The current state of Brexit is an utter, utter shambles.
Mrs May asked for a mandate to carry out the negotiations. Unfortunately the electorate decided that they wanted a shambles instead.
You blame the electorate: I rather agree with them that "Pleeeease give me a mandate; also, I'm going to steal your mum's house LOL" is not the way to get results.
That could help Mrs May sell the Article 50 compromises, but she will have to be quick.
Possibly. There is a general assumption in the business world that there will be a transition because the alternative does not bear thinking about.
There won't be a "transition" (Brexit delay) if the government doesn't sign up to the EU Article 50 demands within the next few weeks. Perhaps that could be Mrs May's last (and as PM only) service to the country.
Edit. The other point is that Toyota doesn't have a huge choice of factories. I think they have just two in the EU and the other factory in France is presumably busy with other models.
I can say that manufacturing is definitely assuming that there will be a long transition agreement. Way beyond 2 years as they can't see how the details can be resolved faster. The risk that the politicians face is that if they make fast changes then chaos will occur as no-one is ready.
A long transition is widely assumed in all business circles. It would be utter madness (as they see it) not to go down this route. Unfortunately, however, the politics of Brexit are now utterly mad and it is far from certain that a transitional period can be agreed. When businesses realise this there will be panic.
The current state of Brexit is an utter, utter shambles.
Mrs May asked for a mandate to carry out the negotiations. Unfortunately the electorate decided that they wanted a shambles instead.
You blame the electorate: I rather agree with them that "Pleeeease give me a mandate; also, I'm going to steal your mum's house LOL" is not the way to get results.
I didn't blame them. I explained that they got what they voted for. If they discover that what they voted for turns out to lead to disaster, it will still be the case that that is how they voted.
Brexitter ---------- New words by Sunil, original music by Almond & Ball.
Friday morning going slow I'm watching the election show Lots of Ladbrokes slips on the floor Memories of the night before Out knocking up and having fun Now I've stopped reading The Sun Waiting for the results to show But why I voted no one knows
Voting, polling Blogging, trolling And now I'm all alone In Brexit Land My only home
I think it's time to write a thread To vent the bemusement in my head Spent my money on online bookies Got nowt here but all the cookies Clean my suit and my rosette Election promises to forget Start campaigning all over again Kid myself I'm having fun
Voting, polling Blogging, trolling And now I'm all alone In Brexit Land My only home
Looking out from my worldview I've really nothing else to do Seems like I have started fretting Let's read Political Betting Forget The Mirror and The Times The battle bus with such great lines Look around and I can see A thousand punters just like me
Voting, polling Blogging, trolling And now I'm all alone In Brexit Land My only home
Voting, polling Blogging, trolling And now I'm all alone In Brexit Land My only home
Productivity in UK 25% behind Germany 23% behind France 22% behind US
After 7 years of Tory rule Surely some mistake
Seems to be a problem whichever party's in charge.
Some of it is purely cultural.
Presenteeism is still lauded and applauded at the highest levels of business, many people are employed simply to administer process, and large, regular meetings are a huge time-sink.
That could help Mrs May sell the Article 50 compromises, but she will have to be quick.
Possibly. There is a general assumption in the business world that there will be a transition because the alternative does not bear thinking about.
There won't be a "transition" (Brexit delay) if the government doesn't sign up to the EU Article 50 demands within the next few weeks. Perhaps that could be Mrs May's last (and as PM only) service to the country.
Edit. The other point is that Toyota doesn't have a huge choice of factories. I think they have just two in the EU and the other factory in France is presumably busy with other models.
I am very doubtful that a transition is achieveable. Partly because May (or whoever) will struggle to get it past the hard Brexiteers (no deal is better than a bad deal as you will remember) and partly because the procedure for getting it approved by the EU invoves the unanimous approval of the 27 plus the European Parliament. That's a very tall order given the time available.
Actually it requires a qualified majority of member states and a straight yes or no without modification from the EU Parliament. The advantages of agreeing stuff through Article 50 is that it is simpler and quicker and we can get it sorted while still members. But Article 50 is only one stage of the negotiations. If we exit with no withdrawal agreement, it won't be a case of that's that. We will still need to come to agreement with the EU and they won't drop any of their demands.
