politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » The Tories needs to resolve divisions soon because divided parties struggle at election time
One of the things that we know from previous elections is that parties that are seen to be divided can get punished by the voters. That was John Major’s fate at GE1997 after five difficult years of one split after another.
Labour party fighting like cats in a sack under Ed Milliband. Result: 9.3m votes. Jeremy Corbyn takes over, pours oil on troubled wter. Journalists in despair at finding a single dissenting voice. Result 12.8 m votes. Divided parties are punished at the ballot box. Well known fact.
Labour party fighting like cats in a sack under Ed Milliband. Result: 9.3m votes. Jeremy Corbyn takes over, pours oil on troubled wter. Journalists in despair at finding a single dissenting voice. Result 12.8 m votes. Divided parties are punished at the ballot box. Well known fact.
So the shadow cabinet resigning and losing a vote of no confidence in the PLP is a united party?
Labour party fighting like cats in a sack under Ed Milliband. Result: 9.3m votes. Jeremy Corbyn takes over, pours oil on troubled wter. Journalists in despair at finding a single dissenting voice. Result 12.8 m votes. Divided parties are punished at the ballot box. Well known fact.
So the shadow cabinet resigning and losing a vote of no confidence in the PLP is a united party?
Labour party fighting like cats in a sack under Ed Milliband. Result: 9.3m votes. Jeremy Corbyn takes over, pours oil on troubled wter. Journalists in despair at finding a single dissenting voice. Result 12.8 m votes. Divided parties are punished at the ballot box. Well known fact.
So the shadow cabinet resigning and losing a vote of no confidence in the PLP is a united party?
That was what pushed Lab to 23%.
The Corbyn critics shut up during the election campaign and gave the appearance of a united party. It wasn't united but the critics wanted Corbyn to own the blame rather than it be assigned to their undermining him. Obviously, that's not quite how it turned out.
And no, Labour isn't a united party by any means, both in terms of Corbyn's position and in terms of setting policy at a Shadow Cabinet level. But Labour's not in government and for those not paying close attention, it looks (and is) a good deal more united than it was this time last year.
This may be overblown. It's true the blues aren't united, but either May stays and they have to unite ahead of election, or she goes and her successor gets some time.
On topic, Mike's comment that "the Tory splits will continue as long as the leadership position remains uncertain" is right, though the splits will also continue as long as the broad Brexit settlement is so uncertain. The two are probably related in any case.
However, of the two, the Brexit issue is the more important. The leadership question exists only in the background; Brexit is a daily challenge and one which can play out in any number of areas.
"The Tories needs to resolve divisions in the next 4 years and 10 and a bit months because divided parties struggle at election time" surely? If anyone thinks Davis getting fresh with Bojo's sister at a Pimms party is Tory in-fighting, they ain't seen nuttin' yet.
For betting purposes i'll treat as 99% fiction, tho
"There's a whole group of 2010/2015 intake MPs who want Theresa May to carry on for as long as possible, and the reason for that is that if there's an election now, they won't be in the running, they're not ready."
How would they get ready though? The next leader will be PM - you'd think then it would be someone in a top job already.
Mr. Quidder, if it had been 52/48 Remain, then yes. Not least because of the contemptuous attitude Cameron had, probably due to complacency.
Had it been 60/40 Remain, a minor split *might* have occurred, though worth recalling the purple tide was receding even then.
Perhaps Cameron's real misjudgement was seeing UKIP as a threat to the blues rather than a threat to the reds. But it's easy to consider things in hindsight.
Mr. Quidder, if it had been 52/48 Remain, then yes. Not least because of the contemptuous attitude Cameron had, probably due to complacency.
Had it been 60/40 Remain, a minor split *might* have occurred, though worth recalling the purple tide was receding even then.
Perhaps Cameron's real misjudgement was seeing UKIP as a threat to the blues rather than a threat to the reds. But it's easy to consider things in hindsight.
Zero Labour MPs moved over to UKIP. Two Conservative ones did. UKIP were a threat to the Conservative government, and possibly an existential one, because of the headbangers whose Europhobia outweighed any sense of party loyalty or good government.
I'm also amused by the idea that Cameron's attitude was 'contemptuous'.
F1: reading a BBC article on Formula E. Quite telling paragraph:
"The latest turbo hybrid F1 engines represent a revolutionary advance in technology but they are far from universally popular. Their detractors shrug off the 1,000bhp they produce, the fact they use 35% less fuel to do a grand prix, that they have increased thermal efficiency from 29% to a remarkable 50% in just four years, and focus instead on their muted sound and their high cost."
Talking about fuel and thermal efficiency in F1 is a bit like saying you visit a particular brothel because you like chatting to the receptionist. That said, he's right that many dislike the new engines because of the lower noise (never bothered me), and that's a bit daft too.
Mind you, the next line describes returning to old-fashioned engines as a delusional fantasy, so that does rather nail the colours to the mast.
On topic, Mike's comment that "the Tory splits will continue as long as the leadership position remains uncertain" is right, though the splits will also continue as long as the broad Brexit settlement is so uncertain. The two are probably related in any case.
However, of the two, the Brexit issue is the more important. The leadership question exists only in the background; Brexit is a daily challenge and one which can play out in any number of areas.
Will no deal eventually cause the refiguration in both main parties ? As for many walking away is an option.
F1: reading a BBC article on Formula E. Quite telling paragraph:
"The latest turbo hybrid F1 engines represent a revolutionary advance in technology but they are far from universally popular. Their detractors shrug off the 1,000bhp they produce, the fact they use 35% less fuel to do a grand prix, that they have increased thermal efficiency from 29% to a remarkable 50% in just four years, and focus instead on their muted sound and their high cost."
Talking about fuel and thermal efficiency in F1 is a bit like saying you visit a particular brothel because you like chatting to the receptionist. That said, he's right that many dislike the new engines because of the lower noise (never bothered me), and that's a bit daft too.
Mind you, the next line describes returning to old-fashioned engines as a delusional fantasy, so that does rather nail the colours to the mast.
Mr. Jessop, that's a fair point, but the voters were seeping more from Labour, no?
Yes, but the data about that was much more vague and wispy, and most relevant at the next election. On the other hand, he had a bunch of people determined to bring the party down from within, some of whom had previously brought the party down in Major's time.
The most obvious and immediate threat to the party was from the bastards. Remember that conference when Farage went somewhere down south and the rumours were a third Conservative MP was shifting over? (*) The pat could not stand much more of that.
Cameron should be congratulated by Conservatives for holding the referendum. Some of us may have voted remain, some of us may dislike the result, some of us may wish it never happened, but at least he gave us a vote.
(*) It'd be great to learn the true story behind that.
The problem with the "divided parties struggle" theory is that, for the past 10 years, the Lib Dems have been by far the most united party - there was rarely any plotting against Clegg or Farron even when the LibDems' fortunes were dire, and practically never any disputes over policy. Yet they've taken a hammering over the same period.
"TV was invented in America,” Mr. Gou said at the White House, before noting that products like LCD displays and similar technology were no longer made here."
I'd guess the bookies will quickly come to their own conclusion about whether that was a deliberate fraud after a quick glance at the betting patterns.
"some bookmakers have said they will pay out on the horses finishing first and second."
