The Westminster Arms

[DustyDiamond]

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Welcome to The Westminster Arms!

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A non-partisan politics pub thread for political chit chat....!!

Please stick within MN talk guidelines - any posts which you think may have crossed the line, please report rather than getting into scraps on thread 😠

Political punch-ups are soooo last decade - ain't nobody got time for that 🥊❌

Be nice! Be respectful!

S'ok to slag off politicians, but not other posters 🍻

Just watching the press preview.

The Times headline tomorrow..."Bercow accused of bullying by top aide".

Think that's enough to move his nomination for a peerage to the Napoleon tray.

(Napoleon tray is Civil Service-speak for the place you put contentious issues until everyone forgets they even exist or they naturally run out of time.)

Dying of thirst, comes to the assumption there is no blood orange Cointreau hidden behind the bar and wanders off into the night.

Hope everyone has a good night and see you tomorrow.

Silvery! 🍹 (closest to cointreau) we forgot you! Here you go!

Dusty do you think ET will be another gonner? AN is brutal isn't he?

Silvery - you will literally die of thirst or hunger if you wait for me to be any sort of host 😳😂😂

I'm terrible

No idea Hospitality - I honestly think she's far too thick skinned & lacking in self-awareness to do the right thing & stand down

Silvery, is blood orange Cointreau clear colour like normal Cointreau?

Lucy Powell on Peston. she's another one that I find measured and realistic, though I really don't know much about her. Lisa Nandy on soon.

Just back in having watched ET on AN in my friend's house (I do not have a TV) and I think she did herself no favours when she lost her temper. She came across as overbearing.

Morning, all,

Well, we have crossed the Rubicon. Ping pong finished at 6pm last night as the HoL conceded to the HoC. The WA bill has passed all hurdles without amendment and awaits Royal Assent.

According to the BBC, Charles Michel, President of the European Council, is expected to sign the document in the next few days on behalf of the EU27, as will European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Boris will sign the agreement officially on behalf of the UK.

It’s happening. We legally leave the EU at 11pm on Friday, 31 January 2020 - a mere 1317 days after the referendum.

At this point, I would normally give you a quick overview of what’s happening in Parliament today but you know what? It can be summed up easily in three words.

Business As Usual.

Not Brexit, not in-fighting, not name-calling. No screeching, no Braying, no Or-derrr. It’s just business as usual. And isn’t that a blessed relief? Yes, the next eleven months will be fraught with trade negotiations and future relationships and settling down the City and the agriculture, manufacturing and other industries. NI will need much care and attention. Above all, people everywhere in the UK need assurances about their status, their jobs, their education, their future. But it’s all over bar the shouting, and the government has no excuse now but to get on with it. It’s what we pay them for.

Breakfast this morning is our special Breakfast Barm. Please help yourselves.

Kettle’s on ☕️☕️☕️

Oh, and Autumn should be back with us today. ☕️ waiting for her.

"I just wish he had stood for leader of the Labour Party" - Andy Burnham, that is.
He did, he came second to Corbyn. I don't like Burnham but he would have been preferable to Corbyn.

Morning all

#BlessedRelief that it's over, finally.

Echoing Lily wholeheartedly - there's loads to be done, but the question itself as to whether Brexit happens or not is settled. 🙌

I was hoping Burnham would win when he stood against Corbyn & Cooper Bellini.
Cooper was my 2nd choice in that one - I was always #NeverCorbyn

I'm firmly for Lisa Nandy now as Thornberry is a snotty, angry snob & RLB is Corbyn/McDonnell in a frock. Keir is charmless and wholly uninspiring

I watched Peston last night after it was mentioned on here (I rarely watch his show as he irritates me) - Lisa Nandy dealt with him really well I thought, and I liked that she wants to be future-focused & is more interested in positive action than slagging matches & attacking people on a personal level (as Thornberry is obsessed with doing)

Morning all and thanks for breakfast Lily and for the informative round up of events.

Business as usual in HOC was something we could only dream of over the last 3 years. Do you anticipate any problems with the EU signing it off? I read something online yesterday suggesting there could be but can't remember where/what it was.

