Westministenders: The Slow Reveal

[RedToothBrush]

The DUP are playing silly buggers.
The EU are getting nervous and turning down the pressure.
The ERG still want Schroedingers Brexit.
The Budget is coming. So is a government defeat or climb down.
The M26 is closing.

Keep thinking of the glorious freedom your blue passport will give up whilst you search waste tips.

Andrew Bridgen wins "ignorant fucking twat of the day" prize amid stiff competition.

Ah yes Andrew Bridgen. Prize twat.
Bet he wouldn't claim that worked the other way though.
Pillock.

I think I'm going to be sick.

To be fair, he's having his arse handed to him on a plate on that thread.

I thought the Andrew bridgen clip might be when he also got his ignorance exposed by Rte interviewer on Morning Ireland...a few weeks back. Will look for it

Seems the Tories can get away with anything. If Scotland leaves, it will become much harder for them to lose an election. England will be in even worse trouble.

It is extremely rare for Scotland to make a meaningful difference to the "colour" of a stable UK Government. Arguably, the current Government is an exception - as without the 13 Scottish Tories , May wouldn't even have been in a position to be put over a barrel by go into a Confidence and Supply Agreement with the DUP

The UK gets what England wants

Regarding the Queen of Scotland - technically we are not her "subjects" as sovereignty is resides with the Scottish people Subtle difference from England.

It is extremely rare for Scotland to make a meaningful difference to the "colour" of a stable UK Government
I'm going to say 'thank you' Scotland for the 3 labour terms.

Not without grave errors, but compared to this now, it feels like it was a golden age.

Sturgeon is winning with her eloquence and stateswomanship right now though prettybird, many in england would gladly vote for her now if we could, and you know I didn't used to be SNP. .

But that's the point: Labour didn't need the Scottish MPs in order to have a majority Blair would still have had a decent majority without them in all of his 3 terms.

But TM wouldn't even be able to "command" a majority with the DUP if it weren't for the Scottish Conservative seats from the 2017 election.

And to be fair, I wasn't an independence supporter until 1997. - and would've voted against even the limited devolution we were offered in 1978 (as it was, I couldn't yet vote but my vote "counted" against it, as I was already on the register

What I have noticed since the EU Referendum is a change in attitude from some of the English electorate, which is "we didn't want you to leave, but now, if you can, run, run for the hills"

Thanks prettybird I didn't realise that. I always thought labour couldn't win without Scotland.

@tnewtondunn
No10: PM to make unscheduled statement to the Commons this afternoon on Brexit negotiations (3.30pmish). Expect another Boudicca moment

shit

I'm not so sure if the mess will keep the Tories out of power for long - if at all - since they have been averaging slightly ahead of Labour for most of the time since the 2017 GE

They were hugely ahead before the 2017 GE, which IMO is why May went for a GE - to stick it to Labour. Gradually, the lead in the polls narrowed, but it still looked like a comfortable win, until one of the very last polls, and then the exit poll. So I think all we can say is that all bets are off at the moment.

I would love to know what the Queen has thought of various PMs over the years. I imagine there are some that she quite liked, others that she could respect although didn't agree with their viewpoint, and others that personally she has little time for. I do wonder if May is in the last category - don't forget that May announced that she was forming a Government, not that 'The Queen has asked me...'

Soubry - yes, needs to put her money where her mouth is.

Coincidence - I've been pondering what the queen has been saying to the PM and what she actually thinks. It's so crazy atm the government is like a bolted and frightened horse. I expect the queen is trying to sit back and speak in soothing neutral tones.

Dying to know what she thinks and what she's said though!

Bridgen is the BBC’s go to Brexiteer.

He’s a complete and utter twunt.

I've been pondering what the queen has been saying to the PM and what she actually thinks

I'm pretty certain the meetings really are 1:1, with no one else present, no agenda, and no minutes (read it in a Readers Digest article years ago). She (the Queen) is privy to above-top-secret briefings.

There's also a very discreet royal political machine behind the scenes. By all accounts (or Readers Digest articles ) the Queen is exceptionally well informed, and does not suffer waffle or politicospeak.

By contracts, Charles only expressed worry about Brexit (this is Private Eye, now ) is whether he'll lose any money from it.

Claires also in trouble

www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-45864449

The UKs high streets will be even more of a wasteland after Brexit. How can Brxiters not accept this? Its simple maths about tarrifs and trade, it's basic simple logic argh!

DG do you think the queen and TM play checkers?

GD Logic and Brexiters? That's about as true as a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. It's nice how consistently commited they are to being illogical though... thats the best silver lining or looking on the brightside i can muster.

How can Brxiters not accept this? Its simple maths about tarrifs and trade, it's basic simple logic

You answered your own question.

PoliticalPics @PoliticalPics
The PM just arrived at Back door of No10 her team are going to amazing lengths to block her being photographed cars back and forth people from No10 used to block her getting out of car, and I've never seen her move so fast, she looks defeated and acting defeated, it's almost over

Beth Rigby @BethRigby
This happened at the informal cabinet meet on Thurs too. Cabinet ministers sent via cabinet office or driven round back of No 10. Hunt the only on through front door. All designed to avoid the waiting cameras & journos

Laura Kuenssberg @bbclaurak
Brexiteer MPs trying to persuade Cabinet ministers to force PM to ditch Chequers at tomorrow's meeting - serious warnings flying around about what happens if she doesn't - 'I'm not sure how we stop chaos if she doesn't budge', says one

Robert Peston @Peston
As you know, Downing Street source told me reason for Brexit talks breakdown was ⁦*@Theresa*_may⁩ could not accept the proposed “backstop to the backstop”. But impeccable source tells me “backstop to the backstop” was a UK idea. Farce or tragedy?

Ian Wishart @IanWishart
It's not "backstop to the backstop" the UK doesn't accept it was indeed the UK idea and is basically their branding it's the fact that the EU insists their backstop still underpins it.

Two backstops still appear in phrase "backstop to the backstop" so UK must accept both

So the backstop to the backstop is British wording over the EU simply wanting a backstop and the UK trying to rewrite the terminology for a British audience. The principle is still the same; the EU want an actual backstop.

Announcement later today is the no deal announcement isn't it?

A resignation would be done on the steps of No10 not to parliament.
A u-turn wouldn't be done to parliament in this way either.

Will May resign on health grounds?

To be fair Woman - it is a canard that is promulgated by the Labour Party itself (and encouraged by the Tories, viz that 2015 election campaign with Milliband in Salmond's pocket when Salmond wasn't even leader of the SNP ) to try to scare off its own voters from defecting to the SNP.

Just a reminder of this

Daniel Hannan @DanielJHannan
Of all the scare stories propagated by EU supporters, the idea that the UK and Ireland would impose borders after 94 years is the silliest.
18 Nov 2015

Arhhh yes. The 'brilliant' Daniel Hannan.