Brexit Arms: the discussion continues....

[XingMing]

I'm not promising to be the resident landlady, and I can't even hope to moderate the discussion or offer up great memes etc because I don't know how, but here's opening the next iteration....

First drink is on the house.

Sometimes posters are beyond parody 😂

And clearly "No Deal-ers" to boot, Dusty. Who knew? 😀

And clearly "No Deal-ers" to boot, Dusty. Who knew? 😀

😂
I know right!

Same old posters making same old jibes at anyone who isn't just like them

I couldn't give a toss how people vote or what their Brexit stance is - if they're genuine & not cunty I'll happily chew the fat

Posters with previous of twattery to me I've zero time for 🤷🏻‍♀️

I cba with partisan BS which is why I am fully on board with
Unfortunately my posting style probably presents as very unfriendly and soundbitey these days as a result. No wonder I end up giving affable Boris the benefit of the doubt on everything from misrepresented quotes on freedom to dress as a letterbox if you like to not expanding on policy for fear of foot in mouth.

Just for those asking Priti is correct to point out that the State is not to blame if, like Jezza's Islington Labour pal now standing for Parliament, you choose to pay poverty wages and look the other way.
Conservative voting intention by region:

London 33%
Rest of South 51%
Midlands/Wales 48%
North 35%
Scotland 28%

For Labour:

London 40%
Rest of South 23%
Midlands/Wales 30%
North 39%
Scotland 14%

YouGov/Sky/The Times 18-19 Nov

Scottish Tory number is now back at 2017 level but Labour number is half. Probably translates to Tories holding Scottish seats and Labour handing theirs to the SNP.

In London Labour is down 14% on 2017 but again Conservatives are back where they were.

Scottish Tory number is now back at 2017 level but Labour number is half. Probably translates to Tories holding Scottish seats and Labour handing theirs to the SNP.

That's quite intriguing, Howabout. Ruth Davidson came out swinging for Boris/Brexit in the Telegraph a few days ago, albeit arguing it from a Scottish Conservative/Unionist point of view. I wondered how the SCs would fare under Jackson Carlaw's temporary stewardship. I hope this means they are holding up.

At the same time, Labour used to depend heavily on Scottish Labour to prop it up while in government; introducing tuition fees is the obvious example.

I genuinely have sympathy for pro-Union pro-Remain voters in Scotland. There are rational reasons for supporting both positions (just as I have rationale for being pro-Union pro-Leave) but where do they turn? It's an egregious choice to force upon them.

I've said this before, but I think Labour are treating this GE as a testbed to see just how many outlandish ideas their voters will agree with. When it's all over, they can then rebuild a whole new party, phoenix-from-the-ashes style.

WRT higher taxation. I’ve always thought that taxing people’s purchases is the way to go. Yesterday I bought some posh soft drinks for Christmas – I love Fentiman’s Rose Lemonade! Some of them had the sugar levy applied. What an excellent idea that is. I have no problem at all paying it, it's my decision, I could have bought low-calorie versions if I wanted. (Cue a rabid leftie screaming about the poor starving to death without all those posh soft drink calories).

I worry about artificial sweeteners so teeny gets rationed full sugar with sugar tax or plain water (sugar tax branding saves me the effort of scanning ingredient lists). However when her older sister spent weeks intermittently throwing up all over the place and the doctor was advocating full sugar drinks I was a bit miffed to be paying a premium for it.

Most people in Scotland now support minimum alcohol pricing because they tend to drink better quality and marginally less. Helps that Scotland home produces premium alcohol. The corner shops are also in favour because it gets rid of supermarkets loss leading on alcohol.

WRT Labour I think Boris getting a healthy majority would be doing them a favour. They need a "period of reflection" and a clear out.

I've got a sneaking suspicion that there will be some surprising results in Scotland, caused by plenty of tactical voting to keep Boris/Jeremy/Nicola out.

Minimum alcohol pricing is a great idea. People would grumble about it, but it's a win-win way to raise taxes while also helping people limit their intake of the demon drink. I'd like to see higher tobacco taxes, but I think that would just increase the already massive illegal imports - every time I see someone with a packet of fags, the health warning is in a foreign language.

WRT Labour I think Boris getting a healthy majority would be doing them a favour. They need a "period of reflection" and a clear out.

