Brexit mega thread part 4 : non goady thread : Christmas edition

[Opal8]

Hi,

Longtime lurker and poster (under various nn) on Westminstenders and these threads.

I'm afraid the other thread op pissed me off a lot so here's another option for those of us that want one.

Wishing you all a Happy Christmas and good luck for 2022.

Anecdote from recent exchange renegotiations:

One London uni stated that, even for semester-long mobility, students going there would have to take a language test (200€ a pop), although it's only mandatory for mobility of 6+mths, as part of the visa application.

Until now, we have selected students we send there, including interviewing them in English (which they are in fact taking a degree in), and written a letter certifying their level. In return, we accepted a similar letter from the partner uni, even though over the past decade the level of French spoken by incoming students has fallen drastically, meaning they require a lot of assistance.

So we replied, saying that if they demanded a language test, then their students coming to us would need to take an equivalent test to prove B2 proficiency in French.

Cue total, utter outrage from the London university.

Caroline Lucas

So depressing to see vile Nationality & #BordersBill pass Commons 298 to 231

It’s one of most inhumane & draconian bills before Parliament

It criminalises those seeking asylum & gives Home Sec power to strip UK citizens of citizenship without even saying why. Now to the Lords

And really?

Sky News
BREAKING: The Metropolitan Police says it will not investigate allegations of a party at Downing Street due to an "absence of evidence" and a force policy not to investigate retrospective breaches of coronavirus regulations.

Isn't the purpose of an investigation to look for evidence

Patel just extended Dicks tenure, just repaying the favour.

CH4 looked at the Staffordshire by-election, a win for the Tories, LD and Labour are both convinced their candidate can win.

@prettybird

So essentially, "Plan B" is England falling into line with the rest of the UK.

And the absolute minimum that we should have all been doing anyway. Not much of a plan really. How far through the alphabet do you think we have to go until we get to an effective plan?

And MN is going batshit crazy with conspiracy bollocks over plan B - what is wrong with people? I've been wearing masks and WFH (because my job is home based) and keeping my distance all this time, this is no big deal.

@pointythings

And MN is going batshit crazy with conspiracy bollocks over plan B - what is wrong with people? I've been wearing masks and WFH (because my job is home based) and keeping my distance all this time, this is no big deal.

Me too. But I've been the only one wearing a mask in local shops for weeks... No social distancing either. A lad built like a brick shit house practically leant on my shoulder in a queue at the local deli. I told him to step back and he did tbf (I may be small but I have what my ds1 calls "resting serial killer face") Keeping 2 metres apart, wearing a mask Indoors, washing hands. ...such small things that make a difference. But some folk act like they are being asked to lop am arm off 🙄 Hopefully, the Xmas break might be a firebreak for Omicron infections but if everyone starts having parties side eyes No10 then it's going to spead very fast.

I do find the demographics of mask wearing fascinating.
It's only anecdotal but locally men of a certain age and socio economic group aren't wearing masks and never really have.

De pfeffle getting a mauling on the front pages of tomorrow's papers that I've seen so far...

Part 3 of the story of the No.10 Christmas party last year. This time: a video, a resignation and another denial.
twitter.com/BBCRosAtkins/status/1468685471052144640?t=aDobFhBiH2ngA2SlMoCLCg&s=19

I'm surprised a newspaper hasn't pulled a photo or video of the party out yet, maybe on Sunday.

The puppet masters must be still trying to decide who they want as next PM.

Yet another piece of legislation passed without any regard for the position of Northern Ireland and Ireland, and the position of citizens of Northern Ireland, who are by definition EU citizens too, as established by Emma deSouza's court case.

The legislation will require non-Irish, non-British EU citizens to acquire what is essentially a visa to cross the Border into NI from Ireland. EU citizens lawfully resident in Ireland who currently enjoy the freedom to go about their lives, crossing the Border for work, shopping, medical treatment, to visit friends, to go to church, or for entertainment now see all of that jeopardised.

