On the subject of Theresa May she does seem to stepping up to the plate. Having chaired a cobra meeting this morning she addressed the Nation from no 10 with a strong speech, then went to the Mosque and spoke to camera (looking tired and angry) in front of the community leaders who were nodding in agreement with her, then she went back to no 10 to meet the Irish Taoiseach and to undertake a joint press conference.
The 'bloody difficult woman' may yet surprise us all
She did by calling an unnecessary general election and loosing the conservative majority.How many more surprises do you want from a leader.
Accepted but she does seem to be stubborn and determined and todays poll is relatively good for her
Agreed. I get that in this day and age some people want a more camera friendly PM. But personally, I'm happy with someone who's better at the boxes and serious about policy. Would it be ideal for a PM to have it all? Yes. Does that happen? Not very often.
She's proven herself a poor campaigner and the Conservatives would need a lot of convincing to allow herself to go into another GE. But as a Prime Minister prior to the GE her approvals were good and, if she can get through the current squall, she should continue.
On the subject of Theresa May she does seem to stepping up to the plate. Having chaired a cobra meeting this morning she addressed the Nation from no 10 with a strong speech, then went to the Mosque and spoke to camera (looking tired and angry) in front of the community leaders who were nodding in agreement with her, then she went back to no 10 to meet the Irish Taoiseach and to undertake a joint press conference.
The 'bloody difficult woman' may yet surprise us all
If she is able to turn the media narrative then that would help. I did think she was very unfairly treated last week with regards to meeting people at the site of the Grenfell tower. I know it is not her strength to go off speaking to the public, but I imagine she was following the advice of her Close protection team. I can't be the only person in the current situation to wonder if there was a terror link to the fire E.g stored flammable items. If my job were to protect the Prime Minister I would be taking her to closely controlled environments.
Im sure there was no terror link. But I'm also sure some nutjob will have seen the result and have started getting ideas. Unfortunately.
Ahhhhhhh apocalyptic scenarios are fun. Tenerife falling into the sea and drowning the east coast of the USA is another old chestnut.
These days with the internet and global TV, I want to try and organise the entire population of China to jump up and down in time to see if they can make a tsumani wave the would wipe out Los Angeles. Of course, we would need to evacuate the US west coast first...
Or is it an earthquake rather than a tsunami?
A meteorite strike that slowed the earth's rotation would be fun. Destruction on a global scale and then the survivors finding the habitable zones and the oceans themselves migrating. A Gamma Ray burster would also be a bit of a game over if it was within 5000 light years. Or the universe could just go through a phase shift and we'd know nothing about it as we blinked out of existence.
Just hope that IK Pegasi does not go supernova (Type 1a) as it is on our doorstep, cosmically speaking.
It would be damaging for sure but probably not as damaging as a dinosaur killer asteroid strike, it's far enough away that it would just be very destructive as opposed to ELE.
This "end of the world" stuff is a little tiresome.
It does put Brexit into perspective, the prospect of new stone age Britons scavenging and cannabilising each other!
I've already developed my post-apocalypse survival strategy. However, it's not for the squeamish.
At least two of my friends (there might be a third, I forget) have recently got a gun licence and a shotgun for "sport".
Not sure how much use it'd actually be in an apocalypse scenario.
Anyone arming up in a scenario that is not so severe that military rule cannot be imposed would last about 2 days, less if they start firing. If it's severe enough that all law and order is gone then they will last until they run into a better armed, larger group.
Ahhhhhhh apocalyptic scenarios are fun. Tenerife falling into the sea and drowning the east coast of the USA is another old chestnut.
These days with the internet and global TV, I want to try and organise the entire population of China to jump up and down in time to see if they can make a tsumani wave the would wipe out Los Angeles. Of course, we would need to evacuate the US west coast first...
Or is it an earthquake rather than a tsunami?
A meteorite strike that slowed the earth's rotation would be fun. Destruction on a global scale and then the survivors finding the habitable zones and the oceans themselves migrating. A Gamma Ray burster would also be a bit of a game over if it was within 5000 light years. Or the universe could just go through a phase shift and we'd know nothing about it as we blinked out of existence.
Just hope that IK Pegasi does not go supernova (Type 1a) as it is on our doorstep, cosmically speaking.
It would be damaging for sure but probably not as damaging as a dinosaur killer asteroid strike, it's far enough away that it would just be very destructive as opposed to ELE.
Yes. Have you looked at the theories about the formation of the Siberian Traps? Some people theorise a focused shock wave from the Chicxulub / Yucatan strike may have set them off. A cosmic double-whammy for life on Earth at the time.
This "end of the world" stuff is a little tiresome.
It does put Brexit into perspective, the prospect of new stone age Britons scavenging and cannabilising each other!
I've already developed my post-apocalypse survival strategy. However, it's not for the squeamish.
At least two of my friends (there might be a third, I forget) have recently got a gun licence and a shotgun for "sport".
Not sure how much use it'd actually be in an apocalypse scenario.
Anyone arming up in a scenario that is not so severe that military rule cannot be imposed would last about 2 days, less if they start firing. If it's severe enough that all law and order is gone then they will last until they run into a better armed, larger group.
Tinned food, water filtration equipment and a penknife/swiss army knife would be much more useful, as well as keeping your head down.
I've made a couple of silly errors in recent months, so you're not alone.
Mandelson receives an EU pension, which I believe has a condition of not doing anything contrary to EU interests. He's a smart fellow. But not a trustworthy one.
I believe the civil service thought he was a very competent minister.
When Gordon Brown swallowed his pride and brought back Mandelson to be DPM he effectively ran the country for several months during an extremely difficult time with a completely dysfunctional government notionally led by someone incapable of making a decision. So he has relevant experience there too.
Mandelson for Tory leader? A whole new meaning to the phrase "Red Tories"
Having said that, he would probably do the job better than the current shower and bear in mind that I do not like Mandelson. I met him once. It was enough for a life time.
Why?
It is hard to say. He was a bit too sauve, a bit too "oily" and came over as rather smarmy and smug. It was not just me, some of my friends felt the same way. He just had a slightly unnerving quality to him. I was never too surprised when he kept having to resign for various scandals.
Maybe he has mellowed over the years
Maybe I have.....
Interesting, thanks. You're not the first.
Nick Palmer said (I think) he'd always be looking to see if there was someone else more important in the room to talk to, and then immediately walk off if there was.
That's what I found, yes. But he was impressively competent and focused (and very nice to his dog!). If we're recruiting negotiators for expertise rather than cuddliness, we could do a lot worse.
On the subject of Theresa May she does seem to stepping up to the plate. Having chaired a cobra meeting this morning she addressed the Nation from no 10 with a strong speech, then went to the Mosque and spoke to camera (looking tired and angry) in front of the community leaders who were nodding in agreement with her, then she went back to no 10 to meet the Irish Taoiseach and to undertake a joint press conference.
The 'bloody difficult woman' may yet surprise us all
She did by calling an unnecessary general election and loosing the conservative majority.How many more surprises do you want from a leader.
Accepted but she does seem to be stubborn and determined and todays poll is relatively good for her
Agreed hopefully she will use able cabinet ministers more that she trusts .Blair always had John Reid in times of crisis to go out on the airways and reassure that the government was in charge.
This "end of the world" stuff is a little tiresome.
It does put Brexit into perspective, the prospect of new stone age Britons scavenging and cannabilising each other!
I've already developed my post-apocalypse survival strategy. However, it's not for the squeamish.