This bit ^ indicates it was more likely to be a cockup, not conspiracy.
Mr. Jessop, that's a fair point, but the voters were seeping more from Labour, no?
Yes, but the data about that was much more vague and wispy, and most relevant at the next election. On the other hand, he had a bunch of people determined to bring the party down from within, some of whom had previously brought the party down in Major's time.
The most obvious and immediate threat to the party was from the bastards. Remember that conference when Farage went somewhere down south and the rumours were a third Conservative MP was shifting over? (*) The pat could not stand much more of that.
Cameron should be congratulated by Conservatives for holding the referendum. Some of us may have voted remain, some of us may dislike the result, some of us may wish it never happened, but at least he gave us a vote.
(*) It'd be great to learn the true story behind that.
"Cameron should be congratulated by Conservatives for holding the referendum. Some of us may have voted remain, some of us may dislike the result, some of us may wish it never happened, but at least he gave us a vote"
I don't believe many people will think that in five years time! Even those who wanted the referendum and voted leave.
Rather odd thing to happen. The closest F1 equivalent was, I think, a season or two ago when Williams (if memory serves) somehow managed to put on three soft and one medium tyre on Bottas' car.
"TV was invented in America,” Mr. Gou said at the White House, before noting that products like LCD displays and similar technology were no longer made here."
It's arguable. AIUI Logie-Baird developed mechanical-scan TV, which was a technological dead end. (fx: checks Wiki). A couple of years later, Philo Farnsworth developed electronic TV in the US.
People had been working on transmitting films for years; Logie-Baird's was not the system that progressed technologically, even if it was the first to transmit. If you were to look back through 'modern' TV's evolutionary tree, it would start in the US.
Mr. Jessop, that's a fair point, but the voters were seeping more from Labour, no?
Yes, but the data about that was much more vague and wispy, and most relevant at the next election. On the other hand, he had a bunch of people determined to bring the party down from within, some of whom had previously brought the party down in Major's time.
The most obvious and immediate threat to the party was from the bastards. Remember that conference when Farage went somewhere down south and the rumours were a third Conservative MP was shifting over? (*) The pat could not stand much more of that.
Cameron should be congratulated by Conservatives for holding the referendum. Some of us may have voted remain, some of us may dislike the result, some of us may wish it never happened, but at least he gave us a vote.
(*) It'd be great to learn the true story behind that.
"Cameron should be congratulated by Conservatives for holding the referendum. Some of us may have voted remain, some of us may dislike the result, some of us may wish it never happened, but at least he gave us a vote"
I don't believe many people will think that in five years time! Even those who wanted the referendum and voted leave.
Perhaps not. But from the perspective of the Conservative Party, the alternate future where a referendum was not hold looked very bleak.
Mr. Jessop, that's a fair point, but the voters were seeping more from Labour, no?
Yes, but the data about that was much more vague and wispy, and most relevant at the next election. On the other hand, he had a bunch of people determined to bring the party down from within, some of whom had previously brought the party down in Major's time.
The most obvious and immediate threat to the party was from the bastards. Remember that conference when Farage went somewhere down south and the rumours were a third Conservative MP was shifting over? (*) The pat could not stand much more of that.
Cameron should be congratulated by Conservatives for holding the referendum. Some of us may have voted remain, some of us may dislike the result, some of us may wish it never happened, but at least he gave us a vote.
(*) It'd be great to learn the true story behind that.
"Cameron should be congratulated by Conservatives for holding the referendum. Some of us may have voted remain, some of us may dislike the result, some of us may wish it never happened, but at least he gave us a vote"
I don't believe many people will think that in five years time! Even those who wanted the referendum and voted leave.
Perhaps not. But from the perspective of the Conservative Party, the alternate future where a referendum was not hold looked very bleak.
Therein lies the problem. The referendum was all about what was right for the Conservative party, not for the country.
"TV was invented in America,” Mr. Gou said at the White House, before noting that products like LCD displays and similar technology were no longer made here."
Mr. Jessop, that's a fair point, but the voters were seeping more from Labour, no?
Yes, but the data about that was much more vague and wispy, and most relevant at the next election. On the other hand, he had a bunch of people determined to bring the party down from within, some of whom had previously brought the party down in Major's time.
The most obvious and immediate threat to the party was from the bastards. Remember that conference when Farage went somewhere down south and the rumours were a third Conservative MP was shifting over? (*) The pat could not stand much more of that.
Cameron should be congratulated by Conservatives for holding the referendum. Some of us may have voted remain, some of us may dislike the result, some of us may wish it never happened, but at least he gave us a vote.
(*) It'd be great to learn the true story behind that.
"Cameron should be congratulated by Conservatives for holding the referendum. Some of us may have voted remain, some of us may dislike the result, some of us may wish it never happened, but at least he gave us a vote"
I don't believe many people will think that in five years time! Even those who wanted the referendum and voted leave.
Perhaps not. But from the perspective of the Conservative Party, the alternate future where a referendum was not hold looked very bleak.
Therein lies the problem. The referendum was all about what was right for the Conservative party, not for the country.
Which just about sums up the Tories these days!
Nope. The referendum was held because there was significant popular demand for it.
Mr. Jessop, that's a fair point, but the voters were seeping more from Labour, no?
Yes, but the data about that was much more vague and wispy, and most relevant at the next election. On the other hand, he had a bunch of people determined to bring the party down from within, some of whom had previously brought the party down in Major's time.
The most obvious and immediate threat to the party was from the bastards. Remember that conference when Farage went somewhere down south and the rumours were a third Conservative MP was shifting over? (*) The pat could not stand much more of that.
Cameron should be congratulated by Conservatives for holding the referendum. Some of us may have voted remain, some of us may dislike the result, some of us may wish it never happened, but at least he gave us a vote.
(*) It'd be great to learn the true story behind that.
"Cameron should be congratulated by Conservatives for holding the referendum. Some of us may have voted remain, some of us may dislike the result, some of us may wish it never happened, but at least he gave us a vote"
I don't believe many people will think that in five years time! Even those who wanted the referendum and voted leave.
Perhaps not. But from the perspective of the Conservative Party, the alternate future where a referendum was not hold looked very bleak.
Therein lies the problem. The referendum was all about what was right for the Conservative party, not for the country.
Which just about sums up the Tories these days!
Nope. The referendum was held because there was significant popular demand for it.
So, if there is significant popular support for a second referendum once the Brexit details are known, no doubt you will support it.
On topic, Mike's comment that "the Tory splits will continue as long as the leadership position remains uncertain" is right, though the splits will also continue as long as the broad Brexit settlement is so uncertain. The two are probably related in any case.
However, of the two, the Brexit issue is the more important. The leadership question exists only in the background; Brexit is a daily challenge and one which can play out in any number of areas.
Will no deal eventually cause the refiguration in both main parties ? As for many walking away is an option.
Walking away has to be an option. Red lines need to mean read lines. The alternative is simply giving in to any EU demand that they insist on.
But no, for all that Brexit is important and though it might lead to defections in all directions of voters and, to a lesser extent, politicians, the party structure will probably survive the next decade more-or-less unchanged.
Mr. Jessop, that's a fair point, but the voters were seeping more from Labour, no?
