Westminstenders: Events...

[RedToothBrush]

Events have taken over. EU / UK negotiation have been put on ice due to covid-19.

The US has banned all travel from Europe - apart from to the uk and Ireland - in a manner which is highly political to drive wedges.

The effects of leaving the European Medicines Agency may be much more serious than anyone could have anticipated.

There's a oil price war going on between Saudi Arabia and Russia which has further driven market fears led by covid-19.

There the crisis in Turkey with Syrian refugees which is also distracting the EU.

We are facing lockdown and economic turmoil over the next weeks and months.

Johnson is having his leadership moment with deaths projected to possibly exceed UK WW2 deaths.

We are desperately trying to recruit negotiators as it's suddenly become apparent we don't have enough to carry out all the trade deals we want.

The civil service will be stretched to its limited by covid-19. Yet we also have Brexit to consider.

Where next? How bad are things going to get?

pmk

PMK thanks Red

Pmk

I'm sure some regulars will appreciate a nerdy diversion. This story is too good not to share ...

www.theregister.co.uk/2020/03/12/broken_lab_equipment_physics/

TL;DR is a bunch of scientists with no set agenda (i.e goals of profit) discover something which might just change computing.

It's why pure research, and pure learning - no matter where - is never wasted.

I like nerd stories.

Frankly nerd stories are like cats to me. And we could do with some cheering up.

COVID-19 spirit and all that.

Thanks RTB, can't be easy to post such a bleak summary of where we are right now. Time and events colliding everywhere in this seemingly inevitable effect of all the poor, misinformed political reactions and choices of recent years. How bad can things get? Certainly much worse, as our vainglorious leader has unblinkingly informed us.

Incidentally, has anyone seen this ?

www.brusselseffect.com/

Thanks, Red.

We are in for a worldwide recession because of the coronovirus effects, whatever happens next. Paradoxically, that will ease the pressure on Johnson, regarding the Brexit timetable as businesses go bust and suffer anyway. Either he will agree to an extraordinary extension, purely due to the circumstances or else it will be a skeleton agreement with more detailed negotiations in the pipeline.

Whilst I am certain he does not care at all about most of the people in this country, he is still going to be hammered by the COBRA decisions, urgency and uncertain nature of the viral spread. I can't see him finding a lot of energy to spare over another Brexit fight in the summer. Labour will have a new leader at some point and the Tories still have internal opposition, waiting for him to stumble.

It's not going to be rosy.

We are in for a worldwide recession because of the coronovirus effects, whatever happens next. Paradoxically, that will ease the pressure on Johnson, regarding the Brexit timetable as businesses go bust and suffer anyway. Either he will agree to an extraordinary extension, purely due to the circumstances or else it will be a skeleton agreement with more detailed negotiations in the pipeline.

Hang on ....

If - as seems likely - the entire tectonic plates of industry and commerce are going to shift as a result of the changes promulgated through responses to COVID, then isn't there a very real danger that the shopping list of goals we are told (but I don't believe a word of) HMG has up it sleeves to negotiate around are going to be utterly and comprehensively last years model ?

The UK could end up signing a bunch of treaties that might have made sense up to 2019, but 2020+ look a bit shit.

Here's some nostalgia for the Brexiteers to ponder ...

Whilst I am certain he does not care at all about most of the people in this country, he is still going to be hammered by the COBRA decisions, urgency and uncertain nature of the viral spread.

I've just commented on another thread that if the rest of the world (US excluded, naturally) don't trust the UK response, we could simply be banned from entering a shit load of counties. Which is going to piss the "I'm going on holiday come what may" contingent off mightily.

And they are - by definition - the Tory core demographic.

PMK

Double decker cats, relaxed come what may. Keeping me from using my afghan rug I might think I knitted it for my benefit but....

PMK with vulture cats, loitering expectantly during cooking

@queen - your cats look the sort that we could send to sort Bozo out ...... not to be trifled with!

Pmk

PMK

Is it just me, or does there seem to be a conflation of those who support the Govt's lack of response to CV19 as appropriate with those who were the cheerleaders for Bojo and Brexit?

Is it just me, or does there seem to be a conflation of those who support the Govt's lack of response to CV19 as appropriate with those who were the cheerleaders for Bojo and Brexit

I think the overlap on the Venn diagram is not complete. I’ve definitely seen some Brexity posters who are upset and anxious about how this pandemic is being (not) handled.

Mum is being sensible.
Not going out in crowds/supermarkets etc but is refusing to stop looking after my dneice.
I expect the schools to close here next friday and extend the Easter hols.
What a fucking mess

I think the overlap on the Venn diagram is not complete. I’ve definitely seen some Brexity posters who are upset and anxious about how this pandemic is being (not) handled.

You'd think they'd be thrilled at the chance to own it so soon.

Shuffling in.

I went off work yesterday with a cough and temperature so am duly self isolating.

I can see why the government have been reluctant to go too far with measures, though, as everyone seems to be completely ignoring them or adapting them for what suits them. I'm more talking about the 'I can't possibly go without a run' brigade rather than the 'If I lose a week's wages I am screwed' brigade. Surely if those who actually could self isolate did it properly it would help?

Also, is it just me or are Labour being rather quiet at the minute? I don't want the crisis plans to become about political point scoring, but it does seem that they've had little to say either way.

Thanks, red 💐

"The US has banned all travel from Europe - apart from to the uk and Ireland - in a manner which is highly political to drive wedges."

Another reason is that Trump habitually uses his office for the benefit of his business interests

• and his golf resorts in the UK & Ireland would be hard hit if the ban included them

"We are in for a worldwide recession because of the coronovirus effects, whatever happens next."

That's already priced in to stock markets and elsewhere

My concern is whether we are heading for a Global Depression
i.e. more like the 1920s and 1930s - with the accompanying acceleration in the rise of populism -
rather than 2008

If we have say ¼ million consumers fewer in each of the medium-sized countries like the Uk, Italy, France
and ¼ million fewer people needing homes etc

Plus key sectors in all countries being v badly hit - airlines, shipping lines, travel frms, hospitality, entertainment ......

Plus Trump's pychopathic presidency likely making the US casualties, lives & businesses, much worse
and China's economy having been partly closed down for months,
so that's the Big 2 economies trashed

..... the cumulative effect ôf all these factors could be a Depression, at least regional ones

ClashCity I hope you feel better v soon 💐

QueenofThorns Your Vulture Cats look real 'ard cases
Better give in before they turn nasty

Pretty's gorgeous royal Siamese looking as calm as ever,
must be very soothing, if probably rather talkative felines