Westministenders: Can you tell your Rs from Elbows?

[RedToothBrush]

This week Mark Sedwill has resigned (or was he pushed?) and David Frost (chief brexit lead) was appointed National Security Adviser in a move that enraged Theresa May. The former prime minister felt that his appointment was unprofessional and that was a political appointment not an independent one and that he lacked experience. Of course in terms of national security we still haven't had that report on Russia and I don't believe The Intelligence and Security Committee has yet been named (not sat since Johnson was appointed as PM).

We have passed the deadline for extending transition and we have now apparently said that negotiations on the end of transition will finish at the end of September.

The bill ending Free movement of people has been signed, amongst much fanfare by the Conservatives saying they have delivered on the Referendum promise. However we might have up to 3million Hong Kongers who we are willing to allow into the country which might not go down too well with those who were unhappy with 'unrestricted EU immigration'.

We also have the demonstration of utter incompetence, outsourcing and lack of coordination and communication from central government and local government in the covid-19 crisis. A national scandal that isn't being properly reported by the press and leave you with the very large question of who is this government serving? If its contract with Deloittes over testing didn't require them to report positive tests to Public Health England, what was the point in the testing? How can this be consistent with 'The Government’s new approach to biosecurity will bring together the UK’s world-leading epidemiological expertise and fuse it with the best analytical capability from across Government in an integrated approach.' and will provide real time analysis and assessment of infection outbreaks at a community level, to enable rapid intervention before outbreaks grow.?

The growing feeling that Brexit is being exploited by this government for personal interests and those of big business at the expense of the general public is one which was feared and grows harder to argue against by the day.

Mrslaughan and BigChoc : Re Foster's Twitter thread: this constitutional threat to revolution is not news. It was in the Withdrawal Bill - and was part of what lead to Ian Blackford's (and the rest of the SNP MPs) walkout after none of them were allowed to speak in the debate (iirc, technically it was the day after and they had to raise an Urgent Question) when they were debating the bit about Devolution "Power Grab" - and then all the English MPs trooped back in (having not even been present during the debate) and voted it through

So it hasn't had a major new impact - we knew it was coming

Re the increased support for independence, what was interesting about the recent Panelbase survey was that the previous survey showing support (particularly amongst 16-34 year olds) was discounted because it had been commissioned by a pro-Indy campaigner. That this was commissioned by the Times/Sunday Times has been conveniently glossed over - and to a large extent, the survey results buried (in a way that they wouldn't have been if the results had been the other way says I cynically )

I know that ds is delighted at the growth in support for independence amongst 16-34 year olds - but he still thinks that Indyref2 should be delayed a few years to be sure that when we have it, the Yes vote wins with a decent majority (not 52:48 ). I know that Nicola Sturgeon also doesn't want to hold one until she is confident of winning 60:40 - but then Salmond started the last Indyref campaign on, iirc, 27% support (although the party had got more support than that in the Holyrood elections more of a comment on the Labour LibDem administrations up to that point, methinks )

To that end, I actually think that Covid "forcing" Nicola to dealy any formal request for an Indyref2 to be held until after next year's Holyrood elections has actually been quite useful. Although one does have to wonder how many "mandates" the Scottish people have to give NB: the Greens are an Indy supporting party too, so a Parliament with c70 SNP seats (which would give the SNP an absolute majority again in a Parliament not designed for absolute majorities) and c 10 Green MSPs, would be a stonking majority for a 2nd Indyref.

I agree that Nicola Sturgeon has been a lot more professional than BJ - not least because she communicates well and has admitted that there have been mistakes and that there will be an inquiry to learn lessons - but she is having/choosing to do unpopular things, like coming out of lockdown more slowly than England. I think she's doing the right thing but then I would wouldn't I because she believes it's the right balance for the country (virus versus economy versus risk of second spike) rather than the popular thing - but if you read some of the threads on Scotsnet, there are those who are simultaneously saying that she is deliberately doing things "to be different to England" in order to be popular and that by being so strict/slow in coming out of Lockdown "the SNP will be so unpopular that no-one will vote for them again"

One problem with waiting too long for IndyRef2 (although I can see why on other levels it is a good idea) is that if Scotland is dragged into a US trade deal with dramatically lowered food standards, the high-quality exports it is currently renowned for worldwide will suffer drastically and rapidly and it will take a long time to rebuild those reputations, if the producers survive.

