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.

Was it "The Iron Duke" who was quite a shagger ?

DGR
Palmerston

Johnson's vapid tweets are currently blocked on my Twitter and that's how they're staying. Can't imagine being someone who would find it worthwhile to follow that twat.

Lloyd-George was the champion 10DS shagger. Had the office staff moved into tents in the garden so he could have the run of the place with Miss Stevenson.

Don't give Johnson ideas, Mockers.

Oooh, some good news:

David Allen Green @davidallengreen

A unanimous @UKSupremeCourt allow an appeal of an unlawfully detained refugee suing the government for damages

Unanimous

Cracking judgment, too

See, overturning the judiciary will take far more than an excited late night briefing to lobby journalists needing front page copy

Fuck you Priti Vacant and Sue Ellen.

I suspect our revolting AG - Suella Braveman - is closeted with her coven plotting how to replace the Supreme Court judges with malleable sttoges

What a politican does in his private life doesn't normally interest me, as it is not relevant to their public duties

The only exception is if the private life affects their ability to do those duties
As far as BJ goes, his whole job history is of being workshy and dishonest, so I don't think who he is physically screwing - as distinct from politically screwing - makes that any worse

Anyway, reading about BJ is sufficiently nauseating without having to consider his sex life

Just musing on a radio news report I heard yesterday. A local residential home and local hospitality businesses warning that the new effective ban on low skilled workers will mean they struggle to recruit.

The implication was the sectors hire Europeans because they are cheaper. But they aren't, they are paid the same as UK nationals. What they mean is that there isn't the willingness in UK to do work in care and hospitality sectors.

It's really miffed me. I feel the implication was that these named businesses had been underpaying foreign workers when that's absolutely not true (I am friends with several foreign nationals who work there). It is a slur on a good employer and hides the truth by stirring up resentment of foreign nationals "coming here and undercutting the locals".

Really hacked off about it. Especially as it was a BBC radio station. Why can't they add a disclaimer that rates of pay are not dependent on nationality? Dishonest.

That's the election that he ran on the "oven-ready deal" manifesto,

Ahh yes " oven ready". Remember that phrase. Like 'take back control'..Although to be fair the Tories have taken back control from Parliament.

Think our negotiating stance is due out today. Is it oven ready?

Oven - ready adjective
1.of various foods - bought ready prepared so that they are completely ready to be cooked in the oven ( like Carrie's rumoured bun,)

1. Of a trade deal- adj. not ready at all, unprepared, weak & vulnerable.. ill-considered.,as yet unready for use. not in a state of readiness; divisive, lacking in sufficient expertise, seeking help from weirdos, unlikely to lead to success, lacking a feasible strategy or plan.

Farmers Weekly @farmersweekly
We knew this day was coming. @DefraGovUK has confirmed farm payments will be reduced by up to 25% next year for farmers in England. #farminguk #teambeef #teamdairy #sheep365 #clubhectare
www.fwi.co.uk/business/payments-schemes/defra-confirms-reductions-in-support-for-farmers

Add to the poor weather conditions...

A local veg farm put out a notice yesterday saying to pray for it to be dry because if they didn't get a couple of dry weeks before the end of March they were fucked.

We are by no means the worst area, but all the fields are saturated and many flooded nearby. Even ones on high elevation - not just at flood plain level.

I've never seen the ground so wet. My garden has been sporting a new pond. We live at the top of a hill.

And that's before you add in coronavirus fears...

Not a pretty sight.

.

oven-ready = not even half-baked

Michel Barnier's talk yesterday and his answers to students' questions (the latter and some of the former in English) are interesting.
They're online here, though the Guardian has a summary here (some v misleading typos in the live summary, hopefully corrected in the fuller one).

Remember those brexit export opportunities with whisky?

vino-joy.com/2020/02/27/diageo-says-virus-outbreak-could-wipe-out-up-to-325m-sales/amp/?__twitter_impression=true
Diageo says virus outbreak could wipe out up to £325m sales

The spirits giant Diageo estimated that the fast-spreading COVID-19 disease could shave off up to £325 million of net sales for the group, as the virus outbreak forced many restaurants and bars to shut doors across Greater China region.

This is the latest estimate for a leading and international spirits giant to quantify the damages of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus that has now infected close to 79,000 and killed over 2700 in China.

The Tory manifesto stated on page 15:

"We promise not to raise the rates of income tax, National Insurance or VAT"

It also stated on page 7:
“Public debt will be lower than the last parliament."

That's debt, not annual deficit

Wouldn't that only be possible if - despite Brexit -
the govt intends to run budget surpluses instead of the budget deficit that recent UK govts have had almost every year

So sharp spending cuts needed ?
Even if they don't spend more on Brexit or receive less tax income. Somehow

https://assets-global.website-files.com/5da42e2cae7ebd3f8bde353c/5dda924905da587992a064ba_Conservative%202019%20Manifesto.pdf

https://vote.conservatives.com/our-plan

So they put more tax on fuel, and tobacco. The first can be passed off as an environmental measure, the second as a health measure.

The New Tory MPs in the Red Wall seats won't like it, but that's tough, they only need to keep their seats for the next 4 years until the new regime is put in and then a Labour MP can get in and start to pick up the pieces.

Farmers now reaping what they sowed brexit wise.

Not hearing the term "project fear" much anymore....

And now, shock, horror! Turns out we DO need experts after all!

(Bangs head repeatedly on desk...)

Are the farmers angry?
The nurses are furious. The doctors are furious. The teachers are furious. The police are furious.
I don't know any farmers personally.

Labour leadership: Keir Starmer on course to win in first round – poll
Frontrunner on 53% ahead of Rebecca Long-Bailey on 31% and Lisa Nandy on 16%

Long-Bailey was ahead among those who voted for Brexit, while Starmer had the lead among those who voted remain.

I hope it's not around a 52/48 split in the the final round. That would show Labour to be quite split...

www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/feb/26/labour-leadership-keir-starmer-on-course-to-win-in-first-round-poll

Yes.
Fishermen too.
Grimsby (huge leave vote) now want special status so they don't lose their livlihoods next year.
Diddums.

Are the farmers angry?

The farmers Ooooh-Arrrrrrrr angry.

Now cut to Joan Armourplating telling them, "You're going to reap just what you sow."

I've toldthos story before but a local very large car manufacturer near me sent a letter to its employees before the eu ref.
Spelt out that a vote to leave would possibly mean closure/redundancies.
They still voted leave in huge numbers.
(Shrug)
You can't reason with that level of stupid.

🎶🎵reap...reap...reap...🎶🎵

Increasing notes of worry and fear about Brexit (especially about relaxation of standards and potential damage to UK agriculture) in Farming Today (R4) reportage, currently exacerbated by additional weather related worry and fear.

Combine bad weather, reduction in farm subsidies and signalled removal of subsidy on red diesel for food hauliers - and I think we will see vegetable prices rising considerably.