Westminstenders: Off he pops to Brussels

[RedToothBrush]

Alex Andreou @sturdyalex
There's no way Johnson has not already decided whether or not to concede on Level Playing Field. Which makes the trip to Brussels dressing. Whether it will dress a concession as "I have saved us" or No Deal as "I tried my best" remains to be seen. But the choice is already made.

Amanda Cole @amandajanecole
What's your gut feeling, will he put his job ahead of the country? Given his past self serving form?

Alex Andreou @sturdyalex
I think he is so cornered - and has done so badly on Covid19 - his instinct will be one last, double-or-nothing throw of the dice. Only no deal does that.

The issue is that coming back with a deal will earn him much heckling and zero back-slapping from his peers. But no deal will earn him just as much heckling, but also plenty of back-slapping. What I don't know is just how ominous the departmental briefings he's getting are.

Its also worth noting the following:

Mujtaba Rahman @mij_europe
I understand @BorisJohnson wanted @EmmanuelMacron & Merkel to join his phone call with @vonderleyen last night, but she rejected the idea

So even yesterday he was STILL looking to undermine the EU and split its leaders. After all this time and the number of times he's tried this on.

Have no doubt that a) everything will be blamed on Macron (probably personally, with Conservative hardliners coming out calling for the public to boycott French cheese and wine - I'm serious btw) and covid b) covid provides a handy distraction at least for the moment. It will be used accordingly - that means its possibly now not in Johnson's interest to stop a spike in January. All efforts will be put into the vaccine rollout for PR but thats going to hit the breaks fairly soon. No doubt the EU will be blamed for that too.

What I'm not anticipating is another full lockdown. I think at least parts of Greater Manchester will now get out of T3 on 16th December. Traffords numbers look exceptional and I think it politically impossible for Johnson to keep it in T3. Its Graham Brady's patch and Manchester as a whole looks far far better than T2 London.

Anyone who gets out of T3 before Christmas won't go back into it. I'm not anticipating London to go T3 unless No Deal turns really ugly and its useful to quell civil unrest.

I think if we head into no deal then tight restrictions won't be used for covid reasons no matter how bad the hospitals get - it will only be about civil unrest, it will all be about keeping the economy going - backbench revolts are what scare Johnson most, and he's already said no more Tiers after the start of Feb.

We shall see what the day brings...

he categorically doesn't seem to understand that if we want a trade deal with them, then it's rather (to continue the teenager analogy) 'their house, their rules.'

Oh understands alright, he's just playing to the rather dim Brexiter audience who lap this nonsense up.

@MaxNormal

HannibalHayes it just baffles me why anyone is still surprised at Johnson not keeping his word.

In fact, I've been baffled since he became Tory party leader about people diligently speaking about him as if he's some sort of reasonable functioning human being rather than a moral void in a rumpled suit. Journalists like Peston etc. I keep wondering why these seemingly relatively bright seeming people are so stupid on this issue. I still feel confused about that.

@MaxNormal

Yes, I find myself wondering that too. It is not new to realise that our Great Leaders have feet of clay, but Johnson (& Trump) have taken things to new depths. Still it feels as though too few of us are screaming: 'but the Emperor has no clothes on!'

Well yes @BlueBrian, I expect you're right!

And now you know all the little things buzzing around my head Tokyo.

I may be a touch odd.

De-lurking to second Queen - RTB and others have had a huge impact. Reading this thread has kept me so informed, and while I don't feel 'prepared' for whats coming I am 100% more prepared than most. I've quietly 'nudged' my nearest and dearest to stock up a bit more, and although they don't really believe my doom-mongering they have prepped a little. I hope we're all proved wrong but I have 0% confidence in this Gov to get anything right...

Yikes! Ed Milliband is going absolutely nuts on Marr now, literally apoplectic about the prospect of no deal 😳

Rob Powell from Sky News had just tweeted that Johnson is speaking to VDL at 'lunchtime'

[quote mrslaughan]@TokyoSushi I refuse to watch any of them on TV - I can't be arsed listening to the excuses (plus it's terrible for my mental health)..... however DH and I were discussing last night as we hopped into bed that Johnson and has cabal are behaving exactly like teenagers.

I unpacked a supermarket order this morning wondering at the purchase of lentils and pulses ..... as my kids are not fans.... then thought "well if they are hungry enough, they will eat them"

I cook a lot with ricotta...... do you think I can freeze it?[/quote]
You Freeze Ricotta Cheese?

Well you can... but it won't be the same.

Ricotta is actually listed among the worst cheeses to freeze on our guide to freezing cheese. But just because it's not ideal doesn't mean it's impossible. You can freeze ricotta cheese, but just know that previously frozen ricotta cheese is only going to work for certain recipes.

MN: For all the important questions in life

Good morning, all.

I am feeling oddly calm. I may - just the once - watch Johnson make the announcement, possibly with a bingo card to hand.
It's going to be one for the history books, either way.

Which history books? The ones written by other country nationals where the uk is barely a footnote or the one written by our great and glorious leaders about the success of the revolution and greatness of our freedom?

