Westministenders: BAH HUMBUG said Mr Rees-Mogg

[RedToothBrush]

"At this festive season of the year, Mr Scrooge Rees-Mogg, ... it is more than usually desirable that we should make some slight provision for the poor and destitute, who suffer greatly at the present time. Many thousands are in want of common necessaries; hundreds of thousands are in want of common comforts, sir."

"Are there no prisons hostels?"

"Plenty of prisons hostels..."

"And the Union workhouses foodbanks." demanded Scrooge Jacob. "Are they still in operation?"

"Both very busy, sir..."

"Those who are badly off must go there."

"Many can't go there; and many would rather die."

"If they would rather die," said Scrooge ^Rees-Mogg, "they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population."

He continued "Besides I do not believe that anyone would die without them. I think Theresa is right, there are many complex reasons why nurses go to food banks. The real reason for the rise in numbers is that people know that they are there and Labour deliberately didn't tell them. To have charitable support given by people voluntarily to support their fellow citizens I think is rather uplifting and shows what a good, compassionate country we are"

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This thread is dedicated to Mrs8 and anyone else who is working to make life just a little better in the difficult circumstances that ALL politicians are currently doing their best to ignore (despite what they profess).

No Deal = even more poverty and destitution.

MERRY CHRISTMAS & HERES HOPING FOR A HAPPIER NEW YEAR
especially to those of you, who might be having a tough time or facing real uncertainity.

Oops I broke my promise just like TM! The point of the Morrison's antidote was not because of food shortages or brexit which does not figure in every opinion i have, but because of a society where greed and me me me comes first and manners and decency are non existent.

I think we all need to put aside the gloom for the next three days. I shall try and spend them in a state of constant mild sugar rush and slight port-induced glow.

Why don't we share the best Brexit Christmas memes?
Counting on you @DGRossetti!

I'll start (can only share a link unfortunately)
www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/picture/2018/dec/23/brian-adcock-theresa-may-brexit-non-delivery-cartoon

Happy Christmas, Westministenders ! 🎄🎄🎄

Happy birthday bees have a great day.

Sorry you had a horrid shopping trip sos it’s shit shopping this time of year. I need to pick up the fat bastard chicken later - it’s going to be awful.

I know what you mean about the crap working conditions and gig economy. These things do need to change, I just have a horrid feeling we won’t end up with Brexit and a workers paradise. We’ll end up with Brexit, drastically fewer jobs and a support system that’s quite comfortable with people dying homeless on the streets.

Happy birthday bees Hope you have a great day!

Happy Christmas one and all.
Spare a thought for those in Indonesia who would love to be in a massive queue at the shops compared to what they are going through.
They, or family members might have been involved in making some of our clothes.

Happy Christmas one and all...here's hoping for some kind of miracle. 🎄

....and prayers (from those who do so) for those in Indonesia. x

George Peretz QC @ georgeperetzqc
Slipped out just before Christmas and as Parliament was rising: the UK’s agreement with the three EFTA/EEA States on withdrawing from the European Economic Area.
www.efta.int/EEA/news/EEA-EFTA-Separation-Agreement-UK-reached-511351
EEA EFTA Separation Agreement with the UK reached

On a brief look (it’s Christmas) the agreement mirrors the withdrawal arrangements in the draft EU/U.K. withdrawal agreement.

NB the agreement quietly and without drawing attention to the point assumes (fourth recital) that the effect of leaving the EU under Art50 is, automatically, to terminate all U.K. participation in the EEA Agreement.

I suspect there will be a fuss about the timing of, and lack of any public consultation about, this, as soon as MPs are back from eating mince pies and singing carols. There certainly should be.

George Trefgarne @ georgetrefgarne
1. I think we should be very clear that the UK Government has lied here (presumably in an attempt to shut off Norway style Brexit options). Its “explainer” says the UK has withdrawn from the EEA as a result of leaving the EU. This is not true.

2. What is true is we have made the Treaty inoperative by not shifting the the EFTA pillar.

3. UK citizens, even if you support leaving the EEA you should be alarmed that the Government is removing your rights under the treaty by deception and without getting anything from the EU in return.

The Queen is worried

www.itv.com/news/2018-12-24/queen-to-call-for-respect-and-understanding-in-divided-nation-during-christmas-broadcast/
Queen's Christmas message to urge people with 'deeply held differences' to respect each other

In an unusually direct message in her traditional Christmas broadcast, the monarch has acknowledged the differences which exist across the country and has urged people to be more understanding.