At least two of my friends (there might be a third, I forget) have recently got a gun licence and a shotgun for "sport".
Not sure how much use it'd actually be in an apocalypse scenario.
Anyone arming up in a scenario that is not so severe that military rule cannot be imposed would last about 2 days, less if they start firing. If it's severe enough that all law and order is gone then they will last until they run into a better armed, larger group.
Tinned food, water filtration equipment and a penknife/swiss army knife would be much more useful, as well as keeping your head down.
But, I think they've seen too much Walking Dead.
Absolutely! Water filtration and tinned food are essential, Swiss army knife a nice addition along with a machete for wood cutting.
This "end of the world" stuff is a little tiresome.
It does put Brexit into perspective, the prospect of new stone age Britons scavenging and cannabilising each other!
I've already developed my post-apocalypse survival strategy. However, it's not for the squeamish.
At least two of my friends (there might be a third, I forget) have recently got a gun licence and a shotgun for "sport".
Not sure how much use it'd actually be in an apocalypse scenario.
Anyone arming up in a scenario that is not so severe that military rule cannot be imposed would last about 2 days, less if they start firing. If it's severe enough that all law and order is gone then they will last until they run into a better armed, larger group.
Pretty much how all governments get started, isn't it?
I've made a couple of silly errors in recent months, so you're not alone.
Mandelson receives an EU pension, which I believe has a condition of not doing anything contrary to EU interests. He's a smart fellow. But not a trustworthy one.
I believe the civil service thought he was a very competent minister.
When Gordon Brown swallowed his pride and brought back Mandelson to be DPM he effectively ran the country for several months during an extremely difficult time with a completely dysfunctional government notionally led by someone incapable of making a decision. So he has relevant experience there too.
Mandelson for Tory leader? A whole new meaning to the phrase "Red Tories"
Having said that, he would probably do the job better than the current shower and bear in mind that I do not like Mandelson. I met him once. It was enough for a life time.
Why?
It is hard to say. He was a bit too sauve, a bit too "oily" and came over as rather smarmy and smug. It was not just me, some of my friends felt the same way. He just had a slightly unnerving quality to him. I was never too surprised when he kept having to resign for various scandals.
Maybe he has mellowed over the years
Maybe I have.....
Interesting, thanks. You're not the first.
Nick Palmer said (I think) he'd always be looking to see if there was someone else more important in the room to talk to, and then immediately walk off if there was.
That's what I found, yes. But he was impressively competent and focused (and very nice to his dog!). If we're recruiting negotiators for expertise rather than cuddliness, we could do a lot worse.
A lot of English people are socially uneasy, and find it much easier and simpler to express their emotions with their animals rather than (far more complex and difficult) real people.
Ahhhhhhh apocalyptic scenarios are fun. Tenerife falling into the sea and drowning the east coast of the USA is another old chestnut.
These days with the internet and global TV, I want to try and organise the entire population of China to jump up and down in time to see if they can make a tsumani wave the would wipe out Los Angeles. Of course, we would need to evacuate the US west coast first...
Or is it an earthquake rather than a tsunami?
A meteorite strike that slowed the earth's rotation would be fun. Destruction on a global scale and then the survivors finding the habitable zones and the oceans themselves migrating. A Gamma Ray burster would also be a bit of a game over if it was within 5000 light years. Or the universe could just go through a phase shift and we'd know nothing about it as we blinked out of existence.
Just hope that IK Pegasi does not go supernova (Type 1a) as it is on our doorstep, cosmically speaking.
It would be damaging for sure but probably not as damaging as a dinosaur killer asteroid strike, it's far enough away that it would just be very destructive as opposed to ELE.
Yes. Have you looked at the theories about the formation of the Siberian Traps? Some people theorise a focused shock wave from the Chicxulub / Yucatan strike may have set them off. A cosmic double-whammy for life on Earth at the time.
Yes it's a fascinating one for sure! All a question if mankind can spread off this rock before this rock gets taken out in some fashion. Otherwise it's on to the next dominant species. Cats. Always cats.
“Clearly the Brits are not ready yet and it’s a pity,” a senior Commission official said.
“Everybody has sympathy for [May] now because she put herself in an impossible situation,” the official said. “How we can help her? Where she is now, nobody can help her. What she said to the backbenchers, in a way made sense, ‘I put you in this mess. I will take you out of this mess.’ But who else can do anything for her? It’s just hell.”
Hell hath no fury like a senior Commission official scorned. Not tonight, Juncker.
AIUI, 15% of Tory mp's are needed for a no confidence vote. Do these letters "remain on file", or are they time limited? ie, suppose a letter has been received, will that count in 6 months, 2 years, etc.. Can they be withdrawn? Also, does Mr.Brady have any discretion, or is he bound by pure numbers? Thx if you can answer this.
There is nothing in the rules that suggests the letters are time limited. The rules are silent on whether letters can be withdrawn. Once the numbers are achieved the chairman of the 1922 committee does not appear to have any discretion - there will be a confidence vote.
On the subject of Theresa May she does seem to stepping up to the plate. Having chaired a cobra meeting this morning she addressed the Nation from no 10 with a strong speech, then went to the Mosque and spoke to camera (looking tired and angry) in front of the community leaders who were nodding in agreement with her, then she went back to no 10 to meet the Irish Taoiseach and to undertake a joint press conference.
The 'bloody difficult woman' may yet surprise us all
Certainly been the first day since the election she has looked like a proper leader. Needs to happen more often and perhaps a nod to mistakes made in the past would do her a deal of good too.
This was posted by Big G before the exit poll. Anecdotes are clearly the way to go.
Big_G_NorthWales said:
All today the anecdotes have been moving towards labour and for weeks now I have been very concerned at the way the conservative campaign has just been hopeless.
I have seen so many today with optimistic seat numbers for the conservatives but I think we are heading into hung parliament territory. It would be the irony of all ironies if Ruth conquered Scotland and Theresa lost seats in England
I think May has been rather impressive today. She looks to be learning from her mistakes, albeit slowly, so fair play.
Can you imagine doing your job totally in the public eye, with each day having no idea what is going to happen. And then if you do not perform precisley in way that an orgainisation expects (24 hour news) you are completely vilified. And we wonder why there is a lack of talent available to be PM.
I've made a couple of silly errors in recent months, so you're not alone.
Mandelson receives an EU pension, which I believe has a condition of not doing anything contrary to EU interests. He's a smart fellow. But not a trustworthy one.
I believe the civil service thought he was a very competent minister.
When Gordon Brown swallowed his pride and brought back Mandelson to be DPM he effectively ran the country for several months during an extremely difficult time with a completely dysfunctional government notionally led by someone incapable of making a decision. So he has relevant experience there too.
Mandelson for Tory leader? A whole new meaning to the phrase "Red Tories"
Having said that, he would probably do the job better than the current shower and bear in mind that I do not like Mandelson. I met him once. It was enough for a life time.
You're lucky. I was at school with him.
By the way, accounts I have seen of what happened when Mandelson was at school, apparently written by others who were at the school at the same time, are not entirely accurate.
I've made a couple of silly errors in recent months, so you're not alone.
Mandelson receives an EU pension, which I believe has a condition of not doing anything contrary to EU interests. He's a smart fellow. But not a trustworthy one.
I believe the civil service thought he was a very competent minister.
When Gordon Brown swallowed his pride and brought back Mandelson to be DPM he effectively ran the country for several months during an extremely difficult time with a completely dysfunctional government notionally led by someone incapable of making a decision. So he has relevant experience there too.
