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.

Why isn't the obvious comparator Ireland?

Not sure - I'll need to read the whole report. Ireland was one of the 12 reference countries though so
I'm sure will feature in it!

To cheer myself up I've been watching Kids React To... on the Youtubes.

@Thomasinaa - the Irish economy is still very different to the uk economy. Ireland's population is much smaller- although the diaspora is pretty huge.

That is an impressive report, Prettybird.

Ireland is indeed among the 12 comparators and the point is made that smaller states tend to be well positioned in the global economy.

Once through the turmoil, and with transport links in place avoiding the UK, RoI could do very well from Brexit with its well educated, English speaking workforce, knowledge based, pharmaceutical and financial industries, historical links to the US and a number of Commonwealth countries via the diaspora, and commitment to the EU.
As a British born descendant of the diaspora, I couldn’t be more pleased at this.

I had an argument discussion with someone else at the meeting who complained that the word "small" was used too often in the report because he considered the word to be negative.

I said we should be embracing it and to stop making excuses for it: small is not bad, as the other 12 countries demonstrate.

Laura Kuennsberg @bbclaurak
8 cabinet ministers met for pizza and backstop chat tonight (they know how to have a good time) - Leadsom, Grayling, Hunt, Gove, Mordaunt, Cox, Raab, Truss, sources suggest - I don't know who ate the pepperoni, but many of them expressed concerns over backstop time limit

If you were to do a scene for a mafia movie....

Nick Gutteridge @ nick_gutteridge
🚨 EU official: 'That was clear on Sunday afternoon, what we got from Michel Barnier, that the spirit of talks on Sunday were not promising any progress before the summit this Wednesday.' 🚨

Christopher Hope @ christopherhope
Today feels like the tipping point in the future of John Bercow as Speaker. I hear Andrea Leadsom is weighing up a statement on the Dame Laura Cox report. If she makes one, MPs could line up to call for him to quit.

Esther Webber @estwebber
Equalities cttee chair Maria Miller says "absolutely" John Bercow needs to go following the Cox report #bbcr4today

Harry Cole @ mrharrycole
She wasn’t saying this last night. Plates are moving.

What do you think to a double hit to take down Bercow and May by the end of the week?

What has happened is that the DUP are on notice that they have a bitter pill to swallow. They will not swallow that pill. They have never been bluffing.

I'm reminded of the scene in "Die Hard" where the nitwit Ellis tries to negotiate with Alan Rickman, and Bruce Willis desperately tries to warn him on the radio ...

Ellis, you have no idea who you are dealing with and what they're capable of ...

(I think in TV and cinema clips ... I grew up watching "Dream On" )

Darren McCaffrey @ darreneuronews
BREAK: Senior EU official confirms the EU will not be providing dinner for Theresa May on Wednesday 🙀

small is not bad

Indeed - it has been argued that in many cases 'Small is Beautiful.' See E F Schumacher's very readable book for a more detailed description.

Nick Gutteridge @nick_gutteridge
EU official says May's precarious domestic position 'might have an influence on choreography but not really on substance', citing the EU delaying releasing its verdict on Chequers. But suggests pleas from PM for EU to soften its position because of DUP/ERG will fall on deaf ears.

Jessica elgot @jessicaelgot
Maria Miller asks for UQ on bullying in Parliament

Urgent Question for anyone who isn't sure what UQ is. So asking for an urgent debate. That means Bercow really in trouble.

And a reminder in simple terms

The Irish border @borderirish
The backstop is the Good Friday Agreement for slow learners

Just so every time this week you hear May, Gove, Johnson or anyone saying about the EU being unfair you know exactly what they are actually saying

Cabinet meeting about to start. Rumours of someone planning to walk out in front of cameras.

RE urgent questions
Christopher Hope @ christopherhope
Angela Eagle is also asking for one today. If Speaker John Bercow decides not to grant one Andrea Leadsom is considering a statement. Feels like a tipping point

Angela Eagle @ angelaeagle
For the record I am not asking a UQ on bullying and I do not think the proximity of a constitutional crisis caused by Brexit is the time to be trying to change the Speaker- that way lies utter chaos

www.buzzfeed.com/amphtml/alexwickham/theresa-may-authorised-a-letter-criticising-tory-brexiteers?bftwuk=&utm_term=4ldqpgm&__twitter_impression=true
Theresa May Authorised A Letter Criticising Tory Brexiteers For Attacking Her Brexit Adviser
Downing Street confirmed to BuzzFeed News that it authorised a letter from cabinet secretary Mark Sedwill accusing Brexiteers of "shameful attacks".

Asked by BuzzFeed News if the prime minister signed off Sedwill’s letter admonishing those Tory Brexiteers who had criticised Robbins, Number 10 confirmed: “It was authorised”.

It is highly unusual for civil servants to go public with their views in the press.

The civil service code sets out that civil servants must “ensure you have ministerial authorisation for any contact with the media”.

The confirmation that Downing Street endorsed a public attack from the civil service against Brexiteer MPs will likely further sour relations between the two camps.

Jim Pickard @ pickardje
senior UK gov figure on the consequences for Ireland of a no-deal Brexit: “They would be hit the hardest, they would be fucked, less food security, smaller country, small economy, less ability to manoeuvre, if you think our house prices will fall 30% theirs will go down 50-60%”

Kevin Schofield @PolhomeEditor
Emily Thornberry and Angela Eagle both say now is not the time to replace John Bercow, as Labour give him their backing. Looks like he's safe. Again.

Christopher Hope @christopherhope
Correction: Labour MP John Mann NOT Angela Eagle has submitted a UQ for a debate on Dame Laura Cox's bullying report. Speaker John Bercow currently considering whether to grant it.

Interesting. John Mann is one of the few Labour Brexit Rebels...