Westminstenders: Welcome to 2019

[RedToothBrush]

Welcome to 2019.

Bit of a different thread starter; instead of me speculating what are your predictions for the coming year politically? Will be interesting to see how people are viewing things right now.

How is Brexit going to play out?

Who is going to be framed as the scapegoat for whatever scenario you think likely?

What are going to be the biggest political issues that the media / politicians push (as opposed to what the real issues are)?

What is going to be the most shocking thing that will happen either here or abroad?

What will happen with Trump?

Who will be the next Tory leader and when?

Whats on the cards for the various political parties in general?

Jo Maugham QC@JolyonMaugham

Where is the infrastructure for inland or border clearance for the stuff these ferries are going to bring in?
Someone please tell me, in a country with over 300,000 homeless, we are not wasting £108m on a game of chicken to keep Tory extremists happy?
.....
I understand Grayling presented this idea to Treasury in November.
Treasury basically fell about laughing because there was no infrastructure for clearance.

Looks like we're spending the money despite Treasury's belief it's pointless.

Reassurances for 2019 ?

https://amp.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/23/bluff-blackmail-brinkwomanship-why-a-no-deal-brexit-is-still-on-the-cards?

In a no-deal Brexit, a key role will be played by Chris Grayling, the rogue drone who goes by the title of transport secretary.
< don't panic, don't panic >

This is the one-man disrupter who proved incapable of introducing new rail timetables without throwing the network into chaos.
< um, gulps >

I don’t know about you, but I am not sleeping better at night for knowing that Failing Grayling will be in charge of trying to manage ports gridlocked by a crash-out Brexit.
< Ok, time to panic >

I mostly lurk on these threads but very occasionally post where I think an Irish perspective would be helpful. I would like to wish a Happy New Year to the very knowledgeable and informed posters here who have helped increase my understanding of Brexit and the implications of it. It's unlikely to be a prosperous New Year for any of our countries but I sincerely hope some kind of deal can be reached and that we don't face a worst case scenario. In particular, I hope that peace prevails in Northern Ireland.

I would love to have a crystal ball and be able to see into the future - maybe 5 years into the future. Does anyone else wonder how this period will be reported on in the history books and how Cameron, May etc. feel about their legacy?

^^ I'd love to see 3 months into the future to see if we're all starving with medicine shortages!

The Secret Barrister Retweeted Chris Rand@ChrisRandWrites

DEAR GRAYLING SIR.

MY NAME IS PRINCE SEABORNE OF NIGERIA
. I HAVE RECENTLY RECEIVED MANY FINE SHIPS AND WISH TO SHARE THEM.
IF YOU CAN SEND £13,800,000 BY BANK TRANSFER, THIS WILL RELEASE THE SHIPS.
THE TRANSACTION IS 100% SAFE. PLEASE RESPOND URGENTLY.

Consistent

In his previous incarnation as Justice Secretary,
Grayling gave contracts to interpreters who couldn’t interpret
and to prisoner transporters who would not bring prisoners to court.

{Apparently it's safe enough to trundle missiles near Glasgow and Edinburgh, but would be too dangerous around any English cities,}
There is a great sketch on Spitting Image where Thatcher refers to Scotland as the 'testing ground'. From around 1986 IIRC.

Been lurking and reading today. There was an article in the independent about corbyn vowing to talk shite again I didn't think it was worth sharing

2018 has been a burning pile of shit and deep within my heart tonight I'd like to say fuck you and fuck off to it.

Thank you to everyone who works hard to make the world a better place. Thank you to red and everyone for keeping me company and informed for the past 6 months. Thank you to everyone who has marched, written letters and shared petitions.

May we never go alone, nor without friends. To everyone who is facing uncertainty I hope 2019 brings reassurance and stability.

Thank you Hazard! The same to you and everyone on this thread 🍾🎆

Happy New Year to you all , let next year bring you peace, good health and I have a rather robust stock of homemade plum gin I can share if things get tricky

In his previous incarnation as Justice Secretary,
Grayling gave contracts to interpreters who couldn’t interpret

In fact, he (or the DoJ) gave the entire national contract to supply court interpreters to a one-man band company owned by someone who'd only be involved in the translation and interpreting business for a couple of years (as opposed to a ferry company with no ferries or port to dock them in). As I recall, he was running the entire operation from a room in his house. He then promptly sold his company (including the DoJ contract) to ... Crapita.

The whole court interpreting system was left to grind to a halt, leaving defendants without proper interpreting, interpreters sent to the wrong courts or for wrong languages, with many losing work and money. Private Eye were reporting on it every week for ages.

It all sounds a hugely familiar story.

Oops, Private Eye only comes out fortnightly, but you get the gist.

A peaceful and healthy New Year to all the lovely people on here. I can only hope that we'll all be hugely wrong in our forebodings.

I've decanted my redcurrant gin and my plum and cinnamon gin. Both are veeeerrrrry nice (haven't decanted the plain plum gin yet).

Frohes neues Jahr aus Deutschland ! 🎆

Just celebrated an hour ahead of you

Hope the New Year is not as bad as we fear.
Just been watching documentaries about Pearl Harbour, some interesting parallels.

Happy New Year everybody!

Wishing everyone health and happiness and basically hoping it’s all better than we expect...

Love to all and thank you for being such a lifeline x

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Happy New Year everyone

Happy New Year all. Let's hope it's a good one.

Happy new year everyone I will return if I read this now I will never sleep!

PMK

Happy New Year!

Let's hope it's a good one.

I'll settle for a mediocre one that was mildly less traumatic and eventful politically.

Ain't gonna happen is it?

Happy 2019 to all the compatriots on here who care about this thing as much as I do! Let’s be positive. Something better could come out of this.

Happy New Year all.

Red, my feeling is the same. Batten down the hatches..!