Westminstenders: Christmas Cold, Campaigning, Canvassing and Cancelled Carols

[RedToothBrush]

It looks like a December General Election is on.

The EU have officially extended A50 until 31st January. We have to name an EU Commissioner though.

All that seems left to do is decide between the 9th and 12th December.

The difference between the two is about whether there is any possibility that the WAB can be passed before Parliament dissolves.

A pre-brexit GE is thought to favour the LDs at the expense of Labour and the Conservatives. What the Brexit Party decide to do and where they decide to stand will also be crucial.

fasten your seatbelts for a ride on the roller coaster

PMK

PMK.

I'm heeeereeeee

Thanks red

PMK, thanks Red.

Pmk! Thanks all.

Pmk

Thanks red

Thanks, red 💐

Ian Dunt@IanDunt

Reports starting to dribble into the Commons that the govt has done a deal and agreed to a date of Dec 9th,

just as its MPs in there saying how unacceptable it would be.

Westministenders' Abbreviations:

https://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/eureferendumm2016/3492426-Westministenders-Abbreviation?msgid=84503730

CPMK

9 Dec v 12 Dec

1. 9 December means there is no time for the govt to bring the WAB back, because Parliament would be automatically dissolved this Friday, 1 November

With 12 Dec, dissolution would be Wednesday 6 November
This would give at least 2 more legislative days before dissolution, so it might just have been possible to pass the WAB.

2. Also, 9 Dec makes it easier for many students to vote:

"Students may have broken up for Christmas by 12 December and it could be harder to get this cohort to vote if they are travelling between 2 locations."

Students are MUCH more likely to vote Labour, Ldem or Nationalist than to vote Tory

pmk

What time are they voting?

Early PMK.

Quite an exciting night

@Dusty01 8 bells

Sebastian Payne@SebastianePayne
💥 Boris Johnson has personally asked 10 independent Tory MPs to come back the Conservative party:

^Alistair Burt, Caroline Noakes, Greg Clarke, Nicholas Soames, Ed Vaizey, Margot James, Steve Brine, Richard
Benyon and Stephen Hammond.^

The other 11 independent Tories? Who knows

The 10 independent Conservatives who haven’t been offered the whip:

- Guto Bebb
- Ken Clarke
- David Gauke
- Justine Greening
- Dominic Grieve
- Philip Hammond
- Oliver Letwin
- Anne Milton
- Antionette Sandbach
- Rory Stewart

Plus Sam Gyimah who defected to the Lib Dems

Thank you

Pmk thanks again.

PMK thanks

A GE before Brexit makes it more likely that the BXP can take Tory votes, split the rightwing vote and hence potentially reduce the number of Tory seats

Polls suggest it could make a difference
We don't know if it would be enough to bring about another hung Parliament
(a Labour win looks v unlikely)

PMK (this evening’s holiday cocktail 🍸 🍹)

.

Heard on Radio Ulster today the business community is urging the DUP to back remain, as apparently there is a 90% more likely chance of reunification in the next ten years if Brexit happens. I wonder if I misheard as that seems really high. They could well lose seats.

PMK having posted on the excellent Xmas thread. What fun that is!