Westministenders: The start of our fourth year of fun

[RedToothBrush]

Do you remember when politics was boring?

This week we have had a Tory MP recalled, a Tory MP caught on film appearing to assault a protester and our likely Tory prime minister caught on tape having a serious row with his girlfriend which resulted in the police being called.

This is a government with a majority of 3 (with the DUP).

There are apparently 100 MPs who are not on board with no deal, but its not clear how far they will go to try and stop this. We do have Dominic Grieve stating that if Johnson is elected leader he will not become PM as he will not have the confidence of the house and can not go to the Queen to say he has. He has recently said he would resign the Tory Whip if necessary, which he has not previously said. The government has only to lose 2 more MPs for it to lose its majority...

It is important to remember that until Johnson goes to the Queen, May remains PM and retains the powers of the office. Could he become leader but not PM?

This crisis would most likely lead to a GE. The only real question would be over the timing over this. Would it be immediate or strung out over the summer? At this point this does look highly likely before October.

If the Tory moderates get their way, then the ERG hardliners hit back and do the same thing even with the looming threat of the Brexit Party or a Remain surge.

Its hard to see how we AVOID Brenda from Bristol being tracked down for a rent-a-quote. And there is a strong possibility of another Tory Leadership Election before the year is out, under several scenarios.

Meanwhile the EU Brexit Team has largely broken up, with most of its lead players having new personal priorities with internal EU elections. Our biggest ally in Tusk will no longer be there to protect us, so EU politics post 31st October could look quite different, and less favourable, to the UK.

Whilst the talk around parliament from seems to indicate that the UK will look for another extension (and this includes from Camp Johnson), this is very inward looking. At some point there needs to be a wakeup call that the EU want us out, and will be prepared to force us to no deal whether we like it or not.

Equally the idea that we could have a PV is also dependant now on EU good will, as we've faffed about for so long with Tory Brats. And relies on the EU still being keen on another referendum. Will this come to a head with the EU saying no and shattering the hopes of the other side of the house?

At this point, what happens with the Withdrawal Agreement? The idea that the withdrawal agreement is dead isn't quite as clear cut as you might think. If its a choice in parliament on the very last day of No Deal v the Withdrawal Agreement what will they do? Will they recognise the moment? Certainly I think there are a few opposition MPs who HAVE started to notice this is a possibility this time around. Its still largely unspoken though. No one wants to acknowledge political reality.

We still haven't hit the wall of reality. We avoided in March. But its still there and no going away.

I think there are two things we can count on over the next few weeks; more outrage and chaos and a slow dawning of the realisation that May was dreadful, but it really could be worse.

Tom Newton Dunn@tnewtondunn

New: Rebel MPs to mount dramatic new bid to block No Deal Brexit next week by cutting off Government’s money supply

www.thesun.co.uk/news/9382215/block-no-deal-brexit-bid/

The fresh attempt is being led by former Tory Attorney General Dominic Grieve and ex-Labour Foreign Secretary Dame Margaret Beckett.

As long as de Pfeffel doesn’t counter Hunt’s lambada with a televised screen display of Gangnam Style BigChoc.

Next to that Sun article:

"UNION boss Len McCluskey yesterday blasted Tom Watson and John McDonnell’s “Baldrick-style cunning plans” to stop Brexit.

In a blistering attack, the Corbyn ally accused Labour Remain-backing MPs of being “in denial” about the referendum result."

In a blistering attack, the Corbyn ally accused Labour Remain-backing MPs of being “in denial” about the referendum result."

How does he suggest breaking the HoC deadlock whilst simultaneously listening to the 48%, including Labour's remain voters? Notwithstanding the fact that had Parliament's leave-supporting MPs voted for the WA, we'd have been in transition right now.

Some remain-supporting MPs have compromised to avoid no deal and voted for the WA. It's the leavers who've caused the problem / deadlock.

It's the leavers who have constantly told remainers to suck it up and ignored all facts about leaving as 'Project Fear'. If anyone is in denial it's not remainers who have had to fight to keep rights and laws for 3 years. It's the leavers who won't notice the trends in local and EP elections for non-leave parties.

The leavers have fucked up leaving. The grown ups need to take charge now and try to resolve the almighty fuck up.

I didn't comment on the summer recess before, but I'm hugely pissed off with the MPs for putting their holidays over the constitutional crisis. They should've had a 3 week maximum break and got back to business ASAP. At Easter, I was all for the break due to burn out. But they've done fuck all Brexit-wise since then, so the same issue just isn't there.

Yes I agree. Although on one hand the areas of debate seem to be marginally more specific now; as Mistigri said Hunt has focused the nation on what the result of a No Deal will be very concisely. TM should have done that from the start. Maybe we would have reached the point Project Fear was actually really seen by all as Project Reality rather than the slow drip process we are now watching.