Mandelson for Tory leader? A whole new meaning to the phrase "Red Tories"
Having said that, he would probably do the job better than the current shower and bear in mind that I do not like Mandelson. I met him once. It was enough for a life time.
Why?
It is hard to say. He was a bit too sauve, a bit too "oily" and came over as rather smarmy and smug. It was not just me, some of my friends felt the same way. He just had a slightly unnerving quality to him. I was never too surprised when he kept having to resign for various scandals.
Maybe he has mellowed over the years
Maybe I have.....
Interesting, thanks. You're not the first.
Nick Palmer said (I think) he'd always be looking to see if there was someone else more important in the room to talk to, and then immediately walk off if there was.
That's what I found, yes. But he was impressively competent and focused (and very nice to his dog!). If we're recruiting negotiators for expertise rather than cuddliness, we could do a lot worse.
haha - through gritted teeth.
These election-winning Blairites get everywhere, don't they Nick.
AIUI, 15% of Tory mp's are needed for a no confidence vote. Do these letters "remain on file", or are they time limited? ie, suppose a letter has been received, will that count in 6 months, 2 years, etc.. Can they be withdrawn? Also, does Mr.Brady have any discretion, or is he bound by pure numbers? Thx if you can answer this.
There is nothing in the rules that suggests the letters are time limited. The rules are silent on whether letters can be withdrawn. Once the numbers are achieved the chairman of the 1922 committee does not appear to have any discretion - there will be a confidence vote.
Cheers! Important to know when considering next PM betting, and when (if) TM goes.
There is nothing in the rules that suggests the letters are time limited. The rules are silent on whether letters can be withdrawn. Once the numbers are achieved the chairman of the 1922 committee does not appear to have any discretion - there will be a confidence vote.
I think you over-estimate the degree to which the 1922 Committee would slavishly follow rules. I'm sure there's room in practice for a bit of fudging, deal-making and arm-twisting, in accordance with time-honoured tradition.
I think May has been rather impressive today. She looks to be learning from her mistakes, albeit slowly, so fair play.
Can you imagine doing your job totally in the public eye, with each day having no idea what is going to happen. And then if you do not perform precisley in way that an orgainisation expects (24 hour news) you are completely vilified. And we wonder why there is a lack of talent available to be PM.
Such a good point. The media driven sense of their being a competition as to which leader could be the most outwardly responsive and emotive last week was utterly pathetic. A few people here have commented that the TV news outlets and their commentators see politics as too much of a bloodsport, yet time and time again we are told that people actually hate that.
I've made a couple of silly errors in recent months, so you're not alone.
Mandelson receives an EU pension, which I believe has a condition of not doing anything contrary to EU interests. He's a smart fellow. But not a trustworthy one.
I believe the civil service thought he was a very competent minister.
When Gordon Brown swallowed his pride and brought back Mandelson to be DPM he effectively ran the country for several months during an extremely difficult time with a completely dysfunctional government notionally led by someone incapable of making a decision. So he has relevant experience there too.
Mandelson for Tory leader? A whole new meaning to the phrase "Red Tories"
Having said that, he would probably do the job better than the current shower and bear in mind that I do not like Mandelson. I met him once. It was enough for a life time.
You're lucky. I was at school with him.
By the way, accounts I have seen of what happened when Mandelson was at school, apparently written by others who were at the school at the same time, are not entirely accurate.
You remember him from when he was in the Young Communist League. You must have watched his public career with amused surprise.
I've made a couple of silly errors in recent months, so you're not alone.
Mandelson receives an EU pension, which I believe has a condition of not doing anything contrary to EU interests. He's a smart fellow. But not a trustworthy one.
I believe the civil service thought he was a very competent minister.
When Gordon Brown swallowed his pride and brought back Mandelson to be DPM he effectively ran the country for several months during an extremely difficult time with a completely dysfunctional government notionally led by someone incapable of making a decision. So he has relevant experience there too.
Mandelson for Tory leader? A whole new meaning to the phrase "Red Tories"
Having said that, he would probably do the job better than the current shower and bear in mind that I do not like Mandelson. I met him once. It was enough for a life time.
I think May has been rather impressive today. She looks to be learning from her mistakes, albeit slowly, so fair play.
Can you imagine doing your job totally in the public eye, with each day having no idea what is going to happen. And then if you do not perform precisley in way that an orgainisation expects (24 hour news) you are completely vilified. And we wonder why there is a lack of talent available to be PM.
Before one starts feeling to sorry for the PM, one ought to remember the election campaign she ran (and imposed on individual constituency campaigns, to boot) - based not on cabinet government, but entirely on the TM strong and stable leadership story.
Ahhhhhhh apocalyptic scenarios are fun. Tenerife falling into the sea and drowning the east coast of the USA is another old chestnut.
These days with the internet and global TV, I want to try and organise the entire population of China to jump up and down in time to see if they can make a tsumani wave the would wipe out Los Angeles. Of course, we would need to evacuate the US west coast first...
Or is it an earthquake rather than a tsunami?
A meteorite strike that slowed the earth's rotation would be fun. Destruction on a global scale and then the survivors finding the habitable zones and the oceans themselves migrating. A Gamma Ray burster would also be a bit of a game over if it was within 5000 light years. Or the universe could just go through a phase shift and we'd know nothing about it as we blinked out of existence.
Just hope that IK Pegasi does not go supernova (Type 1a) as it is on our doorstep, cosmically speaking.
It would be damaging for sure but probably not as damaging as a dinosaur killer asteroid strike, it's far enough away that it would just be very destructive as opposed to ELE.
Yes. Have you looked at the theories about the formation of the Siberian Traps? Some people theorise a focused shock wave from the Chicxulub / Yucatan strike may have set them off. A cosmic double-whammy for life on Earth at the time.
Yes it's a fascinating one for sure! All a question if mankind can spread off this rock before this rock gets taken out in some fashion. Otherwise it's on to the next dominant species. Cats. Always cats.
Andre Norton wrote a novel about cats taking over. It all went well until those pesky monkeys showed up again. You can get it as a free ePub
I've made a couple of silly errors in recent months, so you're not alone.
Mandelson receives an EU pension, which I believe has a condition of not doing anything contrary to EU interests. He's a smart fellow. But not a trustworthy one.
I believe the civil service thought he was a very competent minister.
When Gordon Brown swallowed his pride and brought back Mandelson to be DPM he effectively ran the country for several months during an extremely difficult time with a completely dysfunctional government notionally led by someone incapable of making a decision. So he has relevant experience there too.
Mandelson for Tory leader? A whole new meaning to the phrase "Red Tories"
Having said that, he would probably do the job better than the current shower and bear in mind that I do not like Mandelson. I met him once. It was enough for a life time.
You're lucky. I was at school with him.
By the way, accounts I have seen of what happened when Mandelson was at school, apparently written by others who were at the school at the same time, are not entirely accurate.
What was he like?
I never really minded Mandy despite never supporting him.
He always struck me as being like Osborne in that both not so secretly loved being the Prince of Darkness, and had that little twinkle in the eye when they were being condemned as masters of the dark arts.
I'm not sure whether that's a criticism or a compliment... maybe just a comment that they appeared exceptionally self aware in the rhino-skinned political world.
He is also the only "celeb" to have influenced my fashion choices (on a conscious level anyway). When Brown brought him back, he wore a rather nice red pullover with his suit on the walk up Downing Street. I immediately went out and bought one as it sold me on the suit/jumper combo.
