Westminstenders: Waiting for the vote that never comes

[RedToothBrush]

March 12th (or earlier): Second vote on May deal.
March 13th: Vote on No Deal if WA fails to pass on the 12th
March 14th: Vote on an a50 extension.

The March 14th vote is the most important, though the others are still important and we have no idea how nuclear the ERG or the moderates will ultimately go in terms of blowing the Tory Party apart.

Even if May's Deal does pass we need an extension. We've known this a long time, from a British POV, but the EU have now explicitly said that they will need a technical extension to ratify the WA if we now approve it. We also need an extension if we decide to go for No Deal because we will have legal chaos as the HoC hasn't passed the necessary legislation for No Deal either. But this isn't the EU's problem...

With feelings in the EU becoming more bitter the idea of an extension might be more difficult to come by, if May hasn't passed the WA by the 29th March though.

The EU and May are therefore both aligned with a mutual interest to get the WA passed by 29th March for this reason. Which might mean the EU do play tough on granting us an extension (at least initially) if we formally ask for one on the 14th March in order to help persuade the HoC vote for May's deal before the deadline of the 29th March.

I think we should expect the WA to fail to pass on the 12th March. There just aren't the numbers for it. Then hardball politics from the EU commence on the 14th - it might well be a long extension or nothing. May will then try and do MV3 before the 29th March. If it passes, May's happy and the EU are happy. If it fails... well... I think the EU might give way to a shorter extension at that point, but very begrudgingly. And the idea will be for MV4 or the July cliff edge.

Until then we sit waiting forever for the sun to start going around the earth and for pigs to fall out of the sky.

L K Bennet is favoured by Kate Middleton.

I'm hearing that John Lewis could be in trouble. They had record profits about 8 years ago if I recall?

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/239406

I'm hearing that John Lewis could be in trouble.

From my post upthread ?

That will hit a lot of MNetters hard. Frankly it doesn't bode well, I'm afraid. JL should be minting it in, given the loss of the bigger names and Debenhams continued woes. The fact they aren't suggests that people really have decided not to spend too much.

Weirder things have happened, but could JL and Debenhams go the same day ?

Chevvy
I'm hearing that John Lewis could be in trouble. They had record profits about 8 years ago if I recall?
John Lewis are cutting the staff bonus.
This has been predicted among friends who work for them (at all levels) since June 2016.
JLP still has massive reserves and owns its own buildings and has its pension under control.
It is just being ultra cautious in very tough conditions.

Must have missed that DG sorry!

I wasnt surprised about HofF tbh. Was in the beautiful Belfast store last May and my family and I were the only people in it!

My predictions for the next retail closures are:
Debenhams
Cath kidston
JL
Lush
😔

Next has a very profitable online business so they are prob ok....for now.

I'll add Lakeland to that list too.

TIP I'm glad that's the case. If they get their customer service sorted I'd shop there again

Indeed it will

And Waitrose contract with Ocado will terminate next year which is a bugger as they won't deliver to my rural fastness.

Switching to Morrison's will be good for the bank balance during Brexterity.

A list of stores we have no need to ever go in again ... says it all really.

There was a thread recently about the demise of the High Street. If my view (that the High Street is never going to look like it did in our childhoods ever again) is correct, then it was slightly saddening there were so many people who felt if they believed hard enough, it would happen posting.

Agreed Chevvy. Much as I like John Lewis, would be super wary of any white goods delivery from them after a shocking experience with a dishwasher a few christmases ago.

I love John Lewis

DH has been buying loads of stuff in their habedashery department lately as unlike online you can see if it is really what you want
and their staff are not freaked when he explains what he needs each thing for

and the absolute aura of calm in the linens department makes West Quay bearable

John Lewis started dying on its arse a few years ago when it outsourced its customer services to a bunch of rude fuckers called Capita.

Loads of MNers (surely a big target group?) said they'd never order big ticket items from JL again.

I switched to morrisons grinchly
No issues so far.
Oh God, JL white goods customer service...dont get me started!

Lost interest in John Lewis (and it wasn't great to start with) when they wanted around £25 for a milk frothing jug and thermometer that I ended up getting for £5 from Amazon.

My late DM only had time for 2 stores .... M&S and JL.

I love going into JL.

But I've done research in store and then bought cheaper online.

The JL website is poor imo.

{Switching to Morrison's will be good for the bank balance during Brexterity.}

OK, can I claim 'Brextricity' the name for when the lights go out or power is rationed?

{But I've done research in store and then bought cheaper online.}
And there in a nutshell you have described most of what is wrong with the 'high street'.

True leclerc

I'd rather buy local than at a big chain anyway.

And I hate feeling ripped off. The JL mark up is HUGE

I like JL - there are some things that are cheaper elsewhere, but they’re very good for some things.

I buy tech from John Lewis where possible because of the 2 year guarantee and tech support. They once replaced a Toshiba laptop that never worked.

Duvets, pillows, leather work chairs, underwear, perfume, toiletries...

I love their perfume dept.

And haberdashery...is it just me that fiddles with all the buttons? ;)

We did buy tech from there til the great tumble dryer fiasco of 2012.

The nearest one to me is 20 miles away so I don't get the chance to go very often.

The Ocado thing has pissed me off. Nor am I convinced the M&S hook up will work.

I’ve always had the choice of Waitrose or Ocado for delivery which have slightly different stock.

M&S have some nice things (especially their profiteroles stack), but I’d never do a full shop there because they’re more expensive and their range is limited.

Women like me will not switch to big shops in M&S. I think the average M&S basket price is £13 vs Ocado £40 minimum for delivery.

M&S have only done this because they fucked up on online delivery and Ocado is happy to sell £3/4 million stake.

JL - I use a lot - but the customer service on big items that are delivered..... leaves something to be desired..... I recently ordered an Exercycle - it arrived in pieces. Online it said "some assembly required", when I rang to complain the person was really arse with me. Some assembly required implied to be - a couple things slotted in together, maybe the odd bolt. Not at least 100 steps,1 1/2 hr work for two people.
But apparently I was v wrong. I did consider sending it back.....

The majority of customers at our local M&S are over 60.

They may all do online shops....but I doubt it.

My in laws are very loyal M&S shoppers and have never done an online grocery shop.

I can't see it working either.

Their core demographic doesn't do online shopping. And those of us who do need a shop where we can do a "big shop".

talkin

West quay is always so busy

People are obviously just window shopping

Hope it doesnt go, thats my go to place if there is a zombie attack

That or the nearest military base

Though I have a friend - single mum, on a very tight budget, who says she's shopping more and more at M&S - not everything obviously- but things like sausages (esp if you so the multibuy) are cheaper and taste better than Tesco's. She is v price aware. I was really surprised.