Westministenders: Deadline Day #1

[RedToothBrush]

We have hit another Deadline Day.

As it stands, the EU are looking for more progress. May is digging in her heels by suggesting there is new a requirement for backstop to a backstop. The backstop to all intents and purposes is the GFA. So May is saying in effect, that the EU are forcing her to put in provisions to protect an international agreement we are signed up to, and if we breech it we risk peace in NI.

After lots of noise it seems that the Cabinet have decided to stick by May. For now.

The EU look like they are talking as if their meeting next month will exclude the UK and just go straight to No Deal planning.

There is also other talk of alternatives to allow the UK to stay in the customs union. But theres not much to that and it still doesn't solve the ERG and the DUP problem.

May is vastly unestimating how much the ERG and the DUP want to break the GFA. Which is a huge misjudgment.

There is also talk of the final final Deadline Day actually being Dec 13. For various reasons its not. Thats 29th March.

So Wednesday is Deadline Day #1. Expect more.

I dipped in and out of the today program on radio 4 this morning. They inexplicably had Roger Daltry on talking about Brexit - he’s pro leave. Can’t remember his reasons for leaving exactly but it was along the lines of

• I want out of the corrupt bureaucracy of Brussels
• regarding it will be harder for musicians to move about Europe touring “we managed before the EU”

This is so frustrating.

{ not the whole picture and told them about the new Food Supply Minister. They were shocked . I think a light bulb went on.}
The strange 'irony' of a light going on in the USA while it may well go off in the UK!
News from a ferry port.
Last year 'security' of the perimeter was an 8 foot wire fence. not that had had another 2 feet added and razor wire on top. A second fence, maybe 12 foot with lots of razor wire and even a third fence again 10 foot. his maybe just so that guard dogs can run around free if necessary?
Also, French army 'patrolling' newly arrived vehicles from the UK. Not sure why?
It has been 'standard' to have a lot of Gendarmes patrolling at ferry loading times to keep the possible 'immigrants' in France (as was highlighted on SKY news a few weeks back).

The Hope Not Hate report released today is very interesting, highlights how anti-immigrant and anti-Islam views are tied up with other grievances in deprived city areas and coastal towns. Well worth a read: www.hopenothate.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/FINAL-VERSION.pdf

Guardian article about it here: www.theguardian.com/society/2018/oct/17/divided-britain-study-finds-huge-chasm-in-attitudes?CMP=share_btn_tw

I hadn't actually seen this before. Weird - you normally have consultations on legislation not trade agreements- especially when we don't know what crumbs Trump would be kind enough to bestow.

consultations.trade.gov.uk/policy/consultation-on-trade-negotiations-with-the-us/?fbclid=IwAR3hkJo_UwSxds-7OE52B4rq2wOguapfRAd4Lr7U0Jpt5P14RTy3mjvLLxA

A guide on what to stockpile for us wise ones....

amp.theguardian.com/politics/shortcuts/2018/jul/12/a-no-deal-brexit-survival-guide-what-food-to-stockpile?CMP=share_btn_tw&__twitter_impression=true

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/oct/16/false-promises-brexit-john-major

I have made no false promises on Brexit – I’m free to tell you the truth
John Major

Those who persuaded a deceived population to vote to be weaker and poorer
will never be forgiven

Our friends, the Americans, are hard-headed about power. It is romantic
folly to think otherwise. Be in no doubt – if the UK can no longer serve
America’s interests in Europe, she will look elsewhere for someone who
can.

Our value – as an ally of America – will decline. No “ifs”, no “buts”: we
will be less relevant. No one should be bedazzled by folksy talk of our
“special relationship”: it is becoming less “special” year by year.

What is new is that much of the world will now perceive Britain to be a
middle-sized, middle-ranking nation that is no longer super-charged by its
alliances. Suddenly, the world will be a little chillier.

I have no constituency vote clouding my view of Brexit. I have no ambition
driving my support for it. I have no party whips demanding loyalty before
conscience. I have made no false promises about Brexit that I must pretend
can still be honoured, even though – in my heart – I know they cannot. I
am free to say absolutely and precisely what I believe about Brexit. And
it is this:

I understand the motives of those who voted to leave the European Union:
it can – as I well know – be very frustrating. Nonetheless, after weighing
its frustrations and opportunities, there is no doubt in my own mind that
our decision is a colossal misjudgment that will diminish both the UK and
the EU. It will damage our national and personal wealth, and may seriously
hamper our future security. It may even, over time, break up our United
Kingdom. It will most definitely limit the prospects of our young.

And – once this becomes clear – I believe those who promised what will
never be delivered will have much to answer for. They persuaded a deceived
population to vote to be weaker and poorer. That will never be forgotten –
nor forgiven.

Roger Daltry on talking about Brexit

I guess sheet metal workers have their reasons too ...

I’m buying in bulk bags of chocolate. Got lots of carbs in the shape of rice and pasta.

It’s protein I’m struggling with dh and the kids are fussy buggers. There is no way they will eat a lentil casserole. I need to loom round the shops for some ideas there.

I really struggle to understand why our elected representatives are set on a course which weakens our economy and makes life worse for ordinary people

Same here. I wonder if we'll ever know what's truly going on.

The fear is that Brexit is just a means to an end.

The 'Atlantic Bridge' supporters in the Conservative party and elsewhere (Gove, Johnson, Farage) believe that the UK should be aligned with the USA rather than with Europe. They support a free market economy as seen in the US and would gladly sell what's left of the UK to American interests. The Americans support this approach as it puts a destabilising country right on the EU's doorstep.

The 'Britannia Unchained' Tories (Raab, Patel, Truss, Leadsom) also want to deregulate the UK and let market forces decide wages, working conditions etc. in order to compete with low-wage economies such as India and China.