I agree and I'd be delighted if that proved to be the case, Howabout, on the basis that honest government needs (a) a credible government-in-waiting sitting across the floor, and (b) freedom of the press. However, I think the clear out is already taking place right under our noses. Here's what Paul Waugh of the Huffington Post says.

https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/leftwing-labour-mps-corbyn-selections-unite-momentumukk_5dcd737be4b0a794d1fc1071

For me, the real question is what will Keir Starmer, Yvette Cooper, Hilary Benn et al, do then? They won't need to worry about leaving the Labour Party. The party will have left them.

I really do hope that a credible Opposition happens after this GE. What have Labour actually done over the last 3 years? Listen to their constituents - No. Forget petty party politics and unite behind Brexit for the good of the country - No. Formulate a workable alternative choice to the Brexit stalemate - No. All they've managed to do is shoot themselves in the foot with an unelectable leader, and paint themselves into a corner over Brexit, alienating their core voters.

Your post was bad enough to get deleted yet you're citing her inability to evidence your words as some sort of deflection?!
Have a look at the number of your own post deletions on other threads, Dusty, if that's what you're using as a measure. It is a FACT that epic couldn't evidence my words. Nevertheless I apologised. Your personal attacks ("nasty cunt") are completely unnecessary and it is not up to you to decide whether my apoogy was sincere or not.

Nigel says he wants to do away with the HoL and replace it with an elected Senate. I absolutely agree the HoL is well overdue serious pruning and reform but I have reservations about a second elected chamber because it would challenge the primacy of the elected HoC. Anyone have any thoughts?

I agree the HoL is a totally archaic institution and should be massively reformed. I do think that a second chamber is needed to curb the potential excesses/craziness of the HoC. But it shouldn't have any real Lords/Ladies or bishops/religious leaders. I don't favour election either - that would just result in a carbon copy of the HoC. Maybe have just "elder statesmen/women" - retired politicians who've been recognised as having done a decent job in the HoC.

Interesting topic for thought SingingLily!

Anyone going to watch the QT debate between the four leaders at 7pm? I'm off out tonight so will miss it. Not too upset at missing it tbh, having watched the fiasco between Boris & Jezza earlier this week.

#whatever

The HoL is indeed something of an anchronism but as a revising chamber it is a much-needed counterweight to the HoC. The cross-benchers are particularly valuable, but I don't think it needs burdening with a lot of loyal party members who've been ousted from the Commons by age or the electorate.

...anachronism..

Forgetting my responsibilities: Happy Hour, with free peanuts!

I have reservations about a second elected chamber because it would challenge the primacy of the elected HoC.

Me too

The Lords needs shrinking down massively, and perhaps reform such as time limited or something, but I like that the will of the commons has primacy

#whatever

Yep!

tough on profits, tough on the causes of profits

"The net effect of these measures would be to tax up to 65.5p per pound of corporate profit earned" WOW Corbyn is really going to hammer business. If he wins it will be a bloodbath.

Apparently Corbyns plans are to :
Nationalise Water
Nationalise the Internet
Nationalise Buses
Nationalise Trains
Nationalise Gas
Nationalise Electricity
Nationalise the Post
Nationalise Sewerage
Nationalise Dentists
(have I missed any?)

"The CBI concluded the nationalisation would cost an initial £196bn, which is a lot of money even for a government"

But according to the Labour Manifesto this is going to cost NOTHING, he must be planning on seizing them without giving any compensation. Guess pensioners are fcuked as well as business and the rest of the country.

Evening, all!

I'll be watching QT this evening, Limer, but if it turns out to be as boring as the great debate, there are other channels.

Forgetting my responsibilities: Happy Hour, with free peanuts!
Thank you, XingMing - a double builders brew, please, while it's still Happy Hour. 

No more nuts needed at the far end of the bar, thank you, but I'll break out the emergency glitterball supplies in case we need them for later .

Anyone watching QT? JC getting some very tough questions. The format is better than the other night.

The audience are BRUTAL!!

And only a few mins in 😱

Hopefully they'll be as robust with all of them...

(I do like seeing Corbz being held to account obvs & enjoy watching him squirm, but I want to see BJ having to speak in more than soundbites as well - hopefully he can step it up a gear & cut through 🙏🙏)

YY Holly! Much, much better!!