Westminstenders: The May Compromise

[RedToothBrush]

After a marathon cabinet meeting, which no one seems to have resigned from, May has had another podium moment.

This time instead of blaming everyone but herself, she's gone for the 'let's compromise approach' to Corbyn.

This comes after Nick Boles crossed the floor saying his side wasn't prepared to compromise on anything after May secretly whipped on a 'free' vote against him.

May also said she we needed more of an extension to the 22nd May but without promise of EU elections this means No Deal inevitable if May can't pass the WA by then. Provided EU allow an extension until then without EU elections.

She also hinted at respecting a majority idea over indicative votes, if she and Corbyn fail to agree - remembering she tried successfully to sabotage that last night.

Already many are saying this is a trap to ensnare others into the mess that is Brexit in the blame game. With no deal ultimately the end goal.

The idea that May can find a compromise with Corbyn seems a fantasy.

And the EU might have every reason to refuse a longer extension under the circumstances.

For May to compromise she surely would have to break the Tories to do it as Labour will only go for a soft option which is unacceptable to the ERG. Unless her idea of compromise is simply its the WA or No deal which it seems hard to conceive Labour going near with the realistic prospect of the next PM being a hardliner.

All in all it seems more likely to be a framing exercise in damage limitation rather than something which has more substance and a realistic prospect of working. And if that's really the case, it certainly would explain why no one's resigned yet.

Indicative Votes 3 and a pretty dodgy Cooper Amendment designed to be a last ditch attempt to prevent no deal are both scheduled.

Its desparation stakes and the EU more or less have us down as a failed state. And the pro Brexit bombs don't really add much optimist to the mood.

Also TM can veto an extension herself. An extension has to be agreed by the 28 EU members as we are still in EU.
Good news for travelling/ visiting in EU after brexit. It looks like visas for visits up to 90 days may not be needed. The bill should pass on the 10th at the EU council.

Letwin Cooper debate 2pm

But by admitting that now, surely the amendment WILL gain impetus. Weird all round.

By TM asking for the extension she's agreeing to it. The EU27 decide without her in the room, so she can't veto it.

I'm a bit confused about the indicative votes timetable.

On the timetable I posted up above it says they are next week, but I thought something was going on this week as well.

Have they been delayed?

The Cooper amendment is very important and TM will not want it to pass. Using a so called meeting with JC is just a red herring to take off the need for Cooper amendment. It is reported that impetus for the amendment is slowing down after announcement about the JC TM meeting.
You cannot, cannot take for granted that the slimy, dirty Tory party won't go to any lengths to get what they want.
JC is being set up, there are too many signs that this is so. So TM wants to shift blame on to JC knowing meeting is just a facade for doing that whilst she stops Coopers amendment being successful and although she wants WA to pass she is set to carry on to a no deal brexit.
Steve Barclay was asked by exit brexit committee whether Operation Yellowhammer (governments preparation plans for no deal) had been restarted. His reply was that it had not been put on hold. So there you have it.

Yes, but if he's just told the House it's a ruse then they'll still vote for it because they've been explicitly told that she's using smoke and mirrors. So the ruse won't work to stop the impetus.

I doubt you’d put Operation Yellowhammer on hold no matter what was being done to resolve it, until it was settled. Too much risk and not enough time.

Surely improving government preparedness for Brexit is a good thing, no? Oh honestly, what do people want?!

Holidayshopping The future relationship is defined in the PD
and the EU have said that could be renegotiated, provided the UK doesn't try to smuggle in any unicorns

He could always demand a referendum though. If she refuses she ends up looking like someone who won't listen to the people. Or someone afraid of the voice of the people

This is surely a no brainer for Corbyn. It fits with Labour's conference policy of supporting a PV and allows him to hold May to account. Puts the pressure back on her to make concessions too.

As for Boris being disappointed, frankly I am thrilled to hear it. I think he deserves a life of perpetual disappointment from here on.

red re talent Dublin vs London in handling No Deal for NI:

Varadkar can call on advice & help - including funds - from the EU Commission and 26 other countries

averylongtimeago - welcome

Dogs are welcome too! As long as they are relaxing dogs As an aside, there was an interesting item on the news last night about specially trained dogs being used to reduce the stress of giving police statements

I agree with you on trying to kill Cooper amendment Sos. I think it would have been ripped to bits following the Jo Maugham critique anyway, but Govt don't want to give legitimacy to the "reasonables" in the Boles / Cooper / Letwin camp even less than they want to legitimise the "Opposition".

Louise On the Labour manifesto it is academic anyway whether PV matters as Tories will never meet "6 tests" which are within manifesto. I tend to agree with Pretty on the situation with Hung Parliaments and manifestos - see Scottish Parliament but also Clegg / Cameron horse trading. However TM is in clear breach of Conservative manifesto and Confidence and Supply Agreement with DUP plus in danger of accepting the Manifesto of Labour which HER Party campaigned directly against.

Flybe seems to be struggling ....

www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-47797738

(add to Boots woes ...)

I’ve been reading these threads for the last few weeks and they are very informative.

A question I have is if the necessary approvals have not been sorted out for the EU elections on 23 May, and it goes down to an eleventh hour No Deal vs. Revoke choice on 12th April, surely there is then an issue with going for Revoke? Obviously the sensible plan is to make sure contingency plans are in place for EU elections, and I saw the letter that was sent out to returning officers to make practical arrangements, but that means nothing without parliamentary approval and given the recent displays by the HoC that doesn’t seem like it will be straightforward.

Yay! Another dog pic! Lovely mutt avery and welcome.

Interesting discussion about the Jeremy Corbyn target practice on LBC.

One ex Para pointing out that soldiers don’t have access to colour printers or laminator and the picture must have come from another source higher up such as the camp press office.
Or it was prepared back home and deliberately brought into camp as retaliation because of the the ex Paratrooper who is going on trial for Bloody Sunday.

But, DadDadDad , as neither the SNP nor Labour voted for the Queen's Speech, they are under no obligation to May to help her implement it. That's on her and her alone (along with her decision to have a 2 year session)

Your point could, more justifiably, be addressed to the DUP, who did help pass it

TM will never give revoke a chance to be voted on. She will never ever revoke. That I am positive about. If she cannot get WA through she will continue to 12th so we fall out of EU with no deal then either call a GE, resign or disappear off the face of the earth along with cabinet and ....no too many unicorns now!

Or it was prepared back home and deliberately brought into camp as retaliation because of the the ex Paratrooper who is going on trial for Bloody Sunday.

Not quite sure of the connection to Corbyn there ? Or, like politics, is it the case the higher in the army you go, the less quality thinking there is ?

Of course, if there had to be superior involvement in this "lark" it becomes more serious.

Has any media outlet asked the army for a list of "approved" targets ?

Corbyn is thought to be an IRA sympathiser by some.

Belinda if that was the case the picture should have been of TM even if JC had connection to NI at the time. I hope the paratroopers 3rd division of Colchester get demoted where appropriate and thoroughly disciplined.

On Twitter there is mention that this took place in an area where they are trained for close protection work, so there are colour photographs available of those they might need to protect - they are meant to be learning to identify them, not shooting at them. (I haven't verified this in any way.)
Every time I feel like my fear of British soldiers is abating, something like this happens and I get the shivers around them all over again.