There is nothing in the rules that suggests the letters are time limited. The rules are silent on whether letters can be withdrawn. Once the numbers are achieved the chairman of the 1922 committee does not appear to have any discretion - there will be a confidence vote.
I think you over-estimate the degree to which the 1922 Committee would slavishly follow rules. I'm sure there's room in practice for a bit of fudging, deal-making and arm-twisting, in accordance with time-honoured tradition.
Not at all. I worded my post very carefully.
On the first two points (time limiting letters and withdrawing letters) the fact that the rules are silent appears to give the chairman of the 1922 Committee (who, under the rules, is responsible for settling arguments about the rules) plenty of latitude for deciding these points.
He appears to have less latitude once the numbers are achieved. The wording of that rule is pretty specific that, once the threshold has been reached, the chairman must inform the leader that there will be a vote of confidence and must, in consultation with the leader, set the date for the vote. The let out there is that the date must be as soon as possible "in the circumstances prevailing". So the chairman could, for example, decide that the circumstances of the Brexit negotiations mean that "as soon as possible" is after the negotiations are concluded.
Ahhhhhhh apocalyptic scenarios are fun. Tenerife falling into the sea and drowning the east coast of the USA is another old chestnut.
These days with the internet and global TV, I want to try and organise the entire population of China to jump up and down in time to see if they can make a tsumani wave the would wipe out Los Angeles. Of course, we would need to evacuate the US west coast first...
Or is it an earthquake rather than a tsunami?
A meteorite strike that slowed the earth's rotation would be fun. Destruction on a global scale and then the survivors finding the habitable zones and the oceans themselves migrating. A Gamma Ray burster would also be a bit of a game over if it was within 5000 light years. Or the universe could just go through a phase shift and we'd know nothing about it as we blinked out of existence.
Just hope that IK Pegasi does not go supernova (Type 1a) as it is on our doorstep, cosmically speaking.
It would be damaging for sure but probably not as damaging as a dinosaur killer asteroid strike, it's far enough away that it would just be very destructive as opposed to ELE.
Yes. Have you looked at the theories about the formation of the Siberian Traps? Some people theorise a focused shock wave from the Chicxulub / Yucatan strike may have set them off. A cosmic double-whammy for life on Earth at the time.
Yes it's a fascinating one for sure! All a question if mankind can spread off this rock before this rock gets taken out in some fashion. Otherwise it's on to the next dominant species. Cats. Always cats.
Andre Norton wrote a novel about cats taking over. It all went well until those pesky monkeys showed up again. You can get it as a free ePub
Post apocalyptic game of Cat, Monkey, Dog Monkey rides dog Dog chases cat Cat confuses Monkey
On the first two points (time limiting letters and withdrawing letters) the fact that the rules are silent appears to give the chairman of the 1922 Committee (who, under the rules, is responsible for settling arguments about the rules) plenty of latitude for deciding these points.
He appears to have less latitude once the numbers are achieved. The wording of that rule is pretty specific that, once the threshold has been reached, the chairman must inform the leader that there will be a vote of confidence and must, in consultation with the leader, set the date for the vote. The let out there is that the date must be as soon as possible "in the circumstances prevailing". So the chairman could, for example, decide that the circumstances of the Brexit negotiations mean that "as soon as possible" is after the negotiations are concluded.
I'm pretty sure that, once the numbers are achieved, he could quite legitimately go back to MPs who had sent the letters and ask them whether they had changed their minds. Indeed he might consider it his duty to do so. Who is going to challenge him, and how could they do so even if they wanted to?
I worry about that more than solar flares. I sometimes wonder if it would be safer to "mine" clathrates and burn them to CO2 which is a much weaker greenhouse gas than methane.
China claims breakthrough in mining 'flammable ice'
The Japanese have been making similar claims, on and off, for a few years now. Making the process cost effective could take some time, and is likely to be trumped by the development of cheaper renewables.
(edit - and in any event, the reserves are so enormous, that the idea of burning them as a 'safety measure' is a complete non starter.)
Ahhhhhhh apocalyptic scenarios are fun. Tenerife falling into the sea and drowning the east coast of the USA is another old chestnut.
These days with the internet and global TV, I want to try and organise the entire population of China to jump up and down in time to see if they can make a tsumani wave the would wipe out Los Angeles. Of course, we would need to evacuate the US west coast first...
Or is it an earthquake rather than a tsunami?
A meteorite strike that slowed the earth's rotation would be fun. Destruction on a global scale and then the survivors finding the habitable zones and the oceans themselves migrating. A Gamma Ray burster would also be a bit of a game over if it was within 5000 light years. Or the universe could just go through a phase shift and we'd know nothing about it as we blinked out of existence.
Just hope that IK Pegasi does not go supernova (Type 1a) as it is on our doorstep, cosmically speaking.
It would be damaging for sure but probably not as damaging as a dinosaur killer asteroid strike, it's far enough away that it would just be very destructive as opposed to ELE.
Yes. Have you looked at the theories about the formation of the Siberian Traps? Some people theorise a focused shock wave from the Chicxulub / Yucatan strike may have set them off. A cosmic double-whammy for life on Earth at the time.
Yes it's a fascinating one for sure! All a question if mankind can spread off this rock before this rock gets taken out in some fashion. Otherwise it's on to the next dominant species. Cats. Always cats.
Andre Norton wrote a novel about cats taking over. It all went well until those pesky monkeys showed up again. You can get it as a free ePub
I've made a couple of silly errors in recent months, so you're not alone.
Mandelson receives an EU pension, which I believe has a condition of not doing anything contrary to EU interests. He's a smart fellow. But not a trustworthy one.
I believe the civil service thought he was a very competent minister.
When Gordon Brown swallowed his pride and brought back Mandelson to be DPM he effectively ran the country for several months during an extremely difficult time with a completely dysfunctional government notionally led by someone incapable of making a decision. So he has relevant experience there too.
Mandelson for Tory leader? A whole new meaning to the phrase "Red Tories"
Having said that, he would probably do the job better than the current shower and bear in mind that I do not like Mandelson. I met him once. It was enough for a life time.
You're lucky. I was at school with him.
By the way, accounts I have seen of what happened when Mandelson was at school, apparently written by others who were at the school at the same time, are not entirely accurate.
What was he like?
I wish I had a colour photo with him in it. My memory is that he was ginger at school! I'd love to know if that is my memory playing tricks or if he has been dying his hair for years.
More seriously, he was always very political, very left wing and very oily. Always finding something to rebel against. Played a role in the abolition of prefects at Hendon County (although the account of this online by Steve Howell is somewhat inaccurate). I don't remember him having any girlfriends but there was no hint he was gay, although, as gays were still described as queers, that isn't surprising.
Never liked him. And the one-eyed approach Mandelson and other left-wingers at the school (including some of the staff) took to the USSR (which could do no wrong and where all human rights abuses were ignored) and the contrast to his approach to elected right wing governments elsewhere (which should be overthrown) was a major factor in the fact that I never backed the Labour party when I was a teenager.
He obviously moved to the right as he got older. The positions he adopted as an active politician are a long way to the right of his positions whilst he was at school.
Ahhhhhhh apocalyptic scenarios are fun. Tenerife falling into the sea and drowning the east coast of the USA is another old chestnut.
These days with the internet and global TV, I want to try and organise the entire population of China to jump up and down in time to see if they can make a tsumani wave the would wipe out Los Angeles. Of course, we would need to evacuate the US west coast first...
