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'll certainly do my bit to make it happen

I don’t doubt that, but the point was the views of people on here are not representative of the country as a whole

That's very true...

And FPTP is a pain.

Once again, I will vote tactically. Because I do not want a Conservative to win. It's a real shame that I can't vote for who I want to vote for because of FPTP

All you can do Choma

Got a nice gift from the staff at the European Parliament Centre in Berlin today - plus the opportunity to troll some Brexitty friends by signing them up to email updates on the EP (in German).

Nicky Morgan dropping out now

twitter.com/nickymorgan01/status/1189625485124354048?s=21

Mockers she addressed that...she said that SF have been working with the EU to gain special status for NI and that they would not be able to influence anything in Westminster. I for one wish they would take their seats and cross their fingers at the oath. But I suppose people vote for them partly on their abstentionist policy.

Britain Elects
@britainelects
·
7m
North East Somerset Westminster voting intention:

CON: 44% (-10)
LDEM: 28% (+20)
LAB: 14% (-20)
BREX: 7% (+7)
GRN: 3% (+1)

via
@Survation
, 16 - 17 Oct
Chgs. w/ 2017 result

Oooh - Nicky Morgan not standing!

Maybe she's rediscovered her backbone principles

Aditya Chakrabortty
@chakrabortty
·
5h
Remember when food banks were unheard of? Now they’re the stuff of children’s books.
Me on a terrible reminder of what’s at stake in this election

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/oct/30/food-banks-childrens-books-britain-hungry-election

Shame..... NE Somerset still looks safe for Smug

A reverse there couldn't happen to a nicer person

Reminds me to mention at work about our annual Christmas collection for the local food bank.😢

Was in two minds about sharing this as it is probably a bit outing but my sons football team are putting part of their subs towards buying socks, shower gel toothpaste in drawstring bags for the homeless people they see. They are 15 & 16 year old lads if they can see it why can’t anyone else.

It’s great that they have chosen to do that but they shouldn’t have to.

Anyone else watched that clip with Susana Reid and Matt Hancock its worth a view if interviewers had been like this since 2010 we wouldnt be where we are now

That's brilliant Basil. You must be so proud.

Basil give them my fondest regards and solidarity for doing that, thank god theres still kids like that out there

I am and these are ‘normal’ lads not especially charitable usually.

Just Hancock had a rough morning he was mauled by Kay Burly earlier with regards to the US and drug prices. He kept repeating mantra the NHS isn’t on the table but eventually gave in and said drug prices won’t be part of a trade deal. Let’s see if they stick to that anymore than anything else.

Cheers Just I find myself having to explain counting nine homeless people on a short walk across the city centre isn’t normal and no it wasn’t like that when I was his age.

Krishnan Guru-Murthy
@krishgm
·
9h
Every time I hear posh southern voices on the TV and radio analysing ‘Workington Man’ I want to throw up. And it’s just day one.

Every time I hear posh southern voices on the TV and radio analysing ‘Workington Man’ I want to throw up. And it’s just day one.

So do I it’s dehumanising.

Guess who will be the scapegoat if/when it goes tits up.

www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-50239771

About chats on Facebook groups.

Nothing new we haven’t covered on here.

Ken Clarke, on the eve of his retirement, could normally expect to be showered with compliments & honours from his party after so many decades of valuable service
One of the things he gave up when he rebelled and also spoke out

Ah, this is nice though:

Anna Soubry MP@AnnaSoubry

Farewell to my political hero, neighbour & dear friend #KenClarke retiring from Parliament after 49 yrs of outstanding service.
One of the finest PMs we never had.
We’ll still meet up down the Lane @OfficialNCFC , @TrentBridge & the KT! #Rushcliffe #Notts #BigBeast

Lewis Goodall@lewis_goodall

Ken Clarke is a real politician.
Some think a national treasure now but one of the most controversial reformers of his day.

Half a century in Parliament.
Chancellor.
Home Sec.
One of the nearly PMs.
Last of a dying breed of Tories. < the non-bastards >
The Commons will be so much the poorer.

Twitter bans political advertising all around the world, according to its CEO (via Sky News)

Oh, Liddington retiring too - at least 1 GE / 5 years earlier earlier than I'd expect

He used to be our MP in Aylesbury;
a very decent bloke who listened quietly, let people talk, then answered quiely & sensibly

The decent - and competent - Tories seem to be retiring or quitting,
leaving the party to the pitiless bastards who've taken it over

The Tory Parliamentary party after the GE will have a very high Stupid Evil Bastard quotient

Bruno Waterfield@BrunoBrussels

One of the most decent politicians or ministers I have ever met

====
Beth Rigby@BethRigby

BREAK:
Former deputy PM @DLidington has just announced he is standing down via his local newspaper

Going to need a spreadsheet to keep up with all these retirees

"Twitter bans political advertising all around the world"

FB doesn't yet even ban political ads that it knows are blatant lies
but hopefully they'll follow suit
.... and stop firms harvesting data on so many millions of their customers