Westminstenders: The English Gentleman and Martial Law

[RedToothBrush]

Ahead of Tuesday's vote, let's have a quick look at the week's developments.

The Cooper-Boles Amendment seems to be in trouble. The amendment is designed to force government to extend A50 if the WA fails to pass parliament in order to prevent No Deal.

It's in trouble in several ways.

After lots of loud noises from Labour about supporting it, they have made no formal move to. Thus there is no requirement for Labour MPs to vote for it. The noise was just for Remain ears whilst trying to keep leavers on board.

The amendment is struggling for numbers; many of the former Labour MPs are extremely unreliable at votes and haven't turned up even for important ones of late. In addition to this, Tory rebels are backing away from it out of fear from a backlash from their grassroots who believe they are trying to stop Brexit. There was talk of up to 20 ministers resigning to back it, including Amber Rudd, yet as Sunday has dawned there's no sign yet and its usually the day for such political statements. Though there is time yet.

And finally there is the prospect of Murrison II. Now also backed by 1922 heavyweights Graham Brady and Damien Green this seeks to remove the backstop from the WA on our side.

Except the EU has said that this would not be the WA if it does not contain the backstop. And they would not ratify it.

Yet rumours are May is close to a majority to get the WA through with Murrison II.

There has been much speculation over what would happen to the Irish border in a no deal with Farage sticking his oar in saying "nothing". Whilst Barnier states that there would, but the Irish government are avoiding the subject. We have now had the comment that it would mean the return of Irish soldiers to the border...

We could have a looming situation where parliament passes Murrison II AND Cooper-Boles. But Cooper-Boles deemed invalid cos the WA has been passed by Parliament but in effect isn't worth the paper (or goat skin) it's written on. Thus no deal could still happen by 'accident'.

There's been talk of Murrison II not being picked by Bercow, and how this would provoke a walkout by government. It seems that since he's done it once it would be difficult to ignore.

And whilst all this is going on we now have the mainstream newspapers saying that there are plans for martial law, 'forward purchasing' of food, fuel and ammunition. Talk of travel bans and property seizure. And just general plans for the collapse of free society and the supply of basic essentials for continuous of life. And many ERG MPs are tweeting things which seem to be rather fond and happy with the idea.

Do not forget: What happens when May is gone? Who replaces her, and what are their views on liberal society and freedom. Cos that all looks rather 'troubling' in an authoritarian state kind of way. What power would they wield?

Just what are we sleep walking into?

Or we could just get the Irish to stop going on about independence, freedom and sovereignty and come back to where they belong...

(It's a joke)

Place marking

PMK

The guardian is talking about thousands of companies decamping abroad in case of No Deal. They've already put plans into action reportedly.
This is so rubbish.

My anxiety grows daily especially in relation to what could happen again in NI and the mainland if the GFA is effectively torn up. I've been watching a documentary on Bloody Friday, reading about Bloody Sunday and generally teaching myself a lot of history. (WW2 was covered in English at GCSE but otherwise history lessons were about the Tudors, Stuarts, Spanish Armada (a little), men found in bogs abs Tutankhamen).

I am scared. We are going to bake more gingerbread stars.

Thanks, Red. And thanks, all.
Many threads ago there was some discussion about Syria and its unnervingly rapid descent into chaos. The situation here is very different - we’re not yet a dictatorship with a habit of persecuting, torturing and murdering citizens - but the pattern is similar and has been accurately delineated in advance by contributors here.
I hope to God Parliament pulls something off to defuse the situation, even at this late stage.

Red I may not often (ever?) comment on these threads, but wanted to thank you for the unravelling/heavy lifting on this stuff, it's very much appreciated .

And finally there is the prospect of Murrison II. Now also backed by 1922 heavyweights Graham Brady and Damien Green this seeks to remove the backstop from the WA on our side. Except the EU has said that this would not be the WA if it does not contain the backstop. And they would not ratify it

I really don’t get the point of this.

It’s like me writing an agreement that I’m going to have amazing sex with Idris Elba, I’ve got the document signed and everything. But I haven’t dealt with the small issue that Idris Elba doesn’t want to have sex with me.
I just don’t understand Murrison II.

