Westminstenders: The Last Rites

[RedToothBrush]

After May's disastrous speech to the nation, we've hit the impasse once and for all.

She managed to enrage everyone from Brexiteers to hard Remainers and everyone in between. It was so poorly judged it's difficult to know where to begin. It just feeds the division and anger in our society in all quarters.

It's also massively undermines her appeal to the EU for an extension. If France thought we were a political basket case they were well shot of, and didn't want more social contagion from before 8pm, then they certainly won't have changed their minds since.

May's speech was that of a would be dictator. After next Friday, she effectively has both the justification and the power to act upon those instincts. She has spoken out against parliamentary democracy and consistently disregarded the law.

It's hard to see any outcome but no deal with no extension at this point. We are no waiting on a miracle to save us and that's no more than a forlorn hope. Something we hold on to, until reality presents itself.

The Last Rites of British Democracy have been served this week.

And now we face the wait for what seems now inevitable.

Has anyone mentioned @UltraButt yet? If you are on Twitter, they are tweeting the petition numbers every five minutes (when they can get on!) - helps keep the petition traffic down if you want to keep an eye on it.

Thanks nofluffyforwords.

My problem is I really HAVE to do stuff for the house this weekend and going to London was a full day out of that. Liverpool I can potentially go to for a few hours which DH might be a lot more charitable about. We do not know what the score will be next weekend, so unless we do it this, we could run into problems.

Watch out for nasty "project fear" attempt to scare people of the march. Especially using the fear for children ...

Just for the record, both marches we attended (2017) were not only peaceful and good humoured, but there was a constellation of ages from babes in arms (well slings) through toddlers to teenagers. I probably counted more McDonalds and Starbucks on the route than policemen.

If you're in a wheelchair you can get to Green Park and join there, wheel to Westminster (which is slightly downhill, but I won't make any observations about that ) and get back onto the tube network there - it has level access to the trains.

Just don't get stuck too close to a trombone players ....

The other thing that struck me yesterday was TMs assertion that people wouldn't understand being asked to vote in EP elections three years after the ref. I thought it was very patronising. Anyone older than a toddler can understand what's going on. They might not like it, but they would understand why.

It is physically impossible for me to go on the march and as a seasoned marcher would love to.
However DH and DGS are going.
I also have interstitial cystitis, along with a myriad of other things, and interestingly mine has flared up too LoonVanBoon.
Never thought of connecting it to Brexit.
Last time I saw my GP I asked about medications and Brexit. He said he’d received instructions about a very few life saving ones.
I didn’t think it was fair to ask him what they are.
My pharmacy is having problems getting drugs. The pharmacist blames it on them being stockpiled for Brexit but then he’s a leaver voter.

The other thing that struck me yesterday was TMs assertion that people wouldn't understand being asked to vote in EP elections three years after the ref. I thought it was very patronising. Anyone older than a toddler can understand what's going on.

Serious question. Who can be more patronising ? The super dim, or the super smart ? You know that trope about when the only tool you have is a [yellow -]hammer, every problem looks like a nail ? I suggest that when you are a bit dim, you assume everyone else is too. Which tends to be less easy to disguise, the greater the audience. Unless they are all Leave voters

Red, it's a pain for you having conflicting things which you need to do. Realistically, how long will it take to do the house stuff? Would you go to Liverpool by train? If so, if there's any calling / internet stuff which needs doing, you can do it then.

How much could be done on Sunday? Is it all do or die on Sat?

I hope you find a way round it.

Signed and about to donate to the weekend march. I can't make it as I am the sole adult in charge of two known bolters under 5.

Heartened to see the petition climb above 700,000. It's on course to top trump's which got over a million. It won't change May's mind, but may help her successor.

Here's how to contact number 10

email.number10.gov.uk/contact.aspx

I started with " Your speech last night was beyond outrageous ..."

Just had a ragey call from leaver friend who thinks TM was completely correct. MP's were too thick to vote for her deal and don't respect democracy. Went on about how Honda signing the trade deal with EU means they can build in Japan which is why jobs have gone/are going.

I was clear that if TM had support in our democracy she wouldn't be in this situation in the first place. She then said it was a bad deal because May is a remainer and wanted the backstop. Apparently N should "just leave" and "We've carried Scotland for far too long, so they can go too". I said I could hear the democracy oozing from her as she spoke! At that point she got a call from her DS's school saying he had been threatening people with his dad's gun . I thought that spoke volumes about the family values and atmosphere in their home tbh.

I've not mentioned we will be at the march on Sat, just hoping she will see us on TV

@RedToothBrush , focus on your house sale and what you have to do. Your contribution is already way above most people's.

If you want an update on petition numbers follow @UltraButt on twitter.

That was meant to be NI "should just leave"

www.theregister.co.uk/2019/03/21/parliament_brexit_petition/

Commentards agree with Hanlon that performance issues are probably due to rubberneckers watching the counter.

DW has just signed (after the email was fished out of the spam folder ) and asked if there's any real point ?

I guess ultimately, in this moment, at this point: no. But like the anti-war demo(s) before Iraq, it at least prevents anyone claiming "no one said anything" - a la Niemoller.

Revoke petition hit 400,000 at 6am this morning. It’s just hit 800,000.

Signed but no email yet - checked junk - does it take a while to come through?

At that point she got a call from her DS's school saying he had been threatening people with his dad's gun . I thought that spoke volumes about the family values and atmosphere in their home tbh.



Emailed MP & PM. Signed the petition. Can't make it to the march. Can not emphasise how PISSED off I am at this shit show.

Returns to lurking

just emailed the PM - never done that before!
I sent it but have received no confirmation so i hope it went correctly.

At that point she got a call from her DS's school saying he had been threatening people with his dad's gun .

For a brief moment, I thought that was on the US gun law thread ....

I sent it but have received no confirmation so i hope it went correctly.

Check your spam folder. Give it a few minutes ...

I don't get this rage about having to leave on 29.
TM wasted months of negotiation time calling an election, not to mention triggering article 50 knowing there would be national elections in other European countries.

Surely people would want things done properly- timeframe should not be the priority.

WhatWouldScoobyDoo Thu 21-Mar-19 12:03:30

Signed but no email yet - checked junk - does it take a while to come through?

When I signed last night it was almost instant.

I don't get this rage about having to leave on 29.

Because the UK government - despite claiming the opposite - simply hasn't done anywhere near the amount of work needed to go from being in the EU to not in the EU at the stroke of 11:00pm.

Bercow has reprimanded May in the Commons, saying that no MP is a traitor (as inferred in last night’s diatribe).