Read Emma de Souza's Twitter thread to see how this is so wrong.

twitter.com/EmmandJDeSouza?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1468550620479172613%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.belfasttelegraph.co.uk%2Fnews%2Fnorthern-ireland%2Fcross-border-travel-clearance-scheme-proposed-under-new-uk-immigration-bill-branded-unworkable-by-campaigner-41132635.html

This will harden the Border and therefore precipitate conflict.

See also Stephen Farry (Alliance Party NI) remarks and motion in the HoC
www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/cross-border-travel-clearance-scheme-proposed-under-new-uk-immigration-bill-branded-unworkable-by-campaigner-41132635.html

twitter.com/AlliancePartyUK/status/1467836947389427719/photo/1
The amendment proposed by Stephen Farry.

Keeping 2 metres apart, wearing a mask Indoors, washing hands. ...such small things that make a difference.
But some folk act like they are being asked to lop am arm off

LOL, check out the weeping and gnashing of teeth over the prospect of poor little middle class British children not being welcome in NYC because they're not vaccinated, on another thread. (NYC vaccination mandate thread).

you don't even have to go as far as nyc.

sun in the canaries or skiing this winter in the alps is also not possible (or very difficult) with young teenagers this winter.

Seems this insignificant party story legs are still growing.

The last straw is always the smallest ....

Much as I abhor what allegra statton said in that video, and think its right she's resigned, why aren't they media/party going after the male voices in that room who were the ones coming up with lies to tell us plebs?

Global Britain going well then.

Chart shows trade flows as share of GDP - it's holding up for main EU countries, but has declined sharply for UK in recent years...

Running away once again

Pippa Crerar
Hearing from two separate sources that Govt is considering bringing recess forward two days to Tuesday.
Only sketchy business has been sent out for next week - House rising could be announced on day.
It would avoid another tricky PMQs - plus get plotting Tory MPs out of SW1

No 11 Refurbishment

Beth Rigby
NEW: Electoral Commission fines has Tory party £17,800 for breaking rules over declaring the funding of Downing Street flat. Reports says ‘handling and recording of these transactions reflected serious failings in the party’s compliance systems’

Link to report
twitter.com/bethrigby/status/1468880307696848897?s=21

It will be pushed off the front pages - Carrie has just given birth to a daughter.

@Peregrina

It will be pushed off the front pages - Carrie has just given birth to a daughter.

People i know who are full on Tories are very pissed off about this. We all have diversion fatigue now.

"No, darling, I'm afraid we didn't keep any of the newspapers from the day you were born."

Generally, colleagues at work follow the maxim about not discussing politics in the office.

That's gone out of the window with the party story. And it really can't be great news for the Tories that a room full of senior management have no faith in them.

DWs wheelchair woes have been squarely placed on Brexit by the service director of the manufacturer. She's one on thousands. Apparently they are hardest hit by the issue as their shipping involves loads of small parts that don't fill a container.

Generally, colleagues at work follow the maxim about not discussing politics in the office.

Was chatting to someone earlier who I generally don't talk politics with as we never agree. We agreed.

Shuffle play on the whole of my MP3 collection brought up this track from 2018: nick harper - lies, lies, lies

350 Million reasons why
Written on the side of the bus
We're going to spend it on the health of the nation
For the good of all of us
Lies! Lies! Lies!

We’re going to build a northern powerhouse
For the rust belt communities
And then we’re going to share the money out
With the hard working families
Lies! Lies! Lies!

We’re going to be the greenest government
The world has ever seen
We’ll be the champions of the vulnerable
Oh and we’re ending child poverty
It's always the same people pay for your god damned
Lies! Lies! Lies!

We're going to wield the 'simple sword of truth'
See-through transparency
We’re going to make this country great again
Get on the bus and we’ll set you free
Lies! Lies! Lies!
It's always the same people pay for your lies
It's always the same people pay for your lies
It's always the same people pay for your god damned
Lies! Lies! Lies!

I'd not heard it for a while but feels even more apposite today.