Westminstenders: Distract and divert. Just close your eyes.

[RedToothBrush]

This morning Jeremy Hunt declared that, 'With vision on both sides we can find a way through that has the support of Parliament and also works for the EU'

Of course this is 18th February 2019 and the UK has yet to demostrate they understand the problem, much less have the vision to solve it. And we leave the EU next month.

It needs to be stressed at this point: DON'T FORGET TO FOCUS ON WHAT REALLY MATTERS

Everything else is a tactic to make you close your eyes and miss what is really going on. Everything. Brexit looks increasingly like a hypnotist making their subject do ever increasing acts of ridiculousness on stage. Except I do not know if the public or the politicians are that poor sod. It is the magician who uses tricks of slight of hand to make you look the wrong way, whilst they makes all the big moves out of your vision.

There are so many stories that are coming out to try and make you miss what the government are failing to do. Stay focused. We can't ignore all these stories, but understand whether they are really important to the end game too.

A labour split, a march on the 23rd March, talk of a PV, the Brady amendment, the Malthouse Compromise, Cooper-Boles halting no deal?

No we need more than that.

The time for fantasies are gone. Its time to face reality and be pragmatic. The only thing that matters is the approaching cliff. Which we will go over not on the 29th March but in the next couple of weeks. We might not realise the ground disappearing beneath our feet at first. Our momentum as we go forward will carry for a short while before gravity kicks in.

But we can not defy the laws of physics and suddenly be able to fly because we develop magic superhuman powers of vision.

And no one will come to save us either.

Our national humilation will be total, if we don't acknowledge what is coming and stop.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/eu_referendum_2016_/3492426-Westministenders-Abbreviation
Brexit Abbreviation Thread

Yet again, moving fast here.

It's nice sos, I have hope in the young!

Apparently Honda is downsizing not only in Britain because of less sales worldwide and has categorically nothing to do with brexit according to the BBC. Yea righhhht! Nothing to do with deal Japan has just signed with EU then????

Thanks dreich I tend to get carried away with dgd because I'm so proud!

Robert Peston@peston
The second most important political act today was @tom_watson setting himself up as shop steward of a parliamentary Labour Party largely estranged from @jeremycorbyn and the leadership
[[https://t.co/ROS1sf5KeF Peston on Facebook in which we learn about the intended creation of the shadow cabinet to the shadow cabinet.

It does have to be said that you have to be special to win the official title of 'The Total Shower of Shit' Party in 2019.

they'll huff anf they'll puff, but will they really blow the house down ?

Its such a shame really about the labour party. There just isn't any real talent or true States people around at the moment in any party. Its like they have all forgotten what a true politician is. Maybe they are true politicians but not in my eyes. The country should come first but it comes a lowly third in HoC at the moment.

Nope Bigchoc. Tories are the most yellow bellied of all. No way they will let Corbyn in.

I'm lying here tired but wide awake wondering if eating a bagel with Mexican cheese would be a bad idea. Ds and I have eaten half the kitkat stash and I'm pretty hungry. It's stress. I have a drawer in my bed full of chocolate, sweets and crisps but can't say I fancy any of those right now.

Things feel so hopeless I may as well get fat. That way I've got more reserves for when there's food shortages. See, I still have some optimism!

Maybe toast. Toast is comforting. Oh dear god, I've just remembered there's a fresh white sliced loaf. And wotsits. Ultimate carbtastic late night feast.

Bastard brexit.

Sorry did you mean labour bigchoc? I'm half asleep I'm afraid.

Derek Hatton... sorry, I know that was hours ago and it's not really a big deal in the current situation, but it's left me a bit .

The dog and Myself have managed to wade through half a pack of hobnobs just now sparkly ( the dog having lions share, I nibble end off to fit into mug cos dog won't eat a biscuit unless its dunked) so yes damn brexit! And damn fussy staffies!

Honda - like Nissan and Toyota, btw - exports most of its Uk production

After a No Deal Brexit, these cars will all face WTO tariffs of 10%, plus various NTBs (Non-Tariff Barriers) which will also add significantly to costs

Those kinds of costs increases are killers for mass market products, regardless of any other factors like diesel / electric etc

Hence Honda - and maybe other firms too - would no longer be viable

Other EU countries won't suffer from NTBs, just the UK will

Under the EU-Japan FTA, these tariffs would be phased out from 2019 until 2032, i.e. many years after Honda pull out

I'm thinking about the seven Labour deserters - at this point in the game, what more harm can it do than is already done? And I have respect for MPs who stand up for their principles. And make a stand against (anti-Semitic) bullying. We need more of that. The fact that they have not formed a party makes it easier for others in Labour or the Tories to follow their lead, as they wouldn't have to agree with them on everything.