Or is it an earthquake rather than a tsunami?
A meteorite strike that slowed the earth's rotation would be fun. Destruction on a global scale and then the survivors finding the habitable zones and the oceans themselves migrating. A Gamma Ray burster would also be a bit of a game over if it was within 5000 light years. Or the universe could just go through a phase shift and we'd know nothing about it as we blinked out of existence.
Just hope that IK Pegasi does not go supernova (Type 1a) as it is on our doorstep, cosmically speaking.
It would be damaging for sure but probably not as damaging as a dinosaur killer asteroid strike, it's far enough away that it would just be very destructive as opposed to ELE.
Yes. Have you looked at the theories about the formation of the Siberian Traps? Some people theorise a focused shock wave from the Chicxulub / Yucatan strike may have set them off. A cosmic double-whammy for life on Earth at the time.
Yes it's a fascinating one for sure! All a question if mankind can spread off this rock before this rock gets taken out in some fashion. Otherwise it's on to the next dominant species. Cats. Always cats.
Andre Norton wrote a novel about cats taking over. It all went well until those pesky monkeys showed up again. You can get it as a free ePub
I've made a couple of silly errors in recent months, so you're not alone.
Mandelson receives an EU pension, which I believe has a condition of not doing anything contrary to EU interests. He's a smart fellow. But not a trustworthy one.
I believe the civil service thought he was a very competent minister.
When Gordon Brown swallowed his pride and brought back Mandelson to be DPM he effectively ran the country for several months during an extremely difficult time with a completely dysfunctional government notionally led by someone incapable of making a decision. So he has relevant experience there too.
Mandelson for Tory leader? A whole new meaning to the phrase "Red Tories"
Having said that, he would probably do the job better than the current shower and bear in mind that I do not like Mandelson. I met him once. It was enough for a life time.
You're lucky. I was at school with him.
By the way, accounts I have seen of what happened when Mandelson was at school, apparently written by others who were at the school at the same time, are not entirely accurate.
What was he like?
Never liked him. And the one-eyed approach Mandelson and other left-wingers at the school (including some of the staff) took to the USSR (which could do no wrong and where all human rights abuses were ignored) and the contrast to his approach to elected right wing governments elsewhere (which should be overthrown) was a major factor in the fact that I never backed the Labour party when I was a teenager.
Recently asked my No2 grandson what he was 'doing' in history, since he's about to start his GCSE course in the subject. He said the Great Dictators and, after a bit of discussion was genuinely surprised to be told that in my youth Stalin was often regarded very positively.
I dont know what they teach them in school these days!
Recently asked my No2 grandson what he was 'doing' in history, since he's about to start his GCSE course in the subject. He said the Great Dictators and, after a bit of discussion was genuinely surprised to be told that in my youth Stalin was often regarded very positively.
He still is regarded very positively by some, for example:
For all its brutalities and failures, communism in the Soviet Union, eastern Europe and elsewhere delivered rapid industrialisation, mass education, job security and huge advances in social and gender equality. It encompassed genuine idealism and commitment, captured even by critical films and books of the post-Stalin era such as Wajda's Man of Marble and Rybakov's Children of the Arbat. Its existence helped to drive up welfare standards in the west, boosted the anticolonial movement and provided a powerful counterweight to western global domination.
This topic is clearly going to be up front and centre for the next few weeks. Not sure what the government might consider doing in the medium term to reduce the number of empty homes. In the short term I expect the police might have to be dealing with quite a lot of protest-squatting in the royal borough.
I've made a couple of silly errors in recent months, so you're not alone.
Mandelson receives an EU pension, which I believe has a condition of not doing anything contrary to EU interests. He's a smart fellow. But not a trustworthy one.
I would have thought that would fall foul of TUPE legislation. Simply, you can't put restrictions like that on pensions. (Or rather, you can, but it'll get struck down on the courts.)
I've made a couple of silly errors in recent months, so you're not alone.
Mandelson receives an EU pension, which I believe has a condition of not doing anything contrary to EU interests. He's a smart fellow. But not a trustworthy one.
I would have thought that would fall foul of TUPE legislation. Simply, you can't put restrictions like that on pensions. (Or rather, you can, but it'll get struck down on the courts.)
I've made a couple of silly errors in recent months, so you're not alone.
Mandelson receives an EU pension, which I believe has a condition of not doing anything contrary to EU interests. He's a smart fellow. But not a trustworthy one.
I would have thought that would fall foul of TUPE legislation. Simply, you can't put restrictions like that on pensions. (Or rather, you can, but it'll get struck down on the courts.)
This "end of the world" stuff is a little tiresome.
In spite what you see and hear in may places the would is getting better and better in so many ways it is hart to keep up, global poverty is falling rapidly, overall inequality is decreasing, life expectancy is rising, freedom is spreading and we are all living longer, helthear, happier lives.
And a link as a bonus, despite what you may see in the news papers war is becoming much less common. Anybody that needs chairing-up please read this:
Genuinely shocked that the UK has agreed to follow the EU's Brexit talks timetable. Didn't see that one coming.
It turns out that all the pre-election tough guy talk was designed solely to pull the wool over voters' eyes. It's actually good news, because it may indicate that the government never believed some of the other nonsense it's been coming out with.
Genuinely shocked that the UK has agreed to follow the EU's Brexit talks timetable. Didn't see that one coming.
It turns out that all the pre-election tough guy talk was designed solely to pull the wool over voters' eyes. It's actually good news, because it may indicate that the government never believed some of the other nonsense it's been coming out with.
I know - we are awful at everything and the Eurocrats are marvellous, enlightened and so clever. I'm surprised we could tie our own shoelaces before we joined the common market.
I've made a couple of silly errors in recent months, so you're not alone.
Mandelson receives an EU pension, which I believe has a condition of not doing anything contrary to EU interests. He's a smart fellow. But not a trustworthy one.
I would have thought that would fall foul of TUPE legislation. Simply, you can't put restrictions like that on pensions. (Or rather, you can, but it'll get struck down on the courts.)
..and you'd appeal upwards to ... the ECJ.
The EU has no jurisdiction in that area, so it would end up in the Supreme Court in the UK.
Genuinely shocked that the UK has agreed to follow the EU's Brexit talks timetable. Didn't see that one coming.
It turns out that all the pre-election tough guy talk was designed solely to pull the wool over voters' eyes. It's actually good news, because it may indicate that the government never believed some of the other nonsense it's been coming out with.
I know - we are awful at everything and the Eurocrats are marvellous, enlightened and so clever. I'm surprised we could tie our own shoelaces before we joined the common market.
I've made a couple of silly errors in recent months, so you're not alone.
Mandelson receives an EU pension, which I believe has a condition of not doing anything contrary to EU interests. He's a smart fellow. But not a trustworthy one.
I would have thought that would fall foul of TUPE legislation. Simply, you can't put restrictions like that on pensions. (Or rather, you can, but it'll get struck down on the courts.)
..and you'd appeal upwards to ... the ECJ.
I'm interested as to which bit of TUPE RCS thinks covers this?
Genuinely shocked that the UK has agreed to follow the EU's Brexit talks timetable. Didn't see that one coming.
It turns out that all the pre-election tough guy talk was designed solely to pull the wool over voters' eyes. It's actually good news, because it may indicate that the government never believed some of the other nonsense it's been coming out with.
I know - we are awful at everything and the Eurocrats are marvellous, enlightened and so clever. I'm surprised we could tie our own shoelaces before we joined the common market.
