Westministenders: High Drama at The Ok Coral

[RedToothBrush]

3:00 p.m. Wednesday, October 26, 1881, Tombstone, Arizona.

After months of death threats from the Cowboy Billys, their long simmering feud with the law thing came to a head. The Earp Brothers and Doc Holliday faced the criminals down in a shootout.

Tomorrow's 'sleepover' is starting to feel like the Gunfight at the OK Coral.

The outcome of the real story was three of the outlaws were killed. Another two claimed they were unarmed and ran from the fight. Virgil, Morgan, and Doc Holliday were wounded, but Wyatt Earp was unharmed.

How many Brexiteers can we expect to roll over and resign from the Cabinet and how many will surrender to May and the Pro-Business lobby? ONly time will tell.

Please place your bets for the number of resignations and the number of 'I support the PM' comments.

But don't get too excited. The showdown wasn't the end of the matter.

One of the outlaws who legged it, filed murder charges against the Earps and Doc Holliday. It took them some time for them to be acquitted.

Then Virgil Earp was ambushed and disabled in the arm later that year in December and Morgan Earp was assassinated in March 1882. Wyatt Earp, then thinking he had no other option, went on a personal vendetta to kill the outlaws and then fled the state.

Given the Tory Cabinet and the perchant for stabbing each other in the back and settling personal scores, a repeat of a wild west gun fight, really doesn't sound too wildly off the cards now does it?

Buckle up. Its time to play at Chequers.

Sam Coates Times @ samcoatestimes
Matt Hancock seen in No10...

The EU hasn't shut the door on us yet and it has said it would like the UK to remain but we need to acknowledge that there are a lot of tensions within the EU. From the original 'gang' they were all similarly placed in terms of industry and politics, or at least 'complimentary' but with some of the more recent joiners their situation is significantly different. Countries in the East are concerned about Russia and would prefer not to be overtaken by Mr Putin.
A lot of damage, confidence in manufacturing for example has already either happened or is about to make itself visible so even winding the politics back won't get the confidence back, the world had had 18 months of 'progress' for a start, the UK has stagnated waiting for anyone to make their mind up. I for one am getting spooked by 'waffle' I have said, which usually comes from this thread's thinkers and researchers (RTB, BCF and others) that I rehash gradually coming true.
The most frightening thing is the concept that anyone in the Government (any flavour) can think that it would be a 'quick job' to leave an institution that has been beavering away for 40+ years.
I really feel that if any politician who had authority to say it went to the EU and said we want to stay it would be broadly accepted although we would not get any 'extra favours' simply because of the significant stress and cost we have placed on the EU. There is a lot of tension brewing around the world and now is not the time for the 'plucky brits' to forge a new life free from any major power. Bear in mind that the English 'negotiating powers' are insufficient to charm Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

I'd rather be wrong about Brexit than right about it.

Laura Kuennsberg @ bbclaurak
Jeremy Wright, Attorney General, just gone into Number 10 - heading to Dept of health afterwards as a switcheroo?

Reference to Union Jack. It is only a 'Jack' when it is flying on a sailing vessel, it is the union flag otherwise.

Andrew Neil @ afneil
The irony is that May's future is now in EU's hands. If it largely accepts her Chequers positions, she'll likely survive. If they insist on major rollbacks and she agrees, she's probably finished. Brussels apprehensive about dealing with Corbyn. So might not push May to limit

I don't see how the EU have the luxury of choice on this. They can't just 'go easy' on May, and give more concessions because of her political position. Indeed I think I've seen quotes saying the EU aren't there to get involved and resolve Tory party disputes.

The Queen has been pleased to approve the appointment of Rt Hon @Jeremy_Hunt as Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.

Yes. Wrong again, oh dear.

I am a parent, I am often wrong, even when google proves I am right

Tom Newton Dunn @ tnewtondunn
Significant reshuffle under way now... looks like quite a few big jobs changing hands.

So Hunt to Health, who to Health ?

Ladbrokes haven't updated their odds, so no help from that quarter

Though they do still have Corbyn to be PM in 2018 at 7/1...