I just don't understand how any remainer, reluctantly or otherwise, can say they'll no deal in the way Hunt is.

Though he is, as you say, telling it straight that no deal IS an economic disaster. Is he lying that he'd no deal in order to get the disaster message across in a more palatable way?

We can only hope that his message gets through - even if BJ wins - and something gets bloody sorted.

But, again, it's remainers sorting the leavers' mess. Or trying to.

Time for the adults to take charge?

I'd settle for anyone taking charge now, adult or not!

Due to the 3 years Tories have spent perpetuating the lies, we were never going to get a choice of a PM who would actually not No Deal. Hunt would probably do it, for the party!, but at least "feel bad" about it. BoJo would do it for a leg-over and not feel any remorse whatsoever.

It's not much of a consolation either way.

to fork' review of UK food system announced by the Environment Secretary

Rationing?

I found this article well put. Nothing we don't know but powerfully argued. It also reminded me of a radio 4 programme I caught a snippet of last week. It was about how bees and ant colonies act as one collective being - whereas we are individuals. The presenter explored philosophically how true our individuality is and whether we are becoming more interconnected as a species like ants . For example, we are hugely reliant on our phones but couldn't make one ourselves.

In The last three years no politician has focussed sufficiently on our interconnectedness.

"....the winner will have to reveal that unless Britain is attempting to become a kind of hermit kingdom, life will continue to be governed by a network web of international rules and procedures not very different from what went before."

"
Laws and institutions that have no connection with EU membership are expanding across the planet daily. They are part of the rules-based order that now stands between all of us and international anarchy. Almost every law passed in an open nation has to take constant account of both other countries’ laws and of higher agreed legal frameworks. No man is an island and no island (in this case the United Kingdom) is an island. A binding weave of behavior at every level shapes almost every aspect of ordered daily life and its governing laws. It will continue to do so whatever Britain’s relationship with other trade blocs, networks or neighborhood communities. Brexit will make only a marginal difference. The world of pure sovereign control has gone forever."

David~Howell~article

PMK, really late to the party..

PMK too.

The EU, as the world's #1 trading bloc, plays a large role in developing & shaping most of these global laws & regulations,
which are then incorporated into EU legislation

So even after Brexit, the UK will still have to obey some laws made by people for whom the UK electorate mostly could not vote.
Or become an isolated international pariah, NorthKorea-On-Thames

Brexit Party misses first deadline to form political group in European Parliament

It appears to be because of their incompetence and / or inability to play with others,
not deliberate strategy, as it loses them money
Good.

https://www.politico.eu/article/brexit-party-nigel-farage-fails-to-form-political-group-in-european-parliament/

Nigel Farage's Brexit Party has missed an initial deadline to be part of a political grouping in the European Parliament, meaning less funding and support staff, and less speaking time in the legislature for the leader himself.

The party can still join or form a group anytime throughout the legislature.
But political groups had until Wednesday to submit their name and composition to the legislature's administration.
....
Forming a group in the Parliament opens up funding, staff, and speaking time — and confers more influence in the legislature.

If Farage doesn't form a group, he will no longer sit at the front of the hemicycle, share a secretary-general with other non-affiliated members and be granted significantly less speaking time than in the last Parliament.
......
Under Parliament rules, a political party needs 25 MEPs from seven EU countries to be able to form a group.

Farage's former UKIP party was previously part of the EFDD group with Italy's 5Star movement and France's Les Patriotes.
But the group no longer has the numbers required to become a fully fledged group.

Les Patriotes no longer have any MEPs and the 5Star movement has tried to join other groups, including the Greens, which turned them down.

They are indeed cracked, mother

Do you have any more kitten photos to cheer us up? < please >
How old are they now ?

I think it's more of a ravine right now, Mother. It's a shame that they don't have the same ruthlessness as the Tories in deposing their leaders really, as right now they do need rid of this dead duck with his dinosaur cheerleading squad.

Is there any way they can have a coup?!

From SKY article talking about where flowers come from:

{Imvulata works in the packing facility on the farm, where she sorts the quality of roses before they are shipped to the UK. She works a five-day week, 8am – 6pm and is paid approximately £20 a week. }

This needs to stop, but in an intelligent way. the workers should of course bed paid better but rather than flowers for international sale they should be redeployed for food growing. Europeans can grow flowers, if they put a little effort in.

Ah thanks mother
They are so beautiful and innocent
(you could name them BJ and Hunt ! Or not)

They help you destress and bring you joy
Photos from you, pretty's and other Westministenders help spread the feline chill to the catless