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.

Ferries to warships ?

I'm sure the vicars daughter can correct the mistranslation of Isiah 2:4

And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

(All atheists should learn the Bible - it's a great distraction in arguments )

Good morning.

Is it me or does she look clinically insane in this photo?

Labour predicted to lose an election. Time to ditch Corbyn.
And how the hell did he win the party leadership without being asked for his views on the EU?

As I've said before. Key decisions are being driven by someone who is a very private and stubborn. She is a secret solo operator, who finds collegiate processes difficult. Someone who grew up with a key role model who had divine endorsement of self belief. This had produced some one for whom the Tory party has been a substitute family who suffers from severe diabetes and is surviving on little sleep. Psychologically It's not a good combo.
Is that akin to madness? Who knows but it's not string and stable it's stubborn, scary and slaughterous.

Sleep deprivation is well known for causing mental issues. Combined with the stress and her diabetes then it's very worrying. I'd feel sorry for her if this wasn't her own doing and she wasn't taking the rest of the country with her.

On another thread someone is hoping that Brexit will mean we all get our own house.

Disappointed that Scotland is predicted to re-elect all those Tory MPs.

@Tonsilss how do they think that will happen??

The house that is

FFS

Potatoes and body bags delivered by the army, martial law, companies with no ferries and takeaway terms and conditions, failed 60 million bribes to Nissan, portaloos on Kent motorways, contempt of parliament...Price increases, Cat & dog consumption prevention legislation. Pigs ears to China, driving British Caterhams. Fucking business and the GFA. 40% recruitment crisis in care and the NHS. Prisoners potentially being released to help with food picking.

Is this really what the people knew they were voting for and wanted?

www.cnbc.com/2019/02/11/uk-firms-divert-10-billion-of-investment-to-eu-over-brexit-study.html

Labour predicted to lose an election. Time to ditch Corbyn.
And how the hell did he win the party leadership without being asked for his views on the EU?

Corbyn's views on the EU were never a secret. He has been openly anti-eu forever. Anyone who didn't know that wasn't paying attention.

During the referendum he was very open about the fact he was not a europhile and had big issues with the EU. He said he voted remain only because on balance at that point in time he could felt we would be better trying to change from within than leaving, but he was open about his reluctance. On balance this openness is why I do actually believe him when he says he voted remain. May on the other hand I'm not so sure.

Anyone who didn't know that wasn't paying attention.

How many people HAVE been paying attention?

Tom Newton Dunn @tnewtondunn
Excl: Tory Remainer ministers to demand PM grants Parliamentary time to Cooper/Boles if still no deal after Feb 27 as their price to support her on Thursday
www.thesun.co.uk/news/brexit/8406820/remainers-to-demand-theresa-may-hands-parliament-power-to-delay-brexit-as-their-price-to-support-her/amp/?__twitter_impression=true

25 anti-no deal ministers met secretly in the Commons this afternoon to agree the new demand, put together by Sir Oliver Letwin. Deal to be offered to No10 = Cooper/Boles amendment won’t be tabled this week if PM agrees.

But the flaw is very few of them are committed to resigning yet if No10 refuses. One who is very likely to though is Industry Minister Richard Harrington, who has told friends it’s now “a matter of personal credibility” for him.

No resignations = ERG win no deal

How many people HAVE been paying attention?

Clearly not all that many.

rightsinfo.org/social-care-sector-condemns-unfit-changes-to-mental-capacity-laws/
Social Care Sector Condemns ‘Unfit Proposals’ To Reform Mental Capacity Laws

More than one hundred organisations in the social care sector have called on the Minister of State for Social Care, Caroline Dinenage MP, to pause the Mental Capacity (Amendment) Bill’s passage through Parliament because the proposed changes will harm the human rights of vulnerable people who rely on care and support services, such as people with learning disabilities, dementia, brain injuries and mental health needs.

Ah the law needed to enable the return of the Victorian asylum.

Interview with Ian Wright of the Food and Drink Federation on Today prog about 7:30 - either just before or just after the sport. Saying such businesses could be decimated. I've never heard such politely suppressed anger before. Wants no more Govt initiatives eg from Gove as entirely occupied in prep for Brexit. Firms can't staff up as Govt is doing.
Typically hidden away in Business on the BBC News website, and a very anodyne report.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-47200688

(Wondering if this is the start of all those NDAs being blown apart.)

Kevin Schofield@polhomeeditor
Andrea Leadsom admits next meaningful vote may not happen until after EU summit on March 21, just days before Brexit. Extraordinary. #r4today

Confirmation we are going for no deal and parliamentary democracy has been thwarted. The last vote was surely the last chance.

I'm unfortunately in one of those blue Tory MP areas on that map. The MP only got 180 ISH majority and has been hopeless - a lot of FB posts about him backing Brexit when the area voted remain. Hopefully he won't get back in (might consider going out to campaign for SNP just in case)

Kevin Schofield@polhomeeditor
Andrea Leadsom also concedes that backstop changes may not include re-opening the Withdrawal Agreement. Won’t go down well with Tory eurosceptics. #r4today

Esther Webber @estwebber
Leadsom says 411 out of 600 Brexit statutory instruments have been laid - parliament going hell for leather on these atm but "laid" does not mean scrutinised or approved yet

amp.theguardian.com/media/2019/feb/11/public-funds-should-be-used-to-rescue-local-journalism-says-report?__twitter_impression=true
Public funds should be used to rescue local journalism, says report
Cairncross review warns that closure of local newspapers threatens democracy

Well if you have an authoritarian government, why on earth would they do this or want to do this?

Thinking about the ferries into warships thing (as you do).
Obviously Williamson etc have been watching too much McGuyver or the 'A' Team. Warships are designed with watertight compartments so that when those naughty enemies put a hole in it, it won't sink. Ferries don't typically have these, thus it would be a major rebuild. Apart from all the other obvious problems.

DH has a relative who died on HMS Hood. Do you think this means anything to Gav?

Military procurement has a long history of supplying the wrong gear. Top brass get an idea in their head, probably significantly outdated who pitch it to the government. Billions get spent and years later something completely overblown and near unuseable gets delivered. The guys that actually use it then have to struggle with kit that is largely not fit for purpose so has to be redesigned with more delay and expense.
Meanwhile in Africa you get a pickup from the local car dealer or steal it and bolt a machine gun to it and off you go.