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Brexit

Westministenders: Festive Edition

999 replies

RedToothBrush · 22/12/2020 21:00

Good King BBBBaBoris looked out,
on the Port of Dover,
There the shit lay round about,
Deep around the stopover;
Brightly shone the moon that night,
Tho’ the frost was cruel,
When a poor man came in sight,
Delivering stuff for Yule.

“Bugger SAGE and stand by me,
We've all stuff that needs selling,
Yonder peasant, who is he?
Where and what his dwelling?”
“Sire, he lives a good league hence,
The other side the EU;
Though relations maybe tense,
He's trying to get goods through.”

“Oh god I need another wine,
I have many crisis to consider:
We must tell them its all fine,
I must not be seen to dither.”
SAGE and monarch, forth they went,
forth they went together;
Through the nation's sad lament
and really crappy weather.

“Sire, our plight is darker now,
And the covid transmission stronger;
Fails my heart, I know not how;
To keep Tier 2 much longer.”
“Soon we can drop their wage.
And treat them all more coldly
In Britain's new chrony age
A time to rob more boldly.”

In their master’s steps they trod,
On the quest to get minted;
Each and every last sod
Needs to be fingerprinted.
Therefore, Christian men, be sure,
DWP claimants are processing,
Ye who now will bless the poor,
God its all so depressing.

OP posts:
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39
DGRossetti · 31/12/2020 11:15

[quote SabrinaThwaite]So this didn’t take long:

British PM Johnson's father applying for French citizenship

mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUSKBN2950VB?__twitter_impression=true[/quote]
What happened to Nigel Lawsons bid ?

DGRossetti · 31/12/2020 11:17

[quote SabrinaThwaite]So this didn’t take long:

British PM Johnson's father applying for French citizenship

mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUSKBN2950VB?__twitter_impression=true[/quote]
I know it is mischievous, but I wonder if it would be possible to use the zeitgeist to introduce a law requiring UK MPs to only have UK citizenship.

Unlikely to pass, but I like the idea of MPs having to explain why having foreigners in the HoC is now a good idea ?

SabrinaThwaite · 31/12/2020 11:18

I think Lawson gave up - it was a bit more complicated than he thought it would be?

Peregrina · 31/12/2020 11:22

I thought Lawson was turned down, so then he said that he hadn't intended to stay in France anyway. It sounds like sour grapes.

To be fair to Johnson's father, he did vote Remain.

Peregrina · 31/12/2020 11:28

It's the people who voted Leave and then start rushing for their Irish, German, Italian or whatever passports that really annoy me.

DGRossetti · 31/12/2020 11:29

@Peregrina

I thought Lawson was turned down, so then he said that he hadn't intended to stay in France anyway. It sounds like sour grapes.

To be fair to Johnson's father, he did vote Remain.

So ? Lots of people voted remain specifically because they weren't Stanley Johnson with megabucks in the bank.

Also, I read recently the French gave loads of frontline workers citizenship as a token of thanks for their efforts in the Covid crisis. By that token I hope they refuse Johnson Snrs application on the basis they only give citizenship to useful people.

I also noted at the time the total lack of any UK initiative to give our frontline workers citizenship.

Returning to being a mongrel - count my in and proud.

Mistigri · 31/12/2020 11:47

What happened to Nigel Lawsons bid ?

Iirc he applied for residency but didn't qualify because he wasn't actually resident.

If you qualify, the French equivalent of settled status is really simple, especially if you have over 5 years of residence. It took me less than 5 minutes (literally - just had to type out my passport information and current address, upload one pdf and that was it).

DGRossetti · 31/12/2020 11:47

T minus 11 hours ...

www.reuters.com/article/britain-eu-swaps-idUSL8N2JB18Z

UPDATE 1-Britain backtracks over Brexit curbs on cross-border swaps trading

LONDON, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Britain’s markets watchdog said on Thursday it would allow UK market participants to use platforms in the European Union to trade swaps for up to three months in a bid to avoid potential disruption in markets.

Following Britain’s full withdrawal from the EU at 2300 GMT on Thursday, UK and EU market participants faced not being able to trade swaps worth billions of euros with each other when markets reopened on Jan. 4. Branches of EU banks in London would have been particularly hit.

Faced with the EU’s refusal to lift its ban on trading swaps in London, the Financial Conduct Authority said on Thursday it would temporarily allow UK financial firms to use platforms in the bloc if they do not have arrangements in place to execute the trade elsewhere, such as in the United States.

“We will consider by 31 March 2021 whether market or regulatory developments warrant a review of our approach,” the FCA said in a statement.

The move means that some swaps trading is likely to leave the City of London for EU platforms from next Monday.

It comes after the Bank of England had warned that interest rate swaps worth around $200 billion could be disrupted due to the clash between UK and EU swaps rules, known as the derivatives trading obligation or DTO.

Britain had already taken a similar decision for euro denominated shares by allowing UK banks and investment firms to use EU platforms from Monday given that trading is set to move to the bloc. (Reporting by Huw Jones; editing by Simon Jessop and Rachel Armstrong)

Mistigri · 31/12/2020 11:49

Also, I read recently the French gave loads of frontline workers citizenship as a token of thanks for their efforts in the Covid crisis. By that token I hope they refuse Johnson Snrs application on the basis they only give citizenship to useful people.

A few hundred people got citizenship that way.

I'm not sure what the basis was for Johnson senior's application but the criteria are straightforward. Unless he has a birthright claim he'll have to have an interview (in French) to check he is integrated. That might be interesting.

