Westminstenders: The Imperial March

[RedToothBrush]

There are many ways to enforce power indirectly using privilege. Jacob Rees Mogg knows every trick in the book and dresses it up as respectability rather than a subtle form or intimidation and deliberate exclusion.

It's not the stuff 'of the people'.

Meanwhile the newly crowned PM, is making rather a bug deal of how he is the man 'of the people', here to serve them and to deliver their will.

There's a big theme here about presenting as 'of the people' whilst simultaneously serving the interests of the elite and reestablishing its power over the people.

It's a theme that is set to run for some time, and is entrenched in Trumpism too.

This shift in power is particularly harmful to women it must be noted.

'Strong and stable' was 'weak and wobbly' and we should be mindful that in the era of reversed spin, what 'of the people' signifies.

We've long known about the authoritarianism at the heart of leaving thinking. It's only now that it's finally going to start stomping it's feet all over our freedoms and power.

The road back will be a long and hard one because we failed to spot the threat and the dangers of it.

Thank you joanna
I agree completely.

@dreichhighlands - yes, there are some great people. It's just that the racism and sheer stupidity of our government, gives a really bad message about the values of the UK.

@Iambuffy - maybe we are just becoming numb to it all out of sheer self-preservation and horror?

By the way, I apologise to all for my mini breakdown on here the other day I am really embarrassed and didn't cover myself with glory. Shit stuff going on in real life, plus the reality of no deal Brexit sinking in, meant that worries about benefits tipped me over the edge into a weeping loon. Apologies to @DGR - I was being oversensitive.

and all round.

Torygraph reporting The Saj has announced an extra £2.1bn to prep for no deal

This is added to the:

• £97m in consultancy fees already spent preparation for Brexit, according to the National Audit Office (NAO).

Plus?

•cost of staging the referendum and the 2017 election - £269m.

Plus?

It's hard to do an overall list and total but a report earlier this year (before the new cabinet extra expenditure) seemed to be £66 Billion over the three years.

See report by S&P Global Ratings

article~in~the~week

@joannacuppa No embarrassment or apology needed. If that's your mini breakdown I need to take notes because you were polite, eloquent, got your views across in a measured way and was all round fine!

It surely prepping for No Deal is what scaremongers do.

www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/brexit-pelosi-warns-uk-not-to-jeopardise-belfast-agreement-1.3967768?fbclid=IwAR3KHX5KzhHTMK0QVEOdn2FcqDNsRePjGKCJ9x9wAB8fuw4B3mMWGm4Zym8

In the context of trade deal rumblings, Nancy Pelosi reminds everyone that Congress hasn't forgotten the GFA.

From the link

Ms Pelosi said during a visit to London in April that there would be “no chance whatsoever” of a US-UK trade deal if the Northern Ireland peace agreement was weakened by Brexit.

No deal brezit is not on the table it is the table but the table only has two legs.

Brexit*

Brezit? That's zits caused by an over consumption of brie cheese

Thank you everyone for the commiseration. I'm glad there's this thread to vent on!
I had the same sick feeling in the run-up to the attack on Iraq. A sort of surreal horror plus a part of me convinced that it couldn't possibly happen because it was just too awful.
I feel very first-world-problemy comparing the two, as that was something that killed hundreds of thousands and displaced millions, and makes me feel very shallow for weeping and wailing just because I now possibly can't stop one safe, stable country for another one.

Really sorry to everyone else so affected by this. This is why I find people who refuse to engage politically so frustrating. This stuff has very serious real-life consequences. If I hear one my person saying, re Brexit, that they "just want it over with now", I think I'll scream, as it certainly won't be over with any time soon.

JoannaCuppa & MaxNormal 💐
Vent whenever you feel the need
Westministenders is pretty supportive, as well as informative

Although I expect things to get tougher for the most vulnerable after No Deal,
I disagree with the more apocalyptic versions of what the govt will do

I expect cockups and unforseen consequences more than deliberate malevolence from them
They want to get reelected, which means not worrying the consciences of the 70% or so who are not so badly off

joanna vent away

What I fear may turn into disaster is this govt trying to repress demands from Scotland and NI to leave the UK
I can see the Troubles reigniting

and even starting in Scotland if ever troops were used to break up mass demonstrations and civil disobedience

• we've seen in NI the tragedy that some murderous senior officers can cause, when they are determined to impose British govt will by brute force and when there are no effective constraints on them

I work in section of govt. which is named as civil service.

brexit has not been referred to even once. I am very close to bursting this dam. Some of my very stupid colleague are limiting my daughter's life chances, for which they will not be forgiven.

cockups and unforeseen consequences

Yup. We've had a Tory gov for a while and that is basically it's manifesto. Look at the burning pile of shite that was the probation service and prisons. Privatization to save money which has cost more money, endangered the public and harmed the prisoners but the minstry of justice has limped on in some form of zombie functioning. That's what i imagine things to look like post no deal.

What really annoys me about the amount of money being spent on no-deal planning, is how it could have made a real difference in other areas. Funny how the money wasn’t there because ‘austerity’ but the magic money tree appears for a Tory project.
That money spent on sorting out some of the inequalities in society might have changed the outcome of the referendum.

Fully agree boldly.

Funny how the money wasn’t there because ‘austerity’ but the magic money tree appears for a Tory project

Everyone in the media was quick to denounce Corbyns spending plans, nary a peep from the media bout Johnsons spending plans, its the lack of equality in the reporting that irritates me, Ive woken up grumpy today and just want to say fuck it all and to get the fuck off this planet

Boris & co want a new deal (before 31st October). I've not heard of any meeting being set up with the EU. Are there meetings/negotiations happening but we're not aware of them? There's not much time left.

Tiger I believe that David Frost has been sent to talk to EU officials.

I believe that David Frost has been sent to talk to EU officials

How is that going to go. If I was the EU I’d be talking about how we are going to plan for a no deal.
The EU aren’t going to budge and neither is Johnson, so it’s best to plan for the god awful fall out now.

Thanks Max
So, the negotiations are Frost, for the UK, saying 'no backstop'. EU saying the backstop stays.
Shit - I'm now beginning to think No Deal is the actual outcome (I've been hoping this far that Art 50 would be revoked).

At this point I'd be grateful for the WA, something I really didn't support, just to ensure that we don't descend into total chaos.

Last November, no deal planning needed ferry capacity, what has changed that we no longer seem to need it?