Genuinely shocked that the UK has agreed to follow the EU's Brexit talks timetable. Didn't see that one coming.
It turns out that all the pre-election tough guy talk was designed solely to pull the wool over voters' eyes. It's actually good news, because it may indicate that the government never believed some of the other nonsense it's been coming out with.
I know - we are awful at everything and the Eurocrats are marvellous, enlightened and so clever. I'm surprised we could tie our own shoelaces before we joined the common market.
I think this comment is so wonderfully British, on Darren Osborne, the Finsbury Park suspect
Neighbours told of their shock after seeing pictures of Osborne being arrested by police. Dave Ashford, 52, said: ‘Someone called me and said it was him and I said ‘It can’t be’. Then I saw the picture on the news and said ‘S***, it’s him’.’
Another neighbour said: ‘He had lived on the estate for a few years. He’s always been a complete c*** but this is really surprising.’
I've made a couple of silly errors in recent months, so you're not alone.
Mandelson receives an EU pension, which I believe has a condition of not doing anything contrary to EU interests. He's a smart fellow. But not a trustworthy one.
I would have thought that would fall foul of TUPE legislation. Simply, you can't put restrictions like that on pensions. (Or rather, you can, but it'll get struck down on the courts.)
..and you'd appeal upwards to ... the ECJ.
The EU has no jurisdiction in that area, so it would end up in the Supreme Court in the UK.
What, not over an EU pension?
The one that the EU insist we keep paying in to after we leave?
Genuinely shocked that the UK has agreed to follow the EU's Brexit talks timetable. Didn't see that one coming.
It turns out that all the pre-election tough guy talk was designed solely to pull the wool over voters' eyes. It's actually good news, because it may indicate that the government never believed some of the other nonsense it's been coming out with.
I know - we are awful at everything and the Eurocrats are marvellous, enlightened and so clever. I'm surprised we could tie our own shoelaces before we joined the common market.
Not my fault that Davis either lied or had no idea what he was talking about:
Set your clocks by this:
Throughout the negations the EU side will spin, leak and brief on how awful the Uk is at the process - this will be hyped in the media and elsewhere by sympathetic "useful idiots" - - just in case anyone else gets the idea that leaving might be a good thing.
After we leave our future economic success - which will happen assuming we don't have a Marxist government - will be spun against by our EU "friends" - just in case anyone else gets the idea that leaving might be a good thing. Much like how the EU denies that us being out of the Euro has given us benefits.
From the Uk side - the Brexit team will probably spin all the way too.
Genuinely shocked that the UK has agreed to follow the EU's Brexit talks timetable. Didn't see that one coming.
It turns out that all the pre-election tough guy talk was designed solely to pull the wool over voters' eyes. It's actually good news, because it may indicate that the government never believed some of the other nonsense it's been coming out with.
I know - we are awful at everything and the Eurocrats are marvellous, enlightened and so clever. I'm surprised we could tie our own shoelaces before we joined the common market.
Not my fault that Davis either lied or had no idea what he was talking about:
Set your clocks by this:
Throughout the negations the EU side will spin, leak and brief on how awful the Uk is at the process - this will be hyped in the media and elsewhere by sympathetic "useful idiots" - - just in case anyone else gets the idea that leaving might be a good thing.
After we leave our future economic success - which will happen assuming we don't have a Marxist government - will be spun against by our EU "friends" - just in case anyone else gets the idea that leaving might be a good thing. Much like how the EU denies that us being out of the Euro has given us benefits.
From the Uk side - the Brexit team will probably spin all the way too.
No-one in the EU forced Davis to say that there would be the row of the summer over the sequencing of the talks. That was a decision he took, no doubt for electoral purposes.
Genuinely shocked that the UK has agreed to follow the EU's Brexit talks timetable. Didn't see that one coming.
It turns out that all the pre-election tough guy talk was designed solely to pull the wool over voters' eyes. It's actually good news, because it may indicate that the government never believed some of the other nonsense it's been coming out with.
I know - we are awful at everything and the Eurocrats are marvellous, enlightened and so clever. I'm surprised we could tie our own shoelaces before we joined the common market.
Not my fault that Davis either lied or had no idea what he was talking about:
Set your clocks by this:
Throughout the negations the EU side will spin, leak and brief on how awful the Uk is at the process - this will be hyped in the media and elsewhere by sympathetic "useful idiots" - - just in case anyone else gets the idea that leaving might be a good thing.
After we leave our future economic success - which will happen assuming we don't have a Marxist government - will be spun against by our EU "friends" - just in case anyone else gets the idea that leaving might be a good thing. Much like how the EU denies that us being out of the Euro has given us benefits.
From the Uk side - the Brexit team will probably spin all the way too.
No-one in the EU forced Davis to say that there would be the row of the summer over the sequencing of the talks. That was a decision he took, no doubt for electoral purposes.
Yeah because that's what matters - the sequencing of the talks.
We agreed that our closest collaborators will start a dialogue on Ireland. The protection of the Good Friday agreement and the maintenance of the Common Travel Area are the most urgent issues to discuss.
Without exploring the UK's future relationship with the EU?
It's bumped and battered, the image transfer is low resolution, dust has settled on it before the enamel has dried baking in imperfections. Doesn't seem it could stand up to much of anything. I was fooled by the marketing images.
This couldn't be a more perfect metaphor if I made it myself.
Genuinely shocked that the UK has agreed to follow the EU's Brexit talks timetable. Didn't see that one coming.
It turns out that all the pre-election tough guy talk was designed solely to pull the wool over voters' eyes. It's actually good news, because it may indicate that the government never believed some of the other nonsense it's been coming out with.
I know - we are awful at everything and the Eurocrats are marvellous, enlightened and so clever. I'm surprised we could tie our own shoelaces before we joined the common market.
It's bumped and battered, the image transfer is low resolution, dust has settled on it before the enamel has dried baking in imperfections. Doesn't seem it could stand up to much of anything. I was fooled by the marketing images.
This couldn't be a more perfect metaphor if I made it myself.
It's not as good quality as Labour's immigration mugs from 2015.
Genuinely shocked that the UK has agreed to follow the EU's Brexit talks timetable. Didn't see that one coming.
It turns out that all the pre-election tough guy talk was designed solely to pull the wool over voters' eyes. It's actually good news, because it may indicate that the government never believed some of the other nonsense it's been coming out with.
I know - we are awful at everything and the Eurocrats are marvellous, enlightened and so clever. I'm surprised we could tie our own shoelaces before we joined the common market.
Not my fault that Davis either lied or had no idea what he was talking about:
Set your clocks by this:
Throughout the negations the EU side will spin, leak and brief on how awful the Uk is at the process - this will be hyped in the media and elsewhere by sympathetic "useful idiots" - - just in case anyone else gets the idea that leaving might be a good thing.
After we leave our future economic success - which will happen assuming we don't have a Marxist government - will be spun against by our EU "friends" - just in case anyone else gets the idea that leaving might be a good thing. Much like how the EU denies that us being out of the Euro has given us benefits.
From the Uk side - the Brexit team will probably spin all the way too.
No-one in the EU forced Davis to say that there would be the row of the summer over the sequencing of the talks. That was a decision he took, no doubt for electoral purposes.
Yeah because that's what matters - the sequencing of the talks.
Said nobody. Ever.
Er, Davis said it. He said it would be the row of the summer.
Genuinely shocked that the UK has agreed to follow the EU's Brexit talks timetable. Didn't see that one coming.
