Westminstenders: Dear Santa for Christmas I'd like...

[RedToothBrush]

The ERG to be the grinch that stole the Tory Party Christmas who ultimately get what they deserve.

To remain in the EU

Donald Trump's impeachment

For politics to be boring again

A trex toy for my son

I've been perfectly aware of what you've written numerous times about your MP,

Gold star to Pineapple

Alberto Nardelli @albertonardelli
^EU27 draft EUCO conclusions have 5 points/paragraphs.

The first point reaffirms the Withdrawal Agreement & the Political Declaration. "The Union stands by this agreement and intends to proceed with its ratification. It is not open for renegotiation."

^Pars 2, 3, 4, 5 are in square brackets, meaning haven't been agreed yet.

Par 2: EU27 reiterates wish for "as close as possible a partnership with UK..." "stands ready to embark on prep immediately after signature of WA to ensure negotiations can start asap after UK withdrawal

Pars 3 underlines that "backstop does not represent a desirable outcome for the Union. The backstop is only intended as an insurance policy to prevent a hard border on the island of Ireland...

Par 3. cont. would state that it is the EU's "firm determination" to work speedily on a subsequent agreement that establishes by 31 December 2020 alternative arrangements, so that the backstop will not be triggered

Par 4. if backdrop has to be used, would apply only temporarily unless & until superseded by a subsequent agreement. EU would use best endeavours to negotiate & conclude a subsequent agreement rapidly. Backstop only in place for a short period, as long as strictly necessary

Par 5 would state EU prepared to examine further assurances, but these will not change or contradict withdrawal agreement.

To repeat: pars 2, 3, 4, 5 in square brackets, meaning not approved yet. Understand 5 unlikely at this stage: UK needs to spell out what assurances it seeks

Tim Shipman @shippersunbound
Rees-Mogg says he’s concerned May only said it was not her “intention” to fight the next election. “That’s one of those politician’s dangerous words”

He should know...

I think there must be quite a lot of older Tory voters who voted for Blair in middle age though. I certainly know a few.

One MP comes out and says the Prime Minister has promised not to lead the Party into the next election and “some Ministers are crying in there” #1922

Makes a change from them laughing and smiling about foodbanks.

And we are off...

Michael Crick @michaellcrick
First Cabinet minister in the queue is Matt Hancock

Jessica elgot @jessicaelgot
Minister Margot James is waiting to be first in the queue to vote, Rory Stewart behind. Matt Hancock and Liz Truss are lingering back too.

I understand that DGR, which is why Brexit is my biggest issue. I just don't know if I could vote for an MP whose opinion on all but one issue was diametrically opposite to my own.

Sam Coates Times @samcoatestimes
Jo Churcher the first MP to vote in the no confidence ballot which is now open

Robert Peston
@Peston
This is getting slightly ridiculous. Another Tory MP says
@theresa_may
committed only to going before 2022 if election then - but would not rule out leading party into a possible “snap” election in coming year! “We’ve got her for another three years!” was the heartfelt cry

I would vote Tory if they went full on Remain. I can always vote against them at the GE after that.

Under any bog-standard leader, instead of the toxic Corbyn, Labour would win a landslide in a January GE

Under him, they would still probably lose, or need C&S with the SNP - unless the Tory civil war breaks out openly during the GE.
If UKIP remains broke & in its own civil war, it is much less attractive to Tory voters facing May's WA - they are the voters with the highest support for it.

However, Brexit is not really a party issue:

Those who voted Leave overwhelmingly want authoritarian and UK / English nationalist policies.
They are very roughly 70% Tories and 30% Labour

Labour remainers last time voted for a Labour manifesto that supported Brexit, instead of the LDems, because party trumped Remain.

Labour remainers last time voted for a Labour manifesto that supported Brexit, instead of the LDems, because party trumped Remain.

I was one of them. Had LibDem seemed like a realistic prospect in my area I honestly can't say what I would have done.

Thanks, hazard - looking forward to croissants!

If libdem had been viable in my area I would have voted for them - but labour was our best opportunity to get the slime lord out. We were so close!

Tory MPs must be aware that if the final 2 candidates in a leadership election include an ERG supporter,
then it goes to their batshit membership who will choose ERG

They were hammered when they had IDS as leader, hammered by Blair - who is a centrist, not a Tory, howabout
Clegg is not a Tory either, as you claim, just a weak, naive twit who was comprehensively outmanoeuvred by Cameron

Shows the Tory schoolboy attitudes:

Tim Shipman@ShippersUnbound

May has gone into the 1922.
It sounds like the elephant herd has spotted water. Sustained thumping of desks.

Remain voter. Usually a Labour voter. Solid Labour area. Solid Leave area. I spoiled my paper rather than vote for Corbyn because he's a useless twat. I can give you a more sophisticated analysis of why I don't like Corbyn but "he's a useless twat" also covers it.

I haven't been following these boards for long, pretzels, but I assume you have a Tory MP. In recent years my area has been Labour and Tory so for many voting LibDem is a big risk. I did not like our most recent Tory MP even though she was actually helpful when I needed her to sort out a couple of issues.

bellini, that's explanation enough! My area is currently labour, but was previously Tory and voted remain.

but I assume you have a Tory MP.

Yep. Leave voting Mp in a remain voting constituency in a remain city. Landlord who voted against laws making rented accommodation have to be fit for human habitation. A truly evil man.

I note that the loud voices wanting to destroy the Tory party to create a new party of the right
don't want a more moderate One Nation Tory party

They want a hard right party, more openly extreme than the ERG, so more like the GOP in the USA

Let's hope that if the Tory party is destroyed, it stays dead a long time, until the mostly older hard right voters die off
and that any new hard right party can't break through the FPTP barrier

Labour remainers last time voted for a Labour manifesto that supported Brexit, instead of the LDems, because party trumped Remain.

And a lot of what Labour was promising was quite attractive to them - renationalise the railways, end student fees. Can't remember the rest, but for many people, (strange though it seems to me), Brexit doesn't dominate their thinking, but getting to work, seeing their children educated, and their aging father getting cancer treatment does.

Pippa Crerar @pippacrerar
As Tory MPs head to the (secret) ballot box to vote on Theresa May's future, our count shows that 171 have said they will back her. The PM is expected to win the vote, but the number that vote against her will determine how weakened she is going forward.

Robert Peston @peston
The best thing about this vote of 317 Tory MPs is the tellers are insisting on photo ID! Because of course they have no idea who is really a Conservative MP. Priceless

Remain voter. Usually a Labour voter. Solid Labour area. Solid Leave area. I spoiled my paper rather than vote for Corbyn because he's a useless twat. I can give you a more sophisticated analysis of why I don't like Corbyn but "he's a useless twat" also covers it.

Wholeheartedly agree. I could have written that myself.