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.

Gove has pulled out of a scheduled press conference and a conservation meeting ...

I suppose the white paper has been postponed until next week so there could be meetings about that?

On Twitter, they are saying Gove has pulled out of a scheduled press conference and a conservation meeting this morning - perhaps he is going to resign too?

Only way to trigger a leadership challenge MIGHT be for Gove to initate it, if Johnson can't get the numbers. If Gove miscalculated and this isn't part of his original plan and he's thinking he has no choice but to get involved. (That either suggests he's very confident or very desparate. Lean towards to the former).

The fact that Johnson didn't surface at all yesterday, suggests that he's not having much luck and couldn't even be a stalking horse - or he got a better offer. (Has he left the FCO residence yet? Does he intend to?!)

And I am STILL surprised that Graham Brady didn't do the deed yesterday.

If Gove is missing something, I can only assume that something is afoot.

And I am STILL surprised that Graham Brady didn't do the deed yesterday.

But I thought there was a back bench meeting but May survived it with applause?

www.irishtimes.com/news/world/uk/rumours-swirl-over-may-s-fate-but-pm-survives-crunch-backbench-meeting-1.3559394

A lot of the issues around Brexit are derived from the fact that a lot of Brexiteers either were not aware of the UKs position back in the 1960s or 1960s, or - being a lot younger then - they completely missed the nuances of it. Hence their current rhetoric which completely rewrites history into the UK being mugged by the EEC (as 'twas) and forced to sign up to joining on pain of never being able to bang on about the war again (unless anyone can suggest a worse fate for a Brexiteer ?).

The reality (i.e history) is that the UK (or rather businesses in the UK ... and that alone should start to chime with recent "fuck business" comments) was keen to join the EEC in the 1960s. Ted Heath made a few applications, until the death of de Gaulle (who, presciently, never trusted the UK to escape the shadow of the US) let us in in 1972.

Britain was not some industrial colossus bestriding the world stage in the 60s and early 70s. It was a third rate nation whose industry - what there was - was slerotic and moribund. When the best your entire motor industry can produce is the Austin Allegro, then you're in the shit. Our neighbours Ford Cortina was off the road (well, stuck on the road) for over 3 months one year because some part (from Lucas I think) was unavailable because either Lucas were striking, or the delivery company, or (more usually) both at the same time.

There's some really nice meadows and wildflowers in Longbridge, right now.

The fact that Johnson didn't surface at all yesterday, suggests that he's not having much luck and couldn't even be a stalking horse - or he got a better offer.

US president ?

Thanks Red and Mother. I will keep on being challenged.

So what are the chances of Gove launching a no confidence motion and a leadership bid? That must surely lead to a GE, which i think would lead to a Labour led coalition. Labour were making astute comments yesterday about the way forward.

If this is a route to soft or no Brexit, let it happen. But I do hope, most of all, that whoever gets in next starts looking at our issues bottom up. Housing, the NHS, jobs and training are causes of Brexit. They need to be fixed too, otherwise it doesn't matter if we get a deal.

But I thought there was a back bench meeting but May survived it with applause?

It later seems to have emerged that only loyalists turned up to it, and over 80 ERG supporters went to a different meeting. 80 being a record turn out.

The rumour towards the end of the day was that there was 2 dozen letters in yesterday with potentially another 2 dozen in the works today though. But they seemed to be pending on 'something'.

I'm just about to head out. I'm out until 2.30ish but will try and check in.If it all goes crazy, start a new thread.

Robert Peston @Peston
The Brexiters of ERG believed they had pressurised @theresa_may to delay Brexit white paper. They are wrong. She told cabinet it will be published Thursday

Keep your eyes on this too.

The rumour towards the end of the day was that there was 2 dozen letters in yesterday with potentially another 2 dozen in the works today though

Just putting this out there in case it's needed.

https://goo.gl/images/FxH6qf

Peter Walker @peterwalker99
False alarm with Gove, it seems. Something to do with the scheduling of cabinet.

We had almost that exact message that it was a false alarm with Johnson yesterday.

Better picture just to remind any Tory leadership voters

They are wrong. She told cabinet it will be published Thursday

Hmmm think Gove's rescheduling is to do with plotting... was he part of the pressure to get the white paper postponed though?

Well things must be bad as I'm relieved Gove isn't leaving.

Also where was TM off to ? Why did she need a hat? Not to see the Queen?

Maybe she was, hence the need for the chapeau or fascinator.

Is it possible the orange cuntmuffin has landed early and TM is off for an audience?

I was thinking hat must mean head of state surely. Hats must not be worn in the House of Commons according to google.

She was going to an event honouring the RAF

Ahh he's apparently leaving now for europe as he's got NATO tomorrow/thursday...

She was going to an event honouring the RAF

Maybe she should stand further back ?

Are letters pending on whether Boris makes a move? I confess I don't know how it could play out, things happen so suddenly