Westminstenders: Rebel or Reveal

[RedToothBrush]

The EU Withdrawal Bill made it through the Commons. Though May did not manage it unscathed.

In an attempt to divide and conquer the Rebels, May might have damaged trust. We shall find out. The Grieve Amendment faces the Lords. We also will see if the Lords will back down on their amendments or apply some new ones for the Commons to deal with in Parliamentary Ping Pong.

Aaron Banks has been exposed as being pally with the Russian Embassy in a plot twist that absolutely everyone saw coming.

Meanwhile the EU thinks we have already run out of time and is preparing options to extend talks beyond the a50 deadline. These include having MEPs for the 2019 - 2024 session.

There is also growing talk around Europe that freedom of movement in its current form is unsustainable. Ironically we might see the EU adopt something akin to Cameron's pre-referendum proposals as the EU reforms.

Theresa May has also announced - at a moment when she is looking particularly weak - a new tax for the NHS, cunningly disguised in spin as 'the Brexit dividend'. Of course shareholders don't always get dividends and at times of poor economic performance instead might be asked to stump up extra capital...Expect to see buses with £350 million of the side just in time for the next general election cycle.

And so the Zombie PM limbers on towards the end of the summer session and the relative safety of the summer holidays. More drama, cringing and disbelief guaranteed before we get there.

Grieve too. The sky is dark.

Wtf?

A knighthood for mr grieve I predict...

Party first. Sod everyone else. Bastards

That's it.

All hope gone.

The Rebels will always cave. There will be no customs union or otherwise. They've demonstrated that ultimately they will crack and be railroaded.

I think this afternoon is the moment you KNOW we are going over the cliff.

Now is the time to start seriously planning your survival strategy if you haven't already.

New law adopted today by Hungarian Parliament. Lawyers can be arrested for advising migrants on exercising legal rights - and banned from meeting the people they help

Oh, from yesterday - phrases that mark our the thickies. I always obey the law.

Do fuck off. Is that a law you'd obey ? How about a law saying you have to shop Jews to the authorities ? Is that a law you'd obey "because it's da law" ?

My DF grew up with families that didn't obey that law, and put themselves in the greatest danger. Luckily for reasons of geography and politics, Mussolinis grip wasn't quite as iron in my DFs village (pop. 3,000). Also - despite being the father of fascism - Mussolini was never keen on Hitlers Jewish obsession.

(Funny, at school in history I was told that my DF was wrong about Italy during the war. Another reason why I am well aware of the arrogance of Empire).

Ros Altmann
Ros Altmann
@rosaltmann
·
1h
Could it really be that our country's #Brexit negotiators have absolutely no strategy for success other than threatening to leave with No Deal and just assuming the EU won't let us? Could that really be? The desperation today certainly suggests that

Next week's European Council meeting is going to be, umm, interesting

Methinks it will be an uncomfortable one for May as the EU informs her that they are preparing in earnest for a No deal Brexit.

Could it really be that our country's #Brexit negotiators have absolutely no strategy for success other than threatening to leave with No Deal and just assuming the EU won't let us? Could that really be? The desperation today certainly suggests that

That's it in a nutshell.

They'll be in for a shock if when the EU go, 'Brexit means Brexit', see ya!

What do you reckon the chances of a UK walk out next week are, prettybird?

Methinks it will be an uncomfortable one for May as the EU informs her that they are preparing in earnest for a No deal Brexit.

Even now, I suspect there's no real understanding of what this means.

Like electricity, you can explain it, and explain it, but some people won't get it unless they've had a few thousand volts up the wazzoo. And even then, there are those that won't believe it.

From ITV news

Temporary backstop option 'not acceptable' to Verhofstadt
PA_Verhofstadt
Guy Verhofstadt has said the Government's position has left him 'puzzled.' Credit: PA
Britain's plan for a temporary customs 'backstop' to solve the Irish border issue is 'not acceptable' and any fall-back option cannot be time-limited, the European Parliament's chief Brexit co-ordinator has told MPs.

Guy Verhofstadt said the Government's position that the backstop of continuing UK alignment with the EU customs union would cease by the end of 2021 if no other solution was found left him "puzzled".

Addressing MPs in London on Wednesday, the former Belgian prime minister said his understanding of a backstop was "a permanent system that is there that you don't use", saying the EU would seek a deal over the key Brexit sticking point.

He told MPs on the Exiting the European Union Committee: "I have never seen a backstop that is used for one year and then it disappears.

"No, a backstop is a fall-back position that you have in your pocket and you hope that you have never to use it. That is a backstop, in my opinion.

"That (the temporary backstop) was not in the proposal of the UK Government. I'm a little bit puzzled by the way the UK Government sees now that problem."

Mr Verhofstadt was speaking at the first of two grillings by MPs in Westminster on Wednesday.

He said he was looking forward to the Government's white paper, due to set out the position on leaving the EU.

He added: "I think that is it still possible to have for October/November an agreement on the political declaration. For that we need to speed up, certainly the negotiations in the coming months."

The former Belgian prime minister said the Brexit vote appeared to have resulted in a reduced appetite for withdrawal in other member states, while fuelling interest in EU reform.

Last updated Wed 20 Jun 2018

Hard to see how cliff can be avoided now. The DUP won’t move, the hard core Brexit crowd won’t accept CU or SM for the whole U.K. so that’s it really. Well done rebels and well done Labour for enabling this catastrophe

BTW with regard to bringing back hanging, I doubt that the new law in Hungary is EHCR compliant...

BTW with regard to bringing back hanging, I doubt that the new law in Hungary is EHCR compliant...

is this the EUs League of Nations moment ?

well done Labour for enabling this catastrophe

I just hope Corbyn never gets his hands on the powers he has clearly wanted to be nodded through. Although annoyingly, that's the only thing that would make the Tories realise what they have unleashed.

If I were anyone I would get some crocodiles to put at the foot of the cliff. Just for a 'laff' like, like the Gov are having at our expense.
Am I right in thinking that MPs are entitled to wear their swords in parliament? I am sure some part of the government machine can.
{ there are those that won't believe it.} That's Victor Meldrew isn't it?

And in Theresa Mays head (but soon on every street corner)

Onwards Christian soldiers, marching as to war ....

Only no "as to" about it.

Red - I don't think a walk out by the UK is likely because, as DGRossetti points out, they still don't understand what the full implications of being a 3rd country are

For the life of me, I can't work out whether it is deliberate ignorance, deluded Empire 2.0 thinking (aka 'Don't they know who we are?') or just plain sticking their heads in the sand

Probably a combination of all three.

There is still no parliamentary majority for a hard Brexit so there’s a little hope ... (clutching at straws here).

They really are relying on the EU coming up with a plan for us aren't They?

No, the hardliners are relying on the EU telling us to piss off. No Deal is the endgame.

No Deal is the endgame

With us as the stakes.

Its alright saying put plans in place...

What can the ordinary person do?

Probably time for honest 'shock' tactics.
From Brexit day tax will go up by 15 percent unless we stay in the EU (making the assorted individual losses roll into an easily understandable concept).
Although I am making that figure up it would be interesting to look back in say 10 years time to see how far out it might have been.

Division has just been called ...