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.

I'm still catching up (am up to around 8pm) but need to sleep. I hope you all sleep well and that tomorrow doesn't bring any more doom. to all, especially those feeling extra sad and stressed tonight.

I feel rather sad that neither of my children are doing a language for GCSE having done a languages degree myself. But I do feel they would have been more inclined if language lessons started in primary. The earlier you start a language the easier you're going to find it I feel.

Tbh - I think it is mostly about the teaching and it really helps if at least one MFL is obligatory.

Kids in France are supposed to have foreign language lessons at primary but it's a waste of time because the lessons are taught by regular primary teachers not language specialists.

But I do feel they would have been more inclined if language lessons started in primary

The thing with this is - we have to pick one and really commit to it. Most primaries teach either French or Spanish - but it's half an hour a week if that (when timetables get squeezed for any reason a language lesson will be the first thing to be dropped). Sometimes a peripatetic teacher will come in - but they frequently miss sessions or only do a half term or only teach year 3 or ... it's not ideal. And without a visiting teacher it is down to the class teacher - who may never have learned the language that particular school teaches themselves.

I have big ideas for the rehaul of the education system. But choosing ONE language to be taught at primary across the entire country - through online lessons that can be accessed from home as well as school - and that doesn't rely on teachers who have no expertise in the subject is a big part of it. (I would personally choose Spanish but it could be any.) They wouldn't even have to be long lessons - they could easily break down into 15 minute sections that could be fit in anywhere during the day and repeated as often as needed.

Then high schools can branch out and teach more languages because they do have expert teachers. And children who have a good grasp of one second language already will find learning another easier as they already have the skill.

I'd also have lessons in British sign language taught via short video lessons. If we got rid of the SATs and league tables - so schools weren't so confined to teaching to the test, there would be so much more time to do much better things. I might also replace assemblies with calisthenics. Except singing assemblies - I like those.

DS1 did French for 2 years at primary school and learnt practically nothing. DS2 has been doing French for 1 year at a different primary school and is miles ahead. The difference being that he is being taught by a native speaker who makes the lessons fun. Oh, those pesky immigants.

@TalkinPeace Whatever your first language is you always feel that other languages are not nuanced enough. Changing the context, intonation or the order of words can completely change the meaning of a sentence in other languages as well.

PS I love English literature.

MPs have been talking about Brexit for over 2 years and they haven't learned anything yet.
Worse, they haven't even decided what a 'Brexit' looks like.

Talkinpeace. No I’m choosing to think that to teach young people that all old people resent them is a pretty thick thing to do

I am of the age when we did O levels. Those of us who passed could usually read the language reasonable well, and where absolute whizzos at declensions and conjugations, but we could barely ask for a cup of coffee or book a train ticket. Then the pendulum swung too far the other way.

The other problem was which language to learn? Traditionally it's been French as the default, but I now think the case for introducing Spanish is better, and then introducing it consistently in primary schools. At the moment some teach French, some Spanish, and then the children go on to different Secondaries who might be teaching French and German, or German and Spanish. What a mess!

BTW DS has gone to work in France. He only did German at school. The organisation uses English as its working language, but I do hope he takes the opportunity to learn French.

Jesus - BBC 1 news. Sunderland- apparently it's remainers fault , "too many people trying to stop brexit causing uncertainty "

No. It's Theresa May's attempt to appease the ERG and whatever she agrees they don't like. She should have told them to do a running jump two years ago.

As for the people of Sunderland - hard to sympathise - the Nissan management did warn them.

Re Nissan. Since it was not in production no one has lost a job and since it’s now going to be produced well away from Europe it was far more than brexit that decided it.

Nissan says it is partly due to Brexit:

Chairman Gianluca de Ficchy said in a statement Sunday. “While we have taken this decision for business reasons, the continued uncertainty around the U.K.’s future relationship with the EU is not helping companies like ours to plan for the future.”

And

^The X-Trail model was to be made in the U.K., as announced in 2016, after Nissan and the U.K. government reached a deal on future investment, which the company said would secure and sustain the factory’s 7,000 jobs.
Greg Clark, the U.K. business secretary when the deal was struck, later said he had promised the Japanese automaker that the government would seek to maintain tariff-free access to the European Union once the U.K. has left the bloc. The deal was struck before formal talks on the withdrawal began.^

From: fortune.com/2019/02/03/nissan-x-trail-suv-brexit/

Re Nissan. Since it was not in production no one has lost a job and since it’s now going to be produced well away from Europe it was far more than brexit that decided it

You keep tellin yourself that if it makes you feel better.

The new EU/Japan FTA (which may not be part of) ensures the cars made in Japan can be exported to europe tariff free, no brexit would have meant that the car could have built in uk with the petrol engines imported from Japan - tariff free - for those variants, the UK could have argued for that.

