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?

Fabulous Brexit Burns!

From that Angela Rayner piece:

I would be really worried about a second referendum to be honest. I don't think that people necessarily will expect the result that they get," she said.

Politicians making breezy pronouncements about what they think the public wants drives me crazy (what exactly are you basing that on, Ms Rayner?!) but the quote above is my worry too. What the hell happens if we have another referendum and the headbangers win?!

I'd love to say I have faith in the British public to show a modicum of common sense and not to vote for No Deal-maggedon - but I don't. I don't have any faith in the common sense or even basic decency of the wider British public any more.

Can I get it passed that I insist on 6-12hrs with Idris Alba in the character of Luther? Don't fancy the actor himself but Luther...

Also its not cheating if it's with a fictional character

I remain in support of LeClercs fancy brackets and Lonely's PMK poetry.

Ta red may the forward purchasing fairy look kindly upon you and yours 💐

I know it shouldn't be making me feel safer, but as I explained it does. The idea there was nothing in place for No Deal weeks ago scared me. This feels like someone is actually preparing for it.
Yes it is my worst fears, but some of us have been saying for years this will not end well.
I don't understand how anything is going to stop us from No Deal if May continues against ERG and the weight of public opinion that there is nothing to be scared of. Even if we get May's deal there will be civil unrest!

I'd love to say I have faith in the British public to show a modicum of common sense and not to vote for No Deal-maggedon - but I don't. I don't have any faith in the common sense or even basic decency of the wider British public any more

Agreed. Brexit is a religion. if someone has faith you can’t argue them out of it.
Most of the time (but not all of the time) people keep their religion to themselves so it’s not an issue.
But Brexit is a nightmare. If feel like I’m being made to join a cult, no amount of argument is convincing the cult leaders their chosen land is actually a mirage.

www.independent.co.uk/voices/brexit-vote-commons-parliament-yvette-cooper-nick-boles-amendments-backstop-a8748131.html?amp&__twitter_impression=true
Amid scores of Brexit amendments and chaos in parliament, there are only two votes that really matter – here’s why
The Cooper-Boles amendment is only the beginning of the drama we can expect on Tuesday night

Opinion piece by John Rentoul about Tuesday

apile can me and DP (plus dog) rock up in Ireland and claim disability/carers benefits? Really? Do I need to Google? Is this an amazing back up plan?

Yes. You'll need enough money to sort out proof of habitual residence - basically rent somewhere on a year's lease, so enough for a deposit and a month's rent. And probably longer as not all landlords will accept benefits (quelle surprise).

While you're sorting out getting a PPS (NI) number and waiting for your claim to come through you can apply for Supplementary Welfare Allowance, which doesn't require proof of habitual residence.

I'm not sure what the rules are regarding darling dog and quarantine or any of that.

Sorry, forgot the link.

www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/irish_social_welfare_system/social_assistance_payments/residency_requirements_for_social_assistance_in_ireland.html

You know, I've never told a single soul this. But when David Cameron won a majority in 2015, I was about 12 weeks pregnant with DS - maybe a bit less. He was a wanted, planned pregnancy. But just for a moment, just a little moment on that election night, I wondered whether I should end the pregnancy, not bring a little baby into Austerity Britain.

And now he's 3 and we're talking about martial law. Which is a loooong way beyond even my worst fears on that night in 2015.

Fucking hell. Thank god we stopped at one.

I agree, Spudlet. DH & I always wanted 2 DCs. But due to various circumstances - disability, poverty, lack of family support, we only had DD. Now I'm grateful, & DH has recently admitted he is too.

Marshal law is terrifying.
How has it come to this? I actually don't think things could get any worse until the next thing

Oh, Spudlet.

But Labour and Liberal Democrat peers insist that the huge majority opposed to a no-deal Brexit in the House of Lords would invent new rules, if needed, to get the bill through. - can HoL just come up with 'new rules'? Seems unlikely in the time given?

DH has had a moment of silent panic this morning over civil contingency act and siezing of property and our plans in addition to 'forward purchasing'.

It's strange to watch the dawning realisation that his wife is not a nutter.

I keep thinking that, Bluelonerose.

“Crude calculations suggest that UK agricultural land could provide more than enough food from arable production in terms of our daily calorific requirements, in theory making the UK self-sufficient”. (DEFRA report para 4.14).

DH has been researching this claim (it is his field). Yes, it could be done, it would involve being mainly vegan and peas, a lot of peas.

He then veers off into conspiracy theory and believes that Brexit is part of Operation "activate the moat".

Thanks red

PMK

~{Plaice mat king with a nod to LeClerc's brackets}~

What does British martial law look like?

If Trump goes into martial law at the same time what are the international consequences?

Thank you Red

DH and I currently shouting at the telly. Tracey Crouch, MP for Chatham, on Politics South East. She doesn’t believe No Deal is going to be catastrophic. Apparently it’s going to be ‘a bit bumpy’ for a while. It seems we have nothing to worry about because we’ve experienced Operation Stack even whilst being a member of the EU and anyway, you only have to look at all those lorries queuing and you’ll realise ‘most of them are foreign’ so chaos isn’t in the interests of the EU.

A bit bumpy for a while? I think that’s how they described what we’d get at work when they moved everyone over from Outlook to Gmail.

No holiday booked here yet, either.

My using less plastic and paper plans are being formulated. Id have done this anyway but brexit has made me more keen to start.

I just can't believe that the UK is doing this to itself...this is the most calamitous thing to happen to our country and to parliamentary democracy in peace time.

And most people seem completely oblivious...

I was sure I was missing a trick as it’s so utterly foolishly thought out.

It's not foolishly thought out if the end game is to convince the general public that you did what you could to avoid No Deal but the evil EU made it happen by not compromising

If this is what happens and then we no deal and people lose their jobs and struggle for food I think it will be horrible for Continental Europeans living here in heavily pro-leave areas

...and the right wing sentiments about non-British people will continue to ramp up because they will be to 'blame'.

Cbeese I have often wondered when we can officially call it a coup - I have been asking about our agreements with UN (considering inequalities reports, our demotion on the council, etc). I can't imagine they are likely to get involved though as it is highlighting their weakening position on the global stage without the backing of UK and USA. This IMO gets to the very crux of human rights.

RTB

It must be a weekend for revelations. DH said to me that, finally, with recent developments he’s given up on this country reaching Brexit sanity and so he’s finally ready to really let go and emigrate. Having made noises about it since 2016, and turned down a really promising job interview abroad last year I’m trying to be supportive instead of shrieking “I told you so! Why did you wait until now when we’re at the bloody cliff-edge????”