Westminstenders: Oh Look is that a fire in the Italian Capital?

[RedToothBrush]

Next stop: 27th Feb.

Where we will apparently have Cooper-Boles II which apparently will pass but still assumes that
a) the EU will grant us an extension despite our fuckwittery
b) that it will prevent accidental no deal, which it doesn't
c) glosses over the minor point that the only way to 100% prevent no deal is to say you'll revoke if everything else fails

Meanwhile in reality we leave in law on 29th March, despite the rest of the law having zero chance of being ready in time. Withdrawal Agreement and No Deal alike.

All that is actually happening is the Tories and Labour fighting amongst themselves. Corbyn is still pretending that Brexit isn't really that important and hoping it will just go away. May is still trying to compromise with the ERG - whom if you paying attention 18 months ago were obviously were never going to compromise on anything - cos they are fuckwitted swivel eyed loons.

Meanwhile the entire country has no other alternative but to assume no deal and act accordingly.

A deal on the 21st March (as is the planned date of the Meaningful Vote) is simply too late for planners. For them no deal has already happened even if it does never come to pass.

The strategy of brinkmanship has destroyed us. We just don't know it yet.

A Split in the Tory and Labour parties may well make matters even worse going forward with further political polarisation.

Where next for Brexit?

Who knows and does it even matter now? The damage is irreversible and will take at least a generation to heal wounds. Economically it may never be recoverable.

FUKD.

How many more would they need to neutralise the dup?

Bloody hell!

None - they make no difference to the numbers supporting the Government

So irrelevant then...

Looks like they took my comment about bicking over logos a bit to heart. 😂

Fair enough though. I said they should get on with it and they have. I'd really like to see some of the Tories join in now. I think resignations could be the only thing May will pay any attention to.

Blimey.

Could this be the start of progress??

Nine hundred and thirty six hours until we leave the EU

I've just done a big stockpiling online shop. The doom gets ever closer.

{Could this be the start of progress??}
Only a couple of hundred years too late. Ideal timing, 39 days to one of the most monumental cock ups.

So irrelevant then...

That depends on whether this is a one off group or a beginning of a bigger slide from both parties. For what it's worth I don't see this as being about neutralising the DUP. None of these MPs were stopped from voting whichever way they pleased, labour really wasn't going to sack them. In terms of votes in the house is doesn't change anything but it could be an increasing serious pressure on the two leaders to review their stance for fear of losing their parties.

They should have made a stand much earlier.

Agreed. The only real difference this will make at this (late) stage is if Tory MP's start to follow them...

If only more mps join them....

They could form a string septet.

By not actually yet forming a new party, they are (as Chukka is nice explicitly saying) providing a platform for other MPs from different parties to join them as an independent grouping.

Exactly pretty. Hats off to them. I kinda wish they had done it sooner, but now they have I think this is the best way. A clear signal for others to take a stand and resign even if they don't want to stand too close to these particular MPs.

I don't necessarily agree with these guys politics but I'll certainly give them credit where it's due.

I'm watching Chuka Umunna and can't help but think I'm watching our next PM...

Wow harsh words there "people cannot be saddled with this appalling choice of incompetence"

I can’t see this making much difference, unless some Tories join as well.

I noticed that each of their speeches really emphasised their working class roots and local ties to their constituencies "I'm the MP for XYZ, the place where I grew up"

I fervently wish that moderate Tories like Sarah Wollaston would join them and sit as Independents. They could still follow party lines where they agreed with them, but wouldn't have to toe the party line on Brexit.

Chuka Umunna - Streatham
Labour 38212, Con 11927, LD 3611, Green 1696, UKIP 349
22% Leave
Good chance to be reelected as an Indy MP

Luciana Berger - Liverpool Wavertree
Labour 34717, Con 5251, LD 2858, Green 598
35% Leave
Split Labour vote as demostrated by attempt to deselect her, but she still has good chance of being reelected as an Indy

Gavin Shuker - Luton South
Labour 28804, Con 14879, LD 1056, UKIP 795, Green 439
54% Leave
Could split the Labour vote. Touch and go.

Mike Gapes - Ilford South
Labour 43724, Con 12077, LD 772, Green 542, UKIP 477
43% Leave
Good chance of being reelected as an Indy even though will split the party vote

Chris Leslie - Nottingham East
Labour 28102, Con 8512, LD 1003, UKIP 817, Green 698, Elvis and the Yeti Preservation Party 195
42% Leave
Would split Labour vote, but still a good chance as an Indy

Angela Smith - Penistone and Stocksbridge
Lab 22807, Con 21485, UKIP 3453, LD 2042
60% Leave
Going Tory

Anne Coffey - Stockport
Lab 26282, Con 11805, LD 1778, Green 1088
48% Leave
Probably a half decent chance of staying as an Indy MP. But could be tight.

So of the seven one will almost certainly go Tory if there was an election tomorrow, 2 could be difficult, 1 could be tight but should stay and 3 would be likely to be reelected.

Laura Kuenssberg @bbclaurak
Clear the group are trying to appeal to disgruntled tory MPs as well and voters from across the spectrum ‘there are millions who feel politically homeless’

Yep. And Independent MPs are going to be the way I would have expected it to go at some point too...

In my last post, nice = now

Bloody autocarrot

If some Tories jump to them, that would be something .

It's a gamble.

I'm old enough to remember the Gang of Four who formed the SDP.

The Independent Group @TheIndGroup
Politics is broken. Let’s change it. #ChangePolitics
www.theindependent.group

(and no their website appears to be shite)