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.

Head of many US govt depts positions (secretaries) are political; these are appointments done by POTUS and confirmed by Senate. (AFAIK).

Next step down the most senior positions, these people are normally anonymous, can be apolitical, or normally, politics overlooked. Justice dept also tends to be apolitical appointments. Obama kept Mueller (staunch Republican) as head of FBI from Bush era & then appointed Comey (another known Republican) to replace Mueller. Rod Rosenstein, or Andrew McCabe should never have become household names.

Jo Maugham QC@JolyonMaugham

Brexiter Sir James Dyson has "reportedly become Singapore permanent resident"
(and Brexiter Sir Jim Ratcliffe is becoming resident in Monaco).

Nothing spells "patriot" like moving to a tax haven

https://www.ft.com/content/0f9e86ca-a2cd-11e9-974c-ad1c6ab5efd1

James Dyson buys Singapore’s most expensive flat
Brexit-supporting billionaire’s ‘super penthouse’ listed for sale at $79m

DexEU advertising for Senior Policy advisers for NI,
2 for NI Protocol, 2 for alternative arrangements

Salary hardly reflects the importance of the roles:
£49,207 - £70,302

www.civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk/csr/index.cgi?SID=am9ibGlzdF92aWV3X3ZhYz0xNjM5OTU4JmNzb3VyY2U9Y3Nmc2VhcmNoJm93bmVydHlwZT1mYWlyJnNlYXJjaF9zbGljZV9jdXJyZW50PTEmdXNlcnNlYXJjaGNvbnRleHQ9ODExNTk3NzAmb3duZXI9NTA3MDAwMCZwYWdlYWN0aW9uPXZpZXd2YWNieWpvYmxpc3QmcGFnZWNsYXNzPUpvYnMmcmVxc2lnPTE1NjI3NzIwODgtYjBiNzdiOTM4OWY2NjQwNjlhNTZhNGY2ZGFkMTliOGY2MjFkNjE2MA==

Peter Foster@pmdfoster

So 1 in 5 of all jobs? 1 in 7 private sector jobs. Breakdown in civic and economic life...and that’s before the risk of violence.

Project Fear? Well, yes, I’m afraid for Northern Ireland.
And any government that would make light of these risks. #brexit

www.economy-ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/economy/NI-trade-investment-data-under-no-deal.pdf

Normal civil service pay at a senior level.

oops. This photo:

Not very senior, surely
In private firms I've worked for, that's not even junior management

No, but that's relatively senior pay.

In the civil service, that is.

Y'know, all the fat cat civil servants

Sounds like Grade 7 pay which starts around £49,000.

Which is a roughly halfway in the grading scale.

It's amazing pay in my part of the legal world! I doubt I know (m)any solicitors in my sector who earn that much (not ones who haven't been qualified for well over a decade, anyway).

I wouldn't do the DexEU job for that little though. It's not really what you'd call danger money!

@BestIsWest people I know at that grade have a lot of responsibility and authority.

Back when I was at that pay level, I had no responsibility at all

I have just read the last few pages of Peter Reid the football manager's biography, in which he regales us all with a story of when he managed an England Legends team in 2006. He found out Boris Johnson was playing. In the dressing room before the game he was approached by him and Peter replied, I've been meaning to have a word with you, you twat; having a go at Scousers, who the fuck do you think you are?' ... he continues he couldn't work out whether I was pulling his leg but I wasn't messing : " You are a fucking disgrace" , I said and the tirade continued . He shit himself...he couldn't even be diplomatic and respectful to people form his own country and yet he was given the job of representing the UK... I want to kick the screen in every time he appears on television

This was written in 2016. Poor Peter must have kicked in many a TV by now.

I think we should start a campaign to get Peter Reid on QT or at a debate?

No wonder Fox's ardour for hard Brexit has cooled - another cockup ?

James Rothwelll@JamesERothwell*

EXCL:
Post-Brexit US trade deal in doubt
as documents leaked to Telegraph reveal chronic Whitehall staff shortages, lack of progress in key areas

and signs that US administration may be losing interest ....

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2019/07/10/lack-progress-us-uk-trade-talks-laid-bare-cache-leaked-documents/

Details of meetings spanning two years show how overstretched departments have been working “at cross purposes” as transatlantic talks have repeatedly stumbled over politically sensitive topics such as rules on health, farming and the finance industry.

Officials have begun to fear that American frustration with the lack of agreement or even partial agreement could end hopes of a post-Brexit partnership envisaged at the centre of a “global Britain” trade strategy.

Lisa Nandy @ lisanandy
I know some of the staffers on tonight’s Panorama. They joined the Labour Party, like me and most party members, because they hate racism as much as they hate poverty. A statement accusing them of having “political axes to grind” is deeply wrong and indefensible

PR going well then I see.

Haven't been able to watch the programme tonight unfortunately.

BCF there is good reason why there is no full US/EU FTA and that the Canada deal took 7 years.

Perhaps Fox will come to realise the error of his ways?

Interesting watching Charles 1st and what happens when you cave into the Mob.... they demand more and more...... i think there is a lesson for uk and the brexit party?

I’ve just finished watching it, thought it was well done. I can see both sides.

Though I’m not sure why some of the contributors signed NDAs when they clearly intended to break them. Don’t like that Labour wanted them to sign NDAs at all, but surely once you have, that’s that?

Back when I was at that pay level, I had no responsibility at all

Well, you're privileged to:

a) Get to that pay level at all, let alone without any responsibility; and
b) Now being higher than that pay level (reading between the lines).

There are many people who can only dream about earning such money, with or without responsibility.

Bearing in mind the average UK salary is just over £30k (as per the pay-back level of mortgage-style student loans), there are huge numbers earning nowhere near that much.

This is an interesting thread about what could happen with Kim Darroch now.

A C Grayling #FBPE #PeoplesVote &/or #Revoke50
’Sir Kim Darroch is now free to speak. Johnson & Trump have fired an Exocet heading straight at themselves.’

mobile.twitter.com/acgrayling/status/1148935322841034752

U.K. MEPs still being voted on to chair EU Parliament committees, even though they may not be there long. Good to see some UK representatives constructively engaging and contributing (unlike others).

mobile.twitter.com/RCorbettMEP/status/1148983983910334464?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet

mobile.twitter.com/RCorbettMEP/status/1148988626652553219

Indeed Hester. Also this:

mobile.twitter.com/mikerobbins19/status/1149038147969454082

Mike Robbins
@MikeRobbins19
Now this is interesting. In the UK, reporter's privilege does not trump national security. Whoever gave Darroch's cables to Isabel
@IsabelOakeshott
, she may have to choose between grassing them up and sewing mailbags. #Darroch #Darrochgate
Journalism – Protection of Sources - InBrief.co.uk

9:30 PM · Jul 10, 2019 · Twitter Web Client
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Mike Robbins
@MikeRobbins19
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1h
Replying to
@MikeRobbins19
Had another thought - what if her source really was Boris Johnson? (which is entirely possible). ...And a court makes her reveal his identity while he is Prime Minister. Verily, the organic matter will collide with the cooling device in short order.