Yes, but the data about that was much more vague and wispy, and most relevant at the next election. On the other hand, he had a bunch of people determined to bring the party down from within, some of whom had previously brought the party down in Major's time.
The most obvious and immediate threat to the party was from the bastards. Remember that conference when Farage went somewhere down south and the rumours were a third Conservative MP was shifting over? (*) The pat could not stand much more of that.
Cameron should be congratulated by Conservatives for holding the referendum. Some of us may have voted remain, some of us may dislike the result, some of us may wish it never happened, but at least he gave us a vote.
(*) It'd be great to learn the true story behind that.
"Cameron should be congratulated by Conservatives for holding the referendum. Some of us may have voted remain, some of us may dislike the result, some of us may wish it never happened, but at least he gave us a vote"
I don't believe many people will think that in five years time! Even those who wanted the referendum and voted leave.
Perhaps not. But from the perspective of the Conservative Party, the alternate future where a referendum was not hold looked very bleak.
Therein lies the problem. The referendum was all about what was right for the Conservative party, not for the country.
Which just about sums up the Tories these days!
Nope. The referendum was held because there was significant popular demand for it.
F1: reading a BBC article on Formula E. Quite telling paragraph:
"The latest turbo hybrid F1 engines represent a revolutionary advance in technology but they are far from universally popular. Their detractors shrug off the 1,000bhp they produce, the fact they use 35% less fuel to do a grand prix, that they have increased thermal efficiency from 29% to a remarkable 50% in just four years, and focus instead on their muted sound and their high cost."
Talking about fuel and thermal efficiency in F1 is a bit like saying you visit a particular brothel because you like chatting to the receptionist. That said, he's right that many dislike the new engines because of the lower noise (never bothered me), and that's a bit daft too.
Mind you, the next line describes returning to old-fashioned engines as a delusional fantasy, so that does rather nail the colours to the mast.
Mr. Jessop, that's a fair point, but the voters were seeping more from Labour, no?
Yes, but the data about that was much more vague and wispy, and most relevant at the next election. On the other hand, he had a bunch of people determined to bring the party down from within, some of whom had previously brought the party down in Major's time.
The most obvious and immediate threat to the party was from the bastards. Remember that conference when Farage went somewhere down south and the rumours were a third Conservative MP was shifting over? (*) The pat could not stand much more of that.
Cameron should be congratulated by Conservatives for holding the referendum. Some of us may have voted remain, some of us may dislike the result, some of us may wish it never happened, but at least he gave us a vote.
(*) It'd be great to learn the true story behind that.
"Cameron should be congratulated by Conservatives for holding the referendum. Some of us may have voted remain, some of us may dislike the result, some of us may wish it never happened, but at least he gave us a vote"
I don't believe many people will think that in five years time! Even those who wanted the referendum and voted leave.
Perhaps not. But from the perspective of the Conservative Party, the alternate future where a referendum was not hold looked very bleak.
Therein lies the problem. The referendum was all about what was right for the Conservative party, not for the country.
Which just about sums up the Tories these days!
Nope. The referendum was held because there was significant popular demand for it.
So, if there is significant popular support for a second referendum once the Brexit details are known, no doubt you will support it.
If there is significant popular support for a Rejoin referendum after we've left, of course I would support it.
F1: reading a BBC article on Formula E. Quite telling paragraph:
"The latest turbo hybrid F1 engines represent a revolutionary advance in technology but they are far from universally popular. Their detractors shrug off the 1,000bhp they produce, the fact they use 35% less fuel to do a grand prix, that they have increased thermal efficiency from 29% to a remarkable 50% in just four years, and focus instead on their muted sound and their high cost."
Talking about fuel and thermal efficiency in F1 is a bit like saying you visit a particular brothel because you like chatting to the receptionist. That said, he's right that many dislike the new engines because of the lower noise (never bothered me), and that's a bit daft too.
Mind you, the next line describes returning to old-fashioned engines as a delusional fantasy, so that does rather nail the colours to the mast.
Walking away has to be an option. Red lines need to mean read lines. The alternative is simply giving in to any EU demand that they insist on.
But no, for all that Brexit is important and though it might lead to defections in all directions of voters and, to a lesser extent, politicians, the party structure will probably survive the next decade more-or-less unchanged.
Theoretically yes. In practice there will be no deal offered so bad to be worth walking away from. The UK side is unfortunately undermining a relatively successful outcome by being in that mindset. It's not that kind of negotation.
In fact none of the apparent sticking points matter as far as the deal is concerned. The money is a haggle and manageable. We will want immigration from the EU, it's reciprocal for our citizens to the EU and in any case we have managed perfectly all right for the past 40 years. As there needs to be supranational oversight of the arrangements, the ECJ is as good a way to do it as any and, again, we have managed fine.
These are simply sticking points in terms of domestic politics and the way Brexit was sold to the British population. If we don't get control over our EU immigration, can't reject foreign courts and have to pay as much as before, but get less trade, prosperity, tax revenue for public services, influence and jobs and have to go through massive disruption on the way, then what's the point of Brexit? It's not a question the EU needs to answer. It's a question half the country has been asking for a year without a good answer from the promoters of Brexit.
What matters in terms of the deal is the stuff that isn't being discussed: what to do about nuclear waste, product certification, tariffs on automotive components, chlorinated chicken, financial regulation, aviation certification, fishing rights etc etc etc.
Mr. Jessop, that's a fair point, but the voters were seeping more from Labour, no?
Yes, but the data about that was much more vague and wispy, and most relevant at the next election. On the other hand, he had a bunch of people determined to bring the party down from within, some of whom had previously brought the party down in Major's time.
The most obvious and immediate threat to the party was from the bastards. Remember that conference when Farage went somewhere down south and the rumours were a third Conservative MP was shifting over? (*) The pat could not stand much more of that.
Cameron should be congratulated by Conservatives for holding the referendum. Some of us may have voted remain, some of us may dislike the result, some of us may wish it never happened, but at least he gave us a vote.
(*) It'd be great to learn the true story behind that.
"Cameron should be congratulated by Conservatives for holding the referendum. Some of us may have voted remain, some of us may dislike the result, some of us may wish it never happened, but at least he gave us a vote"
I don't believe many people will think that in five years time! Even those who wanted the referendum and voted leave.
Perhaps not. But from the perspective of the Conservative Party, the alternate future where a referendum was not hold looked very bleak.
Therein lies the problem. The referendum was all about what was right for the Conservative party, not for the country.
Which just about sums up the Tories these days!
Nope. The referendum was held because there was significant popular demand for it.
So, if there is significant popular support for a second referendum once the Brexit details are known, no doubt you will support it.
If there is significant popular support for a Rejoin referendum after we've left, of course I would support it.
Walking away has to be an option. Red lines need to mean read lines. The alternative is simply giving in to any EU demand that they insist on.
But no, for all that Brexit is important and though it might lead to defections in all directions of voters and, to a lesser extent, politicians, the party structure will probably survive the next decade more-or-less unchanged.
Theoretically yes. In practice there will be no deal offered so bad to be worth walking away from. The UK side is unfortunately undermining a relatively successful outcome by being in that mindset. It's not that kind of negotation.