It turns out that all the pre-election tough guy talk was designed solely to pull the wool over voters' eyes. It's actually good news, because it may indicate that the government never believed some of the other nonsense it's been coming out with.
I know - we are awful at everything and the Eurocrats are marvellous, enlightened and so clever. I'm surprised we could tie our own shoelaces before we joined the common market.
Our aim is to have one week of negotiations every month. And use the time in between to work on proposals and exchange them.
So the 18 months is now down to 18 weeks.
Anyone still fancy setting a full FTA in that time period? I will be amazed if they can get the EU bill settled (unless it goes "£100bn please" and we go "Err.. ok")
Genuinely shocked that the UK has agreed to follow the EU's Brexit talks timetable. Didn't see that one coming.
It turns out that all the pre-election tough guy talk was designed solely to pull the wool over voters' eyes. It's actually good news, because it may indicate that the government never believed some of the other nonsense it's been coming out with.
I know - we are awful at everything and the Eurocrats are marvellous, enlightened and so clever. I'm surprised we could tie our own shoelaces before we joined the common market.
If he had caused 'the row of the summer' you'd have been one of the first to criticise him for being dangerously belligerent and obstructive.
I would have done. It would have been utterly destructive and self-harming. I am delighted he has caved so quickly.
Yup. Whatever the UK does or doesn't do criticism or ridicule will be the order of the day.
It's not the UK that merits ridicule and criticism, it is this totally inept Tory government. The two should not be confused. The UK actually deserves a whole lot better. For some reason best known to himself, but probably not unconnected to perceived electoral advantage, Davis promised the row of the summer over sequencing last month. He conceded the EU timetable on Day One of the talks. That makes him look ridiculous. But it is good news for the UK.
Genuinely shocked that the UK has agreed to follow the EU's Brexit talks timetable. Didn't see that one coming.
It turns out that all the pre-election tough guy talk was designed solely to pull the wool over voters' eyes. It's actually good news, because it may indicate that the government never believed some of the other nonsense it's been coming out with.
I know - we are awful at everything and the Eurocrats are marvellous, enlightened and so clever. I'm surprised we could tie our own shoelaces before we joined the common market.
Not my fault that Davis either lied or had no idea what he was talking about:
Set your clocks by this:
Throughout the negations the EU side will spin, leak and brief on how awful the Uk is at the process - this will be hyped in the media and elsewhere by sympathetic "useful idiots" - - just in case anyone else gets the idea that leaving might be a good thing.
After we leave our future economic success - which will happen assuming we don't have a Marxist government - will be spun against by our EU "friends" - just in case anyone else gets the idea that leaving might be a good thing. Much like how the EU denies that us being out of the Euro has given us benefits.
From the Uk side - the Brexit team will probably spin all the way too.
Yes, this post. All of this. Most definitely ... this.
Genuinely shocked that the UK has agreed to follow the EU's Brexit talks timetable. Didn't see that one coming.
It turns out that all the pre-election tough guy talk was designed solely to pull the wool over voters' eyes. It's actually good news, because it may indicate that the government never believed some of the other nonsense it's been coming out with.
I know - we are awful at everything and the Eurocrats are marvellous, enlightened and so clever. I'm surprised we could tie our own shoelaces before we joined the common market.
If he had caused 'the row of the summer' you'd have been one of the first to criticise him for being dangerously belligerent and obstructive.
IIRC when Davis said "row of the summer" he was specifically referring to the suggested €100bn divorce fee, which we must accept, according to the EU, before they will even consider Free Trade Agreements.
If the EU really does demand this kind of cash, with no intention of compromising, then Davis will be proven right. It will be a huge row - and the talks will collapse
Genuinely shocked that the UK has agreed to follow the EU's Brexit talks timetable. Didn't see that one coming.
It turns out that all the pre-election tough guy talk was designed solely to pull the wool over voters' eyes. It's actually good news, because it may indicate that the government never believed some of the other nonsense it's been coming out with.
I know - we are awful at everything and the Eurocrats are marvellous, enlightened and so clever. I'm surprised we could tie our own shoelaces before we joined the common market.
If he had caused 'the row of the summer' you'd have been one of the first to criticise him for being dangerously belligerent and obstructive.
IIRC when Davis said "row of the summer" he was specifically referring to the suggested €100bn divorce fee, which we must accept, according to the EU, before they will even consider Free Trade Agreements.
If the EU really does demand this kind of cash, with no intention of compromising, then Davis will be proven right. It will be a huge row - and the talks will collapse
It's bumped and battered, the image transfer is low resolution, dust has settled on it before the enamel has dried baking in imperfections. Doesn't seem it could stand up to much of anything. I was fooled by the marketing images.
This couldn't be a more perfect metaphor if I made it myself.
It's not as good quality as Labour's immigration mugs from 2015.
Which were farcical considering it was Blair's immigration policy and failure to impose transition controls in 2004 which led the UK to vote Leave in the first place
This was made very clear a while back. And it provides plenty of wriggle room if talks are proceeding well. The government knew that, but sought to create the impression that it was spoiling for a fight as part of its failed, Rule Britannia, We Will Fight Them On the Beaches, White Cliffs of Dover electoral strategy.
Genuinely shocked that the UK has agreed to follow the EU's Brexit talks timetable. Didn't see that one coming.
It turns out that all the pre-election tough guy talk was designed solely to pull the wool over voters' eyes. It's actually good news, because it may indicate that the government never believed some of the other nonsense it's been coming out with.
I know - we are awful at everything and the Eurocrats are marvellous, enlightened and so clever. I'm surprised we could tie our own shoelaces before we joined the common market.
If he had caused 'the row of the summer' you'd have been one of the first to criticise him for being dangerously belligerent and obstructive.
IIRC when Davis said "row of the summer" he was specifically referring to the suggested €100bn divorce fee, which we must accept, according to the EU, before they will even consider Free Trade Agreements.
If the EU really does demand this kind of cash, with no intention of compromising, then Davis will be proven right. It will be a huge row - and the talks will collapse
My memory could be faulty, but I swear I saw a clip of Davis referring specifically to the money.
Either way, this is boring processology. The money is not. That really will be the row of the summer. If the EU insists on anything like €100bn, it will be Crash Brexit.
The price of a crash Brexit to the UK economy will be far, far higher than £100 billion.
Genuinely shocked that the UK has agreed to follow the EU's Brexit talks timetable. Didn't see that one coming.
It turns out that all the pre-election tough guy talk was designed solely to pull the wool over voters' eyes. It's actually good news, because it may indicate that the government never believed some of the other nonsense it's been coming out with.
I know - we are awful at everything and the Eurocrats are marvellous, enlightened and so clever. I'm surprised we could tie our own shoelaces before we joined the common market.
If he had caused 'the row of the summer' you'd have been one of the first to criticise him for being dangerously belligerent and obstructive.
I would have done. It would have been utterly destructive and self-harming. I am delighted he has caved so quickly.
Yup. Whatever the UK does or doesn't do criticism or ridicule will be the order of the day.
It's not the UK that merits ridicule and criticism, it is this totally inept Tory government. The two should not be confused. The UK actually deserves a whole lot better. For some reason best known to himself, but probably not unconnected to perceived electoral advantage, Davis promised the row of the summer over sequencing last month. He conceded the EU timetable on Day One of the talks. That makes him look ridiculous. But it is good news for the UK.
If you put aside your partisan bluster for a second, you might notice this is all carefully chronographed. We say their timetable, they say "sufficient progress".
