The Westminster Arms

[DustyDiamond]

As requested, I have contacted MNHQ via the contact provided in the deletion message

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 🍻

Thanks Snippy. I was looking for it on Conservative Home website but you beat me to it.

Someone over on FWR has just posted this, a which answers my question.

Thank you, MrsSnippy, I'm interested.

I need to read through the full list but in terms of Caroline Nokes, I am not reassured. Let's just say I hope she takes the time to become much more informed than she did in her last ministerial post. It's not a "nice to have on your CV" post.

Just call out as and when you need more sustenance

So Unite has swung its might behind RLB's nomination.

She has been described as "the far left's Theresa May. They know, in their hearts, that she's just not up to it but she's their safety candidate".

Well well well, Caroline Nokes is my good friend's MP. That might come in useful.

"the far left's Theresa May. They know, in their hearts, that she's just not up to it but she's their safety candidate".

Very true, reminds me of when William Hague became Conservative leader in 1997.

It's official!

The withdrawal agreement has been ratified - signed by Charles Michel and Ursula von der Leyen.

A week today and we're on to the next phase...

Definitely a glass of fizz please.
BoJo has done it.
A toast to Boris.

And a warmed up sausage butty please.

Another ✅ for BJ

And just one week to go til #BrexitsGotDone officially & finally 🙌🙌🙌

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Wrt to Labour leadership, does that mean now that RW-D, Lisa Nandy & Static are officially through to final round?

Was thinking about what saucery said about
RW-D
looks (and sounds) like the girl at secondary school whose self esteem was so low she had to be an absolute bully to everyone around her, particularly those who were more intelligent (and that was the majority).

That'd be the Plastics (from Mean Girls) 😂

Becky is actually Regina George 😂😂😂

Photoshop project........

Yes indeed - WAB all getting signed off - I think it's just the EP next Weds then all sigs in order and we proceed onwards; mindful that there will be transitions, negotiations and deals to start/negs/to start get on with.

I've brought in a good pile of logs, built up the fire and cleaned the beer lines for the weekend.

I'll see you all on the 'other side of the 31st Jan', if not before; chances are I'll be sleeping the sleep of the relieved so bong, bang, bing, party away - all good with me.

William Hague...

Do you know, Limer, I think you are on to something there.

He was an antidote to John "Back to Basics" Major but he was never going to set the world alight.

I still think the next leader of the Labour Party is fairly irrelevant. It's the one after that who will really matter. The only relevance of this contest is that the identity of the winner will determine how long the Labour Party will repair itself. If at all.

Wrt to Labour leadership, does that mean now that RW-D, Lisa Nandy & Static are officially through to final round

Not yet, Dusty. Each one needs three affiliates including two trade unions or 33 CLPs, totalling at least 5% of the membership.

Lisa Nandy is through - she is backed by GMB, NUM and Chinese For Labour. She also has a number of CLPs on board.

Keir Starmer is through - he has Unison and one affiliate plus 21 CLPs.

RLB has Unite but no other affiliates and only about 6 CLPs. More to be done, then.

On second thoughts, Unite is so big, RLB probably does meet the 5% criteria, so you are right, Dusty.

ET is still struggling though.

It's an AV type ballot now.

I think this next leader will want to take them into the next election. The idea of caretaker will probably not appeal.
If it wrong daily then I think it will be a disaster.

I am torn. This govt could do so much good if it got 10 years and I think WDaily would guarantee that.

But we do need a strong opposition.

Sir K would give a strong opposition but would ensure the rest of the wall went blue.

I hope Lisa nandy wins.
I actually think she sounds normal

Just looked on the Labour Party website
The requirement is
33 CLPs , or 3 affiliates of which 2 have to be trade unions
And overall has to be 5% of membership

So, 33 small CLPs won't do it, nor will one big union

Hmm - not too bothered really who is next Labour Leader, whoever they be they will be a 'caretaker' and not the next PM.

Pretty much as I left the Tories to elect their Leader too and got BJ as PM - I'm not party orientated so my thoughts are worth naught, except during an Election or the odd Referendum where my little individual vote did count (eventually).

Becky & co as Regina & co

(Am aware that a few regulars may never have watched Mean Girls though 😂😂😂)

If 3 are through, Lisa Nandy could feasibly snatch it from Keir - I suspect she'd pick up the 2nd vote preferences of both Our Becky & StaticStarmer

Dusty You are excelling yourself

Brilliant Dusty. Thanks

I think it's only a matter of time before ET pulls out

Just popping in to tidy up behind the bar and to say that's an Epic Meme, Dusty!

Lisa Nandy's whole strategy is apparently built on picking up the second preference votes so she could well come through the middle and win. However, closing date for confirmed nominations isn't till 12 February so there's still everything to play for. ET looks as though she's lost a tenner and found a pound.

Scary, I've lost track of where you are now but hope you have reached home safely. I saw Sir David Leakey's cracking interview in which he says with scorching clarity that Mr Bercow "brutalised" staff and that he had never seen anyone treat others so badly in his life. It was a very powerful interview. I got the distinct impression he was giving covering fire to others to give them the courage to come forward. Apparently, further serious allegations from another two people are about to emerge.

I do hope Mr Bercow hasn't gone to the trouble of booking a preliminary appointment at Ede & Ravenscroft to be measured up...

I poured one too many non-alcoholic mojitos so there's one spare on the bar if anyone is in need of refreshment.

Did you see that Bercow is now a professor at royal Holloway ?

I am honoured to have inspired a Dusty Meme!

I like Lisa Nandy, but any leader in this period is going to be chewed up and spat out, so it would be a shame for her political career to be wasted. RL-B and ET are expendable and unpleasant, so let it be them.

Morning, all, morning Saucery.

It has been a momentous week and there are now just six days to go until we leave under the Lisbon Treaty and begin the next phase under the new transition treaty, the original of which is now stored in the archives in Brussels while the UK has a certified copy.

Still plenty more going on in Westminster though as Mr Bercow manages to pick up a consolation title ( Copper) and Unite not only swings its considerable might behind RLB but has formally endorsed their preferred candidate for Deputy Leader.

Richard Burgon.

No, your eyes do not deceive you. Len McCluskey and the gang have sidelined RLB's flatmate Angela Rayner in favour of the multi-talented Mr Burden. From the Spectator:

"In a statement, the union boss took a swipe at former deputy leader Tom Watson as he backed Burgon, saying: 'Unite is also confident that Richard will make a superb deputy to Becky, displaying the qualities that have long been absent from that post - pride in our values, a passion for our party to succeed and, above all, loyalty to their leader.' "

Becky and Burden. As my Scouse granny would say in a different context, well they wouldn't spoil another couple, would they?

Breakfast this morning consists of those lovely fresh Dungannon eggs, cooked any way you like. Please help yourselves.

Kettle's on ☕️☕️☕️