Ouch.

DGR
The clever money has been moving out of retail freehold since June 24th 2016
(actually the really clever money started moving out some months before)
and out of retail since the first Brexit extension.

COVID has been the coup de grace
but big shopping centres have been on their knees for at least two years
rock bottom interest rates worldwide hid it
but this has been a long time coming

Sadly a lot of the office blocks will be repurposed into shit overcrowded accommodation under the 2015 planning changes

a lot of student accommodation will be repurposed into social housing

and some of the retail spaces can be reconfigured into a more Argos model

but the big "Malls" are dead - worldwide
I'll not weep for them

The clever money has been moving out of retail freehold since June 24th 2016

So 11 years too late then

I know Auldalliance - which is why there will be fireworks between Holyrood and WM, as Holyrood is determined to hold on to its acquis communautaire (its alignment with EU laws) in order to be able to rejoin the EU as soon as possible (or at the very least, EFTA/the Single Market) and WM is equally determined to move away from it despite the commitments in the WA re "Level Playing Field" in order to sign a trade deal with the US

I'll predict 2022 for Indyref2 - the Covid Crisis needs to be over to allow campaigning to recommence though. And the pain of a No deal Brexit (or even a Bare Bones one, which doesn't include Financial Services) needs to be felt - although WM will transfer the blame on to the "Covid Recession" and/or the nasty EU for not giving in to the mighty UK and giving the UK its everlasting cake with a cherry on top Nowt to do with the Government's own decisions and choices and the people who voted for them

I wonder if I could get a half-size baking tray in John Lewis cookware ?

(About 9"x6.5")

DW suggested making smaller pizzas (we have different tastes) so a half tray each for dinner & lunch might be an idea.

Obviously I have no intention of even bothering. To start with, I have no idea if such a beast exists. But experience tells me if it did, JL wouldn't be the place to have it.

DGR
The fund I watch (because a friend runs it)
bought most of their retail just after the 2008 crash at bargain prices
sold it between 2016 and 2017

and now specialise in refurbing warehouses
probably a safer bet than many

The fall of Alders should have warned the wise.

I wonder if I could get a half-size baking tray in John Lewis cookware ? (About 9"x6.5")
www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-partners-professional-non-stick-baking-tray/p2123521?size=l25-x-w18-x-d2cm
Swiss Roll tin

BRING IT ON
www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-53353953
Supreme Court rules that Trump has to hand over his tax returns
once very naked emperor coming up

@ListeningQuietly

I wonder if I could get a half-size baking tray in John Lewis cookware ? (About 9"x6.5") www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-partners-professional-non-stick-baking-tray/p2123521?size=l25-x-w18-x-d2cm Swiss Roll tin

Many thanks for the look, but tot at that price

(I might just cut an existing one in half and roll up the seams. We have enough. Or, see if I can just block off the unused half and press the dough in that way.)

How much do I think a 25x18x2 piece of punched steel with a teflon coating should cost ? ... If you said £3 or 2 for £5, I might bite. Bearing in mind the "non stick" bit is totally superfluous for our needs. We rather went off the whole idea when we realised where the non stick coating that does wear off must eventually end up.

Wilkos is probably a better bet (googles).

OK it's double size, but £5

www.wilko.com/en-uk/wilko-38cm-large-oven-tray-08mm-gauge/p/0468421

Which - in a nutshell - is one of the issues John Lewis were facing.

Now you are free to tell me how wrong I am of course. And many shops have. But I'm still here, and they are not. And if you think I'm fussy, then it's a shame you couldn't meet my DM (who made our school clothes because she wasn't going to pay for the tat they were selling then) or my DF who from a very poor upbringing (not quite "back streets of Naples, ah hah ah hah" but not far off) begrudges every lira, let alone penny ...

I admit I buy ALL my cookware from John Lewis because the metal is much thicker so it lasts for ever.
I do not begrudge £10 for something I'll use week in week out for decades
then again I do not by cheap clothes
(I prefer expensive second hand)
and I do not redecorate / refurnish my house once I've got it right
etc

I've looked at the stuff at Wilko and the like but go back to John Lewis.
probably why the ones round here are not closing

I am much the same LQ - I buy good quality stuff which lasts, and lasts.

