Westminstenders: Waiting for Sanity

[RedToothBrush]

We could be waiting a long time, but that's what we have to wait for as that's what the EU is waiting for.

The EU has requested we expand on our plans for 'alternative arrangements' with regard to the backstop.

We need to do so before the next HoC vote on 14th Feb. The EU see no point in shifting their position before than. And the UK will struggle to provide the info the EU want before then. So there is now some doubt as to whether the vote will go ahead as planned.

About a third of the Cabinet now believe that Brexit will have to be delayed due to legislation not being ready for exit date. However we don't have power over this and we might still exit without it.

There is no Brexit related business next week in the HoC to prevent pesky amendments. The recess has been cancelled but MPs have been told its OK to go on their ski holidays so it's just a PR stunt.

Meanwhile No Deal is in full effect as businesses trigger their exit strategy in the absence of certainty. No Deal is reality for many even if we do have a last minute deal...

We are all about to get poorer. As that's what we voted for.

Thanks, red 💐
Waiting for Sanity
Waiting for Godot

• I remember that from my Eng Lit O Level - never thought I'd be living through it

umpteen posted "EU still very firm. TM still no clue what she's going to ask for."
Yes, that's waiting for Godot

and no, TiP

The utterances of UK gov ministers are not “the light at the end of the tunnel”,
but the flickering match of May still* desperately* trying to find the bloody candle.
🤯

Why are we shipping our waste off to be burnt by other countries?

The Guardian had a good article about this the other day, with respect to used tyres. There used to be a thriving industry here which compacted them and used them for road building. The Govt has decided to outsource this to India, where they are burnt instead, and few questions are asked about the environmental standards.

Ditto when China stopped accepting plastic waste - we just looked for other countries to export our filth to.

Nunc est bibendum

May UK-US deal could be blocked by US Congress! Fox did not mention this did he?! Raab probably does not know that US helped broker the peace agreement ..

www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-01-30/brexit-irish-border-fears-spur-warning-on-u-s-u-k-trade-talks

Some Friday fun
https://newsthump.com/2017/12/11/country-that-gets-paralysed-by-two-inches-of-snow-thinks-going-it-alone-will-be-great/?fbclid=IwAR2W4wXbtB-Xprshj1FnLbjNkBu8-HUKf_LGh5w0R6NKR2inH4yTTHF0B44

Bigchoc
I am reminded of the Debt Management thread I ran a few years ago entitled
The light at the end of the tunnel is NOT an oncoming train
sadly
I think in the case of Brexit it is exactly that

🐟

PMK, and have a good weekend RTB!

Yes, TiP and JRM & co are like the villains in those silent films tying the helpless UK to the tracks just before the train comes.
The films never showed what happens if the intended hero (the HoC ?) stops off for a few pints and arrives too late

Anyone seen this? NBC describing what happens on March 29 on no deal. Urghhh

twitter.com/Haggis_UK/status/1091409385178439681?s=19

At least the EU's update confirm your DD can complete her Erasmus studies
Sad if she has a younger sibling who misses out

.

A bit more fun
www.thedailymash.co.uk/politics/five-double-acts-that-would-make-a-better-job-of-brexit-than-corbyn-and-may-20190201182015

Ta1kinPeace, I have the same problem and argument going with my DH. He's very much more of the 'head in sand' persuasion, whereas I'm glued to the news. I think what I'm doing is horizon scanning for hope; unfortunately not yet finding any! But it has caused arguments because me stressing is stressing him out and he doesn't cope with it as well. He made the mistake of asking me at midnight a couple of months ago what I was worried about - cue my reel of worries, whereupon he was up for 2 hours worrying, whilst I was fast asleep having compartmentalised again!

chickens
DH is in no way head in the sand
but he's £40k down due to Gove and Austerity
so has a level of anger I choose not to channel
He did a fab Brexit stockpile shop the other day

Meanwhile, the LibDems are really doing their best to piss me off and lose my vote. Slow handclap, Lynne Featherstone.

I really hope there won't be a GE anytime soon, because I'll be torn between voting pro-Remain or spoiling my ballot by drawing cocks-n-balls and scrawling "not in women's spaces" all over it.

Ha - my calendar note to apply for an international driving licence has just popped up. I can't remember why it needed to be February - it was somebody saying it here on this thread?

wherearemychickens, the licences are available from more post offices as of today, that may be why it's in your diary?

Ta1kinPeace - ah, not quite the same dynamic then! :)

We'd be out of the country by now if I'd had my way - was saying 18 months ago we needed a plan B that was out of here.

As an aside wouldn't be great if the BBC reported a no deal like the MSNBC clip? We're getting dumbed down propaganda from our MSM.

Thanks - that's a job for the morning then! Need to phone up my car insurance as well and ask about the green card thing.

Interesting idea from The Irish Times via James Forsyth on Twitter. Would make a lot of sense..
"Fascinating from the impeccably informed @denisstaunton , some in Brussels suggesting the way to resolve the backstop issue is to extend Article 50 by 2 years and negotiate the EU/U.K. trade deal in that time"

Thanks for these threads, I’ve become obsessed, but it’s good to have a better idea of what’s going on!

I’ve just looked at the International Driving Permit. Apparently DH can’t get one because you need to hold a UK passport
He’s Dutch and has been here for ages, so he only has a UK driving license. Now he’s even less amused about Brexit than he was already

Also, what’s the ‘green card thing’ please?

I have another idea. We should adopt the same method as the Vatican when choosing a Pope.

We should lock all the relevant MPs, MEPs, Europenam officials, hard Brexiteers, Soft Brexiteers, Remainers....everyone involved into a room and seal the doors. They will then have to settle things in an amicable fashion in the best interests of all the people of Europe, Ireland and UK.

When a good compromise is found they will send white smoke up a chimney and we can let them out.