Westminstenders: Arse about Face

[RedToothBrush]

Everything about Brexit seems to have been done wrongly.

Setting red lines to rule out a compromise

The attempt to use executive power to trigger A50, that resulted in a court case

Triggering A50 before knowing what the UK wanted

Agreeing to the backstop before any Tory MP understood the GFA

Appointing a Brexit minister before checking he understood where Dover was.

May going on about NI and pissing off the DUP before they were just about to climb down.

Having a Meaningless Vote repeatedly with a gun to head.

Contempt of Parliament and just general fucking up.

Tonight, 3 days before we were due to leave the HoC finally sat down to decide what Brexit outcomes they thought would be a good idea - more than 2years after that should have happened.

And we now we are told the meaningful vote might be may even more meaningless by being wrapped up in the illusive Withdrawal Agreement Implimentation Bill.

Farce doesn't even cover it.

Anyway Indicative Vote results incoming in approx 15 mins.

Fuck that. I wouldn't trust them. If i was DUP I wouldn't vote in favour on this either.

I still can't see how the WA (PD or no PD) could pass when the DUP say no, which means Johnson and Mogg (plus followers) also say no. Remember both Mogg and Johnson said they would support the WA only if the DUP did. Nothing huge has changed in the voting so it really can't pass.

And I think trying to take the PD off will only make it even less attractive for the reasons already given.

So what are the odds of enough Labour MPs backing WA tomorrow in the hopes of getting a softer Brexit after all? You’d think even more would vote it down as a stand-alone WA would be the blindest of blind Brexits?
I think the WA would also rule out any PV (with remain on the ballot) on the PD as EP elections would not take place, unless they pass an amendment like Kyle/Wilson, even if on Monday PV gets an outright majority.
Or can they pass the WA, then vote for a PV and make May request a further extension before 12 April on that basis?

With more indicative votes due monday why would any labour remain MP vote for the WA?

Rhodri Marsden
@rhodri
I'm now so obsessed with Bercow saying "Mr Peter Bone" that I've spent a period of time setting it to the opening of Beethoven's 5th. Brexit is literally driving me mad.

twitter.com/rhodri/status/1111254719777914881

My (French) father just called me to ask what happened last night.
I tried to explain...

Good luck with that 😂

Can they attach a "subject to a PV" amendment to the WA tomorrow?

Calamapo thanks I needed a good laugh!!!

Leaving the PD up to a new PM.

I think this will worry a lot of MPs - as if May does go when the WA passes it means a hardline Brexiteer could take her place and go all out for a very hard Brexit.

But they could do that regardless of what's in the WA. So basically, what type of Brexit will be unknown until the successor takes office and negotiates their vision of what Brexit is.

Sorry, PD, not WA.

Is your MP Zac Goldsmith by any chance?

No - much further north. It's Stuart Andrew - a non entity but a thoroughly unpleasant and self serving man nevertheless. He's a landlord that voted against the law ensuring that rented accommodation be fit for human habitation, which tells you everything you need to know about him. His mp office in Horsforth has a giant photo of his massive, smug, self satisfied face splashed across the entire wall sized window. He posted a picture of him 'doorstepping' with his cronies ... only it turned out the 'house' he was photographed by was the conservative club in Pudsey - whose entrance is part of a normal terrace. I really can't wait for him to lose his seat.

Harry Cole @mrharrycole
🕵🏻‍♂️ Intrigue.. despite suggestions no talks officially between No10 and DUP today, my mole says “The Gav has been deployed”. Defence Secretary - who was chief whip who delivered the C&S deal - is leading back channel communications.

Sam Coates Times@samcoatestimes
Theresa May called in Gavin Williamson earlier this week to help with DUP

- GW “will lead” talks
- Meetings taking place today
- Last nights DUP statement a setback however
- MPs believe DUP relationship left to drift after GW went to MOD

Why do I not feel reassured every time I hear the words 'Gavin Williamson'.

What is PD?

Political declaration I think.

There's an acronym Westministenders thread (sorry, on app so can't link) but PD = Political Declaration

But they could do that regardless of what's in the WA. So basically, what type of Brexit will be unknown until the successor takes office and negotiates their vision of what Brexit is.

Yes but a PD voted fir by the HoC gives the PD a legal and political status that the WA alone does not contain.

It's harder to go for an alternative to May's plan if the WA plus PD goes through as it stands.

All the stuff about indicative votes is about trying to remove May's PD. But the crucial part here us it's also trying to replace it with something else - and the overwhelming sentiment in the HoC is for something softer than May's PD. The problem is that the ERG and general Tory membership want something harder, and they are likely to have a huge influence on who will be the next PM. It's likely to be someone 'brexity' not a soft Leaver.

So the hostility and blocking of the indicative votes is going to happen.

This is where Hardline Remainers possibly aren't helping the cause of a softer Brexit. They are making an ERG one more likely in the long run.

*Facepalm
FFS.
I am seriously wondering if we could just lock all the MPs in the House until they come to an agreement. Toilet breaks allowed, but the Bar would not be open!

We need some teachers to go in and shout”Play nicely ,children!”

Stuart Andrew sounds like a Dickensian character.

Which is fair as that is where Tories would like to bring us to.

This post is from the Yorkshire post's Westminster correspondent.

I quite honestly am struggling to decide if its statire or real.

Liz Bates @wizbates
Statement from @jaredomaramp explaining why he wasn't in Westminster to vote yesterday...