I hope that in the future, when this is all just a painful memory, and after a period of soul-searching and restructuring, that our parliament will be made up of people who prioritise what is best for the people. And maybe they'll be organised into loose parties or coalitions, voting with their conscience on issues, rather than being whipped or blindly obeying party loyalty.

Well, you can hope...

Yes always hope hester, always hope.

Was at a talk tonight with Ian Blackford, MP (Leader of the SNP group in Westminster) and Susan Aitken (Leader of Glasgow City Council Minority SNP administration) about the effects of Brexit at both a national and local level and independence (of course )

Need to collate my comments and thoughts (am tending a very sick probably dying cat at the moment ) but given the current discussion, I thought I'd mention one of the last things Ian Blackford said which was that Theresa May is the worst PM that the UK has had probably in at least 200 years - but that she was also being "opposed" by the worst leader of the Opposition in the same period.

I found myself idly wondering recently how the UK could ever become a republic when every MP is required to swear an oath of allegiance to her madge?

Hence, among other reasons, the Irish Civil War, DGR.

I've just read this on the Swindon/Honda/Brexit thread and feel quite violent. Wot dit's butties night not cut it tonight.

It’s nothing to do with Brexit, although the bbc would have you believe it is, two words. Project Fear. No one said leaving would be easy, and it will be tough but having seen the true behaviour if the eu bosses would you really want to stay, I would be happy with a common market, which is what we originally signed up for but not for anything else. And let’s not forget they brought this on themselves. David Cameron asked for some concessions, they said piss off so we did,

How can people be so bloody thick?! Posters like that have me thinking very dark thoughts about what could happen to them with brexit

In addition to the 10% WTO tariffs ...

Faisal Islam@faisalislam

Honda explains to FT customs union exit impact on supplychain

-Extra 24 hours on current 5-24 hours for production/ transport of parts within EU

• Extra 24-36 hrs entry clearance into EU for half of cars exported

• 3-6 days having to avoid congested Chunnel by shipping

Henry Mance@henrymance

Congratulations to the UK government, which managed to sour relations with China and Japan in the same week

Good to hear I'm not the only one pigging out today. I have had beef stew, a bar of lindt with hazelnuts in and crackers with brie and date chutney tonight. I feel a bit sick.

I had a really bad night with ds last night so am very tired and very susceptible to emotional eating.

I too like Evan Davies. I think he was a good replacement for Eddie Mair. Especially because he does that business program too. He seems to have a good knowledge of the business community.

I wouldn't be too surprised if Anna Soubry jumped ship. I think her, Nick Boles and Sarah Wollaston are all most likely to go. Especially as Nick and Anna are facing deselection. I'm not so sure about Dominic Grieve, I think loyalty is really important to him, almost detrimentally.

I think it will be interesting to see what happens in a few months time. If TM resigns and Boris takes over (favourite with grass root Tories ATM) then I think more Tories might jump.

If they are the Tiggers does that make Corbyn the bear with little brain?

George Parkerr@GeorgeWParker*

This is such a shame that Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the Brexiteers' businessman of choice - looks like he won't be able to stay in Britain long enough to enjoy the benefits of Brexit.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/sir-jim-ratcliffe-the-uks-richest-man-quits-country-to-save-billions-35x6jphxn

Britain’s richest man, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who was knighted less than a year ago for his services to business and investment, has been planning to avoid up to £4bn in tax after switching his home and his fortune to Monaco.

The Sunday Times can disclosee_ that the prominent Brexiteer, who built up the chemicals giant Ineos, has been working with the accountant PwC on the tax avoidance plan.

This would see him and senior executives Andy Currie and John Reece legally share between £1bn and £10bn tax-free, depriving the Treasury of between £400m and £4bn.

Andrew Adonis@Andrew_Adonis

When Boris Johnson said ‘fuck business’, stranded Flybmi passengers now know what he meant

SusanWalker up until 2 weeks ago (when I started to get noticeably stressed about brexit) I'd stopped eating after dinner at night (we always eat between 5 and 5.30pm so no eating after 6 basically. I always used to eat in the evenings and often in bed so I was eager to stop doing so. I was really pleased I managed to stop but I've been peckish the odd night. I've stopped snacking in the day too though and have probably cut my daily calories in half so not surprising I'm hungry! It is probably affecting my sleep too as the night waking started around the same time as was going to bed hungry. Wotsit butties are one of my ultimate comfort foods though and ds asked for crisps today in Asda so we got some lots as it was 3 multipacks for £3.50.

Waffling. Sorry

and damn fussy staffies

She’s adorable Sos, and she’s got you very well trained!