AuldAlliance · 31/12/2020 11:56

According to the gvmt's website, you can still apply for Euratom, Horizon and Erasmus+ funding.
I know the UK is funding outgoing Erasmus student mobility for a year: is that the case for the other two?
here

Mistigri · 31/12/2020 11:58

Horizon membership is ongoing under the deal. Good news for my employer and colleagues. One of the small pieces of good news.

SwedishEdith · 31/12/2020 11:59

@Mistigri

Also, I read recently the French gave loads of frontline workers citizenship as a token of thanks for their efforts in the Covid crisis. By that token I hope they refuse Johnson Snrs application on the basis they only give citizenship to useful people.

A few hundred people got citizenship that way.

I'm not sure what the basis was for Johnson senior's application but the criteria are straightforward. Unless he has a birthright claim he'll have to have an interview (in French) to check he is integrated. That might be interesting.

He has got a birthright claim, I seem to remember (I looked it up once) - his mother was born in France. I think this also means Boris Johnson has a claim as well, of course.
DGRossetti · 31/12/2020 12:00

@Mistigri

Also, I read recently the French gave loads of frontline workers citizenship as a token of thanks for their efforts in the Covid crisis. By that token I hope they refuse Johnson Snrs application on the basis they only give citizenship to useful people.

A few hundred people got citizenship that way.

I'm not sure what the basis was for Johnson senior's application but the criteria are straightforward. Unless he has a birthright claim he'll have to have an interview (in French) to check he is integrated. That might be interesting.

Does he self identify as French ?

I restate my suggestion that UK MPs should not be allowed to hold dual citizenship. Seems uncontroversial to me.

Peregrina · 31/12/2020 12:01

OK Stanley Johnson speaks French. Do we know where he was born?Does he live there? I am pretty sure the answer is No. Shouldn't he have got his application in earlier?

How long will it be before we see de Pfeffel try to sneak in an application for an EU passport?

SwedishEdith · 31/12/2020 12:04

@Peregrina

OK Stanley Johnson speaks French. Do we know where he was born?Does he live there? I am pretty sure the answer is No. Shouldn't he have got his application in earlier?

How long will it be before we see de Pfeffel try to sneak in an application for an EU passport?

Irene Williams Stanley Johnson's mother Born: 7 May 1907, Versailles, France

And, yes, I think it means the Fatberg also has a claim.

DGRossetti · 31/12/2020 12:07

@Peregrina

OK Stanley Johnson speaks French. Do we know where he was born?Does he live there? I am pretty sure the answer is No. Shouldn't he have got his application in earlier?

How long will it be before we see de Pfeffel try to sneak in an application for an EU passport?

Boris' French and Italian are pretty good. He used an interpreter in Germany, but seemed to be able to understand the replies suggesting he's less confident in speaking it (and let's be honest, who isn't ? Smile)

That's one reason why I despise him so much. By dint of his not stopping to think "Hang on, is it possible that I am actually representative of less than 0.1% of the country" he's managed to oversee the removal of priceless opportunities for the entire country.

Him and Cameron need to be damned to eternity. There really is no other punishment. And Boris knows full well of what I speak.

Peregrina · 31/12/2020 12:12

Is this like Irish citizenship - that the parent has to be Irish at the time of the child's birth? The parent can't claim it after the child is born and pass it on?

My grandchildren should be OK - although the parents have to sort out the paperwork still for one. But they voted Remain.

SwedishEdith · 31/12/2020 12:18

Are you eligible?

French citizenship can be obtained by descent if at least one parent is a citizen of France, despite the fact the child was not born in France.

The best way to prove your right to French citizenship is by showing birth certificates of the last two generations who had a French birth certificate (either registered in France or at a Consular Office).

France requires that all generations are registered as citizens before you apply for your own. This means that if your grandmother/grandfather was French, your father or mother will have to register his/her birth certificate before you register your own. If you have children, your birth certificate must be registered before registering theirs.

It doesn't sound like Irish citizenship via a grandparent where you have to get it before your children are born. So SJ getting it then means BJ can apply (as will the rest of SJ's children).

DrBlackbird · 31/12/2020 12:23

Reading about Johnson Snr applying for French citizenship thus paving the way potentially for Johnson to get French citizenship is just the icing on the Brexit cake. The gift that doesn't stop giving... so the vast majority of us and are children are denied FOM, but the key architect can go on his merry way to a better life elsewhere. Bets now on Johnson retiring to the South of France? They are all bastards.

DGRossetti · 31/12/2020 12:26

Bets now on Johnson retiring to the South of France?

Yes, but imagine not being able to eat out.

Anywhere.

DrBlackbird · 31/12/2020 12:31

My toast at midnight will not be to welcome in 2021, but rather to say goodbye to the economic, political, and social benefits of being in the EU.

ListeningQuietly · 31/12/2020 13:00

This thread ends with our EU days.
I am sad and angry
but the fightback begins at 11.01 pm
and I will have "Ode to Joy" ringing in my head

bellinisurge · 31/12/2020 13:01

I'm going to bed early. Probably with alcohol inside. Safe in the knowledge that
a) I still have EU citizenship as a dual national
b) what's left of the UK will come back to me.
This grubby grift is temporary

52andblue · 31/12/2020 13:05

The Westministenders Threads will continue won't they? Shock

Not that I've contributed but I've learned SO much here and I know lots of others lurk too, please don't all go off in separate directions ...

(like the UK and the EU :(

52andblue · 31/12/2020 13:06

sorry, @ListeningQuietly, I realise you probably meant this thread.

Just had a panic there...