In fact none of the apparent sticking points matter as far as the deal is concerned. The money is a haggle and manageable. We will want immigration from the EU, it's reciprocal for our citizens to the EU and in any case we have managed perfectly all right for the past 40 years. As there needs to be supranational oversight of the arrangements, the ECJ is as good a way to do it as any and, again, we have managed fine.
These are simply sticking points in terms of domestic politics and the way Brexit was sold to the British population. If we don't get control over our EU immigration, can't reject foreign courts and have to pay as much as before, but get less trade, prosperity, tax revenue for public services, influence and jobs and have to go through massive disruption on the way, then what's the point of Brexit? It's not a question the EU needs to answer. It's a question half the country has been asking for a year without a good answer from the promoters of Brexit.
What matters in terms of the deal is the stuff that isn't being discussed: what to do about nuclear waste, product certification, tariffs on automotive components, chlorinated chicken, financial regulation, aviation certification, fishing rights etc etc etc.
And this is why you are still in denial about Brexit and the fact it will happen.
Saying we have 'done fine' in regard to immigration, the ECJ oversight and how much we pay is arrogance in the extreme. Whilst I personally might be in favour of open borders, that is because I am in a privileged position whereby I am unaffected by it. That does not mean that for many people 'we have managed perfectly all right for the past 40 years'. We certainly haven't done alright as far as the ECJ is concerned, nor regarding the amount of money we have thrown away on Europhiles' vast vanity project.
And actually half the country has not been asking that question at all. Fanatics like you might have been but the majority of the country has just been getting on with things and has expected the Government and politicians on all sides to do the same.
Mr. Jessop, that's a fair point, but the voters were seeping more from Labour, no?
Yes, but the data about that was much more vague and wispy, and most relevant at the next election. On the other hand, he had a bunch of people determined to bring the party down from within, some of whom had previously brought the party down in Major's time.
The most obvious and immediate threat to the party was from the bastards. Remember that conference when Farage went somewhere down south and the rumours were a third Conservative MP was shifting over? (*) The pat could not stand much more of that.
Cameron should be congratulated by Conservatives for holding the referendum. Some of us may have voted remain, some of us may dislike the result, some of us may wish it never happened, but at least he gave us a vote.
(*) It'd be great to learn the true story behind that.
"Cameron should be congratulated by Conservatives for holding the referendum. Some of us may have voted remain, some of us may dislike the result, some of us may wish it never happened, but at least he gave us a vote"
I don't believe many people will think that in five years time! Even those who wanted the referendum and voted leave.
Perhaps not. But from the perspective of the Conservative Party, the alternate future where a referendum was not hold looked very bleak.
Therein lies the problem. The referendum was all about what was right for the Conservative party, not for the country.
Which just about sums up the Tories these days!
Nope. The referendum was held because there was significant popular demand for it.
So, if there is significant popular support for a second referendum once the Brexit details are known, no doubt you will support it.
If there is significant popular support for a Rejoin referendum after we've left, of course I would support it.
But that wasn't the question.
I assumed you were postulating a possible scenario.
An "overturn the first referendum" referendum is impossible, as it would require the Article 50 negotiations to yield two deals for the British people to choose between. That ain't gonna happen.
A Noel Edmonds referendum, on the other hand, is technically possible but would be dumb beyond belief (cf the Greek experience) and so the chances of Parliament actually requesting one are (to say the least) remote - they will take the Deal or No Deal decision themselves.
Mr. Jessop, that's a fair point, but the voters were seeping more from Labour, no?
Yes, but the data about that was much more vague and wispy, and most relevant at the next election. On the other hand, he had a bunch of people determined to bring the party down from within, some of whom had previously brought the party down in Major's time.
The most obvious and immediate threat to the party was from the bastards. Remember that conference when Farage went somewhere down south and the rumours were a third Conservative MP was shifting over? (*) The pat could not stand much more of that.
Cameron should be congratulated by Conservatives for holding the referendum. Some of us may have voted remain, some of us may dislike the result, some of us may wish it never happened, but at least he gave us a vote.
(*) It'd be great to learn the true story behind that.
"Cameron should be congratulated by Conservatives for holding the referendum. Some of us may have voted remain, some of us may dislike the result, some of us may wish it never happened, but at least he gave us a vote"
I don't believe many people will think that in five years time! Even those who wanted the referendum and voted leave.
Perhaps not. But from the perspective of the Conservative Party, the alternate future where a referendum was not hold looked very bleak.
It would have looked bleak for all the parties and the country as a whole. In fact given the direction of travel of the EU and our overwhelming antipathy towards that destination, it would have looked bleak for the whole of the EU.
I do not think any one of 650 MPs will want to take the decision. They will forever be held responsible by the opposite side. Much better pass the buck to the people with all the relevant information.
Theoretically yes. In practice there will be no deal offered so bad to be worth walking away from. The UK side is unfortunately undermining a relatively successful outcome by being in that mindset. It's not that kind of negotation.
In fact none of the apparent sticking points matter as far as the deal is concerned. The money is a haggle and manageable. We will want immigration from the EU, it's reciprocal for our citizens to the EU and in any case we have managed perfectly all right for the past 40 years. As there needs to be supranational oversight of the arrangements, the ECJ is as good a way to do it as any and, again, we have managed fine.
These are simply sticking points in terms of domestic politics and the way Brexit was sold to the British population. If we don't get control over our EU immigration, can't reject foreign courts and have to pay as much as before, but get less trade, prosperity, tax revenue for public services, influence and jobs and have to go through massive disruption on the way, then what's the point of Brexit? It's not a question the EU needs to answer. It's a question half the country has been asking for a year without a good answer from the promoters of Brexit.
What matters in terms of the deal is the stuff that isn't being discussed: what to do about nuclear waste, product certification, tariffs on automotive components, chlorinated chicken, financial regulation, aviation certification, fishing rights etc etc etc.
And this is why you are still in denial about Brexit and the fact it will happen.
Saying we have 'done fine' in regard to immigration, the ECJ oversight and how much we pay is arrogance in the extreme. Whilst I personally might be in favour of open borders, that is because I am in a privileged position whereby I am unaffected by it. That does not mean that for many people 'we have managed perfectly all right for the past 40 years'. We certainly haven't done alright as far as the ECJ is concerned, nor regarding the amount of money we have thrown away on Europhiles' vast vanity project.
And actually half the country has not been asking that question at all. Fanatics like you might have been but the majority of the country has just been getting on with things and has expected the Government and politicians on all sides to do the same.
Maybe you could read what I wrote? I have never been in denial that Brexit will happen, but I do have a real curiosity about how it's going to turn out and how the many contradictions are going to resolve themselves.
Mr. Jessop, that's a fair point, but the voters were seeping more from Labour, no?
Yes, but the data about that was much more vague and wispy, and most relevant at the next election. On the other hand, he had a bunch of people determined to bring the party down from within, some of whom had previously brought the party down in Major's time.
The most obvious and immediate threat to the party was from the bastards. Remember that conference when Farage went somewhere down south and the rumours were a third Conservative MP was shifting over? (*) The pat could not stand much more of that.
Cameron should be congratulated by Conservatives for holding the referendum. Some of us may have voted remain, some of us may dislike the result, some of us may wish it never happened, but at least he gave us a vote.
