If regime change doesn't happen then a grim future of continuing decline similar to Zimbabwe looks to be inevitable. If regime change comes close to happening, but falls short, you potentially have another Syria, though at least the neighbours seem less interested in using the country as a battlefield for a proxy war.
I don't know how you go about encouraging a peaceful regime change.
I think what needs to happen is for a third party (Bolivia, Cuba, Mexico or even Turkey) to offer Maduro and his immediate associates asylum on condition there is a peaceful handover to the opposition.
Maduro and his cronies will have to give back most of what they have laundered from the country in exchange for immunity from further prosecution.
Brexit is incidental to what we want to do. It has largely been a displacement activity from our political class allowing them to bore us stupid and avoid more difficult problems. I share Alastair's concern that there is very little evidence of thinking about what we do when it is finally out of the way. But walking and chewing gum at the same time is truly aspirational for our political class.
I rather agree.
And if we do 'brexit' and then in, say, the next 10 years do little of note that we could not just as easily have done as a member of the EU then that will be a QED.
Australia, Switzerland, Norway, Japan, Korea, Iceland, Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore. What unites these countries? They are all wealthy, or extremely wealthy. Most of them are wealthier than almost any country in the EU. All are outside the EU. And do not belong to any nascent superstate-cum-trading bloc.
As you know some of them are indeed members of supra-National organisations with the intent of improving their lot.
Clearly we could be as successful at exporting natural resources as Canada and Australia, have an aerospace industry to rival the Swiss, compete with the Norwegian car manufacturers, and move vacuum cleaner production from Singapore, if ONLY we left the EU...
Yes they are members of supra-national organisations that do not exert any unilateral control over their legislation. They have the right to make their own decisions and ignore any decisions made by those bodies which they do not agree with. Conflating The EU with WTO or the UN or any of the other bodies that countries sign up to in the name of cooperation is just dumb and fundamentally dishonest.
Surely based on your own logic, the UK is a far worse supra-national organisation than even the EU?
If I were Scottish I would certainly think so. Hence the reason I am in favour of Scottish independence as and when they want it. I do feel myself very much a fellow traveller with MalcolmG - if a little less angry.
Why do you not think so being English? Many English people did feel that way when we had so many Scots in the New Labour cabinet and a perception that Labour's hold on Scottish politics gave them the whip hand over the UK. In a small way it was one of the things that inspired the Brexit vote.
Because 'nationality' is not what interests me. Only the structure of Government being suited to delivering the most accountability at the lowest level in society. Hence my comment a few days ago about only surrendering up powers that cannot be reasonably exercised at the lowest level.
I do feel that the UK is run primarily for the benefit of the English and that if I were a Scot I would be extremely unhappy about this.
And yet, as I’ve just shown, most of the wealthiest countries in the world are NOT in the room. They do not, apparently, have any influence. And yet they survive, and thrive. AND they rule themselves.
Indeed it is arguable that the best position to be is just outside a much larger political entity, but freely trading with it. Norway, Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore, Korea, (arguably Oz) are all in that position. Sometimes the larger bloc can be overbearing and annoying, but the smaller countries evolve and adapt, and become nimbler, because they have to be.
We won’t ever be the Britain of the 19th century, and who would want to be. Running an empire, and therefore the world, is a thankless task. Cf America.
We are a resourceful and gifted country, which speaks English, has brilliant universities, etc etc etc
We will be fine. Moreover, technological changes coming down the line are gonna make all this Brexit stuff seem very small beer, anyway.
Sean, I think you need to get out into other parts of the UK more. Try finding those traits in the leave heartlands of Stoke and Sunderland and Hartlepool. The characteristics you are highlighting are far more evident in London and other areas that believe Brexit is madness. Nothing stopped us doing any of that whilst in the EU, it hasn't't stopped Germany.
I can understand why swathes of the country voted leave but it ain't going to solve their problems. Globalisation will still be with us. In general the more dynamic sections of society wanted to remain. If the country had voted to leave with the strong backing of the young and entrepreneurs and against the wishes of the OAPs then it stood a chance of success. As it is we have the reverse situation.
Australia, Switzerland, Norway, Japan, Korea, Iceland, Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore. What unites these countries? They are all wealthy, or extremely wealthy. Most of them are wealthier than almost any country in the EU. All are outside the EU. And do not belong to any nascent superstate-cum-trading bloc.
