Westminstenders: From Uxbridge to...?

[RedToothBrush]

Speaker Bercow is gone.

Speculation that Johnson is parachuting into Rutland.

Rumours that the Brexit Party won't contest the election.

A new speaker to be elected on Monday.

Parliament to dissolve next week.

Brexit? Oh we've forgotten that until Friday 13th...

The basic dishonesty of Brexit* *
– the myth that it can somehow lead to a more prosperous future –* *
has never been squarely addressed.

^
This x 100

The Opposition need to get their act together, stop bickering among themselves and in unison address the fact that Brexit is a lie and a fantasy will not improve their lives one bit.

The Opposition need to get their act together, stop bickering among themselves and in unison address the fact that Brexit is a lie and a fantasy will not improve their lives one bit.

Every time people do this, it's dismissed as "Project Fear".

A question for you
What would happen if BJ isn’t elected as an MP at the next election?
Is he that scared he will loose his seat that he needs a strong Tory seat to protect him? That looks far away from a Tory landslides

Every time people do this, it's dismissed as "Project Fear".

In which case the opposition parties should be challenging the government to provide plans which would address the concerns raised and proper evidence to support their optimistic projections. They cannot because Brexit is a pup.

I was told last week I "have nothing to fear from a no deal Brexit"
^ by a white, middle aged man. Mortgage paid off. No kids. Good job.
And lets be frank, some people will do very well indeed from a no deal brexit.

People up thread have posted about Corbyn's speech. Could someone post a link to it? Thanks and apologies if it's already there.

Well this us interesting - from Susan Hulme, BBC Parliamentary reporter:

Dominic Grieve (who chairs Parliament's Security Committee) says it is "unacceptable" for the PM to "sit" on its report into UK security threats by failing to allow it to be published before the election

Theresa May was 'in tears' after the Brexit referendum result

More revelations from historian Sir Anthony Seldon's new book, "May At 10":

https://news.sky.com/story/theresa-may-was-in-tears-after-the-brexit-referendum-result-11847682

According to the book, she told Mr Timothy:
"The ones who voted for Brexit will be the ones who suffer the most."

He added that Brexit then became about "damage limitation" for those who would lose out, and not a "positive opportunity" for the country.

Tom Newton Dunn@tnewtondunn

Big story, if/when No10 sanction its release.

Mark Urban@MarkUrban01

The Parliamentary Intelligence & Security Cttee report on Russian actions against the UK was sent to No10 on 17/10 with the idea it should be released on 28/10, before the election, but No10 has not signed it off 1/3

I understand that the Int & Sec Cttee report includes
evidence from the UK intelligence services concerning Russian attempts to influence the outcome of the 2016 Brexit referendum and 2017 General Election 2/3

The report will have to be released by Tuesday at latest before current committee is dissolved,
& failure to do so because of a refusal by No10 to sign it off may be seen by many as an attempt to suppress evidence of previous Russian attempts to subvert UK polls 3/3

A Downing Street spokesman, responding to this strand, tells me "there are a number of administrative stages & processes which reports such as this have to go through ...
this usually takes several weeks to accomplish", adding that the committee is well aware of this +1/2

However in his Commons statement earlier today ISC Chair Dominic Grieve said "it's already been very carefully looked at by the Cabinet Office", suggesting the intelligence agencies had already cleared it.
Someone familiar with ISC work tells me 10 days enough for No10 +2/2

There appears to have been rampant corruption in the Tory ranks but no one much appears to give a sh*t. No one who ought to, that is.

I do wonder how Brexit will be talked about during the election. Operation Yellowhammer didn't seem to have much impact.

Changing people's minds is very hard to do....

But - you only need to get enough people to change their minds in the right area.

This GE is for all the marbles:

James Forsyth@JGForsyth

As one cabinet minister puts it:

‘We know the Lib Dems and the SNP will do better.
So we are risking everything on Labour collapsing.’