I’ve got a couple of baking trays about that size I got from Asda, £1 each IIRC.

Which are lasting well.

@Peregrina

I am much the same LQ - I buy good quality stuff which lasts, and lasts.

Is that so odd. We are the same.

To an extent.

With reference to baking trays specifically then once you've dropped the "non stick" bit, you're left with a punched piece of steel. Which you cook on, not eat. So it should last decades. And cost fuck all. In fact I would expect the mark up on a 150g piece of punched steel sold for (say) £2 to cover the losses on other goods that might be harder to shift.

Mind you, some people still have enough money to worry about what colour their backing trays are ...

@ListeningQuietly

BRING IT ON www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-53353953 Supreme Court rules that Trump has to hand over his tax returns once very naked emperor coming up

Not really ... it's back to the lower courts.

Fascinating that twitter thread from Peter Foster! Thanks Auld

Amid all the constitutional wrangling, this tweet of his jumped out at me very high! Not sure who this chap is but the level of implied threat in his language is extraordinary IMO.

“The danger, as I see it, is that if the London govt treats Scotland with the disdain bordering on contempt that it has treated Northern Ireland these last four years, that accidents really might happen. FWIW I hope they don't. /18”

threadreaderapp.com/thread/1280766673490976769.html

Tweet 18 in the thread “accidents really might happen” sounds very much like something the Provos might have said back in the day 😮 Whom might these accidents befall, I wonder?

Sturgeon has lost popularity by creating a situation where schools were proposing to give children as little as 1 day a week in school over the next year. The Scottish Government was also talking about scrapping public exams for the 2nd year running. Having to look after children at home 4 days a week would obviously have done massive damage to the economy and to households / women too. It's an extension of a general view of education that doesn't seem to value it or encourage children to reach their potential.
Defining "women" as anyone who says they're a woman is a real killer too. Guidance to schools has told them that boys must be able to play with and compete against girls in sport, to share rooms and showers with them on residential trips, etc.
On the other hand, any chance of bailing out of Brexshit Britain and re-joining the EU / EEA is tempting. I'm torn.

Scotland and England have gone to war before. Just sharing a pompous overprivileged floppy haired lying cheating scumbag Prime Minister isn't an automatic guaranteed peacekeeper.

Of course the PM is totally at liberty to send troops into occupy Scotland. In fact he's probably likely too. After all, it worked so well in Northern Ireland.

Meanwhile, around the world, investors start looking for less unstable countries to put their money.

At some point, Scottish Nationalists (assuming they have any smarts) might be better of subtly pushing the English Independence case, rather than Scottish Independence. After all, the end result is the same. It depends whether it's all about being independent, or winning independence.

England has never had an IndyRef, so there's no argument that it's too soon of somesuch bollocks.

In fact the one thing which might unseat the Tories is an English independence party. Maybe Farage still has mischief to make ?

Could be a smart strategy that DGR I agree.

I documented my epiphany on here a while back. It really upset me (and still does).

But if you take the view that the Scottish people have the right to decide if they want to leave the Union, and that you will accept that decision if it is made. Then you must not only consider, but be prepared for the idea of English "independence". It's the "just arguing over the price" moment.

The real question is whether English independence involves allowing Northern Ireland and Wales to determine their own futures.

All bold thoughts. And if the UK had leaders remotely capable of any thought it might be a key time to energise the nation, grasp the nettle and forge ahead in a way to leap-frog events, rather than forever having to respond to them.

But we haven't. We're stuck with the intellectual equivalent of beige.

There's also scope to be radical, to be bold and to be brave about changing the way we think about the economy. But so far all I've seen is the Chancellor with a hammer looking for nail-shaped problems. Which he won't find. These are screws and brackets, Rishi. You're going to need a new toolkit.

(Falls on deaf ears).

Where that 1945 vibe ?

Brexit is descending daily into a foot note for 2020. Which should alert some as to what's coming down the tracks.

I don't think the EU would accept the UK minus England as being the UK though?