

Frankly, who cares ? There's nothing the UK can do about it, except make Brexit even harder. For the UK that is.

I wonder when US institutions will start suing UK ones over any fall in revenues due to Brexit ? Or is that something no one thinks will happen ?

I wonder when US institutions will start suing UK ones over any fall in revenues due to Brexit ? Or is that something no one thinks will happen ?

What sort of institutions are you referring to? What grounds for suing?

What sort of institutions are you referring to?

Any company that has demonstrably invested with UK companies predicated on access to the single market

What grounds for suing?

as above.

remember Virgin getting all pissy over losing an NHS bid ?

My (US) DBs former employer has put a lot into one UK academic institution (part of which was his PhD ...) they won't be happy if it gets isolated and can't access EU research. Or so he's hearing ...

Just got a letter in from AIG saying that because I have/have had in the past an insurance policy with with them, they are informing me that they are restructuring their European arm, AEL (AIG Europe Ltd) into two parts as a result of the UK's decision to leave the EU: they will be transferring akk their aUK business into AIG UK and all their European Business into AIG Europe, which is incorporated in Luxembourg. If approved, this will take effect on 1 December 2018.

While they cross their hearts and hope to die that this will have no effect on any policies and outstanding claims, there is an effect, despite their assurances . Such re-organisations do not come for free - so there will be a knock-on effect on the cost of future policies.

Paul Waugh @paulwaugh
Meet the Tory Brexiteer who loves Europe so much he lives permanently in France...and now wants to guarantee his rights there.

www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/tory-brexiteer-lord-lawson-branded-a-hypocrite-as-he-applies-for-french-residency-card-vote-leave-carte-de-sejour_uk_5b0fcfbfe4b05ef4c22b4613?ec
Tory Brexiteer Lord Lawson Branded ‘A Hypocrite’ As He Applies For French Residency Card

As chairman of Vote Leave, Lawson was one of the most senior Conservative grandees to lead the campaign for the UK to quit the EU in the 2016 referendum.

Those of us who have been through the process are all hoping that he has at least a three hour wait standing in line at the guichet. 😀

I wonder how reinsurers will cope. If at all ?

I read discussions not long after the ref about whether companies could sue the Uk

• apparently there is a body of law that allows this for losses due to a govt changing certain policies.

Sounded rather dubious to me and the discussions died out

However, I wonder about Nissan and any other firm who may have received specific promises from the govt that their profitability would not suffer

• if their profits drop due to Cross-Channel transport issues, certification checks etc then could they sue unless they receive a whopping great development grant as compensation ?

A grant for Nissan may have been another "backstop" like that for NI, that May assumed would never be required and that she could renege / weasel on.

I read discussions not long after the ref about whether companies could sue the Uk - apparently there is a body of law that allows this for losses due to a govt changing certain policies.

Maybe this was Mays real reason for an election. To insulate the UK government from claims that they "changed policy" ?

The problem is - regardless of what UK law may or may not mandate, if you are going to pick a fight with the US, you need to remember they still have a trade embargo with Cuba. That's bearing a grudge for something that happened 60 years ago.

And DBs employer is the US government btw. So it's not a joke.

Meanwhile ....

news.sky.com/story/us-to-slap-tariffs-on-eu-steel-and-aluminium-11390870

The US has announced plans to impose tariffs on steel and aluminium from the EU starting at midnight.

US President Donald Trump announced in March that he would slap a 25% tariff on imported steel and a 10% tariff on imported aluminium, citing national security interests.

But he had granted an exemption to the EU and other allies; that expires on Friday.

US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said: "We look forward to continued negotiations, both with Canada and Mexico on the one hand, and with the European Commission on the other hand, because there are other issues that we also need to get resolved."

So where is the UK going to position itself here ? The cake and eat it position is to enjoy the benefits of EU membership to fight the tariffs while simultaneously sucking up bigly supporting it's potential new trade-deal-partner

Go Theresa ! You learn 'em !