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Brexit

Westminstenders: It's oh so quiet...

989 replies

RedToothBrush · 04/02/2019 15:14

It's oh so quiet // It's oh so still // You're all alone // And so peaceful until

You ring the news // Bim bam // You shout and you yell // Hi ho ho // You broke the spell // Gee, this is swell you almost have a fit // Brexit is fab and I got hit // There's no mistake get on with it

'Til it's over and then // It's nice and quiet //
Shh shh // But soon again // Shh shh // Uh oh let's start a big riot

You blow a fuse // Zing boom // The devil cuts loose // Zing boom // What's the use
Wow bam // Of leaving the EU

It's gone quiet.

May was supposed to go on a tour of the EU to get concessions. She hasn't.

Instead we are currently stuck in an internal never ending debate about Alternative Arrangements (which is being abbreved too A. A. by less convinced souls) and how Germany got all the money from Marshall Aid (it didn't) and how navy ships can suddenly sprout front opening hulls to become roll on roll off ferries to emulate the spirit of Dunkirk. One of our greatest ever military defeats, which merely had good PR.

The idea that there is going to be any shift in position between now and 14th Feb seems unlikely. It suits the EU and it suits the ERG to be blunt about it. It does not suit the UK national interest though.

Instead our livihoods and futures are slowly drip, drip, dripping away. Invisible to those loved up on the idea of Leaving. But like a newly wed, how long does that feeling last? 42% of British marriages end in divorce after all. When do people fall out of love with Brexit?

The revelation of the need for the WAIB is scary too. The WAIB is the Withdrawal Agreement Implementation Bill. You can read more about it here:
threadreaderapp.com/thread/1091734003265224708.html
Well I say you can read about it, but from the thread you can see that the WAIB hasn't been published yet. And for us to Brexit without a legal and constitutional nightmare parliament needs to pass both the WA And the WAIB. And if you thought it was difficult to get the WA through just wait until you clap eyes on the WAIB details.

With this in mind there are noises from the ERG about an A50 extension. Y'know the one we can't have unless the EU think it's it their interests too.

mlexmarketinsight.com/insights-center/editors-picks/brexit/europe/the-uk-rips-out-its-eu-law-drip,-only-to-hook-up-to-another
More on the WAIB.

Of course there is a more sinister explanation: May does indeed intend to no deal and or use civil contingency law to pass the WAIB in whatever form she sees fit without parliamentary scrutiny.

Tick, tick, tick.

A friend told me today not to worry about brexit as "we survived before and we'll survive again". I didn't say much. My history lessons were rather grimmer in reminding me, that the ones who didn't survive don't get to be so optimistic.

OP posts:
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14
OhYouBadBadKitten · 06/02/2019 08:43

Actually, even in extreme circumstances, boredom happens and entertainment is valued.

1tisILeClerc · 06/02/2019 08:46

{This story hints at it, but the words 'tech' and 'solutions' in are euphemisms for an enormous programme of surveillance on the island of Ireland.}
Of course anyone carrying a 'smart', or actually any phone is being tracked to within 10 metres or less. The data created by this already exists so it is 'only' a matter of pulling that data for specific phones out of the internet.
This makes tracking, at a technical level relatively easy. A lorry leaving a factory can be tracked in real time all the way to it's destination.
A combination of algorithms or other information could then determine whether a vehicle has been 'tampered' with in any way.
Currently the raw data is out there, probably being stored at GCHQ, AND at the equivalents in the USA, Russia, China and Europe. Legality, politically and a decision on what to do with the data is the issue.

Destiel, you will always be able to watch your DVD/Blue ray and downloads will work as well but maybe not the ability to grab content from other areas outside the UK.The BBC is negotiating rights to broadcast outside the UK at the moment, partly by setting up an operation in the EU.

Motheroffourdragons · 06/02/2019 09:06

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DGRossetti · 06/02/2019 09:07

Straight outta Uni, I sat a high-flyers exam for British Telecom. It was a battery of tests that whittled 200 down to 5 with a final day at BT towers doing a couple of tests and a psychometric test.

Bearing in mind I'd done a Computer Science degree and was looking for a technical role, the only skill that was really tested was the ability to read a complaint from a member of public and respond on behalf of the organisation (there were 3 - one was a local leisure centre, one was a library, and one was a company of shopfitters). In each case there was a brief to respond to the letter, ensure the complainants issues were fully addressed while at the same time not confirming any particulars of their complaint nor suggesting the company I was writing on behalf was in any way liable. Each one took an hour and was critiqued in the final part of the interview.

This was what management training 30 years ago was about. Now re-read that BBC letter.

