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.

DH thinks we should take a break from it, and he kind of is

I make a point of taking breaks sometimes. I have a complex mental health condition and have learnt the hard way that pushing yourself too far is no help to anyone (least of all my dd or family). If you are up all hours getting so anxious that other people are noticing and worried about you than maybe it is time to a make sure you are also taking care of yourself in a time of huge stress.

I plan on cutting back my reading around brexit for the next week or so to give myself a break as I don't really think much that is either new or that will change anything is likely to happen until mid-February. This is a good time to step away from following every detail and take some time to recharge so I'm feeling strong enough to deal with whatever comes next. I'll keep half an eye on things so I'll know if anything big happens, but otherwise concentrate on some other stuff for a bit to keep me sane.

I think BigChoc’s background and early years make her very aware of the current and potential miseries and dangers of Brexit. Her informed analysis from an outside viewpoint is invaluable.

www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/feb/01/revealed-plan-to-deal-with-putrefying-stockpiles-of-rubbish-after-no-deal-brexit

I look forward to the overflowing slurry and the ‘secondary leachants ‘.

Umpteen. If it wasn’t like it here we’d be at a standstill since we have never seen a gritting wagon in all my years here.
We all have a unofficial job/role when it’s need here which is great as you say to see people coming together when needed even if it’s not needed often.
It’s not planned but it’s just how we work together locally

@colouringinpro I also have bipolar, I'm the main breadwinner and if I have to miss my meds for any length of time we'll be evicted as I'm self employed

Brexit Britain. A wasteland

mixed I'm not trying to scare anyone about terrorism
I'm scared, having read the reports about what is lurking

I grew up very poor and my late dad told me of the much greater poverty he suffered
So politicians prepared to drag us down there again, just to protect their parties & their careers is horrific
People voting for them, because of hate / contempt / fear of their fellow citizens is horrific too.

Yes, Germany is liberal and the defences are mostly strong
but that's in the Western part, after decades of education & striuctures designed by the allies for that purpose
The East is vulnerable, because instead it had decades of dictatorship with xenophobia whipped up by the communist state.

Britain has done something particularly self-harming
but anyone sitting complacently in any European country or the USA had better wake up and be aware of the danger of the far right obscenity that has arisen again.

I jsut can't even....

We are suddenly having to think about whether to return to the UK this year or not (we had originally planned to be overseas for another 2 years). I can't believe that we are seriously thinking about never come back to the UK - our home, the place where we grew up, had our children, where all our families live

My Cousin died yesterday. She was 58.
Widowed with 4 kids and seven grandkids
She was a good person.
I want to grieve for her and her branch of my family.

But my grief for the UK and Brexit is greater
which disconcerts and upsets me greatly

And customs union...?

Olenna I'd suggest waiting a few years until things have calmed down
or until at least you can judge whether it's something you want to return to.

I emjoyed previous jobs in Germany, but never contemplated retiring anywhere except the UK, until Cameron farted out his referendum and then ran away.

My sympathies to you and your family, TiP 💐

One of the many problems with the UK trying to renegotiate the WA
is that some EU countries who had to compromise and let go of something they wanted
may want to renegotiate too ... but to get more from the UK

Spain & Gibraltar being only one area of potential concern

So very young @Ta1kinPeace . My sympathies. Are you up for telling us a bit about your cousin?

Talk1n

PMK

Bellini / bigchoc
My cousin was Californian from the Bay area and wealthy so - bless her - she was pretty unaffected by the political stupidity that we all face
BUT
she had to nurse her husband through cancer care because the US system does not "do" hospice
and the Brexiters plan to sell us out to the US companies

My Californian family have fought Trump all the way
but the FPTP system is against them, as it is against us.

Strange alliances indeed ...
Fintan O'Toole Retweeted Peter Geoghegan@PeterKGeoghegan

That’s Arron Banks who is under investigation by National Crime Agency over his Brexit millions and Jacob Rees Mogg at a DUP fundraiser in Ballymena last night...
........
Rebecca Black@RBlackPA

Prominent Conservative and Brexiteer Jacob Rees Mogg arriving at the Tullyglass Hotel in Ballymena earlier to address a DUP dinner.
Political donor Arron Banks was also among the guests at the event.

Pretty heroic in a quiet unassuming way. Thank you for telling us about her. And it's messed up that the rubbish of the world keeps trying to pull our attention away from the important things.
Condolences from a stranger to a stranger.

Delurking to thank you all very much for the very informative posts. You are the only thing keeping me sane. I would tag people but i’m not sure how to.

Bellini
Thank you. It is a surreal situation.
But does bring home to me how utterly shit a free trade deal with the US would be for the UK.

PMK. Thanks, and good title.

I hadn't realised that about hospices in the US, TiP
Sad & grim
Not a system to aspire too

If we genuinely want to change the NHS - and I doubt if there is real public demand to do so - then better to look at the systems in Germany, France or other EU countries

Very sorry tip may she rest in peace x

mixed yep.

Ta1kinPeace sorry for your loss