She does not mention Brexit by name, nor does she single out a particular political row in Westminster, but some of her words have been released on Christmas Eve to ensure as many people as possible will hear them.

And

Nevertheless, the head of state will have chosen her words carefully to reflect, not on a single event, but on the wider debate surrounding Brexit and the increasingly acrimonious discourse between the supporters and opponents of Brexit.

www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/markets-rattled-us-treasury-secretary-steven-mnuchin-calls-big-banks-cash-liquidity-a8697826.html?amp&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter&__twitter_impression=true
Markets rattled as US Treasury Secretary calls big banks to ensure they have enough cash
'The bank's chief executives confirmed that they have ample liquidity available for lending to consumer, business markets, and all other market operations,' the US Treasury said.

www.thesun.co.uk/news/8050619/christmas-chaos-stampede-sunday-supermarket-shoppers-fight/amp/
Christmas chaos as panicked supermarket shoppers FIGHT over turkey and parking spaces on ‘Stampede Sunday’

One shopper watched two women “having a full on kick off over a turkey” as Britain counts down the hours until the big day.

In Hull, shelves were left bare as Asda shoppers panic-bought items and the car park was full of fed-up drivers.

Happy Christmas all.
I will probably be posting over the season cos

• I have the lurgy so will not be outdoors
• I have tax returns to do and the HMRC servers are a doddle right now
• my kids only react if I unplug the wifi

but then again I think my family are wonderful so its all OK

Brexit countdown starts next year

Sostuenuo
So bring on that brexit
In the hope of a cure

How is Brexit going to alleviate the suffering of the vulnerable? I’m completely in agreement that austerity must end, I like your alternative carols, and sympathise with your daughter’s situation, but hoping that any kind of Brexit will help is just magical thinking. And before you say it can’t get worse: of course it can. Much worse.

It’s a great shame when those of us on the same “side” are pitted against one another. You remind me of my idealistic sister in law who is lovely and kind and won’t engage with the possibility that her heart-in-the-right-place Lexit is not deliverable. Happy Christmas anyway.

I'm floating about. A third of Xmas visitings have been completed. Brexit was brought up in convo and not by me...! I managed to give a VERY polite and VERY firm/clear rebuff...I don't know how I did it. I think it was the magic of alcohol? I'm a tactful drunk? Is that possible? Or perhaps it was a Xmas mircacle? Or maybe I was rude and i was to pissed to care? I'll never know.

Hoping this sunny Xmas eve is going well for you all.

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/24/corbyn-given-up-europe-labour-brexit-vote

David Miliband's article

{David Miliband's article}

Having just read it I see the problem:
While it is basically correct, there is no 'fire' in it, no passion, just 'beige'.
Membership of the EU is a bit of a bland background activity for most. Those who travel see the benefits most but the other 'advantages' have merged into the overall improvement of life in general. To 'succeed' in Europe the UK needs a 'passionate' pro EU leader. Although I have only seen a few clips, we need a leader with the fire of Guy Verhofstadt.

I agree, a factual recap for those who seem to have missed it () but it's not going to mobilise the people to revolt. I always find it interesting when he decides to pop up though.

David Milliband's article is all process and no substance. No Reason to Remain, not even Project Fear - just it's all too hard and being badly managed.

Doesn't help that it neatly echoes that he gave up on Europe, UK and Labour a while ago.

David has to be careful as he was too arrogant to campaign for leader and lost it
and then his brother changed the rules to accidentally allow Corbyn to hunker down
I suspect large parts of the party (including the mayors) would like him to stay in the USA

1tisleclerc

The problem is complacency and taking 90% of what we have for granted.

Hazard, what was your rebuff? I might need a good one, or duct tape across my mouth!

Radio Times was delivered today. Looks like there's a drama about the Brexit vote with Benedict Cumberbatch playing Dominic Cummings in the New Year.

I'm mainly a lurker anyway (though read every single post and honestly find this the most informative source of info compared to any other media outlet which is a bit ).

Anyway....I am soon to be in a nest of Leavers (my family) in a true BeLeaver constituency (Stoke).

I'm refusing to talk about Brexit over Xmas as I fear I may say some things which would cause a family rift. I've already had one big argument about it with DM.

So I'm taking 3 days of total Brexit break.

Merry Christmas all