Westminstenders: It couldn't get any worse... Until today

[RedToothBrush]

We are trapped in the tailspin of the end of the UK. Firmly headed downward and getting more and more frenzied and desperate.

Even the most sensible of types like David Allen Green have finally noticed that Brexit isn't about leaving the EU it's about the frenzied and wilful destruction of our state instutions and structure. The collapse of the civil service, of our justice system, our democratic institutions and social order. All in the name of rule Britannia, a warped sense of taking back control to preserve an ideal that never existed and an idea of sovereignity that simply was a fantasy.

We move ever closer to Johnson becoming Prime Minister and a life under President Trump.

Joy.

Ode to Joy really isn't that bad.

Have I committed some MN "faux pas?" Maybe I should have started another thread. Just thought that most of the folks who'd be interested in the result of the confirmation for Ursula vdL would be on this one.

From her speech I wouldn't say Brexit figured heavily, though I was following on a live blog so I have only seen quotes not heard the whole thing. More importantly, our MEPs have a vote on this while we are still EU Members.

So yes, maybe better to wait until that FTA actually becomes likely
rather than worry about something that's probably 3 -5 years away, if it ever happens

One condition of a US agri deal will be that country of origin labels become optional or even banned (as 'unfair' to US goods) , subsequent cost differential will slaughter (sic) home grown production after which the owners of the market will ramp up costs - we'll end up paying the same for lower welfare food that includes a raft of eco costs (transatlantic shipping)

Not seeing any realistic hope at the moment. The refusal to be open to an early end to the backstop suggests that both men are deliberately aiming for No Deal? I imagine there's money in it for both of them.

No faux pas; it's just we are atm - maybe insularly - too concerned with what happens to the UK

It makes little difference to the UK who heads the Commission, since the policy decisions are made by the heads of govt
and no Commission head can persuade them to give us cake

It is interesting that UK MEPs can vote too - I hope the Faragists just vote or abstain, rather than stage another embarassing episode of rudeness
What little sympathy the UK still has, oozes further away, whenever Farage, Tice, Widdecombe & co further insult the EP

I must say that choosing what is basically the head of the EU civil service looks if anything more democatic than choosing the UK PM - not what I would have expected 3 years ago

From her speech I wouldn't say Brexit figured heavily

Which isn't really what Boris wants to hear - imagine him being relegated to a footnote ...

The UK has 27 brexit idiots embarrassing the UK, it was 24 under ukip, i think the europeans see them as figures of mirth nowadays.

Its still a very much a pro EU Parliament

Some of the shite Farage pushes is ridiculous..... a new type of communism indeed !

OK well I'm not sure how you get there Big Choc. the number of voters who will vote for the next Conservative leader is going to be around 100k. The number of voters who will vote for Ursula vdL is 0. Worse than that she's not even the "Spitzenkandidat", so there is not even an indirect democratic mandate that she is the preferred choice of the largest grouping in the European parliament.

How many people vote for our own Head of the Civil Service? I don't think even the other Heads of Departments choose one of their number.

You still believe people voting in this Tory leadership race a) reflect what is best for the country b) are actually Tories rather than kippers c) are voting for the best our country has to offer?
It's almost sweet
We're only in EU for a few months anyway, it's up to them what happens after we go as we become a bit note and attempt to keep EU sweet at the same time as US. It will not end well for the smaller player from either side.

I think Peregrina has hit the nail on the head... This is functionally the head of the EU civil service.

I don't remember there being any elections, or manifesto commitments on who the head of the UK Civil Service would be...? Move over Olly Robins....

The fact that this is a pan-EU responsibility does not change the core function. The elected reps determine policy, and the service implements it.

Appointment of UK Civil servants is neither democratic not public and at the higher level not particularly meritocratic (see the review of MOD top brass released today)

The UK press likes to make bogeymen of EU civil servants because they rely on their readers not understanding the first point.

Mr Junker doesn't 'make' policy, he speaks with other world leaders and puts forward the proposals generated by the EP. that is one of the 'funnier' yet infuriating things about these 'wits' who put comments on the Daily Mail and Express articles.

The European Commission is not purely a civil service as I'm sure you all know, it is the executive of the European Union.

Same as the UK civil service is the executive of the UK.
And the Civil service of every other country with a functioning government - eg Belgium which coped rather well with no elected Government for over a year.

The elected members come up with ideas
the paid appointed officers make things happen.

She did say in her part of her speech that she would be ok with another extension: I would say that was pretty significant

But not that it would be in her gift: that is up to the E27 heads of state. because the EU Commission President is a civil servant, managing the "business" of the EU Commission, as directed by the EU Parliament - not unlike the head of our own Civil Service (who no-one gets to vote for, not even our MPs who are our representatives )

{She did say in her part of her speech that she would be ok with another extension}
So that's her opinion which would be a start if wanted, but the crunch would be getting the vote from the rest of the EU27 leaders.

Very odd to think the EU is as worried about Brexit as UK. They have many other things to sort out, as do we, not that you'd know it. Why would her entire speech be about something that everyone wants to be moving to the next stage (new can of worms for UK) in just over 2 months time? She'll be there for far longer than that!

On that, do we think the next stage after 31st October will be called something else? I can see the Tories trying to disconnect the reality with the 'prize' of Brexit Day.

If you can put up with Rod Liddle's face and that it's probably poor Rod who uploaded this, judging from the caption 😂, it's worth watching Emily Maitlis struggle to hide her revulsion of this man on last night's Newsnight.

Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt claim they’d take a no-deal Brexit. There’s just one small problem

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/07/15/boris-johnson-jeremy-hunt-claim-take-no-deal-brexit-just-one/

Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt agree on at least one thing: that the way to get a better Brexit deal is to threaten to leave with no deal.

Mr Johnson, for example, has said he wants EU leaders to “look deep into our eyes and think,
‘My God, these Brits actually are going to leave. And they’re going to leave on those terms.’” 🤦🏻‍♀️

Such will be the EU leaders’ alarm that they’ll ditch the backstop on the spot.

At least, that’s the theory.
But what if they aren’t alarmed?

That’s the one possible flaw in this plan:
that EU leaders decide a no-deal Brexit would be a lot more damaging to Britain than it would be to them.
Because, if that is what they think, they might not find the threat quite so compelling
....
The British Government might as well be saying:

"If I shoot myself in the foot with this machine gun, it's going to make a terrible mess of your carpet.

Imagine the stain.
Could take you a whole hour to get it out.
All that scrubbing. Be a real nuisance for you.

Plus you'd have to put up with the horrible sound of my screaming, as I writhe around in unspeakable agony on your floor until the paramedics arrive.
Wouldn't be much fun for you, would it?
Could ruin your evening.
Do you really want that?
Are you sure?"

I can almost sense there will be a phone call on 1 November from Brussels to Downing street and the question will be asked 'Have you gone yet'?
A 'surprise attack' isn't much of a surprise if you announce it a year in advance.

Who’s seen the Red Dwarf AA advert? Is it just me or does Rimmer have an H on his forehead?

Rimmer was always a Hologram
(except for when Chris Barrie was Gordon Brittas at Ringwood leisure centre)

£ falls to 2 year low against the $ & €

Imagine how much money those motherfuckers are making betting against the £

Doh! Not H for Hunt then