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 reached the point where this seems sensible:
@andrewhunterm
Right, that does it. New Emergency cabinet of National Unity:

1. Buckethead
2. Screaming Lord Sutch (deceased)
3. That man in a dolphin suit who beat Farage (this is true)
4. Larry the Cat
5. Blobby

If Jeremy Corbyn doesn’t do something he will also be toast.

The thing is the electorate is so fickle, concentration spans are sort of X factor in length. With the Tories one minute Boris is favourite, then it's Rudd for a few weeks, then it's Gove.

I reckon it's the same with Labour, so there's no point changing leader until a GE really is in sight because the new incumbent only has a narrow window whilst their star is rising iyswim.

In my dream world, May stays, DUP split with the Tories, GE called, extension to A50 granted by the EU, labour run on a "remain and reform" or at very least a "people's vote" policy. SNP are already "remain" as are most (all?) NI parties. Labour would only need to make small gains to be able to form a Remain/PV coalition.

However, the long term consequences of everything which has happened in the last two years would be serious even if my dream scenario came to pass. Both of the main political parties look increasingly likely to split in half. I was initially a supporter of JC but I am less and less convinced.

Dear Santa

Please can we

Revoke A50
End vivisection and factory farming
Ban faith schools, grammar schools and private schools
Have a new party led by Sir Keir, Ken C, Dr Sarah W and Chukka.

Thanks.

Love, Cara

I can live with either OhLook's, Isobel's or Cara's version, if Santa is reading this.

PMK. I hope this thread lasts long enough for RTB to have an afternoon off!

Maybe if RTB could delegate the responsibility of new threads to someone. Perhaps PM them a couple of suggestions for new threads in advance to be triggered at the 950 count?
Hell, it would be more organised than the government!

Sajid Javid
‏*@sajidjavid*
The last thing our country needs right now is a Conservative Party leadership election. Will be seen as self-indulgent and wrong. PM has my full support and is best person to ensure we leave EU on 29 March

Arron Banks
‏**@Arron**_banks
More Arron Banks Retweeted Sajid Javid
😂

David Healey
‏*@dc*_healey
More David Healey Retweeted Arron Banks
Shame you're not a tory arron you could have been a candidate.

Arron Banks
‏**@Arron**_banks
More Arron Banks Retweeted David Healey
We recruited over 20,000 new members into the party in the last six months , we’ve done our bit for Queen and country ! Now it’s over to the Conservative party to either rat on Brexit or step up to the plate

Carole Cadwalladr
‏*@carolecadwalla*
More Carole Cadwalladr Retweeted Arron Banks
...what happens if the Tory membership gets to decide the next leader. @arron_banks didn’t just buy Brexit with a donation that’s now the subject of a serious criminal investigation, he’s trying to buy the next PM

Adam Boultons increasing impatience with the headbangers is funny. Owen Paterson was banging on about tech solutions to the Irish border and how they had all these experts who agreed with them, at which point Adam said you have one Dutch customs official and no one else who agrees with you. He also pointed out that the government hadn't implemented the social care aspect of their manifesto.

He also got very cross with someone else yesterday who was insistent that we traded with the rest of the world on WTO terms.

lisa o'carroll
‏*@lisaocarroll*
BREAKING: Former Brexit secretaries Dominic Raab and David Davis have teamed up with DUP leader Arlene Foster to launch a campaign for a "Better Deal" for Brexit. 1/

Raab repeated his demands for a “unilateral exit mechanism from the backstop” but said the government could, in turn, offer the Irish government “assurances that we would put in place specific measures to guarantee no return to a hard border.”

Raab has said there are "modest and reasonable changes" that could salvage May's deal with the EU. 3/Arlene Foster is about to appear on panel here in British Academy with David Davis launching their "A better deal" campaign, looking to remove "poison pills" from withdrawal agreement. How will they vote - did Davis put in letter?

Sammy Wilson has just showed up at David Davis launch for 'a better deal' too

BREAKING David Davis manifesto for new deal - no single customs territory with EU new 10 year extendable backstop to replace N ireland protocol

James Patrick
‏*@J*_amesp
More James Patrick Retweeted lisa o'carroll
Route 1 to no deal. Next.

Susan I missed Adam Boulton getting roasted by Joanna Cherry the other day re his absolute ignorance on the impact of the ECJ ruling. I'll take Owen Paterson over some barracking story making stirrer any day.

“Listen, Tories. You had a vote on Theresa May in 2016. How dare you ask for a second vote just because now you can see how shit everything is and her promises were lies? She won. That’s democracy, get over it!
#peoplesvote” @davidschneider

Place marking

Doesn't look like much is happening in userspace

I'm waiting for the dam to break, and for people to start pointing at Tory voters and say you caused this.

Because at the moment (looking at discussions elsewhere) there doesn't seem to be that connect.

Voting Tory was like Brexit. People wanted cake (low taxes) and nice things. You can't have both. Well your search for cake has led us here.

In which case keeping May is probably the best current option.
She can't possibly be thinking of actually crashing out and although no one likes her WA plan, not even the EU who have made far more concessions that they want, it is the best deal short of revoking.
Her pension is assured and apart from wanting to be the 'leader' I am not sure she actually wants complete carnage, unlike the ERG group.
I suspect Mrs Merkel and others will have given her a very strong indication of what will happen if the UK does crash out. If the reports about some EU banks possibly failing if crash out happens things would get serious beyond serious.
A bit like the Samson story, pushing the temple down would crush the UK to death and the bone heads who happily suggest 'no deal' have no idea how far this could go. Having 450 Million VERY ANGRY neighbours will make the Dover/Calais crossing feel far too short.

Some one just pointed out that it's very ironic that the 15% of letters needed was 48. Seems to be a critical number in this whole disaster. If only 48 months could see the back of it.

An exhausted PMK, with thanks.

Any opinions on this “Better Deal”. Can’t see much on Twitter about it.

Some one just pointed out that it's very ironic that the 15% of letters needed was 48.

You'd think 52% would be needed. One law for them ...

Any opinions on this “Better Deal”. Can’t see much on Twitter about it.

Opinions are irrelevant if it's not an option.

There is no "Better Deal" apart from staying in the EU

I am pretty sure the EU have had enough.
If they get into any more 'deals and negotiations' the whole EU risks falling. While some with limited intelligence may think this is a good idea and gloat about it, they may change their mind too late when the Russians (insert any other country who would like to destroy the West) walk in.
Russia is already preparing for a scrap with Ukraine.

You'd think 52% would be needed. One law for them ...

Indeed. I also think the Schneider tweet is right. There was a vote in 2016. An option was chosen. It was the will of the people. Now the Tories have seen more of what their chosen option entails they are having another vote.

What's good for the ** Christmas goose is good for the gander.

If May stays a GE within the next year is pretty likely (due to lack of DUP support) and the Cons could be stuck with her because they can't hold a second vote in less than that. Could that persuade some MPs it would be better to get rid of her now?

There is no deal without a backstop it's that simple. There's no better deal, anyone selling a "better deal" is selling snake oil. A hard Brexit contravenes the GFA when the UK is compelled to implement a hard border because of WTO MFN rules. Why people don't get this and MPs are still trying to peddle nonsense is absolutely insane.