Westminstenders: Chaos

[RedToothBrush]

If anyone says they know what will happen this week....

... They don't.

He is assuming that if it gets to no deal the UK will be forced to accept what is basically a backstop deal in order to avoid tariffs and keep the border open. That's my reading anyway.

I agree that’s the bottom line. The EU may well insist on a backstop as a requirement to start trade talks even in No Deal.

Which the Tory party is perfectly happy to do - and would have by now. But we return to needing the DUP who by now are entrenched against such a move. Especially as they know a united Ireland makes everything so much easier, and isn't the fantasy it may have been 20 years ago.

True they are now, but once no deal happens it will be fudged as signing a special trade deal for NI and everyone will shake hands and look pleased with themselves. Hurrah!

I see my idiot MP voted against everything last night. He's such a twit.

The EU may well insist on a backstop as a requirement to start trade talks even in No Deal.

I'm certain that was noted months ago. Basically - as with courts - both parties must "come to the table with clean hands". Especially if one of them is a small country and the other a bloc of 27 (including an aggrieved party). The UK is - and has always been - free to disregard the GFA if it likes. It can disregard any treaty it's signed. What it can't do is then be upset that it gets treated like shit with no one wanting to do any deals with it as a result.

Apparently, she'll give a date for her resignation, let's see...

If she does that, she might as well go immediately - compare with lame duck Presidents in the US when the new one is voted for but doesn't take office until a couple of months later.

May addressing the 1922 committee at 5pm tomorrow says Tom Newton Dunn on Twitter. Apparently, she'll give a date for her resignation, let's see..

Don't journos get tired of recycling the same news that usually turns out to be incorrect?

Besides, the UK "rejoining" but without MEPs might be seen a suitable chastisement to mollify more cross members.

Not gonna happen. Would delegitimise EP decisions and open the door to legal action.

I find it worrying that people don't take the April deadline seriously. There might be a fudge, but I think there is a very serious risk that there won't be.

I bet she doesn't either. It's like half of the cabinet being on the brink of resigning, they never quite do though, do they?!

The EU may well insist on a backstop as a requirement to start trade talks even in No Deal.

Yes. This is why resistance to the WA on that basis is ridiculous. Either you revoke or agree SM/CU in which case the backstop is redundant or unneeded. Or, you crash out and come back looking for a trade deal in which case the backstop will be there waiting for you. The EU is committed to upholding the GFA and the need for an open border on the island of Ireland. That will mean treating NI differently.

This whole "NI is treated the same as rUK" has always been a laugable stance and is only an issue because of the DUP holding the balance of power. Everybody in Ireland, including the DUP, knows this will stop being an issue as soon as the DUP are no longer needed to prop the Tories up.

5,710,327 signatures on petition. Was hoping for 6 million by 12 midday but going strong!. At this rate 10 million by next Tuesday? Any bets?

Re Varadkar's comments, my view there is a game being played on border.

Ireland, the UK and the EU all know a hard border is required (by EU and WTO) in the event of a no deal. It is just that politically no one wants to be the party seen to be the first to actually put something concrete in the public arena on how it will work on practice. It would be political suicide for Varadkar to so this. He is trying to play both sides by being hard on the UK/DUP about backstop being required to avoid a hard border while managing his own vote by not being the one to actually plan to put it there if no deal.

As they say in these parts - the dogs on the street know there will be a hard border if no deal - the politicians (of all flavours) just don't want the electoral consequences of being the ones to erect it.

I think that plan A is to prevent no deal by spelling out the consequences (see the document published this week - though I think the message has already got through to most MPs)

Plan B is to bring the U.K. to the table very quickly by playing hardball, and to insist on a backstop before commencing talks.

I don't think that's an unreasonable strategy. There are risks for Ireland but all strategies have risks for Ireland.

Definitely Focalpoint.

And given that the Irish economy is going to be very badly affected by Brexit and will most likely need financial aid from the EU, we will have to stick by their rules regarding a hard border.

I'm thinking no deal is pretty unlikely now. Is that just me?!

I think Varadkar secretly wants no deal brexit, just to piss off the DUP.^

There’s no need: the DUP default is “Pissed Off”.

Ooooh a resignation date! Today?? Questions remain of which fuckwit takes her place.

{I'm thinking no deal is pretty unlikely now. Is that just me?!}
It is still the legal outcome unless the UK government DO something by 11 April.
Rearranging the deckchairs again isn't really helping, the UK needs someone controlling the rudder.

{Questions remain of which fuckwit takes her place.}
Well there's Vindictive spice, Can't tell arse from elbow spice, Lying bastard spice, and Scheming shit spice.

Due respects to a girl band with a similar name.

Sorry if this has been shared already. I can't keep up.


*Jacob Rees-Mogg

@JacobReesMogg

The choice seems to be Mrs May’s deal or no Brexit.*

This has given me hope.

Except May's deal is not a deal. If it passes, JRM and co will do everything to burn whatever is left of our bridges with the EU.
Remember how pleased the ERG looked? That's why. The price is 'only' letting go of NI...

I'm still convinced they're ok with selling the Union down the river (and of course the rest of us with it)

That sounds like JRM will support WA