The volume of trade with the EU will diminish under WTO rules and that will be no bad thing for UK jobs. That's because of the scale of our current balance of payment deficit in traded goods with the EU, which accounts for the vast bulk of the UK's overall trade deficit. For UK firms, the opportunities opened up in domestic markets will be far greater than the export markets lost. So if the EU still wants to make demands then, they can go whistle.
"Shapps has always been self-mythologising and is seen by many as deluded – three weeks ago he said he wanted to be PM himself. Ministers are asking how many names on his list are his own? It could snowball and get to 48 names, though if the whips did leak it to The Times, it’s only because they think sunlight will kill it…"
Productivity in UK 25% behind Germany 23% behind France 22% behind US
After 7 years of Tory rule Surely some mistake
That can't be right. I've read on here that France is an economic basket case whose impoverished citoyens are just weeks away from storming the Bastille.
I think the measure of productivity is output per employee not working age poulation so in the case of France for instance it dooesn't look so good when that is taken in to account. The other factor is the rate of immigration into low paid jobs. Long term immigration may boost economic perfromance but it can depress productivity figures depending on the profile of the immigrants.
Regarding the discussion earlier this morning on the nature of the Conservative party, a brilliant letter in today's Guardian from Neville Westerman should be required reading...
"It is a matter of historical record that the Conservatives voted against universal health in 1948, as they voted against universal dole and universal pensions in 1909, and universal education in 1870. I remember the vicious and dishonest hostility against the NHS by the Tory party and media in 1948, which was very similar to the present attitude of the US Republicans. But Jeremy Hunt declared to conference that Conservatives have always supported the NHS. What percentage of Tory members could be so ignorant as to believe that Jeremy had any intention to speak the truth? The success of the Tory party to gain power has largely been based on its eagerness to tell blatant lies. Tory policy for 150 years has been largely inhumane, devoid of compassion, and opposed to the welfare state, but defended by lying, their “not-so-secret” weapon. When Boris Johnson reveals himself as an untrustworthy liar within his own party, that makes him the members’ favourite MP to be our PM."
Convenient misunderstanding of the nature of being an opposition, there.
Nonsense, oppositions do not have to oppose measures they support!
It is perfectly possible to support a principle while opposing the method of its implementation.
Possible yes, but not true for any of those occasions so...?
'Devoid of compassion' for 150 years is a little strong though imo. Indian Great Famine had Tories pushing for intervention while laissez-faire Liberals let millions starve. That episode should be far more prominent in our national psyche than it is.
And when it came to Ireland the greatest Conservative Prime Minister we have ever had split the party and destroyed his career because of his compassion for the starving poor
Brexitter ---------- New words by Sunil, original music by Almond & Ball.
Friday morning going slow I'm watching the election show Lots of Ladbrokes slips on the floor Memories of the night before Out knocking up and having fun Now I've stopped reading The Sun Waiting for the results to show But why I voted no one knows
Voting, polling Blogging, trolling And now I'm all alone In Brexit Land My only home
I think it's time to write a thread To vent the bemusement in my head Spent my money on online bookies Got nowt here but all the cookies Clean my suit and my rosette Election promises to forget Start campaigning all over again Kid myself I'm having fun
Voting, polling Blogging, trolling And now I'm all alone In Brexit Land My only home
Looking out from my worldview I've really nothing else to do Seems like I have started fretting Let's read Political Betting Forget The Mirror and The Times The battle bus with such great lines Look around and I can see A thousand punters just like me
Voting, polling Blogging, trolling And now I'm all alone In Brexit Land My only home
Voting, polling Blogging, trolling And now I'm all alone In Brexit Land My only home
The current state of Brexit is an utter, utter shambles.
Mrs May asked for a mandate to carry out the negotiations. Unfortunately the electorate decided that they wanted a shambles instead.
You blame the electorate: I rather agree with them that "Pleeeease give me a mandate; also, I'm going to steal your mum's house LOL" is not the way to get results.
I didn't blame them. I explained that they got what they voted for. If they discover that what they voted for turns out to lead to disaster, it will still be the case that that is how they voted.
@DPJHodges: Well, that statement from May has just put to bed the "she'll have a chat with Phillip and go over the weekend" speculation.
CCHQ in full spin mode. It is like the apocryphal football chairman expressing full support in the manager.
