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.

Strong remainer that I am, I do get pissed off when German/French media get sneery towards the UK. Can't explain why - it's visceral!

It's probably because they tend to be cartoonish, compared to the more measured tones of the UK press. After all "Up yours DeLors" is a much better reflection of how the UK press treats it's audience.

Oh ... hang on ...

@Keir_Starmer again reaffirms that the #Labour leadership is not ruling out a campaign to #Remain in the EU on #Marr

Interestingly, I'm not ruling out voting Labour, either .....

I’m about worried by the polls though, apparently it’s still very much neck and neck as to whether Leave or Remain would come out on top.

Hopefully there would at least be a deal for us to vote on - so in the event of a leave win, we would at least know what we are getting this time. And with all the fantasy removed - leave may seem less of a viable option for those leave voters that claim to have had 'genuine reasons and concerns.'

But then prominent brexiteers are already telling leave voters not to bother turning out for a second vote. We can but hope they follow this advice.

I’m about worried by the polls though, apparently it’s still very much neck and neck as to whether Leave or Remain would come out on top.

Which is why you should require a super-majority to change course.

They'll only say boycott the vote if they are sure they would lose, to try to make it less valid.
If Leave have a decent chance to win, they'll all campaign to vote

The Germans, French etc can read the Uk press
There have been years of "EU dirty rat" but the tabloid hate fest has obviously rocketed over the last 2 years
so there is natural resentment over this, which seeps into the public here.
The EU even set up a site to debunk the thousands of lies published.

The German press has never sunk to those depths of name-calling, or claiming the UK are fascists / communists/ lizard people.

However, comment is still mostly total bafflement that the UK govt is still arguing with itself about what it wants.
The UK was until the referendum highly rated, often described as "sometimes eccentric, but excellent in a crisis"

The disgraceful insults by Hunt and Boris, as major politicians, have done tremendous damage to the Uk's status and has caused considerable disgust and anger.

"Global Britain": How NOT to win friends and influence people

I see that Gove is now saying that "no deal-planning" should be stepped up and that the approach needs to change from consult and cajole to command and control, where orders are issued. That's us he's talking about.

Fuck business.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-45931537

Businesses are becoming exasperated at the lack of progress in Brexit talks and are pausing or cancelling investment in the UK.

A week that many had hoped would bring progress in the talks has now come and gone without a breakthrough.

Employers group the CBI says 80% of surveyed members feel Brexit uncertainty has already had a negative impact on investment decisions.

(stopped at the point where news became a plug for the government)

From that BBC article....

"Of the members surveyed by the CBI, 39% said they would trigger additional contingency plans if there was no further clarity by November, while a further 19% said it was already too late"

Just under 20% say it is too late

And that isn't the headline?!

Sorry, should have quoted source for that Gove threat. Sunday Times article on Page 14 (dead three version and can't link due to paywall).

If Labour are so committed to a People’s Vote, why did none of them (the shadow cabinet) turn up to the march? Why not tweet about it, or release a statement? It’s just more deception.

Indeed

Dh has just described the current situation as like the Penrose Staircase. Going round and round and round and never getting anywhere

I emailed again today after a PeoplesVote prompting...

https://metro.co.uk/2018/10/21/pressure-mounts-on-theresa-may-as-tories-tell-her-to-bring-her-own-noose-to-meeting-8059361/?ito=cbshare

The prime minister has now been told 🤔 to face disgruntled Conservative MPs at a 1922 Committee meeting on Wednesday.

A senior Brexiteer told the Mail on Sunday:
‘She should bring her own noose to the ’22.
Short of an uncharacteristically powerful, persuasive and coherent performance, then I think her time will be up.’

Andrew Bridgen, another Tory critic of Mrs May, told the newspaper:
‘This week Theresa May will find that she is drinking in the last chance saloon and the bad news for her is that the bar is already dry.

‘If she doesn’t turn up to the ’22 that will only make the letters go in even faster.’

MPs in safe seats have no worries - tribal loyalties rule.
Probably just 150 MPs can be really pressured

Of course, if there is a no deal and the effects are as terrible as Leavers North, Booker & co predict,
then the Tory party might be annhililated

I’ve also emailed my MP today. She has spoken in favour of a People’s Vote but I wanted to emphasise that if there’s a vote, it must include the option to remain.

Thanks best i forgot to include that, so that's my next email sorted or I might branch out and do a letter. I can't be arrested for harrassment can I ?

Labour MPs in Scotland used to think that they were in safe seats.....

...remember how in 2015, the SNP "broke" the BBC's swingometer

Tweet this morning from Nicola Sturgeon.

Nicola Sturgeonn* @NicolaSturgeon

This morning I’ve seen quotes from Tories to the effect that PM is ‘entering the killing zone’, faces ‘assassination’ and should take ‘her own noose’ to a meeting. Few disagree with her more than I do, but language like this debases politics. Get a grip, Tories.

Good for Nicola. It’s appalling language to use.

The problem with remaining now is that other member states have spent time and money preparing for Brexit (Ireland and the Netherlands spring to mind). The goodwill is gone.

The entire psyche of Britain needs to change wrt EU membership. Its no good staying in with the country still split and the government/eurosceptic MEP's still playing their games. You are either in as a fully committed member state or you are out. I imagine europe will be glad to see the back of the UK.

Im glad someone picked up on that language and spoke out, I noted it and was a bit

It had to be Nicola Sturgeon to do it didn't it

are we sure she can't do a Scottish takeover of Westminster