As you know some of them are indeed members of supra-National organisations with the intent of improving their lot.
Clearly we could be as successful at exporting natural resources as Canada and Australia, have an aerospace industry to rival the Swiss, compete with the Norwegian car manufacturers, and move vacuum cleaner production from Singapore, if ONLY we left the EU...
Yes they are members of supra-national organisations that do not exert any unilateral control over their legislation. They have the right to make their own decisions and ignore any decisions made by those bodies which they do not agree with. Conflating The EU with WTO or the UN or any of the other bodies that countries sign up to in the name of cooperation is just dumb and fundamentally dishonest.
Surely based on your own logic, the UK is a far worse supra-national organisation than even the EU?
If I were Scottish I would certainly think so. Hence the reason I am in favour of Scottish independence as and when they want it. I do feel myself very much a fellow traveller with MalcolmG - if a little less angry.
Why do you not think so being English? Many English people did feel that way when we had so many Scots in the New Labour cabinet and a perception that Labour's hold on Scottish politics gave them the whip hand over the UK. In a small way it was one of the things that inspired the Brexit vote.
Because 'nationality' is not what interests me. Only the structure of Government being suited to delivering the most accountability at the lowest level in society. Hence my comment a few days ago about only surrendering up powers that cannot be reasonably exercised at the lowest level.
I do feel that the UK is run primarily for the benefit of the English and that if I were a Scot I would be extremely unhappy about this.
If the status quo primarily benefits the English, and Brexit was a vote against the status quo, why was it carried by English votes?
Many good points made but Brexit not a big driver?? Perhaps the sort of people who make these decisions know a lot more about how it is going to play out than we do (and with the £ in such depressed mode there are no doubt bargains to be had if you are sure we will retain membership of SM and CU) But up to fairly recently I think most decision makers assumed there would be a deal of sorts. With May deal now and membership of the SM in the future trade negotiations. But if we carry on like this Brexit will be giving Lewis Hamilton a run for his money.
Of course the UK and the USA are superior to other nations, it’s quite damn obvious. Are we superior to Sweden, Germany and Canada? Probably not, are we more or less give or take the same, yes. They might consider themselves to have an edge, but it’s an edge, nothing more. But compare that with Russia, Somalia, Brazil, Pakistan, Romania, and a hundred other nations and we are most obviously superior. It’s so obvious you have to create some kind of mind altering mental illness or intellectual willingness to completely avoid that which is clearly true to think otherwise.
Brexit returns power to the British voter to elect and eject those who rule over them. No more diktats from Brussels, no more unelected commissioners conjuring laws, no more no more no more.
In the long term this is clearly the best thing for the country. It will hurt in the short term. J R Mogg was logically right to talk of “fifty years”, even though the comment was foolishly unguarded, politically.
No.
That's not how the World works anymore. Long gone are the days when the UK elite could make diktats that changed how things work in Global markets.
We need to do deals with other people. We can be in the room (as we are now), or we can look on while our future is decided by other people.
Brexit reduces the ability of our elected representatives to control our destiny.
+1. To illustrate the point, substitute "Northamptonshire" for "British" and "Westminster" for Brussels. It is intuitively clear (though perhaps someone will disagree) that Northants wouldn't be better off making its own decisions outside the UK, because they would find themselves unable to influence things that affected them. It's not obvious that the nation state is not now in the same position - and certainly that it's likely to be in that position in 50 years' time.
Brexit and Trump are parts of the painful last hurrahs of nationalism; a poisonous irrational psychosis that believes one nation or nationality to be superior to another, not unlike its close cousin fascism. It is a philosophy of win-lose rather than win-win. It is a stupidity that still needs to be bled out of the human spirit in the same way socialism does. Unfortunately human beings will have to suffer further before they fully understand the vacuousness of both of these simplistic ideologies.
In the main, nationalism is a good thing. Nationalism led to the liberation of Eastern Europe.
Wasn't it more a lack of freedom, crappy jobs, perpetual shortages and generally dire living standards?
Brexit returns power to the British voter to elect and eject those who rule over them. No more diktats from Brussels, no more unelected commissioners conjuring laws, no more no more no more.
In the long term this is clearly the best thing for the country. It will hurt in the short term. J R Mogg was logically right to talk of “fifty years”, even though the comment was foolishly unguarded, politically.
No.
That's not how the World works anymore. Long gone are the days when the UK elite could make diktats that changed how things work in Global markets.
