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 have zero problem with any Leaver that is happy to admit it's just how they feel. We're all entitled to our views, after all.

In the same way, I have no argument against those Scots who "feel" British and as such prefer to be part of the UK . (Indeed, I felt that way myself 30 years ago )

I don't accept the arguments that Scotland is "too small, too poor and too stupid" to be independent, when countries of a similar size and with fewer natural and human resources are perfectly capable of governing themselves (eg Ireland, Denmark, New Zealand)

We have been called vermin, elite snowflakes, traitors, enemies of the people....

But thats ok, right?

Of course not - it’s not ok either way, but I hardly need to point that out.

Workington Man discovered by archaeologists buried in a ditch surrounded by shards of broken promises. Oops no, that's Boris Johnson

It does tickle me that remainers are expected to take the high ground at all times and under any provocation.

We have been called vermin, elite snowflakes, traitors, enemies of the people....

But thats ok, right?

No one is saying its is.

The thing is that comments about Workington Man being an archeological realict are exactly what Tory HQ want LD or Labour leaning individuals who support remain to say.

It's goldust to them and saves them money in political advertising as it does their job for them.

The propaganda has already been laid that Remainers look down on Leavers in a snooty way and think Leavers are beneath them. So when someone who has bought into that a little sees something that looks like that they recognise it and it makes them believe that they are the enemy and 'not like them'. Thus capturing them in the polarisation and entrenching that belief in the 'liberal elite' as a real thing.

So yes, you do need to think and engage your brain and not participate in playing the role that Johnson and Co have cast you into. You do need to not get involved in petty name-calling and comments about intellectual incapacity or being backwards because it's Conservative Propaganda if you do it.

'Calling it out' doesn't help you. Quite the opposite.

There will be a concerted effort over the coming weeks to enrage you and provoke reactions and get Remainers to say things out of frustration. That is deliberate. It's trying to play you like a fiddle. So be aware of how emotional manipulation is being used both towards Leavers and Remainers and how if you bite you have been sucked into it and are being manipulated every bit as much as 'turkeys who voted for Brexit'.

Moral high ground is very much required. It is essential.

Amber Rudd is stepping down. She only has a slim majority in Rye and Hastings (346) so that should be an interesting seat to watch.

www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/oct/30/amber-rudd-to-step-down-as-mp

Agree RTB.

I present to you my EU pumpkin in honour of of our reason to celebrate Halloween more than normal this year, accompanied by a name change.

Impressive Bercows.

It strikes me now is a good time to donate to Led by Donkeys

Thank you. I just hope I don't get my windows egged as a result.

I present to you my EU pumpkin

Does it turn into an extension at midnight?

(Or will it explode as Francois predicts?)

Wow, Bercow's, you're so arty! That's beautiful.

It will ward off the evil of Boris' spirit rising from the ditch and haunting us like the ghost of brexit future.

Nice pumpkin!

One can call out bullshit without helping the tories.

Staying silent is also playing right into their hands too!

There's a lovely, warm-hearted, elderly lady living near the bottom of my lane who is voting for Brexit because "we have more people, more space, and more money than China so why can't we make our own things Lovely story

Shrug.

It was just an anecdotal offering to the conversation about Workington Man that looked like it might diverge into nasty comments about ignorance. My point being there are people out there who are not unpleasant but simply unable to reason cause and effect, and even if they could, are starting from some startlingly bonkers 'facts'. It's not all evil-minded fuck-everyone-else'ness.

Meanwhile, in other news...

Remember that great defender of Law & Order, Priti Patel?

Her "Chief of Staff" was slung out of the Strangers' Bar last by police night for an expletive-filled, wall-punching outburst

www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/priti-patel-advisor-police-commons-bar-strangers_uk_5db8939be4b066da5528286e?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvLnVrLw&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAANXg3WCnY8RnMPPlRPf5r9pvK5ajYPL428qwQaz5fDiydA90H78AOw6e-Q4Dxc5CcaIZK2hHqlAcgciD_zSIOh7dw4k1eGhGGMpQfLL1o7PlpShLObq_HTSXdklHLdJXNWznNCIUd02p4Tt347FadIfgC7zAcZw4qbsFfDmn7her

Great pumpkin Bercows

A new speaker will be elected on 4th November, presided over by Kenneth Clark, father of the house.

www.parliament.uk/business/news/2019/september/election-of-the-next-speaker-of-the-house-of-commons-/

Hey pretty

Also of note was Radio 3's news running order this morning, which ran:

"A new report shows the UK will be £70bn a year worse off under Boris Johnson's deal, than staying in the EU".

"Sajid Javid says the UK will self-evidently be financially better off with this deal".

Most excellent pumpkin bercows.

I do agree that actually now is the time we have to take the higher position, as Michelle Obama said "they go low we go high". (aw, I miss Barack and Michelle!)

at the R3 news Athelstane

Can the journalists not hear themselves? Surely they should be asking searching questions about such direct contradictions and disconnects.

Let alone the public

I don't apologise to the thought police about what I said, quite frankly.

My comment was code for the misogynistic bloke who didn't care about the women folk in the post above mine.

So , sue me.

To be honest, there's worse posted on here between us and we all just move on and get over it. Maybe more resilience is required rather than being faux-offended at innocuous comments.

Bercows love your pumpkin! I was planning on carving ours in a similar way. How did you do the little stars?

I LOVE that tie and the joke he cracked about it.