Neither group supports any form of Government intervention or ownership of assets, including the Government provision of healthcare and education. Both groups are totally opposed to the European mixed-economy models that set minimum wages and conditions, protect workers' and consumer rights, require stakeholder participation on company boards (rather than only shareholders) etc.

The third group make their money by moving assets around and charging interest and commission at every point in the transaction. Rees-Mogg, Redwood etc. are nothing more than glorified bookmakers. They take a cut of any winnings that investors money earns for them, and even take a cut when they gamble away their investors money and incur a loss.

All three groups are happy to see the UK collapse. They and their supporters will buy up UK assets at rock bottom prices. Dissent can easily be dismissed by the Press, who will help to deflect the blame on to the EU, Remainers, and Civil Service. Any disorder can be dealt with using the State of Emergency powers in the Civil Contingencies Act.

Welcome to Singapore on Thames.

Sometimes I think it would have been better if Boris Johnson had become PM in 2016. Surely the whole Brexit debacle would have imploded by now - no excuses with a Brexiteer in charge.

Yes, I can't help but agree.

I don't actually think May actively WANTS no deal, but I do think she's staggering towards one. I wonder if she could call the DUP's bluff? How hardcore/frothing IS Arlene F exactly?

How hardcore/frothing IS Arlene F exactly?

The answer to that is: very

The 'Atlantic Bridge' supporters in the Conservative party and elsewhere (Gove, Johnson, Farage) believe that the UK should be aligned with the USA rather than with Europe.

The problem with that - as Mr. Major correctly notes - is that the US will drop the UK as soon as it's value is gone. Even as we speak, Trumps main selling point is "America First", so it's hardly news. Besides, it is exactly how Britain behaved before WW2. As soon as countries were of no utility they could FOAD.

I mean in normal times how many UK citizens outwith Northern Ireland would even know the name of the leader of the DUP.

I think it's more telling that even at the height of The Troubles, few mainlanders knew anything about NI - whether it be politics or otherwise. Even now you have cretins who think that "Ireland" is part of Britain. I shudder to think what would happen if someone that moronic were to be in a position of power.

@MyBrexitUnicornDied - chocolate is a great idea. I know protein and fussy eaters is an issue especially if you want to keep people cheered up.
Look at what you can put in your freezer- chicken or turkey if those appeal. Frankly chicken burgers or nuggets if those appeal more.
If things start to get tricky even for a short while, no one wants to hunker down with lentils if those aren't things you normally eat. It just creates an immediate atmosphere of "battening down the hatches " in a way that can upset younger family members .
Look at tinned chicken casseroles or curries or pies. Or chilli.
Pop over to the Prepper topic and lurk a bit or just ask.

I am quite sure the Brexiters would love us to be the 51st State. We wouldn't hear a squeak about 'Sovereignty', or 'make our own laws'. As for more money for the NHS - that won't apply because it won't exist.

@Peregrina They'd also like us to have FDA food regulations which are pretty nuts.

We already have people in this country who think you phone 911 for an emergency, or think that American laws apply.

MyBrexitUnicornDied

I thought the same about Daltrey, then realised that he’s 74 and the perfect Leaver demographic of white, male, wealthy and older.

Did you hear Humphrys trying to interview Simon Coveney? Coveney was bullish and refused to let him try and blame EU intransigence for the Irish border problems.

Well worth a listen - from around 2:10:00:

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0000qks

John Major's speech - is worth reading in full

Traditional moderate conservatism.
If we get an emergency leader from oitside Parliament - easy to make someone a Lord - he'd get my vote !

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/john-major-speech-full-ex-13427251

" ... I am deeply concerned that the “Centre” vote
– the moderate vote that is shared among all the main Parties –
will not be able to hold its traditional influence over policy.

It is crucial that it does.
At heart, we are a tolerant, compassionate, and kindly nation.
I feel privileged to have been born into it.

Our nation should not tolerate the unreasoning antipathy of the extremes
– to the EU, to foreigners or to minority groups.

Such antipathy is repellent, and diminishes us as a nation.

Softer, more reasonable voices should not be drowned out by the raucous din of the loudest.

I freely confess to a taste for compromise.
I have always preferred good old British pragmatism to rigorous ideology.

Politics is real life.
It isn’t warfare.
It isn’t a popularity contest.
It’s about people.
It’s about four nations who deserve more than an ideological tug-of-war.

And the advocates of the extreme Right or Left must understand those with different opinions may well be opponents – but they are still our countrymen and women.

To treat them as “enemies” or “saboteurs” or “traitors” is to poison both the political system and our way of life.
< hear, hear >

Respect and civility would do much to help lift politics out of the dog days in which it is now living."

Look at what you can put in your freezer- chicken or turkey if those appeal. Frankly chicken burgers or nuggets if those appeal more.

If you are serious about prepping, where's the electricity for the freezer coming from ?

Among the many differences between Major and May:

+He is a basically decent, moderate person without her obvious dislike of non-white Brits & immigrants

• He stood up to the "bastards" as he called them, in his own party and he pushed through the polcies he thought best, not what they demanded

He was unfortunate to have been lumbered with the aftermath of all MrsT did, plus the great charisma of a young Blair and resurgent Labour

DG Power cuts - for more than a couple of hours every day or so - are a huge way down the road from initial shortages,
which is what most recommend for prepping.
Almost everyone can organise a week or so of supplies, but I only whisper quietly about ready-to-eat in tins or packets

I remember tears ago reading a political commentator pointing out that John Smith and John Major, if they'd swapped their countries of birth but all other things being equal could easily have swapped their party as well.

They were both basically decent people who wanted equality of opportunity for all and didn't believe in inherited and/or covert privilege.