Yes, I got the job. But BT and I had a disagreement over London weighting - in particular the fact that BT managed to have two London weightings, and the role I was offered didn't attract the London weighting that had been stated on the letter I had initially replied to.

(In the end I was approached by a company involved in the European Space Programme who would have moved me to Darmstadt. If you're allowed to have regrets in life, not taking that offer is one Sad)

So UK management training starts managing complaints - it's baked into the system Grin .

Missbel · 06/02/2019 09:18

I complained about Humphrys too and received the same standard letter from the BBC. I don't suppose we were the only one, so perhaps, despite the bland pointless response, the volume of complaints was noted?

Tonsilss · 06/02/2019 09:25

@BigChocFrenzy - do you mind if I PM you a Germany specific question please?

LonelyandTiredandLow · 06/02/2019 09:25

I heard Humphries almost denying he was leaving just now on R4 - the woman he had on said it was "irresponsible press" !

I'm having a bit of a weird one with my mobile - it hasn't let me log in to MN for 2 weeks and had an update last night, now I've no mobile network Confused. Bad timing reading all of the tech stuff on here i'm sure.

DG - yes, every company I have ever worked for has had the same stock-style response. It's in the press everywhere with MP's saying things that are so bland and unaccountable they can't be held to anything - just look at the phrase "Brexit means Brexit". It's non-speak.

LonelyandTiredandLow · 06/02/2019 09:28

Interesting piece on cyber warfare

DGRossetti · 06/02/2019 09:29

I heard Humphries almost denying he was leaving just now on R4 - the woman he had on said it was "irresponsible press" !

The biter bit ? Oh, the irony. I can see why people believe in (a) God ....

LonelyandTiredandLow · 06/02/2019 09:31

I've often wondered if our Govt knows it was hacked/manipulated into Brexit by Russia but simply couldn't bear to admit to the world. It's hard to change mindsets of people who bought into it (as we can all attest) and thus they are "managing" the situation.

GD12 · 06/02/2019 09:33

OMG, is this story true?

twitter.com/jude5456/status/1093066614931705856?s=19

1tisILeClerc · 06/02/2019 09:41

Maybe this is where I have failed in life, making things work rather than getting my customers to admit they were at fault for expecting it to work in the first place.
I suppose the extreme could be a smart phone. It lights up when you press the on button. There is no manual to tell you what it might do beyond lighting up, so you could manage expectations and say it is a 'pretty box with lights in'.

Tonsilss · 06/02/2019 09:43

Bloody hell.
TM was basically brought in as a rabid Brexiter mole, wasn't she? All the benefit of the doubt she was given, all the hope that she was at some level a Remainer.

LonelyandTiredandLow · 06/02/2019 10:09

Anyone see this and notice the sentence "so that critical services can be taken over in a crisis" Interserve is one of 5 contractors taking part...

TalkinPeece · 06/02/2019 10:42

At least the Charity Commission are finally starting to do their job ....
www.gov.uk/government/news/charitable-think-tank-warned-over-breaches-of-charity-law

Motheroffourdragons · 06/02/2019 11:49

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prettybird · 06/02/2019 11:49

Donald Tusk has just finished his statement (alongside Varadkar), in which he had said that the backstop would stay, with

"By the way have been wondering what the special place in hell looks like for those that promoted Brexit without even a sketch of an idea as to how to carry it safely"

Shock

Tell us what you think, Tusk! Grin

Motheroffourdragons · 06/02/2019 11:50

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prettybird · 06/02/2019 11:50

Missed out the "I" in "I have been" Blush

prettybird · 06/02/2019 11:57

Dh and I were watching, saying essentially "Same old, same old" and then,* "Whamm!!!"* ShockShockShock

SusanWalker · 06/02/2019 12:01

I think Donald Tusk is my favourite EU official. He has a great sense of humour and tells it like it is.

bellinisurge · 06/02/2019 12:02

Surely he should be reported to MNHQ for being goady GrinGrinGrinGrin.

Missbel · 06/02/2019 12:06

He sounds as pissed off as I feel!

thecatfromjapan · 06/02/2019 12:06

Adam Bienkov @AdamBienkov

Twitter 11:41 6/2/19

'Donald Tusk says there is now no chance of the UK remaining in the EU as both May and Corbyn are "pro-Brexit" and there is "no effective leadership for Remain."

ElenadeClermont · 06/02/2019 12:08

@SusanWalker Tusk is fantastic in the Inside Europe documentary.

Also today from him:
But the facts are unmistakeable. At the moment the pro-Brexit stance of the UK prime minister, and the leader of the opposition, rules out this question.
Today there is no political force, and no effective leadership, for remain.
I say this without satisfaction, but you can’t argue with the facts.

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