Just to clarify OP when Varadkar spoke of the return of troops to the border he didn’t say whose troops. The permanent army presence at the border was always British troops trying to contain terrorism. Irish troops were more sporadic usually trying to contain specific threats or outbreaks of animal disease in NI.

I don't swear but what the is going on?
Martial law?
Part of me hopes it's to get MP's on side to get TMs deal passed and thus avoid troops on the streets.
But who knows. I could weep at what's going on.

{Place marking}
I like the squiggly brackets and am disappointed there are none that are more flamboyant.

I can't add anything coherent beyond the comment that this is insane. Head-clutchingly, mindbogglingly insane.

That's all I can muster, tbh.

Plaice Mat King

I just don’t understand Murrison II.

Yes you do. Perfectly!

It's about trying to blame the EU for not forcing Idris to sleep with you cos you have a 'legally binding' contract and Idris consent is irrelevant.

Martial law was cited on the front cover of today's Times as being part of civil Contingencies planning in the event of no deal.

In times like these you should be grateful for any old brackets, LeClerc.

I feel like Alice down the rabbit hole.

The government and most politicians are acting totally irresponsibly now. If we crash out they will all be gone like Cameron before you can blink having delivered Brexit to the people

Are MPs really stupid enough to vote for an amendment which the EU have repeatedly said they won't accept??

[don't answer that]

{ 'forward purchasing' of food, fuel and ammunition.}
For the Falklands and Cyprus especially it is very sensible. They are a long way from the UK and with the possibility of not having suitable trade deals in place could run out. Gibraltar perhaps slightly less valid as it is less likely to see any 'action'.

How soon before we can rejoin the EU if we leave on the 29/3??

Yes you do. Perfectly! It's about trying to blame the EU for not forcing Idris to sleep with you cos you have a 'legally binding' contract and Idris consent is irrelevant

I was sure I was missing a trick as it’s so utterly foolishly thought out. oh god we are so screwed. When oh when is the U.K. going to realise it isn’t the big boss of the world?

A Brexit Place Mat King - dh adapts Burns every year for our own Burns Supper. This year was a Brexit Burns.

Enjoy!

A Brexit Burns Supper ~ an excerpt
(Incorporating the address to the Haggis, to a Louse, to a Mouse
and the toast to the laddie and lassie)

Poor May’s sonsie wabbit face 
Great Puddin’ o’ the Brexit Race
Aboon them a’ ye have no place
Boris, Gove or Raab,
Well ye are no wordy o’ a grace
Ye’ll dae sich hairm

Wi red lines there ye did fill
Yir hurdles did all mak them ill
Your pen did order up a wall, Arlene
While thro the border lorries still
Like amber bead

Wee sleekit, cow’rin tim’rous beastie
O what a panic’s in May’s breastie
If she would start awa sae hasty
Wi bickerin’ brattle so deranged
With chorus all of
Nothing’s Changed.

But Mousie May, thou art no thy lane
In proving foresight may be vain,
The best laid schemes o Mogg an men
Gang aft agley
An lea’e us nought but grief an pain,
Or Nigel’s joy

His knife see Corbyn’s Labour dight
Would cut her up wi’ ready sleight
Trenching her gushing entrails bright
Like ony ditch
And then, O what a glorious sight
Warm-reekin, rich

Is there owre Jean Claude’s ragout
Or Olio wad staw a sow
Or fricassee wad mak Gove spew
Wi perfect sconner
Looks down wi sneering scornfu view
on sic a dinner?

But strong and stable haggis fed
The trembling earth resounds his tread
Clap in his walie nieve a blade
He’ll mak it whissle

Ye powers wha for mankind care
And dish them out their bill o’ fare
Auld Scotland wants nae Brexit here
The jaups in luggies
But, if ye wish her graefu’ prayer
Gie her a haggis
Or independence…

[don't answer that]

Well...

Love the Brexit Burns

Plaice mat king

Martial law= curfews, suspension of habeas corpus, some application of military laws in civilian lives

Doesn't help that a lot of army officers are public school boys with right leaning views while the plebs at the cannon fodders

Duck you, David Cameron