The Brexit Arms: Are We Nearly There Yet? 🇬🇧🚗↩️🇪🇺

[SingingLily]

No, not yet, but soon. Just 24 more sleeps until we legally leave the EU at 11pm on 31 January and finally enter the transition period after what seems like centuries of argument, dither and delay. We do so with hope, optimism and a determination to be a good friend and neighbour to the EU, but for now, no one said it better than Winston Churchill.

“This is not the end, this is not even the beginning of the end, this is just perhaps the end of the beginning.”

The Pub Rule is the same as it always was: all welcome but only if you leave goadery outside. The first drink is on the house.

“DP is a business owner in the engineering sector. Whilst he is doing well now non-alignment will probably be damaging to his business, we are not sure how much so at this stage, it’s incredibly difficult to plan when we have so much uncertainty. If I recall correctly Epic you are in a similar position, have you managed to stabilise things since the GE?”

WE went into administration on the 27th of december after 16 1/2 years trading. The issue for us was the period March to dec, the only reason for it, was the parliamentary dicking about and the fear of Jezbollah (meh Ark, will be as peurile as I fucking like thanks.) . Customers just vapourised. I’m not making that up either, that is verbatim from our very wealthy customers themselves. I wont say what industry as it would be too outing. Brexit was not the cause, the intense game playing was the cause for us. We were prepared for all other eventualities, just not that.

Very sorry to hear that Epic

Mug of tea please. I have long stated, as have many others, that the 'uncertainty' caused by Parliament's failure to decide something certain for 3 years has been the most damaging for Business.

Yes, many things are unclear right now, because Parliament has only very recently become a functioning institution. But the process of Brexit has now properly started and there will be many negotiations and agreements before much will become clear.

It will be a hard slog for UK/EU govt reps, but both parties appear motivated and focused so, at this stage, I am not too concerned about the abilities of either party (UK/EU) to work it out.

Morning all

Epic sorry to hear that

My workplace is very pro EU but they have also been angry at the pointless delays as it’s caused havoc with the business.

And sorry Epic - I hadn't read your post before writing mine.

Thanks Limited, it’s been tough! And apparently has caused me to “flounce” at times according to some lovely folk... . But worse things happen at sea and all that. We will survive, I’m made of strong (ish) stuff. Could be much worse, I could be Harry and Megs. They have it so hard bless them.

Thanks all, you are lovely people, despite what some of the rude interlopers may say.

Sorry to hear that Epic 😟 💐

In case it raises a laugh, I was at the pharmacy yesterday and it wasn’t clear if one man was actually in the queue or not. I asked him, and he said “sorry, I’m sort of half half” and I said - with a smile - “well you’re not Harry and Meghan, are you in front of me or not?”

And everyone laughed. Londoners aren’t grumpy though many people tell us that!

Thanks dusty, just keep those memes coming, they are hilarious!

I’ll promise to keep flooding my posts with Emojis and the occasional meme too, I love them, even more so now I know how irrationally irritating they are to some. 👍

Please MNHQ can we have gifs too? For the perfect Trifecta of #amazeballs? (Irritating hashtag added for extra pearl clutching effect.)

Hahaha Autumn!

That is so sad Epic, all those years of work smashed to smithereens. I hope something positive will emerge from the wreckage.

Nothing impedes business so much as prolonged uncertainty. I'm guessing that the EU is, on one level, quite relieved that it is finally talking to just one team with a clear negotiation remit and approach, backed by a PM with real political power.

All the barnacles on the boat - all those pop-up strategists and unofficial advisors with "helpful" advice such as Letwin, Benn, Cooper, Grieve, Blair, etc etc - were scraped off on 12 December. No point in talking to any of them now.

You're right Autumn, not all Londoners are grumpy.
Just like everywhere else (including this pub) some people are grumpy.

“That is so sad Epic, all those years of work smashed to smithereens. I hope something positive will emerge from the wreckage.”

Thanks Xing, fingers crossed, when life slams closes one door and all that...

Lol Autumn 😂

Please MNHQ can we have gifs too? For the perfect Trifecta of #amazeballs?

Oh Epic! That would be Epic!!

I can conduct entire convos purely via the medium of gifs

Would indeed be #Amaze & #TotesHilaire
😍😍😍😍

Just seen clip of Labour leadership lot at hustings today

Why does Jess 'I'm right working class I am' Philips always sound like she's about to burst into tears?

It's grating, embarrassing & done to death

My fave at the mo is Lisa Nandy - she's growing on me more & more

“Why does Jess 'I'm right working class I am' Philips always sound like she's about to burst into tears?”

She does doesn’t she? It’s really weird!

Jess Phillips, whose mother was deputy chief executive of the NHS Confederation and Chair of the South Birmingham Mental Health Trust?

She does come over as a bit emotional, doesn't she?

Anyone else feeling a little weary with it already? I don't mean the leadership contest. I mean the "I'm that working class, me, that I emerged from the womb wearing a flat cap and clutching a ferret" contest.

Speaking as someone who was born in a two-up-two-down-outside-lav council house in what was at the time officially regarded as the most deprived area of Liverpool, I really don't care how Northern or how working class politicians are. I just want them to listen to the electorate and to remember that what works for the Westminster bubble doesn't necessarily work for the rest of us.

Still, as part of the deal-making and vote-swapping and candidacy-endorsing stuff that goes on behind the scenes in any leadership contest, my guess is that Jess is probably setting out her stall for a shadow front bench job with the eventual winner.

Jess Phillips, whose mother was deputy chief executive of the NHS Confederation and Chair of the South Birmingham Mental Health Trust?

😂😂😂

Yes, that's the one!

"I talk truth to power whilst wearing massive hoop earrings to really push home my 'working class' credentials, because that's working class, isn't it?" etc

I'm torn between wondering if her apparent emotional instability is an act, or if it's actually genuine - either way I find it tedious.

Agree about not giving a massive toss about their working class (or not) backgrounds
It's nice to see people from all walks of life represented in politics, but it's ultimately unimportant to me - I want to know they can deliver & do a good job

YY to Jess having her eye on the shadow cabinet in the aftermath as well

She's just another self-serving politician, Dusty. To some degree, I don't care how many are as long as they do the job properly and with some degree of care. It's dispiriting though that so many third-rate politicians have such confidence in their mediocre abilities.

It's hard to be enthusiastic about any of the leadership contenders and what people should remember is that it's not just about coaxing back the two million Labour voters who deserted them on 12 December 2019 but motivating those who either voted Conservative or just stayed at home.

I wouldn't walk to my garden gate to vote for any of this lot.

Leavers have got Boris with his marvellous massive majority and Salve Of Success now so why would they care what labour gets up to, other than for the entertainment value?

Very sorry to hear about your business going bust Epic

We care about the Labour leadership because the country and the HoC deserves the best Opposition leader they can muster, Neddie. Not that the current bunch are very inspiring. I like Lisa Nandy best, as I think from the little I know of her that she's closer to the heart/mood of the party in the country than the rest. And seems to understand why the electorate voted as it did.

Yes I like Nandy and it would be great to finally have a female leader but I don't think she's got enough clout for these noisy times.

Leavers don't want a strong opposition or even a weak one, any dissent at all is portrayed as treason