Can we still afford paper and printing or kindles?

@TokyoSushi ricotta is probably the easiest cheese you can do at home, as long as you have milk and lemon juice (what’s the import tax on lemons to WTO?). Doesn’t come out really exactly the same, but it’s an acceptable substitute ;-)

They're going to continue the talks aren't they? The outcome, no deal, will likely be the same, it's just that there will be even less time to prepare because it's all a bit 'you hang up, no you hang up'

Gah! I'm going to stress clean the bathrooms, that's often when I do my best work!

Sorry! I should have tagged @mrslaughan!
ricette.giallozafferano.it/Ricotta-fatta-in-casa.html

@RedToothBrush - It could be people smuggling Brits to Ireland.

This one is a bit unfair on Ireland. Get rid of your most stupid citizens who don't know they have free movement to Ireland. They'll be a great asset.

If Johnson wants to spin No Deal as an 'Australia Deal' then it occurred to me that there would need to be a published document and a photo op of the signing ceremony. Nothing to sign, no deal.

Another thought came to me last night. Those who argue that they voted Leave because they have nothing to lose and therefore appear to be saying that if they have nothing, no one else should have either. But they are completely shooting themselves in the foot because it's not Cameron, Boris Big Bollocks, Raab, Gove, and Farage who will suffer. It's the people in their communities who make their lives just a bit better now - the nurse at the hospital, the care worker looking after their granny - who will also suffer. We have seen with Covid just who matters to keep society running - hospital workers, scientists working on a vaccine, shop workers, delivery drivers. and so on.

Re Ricotta cheese: cottage cheese often works well as a substitute. I have a yummy recipe for lasagne that doesn't use a white sauce but instead various cheeses: mozzarella, Parmesan and also ricotta mixed with beaten egg. My mum told me that I could use cottage cheese instead: I've tried it with either ricotta or cottage cheese and couldn't tell the difference.

what’s the import tax on lemons to WTO?

ahdb.org.uk/eu-and-uk-import-tariff-rates-for-selected-horticultural-products

I may have been looking up tariffs yesterday...

@Peregrina

If Johnson wants to spin No Deal as an 'Australia Deal' then it occurred to me that there would need to be a published document and a photo op of the signing ceremony. Nothing to sign, no deal.

Another thought came to me last night. Those who argue that they voted Leave because they have nothing to lose and therefore appear to be saying that if they have nothing, no one else should have either. But they are completely shooting themselves in the foot because it's not Cameron, Boris Big Bollocks, Raab, Gove, and Farage who will suffer. It's the people in their communities who make their lives just a bit better now - the nurse at the hospital, the care worker looking after their granny - who will also suffer. We have seen with Covid just who matters to keep society running - hospital workers, scientists working on a vaccine, shop workers, delivery drivers. and so on.

I was having a conversation about this yesterday.

They said the assumption is that someone will declare its no deal rather than let this run and fester until midnight January 1st because neither Johnson nor the EU want to be seen to be the one to 'make the call'.

Another delurker saying thank you all for your posting over the last few years. I also spotted this coming and you all made me feel sane when everyone else was sure it would all be fine.
We packed up and left the country and am watching with horror and thinking of you all, and still faintly hoping for the Uturn to end all Uturns.

@OchonAgusOchonO got any jobs going there?

Thanks for keeping the threads going, I’ve watched them under a couple of different usernames. While I don’t agree with every position on here it is good to know there are others who still value facts and sense over “charisma”. And can see through the tripe about how “we will have a deal, it’ll be an Australia-type deal” (Iain Duncan Smith on Sky news breaking at 9:24).

I’m distracting myself with heated airer and baby name threads today.
I have plenty of useful stuff I could be getting on with but it’s nicer to stay in bed. I’ve done some washing and fed the cat, that’s enough for me.

@RedToothBrush

what’s the import tax on lemons to WTO?

ahdb.org.uk/eu-and-uk-import-tariff-rates-for-selected-horticultural-products

I may have been looking up tariffs yesterday...

That is such a depressing read. But at least fresh or dried guavas, mangos and mangosteen are free 🤦‍♀️

[quote OchonAgusOchonO]**@RedToothBrush* - It could be people smuggling Brits to Ireland.*

This one is a bit unfair on Ireland. Get rid of your most stupid citizens who don't know they have free movement to Ireland. They'll be a great asset.[/quote]
Maybe not fair, but probably better for the UK. Besides we will still have all the ones with the initiative to move to Ireland who think its part of the UK itself still.

Dontlickthetrolley, i decided i definitely need to buy more orange juice this week. And tomatoes.

How many tinned tomatoes is too many?

I should also have said hello as I do mostly lurk, and been a bit distracted this year with the whole covid thing - our household income is from events, and we'd also planned to move to the EU under the WA terms. Too late for that now.

This no deal on top of a year of that feels like all too much for me. DH does a huge amount of his work in Europe. Or did, I suppose.
I keep bursting into tears.