(*) It'd be great to learn the true story behind that.
"Cameron should be congratulated by Conservatives for holding the referendum. Some of us may have voted remain, some of us may dislike the result, some of us may wish it never happened, but at least he gave us a vote"
I don't believe many people will think that in five years time! Even those who wanted the referendum and voted leave.
Perhaps not. But from the perspective of the Conservative Party, the alternate future where a referendum was not hold looked very bleak.
It would have looked bleak for all the parties and the country as a whole. In fact given the direction of travel of the EU and our overwhelming antipathy towards that destination, it would have looked bleak for the whole of the EU.
48% Remain after 20 years of hollowing out of domestic pro-European politics does not indicate 'overwhelming antipathy' to the EU.
Nobody in the UK has a solution for how to leave the EU without undermining it and without diminishing ourselves. We could do one or the other but there isn't a majority in favour of becoming a supplicant and neither is there a majority in favour of becoming a geopolitical ally of Putin against the EU. Ultimately this conflict can only be resolved by getting a new pro-EU mandate and abandoning 20 years of drift, or by entering a long-term cycle of self-inflicted decline.
Mr. Jessop, that's a fair point, but the voters were seeping more from Labour, no?
Yes, but the data about that was much more vague and wispy, and most relevant at the next election. On the other hand, he had a bunch of people determined to bring the party down from within, some of whom had previously brought the party down in Major's time.
The most obvious and immediate threat to the party was from the bastards. Remember that conference when Farage went somewhere down south and the rumours were a third Conservative MP was shifting over? (*) The pat could not stand much more of that.
Cameron should be congratulated by Conservatives for holding the referendum. Some of us may have voted remain, some of us may dislike the result, some of us may wish it never happened, but at least he gave us a vote.
(*) It'd be great to learn the true story behind that.
"Cameron should be congratulated by Conservatives for holding the referendum. Some of us may have voted remain, some of us may dislike the result, some of us may wish it never happened, but at least he gave us a vote"
I don't believe many people will think that in five years time! Even those who wanted the referendum and voted leave.
Perhaps not. But from the perspective of the Conservative Party, the alternate future where a referendum was not hold looked very bleak.
It would have looked bleak for all the parties and the country as a whole. In fact given the direction of travel of the EU and our overwhelming antipathy towards that destination, it would have looked bleak for the whole of the EU.
48% Remain after 20 years of hollowing out of domestic pro-European politics does not indicate 'overwhelming antipathy' to the EU.
Nobody in the UK has a solution for how to leave the EU without undermining it and without diminishing ourselves. We could do one or the other but there isn't a majority in favour of becoming a supplicant and neither is there a majority in favour of becoming a geopolitical ally of Putin against the EU. Ultimately this conflict can only be resolved by getting a new pro-EU mandate and abandoning 20 years of drift, or by entering a long-term cycle of self-inflicted decline.
Yep your stuck record is still producing the same rubbish sounds.
Your fanatical belief in the EU blinds you both to its faults and to the alternatives. It is no wonder so many of us consider you an object of derision these days.
Labour party fighting like cats in a sack under Ed Milliband. Result: 9.3m votes. Jeremy Corbyn takes over, pours oil on troubled wter. Journalists in despair at finding a single dissenting voice. Result 12.8 m votes. Divided parties are punished at the ballot box. Well known fact.
So the shadow cabinet resigning and losing a vote of no confidence in the PLP is a united party?
Maybe you could read what I wrote? I have never been in denial that Brexit will happen, but I do have a real curiosity about how it's going to turn out and how the many contradictions are going to resolve themselves.
Our whole political system - indeed the whole politics of democracy - is filled with contradictions. Brexit is no different. Anyone who says they are certain about every aspect of their lives or their beliefs is usually a liar or a lunatic. In the end people on all sides of all debates compromise with their beliefs whilst pretending they have held true.
I am in a rare and fortunate position of knowing from long before the vote that my first, pure, preferences would never be achieved as I hold a very minority view. So for me compromise has already happened. I know there are plenty of people on the Remain side who are in a similar position for a slightly different reason.
The fools are those on either side who think all their dreams will come true and the outcome of this process will be exactly as they hoped - yes I am looking at you Williamglenn.
Mr. 565, indeed. Reminds me of this rather good Men in Black line (edited extra bit, timing's gone wonky and won't be fixed, it's at 5m55s on the clock at the bottom): https://youtu.be/QYouL4GBu5c?t=5m55s
The Scotland Yard investigation into the Grenfell Tower disaster has said there are “reasonable grounds” to suspect the council and the organisation that managed the flats of corporate manslaughter.
The Scotland Yard investigation into the Grenfell Tower disaster has said there are “reasonable grounds” to suspect the council and the organisation that managed the flats of corporate manslaughter.
I've been reading this research on the Grenfell Fire and the regulatory issues surrounding it. I think it's got a lot of serious and what would seem neutral commentary in it.
Mr. Jessop, that's a fair point, but the voters were seeping more from Labour, no?
Yes, but the data about that was much more vague and wispy, and most relevant at the next election. On the other hand, he had a bunch of people determined to bring the party down from within, some of whom had previously brought the party down in Major's time.
The most obvious and immediate threat to the party was from the bastards. Remember that conference when Farage went somewhere down south and the rumours were a third Conservative MP was shifting over? (*) The pat could not stand much more of that.
Cameron should be congratulated by Conservatives for holding the referendum. Some of us may have voted remain, some of us may dislike the result, some of us may wish it never happened, but at least he gave us a vote.
(*) It'd be great to learn the true story behind that.
"Cameron should be congratulated by Conservatives for holding the referendum. Some of us may have voted remain, some of us may dislike the result, some of us may wish it never happened, but at least he gave us a vote"
I don't believe many people will think that in five years time! Even those who wanted the referendum and voted leave.
If both (a) Brexit and (b) the EU, or its successor, manage to last out 20 or 30 or 40 years, I strongly suspect that the number of Brits surveying the scene and deciding it's shame the UK (or its successor) does not form a part of it, will be pretty small. Once the EU is a properly "foreign country", the idea of rejoining will have the same twist of fantasy and otherness about it, as does the concept of Britain becoming the 51st state today.
The great thing that the Tories have going for them is that they are actually right on many, if not most, of the political arguments.
Whatever Brexit might bring initially the real game is about the long term. The UK can negotiate progressively better deals, and although its pretty important that a good deal is struck at the first asking it's not vital.
The worst thing that Labour have going for them is that they choose to be on the wrong side of arguments.
The great thing that the Tories have going for them is that they are actually right on many, if not most, of the political arguments.
Whatever Brexit might bring initially the real game is about the long term. The UK can negotiate progressively better deals, and although its pretty important that a good deal is struck at the first asking it's not vital.
The worst thing that Labour have going for them is that they choose to be on the wrong side of arguments.
Pure speculation. The Tories have been on the wrong side of many arguments over the years, and continue to do so.
The world is becoming an increasingly liberal place, intolerant of petty nationalisms, though they do tend to lash out in their death throes. It is going to be an increasingly mobile world, and future generations will blame the Brexiteers for putting us out in the cold politically.
