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

At least Gove is seemingly being honest.

Cui bono ? (Gove, obviously, but how ?)

You know how it's said that there's often an eerie silence before earthquakes - as if birds and wildlife know somehow, and clear the region (DF swears this is true, having lived though a few).

I wonder if the increasing silence of the Brexiteers is in anyway similar. In the press and on these boards. Time was you couldn't move for "WE WON" posts. Where are they all now. I refuse to believe they still feel bullied ....

DG from Guardian article he said "“The tariffs that will be announced in the event of no deal are not our preferred policy,” he said. “It shouldn’t be taken as the be all and end all of UK policy, absolutely not.”"

May has killed off the Malthouse compromise. It will not form part of the forthcoming EU talks. The Brexiteers are not happy. Expect her deal will re emerge now with a bit of spit and polish. See Harry Cole or Tom Newton Dunn on twitter.

I think it is clear they've realised they've run out of time and are just trying to gradually release info to make it look as though they've thought it through. I can't see why we would get an extension. The EU has prepared and we haven't.

Interesting that my friend's dad seemed to think lamb would be cheap and abundant (considering he is apparently high up and forgot about need for tariffs) but didn't think to mention cereal farming to his daughter. Tinned tomatoes...

DG from Guardian article he said "“The tariffs that will be announced in the event of no deal are not our preferred policy,” he said. “It shouldn’t be taken as the be all and end all of UK policy, absolutely not.”"

I have anything coming out of this government on mute now - unless anyone cares to write a definitive treatise on why I should believe a word they say ....

My casting of the runes is that it's no-deal, no-deal and no-deal again.

Yes I'm with you DG. I just found it interesting he is still refuting it, but not in the strong armed way they were a couple of weeks ago (i.e EU will blink/we have a plan). It's all about our "preferred" stance now...

May has killed off the Malthouse compromise

Is there a cite ?

Ah

www.reuters.com/article/britain-eu-compromise/uk-will-not-present-malthouse-compromise-brexit-proposal-to-eu-mail-on-sunday-reporter-idUSL9N1ZO00X

Reassuring to receive this email from my DS's school. Would be interesting to see how Leave parents react to this very sensible email.

Dear parents,
As we approach the Brexit deadline we wanted to reassure parents in these uncertain times that we have been reviewing our services to ensure, as far as is possible, appropriate contingency plans have been made. We have with our governing body been planning for a secure and successful long-term future, whilst ensuring more practical short-term plans are in place.
Catering
Chartwells, as part of Compass, one of the world’s leading food service providers and one of the largest catering companies, has a comprehensive briefing on the UK’s departure from the EU which includes plans for sourcing food supplies, workforce and legislation.
Travel
We have ensured that there are no trips or visits in the vicinity of the capital on 29 March and in the weeks before and after, and all risk assessments for trips which are planned to other destinations will be reviewed on a regular basis and take account of the latest advice.

Transport
In the event of reduced public transport or limited fuel availability, we shall invite students from across the (school name) to attend any of the (school name) schools as a possible alternative. Our digital strategy enables us to continue to deliver education effectively for all students no matter what their location.
Immigration
We have followed the guidance from the government's passport rules for travel after Brexit (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/passport-rules-for-travel-to-europe-after-brexitt_). Students and staff who are taking part in overseas visits over the Easter break have been requested to ensure that their passport expires at least six months following the date of return.
Current 6th form students from the EU who live with host families or in the boarding house may return to the UK on their EU passports, and they have until 31.12.2020_ to apply for settlement status. They will need to prove that they were resident in the UK before 29.3.2019_. The proof could be presented in the form of a bank statement or a boarding pass.
Medicines
We would encourage parents to review the expiry dates of any emergency or regular medication and ensure that the medication has a long expiry date. We will be aiming to ensure that the school emergency medication has a six-month expiry date.

Services
In the event of any disruption to services within the schools which makes it unsafe or impractical to open any of our sites we will again offer students the opportunity to attend schools within (school name) that may be open and we will continue to provide a digitally-based remote education.
Whilst we have, as far as possible, tried to mitigate potential disruption we cannot guarantee there will not be some issues and this list is not meant to be exhaustive. Please be assured that we shall do everything that is practicable to support your child’s education.