Theresa May remains Prime Minister as long as she likes, but the Cabinet has reached an unstable equilibrium. May can't sack the big beasts because they can trigger a leadership challenge, and they in turn are paralysed because no-one can be certain of winning the ensuing contest.
Why has Hodges suddenly become this fawning May acolyte? I used to admire his free thinking. I know he predicted that 2017 would be like 1987 in terms of the Tory majority, but acting as Theresa's media henchman isn't going to put that right.
The plot will fail "because the main protagonists are unconventional, precipitous, and just far too keen" So not because it is wrong, just badly timed?
@DPJHodges: Well, that statement from May has just put to bed the "she'll have a chat with Phillip and go over the weekend" speculation.
CCHQ in full spin mode. It is like the apocryphal football chairman expressing full support in the manager.
Theresa May remains Prime Minister as long as she likes, but the Cabinet has reached an unstable equilibrium. May can't sack the big beasts because they can trigger a leadership challenge, and they in turn are paralysed because no-one can be certain of winning the ensuing contest.
@SkyNewsBreak: The England and Wales Cricket Board has announced Ben Stokes will not travel to Australia with the rest of the Ashes squad on 28 October
@DPJHodges: Well, that statement from May has just put to bed the "she'll have a chat with Phillip and go over the weekend" speculation.
CCHQ in full spin mode. It is like the apocryphal football chairman expressing full support in the manager.
Theresa May remains Prime Minister as long as she likes, but the Cabinet has reached an unstable equilibrium. May can't sack the big beasts because they can trigger a leadership challenge, and they in turn are paralysed because no-one can be certain of winning the ensuing contest.
Has anyone said she's "unassailable" yet?
But, none of the candidates is ever likely to be certain of winning the contest. Not now. Not in March 2019 (after successful Brexit - stop laughing at the back). Or in 2020 ready for new GE.
Boris won't give up before next GE. There will always be a stop Boris candidate and there will likely be an untried younger MP who fancies pulling off a Thatcher.
So, the only way is via a coronation by Cabinet. And the Cabinet is at Total War.
The plot will fail "because the main protagonists are unconventional, precipitous, and just far too keen" So not because it is wrong, just badly timed?
It's a weird article (actual article here) because Mark Pritchard is clearly telling Conservative MPs to get off the fence and their backsides and send their letter to the Chairman of the 1922 Committee. (Presumably he has already sent his, while protesting loyalty to Mrs May in the most perfunctory way) The plot isn't stupid, stupid, stupid. The execution is. It's a plot carried out by a party whose slogans drop off the wall mid-speech.
@DPJHodges: Well, that statement from May has just put to bed the "she'll have a chat with Phillip and go over the weekend" speculation.
CCHQ in full spin mode. It is like the apocryphal football chairman expressing full support in the manager.
Theresa May remains Prime Minister as long as she likes, but the Cabinet has reached an unstable equilibrium. May can't sack the big beasts because they can trigger a leadership challenge, and they in turn are paralysed because no-one can be certain of winning the ensuing contest.
Yes. It's complete paralysis - the government exists but it is incapable of governing. All its energy is devoted to ensuring it's own survival. And the Brexit clock ticks ever louder. Something will have to give.
Sack Boris and others, do a reshuffle (looking at the younger intake of MP's and promoting some to junior ministers) and dare them to act. Nothing to lose, she won't be fighting another election.
She needs to get a grip of this. And if the moves bring her end sooner rather than later at least you are going out fighting and bring an end to the undoubtable stress this must be causing her.
Sack Boris and others, do a reshuffle (looking at the younger intake of MP's and promoting some to junior ministers) and dare them to act. Nothing to lose, she won't be fighting another election.
She needs to get a grip of this. And if the moves bring her end sooner rather than later at least you are going out fighting and bring an end to the undoubtable stress this must be causing her.
I'd agree. And let's get Rory Stewart in the Cabinet while she's at it.
@DPJHodges: Well, that statement from May has just put to bed the "she'll have a chat with Phillip and go over the weekend" speculation.
CCHQ in full spin mode. It is like the apocryphal football chairman expressing full support in the manager.
Theresa May remains Prime Minister as long as she likes, but the Cabinet has reached an unstable equilibrium. May can't sack the big beasts because they can trigger a leadership challenge, and they in turn are paralysed because no-one can be certain of winning the ensuing contest.