Presumably Javid will stay at the HO, as he's only been there for 5 mins

"I'm aghast at how little coverage is being given to the murder of a Brit cit on British soil by foreign agents."

It strikes me that the previous nerve gas incident couldn't have happened at a better time, and this one likewise.

But the lack of coverage also makes me wonder if whoever was responsible for the last one (and I am not convinced it was Russia) made a horrible blunder, and the business is being given the necessary minimum amount of coverage while both the World Cup and Cabinet shenanigans dominate the news.

Tom Newton Dunn @ tnewtondunn
Break: Matt Hancock is the new Health Secretary.

... hang on a minute...

I believe myself that this was the answer the electorate were trying to give at last year's election. Otherwise May would have got her huge majority. That she went and blundered on as though she had, show a lack of respect for democracy IMO.

Pretty bad times when you think, "Oh, well, at least Hunt is a grown-up".

Jeremy Hunt?????? What.

"I'm aghast at how little coverage is being given to the murder of a Brit cit on British soil by foreign agents."

The victim lived in a hostel. I've seen suggestions that she used to pick up used cigarette butts or even syringes to see if there was anything left in them.

Thus she 'isn't worth reporting' on, is probably more the point.

On the basis that immediately a proposed £350 Million to 'boost' the NHS was suggested the issue of paying for it put a significant amount onto the tax bill. This suggests that the treasury's pockets are not really deep enough to cover the complete restructuring that the UK will have to do if /when it leaves the EU. No massive 'inward investment' sources have been suggested and indeed so far those that have invested (Airbus/JLR/BMW) are all for pulling out, albeit gradually and begrudgingly. Serious investment to revamp the British manufacturing/services will come with massively strong strings attached. China has been investing and building all around the South China Sea, they are not doing this as a 'generous benefactor'. Look at the firm way it is handling the various 'disputes' in the region as to takes over.

I think that China has been investing and building a lot further than all around the South China Sea. I was in Cuba a few years ago. All those wonderful colonial buildings which were falling into ruins after the collapse of the Soviet Union were gradually being restored. Around the building sites were bags of cement - made in China. I think the same is going on in Africa too.

math I agree, Salisbury and Amesbury poisonings are very puzzling.

EU aren't there to get involved and resolve Tory party disputes

DonaldTusk@eucopresident
Politicians come and go but the problems they have created for people remain. I can only regret that the idea of #Brexit has not left with Davis and Johnson. But...who knows?

@faisalislam🇪🇺
Germany’s Europe minister tweeting from the London Western Balkans summit earlier today waiting for his host the then Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson

Michael Roth MdB🇪@MiRo_SPD
We’re still waiting for our host... #WBLondonSummit

EU frustration at 'mess' caused by Theresa May's political meltdown
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/boris-johnson-resignation-brexit-david-davis-theresa-may-eu-resigns-cabinet-
a8439201.html

Re poisoning. My (probably worthless) theory is that Mr Putin did not 'order' it but a lab door might have accidentally been lefty unlocked one night and some 'miscreants' got in and 'Oh dear 5 flasks are now 4'.
If pushed a long inquiry would be held and a security guard would be blamed for nipping out for a cigarette. Then the old 'Thomas a Beckett' thing, 'who will rid me of this turbulant priest' (read, spread a little mayhem in Britain).

Yes, China is activity pushing its soft power strategy: lots of foreign aid, lots of relationship building, lots of making friends in places that the US and EU have both stepped back from a bit. They know they don't want a hot war yet. Trump may be looking for a trade war and thinks he doesn't need friends to win it, but China knows they wants lots and lots of friends in all sorts of places...

I think the most frustrating thing in all this is watching all the "no more foreign aid" Brexit types spouting off about Britain's special place in the world while clearly not paying the slightest attention to China's steady, careful, determined rise.

Really Red?

@Peregrina, absolutely. The Chinese were wanting to take over major expansion/ refurbishment in Liverpool. Although completely off topic, it is fortunate that China is seeming to improve toxic emissions, albeit slowly as their economy grows they will all want a car/TV/airconditioning.