Westminstenders: Crisis. What Crisis

[RedToothBrush]

October is slowly rolling into November.

Your eyes, rightly, will be distracted by events the other side of the pond.

It won't be good and it won't be pretty and it will have an impact on what happens here in relation to Brexit in one way or another.

May seems to have headed off trouble makers for now. But that means nothing if she can't get a deal through parliament.

And if you think we are in anyway prepared for No Deal I'd like whatever drugs you are taking. That way lies only disorder and to put it bluntly, deaths.

We MUST find a deal, any deal to prevent that. Desperation is the final ingredients in this mess. Who will blink as they realise what's at stake?

The problem is though, is too few MPs have grasped what's at state, such is the quality of our elected representatives. And that's the truly terrifying bit.

If they can't work out the risk of no deal, they certainly not equipped to handle the fall out of no deal.

If you want to shit yourself anymore, I'd like to take this opportunity to remind you that the minister responsible for hauling all your food and medical supplies in the event if no deal, is Mr Christopher Grayling.

Start praying.

Thanks for the new thread Red

Today I taught in a class where the topic they were studying was 'Europe'. They had a picture of the EU flag up - I thought that was nice. (Though as the teacher was explaining the work to me her face did suddenly twitch, when she said 'Europe', as if she was worried I might kick off.)

Thanks Red. Actually surprised you haven't used this thread title before... have you been saving it specially?

Place mat king

Thanks Red - determined to keep up this time...

Thanks Red

Apparently 40% of the public up for grabs by either side in a People’s Vote analysis. Some of this is surprising, including that Lexiters are among those most likely to change their mind.

www.politics.co.uk/comment-analysis/2018/10/25/people-s-vote-analysis-40-of-the-public-up-for-grabs-by-eith

Thanks red

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/british-political-clan-test-research-uk-general-election-right-wing-left-bmg-a8599586.html
A new way to have a look at the electorate.
I quite like that and I think it reflects the way people vote/feel about things better than the usual clivage right/left.

Unsurpringly for me, I’m green!

Thanks red

Oh this one's good

www.buzzfeed.com/amphtml/alexwickham/northern-ireland-eu-plans-time-zones-uk?__twitter_impression=true
The UK Is Trying To Block EU Plans That Could Put Northern Ireland And Ireland In Different Time Zones
Exclusive: The government is working to kill EU proposals to end daylight saving time.

Feasibly I suspect we could use the GFA to argue our side on this one as Irish citizens in NI might have to be consulted somehow.

.

Thanks, RTB

This is wrt prospects of moving to Germany, discussed on the previous thread. Does the Foreign Office do anything like this?
www.dfa.ie/global-irish/staying-in-touch/latest-news/newsarchive/the-new-irish-in-berlin.html

Interesting to note there is a GAA club there. (=Gaelic Athletic Association, the organisation that operates Gaelic football and hurling in Ireland and around the world).

Apparently there are about 27,000 British nationals living in Berlin, and I wondered if the Foreign Office ever puts on events or facilitates networking.

Hold on, you mean that Not been able to have an influence on EU decisions can be bad?!?

I have dear....

I have to laugh at the idea on Ireland been on one time zone and NI been on another tbh.

Plaice Mat King.
Thanks @Redtoothbrush as ever.
By the way, I was in central Manchester a couple of days ago and happened upon the cat cafe on high street not far from Victoria. It really cheered me up - beautiful beautiful cats, so therapeutic, if cats are your thing :)

I belonged to the Global Green Community too. I don't regard myself as especially 'green' so that was a bit of a suprise.

math I've had jobs in Germany off & on since the late 1980s
The embassy, consulates etc have never organised any expat events, or contacted us

Their function - in an country - appears to be to try to increase uk influence on the host country, wrt support f\Uk / US foreign and military policies in other countries.

Expats are ignored, too far below that level
There is only contact if an expat requires specific consular assistance for some issue

Their function - in any country -

Me too Pérégrina. Odd. My views don't easily fit into any easy box so thought results might be weird, but can't work out the green thing. There weren't that many green questions really either.

@Mightybanhammer - that cat cafe is good for the soul. As is gardening. World turns. Garden grows. Cats don't give a shit.

Raab must be pulling everyone's plonkers, surely:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-45971640

Responding to MPs' questions, Mr Raab also accused the EU of taking a "deliberately intransigent approach in the negotiations"
and urged them to match what he said was the UK's "pragmatism 🤦🏻‍♀️ and imagination".

John Gace 😂

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/oct/25/peace-breaks-out-on-tory-benches-but-raab-remains-battle-ready?CMP=ShareiOSAppp_Other

What makes Raab such a perfect fit for the job of Brexit secretary is his legal training.

Having got warmed up by taking out a non-disclosure agreement with a former member of staff,
he has now gone the whole hog and taken out a NDA with the entire country. 😂

Raab is on a self-appointed, messianic mission to provide the nation with as little information as possible.
And what snippets he does let slip are certain to be either inaccurate or misleading.
The thinking man’s Chris Grayling. < ouch >

@bellinisurge- agree!
Though my ( v novice level ) gardening is veg in raised beds - was kick started by Brexiit. Surprisingly successful so far!
Here's a photo of a nosy, stunningly beautiful Bengal cross climbing into my bag.
Sorry for derail folks as you were.

Thanks Math and BCF. Interesting that the Irish Embassy genuinely engages with the host German community. The British not so much. Better dust down our Irish Passports then. Happily I was eligible together with DC but alas my husband missed out by a generation.

Lack of driving permits is only 1 of several issues for hauliers

uk.reuters.com/article/us-britain-eu-hauliers/with-brexit-talks-in-gridlock-british-truckers-plan-for-the-worst-idUKKCN1MZ0KZ

“Every hour that a vehicle is standing costs 50 pounds because they’re not earning,”
Richard Burnett, chief executive of the Road Haulage Association told Reuters.

“Within weeks we would see haulage companies go out of business.”