Westminstenders: Flextension

[RedToothBrush]

Just wrote an intro and wiped it. So this is as quick as I can sum up.

EU response is extension to 22nd May if May passes her deal by 29th March

Or an unconditional extension to 12 April which could be extended with a plan and understanding to take part in EU elections.

This isn't what may wanted. It gives her less time and leverage

It opens up the possibility of her being ousted as PM in the next couple of days. Graham Brady asked her to quit on Monday. Remain Cabinet ministers are threatening to quit if May whips a vote to support no deal.

The talk is May has indeed flipped to supporting no deal with many think she's pretty much gone full on Colonel Kurtz.

The EU are in effect supporting parliamentary sovereignty and are being incredibly reasonable.

May now has to decide whether to accept.

The whole situation looks explosive and likely that one half of the cabinet or the other are on the brink of walking. And May's power is so shattered.

However she remains the gatekeeper and as it stands if she's hell bent on no deal, it will be extremely difficult for Parliament to prevent that.

The problem with the iterative run-off proposal is that if compromise is to be found, it will be NOBODY's first choice. So the most likely compromise is going to go out in the first round!

Petition is over 3 million. Maybe 4 by end of day?

Christopher Hope@christopherhope
NEW Nigel Dodds, who leads the DUP MPs supporting the Government: "Lectures by the PM putting the blame on others cannot disguise the responsibility her government bears for the current debacle and the fact that her agreement has been twice overwhelmingly rejected in Parliament."
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THE. WITHDRAWAL. AGREEMENT. IS. CLOSED

And again, no it isn't. Because if we went to the EU and said we wanted to stay in the EEA once we leave, we wouldn't need the backstop.

Actually we wouldn't need the stuff about citizens' rights, either.

For example.

The WA is closed only for as long as, and to the extent that, the red lines are not redrawn.

Surely "No deal" would get dumped first, no?

This will have been said before but wouldn't you thought that the first thing they should have done after the referendum was call indicative votes? I'm sure that's hopelessly naive but makes sense? Even if only within the government?

DGR I'm afraid Dilbert was ruined for me when I discovered that Scott Adams is a huge Trump fan...

Oh yeah been meaning to ask for ages. Who is beardy guy who's always following May around? With cases and stuff?

So idiots in lorries want to stop peaceful protest?

Surely "No deal" would get dumped first, no?

Not necessarily. There were a lot of MPs who votes against the "no to No Deal" amendment.

*And again, no it isn't. Because if we went to the EU and said we wanted to stay in the EEA once we leave, we wouldn't need the backstop.

Actually we wouldn't need the stuff about citizens' rights, either.*

I don't think this is correct. The WA doesn't determine the future relationship, and the EU would still require certainty on the Irish border issue + citizens' rights, given that the U.K. can no longer be considered a reliable counterparty. It's the political declaration that could be renegotiated. I don't think there is anything in the WA which precludes an EEA type agreement.

So idiots in lorries want to stop peaceful protest

I think we have to see it as a peaceful protest against a protest and that the police will sort it out as being effectively unlawful for obstruction of the highway or something - unlike the properly organised march.

They must be very worried about the London march if they are seeking to disrupt it and stop people attending.

Do numbers that seem to be attending bother them that much? This sounds like the actions of the rattled.

On the other hand maybe they just think they need the practice at sitting in long queues.

Cordelia, was that not because they were whipped? If they are offering free votes then things could look very different.

Hmm. Is this the best they can do? The go slow sticker seen on BDA twitter. Is this something to worry about? There are only a bit over 5000 followers on Twitter and some of them will be reporters

I'm afraid Dilbert was ruined for me when I discovered that Scott Adams is a huge Trump fan...

There is a debate to be had about separating the art from the artist - especially when I am sure a lot of artists that are revered from past times are probably just as guilty of distasteful views and beliefs as anything in contemporary art. It can get quite deep, after all, once a piece of art exists outside the artist, then why does any further information about the artist affect it. After all, if you heard a piece of Wagner and said "Ooo, that's good." without knowing anything about Wager then clearly some part of the enjoyment was independent of your knowledge of the artist.

It's another one of these complex moral issues where there should be shades of nuance. But this is the internet, so that won't happen.

That said, for some reason I've lost a touch of respect for Roger Daltrey, which I recognise is a little absurd, but I think comes more from the fact that he and his family are unlikely to feel too much ill effect of Brexit. Unlike the Mods who made his fortune, and their grandchildren.

Ooooh Anna Soubry replied to my email even though I'm not one of her constituents, to thank me for my support in her quitting the Tories she didn't tell me any rubbish unlike my own MP and I'm impressed with what she's said. Nothing patronising, no lies or misdirection. One might be forgiven for believing she wasn't a politician

Cross posted. Gah!

guilty of distasteful views and beliefs

Should have read guilty of distasteful views and acts

Apparently a memember of the SNP is trying to get an urgent debate in the HoC about the petition.
Good old SNP :)

@RedToothBrush my thoughts too. I must learn to post fully instead of quickly while trying to do other stuff like pick up the kids or cook. Leavers are indeed worried. Let's hope they don't cause any accidents. Friday night and the police will be better utilised elsewhere than clearing the highways of drivers blocking them with wagons.

EU Council have gone as far as they dare. The message is: If May cannot bring us something else, bring us someone else who can.

Meanwhile, it seems Russia may have invasion plans after all. Here's a trial reconnaissance run we may have missed, being distracted with Mays antics. The woman is probably the UKs biggest security risk at the moment.

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/03/21/three-drunk-russian-sailors-rescued-island-welsh-coast-getting/

Seems the RNLI were able to fend them off.

The conversation with the EU has gone from adult to adult, it is now parent / child. Wonder if they will manage to get it back.

Imagine if that plane in London had very very difficult things for May to deal with. If its Mueller come visiting or sending a taxi the timing could not be worse for May. Exposing the shit in the UK could be off the scale in implication. And the EU would certainly be aware of it too.

Carole stop fucking with my imagination and go back to actual journalism!!!

ThereWillBeAdequateFood

Can some one please explain the mueller thing? I get Farange has swapped parties but...