The great thing that the Tories have going for them is that they are actually right on many, if not most, of the political arguments.
Whatever Brexit might bring initially the real game is about the long term. The UK can negotiate progressively better deals, and although its pretty important that a good deal is struck at the first asking it's not vital.
The worst thing that Labour have going for them is that they choose to be on the wrong side of arguments.
Pure speculation. The Tories have been on the wrong side of many arguments over the years, and continue to do so.
The world is becoming an increasingly liberal place, intolerant of petty nationalisms, though they do tend to lash out in their death throes. It is going to be an increasingly mobile world, and future generations will blame the Brexiteers for putting us out in the cold politically.
The great thing that the Tories have going for them is that they are actually right on many, if not most, of the political arguments.
Whatever Brexit might bring initially the real game is about the long term. The UK can negotiate progressively better deals, and although its pretty important that a good deal is struck at the first asking it's not vital.
The worst thing that Labour have going for them is that they choose to be on the wrong side of arguments.
Pure speculation. The Tories have been on the wrong side of many arguments over the years, and continue to do so.
The world is becoming an increasingly liberal place, intolerant of petty nationalisms, though they do tend to lash out in their death throes. It is going to be an increasingly mobile world, and future generations will blame the Brexiteers for putting us out in the cold politically.
If both (a) Brexit and (b) the EU, or its successor, manage to last out 20 or 30 or 40 years, I strongly suspect that the number of Brits surveying the scene and deciding it's shame the UK (or its successor) does not form a part of it, will be pretty small. Once the EU is a properly "foreign country", the idea of rejoining will have the same twist of fantasy and otherness about it, as does the concept of Britain becoming the 51st state today.
In 20 or 30 years it's possible that the EU might look and act like a single country from the perspective of the Chinese, or even the Americans, but it will never look that way to us because we are too close and too intimately bound up with its destiny.
Imagine the UK news coverage from an EU summit 20 years from now where an event of world significance was being decided. Everything will be tinged with a sense of loss, of what could have been had we not walked out and given up our seat at the table.
If both (a) Brexit and (b) the EU, or its successor, manage to last out 20 or 30 or 40 years, I strongly suspect that the number of Brits surveying the scene and deciding it's shame the UK (or its successor) does not form a part of it, will be pretty small. Once the EU is a properly "foreign country", the idea of rejoining will have the same twist of fantasy and otherness about it, as does the concept of Britain becoming the 51st state today.
In 20 or 30 years it's possible that the EU might look and act like a single country from the perspective of the Chinese, or even the Americans, but it will never look that way to us because we are too close and too intimately bound up with its destiny.
Imagine the UK news coverage from an EU summit 20 years from now where an event of world significance was being decided. Everything will be tinged with a sense of loss, of what could have been had we not walked out and given up our seat at the table.
Imagine the EU news coverage from the UK parliament 20 years from now where an event of world significance had been led by the UK. Everything will be tinged with a sense of failure, of what could have been had they not treated us so badly.
In other news, Donald Trump is done for. He has pissed off the Boy Scouts.
Invited to deliver the normal platitudes at the national jamboree, he ruined the Scout Spirit by making sarcastic comments about Hilary Clinton, Barack Obama and the Fake News Media. The Chief Scout is not pleased and issued a strongly worded statement condemning Donald Trump, including:
We have steadfastly remained non-partisan and refused to comment on political matters. We sincerely regret that politics were inserted into the Scouting program.
While we live in a challenging time in a country divided along political lines, the focus of Scouting remains the same today as every day.
Trustworthiness, loyalty, kindness and bravery are just a few of the admirable traits Scouts aspire to develop [...]
Few will argue the importance of teaching values and responsibility to our youth — not only right from wrong, but specific positive values such as fairness, courage, honor and respect for others. [...]
In a time when differences seem to separate our country, we hope the true spirit of Scouting will empower our next generation of leaders to bring people together to do good in the world.
It's clear he thinks Donald Trump has none of the values of trustworthiness, loyalty, kindness, bravery, responsibility, knowing right from wrong, fairness, courage, honor and respect for others. It's quite a list. The grown ups were the ones in the audience, many of whom would a better job than the incumbent.
If both (a) Brexit and (b) the EU, or its successor, manage to last out 20 or 30 or 40 years, I strongly suspect that the number of Brits surveying the scene and deciding it's shame the UK (or its successor) does not form a part of it, will be pretty small. Once the EU is a properly "foreign country", the idea of rejoining will have the same twist of fantasy and otherness about it, as does the concept of Britain becoming the 51st state today.
In 20 or 30 years it's possible that the EU might look and act like a single country from the perspective of the Chinese, or even the Americans, but it will never look that way to us because we are too close and too intimately bound up with its destiny.
Imagine the UK news coverage from an EU summit 20 years from now where an event of world significance was being decided. Everything will be tinged with a sense of loss, of what could have been had we not walked out and given up our seat at the table.
Every time America has a close presidential election result, or a close vote in Congress, or top US officials make a decision with far-reaching consequences, if we don't like it then it is in some respect "our own fault" - because we could have very easily become State 51 had we so chosen. If we measure things in terms of clout-per-capita, I suspect the "sovereignty multiplier effect" you often mention would work more to our advantage in the State 51 scenario than with full-blown euro-integration. After all, the decisions the USA makes are generally more important than those made by the EU, yet we would tip more balances over those decisions within the USA than within the Eurozone.
I jest. But historically there were significant arguments within some of the Canadian colonies - generally during times of economic hardship - as to whether a merger with their U.S. markets would be the way forward. Every time the USA narrowly elects a president whom the Canadians take a disdain for (and that's regularly enough) I wonder how the Candians live with the guilt - that the USA inflicts such personages upon the world stage is basically their fault (or at least, sine qua non causal responsibility).
we could have very easily become State 51 had we so chosen.
There's that unfounded belief again that all sorts of unlikely outcomes are somehow there for the choosing.
Our choices in this world are not what you think they are, and this delusion lies at the heart of so many of the problems we've had in accepting our membership of the EU.
Brexit won't be particularly good for the UK in the short to medium term. Long term, who knows? All things being equal there's no reason to believe it will be beneficial long term either. But the longer you go out, the less things are equal. More importantly we will have given up caring about a decades old "what if?". And as someone famous once said, long term we are dead.
I see Boris has compared Brexit to the millennium bug. He must mean in the sense that consultants are being paid megabucks to fly around in first class trying to sort it out.
we could have very easily become State 51 had we so chosen.
There's that unfounded belief again that all sorts of unlikely outcomes are somehow there for the choosing.
Our choices in this world are not what you think they are, and this delusion lies at the heart of so many of the problems we've had in accepting our membership of the EU.
Wilson and LBJ discussed it, though not necessarily seriously. Had there been a deep and sustained appetite among the British electorate for a grand reunion of the English-speaking peoples, even on American terms, it doesn't seem to me that it would have been an inherently more ridiculous proposal than, say, Britain joining a federal Europe. I think the fundamental constraint is that people do not want it.
Pretty much ditto for the proposals (raised at an official level both during the early stages of WW2 and then again post-Suez) for a merger of Britain and France.
Mr. Jessop, that's a fair point, but the voters were seeping more from Labour, no?
