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.

I’m so pleased that the public get to decide again. Following the 2016 referendum some leave voters said they didn’t know what they were voting for or were tricked by the figures on the bus. Fair enough.

Three years of misery later, no one can claim this time round that they don’t know the implications of Brexit and what it will mean for this country. So, if Boris is returned with a big majority then those who vote him in will only have themselves to blame.

To any leavers who have changed their minds since the 2016 ref - this is a chance to stop Brexit once and for all. Grab it with both hands and get out there and vote!

We're in an absolutely key seat. I feel a great responsibility for my vote! CONS have a majority of about 3,000, so easily ousted. I'm going to wait until the last minute to vote and will hand deliver my postal vote if necessary.

I will be stunned if the Tories win by a majority...surely people have waken up to the Brexit shitshow by now? Or are they masochists?😖

On the other thread about who you’ll vote for in a GE, there are a number of remainers who say they’ll vote Tory. WTH?

I get that it’s a GE and not all about Brexit, but come on - Brexit is by far the most important issue at stake here. It will have a major bearing on so many aspects of our daily lives for decades to come.

How can you want to remain in the EU and support Boris? I just can’t reconcile the two at all

"They need to offer protection from a modern world in which liberalising economic policies, globalisation and immigration have undermined work, wages and community.”

I think there's an implied 'protection from a modern world of progressive social legislation and changes that have undermined his perceived place in the world' in there.

I find it worrying and depressing. It's the location of the fear-driven, backward-looking, anti-women, anti-progressive impulse that has driven so much of Brexit.

We've sensed (& I mean 'we', on this thread,) that it doesn't just have our future in its sights - the way the UK's journey would unroll without interference - but our present; of anti-discrimination laws, and legislation that has meant we have been able to begin to live, love and work more equally.

It really worries me.

It's kind of 'settling' to see it laid out in the open, though. No more being told we're imagining it.

Where is Nigel Farage? Why is he so suspiciously quiet? I am have nightmares about a Farage/ Johnson government.

Have woken up to an e mail from best for Britain tactical voting site.

Thar cheered me up a bit....

I think because they didn't agree the date, Mother.

On the other thread about who you’ll vote for in a GE, there are a number of remainers who say they’ll vote Tory. WTH?

There are a lot of supposed "remainers" on MN who I take with a pinch of salt.

There were 2 votes mother about the date.
SNP/Lib Dems backed the other date (9th) and abstained on 12th

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-50227455

I think it's some house of commons convention rather than they actually didnt want the GE

Completely agree cat. And it may be the direction that women voters go that swings it. In all the polls we’ve looked at, about 70% of the ‘Don’t Knows’ are women. Perhaps women are waiting for more information before they decide.

I’m perplexed about what’d happen in the (unlikely?) event of a Lab/LD/Green/Plaid coalition after the election. We may have hopes of a Rebel Alliance in the event of the Tories not getting a majority. But if the opposition all have different approaches in their manifestos - Negotiate New Deal/ Revoke/ People’s Vote etc - how could they hope to successfully govern together?

Boris not too popular with women, is he?

Perhaps I have a superficial view but I am absolutely FUMING at the Lib dems for giving BJ what he wants (not much time to think about and follow the news in depth at the moment so mostly lurking on here).
I mean, the risk of a 50+ majority is very real. How are they going to stop no deal on the 31st Jan? Already Swinson killed off any prospect of a GNU in the Sumner. Now this. WTH?? Either she is useless or toxic as the rest of them.
Rant over.

Tory majority I meant

The GNU didn't have the numbers regardless of what the LDs did as Change wouldn't back Corbyn as leader and neither would some of the rebels. So it isn't solely their fault (even though I don't agree with any of them, you can't solely pin it on them).

The polls (for what they're worth) show that pre-Brexit, post-extension is the best time to get the numbers for the CONS down.

I don't think people will vote for the Tories to get it done finally. I think they'll vote against them for failing to do so despite all of BoZo's bluster.

I was 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️ at my mum again yesterday who is convinced that BoZo never lies! She also thinks that he was always determined to get a deal but didn't respond when I said that he's just pushing no deal back to the end of transition. I imagine she's gone back to her apparent pen pal ERGer MP to check what I'm saying (and then come back and tell me I'm wrong).

There should be a bus with this on its side:

www.theguardian.com/business/2019/oct/30/boris-johnsons-brexit-deal-would-cost-uk-economy-70bn

You are right nowordforfluffy. It's a collective failure. I just can't help feeling horrified at the risk of enabling a no deal crash out at the end of this extension.

PMK to note that Dec 12th is in fact.......

...... DS's nativity play!

It's DD's too. I have a half day off, which is convenient!

I agree @Songsofexperience - I thinks it's a really high risk strategy.
Now watch Bozo try and ram his deal through

He won't get his deal through now, I'd have thought. Why would the opposition give him that opportunity?

I'm baffled why the 9 Dec vote failed. Has any party explained this?

(I'm also baffled as to what day it is as I've got 3 days off work, so yesterday felt like Friday to me!)

I wonder how many 'visitors' MN will have over the next 6 weeks?