Westminstenders: Competitive Stupidity

[RedToothBrush]

A week of wondering which MP is going to be the most dumb.

There is stiff competition between parties and remain / leave.

Expect incredible bids of ignorance and incompetence to curl your toes, with a bit of constitutional craziness thrown in for good measure.

Valentine's Day beckons...

... And so does the No Deal Divorce.

www.bbc.com/news/uk-47187491

Lots and lots and lots of votes! Oh, yes! 😩

I'm fairly sure the BBC report said this morning Brokenshire had hinted that the "meaningful" vote may be delayed until next month. It's gone from the report now, but Huffpost are still reporting it.

Thanks Red.

Tried to escape Brexit today, but it keeps coming up in unexpected places.

How many bloody votes do they need?

Thank you RedToothBrush
Here's a happy picture.
200 000 anti gilet jaunes in Rome yesterday. Peaceful and with Balloons.

Thanks, red 💐

imo, Vote unlikely even by 27 February

because May has not been able to get anything legally binding from the EU about the backstop - surprise
Even if she did, the backstop is only item #1 on the ERG hit list

So she will continue playing for time, desperately hoping something will turn up, that the horse will learn to sing

In the meantime, she'll fob off MPs with non-binding votes

https://www.bbc.com/news/amp/uk-47187491?

Instead of a "meaningful" vote on the prime minister's deal with the EU,
MPs could be given another series of non-binding votes on possible Brexit alternatives by 27 February,

with the final vote on whether to approve or reject the deal delayed until the following month
< i.e. March >

On Wednesday, Mrs May will ask MPs for more time to get legally-binding changes to the controversial Northern Irish backstop, which she believes will be enough to secure a majority in Parliament for her deal.

But the following day, Labour will attempt to force the government to hold the final, "meaningful vote" on Mrs May's Brexit deal by 26 February.

"How many bloody votes do they need?"

How many notes did Nero's fiddle play?

Trying not to rock backwards and forwards

Thank you Red Finding these threads with their in-depth and well-informed discussions has been such a bonus. Apart from my own family, I don't find anyone who is interested or apparently cares enough to have a sensible discussion. I'm in awe of how much you all know.

For what it's worth, I don't think May will come back with a binding motion until she either has some significant amendment to the withdrawal agreement (and who would put money on that?) or time means that she absolutely has to do so. She'll waffle and procrastinate for as long as she possibly can.

.

PMK with thanks, Red.

Like many others, I'm feeling drained by all this and there's absolutely no end in sight. I wish I could sleep for 6 months. Actually, 6 hours would be welcome right now.

Thanks red
Have a drink for me please, I'm too poorly atm

Since we all have to move into the future, anyway (even JRM) and assuming we feel the UK (re)joining the EU in the UKs best interests, then how does a no-deal exit square up against a WA exit for the quickest possible route back in ?

I'm still betting on a no-deal, which makes me curious as to what the political implications are (not financial, medical, industrial or social). Starting with the observation that any breakaway or reformed parties will still be tainted with the stench of the old.

Pmk

While the UK rejoining might be in the UK's best interests there will have to be one hell of a 'PR' exercise, as you not only have to undo 3 years worth of fierce anti EU bollocks, but 'turn' say 550 of the MPs into 'Pro Europeans', and hobble the likes of the ERG.
Since the MPs can't even decide how to leave, I think there will be a bit of a problem with this.

Thanks Red, PMK.

Add to this the fact that a lot of manufacturing will have gone and you are looking at probably 5 or 6 years minimum of decline even if things go smoothly, so what state will the UK be in at that point?
Still no one has made any suggestions about brilliant things the UK is going to occupy itself with to keep 'middle UK' fed.

Thanks Red

Pissed off that I don't have the mental energy to read for pleasure anymore. Would love to only have to worry if these boots went with this dress.

Yes, Swedish I feel just like this. I want to just worry about the ‘normal’ stuff. I want one day where Brexit isn’t dominating virtually every waking minute and running in the background of every other. I too want the mental energy to read for pleasure (actually I decided to make myself do that today but chose to start The Mandibles maybe not the wisest choice!), I don’t want another day to go by when my greying roots haven’t bothered me quite enough to give me the energy to dye my hair. I want to be able to plan stuff again, to say yes to DH’s nephew who’s asked us to join him and GF on a holiday in Cornwall in June without wondering if we’ll have petrol or road space to get out of Kent. I want to stop worrying about whether the savings we rely on to live will be worthless or whether the government might steal my premium bonds. I want to stop worrying that I’ve gone crazy in thinking the Government would ever steal my premium bonds whilst simultaneously hoping that I am just being crazy.

I want it all to just stop. Joining you all in tiredness...

Thanks Red
Placemarkcat

Thanks Red

Babooshka One small comment to cheer you up:

whatever the economic chaos, NO UK zgovernment would confiscate or freeze any kind of govt bond, including premium Bonds

Govt bonds are totally different from ordinary personal savings in a bank, because they are directly investing in the state, with a govt promise of at least your full capital back

Failure to honour govt bonds would result in the complete end of any international confidence and trust in the country, maybe more than anything else Brext could do economically.
It won't happen.

Reminder:
For personal bank accounts, even if there is no Brexit, you should always ensure that the TOTAL of your accounts
within any one group of banks - not just a single bank or account -
doesn't exceed the 85k limit that is guaranteed to be safe

and I would still tuck away say 3 weeks of cash, if you can, just in case of emergencies & chaos.

Glad I'm not the only one feeling helpless and low. I can't concentrate on non- Brexit reading either. It's not depression exactly, more a creeping apathy punctuated with waves of dread. And hot flushes.
Brexit and meno. What a combination.

Place marking with a plant based welcome ....

For anybody who thinks they really should be growing their own food but does not have the foggiest where to start
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/gardening/3504562-29th-March-Grow-your-own-newcomers-welcome-here

Politics are NOT welcome on that thread
encouraging resilience and shoots of new growth ARE

Good advice there RTB. Even if it doesn't apply to you it could for elderly relatives.