Yes, but the data about that was much more vague and wispy, and most relevant at the next election. On the other hand, he had a bunch of people determined to bring the party down from within, some of whom had previously brought the party down in Major's time.
The most obvious and immediate threat to the party was from the bastards. Remember that conference when Farage went somewhere down south and the rumours were a third Conservative MP was shifting over? (*) The pat could not stand much more of that.
Cameron should be congratulated by Conservatives for holding the referendum. Some of us may have voted remain, some of us may dislike the result, some of us may wish it never happened, but at least he gave us a vote.
(*) It'd be great to learn the true story behind that.
"Cameron should be congratulated by Conservatives for holding the referendum. Some of us may have voted remain, some of us may dislike the result, some of us may wish it never happened, but at least he gave us a vote"
I don't believe many people will think that in five years time! Even those who wanted the referendum and voted leave.
If both (a) Brexit and (b) the EU, or its successor, manage to last out 20 or 30 or 40 years, I strongly suspect that the number of Brits surveying the scene and deciding it's shame the UK (or its successor) does not form a part of it, will be pretty small. Once the EU is a properly "foreign country", the idea of rejoining will have the same twist of fantasy and otherness about it, as does the concept of Britain becoming the 51st state today.
The UK as an export market for the EU is roughly the same size as the USA. The 51st state would, if it acted with the USA, represent 34% of the Rest of the World exports from the EU. https://fullfact.org/europe/uk-eu-trade/
Democracy is as close to a religious tenet as many in the West have. And that makes bizarre and potentially dangerous interpretations almost inevitable.
I see Boris has compared Brexit to the millennium bug. He must mean in the sense that consultants are being paid megabucks to fly around in first class trying to sort it out.
The panic over the millenium bug was one of the best con jobs created by a culture of fear and thus enabling tech companies to get purchasers to embark on massive expenditures of capital. The strange thing was how the tech company suppliers were not held to account for selling potentially duff software.
One of the worst exploiters of the millenium bug in the telecoms world was Nortel which eventually went belly up having feasted on the sudden increase in spending and could not survive the inevitable trough.
Good luck to Ms @Cyclefree on her new endeavour, working for yourself is so much better than a dreary day job chasing dodgy bankers.
I quite like chasing dodgy bankers. Not dreary at all. Rather fun, in fact. It's all the rest of it which has become tiresome. If all goes well I will be able to do more of what I like, when I like and for people I like - or at least respect - and less of the tiresome crap.
And if it doesn't work out, well, at least I'll have tried. It's always the things one doesn't do that one regrets. In my experience, anyway.
Thank you to all for your good wishes.
(If a refreshingly sane voice appears on your screens talking sense about stuff - a sort of anti-Shami - well, that will be me! )
Good luck to Ms @Cyclefree on her new endeavour, working for yourself is so much better than a dreary day job chasing dodgy bankers.
I quite like chasing dodgy bankers. Not dreary at all. Rather fun, in fact. It's all the rest of it which has become tiresome. If all goes well I will be able to do more of what I like, when I like and for people I like - or at least respect - and less of the tiresome crap.
And if it doesn't work out, well, at least I'll have tried. It's always the things one doesn't do that one regrets. In my experience, anyway.
Thank you to all for your good wishes.
(If a refreshingly sane voice appears on your screens talking sense about stuff - a sort of anti-Shami - well, that will be me! )
Comments
For betting purposes i'll treat as 99% fiction, tho
Interesting divide on males and females. Women are more likely to say don't know than men; probably more honest.
United - 28% (+15% since May)
Divided - 47% (-18% since May)
http://tinyurl.com/JustAPoundShopGordonBrown
The Corbyn critics shut up during the election campaign and gave the appearance of a united party. It wasn't united but the critics wanted Corbyn to own the blame rather than it be assigned to their undermining him. Obviously, that's not quite how it turned out.
And no, Labour isn't a united party by any means, both in terms of Corbyn's position and in terms of setting policy at a Shadow Cabinet level. But Labour's not in government and for those not paying close attention, it looks (and is) a good deal more united than it was this time last year.
This may be overblown. It's true the blues aren't united, but either May stays and they have to unite ahead of election, or she goes and her successor gets some time.
I suspect she'll go of her own accord.
However, of the two, the Brexit issue is the more important. The leadership question exists only in the background; Brexit is a daily challenge and one which can play out in any number of areas.
How would they get ready though?
The next leader will be PM - you'd think then it would be someone in a top job already.
Had it been 60/40 Remain, a minor split *might* have occurred, though worth recalling the purple tide was receding even then.
Perhaps Cameron's real misjudgement was seeing UKIP as a threat to the blues rather than a threat to the reds. But it's easy to consider things in hindsight.
I'm also amused by the idea that Cameron's attitude was 'contemptuous'.
"The latest turbo hybrid F1 engines represent a revolutionary advance in technology but they are far from universally popular. Their detractors shrug off the 1,000bhp they produce, the fact they use 35% less fuel to do a grand prix, that they have increased thermal efficiency from 29% to a remarkable 50% in just four years, and focus instead on their muted sound and their high cost."
Talking about fuel and thermal efficiency in F1 is a bit like saying you visit a particular brothel because you like chatting to the receptionist. That said, he's right that many dislike the new engines because of the lower noise (never bothered me), and that's a bit daft too.
Mind you, the next line describes returning to old-fashioned engines as a delusional fantasy, so that does rather nail the colours to the mast.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/motorsport/40735193
https://www.macrumors.com/2017/07/26/foxconn-tv-display-factory-wisconsin/
The most obvious and immediate threat to the party was from the bastards. Remember that conference when Farage went somewhere down south and the rumours were a third Conservative MP was shifting over? (*) The pat could not stand much more of that.
Cameron should be congratulated by Conservatives for holding the referendum. Some of us may have voted remain, some of us may dislike the result, some of us may wish it never happened, but at least he gave us a vote.
(*) It'd be great to learn the true story behind that.
In other news, a Wisconsin university has just got $506 million from Apple in a patent suit. Another sign of the patent madness overtaking America.
http://fortune.com/2017/07/26/apple-wisconsin-patent-lawsuit/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/horse-racing/40740691
(From New York Times article: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/26/business/foxconn-factory-wisconsin-jobs.html)
WTF??????
"some bookmakers have said they will pay out on the horses finishing first and second."
This bit ^ indicates it was more likely to be a cockup, not conspiracy.
"Cameron should be congratulated by Conservatives for holding the referendum. Some of us may have voted remain, some of us may dislike the result, some of us may wish it never happened, but at least he gave us a vote"
I don't believe many people will think that in five years time! Even those who wanted the referendum and voted leave.
Rather odd thing to happen. The closest F1 equivalent was, I think, a season or two ago when Williams (if memory serves) somehow managed to put on three soft and one medium tyre on Bottas' car.
People had been working on transmitting films for years; Logie-Baird's was not the system that progressed technologically, even if it was the first to transmit. If you were to look back through 'modern' TV's evolutionary tree, it would start in the US.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television#History
Which just about sums up the Tories these days!
Vince Cable
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/jul/27/brexit-corbyn-hard-right-progressive-labour-europe
But no, for all that Brexit is important and though it might lead to defections in all directions of voters and, to a lesser extent, politicians, the party structure will probably survive the next decade more-or-less unchanged.
