Westminstenders: Pro Rogues

[RedToothBrush]

The Pro Rogues plan to prorogue again this week.

The Queen might be challenged to sack Johnson. Or he might be forced to extend.

It depends on which newspaper you read. Either way it strikes you that no one really knows what's going to happen...

I remember the Feb 1974 GE was no problem - at least not because of the month !

I expect we'd manage November or January without too much fuss
But December ?

Students can register at uni and vote there. They don't have to travel or get a postal vote.
This is even better
www.gov.uk/apply-vote-proxy

For escapism I often watch old movies on Talking Pictures. They currently have a war film season linked with Imperial War Museum showing some rare/missing films. Which set me thinking about Mark Francois watching similar fare. You know if he'd been storming Gold Beach on D -Day, he'd be the Dickie Attenborough character, seemingly full of bravado, but "gone yellow" clinging to the sides of the landing craft when it was about to reach shore!

A proxy may not be better if your vote has more weight at uni. And why is a proxy better than doing it yourself generally? You're entitled to register at uni, so all students need to be encouraged to do so.

There’s a nice book set in the Ham&high area and the cemetery, Her fearful simmetry by Audrey Nieffeger (?) Quite interesting, if a bit creepy. Maybe not the reading ideal for turbulent times, maybe it’s better to stick to light, uplifting novels. Anyone has good something good to recommend? In the last month I’ve been through two political books, innumerable historical ones (including the travellers of 3rd reich), now I hope to find solace in Middle England, but I’d really benefit from some diversion. Gosh, I think I migh need MrDarcy, actually....

Well students need to register wherever their vite will make a difference and then arrange to do so. Registering to vote at university doesn't help if the GE is while they're home for Christmas for example.

Fluffy
Students can use their votes where they will have the best effect

Which is what I said, Listening, meaning a proxy isn't necessarily better!

Kings, they can - and should - register in both places. If their vote has more weight at uni and the GE is while they're away, they can get a postal vote for the uni constituency.

OT
Useful information for those of you who have family in the Eu who might send Xmas parcels (or food boxes, like my mum who always sends me precious tins of extra virgin olive oil ;-)

Goods sent in parcels worth over £135:
• Individuals will be contacted by the parcel operator explaining how to pay any VAT, duty and fees.
• VAT will be charged at the VAT rate that applies to the goods. VAT is charged on the total value, including: the price paid for the goods; postage, packaging and insurance; and any duty owed.
• Customs Duty will be charged on goods sent in parcels valued at over £135. The value includes: the price paid for the goods, postage, packaging and insurance.
Excise Duty:
• Individuals who are sent alcohol or tobacco from outside the UK of any value, will be charged Excise and Customs Duty, as well as VAT at current rates.
• It does not matter whether the goods are bought or sent as a gift.
• Goods can be seized if they are either: spirits over 35 centilitres without a UK duty
stamp; or cigarettes or hand-rolling tobacco without UK health warnings or fiscal marks.
Goods sent in parcels worth £135 or less:
• The overseas seller will be responsible for paying the VAT to HMRC. There may be instances (such as if the overseas seller does not comply with the rules) where individuals may be contacted by the parcel operator and asked to pay the VAT and any fees. If these are not paid, the parcel may not be delivered.
• No Customs Duty is due on goods in parcels worth £135 or less. Gifts:
• If an individual receives a gift from outside the UK that is worth £39 or less, no import VAT is due.
• To qualify as gifts, goods must be: described as gifts on the customs declaration; for a birthday, anniversary or other occasion; sent between private individuals (not companies); and intended for personal us

I know. I'm just still bitter about the people who didn't vote in the referendum because they were at Glastonbury.

The last bit basically means that I can’t have anymore my 2 tins of oil for Xmas, as they’re technically worth 40£ each, plus the parcel shipping...aaaaarrrghhh

An interesting quirk of the electoral role ... when I turned 18 I was put on at my parent's house and stayed on it. But my housemate put everyone in the house on the electoral register at the beginning of second year without telling anyone. I got two polling cards in two constituencies and no one was any the wiser.

I didn't use them both of course could have done no one would have known The GE was during term time - I voted at uni.

On a lighter note, I saw this on Facebook today. Got to get the laughs where you can!

You're legally entitled to register in both places, pretzels. Just can't vote in both!

Well, now who could have seen this coming? I mean, really?

Alex Wickham
@alexwickham
NEW: A rift has opened up at the top of Boris Johnson’s govt between advisers loyal to Dom Cummings and other senior Johnson allies

— “parallel government” run by Eddie Lister
— top team split on aggressive media strategy
— election campaign power grab

Key dividing line between the Vote Leave faction which sees leaving the EU as the end goal and is willing to achieve it by any means necessary, and a group of advisers led by Lister who see Johnson’s administration as a long-term project beyond Brexit

A Tory election campaign against the Brexit Party would have to harden its position on any future deal, offering a reduced Brexit bill and rejecting ECJ involvement on citizens’ rights, as well as no compromise on the backstop, government official said

Chief concern among rival faction is that an election fought on Farage’s territory following a Brexit delay is an extreme risk that could result in another hung parliament or a Corbyn-led coalition government and a second referendum

— ERG MPs want a pact with Farage
— MPs on other side of party say no deal election strategy would alienate traditional Tory voters and cause resignations
— also say no deal pitch not credible as UK would have to come back to table

but I always wondered if it's his eyes.

Hmm, maybe.

The Tories being torn apart, who'd have thunk it possible?! 🙈

I find P G Wodehouse very soothing when stressed...

have I got this right - BJ did not present the info at the right time re Ms. Arcuri, and is now in contempt? (DH and DDs busy in kitchen where telly is, dont trust my google skills)

Kings, they can - and should - register in both places. If their vote has more weight at uni and the GE is while they're away, they can get a postal vote for the uni constituency.

And that relies on (a) the postal vote being sent out before vacation starts; and (b) if it’s after vacation starts the postal vote will be forwarded to the home address.

It's interesting how we see our vote, and others' votes or failure to vote, as so very significant, IN THE EU REF - much much more so than in general elections. For instance, at the last general election, I voted Lib Dem. The Lib Dems had no chance of winning the seat, but I voted for them anyway, on Brexit grounds, and because I didn't like the other parties. The seat changed hands, from a remainer to a pro-Brexit Tory. He holds a really tiny majority. I realise that I was stupid to vote Lib Dem. But I don't feel massively guilty, because my 1 vote would not have made a difference. 1 vote very very rarely, if ever, makes the difference. It didn't in the EU Ref. So why do we feel that each individual vote was so important, and that each person who voted to Leave has some personal responsibility? If all those people at Glastonbury who didn't vote had voted Remain, the result would have been only marginally different.

I've just watched the prorogation with DDs. I've never seen one before (I watched until the scuffle broke out last time then had to sleep) and it was fascinating. I love pomp and ceremony and tradition. Dds laughed at the wigs and were disappointed that HMQ wasn't there.

I need to catch up on the thread now but must say that tonight's tie was my favourite so far. It's the kind of design I'd have chosen for my dad.

I think because each vote counted rather than first past the post. I know it's not the people at Glastonbury, but I live in a remain bubble and there were quite a few people who didn't bother because they thought it would be fine

Icantreachthepretzels - polling cards in 2 constituencies is perfectly legal . You're just not allowed to vote in both places in a GE (but I think you can for local elections)

Ds is in the register here (his parental home) and I've told him to make sure that he's on the register up in Aberdeen. He can then choose where his vote would be more valuable (I think down here: he is in Kirsty Blackman's constituency up in Aberdeen North and I think she has a bigger majority than our SNP MP down here)