Kind regards,

That is a relief Loletta at least they have planned for it. Unlike dd's which I fear gave a huge eye roll at my email requesting any policy.

Maybe now Gove has confirmed food delays we will see something this week.

I really believe any post Brexit government would simply pass a law refusing to acknowledge such retained citizenship

They can refuse to acknowledge it all they like. The important bit is that the rest of the EU acknowledge it - and then we can still live and work there.

We might need to take out private health insurance.

He refused to reassure farmers who pressed him about protection for cereal farmers, suggesting zero tariffs were a possibility in some areas."

In the event of no-deal and trying to impose the famed "WTO terms" then whatever the UK gets it has to give ...

This has just reminded me of a dairy farmer we met at a local event. He was pro-leave and his wife remain. She was so lovely and we had a really good chat about regulation/subsidies at the time (back in 2016). I do wonder what happened to them. She was so worried and her partner just pig headed about it all. That would kill a marriage for me!

My DP is a hill farmer here in Wales, raising sheep. He's built his flock up over the years expecting that he could then sell it off gradually to supplement his state pension (he's in his 70s). In the last three months the price he gets for his lambs has already dropped by more than 30%. He also has a few pigs - they are worth so little that he doesn't even bother putting the sow to the boar.

Hill sheep still need to be fed in winter; pigs need to be fed all the year round and cereals constitute a large part of their fodder. He is seriously worried about what will happen. I am just relieved that I have my own home, separate from the farm so that if he does end up losing it, we'll at least have somewhere to live.

So when people tell me that they knew what they were voting for, is it any wonder that I no longer want to bother with them?

I think it'll be a "something" every day now...

And even people like Gove will be called traitors and remoaners right up until people realise it effects them.

I understand that the initial oversupply of domestic meat (particularly lamb), caused by tariff and non-tariff barriers on exports, might lead to lower prices for a while, as our UK farmers desperately attempt to save their businesses. Once they’ve gone to the wall price levels will be in the power of the foreign meat sellers.

Re EU granting citizenship - sadly unlikely (although I think in EU’s interests), however - if it was granted it wouldn’t help those of us hoping to retire to the EU. Unless we have immense private wealth ofc.

I sense panic and hysteria from the right wind press....anyone else?

So when people tell me that they knew what they were voting for, is it any wonder that I no longer want to bother with them?

The thread elsewhere about the Honda news for Swindon is equally full of high tensions (an understatement).

I refuse to believe all this bitterness was lurking under the surface for 43 years ... it's soul destroying reading and hearing how much has built up in the past two years

I said it before. I want my country back - not the mythical Albion of pre-EU days. The easy going, all types, bit of banter country that's disappearing before my eyes.

I've not spoken to Leaver friend yet today. Had a quick squiz at SKY and nothing on there yet, so will assume she hasn't seen anything confirming food shortages yet. May pop to the shops and call her later... She KNEW that the ports would be FINE!

I am not a bitter person, but when you see the person you love, someone who works very hard, who loves and takes good care of their animals, in despair because of the damage being done by Brexit it is very hard to forgive the people who blithely assume that this is all, somehow, all right because they will have taken back control.

Re EU granting citizenship - sadly unlikely (although I think in EU’s interests), however - if it was granted it wouldn’t help those of us hoping to retire to the EU.

Aside from the spite of the UK government, it's a non-starter .... it would be unreciprocated for a start (so a collective "wtf" from the EU27). It's also a pretty clear example of the cherry-picking/cake-and-eat-it the UK was told wasn't going to happen.

missbel you are a better person than me. I don't know how you remain calm.

So sorry for everything you are going through Missbel.

I still have not come across anything on the 'No Deal' preparation workstreams. This is the only reference to it so far. It must be bad!

www.businessinsider.com/government-accused-of-extraordinary-brexit-secrecy-brexit-workstreams-2019-2?r=US&IR=T

Thank you 67 and Littlespaces I write to everyone I can think of and try to keep as well-informed as I can - and trust that having kept my own home and finances independent of the farm, we will manage somehow. At the moment DP is managing on his state pension (which doesn't cover the weekly feed bill) and his savings.

www.politicshome.com/news/uk/political-parties/labour-party/news/101970/labour-mp-apologises-after-claiming-new
Labour MP apologises after claiming new Independent Group of MPs could be ‘supported by Israel’

Labour really are a complete car crash atm.