This general election isn’t the most important in a generation,
it is the most significant in the lifetime of anyone born since 1945

https://www.spectator.co.uk/2019/11/general-election-2019-can-boris-johnson-succeed-where-theresa-may-failed/amp/?

Rightly or wrongly the voting tools are either going to recommend Lib Dems or Labour.

Hey @BestForBritain Why is your “Tool” recommending voting for Corbyns Candidate in Ilford South

Zero oversight on any of these "tools" (resists a DGR urge at childishness). I'd be wary about recommending any of them.

Even the ones that are on the level could be hacked or somehow compromised.

General election 2019: No 10 defends Brexit deal after Trump criticism - BBC News
apple.news/ArydYDzWpShi_GoZHuiez8g

Somebody, at some point, should realise that siding with a Mad Hatter doesn’t give you much consistency and support in return when you need it?

The tool may be recommending a Labour (Remain) candidate instead of Mike Gapes
because of a much greater chance of Labour winning than an Independent

Any Labour candidate who is not a Leaver, in a seat where Labour came second in 2017,
would be a much better bet in most seats than an Indie

The main aim has to be in keeping out the Tory, especially a Brexiter one.
Those Tories who would defy the whip have already done so and been expelled

Britain Elects - Bromsgrove South (Worcestershire Local Council Result)

Con - 40.2% (-0.3)
Ind - 22.8% (+22.8)
Lib Dem - 18.7% (+13.7)
Lab - 18.3 % (-32.2%)

Con gain from Lab

Yesterday I felt a bit more reassured by posters on here about my fears on the Labour vote collapsing in Leave areas and letting the Tories in, I am now back to worrying this is being underestimated after seeing this result. Know a council election is not the same as a general election but trying not to feel totally despondent.

Good morning. I’m very tired (having arrived home at 03:45). I’m going to buy the Led By Donkeys book for my brother. He’s fantastically difficult to buy for, and will love it.

POTUS will come to London for a NATO summit on 3 December, with BJ as host

i.e. during the last days of the election campaign

• I wonder if Trump will lecture us again on who to vote for and who is his bogeyman.

Interesting how much Trump obviously loathes Corbyn - like his Orange Hate for Sadiq Khan - but there is a section of rightwing MUGA voters who adore Trump
However, they were only ever going to vote Tory or Farage Company, so it's not as if he can reduce the Labour vote

The Led By Donkeys book sounds a great Christmas present, Oubliette

I suggest all Westministenders who buy presents keep that in mind for everyone 12+

Even some Leavers, who can't be reached by dry discussion, might dip into the book, start chuckling - and rethinking

POTUS will come to London for a NATO summit on 3 December, with BJ as host

Fabulous.

What a fun election this is going to be.

Yesterday I felt a bit more reassured by posters on here about my fears on the Labour vote collapsing in Leave areas and letting the Tories in, I am now back to worrying this is being underestimated after seeing this result. Know a council election is not the same as a general election but trying not to feel totally despondent.

@Violetparis don’t worry based on the result you posted, that looks as though the presence of the independent candidate has confused the issue and let the Tory romp home. Although it looks as though the LDs also picked up a few votes from Labour.

General election 2019: Leaders banned from lavishing their star power on local seats

I'm not sure who that'll harm most

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/638de4a8-fc2b-11e9-837f-79f312a00fbd

Jeremy Corbynn and Boris Johnsonn face an effective ban on directly campaigning for their candidates in key marginal seats under new rules that will change the face of British elections.

Following a Supreme Court ruling,
^ political parties have been warned by the Electoral Commission that they will need to apply strict spending limits to national campaigns that boost the prospects of local candidates.^

The rules will curtail the freedom of political parties to target voters in key constituencies using social media advertising.
Party headquarters will also be prevented from parachuting in campaigners to “must-win” seats in the way that helped the Tories to win the ground war with Labour in the 2015 general election.

POTUS will come to London for a NATO summit on 3 December, with BJ as host

I would laugh if Johnson had lost his seat, and Corbyn was leading a minority administration and as PM was the host.