Leavers are like vandals who destroy their own leisure centre, then blame the council that there are no facilities

Nice try Maryjoyce but not good enough. Undoubtedly there were many factors influencing Nissan, of which Brexit was one. But we were promised that the rest of the world were going to be beating their steps to our door because it was going to be nirvana. So far, the movement has been the other way.

As a languages graduate myself I know, a pesky elite citizen of nowhere I'm a wee bit disappointed that ds didn't continue with his MFL. He stopped French after Nat 5 (equivalent of GCSE). Although at least in Scotland, where the norm is to sit 5 Highers, more kids can continue a MFL to a level that can be studied at Uni.

He complains that he should've chosen Spanish rather than French when he made his Nat 5 choices (it was compulsory to do 2 MFLs for 2 years at his school: his year was a choice amongst French, Urdu and Spanish which alternated with German ) and because I was a French graduate, he felt obliged to do French

I was pleased that he looked into studying Swedish (or was it Danish?) as one of his options at Uni (he has to do 3 other subjects in 1st year, as well as his "official" degree subject, PIR - Politics and International Relations), but unfortunately it conflicted with his other choices. But at least he is open to learning another subject.

Union boss says reports Nissan will not produce X-Trail car at Sunderland plant are 'disturbing'

https://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/union-boss-says-reports-nissan-will-not-produce-x-trail-car-at-sunderland-plant-are-disturbing-1-9572775/amp?

“The X-Trail model was a sign of the company's continued investment into the Sunderland plant and a growing workforce, as well as its enduring commitment to the UK.
< not any more >

“The new jobs and apprenticeships that the X-Trail would have led to are desperately needed in the local economy
and our priority now is to ensure that investment commitments are upheld and that Nissan at Sunderland has the bright future this loyal and skilled workforce deserves.”

Sunderland MP gloomy and worried for the future

Bridget Phillipson@bphillipsonMP

My reaction to Nissan’s announcement:

RedToothBrush - we have a fabulous picture (and memory) of ds, aged 3, playing with a wee Italian boy of a similar age in the square in Siena. They didn't understand a word each other said (although to be fair, we didn't understand most of what ds said anyway - he was a late talker and only really started talking properly at about 3.5 and hasn't shut up since ) but they had a rare old time chatting away and playing with ds' wee toys (ds carried his collection of Bob the Builder toys in his pockets at the time)

English appears to be the 'Lingua Franca' of the moment. It is not because English is inherently a better or more useful language than others. It was spread globally through various means. Also the US using it brings a weight.

interesting irony that it isn't now called Lingua Anglais/Inglese or something. But that shows how these things aren't set in stone. Once it was literally a Lingua Franca which was used as a form of international communication. That has changed, and will again sometime.

Germany in the EU@GermanyintheEU (German Permanent Representation to the EU)

@HeikoMaas:
The agreement that the #EU has negotiated with the #UK is already a compromise - especially with regard to #NorthernIreland.
A hard border with the Republic of #Ireland must be prevented.
We must not risk the Northern Ireland conflict flagging up again. (1/2)

Unfortunately, the #UKK^ has decided to leave [the #EUU^].

The remaining members are in agreement.
We need clear proposals from London. The British cannot just say what they do not want.
If they want to avoid an unregulated #Brexitt^, our offer is on the table. (2/2)

GermanForeignOffice@GermanyDiplo
FM @HeikoMaas on #Brexit:

Germany and the entire EU will stand by Ireland on the backstop.
We will not allow * 🇨🇮* to be isolated on this issue.

Jesus - BBC 1 news. Sunderland- apparently it's remainers fault , "too many people trying to stop brexit causing uncertainty "

Everything is going to be Remainers' fault. When there is no food in the shops and when the country goes to shit, it'll be Remainers' fault. BoJo, JRM, Farage etc are being very careful in what they say, all to avoid blame in the aftermath.

I think revoking because of national security would be the best option. Aside from the problems like poverty and shortages, I can't see the far right lying down and going away. I'd rather deal with civil unrest when things are relatively normal. I find myself thinking of Margaret Thatcher - and thinking whatever you may think of her, she believed she was doing what was best for Britain. Surely these people must be able to see they are destroying it. MT v TM. Only just noticed that.

I wonder how Theresa sleeps at night too, Perverse.

Sunderland MP gloomy and worried for the future

It’s so infuriating. Even if Brexit was somehow just stopped (won’t happen). The damage is done that investment won’t return to the North East.

Pretty obvious also that no one signs any new agreements and for sure some will leave.
Yet no one can say brexit did this or that fully since we haven’t left yet.
Sadly until the idiots in parliament decide what will be happening it’s all nuts.

And you seem to have read a different statement or added your own opinion to the one you post as it says nothing about brexit been the reason.

My dad's lady friend in SA asked him if we ever talked anything but politics at family dinners (Had our customary Sunday night dinner at dad's place tonight as he is just back from 6 weeks in SA).

His response was yes - we also talk rugby especially if ds is there