Besides, surely it's more like visiting a particular establishment because the service providers are vegetarian, or some such?
There's a scene with a brothel receptionist in the second story in this book (by me):
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Adventures-Edric-Hero-Hornska-Book-ebook/dp/B01DOSP9ZK/
Quite a nice scene, (says he who wrote it).
So I'm told.
In fact none of the apparent sticking points matter as far as the deal is concerned. The money is a haggle and manageable. We will want immigration from the EU, it's reciprocal for our citizens to the EU and in any case we have managed perfectly all right for the past 40 years. As there needs to be supranational oversight of the arrangements, the ECJ is as good a way to do it as any and, again, we have managed fine.
These are simply sticking points in terms of domestic politics and the way Brexit was sold to the British population. If we don't get control over our EU immigration, can't reject foreign courts and have to pay as much as before, but get less trade, prosperity, tax revenue for public services, influence and jobs and have to go through massive disruption on the way, then what's the point of Brexit? It's not a question the EU needs to answer. It's a question half the country has been asking for a year without a good answer from the promoters of Brexit.
What matters in terms of the deal is the stuff that isn't being discussed: what to do about nuclear waste, product certification, tariffs on automotive components, chlorinated chicken, financial regulation, aviation certification, fishing rights etc etc etc.
Saying we have 'done fine' in regard to immigration, the ECJ oversight and how much we pay is arrogance in the extreme. Whilst I personally might be in favour of open borders, that is because I am in a privileged position whereby I am unaffected by it. That does not mean that for many people 'we have managed perfectly all right for the past 40 years'. We certainly haven't done alright as far as the ECJ is concerned, nor regarding the amount of money we have thrown away on Europhiles' vast vanity project.
And actually half the country has not been asking that question at all. Fanatics like you might have been but the majority of the country has just been getting on with things and has expected the Government and politicians on all sides to do the same.
An "overturn the first referendum" referendum is impossible, as it would require the Article 50 negotiations to yield two deals for the British people to choose between. That ain't gonna happen.
A Noel Edmonds referendum, on the other hand, is technically possible but would be dumb beyond belief (cf the Greek experience) and so the chances of Parliament actually requesting one are (to say the least) remote - they will take the Deal or No Deal decision themselves.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/40744668
Also, Bottas is 9.4 on Betfair for the win. Hmm.
Nobody in the UK has a solution for how to leave the EU without undermining it and without diminishing ourselves. We could do one or the other but there isn't a majority in favour of becoming a supplicant and neither is there a majority in favour of becoming a geopolitical ally of Putin against the EU. Ultimately this conflict can only be resolved by getting a new pro-EU mandate and abandoning 20 years of drift, or by entering a long-term cycle of self-inflicted decline.
Your fanatical belief in the EU blinds you both to its faults and to the alternatives. It is no wonder so many of us consider you an object of derision these days.
https://twitter.com/bbcpolitics/status/890619382606450689
As much as every parent loves their kids, I'm sure at the same time most would think it a bad thing to have 20 or 30 of them.
I am in a rare and fortunate position of knowing from long before the vote that my first, pure, preferences would never be achieved as I hold a very minority view. So for me compromise has already happened. I know there are plenty of people on the Remain side who are in a similar position for a slightly different reason.
The fools are those on either side who think all their dreams will come true and the outcome of this process will be exactly as they hoped - yes I am looking at you Williamglenn.
https://youtu.be/QYouL4GBu5c?t=5m55s
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/jul/27/met-says-grenfell-council-may-have-committed-corporate-manslaughter
Mr Dancer, if the guy with the joint fastest car is 9.4 that's massive value.
England's cricketers saved by the rain at the Oval, maybe this is the rare Test where one backs the draw?
Good luck to Ms @Cyclefree on her new endeavour, working for yourself is so much better than a dreary day job chasing dodgy bankers.
http://theriveroflife.com/
Whatever Brexit might bring initially the real game is about the long term. The UK can negotiate progressively better deals, and although its pretty important that a good deal is struck at the first asking it's not vital.
The worst thing that Labour have going for them is that they choose to be on the wrong side of arguments.
The world is becoming an increasingly liberal place, intolerant of petty nationalisms, though they do tend to lash out in their death throes. It is going to be an increasingly mobile world, and future generations will blame the Brexiteers for putting us out in the cold politically.
Imagine the UK news coverage from an EU summit 20 years from now where an event of world significance was being decided. Everything will be tinged with a sense of loss, of what could have been had we not walked out and given up our seat at the table.
Imagine the EU news coverage from the UK parliament 20 years from now where an event of world significance had been led by the UK. Everything will be tinged with a sense of failure, of what could have been had they not treated us so badly.
Invited to deliver the normal platitudes at the national jamboree, he ruined the Scout Spirit by making sarcastic comments about Hilary Clinton, Barack Obama and the Fake News Media. The Chief Scout is not pleased and issued a strongly worded statement condemning Donald Trump, including:
We have steadfastly remained non-partisan and refused to comment on political matters. We sincerely regret that politics were inserted into the Scouting program.
While we live in a challenging time in a country divided along political lines, the focus of Scouting remains the same today as every day.
Trustworthiness, loyalty, kindness and bravery are just a few of the admirable traits Scouts aspire to develop [...]
Few will argue the importance of teaching values and responsibility to our youth — not only right from wrong, but specific positive values such as fairness, courage, honor and respect for others. [...]
In a time when differences seem to separate our country, we hope the true spirit of Scouting will empower our next generation of leaders to bring people together to do good in the world.
It's clear he thinks Donald Trump has none of the values of trustworthiness, loyalty, kindness, bravery, responsibility, knowing right from wrong, fairness, courage, honor and respect for others. It's quite a list. The grown ups were the ones in the audience, many of whom would a better job than the incumbent.
I jest. But historically there were significant arguments within some of the Canadian colonies -
generally during times of economic hardship - as to whether a merger with their U.S. markets would be the way forward. Every time the USA narrowly elects a president whom the Canadians take a disdain for (and that's regularly enough) I wonder how the Candians live with the guilt - that the USA inflicts such personages upon the world stage is basically their fault (or at least, sine qua non causal responsibility).
https://twitter.com/emporersnewc/status/890649761761468416
Our choices in this world are not what you think they are, and this delusion lies at the heart of so many of the problems we've had in accepting our membership of the EU.
Pretty much ditto for the proposals (raised at an official level both during the early stages of WW2 and then again post-Suez) for a merger of Britain and France.
He's like a political Shia LaBeouf.
https://fullfact.org/europe/uk-eu-trade/
A mere trifle?
One of the worst exploiters of the millenium bug in the telecoms world was Nortel which eventually went belly up having feasted on the sudden increase in spending and could not survive the inevitable trough.
And if it doesn't work out, well, at least I'll have tried. It's always the things one doesn't do that one regrets. In my experience, anyway.
Thank you to all for your good wishes.
(If a refreshingly sane voice appears on your screens talking sense about stuff - a sort of anti-Shami - well, that will be me! )
(Which is probably good news for the world.)
It struck me as one of those proposals that would never quite happen. Too complicated, too many vested interests against etc.