We need to do deals with other people. We can be in the room (as we are now), or we can look on while our future is decided by other people.
Brexit reduces the ability of our elected representatives to control our destiny.
+1. To illustrate the point, substitute "Northamptonshire" for "British" and "Westminster" for Brussels. It is intuitively clear (though perhaps someone will disagree) that Northants wouldn't be better off making its own decisions outside the UK, because they would find themselves unable to influence things that affected them. It's not obvious that the nation state is not now in the same position - and certainly that it's likely to be in that position in 50 years' time.
Brexit and Trump are parts of the painful last hurrahs of nationalism; a poisonous irrational psychosis that believes one nation or nationality to be superior to another, not unlike its close cousin fascism. It is a philosophy of win-lose rather than win-win. It is a stupidity that still needs to be bled out of the human spirit in the same way socialism does. Unfortunately human beings will have to suffer further before they fully understand the vacuousness of both of these simplistic ideologies.
In the main, nationalism is a good thing. Nationalism led to the liberation of Eastern Europe.
Wasn't it more a lack of freedom, crappy jobs, perpetual shortages and generally dire living standards?
True, but also a desire to be free of a foreign overlord.
Outside Edinburgh Sheriff Court, Alex Salmond says he is "innocent of any criminality whatsoever" - "the only thing I can say is I refute absolutely these allegations of criminality and I will defend myself to the utmost in court"
If the status quo primarily benefits the English, and Brexit was a vote against the status quo, why was it carried by English votes?
I was talking about the Status quo within the UK not related to the Brexit vote. They are two very different things. Now personally I think that there is a logical link between the two in terms of intellectual arguments. But from a purely practical point of view the Union within the UK benefits the English but not the Scots whereas the European Union does not benefit either the English or the Scots.
The fact that he is totally unknown probably tells you all you need to know about the lack of thought within the higher reaches or indeed any of the reaches of the Tory party.
You'll be pleased to know that I saw John Penrose at a number of fringe events at conference and have a copy of said policy paper at home
4: Corbyn is opposed to leaving. He's said so publicly, and privately (to me personally), and he's notorious in pragmatic circles for NOT being willing to say stuff he doesn't mean for the sake of political convenience. The most we can get him to do is not comment (e.g. he's not said anything about Trident for a long time, but I've no doubt he's still against)
Can we have some kind of honour rule where everyone saying Corbyn will vote for No Deal has to make a donation to charity/pb.com hosting costs when they turn out to be wrong? I'm happy to make a contribution if I am wrong and he does vote for No Deal Brexit. I've tried enticing a few serial offenders into a bet but they aren't interested sadly...
I think you may have lost your bet already.
Corbyn voted for No Deal when he voted for the EU Withdrawal Bill last year. That law does not impose any conditions on our from the EU departure on March 29th.
- I feel sorry for Theresa May but I don't think she's quite got it. [gestures to head] - She was chucked into it. - Yeah 'cause David Cameron messed up, but I wouldn't want Boris Johnson either. He's another twat, isn't he?
Brexit returns power to the British voter to elect and eject those who rule over them. No more diktats from Brussels, no more unelected commissioners conjuring laws, no more no more no more.
In the long term this is clearly the best thing for the country. It will hurt in the short term. J R Mogg was logically right to talk of “fifty years”, even though the comment was foolishly unguarded, politically.
No.
That's not how the World works anymore. Long gone are the days when the UK elite could make diktats that changed how things work in Global markets.
We need to do deals with other people. We can be in the room (as we are now), or we can look on while our future is decided by other people.
Brexit reduces the ability of our elected representatives to control our destiny.
+1. To illustrate the point, substitute "Northamptonshire" for "British" and "Westminster" for Brussels. It is intuitively clear (though perhaps someone will disagree) that Northants wouldn't be better off making its own decisions outside the UK, because they would find themselves unable to influence things that affected them. It's not obvious that the nation state is not now in the same position - and certainly that it's likely to be in that position in 50 years' time.
Brexit and Trump are parts of the painful last hurrahs of nationalism; a poisonous irrational psychosis that believes one nation or nationality to be superior to another, not unlike its close cousin fascism. It is a philosophy of win-lose rather than win-win. It is a stupidity that still needs to be bled out of the human spirit in the same way socialism does. Unfortunately human beings will have to suffer further before they fully understand the vacuousness of both of these simplistic ideologies.