I often wonder how the atmosphere is in HOC bar. Does the toxicity that we see in the chamber evaporate once they get a few drinks down them? Do they have cross party cliques? Do the new younger recruits bond together cross party as they learn the ropes?

Nandy on R4 Today yesterday was very good. I have a Labour activist (non-Corbyn) colleague who said he was impressed. And he doesn't impress easy with any of them.

Dusty, I did see some disappointing shades of sneerability with LN last night on Peston.

RL-B hopes none of her non-political friends are Tories or she would be angry.

Morning everyone and thanks for the breakfast Singing.
I realise AB came second to Corbyn but that was then. I think (hope) labour members have moved on and may realise their mistake.
I thought he would do well if he stood again. He couldn't of course because he is no longer an MP. And his Leigh seat went blue.

I don't like Cooper. Her constituency is strong leave and she always fought remain. I felt she was ignoring their vote. Lisa Nandy went with how Wigan voted but Cooper stuck with remain.
I am sure she felt strongly about it but so did they.
Anyway it's water under the bridge now.

Morning Bellini,
What programme was nandy on R4. I want to listen on Sounds.

Do you anticipate any problems with the EU signing it off?

Not anymore, Hospitality, the EU sees it as inevitable too.

What is interesting is that despite all the huffing and puffing about Clause 33, the EU signed up to the revised Political Declaration on 17 October 2019, which sets 31 December 2020 as the deadline for agreeing the future relationship and trade. Why do that if it is not thought achievable?

Negotiation Poker, clearly.

Matt's take on RLB...

Thanks for the roundup and the breakfast Singing

Breakfast particularly welcome as I was planning on meeting a friend for breakfast this morning but I have been up half the night with this damned cough.

Regretfully cancelled, the BB last thing she needs is to catch whatever this bloody lurgy is. I shall stay in and grump all day instead.

Ms Truss is taking questions this morning but not sure which of her hats she is wearing so I’ll have a gander at Parliament TV and see if she says anything interesting on trade or women.

I’m actually looking forward to a good reshuffle now; anyone else?

I’m actually looking forward to a good reshuffle now; anyone else?

Me, Snippy, definitely. Boris's leadership style, as you know, is inclined to being the Chair rather than Theresa's stultifying micro-manager approach. His Cabinet ministers are given latitude within their areas of delegation.

This reshuffle will, I believe, tell us a great deal about what the future holds.

There's already what appears to be a lot of in-post auditioning going on.

Oh and sorry about your lurgy and sleep-depriving cough.

I'm pretty sleep-deprived myself but it's because of the cat. He's lonely and has been in need of attention since 😬 3.21am.

@Coppersulphate , it was the Today programme, yesterday (22 Jan). In the last hour - I was driving to work having dropped dd off and I reckon about 8.20 but I could be wrong.

Thanks Bellini, I will listen.

I too am looking forward to the reshuffle as I am expecting Boris to get rid of Michael Gove.
And I like Govy. I am sure I am the only one who does but I think he is straight forward and honest. But he did knife Boris in the back just after the referendum so I await the retaliation. We'll see.

Did anyone watch Boris' Peoples'PMQs. Interesting concept. I hope he can keep it up. The questions and comments were coming up on the screen and were a mixture of daft questions, comments, both positive and negative but some decent serious questions.
He talked about the price of sanpro and girls.
The whole thing sounds like a Dom idea.

Can I ask a serious question?
Does the pub have one of those posh coffee machines that can make a weak cappuccino?
And if so please can I have a decaf one while I build the fire.
It's cold and damp here.
Come over to the pub Snippy and curl up here by this fire.

Under my stewardship the place is like a hobos den Copper - everyone brings their own brewing kit & cooking stuff...! 😂

I like Gove as well tbh - I like that he gets shit done & is a driver for change

Not sure where I'd fit him into cabinet though - would have to ponder 🤔

I like Priti as Home Sec & The Saj as chancellor - Grant Shapps seems to be getting to grips with transport & did an excellent job returning all the stranded Thomas Cook passengers last year

Raab is obvs a pretty face & is handy for putting up a straight shelf 💪, so must be kept 😉🥰