Westminstenders: The Tunnel or Bridge

[RedToothBrush]

Apparently negotiations are in the black hole of the EU tunnel or should that be on the back of the fantasy of the Boris Bridge?

Another week closer to complete meltdown.

I'm guessing that our world beating customs solution will be based on blackboard and chalk.

That advert is pretty much a paradigm of Brexit. Almost everything the UK has made a major decision on has been knocked for six by "events, dear boy".

Even yesterdays expected announcement about HS2s costs being over budget (I know, who'd have thought ?) just remind us that given the current unprecedented and irreversible shifts in working patters mean that come 2035, when HS2 finally runs, no one will need or want it. You'll have the train to yourself, as you whizz into London for that meeting.

"I assume there is a minimum length of time it would take to repeal the law. "

I think in an emergency, the govt can pass a law within about 10 days, provided they have sufficient support in both the HoC & HoL to prevent debate and amendments - unknown atm

If that isn't feasible, there are those Henry VIII powers which might be twisted to fit
Of course they were never "intended" for this sort of thing, but what's the point of giving yourself dictatorial powers if you intended never to use them

The budget announced in Ireland this week is assuming no deal.

I did wonder if that might have prompted some thoughts in la-la land (formerly known as "Westminster") ? If nothing else it shows that no one is listening to the UK anymore - despite all the smoke and mirrors over "edging closer" to a deal.

LQ I remember it well

Yep, that's all what i was thinking re extension. Excellent, just excellent.

DGR I am so about HS2, living along it's route. Loads of the AONB and SSIs have already been destroyed. Not only is it a colossal anount of money at a time of much need, but as you say. It will be irrelevant by the time it's finished

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The EU might demand a price,
e.g. the UK govt publicly promising to abide by the NI protocol and scrapping all or those parts of the IMB and Finance bills which break the WA

Yes, BJ or his successor can renege again after that,
but it would be useful for the EU in its legal case against the UK and also showing its public even more clearly why they can't trust the Uk govt in trade negotiations

@colouringindoors

DGR I am so about HS2, living along it's route. Loads of the AONB and SSIs have already been destroyed. Not only is it a colossal anount of money at a time of much need, but as you say. It will be irrelevant by the time it's finished

I suspect, like Brexit, it will never be finished.

@DGRossetti

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... The UK really won't be missed as much as Brexiters rhink

think

Isn't HS2 cost about £200 million per week for the next 20 years ?

Probably about the net EU budget contributions (ignoring the hundreds of bn benefit from SM trade)

The EU might demand a price, e.g. the UK govt publicly promising to abide by the NI protocol and scrapping all or those parts of the IMB and Finance bills which break the WA

I can't see that, since I can't see the EU that desperate for a deal for themselves. It would undermine the past 3 years of negotiations where they have conducted themselves impeccably and sent a clear signal to the world about where they stand and how they work. In fact when it comes to international reputations, as a whole, Brexit has increased the EUs whilst simultaneously driving the UKs into negative numbers.

The UK really won't be missed as much as Brexiters think

We certainly wouldn't worry what other countries thought of us if we knew how seldom they did ....

The UK government has shown contempt for international law.
The UK government has shown contempt for its own people.
The EU has shown a strict regard for its own rules.
No deal Brexit here we come

@DGRossetti

The EU might demand a price, e.g. the UK govt publicly promising to abide by the NI protocol and scrapping all or those parts of the IMB and Finance bills which break the WA

I can't see that, since I can't see the EU that desperate for a deal for themselves. It would undermine the past 3 years of negotiations where they have conducted themselves impeccably and sent a clear signal to the world about where they stand and how they work. In fact when it comes to international reputations, as a whole, Brexit has increased the EUs whilst simultaneously driving the UKs into negative numbers.

.... An extension for that price wouldn't be undermining anything, just showing the EU getting on with business, but BJ having to eat crow - hence unlikely to happen

Not winter yet, but power shortages already
Maybe extra heating on this winter, as people take advice to ventilate rooms frequently

Never mind, UK can still use the EU connectors if there is a shortage ... until 11 pm on 31 December
I remember the 1970s and evenings by candlelight - glad I've escaped that

www.theguardian.com/business/2020/oct/14/national-grid-warns-of-short-supply-of-electricity-over-next-few-days

National Grid has warned that Britain’s electricity will be in short supply over the next few days
after a string of unplanned power plant outages and unusually low wind speeds this week.

National Grid has warned that Britain’s electricity will be in short supply over the next few days after a string of unplanned power plant outages and unusually low wind speeds this week.

I might go to church Sunday. I can't help but feel the need to tip my hat to the intelligence that decided the week after Boris talked of us being "the Saudi of windpower" (or whatever) to stop the wind. It's too close to divine intervention to be anything else.

The never ending surprise of news alerts (Although this was flagged as "investment scam" ...)

www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk/companies/news/931572/brexit-could-prove-to-be-a-boon-for-britains-medicinal-cannabis-industry-931572.html

With the UK due to end its transition period with the European Union (EU) at the end of this year, having formally exited the bloc earlier this year, many industries and businesses are sounding the alarm that a hard or ‘no deal’ Brexit could cause serious repercussions for the British economy.

However, one sector that could be set to reap the rewards of the UK’s exit is its burgeoning cannabidiol (CBD) and wider cannabis sector, with some figures in the sector saying Brexit could allow the country to push ahead with further regulatory reform than would have been possible under the EU’s jurisdiction.

“With Brexit, the British government will have the option to not comply with EU law in some areas, and one of the first announcements the Food Standards Agency made was to classify CBD as a novel food, something that the EU has yet to officially confirm and is still holding out on this classification”, said Alexej Pikovsky, chief executive of European medicinal cannabis distributor Alphagreen.

(contd).

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EU rules don't prevent even recreational cannabis sale

I noted in the NL announcement of new measures the other day that the sale of alcohol and other drugs was banned after 10 or 11 pm
Soft drugs seem to be treated like booze, which sounds sensible - both can be harmful and should be restricted more than most other purchases

I don't know if their drug problem or drug-related crime is worse than elsewhere in Eutope as a result.

Call me Dave is the smug bastard who blundered into the Brexit mess, dragging the country with him - then he buggers off whistling

Smug bastard is laughing as he coins it

MPs have voted against an attempt to formally ban undercover agents and informants from committing murder, torture and rape

This is in the UK, not Saudi Arabia

EU leaders drop pledge to ‘intensify’ talks after Boris Johnson’s renewed no-deal threat

Well that worked well; I wonder if he intended it

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-news-live-boris-johnson-no-deal-latest-trade-uk-updates-b1041484.html

DGR maybe BJ is planning to supply the wind himself.

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