In the main, nationalism is a good thing. Nationalism led to the liberation of Eastern Europe.
Wasn't it more a lack of freedom, crappy jobs, perpetual shortages and generally dire living standards?
Yes. The nationalism within the post-communist states also gave rise to the Yugoslav War, the Armenian-Azerbaijani War and various lesser conflicts, so hardly universally benign.
That said, people tend to have an innate desire to belong to groups bigger than themselves, and to want to believe that there is something virtuous in that group. If it isn't the nation, it's a religion or a political belief or something similar. It'd be a mistake to believe that without nationalism, the world would be a better place: chances are, the evil forces concentrated on nationalism would just concentrate on something else.
Brexit may be the best way of securing the status quo for the long term. The public may like things exactly as they are now and the only way to preserve that against the forces for change in the EU is to gain our independence. Future UK governments can then prevent the changes we would be forced to adopt if we remained in the EU.
OK. I'll grant you that. It's a good point.
But that particular flavour of 'Project Fear' - of what the EU might force upon us in the future - did not play a big part in the Leave campaign. It was far more about 'throwing off the shackles'.
So if we do throw them off - the shackles - but then do very little that we could not have done when we were wearing them, that, for me, will be not a hard brexit, nor a soft brexit, nor even a brexit means brexit, it will be a pointless brexit.
- I feel sorry for Theresa May but I don't think she's quite got it. [gestures to head] - She was chucked into it. - Yeah 'cause David Cameron messed up, but I wouldn't want Boris Johnson either. He's another twat, isn't he?
Enough of what John Harris thinks, what did the members of the public he interviewed think?
- I feel sorry for Theresa May but I don't think she's quite got it. [gestures to head] - She was chucked into it. - Yeah 'cause David Cameron messed up, but I wouldn't want Boris Johnson either. He's another twat, isn't he?
Brexit returns power to the British voter to elect and eject those who rule over them. No more diktats from Brussels, no more unelected commissioners conjuring laws, no more no more no more.
In the long term this is clearly the best thing for the country. It will hurt in the short term. J R Mogg was logically right to talk of “fifty years”, even though the comment was foolishly unguarded, politically.
No.
That's not how the World works anymore. Long gone are the days when the UK elite could make diktats that changed how things work in Global markets.
We need to do deals with other people. We can be in the room (as we are now), or we can look on while our future is decided by other people.
Brexit reduces the ability of our elected representatives to control our destiny.
Brexit and Trump are parts of the painful last hurrahs of nationalism; a poisonous irrational psychosis that believes one nation or nationality to be superior to another, not unlike its close cousin fascism. It is a philosophy of win-lose rather than win-win. It is a stupidity that still needs to be bled out of the human spirit in the same way socialism does. Unfortunately human beings will have to suffer further before they fully understand the vacuousness of both of these simplistic ideologies.
In the main, nationalism is a good thing. Nationalism led to the liberation of Eastern Europe.
Wasn't it more a lack of freedom, crappy jobs, perpetual shortages and generally dire living standards?
Yes. The nationalism within the post-communist states also gave rise to the Yugoslav War, the Armenian-Azerbaijani War and various lesser conflicts, so hardly universally benign.
That said, people tend to have an innate desire to belong to groups bigger than themselves, and to want to believe that there is something virtuous in that group. If it isn't the nation, it's a religion or a political belief or something similar. It'd be a mistake to believe that without nationalism, the world would be a better place: chances are, the evil forces concentrated on nationalism would just concentrate on something else.
Even if nationalism, political ideology, and religion disappeared from the world, and we concentrated solely on making money, human beings would still fight over resources.
Mr. Herdson, pretty boring poem too, but having the rozzers ring him up is creepy, not least because the police apparently conceded no crime had occurred.
Maybe fighting crime rather than policing poetry should have their attention?
What do we think of Campbell-Bannerman MEP's response to the Airbus CEO's comments:
"Here we have a German CEO putting EU interests first before his own employees. A disgrace. As with Galileo UK should make plans to take over these plants and sell into the global marketplace with our own planes."
I have heard of Trotskyists who think like this - "Seize the plants! Launch our own projects!" Haven't heard it from the Conservative Party up to now.
We think he's a stupid person.
I used to like him (DCB), but he wrote a very foolish article on Brexit Central about how we could use GATT provisions to force the EU not to raise tariffs on UK products in the event of a No Deal Brexit.