Yes. It's complete paralysis - the government exists but it is incapable of governing. All its energy is devoted to ensuring it's own survival. And the Brexit clock ticks ever louder. Something will have to give.
Frankly, someone's health may well give. Not just May's. There was a permanent secretary found crying like a baby under his desk during the worst of 1970s chaos, I seem to recall. Forget who, if indeed the name was ever made public.
Sack Boris and others, do a reshuffle (looking at the younger intake of MP's and promoting some to junior ministers) and dare them to act. Nothing to lose, she won't be fighting another election.
She needs to get a grip of this. And if the moves bring her end sooner rather than later at least you are going out fighting and bring an end to the undoubtable stress this must be causing her.
If Theresa stays she'll have another Party Conference to look forward to in a year's time.
R4 playing interview of Shapps saying he’d like to be PM
He'd do a better job than Mrs May, and he knows how win a majority.
Plus having a Jewish Tory Prime Minister will enrage the anti-Semitic hard left, who also double up as Corbynistas, their stupidity will help expose the nasty underside of the new left.
@IanDunt: Tragedy of Brexit is all the things we'll fail to fix in this country while we lose a decade fucking ourselves over for no reason at all.
I'm a Remainer, but the trouble with this kind of comment is that there is not 'no reason at all'.
Many Leave voters wanted a halt to unrestricted free movement of people. They just don't buy the EU vision on this.
Depends if what they thought they were voting for is the same as what they actually voted for. We can be doubtful of that, without impugning their motives.
When do the Sunday newspapers get put to bed? mid afternoon Saturday?
That is ZombieMay's deadline - either she takes the initiative by sacking Boris and having her allegedly loyal ministers standing round her for a photocall. Or Andrew Marr will be a must-watch this Sunday as paper after paper spills the exact details about how many names the 22 have, who is plotting, when BoJo and the other pretenders last took a shit.
Blair once told Major he was in office but not in power. Compared to Maybeshe'llbegonebysunday John Major's government looked like a bastion of loyalty. The reputation of being a bunch of self-centred disloyal shits took the Tories years to wash away that time. Think how many years it will take this time if this goes on. And on. And on.
And it will as long as she remains in place and she keeps insisting she is backed and their is no question about her leadership.
That could help Mrs May sell the Article 50 compromises, but she will have to be quick.
Possibly. There is a general assumption in the business world that there will be a transition because the alternative does not bear thinking about.
There won't be a "transition" (Brexit delay) if the government doesn't sign up to the EU Article 50 demands within the next few weeks. Perhaps that could be Mrs May's last (and as PM only) service to the country.
Edit. The other point is that Toyota doesn't have a huge choice of factories. I think they have just two in the EU and the other factory in France is presumably busy with other models.
I am very doubtful that a transition is achieveable. Partly because May (or whoever) will struggle to get it past the hard Brexiteers (no deal is better than a bad deal as you will remember) and partly because the procedure for getting it approved by the EU invoves the unanimous approval of the 27 plus the European Parliament. That's a very tall order given the time available.
Actually it requires a qualified majority of member states and a straight yes or no without modification from the EU Parliament. The advantages of agreeing stuff through Article 50 is that it is simpler and quicker and we can get it sorted while still members. But Article 50 is only one stage of the negotiations. If we exit with no withdrawal agreement, it won't be a case of that's that. We will still need to come to agreement with the EU and they won't drop any of their demands.
If they won't drop any demands then it's not a negotiation - it's take it or leave it. Either way they have a pissed off neighbour
If it's Cameroons that are the ones doing this Shapps plot do they have Cameron's backing?
I would have thought that whilst Cameron is no major May fan these days I think he would want her to remain in post until Brexit is completed. Especially considering who might be in line to replace her and if it's a leaver.
That could help Mrs May sell the Article 50 compromises, but she will have to be quick.
Possibly. There is a general assumption in the business world that there will be a transition because the alternative does not bear thinking about.
There won't be a "transition" (Brexit delay) if the government doesn't sign up to the EU Article 50 demands within the next few weeks. Perhaps that could be Mrs May's last (and as PM only) service to the country.
Edit. The other point is that Toyota doesn't have a huge choice of factories. I think they have just two in the EU and the other factory in France is presumably busy with other models.