Both sides have moved on this. And the deal will only be signed and sealed, as one, at the end.
I really wouldn't get too excited about the noise and posturing.
Comments
She's proven herself a poor campaigner and the Conservatives would need a lot of convincing to allow herself to go into another GE. But as a Prime Minister prior to the GE her approvals were good and, if she can get through the current squall, she should continue.
Not sure how much use it'd actually be in an apocalypse scenario.
But, I think they've seen too much Walking Dead.
Just to show what he's made of
Big_G_NorthWales said:
All today the anecdotes have been moving towards labour and for weeks now I have been very concerned at the way the conservative campaign has just been hopeless.
I have seen so many today with optimistic seat numbers for the conservatives but I think we are heading into hung parliament territory. It would be the irony of all ironies if Ruth conquered Scotland and Theresa lost seats in England
I hope I am wrong
By the way, accounts I have seen of what happened when Mandelson was at school, apparently written by others who were at the school at the same time, are not entirely accurate.
These election-winning Blairites get everywhere, don't they Nick.
Hoist, and own petard spring to mind.
(edit... not to mention hubris and nemesis.)
https://www.google.co.uk/amp/www.telegraph.co.uk/films/2017/06/19/theresa-may-branded-worst-pm-living-memory-pamela-anderson/amp/
I never really minded Mandy despite never supporting him.
He always struck me as being like Osborne in that both not so secretly loved being the Prince of Darkness, and had that little twinkle in the eye when they were being condemned as masters of the dark arts.
I'm not sure whether that's a criticism or a compliment... maybe just a comment that they appeared exceptionally self aware in the rhino-skinned political world.
He is also the only "celeb" to have influenced my fashion choices (on a conscious level anyway). When Brown brought him back, he wore a rather nice red pullover with his suit on the walk up Downing Street. I immediately went out and bought one as it sold me on the suit/jumper combo.
On the first two points (time limiting letters and withdrawing letters) the fact that the rules are silent appears to give the chairman of the 1922 Committee (who, under the rules, is responsible for settling arguments about the rules) plenty of latitude for deciding these points.
He appears to have less latitude once the numbers are achieved. The wording of that rule is pretty specific that, once the threshold has been reached, the chairman must inform the leader that there will be a vote of confidence and must, in consultation with the leader, set the date for the vote. The let out there is that the date must be as soon as possible "in the circumstances prevailing". So the chairman could, for example, decide that the circumstances of the Brexit negotiations mean that "as soon as possible" is after the negotiations are concluded.
Monkey rides dog
Dog chases cat
Cat confuses Monkey
Making the process cost effective could take some time, and is likely to be trumped by the development of cheaper renewables.
(edit - and in any event, the reserves are so enormous, that the idea of burning them as a 'safety measure' is a complete non starter.)
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/live/2017/jun/19/north-london-van-incident-finsbury-park-casualties-collides-pedestrians-live-updates
More seriously, he was always very political, very left wing and very oily. Always finding something to rebel against. Played a role in the abolition of prefects at Hendon County (although the account of this online by Steve Howell is somewhat inaccurate). I don't remember him having any girlfriends but there was no hint he was gay, although, as gays were still described as queers, that isn't surprising.
Never liked him. And the one-eyed approach Mandelson and other left-wingers at the school (including some of the staff) took to the USSR (which could do no wrong and where all human rights abuses were ignored) and the contrast to his approach to elected right wing governments elsewhere (which should be overthrown) was a major factor in the fact that I never backed the Labour party when I was a teenager.
He obviously moved to the right as he got older. The positions he adopted as an active politician are a long way to the right of his positions whilst he was at school.
I dont know what they teach them in school these days!
For all its brutalities and failures, communism in the Soviet Union, eastern Europe and elsewhere delivered rapid industrialisation, mass education, job security and huge advances in social and gender equality. It encompassed genuine idealism and commitment, captured even by critical films and books of the post-Stalin era such as Wajda's Man of Marble and Rybakov's Children of the Arbat. Its existence helped to drive up welfare standards in the west, boosted the anticolonial movement and provided a powerful counterweight to western global domination.
For a lot of them, that justifies any amount of mass murder. Including Diane Abbott, by her own admission.
https://www.theguardian.com/comment/story/0,,1710890,00.html
This topic is clearly going to be up front and centre for the next few weeks. Not sure what the government might consider doing in the medium term to reduce the number of empty homes. In the short term I expect the police might have to be dealing with quite a lot of protest-squatting in the royal borough.
The feckless Left layabouts won't subsidise themselves, you know.
Different for me .... Queen's Birthday Bank Holiday today.
I've got a nice on-call rate to cover me for Day Four of the tuna season.
https://twitter.com/DailyMailUK/status/876840013085933571
And a link as a bonus, despite what you may see in the news papers war is becoming much less common. Anybody that needs chairing-up please read this:
https://reason.com/archives/2017/05/30/fewer-people-exposed-to-horrors-of-war
It turns out that all the pre-election tough guy talk was designed solely to pull the wool over voters' eyes. It's actually good news, because it may indicate that the government never believed some of the other nonsense it's been coming out with.
https://twitter.com/faisalislam/status/876849896032174085
Neighbours told of their shock after seeing pictures of Osborne being arrested by police.
Dave Ashford, 52, said: ‘Someone called me and said it was him and I said ‘It can’t be’. Then I saw the picture on the news and said ‘S***, it’s him’.’
Another neighbour said: ‘He had lived on the estate for a few years. He’s always been a complete c*** but this is really surprising.’
http://metro.co.uk/2017/06/19/finsbury-park-suspect-named-as-father-of-four-darren-osborne-6720145/
The one that the EU insist we keep paying in to after we leave?
Throughout the negations the EU side will spin, leak and brief on how awful the Uk is at the process - this will be hyped in the media and elsewhere by sympathetic "useful idiots" - - just in case anyone else gets the idea that leaving might be a good thing.
After we leave our future economic success - which will happen assuming we don't have a Marxist government - will be spun against by our EU "friends" - just in case anyone else gets
the idea that leaving might be a good thing. Much like how the EU denies that us being out of the Euro has given us benefits.
From the Uk side - the Brexit team will probably spin all the way too.
http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-17-1704_en.htm
Said nobody. Ever.
Oh the sequencing of the talks.
And the worst ?
Oh the sequencing of the talks.
We agreed that our closest collaborators will start a dialogue on Ireland. The protection of the Good Friday agreement and the maintenance of the Common Travel Area are the most urgent issues to discuss.
Without exploring the UK's future relationship with the EU?
It's bumped and battered, the image transfer is low resolution, dust has settled on it before the enamel has dried baking in imperfections. Doesn't seem it could stand up to much of anything. I was fooled by the marketing images.
This couldn't be a more perfect metaphor if I made it myself.
Anyone still fancy setting a full FTA in that time period? I will be amazed if they can get the EU bill settled (unless it goes "£100bn please" and we go "Err.. ok")
When will BMW and Mercedes force the EU a good deal?
https://twitter.com/paulwaugh/status/876850742472175617
https://twitter.com/davidallengreen/status/876852830384128000
Looks like the EU have a sensible chap in the room - not one of those Euro loons like Junker or Merkel.
Their way or the highway.
Sweltering today. One is glad one is not in London.
Hammond's the value, I suspect.
Both sides have moved on this. And the deal will only be signed and sealed, as one, at the end.
I really wouldn't get too excited about the noise and posturing.