Westminstenders: The Mask is Slipping

[RedToothBrush]

This week has seen the department of the Chancellor who launched a 50p piece, the serious contemplation of a tin pot bridge, the rebirth of eugenics as a subject for cabinet, the announcement of the end of the BBC as we know it, the cabinet chanting after the PM in a way Orwell would be proud of, suppression of a report into trade deals which dares to mention the effect of distance and geography, worrying signs of an ever growing rift with Europe over negotiations for a deal, an appointment which starts to make our membership of the ECHR look very dodgy and there have been rather a lot of floods which so far seemed to have escaped the attention of those in London busy in their own swamp.

It's becoming apparent very quickly just how Trump like our new government are and how they want the UK to emulate the very worst aspects of America.

We are falling fast and its not looking like it will be pretty.

All we need is a major global issue to test our national resilience and the incompetence will truly be laid bare for us all to see... But not necessarily speak of. Such us the way it works.

Brexit Britain is not a nice looking prospect.

Dull's good: Clement Attlee. John Smith. There's basically three leadership models: Pompous Preacher, Music Hall Turn and Boring Bank Manager.

Know which I prefer.

I'm totally underwhelmed with all of the Labour candidates. Lisa Nandy has disappointed me over the trans pledge and I'm just not sure about Keir Starmer. Waiting to see how he does in future hustings and on The Andrew Neil Show before I decide if he is worthy of my vote.

There's basically three leadership models: Pompous Preacher, Music Hall Turn and Boring Bank Manager.

Love this Mockers - I'm now mentally fitting all leaders I can think of into those categories. Fun parlour game.

www.thelondoneconomic.com/politics/now-a-key-brexiteer-is-calling-for-experts-as-there-are-problems-ahead/24/02/

IDS says maybe Brexit is a bit hard and experts might be needed.

In other news from the time warp, BJ thinks that "now that we have left the EU", UK citizens who left over 15 years ago should have voting rights.

IDS=wanker
Not a constructive comment, it fuck it

But not it!

There's a lot of them around.

Why isn't there the political organisation to call IDS out for not believing hard enough ?

DGR
Because they are having a period of reflection

Period of reflection always sounds dirty in my mind. Especially in politics "oh, this actually is a bit shit" way.

IDS is the Tzar of Thick,
but does one of his 2 functioning brain cells now realise Brexit is very difficult after all ?

(His other brain cell is fully occupied with thinking up more tweaks to UC to punish poor people)

There's a special place in hell for IDS...Tusk promised us that.

Wildly OT, but a nice story ...

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-51632654

Pleased that Brums Childrens hospital could help Malala and that she chose to stay in Brum after. That's the UK I want to live in.

Here we go, here we go again !

DD has reverted to 2016 memes 🤔
The German car industry will rescue us
Soon to be followed by Spanish hoteliers, Italian prosecco .....
[[https://twitter.com/HugoGye
Hugo Gye]]e@HugoGye*

David Davis tells the FT today that the EU will give Britain a good deal because of German car manufacturers:

"The nickname in the German car industry for us is treasure island... we are a highly profitable, very important market."

< wave up Dopey, you've slept through the last 3 years .... including when you were Brexit Sec >

ERG no longer needed ?
Their (former) chair thinks so - or does he want to be a minister ?
[[https://twitter.com/SteveBakerHW
Steve Baker MP]]P@SteveBakerHW*

I have today resigned as Chair of the European Research Group (ERG) of Conservative MPs.

The UK has now left the EU and the PM has the policy, the mandate and the majority necessary to make a success of it.

< uurgh, that presumably means ERG Deputy Chair Mark Francois aka Pot Noodle will take over at least for now - even BJ wouldn't offer him a ministry, surely ?
Will the ERG just disband or is there a hardcore who can't find anywhere else to have them ? >

Barnier having a sharp dig at new NI SoS:

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/brexit/eu-issues-ultimatum-to-london-ahead-of-brexit-talks-1.4184271

“There are reasons for us to be vigilant, because the British minister in charge of Northern Ireland has come up with some very surprising statements,” Mr Barnier said on Tuesday.

“I’d like him to take some time to read through the withdrawal agreement in detail and he will see what commitments have been entered into.”
< ouch ! >

EU infographic on timeline and steps for the talks

https://www.consilium.europa.eu/fr/infographics/eu-uk-negotiations/

I'd like to hear a farmers view on this

www.fwi.co.uk/news/farm-policy/defra-confirms-reductions-in-support-for-farmers

Good news if you trust the government?

I ran out of fucks a long time ago. However, now I am running out of facepalms, too

When IDS goes on a out the experts, has he thought for one minute how the Government will attract them? We are talking established professionals in good jobs: why would they risk their reputation for the poisonous mess that is Whitehall Civil Service at the moment?

Anyone with an ounce of opportunity is fleeing the whole Brexit debacle.

Difficult times for young Rishi.

All those new Northern MPs elected on promises to spend spend spend are opposing a fuel duty hike, the one tax-raising measure not specifically ruled out by the manifesto, on the grounds that you need a car when you've go no functioning trains.

(Which raises a thought to defeat Covid-19: Put it on the trains and it will never spread anywhere.)

Farmers.....
PIL are farmers. Voted Brexit and then Tory, twice. MIL is now upset at the way things are going. BJ is crap apparently.
They are also strong supporters of small holdings vs big farms (and all those who slowly but surely acquire small farms in one area to make it into one really big farm/estate)

Why, why did they vote for him then?
The reduction in support for farmers isn’t a surprise. Nor is the push towards having as litttle small farms as possible in favour of big estates (that can then rent the land to be farmed)

nom my sympathy for people like your pil knows no beginning.

I'm fed up.

Cummings is running the country...
BJ is nowhere to be seen...
Half of the north and Midlands is under water...
There is a pandemic on the horizon...
A budget in 2 weeks...
Where the fuck is he??
Holed up at chequers with his gf.

Ffs. I hope every single person who voted leave and brexit suffers for it.

I'm done being the bigger person.

nom similar story with my ILs. Except I think they are still happy with BJ - though they'd never admit to us that they weren't. FIL manages to have excellent ability to apply different moral standards to BJ as he does everyone else. Drug using, adultery, lying - all ok if BJ does it. Absolutely criminal for everyone else. One hell of a blind spot.

Paul Weller was a prophet. This is the Eton Rifles made flesh.

What chance have you got against a tie and a crest?