I am very doubtful that a transition is achieveable. Partly because May (or whoever) will struggle to get it past the hard Brexiteers (no deal is better than a bad deal as you will remember) and partly because the procedure for getting it approved by the EU invoves the unanimous approval of the 27 plus the European Parliament. That's a very tall order given the time available.
Actually it requires a qualified majority of member states and a straight yes or no without modification from the EU Parliament. The advantages of agreeing stuff through Article 50 is that it is simpler and quicker and we can get it sorted while still members. But Article 50 is only one stage of the negotiations. If we exit with no withdrawal agreement, it won't be a case of that's that. We will still need to come to agreement with the EU and they won't drop any of their demands.
If they won't drop any demands then it's not a negotiation - it's take it or leave it. Either way they have a pissed off neighbour
Leaver's want to leave the club and also make the club change its rules. Does anybody think that will happen?
I genuinely don't know about Mrs May. On the one hand, it's not ideal to go through what will be a volatile few years with a leader with no vision. On the other, would the country forgive us for having a leadership election in the middle of Brexit?
We had a general election in the middle of Brexit.
Yes and that was a mistake and the tories git punished for it, and we might be punished as t made things even messier than they already were.
We should have had one prior to article 50 or not until 2020.
If they won't drop any demands then it's not a negotiation - it's take it or leave it. Either way they have a pissed off neighbour
Absolutely correct. They don't care. Do we want a workable arrangement or don't we?
Not based on that approach
We'll check again in 12-24 months. I am pretty sure we will want a workable arrangement. It isn't even necessarily a bad one, but it will be take it or leave it.
Regarding the discussion earlier this morning on the nature of the Conservative party, a brilliant letter in today's Guardian from Neville Westerman should be required reading...
"It is a matter of historical record that the Conservatives voted against universal health in 1948, as they voted against universal dole and universal pensions in 1909, and universal education in 1870. I remember the vicious and dishonest hostility against the NHS by the Tory party and media in 1948, which was very similar to the present attitude of the US Republicans. But Jeremy Hunt declared to conference that Conservatives have always supported the NHS. What percentage of Tory members could be so ignorant as to believe that Jeremy had any intention to speak the truth? The success of the Tory party to gain power has largely been based on its eagerness to tell blatant lies. Tory policy for 150 years has been largely inhumane, devoid of compassion, and opposed to the welfare state, but defended by lying, their “not-so-secret” weapon. When Boris Johnson reveals himself as an untrustworthy liar within his own party, that makes him the members’ favourite MP to be our PM."
Convenient misunderstanding of the nature of being an opposition, there.
Nonsense, oppositions do not have to oppose measures they support!
It is perfectly possible to support a principle while opposing the method of its implementation.
Possible yes, but not true for any of those occasions so...?
'Devoid of compassion' for 150 years is a little strong though imo.
it's more than that it's bollocks. I get really angry when in effect people label mainstream parties as inherently evil or just plain bad, as an accusation of being devoid of compassion is. In effect it says tens of millions of people who vote Tory or labour or whatever are inherently bad, since nobody is such a big fool as to be tricked by them all this time.
Its quite obvious to me that rebel MPs do not have enough MPs to force a leadership contest and May will survive. May has the advantage that she was elected PM only a few months ago and has a mandate from voters (did rebels tell the voters that they would remove their leader during the election campaign?). She also has the advantage that it looks as though she is being bullied for having a cough, for the lax security at the conference and the poor workmanship of the Tory background signs.
Rebels have mistimed their moment and May will prevail.
Comments
They'd have the Daily Mail on their side.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/may-s-bright-ideas-were-drowned-out-by-the-conference-circus-mfppsstzb
Brexitter
----------
New words by Sunil, original music by Almond & Ball.
