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.

Well, it’s shit or bust for Corbyn now.

Given one of his backbenchers allegedly said to a reporter (albeit DM) ‘they’re fucking mad’ when asked about how a GE will go, it’s not looking good

But time will tell.

FGS

I actually think there will be a swathe of ‘don’t knows’ who will err on the side of ‘make the Tories finish what they started’

Don't care who wins and what they stand for. Just hope for an outright wiinner that deals with Brexit - stop or carry on.

And then there's Farage, who looks a bit left behind by all this. Is he really going to scupper Brexit by splitting the vote?

We shall need to see the manifestos. It was the manifesto that did it for May. Is BJ going to offer his Magic Money giveaway?

And then the debates. I generally think the more people see of Corbyn campaigning, the more people see he doesn't have horns or a tail. BJ meanwhile is good at oration to the convinced, but bumbles and waves his arms about when challenged on detail.

As someone said, he hopes Conservative Remain voters will put Party before Brexit whilst Labour Leave voters put Brexit before Party

My Dad is a Conservative voter - but is very Remain orientated. I am intrigued as to which way he will vote. I know he won't vote for Corbyn. Nor will he vote for Johnson.

I follow a couple of remainer Tory accounts on Twitter much talk of tactical voting if no friendly remainer Tory in situ Lib Dem or Green they haven’t gone quite the full Corbyn yet

The Brexity accounts I follow seem to be throwing their weight behind Farage. But this same account also claimed their would be ‘water borne police to protect our British fish’ in the case of a no deal Brexit. So perhaps not the sharpest tool in the box.

meant to listen to Farage on radio but was torn between that and parliament so didn't hear what his take was

Could Boris be making the same mistake as Theresa May?

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/oct/29/the-guardian-view-on-a-snap-election-a-reckoning-the-voters-may-not-want

[santa] thank you red. Place marking.

I think the filing thru the lobbies is to make one's vote a matter of indisputable public record. You have to face up to your own party or opposite if you defy the whip. This could be more easily lied about or less obvious if electronic.

Just think how Trump denies stuff he did... if it wasn't caught on film, he insists that lies were told about what he said. We're a very visual species and many people have to SEE something to believe it (or before they will stop denying it).

Also voting could be hacked.

Will this solve the problems? The other place are celebrating but it still has to get through the HoL and there's no guarantees of anything aoart from that Boris will lie.

GE then?
Right.

So is Johnson "filthy piece of tow rag" standing for re election in Uxbridge? Or have they found him a safe seat somewhere else?

I know I may regret saying this, but I'm glad something is actually happening after all these months of stalemate.

RedToothbrush that list of MP's is very telling!

If there's an offer of change on the cards, people usually take it.
I can't see conservatives doing better that labour because people are utterly fed up now and I think they will choose labour over Tory to see what they can do.

How many seats did the tories lose in the last election?

Ian Dunt@IanDunt

Series of points of order first.

Soubry says that in private most agree that "a majority of backbenchers on all sides do not want a general election".

She is right, probably, but odd given the vote that just happened.

< backbenchers of all parties are scared of looking chicken, but some are turkeys voting for Christmas >

braces self
checks the wine shelf

The one good thing about a December GE is that if the Tory party does cling to power, we can still get drunk over Christmas.

Just mentioned the GE to DH who said "I don't like either Labour or Conservative. But if I have to choose between tea or coffee, I will always go for the one that does not leave a bitter taste in the mouth."

DH does not do politics, hot drinks or dishonesty. He is one of the many "don't knows, who find Johnson contemptible.

It's left me wondering if Johnson is the political asset the Tory party think he is? Especially as he's alive and so is Brexit.

Wash-up starting
Looks like NI budget will be authorised in time.

Ian Dunt@IanDunt

Mogg up

Business tomorrow is a general debate on the Grenfell report, then remaining stages on the NI budget bill.
Says he'll make a further statement tomorrow regarding business for the rest of the week.

So, tactical voting it is.

@Miljah if you are still reading then please re-register and come back. I couldn't read your last message to me as you'd de-registered. I hope you're ok and that you'll rejoin us and we hurtle towards a GE

. Is BJ going to offer his Magic Money giveaway?

Fortunately the OBR should spike his guns there - they are to release updates during the campaign.

www.theguardian.com/business/2019/oct/29/obr-to-publish-borrowing-forecasts-despite-scrapping-of-budget