Friday morning going slow
I'm watching the election show
Lots of Ladbrokes slips on the floor
Memories of the night before
Out knocking up and having fun
Now I've stopped reading The Sun
Waiting for the results to show
But why I voted no one knows
Voting, polling
Blogging, trolling
And now I'm all alone
In Brexit Land
My only home
I think it's time to write a thread
To vent the bemusement in my head
Spent my money on online bookies
Got nowt here but all the cookies
Clean my suit and my rosette
Election promises to forget
Start campaigning all over again
Kid myself I'm having fun
Voting, polling
Blogging, trolling
And now I'm all alone
In Brexit Land
My only home
Looking out from my worldview
I've really nothing else to do
Seems like I have started fretting
Let's read Political Betting
Forget The Mirror and The Times
The battle bus with such great lines
Look around and I can see
A thousand punters just like me
Voting, polling
Blogging, trolling
And now I'm all alone
In Brexit Land
My only home
Voting, polling
Blogging, trolling
And now I'm all alone
In Brexit Land
My only home
(I'm waiting for Brexit
Or am I wasting time)
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/oct/06/inner-city-living-makes-for-healthier-happier-people-study-finds
Moderate wings infiltrate rebellion, with only a small window to stop the Conservative leader getting her just deserts (11)
Presenteeism is still lauded and applauded at the highest levels of business, many people are employed simply to administer process, and large, regular meetings are a huge time-sink.
"Shapps has always been self-mythologising and is seen by many as deluded – three weeks ago he said he wanted to be PM himself. Ministers are asking how many names on his list are his own? It could snowball and get to 48 names, though if the whips did leak it to The Times, it’s only because they think sunlight will kill it…"
http://uk.businessinsider.com/homicide-rates-in-major-us-cities-to-break-records-in-2017-2017-7?r=US&IR=T
Edit: but Anglo-Saxon is wrong, the derivation is from Old Norse kunta.
Great words.
Not sure about the Morrisey type (Cameron inspired) music by a popular combo. But listen for yourself at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbC4yxjydUc
http://uk.businessinsider.com/eu-diplomats-theresa-may-no-authority-to-brexit-deal-2017-10
Why bother to negotiate when you think you are sitting opposite a dead duck?
‘Stupid, stupid, stupid’ – Tory MPs savage Grant Shapps over coup attempt
https://tinyurl.com/ya969jqx
Theresa May remains Prime Minister as long as she likes, but the Cabinet has reached an unstable equilibrium. May can't sack the big beasts because they can trigger a leadership challenge, and they in turn are paralysed because no-one can be certain of winning the ensuing contest.
So not because it is wrong, just badly timed?
Not seen a single argument for keeping TM in place.
She's done - its over. Step down for the good of everyone.
“The current plot against Theresa May will fail. Fail, because the main protagonists are unconventional, precipitous, and just far too keen…"
This isn't bake off or SCD - no place for sentimentality.
Boris won't give up before next GE. There will always be a stop Boris candidate and there will likely be an untried younger MP who fancies pulling off a Thatcher.
So, the only way is via a coronation by Cabinet. And the Cabinet is at Total War.
She needs to get a grip of this. And if the moves bring her end sooner rather than later at least you are going out fighting and bring an end to the undoubtable stress this must be causing her.
Many Leave voters wanted a halt to unrestricted free movement of people. They just don't buy the EU vision on this.
Plus having a Jewish Tory Prime Minister will enrage the anti-Semitic hard left, who also double up as Corbynistas, their stupidity will help expose the nasty underside of the new left.
Shapps for PM
That is ZombieMay's deadline - either she takes the initiative by sacking Boris and having her allegedly loyal ministers standing round her for a photocall. Or Andrew Marr will be a must-watch this Sunday as paper after paper spills the exact details about how many names the 22 have, who is plotting, when BoJo and the other pretenders last took a shit.
Blair once told Major he was in office but not in power. Compared to Maybeshe'llbegonebysunday John Major's government looked like a bastion of loyalty. The reputation of being a bunch of self-centred disloyal shits took the Tories years to wash away that time. Think how many years it will take this time if this goes on. And on. And on.
And it will as long as she remains in place and she keeps insisting she is backed and their is no question about her leadership.
I would have thought that whilst Cameron is no major May fan these days I think he would want her to remain in post until Brexit is completed. Especially considering who might be in line to replace her and if it's a leaver.
Does anybody think that will happen?
NEW THREAD
We should have had one prior to article 50 or not until 2020.
Sky presenter just said Theresa May facing increased calls for her to stand down as Grant Shapps has upto 50 MP's supporting him
At the same time as saying this the strapline is saying 30 and she clearly has no idea of the significance in the different numbers.
We are quick to attack politicians but the broadcast media are at times just as bad, if not worse
Rebels have mistimed their moment and May will prevail.