It suffered from two serious problems. One, GATT no longer exists. Two, the provisions don't mean what he thinks they mean.
Mr. Herdson, pretty boring poem too, but having the rozzers ring him up is creepy, not least because the police apparently conceded no crime had occurred.
Maybe fighting crime rather than policing poetry should have their attention?
Talking of crappy poetry, this, from Dr. Jennifer Cassidy, has got a lot of coverage on social media.
"You invaded us. You conquered us. You divided us.
You robbed us of our language, our heritage, our land.
You starved us. You starved us. You starved us.
You shot us. You imprisoned us. You killed us.
We made peace. We trusted you. We trusted you."
My initial reaction was she must have been an idiot to trust people who did such naughty things to her.
Thanks - all good points, though I would like more clarity how certain it is that Corbyn opposes leaving, given the manifesto and his voting record in the past. On your sixth point, as time goes on and the actual choice becomes a binary forced choice between TMs deal or no deal - that is the point at which for most MPs there can only be one answer. I hope.
What Corbyn said to me in our half-hour chat was that he had indeed been against the EU, as he felt it entrenched free-market capitalism. Over time it had evolved and there were now substantial progressive European forces that we could work with, and on the other hand the scope for Britain to be progressive on its own had shrunk. So although he wasn't especially keen on the EU, it was in his view now better to stay.
I don't see any reason to think that he'd bother to lie extensively in a private conservation with a long-standing acquaintance. It's what he thinks. Inconveniently, it's not the passionate Remain or Leave position that most people nowadays seem to want. It's the 7 out of 10 view that he expressed at the time of the referendum. As a more cynical politician, I feel it'd be good if he simulated greater passion on the subject, since it'd attract voters who otherwise can't stand Labour. But I respect the fact that he really doesn't do simulation.
Oh come off it!
He opposed it because it “entrenched free market capitalism” but it has “evolved” and there were “now substantial progressive European forces”.
What EU is he talking about? The one where Macron is trying to liberalise France, where Salvini is running Italy, where Kurtz is in charge of Austria and Orban in Hungary and Poland’s government is hardly progressive and the Danes are getting very tough with their immigrants etc? The one where Greece has had to endure austerity the likes of which we have no idea about it to preserve the euro or where Ireland had to do the same to save bondholders in German banks? The EU where far right, nationalist and fascist parties are gaining votes and influence on government in a way unimaginable 20 years ago?
Either he hasn’t a clue or he told you what you wanted to hear. Or he’s fooling himself.
Someone unkinder than me might call you naive about the clever way your party’s leader uses words to make his audience believe what they would like to be true.
Can I just take back everything I previously said about William Glenn posting tweets? That one pays for 100 of your previous ones.
Much as I loath the fat little oaf, innocent until proven guilty. We will have to wait to see if he will be shouting "you'll never take our freedom" as they lead him to the cells!
Can I just take back everything I previously said about William Glenn posting tweets? That one pays for 100 of your previous ones.
Much as I loath the fat little oaf, innocent until proven guilty. We will have to wait to see if he will be shouting "you'll never take our freedom" as they lead him to the cells!
One name...William Roache...he was charged with a massive list of offences, which all turned out to be absolute horseshit i.e. he didn't own alleged car, never lived at a particular house, was on set during times he was supposed to be abusing somebody, etc etc etc.
Can I just take back everything I previously said about William Glenn posting tweets? That one pays for 100 of your previous ones.
Much as I loath the fat little oaf, innocent until proven guilty. We will have to wait to see if he will be shouting "you'll never take our freedom" as they lead him to the cells!
Indeed. As someone once falsely accused of rape, I know how important it is to remember that a charge means nothing. A jury must convict.
That said, it is impossible to ignore the optics. We already know there is a scandal about a potential cover up, re Salmond. Now this? Sturgeon will be lucky to survive, I think. She suddenly looks very imperiled. The Nats should want a complete clear out, and a new, untainted generation of leaders.
There is a strong case to be answered for Sturgeon. That said, there are all sorts of cases to be answered from a lot of politicians at the moment, and few have the decency to do the decent thing. The Nats will probably blame the English and the Tories and say it is all a conspiracy. As most of them are not that bright she will be safe.
I will be interested to see how the police / CPS handle the Salmond case.
Our former Lib Dem candidate here was hung out to dry by the Police / CPS for two and a half years before they stood up in court on Day 1 of the trial and "offered no evidence".
The clinching evidence was that the vehicle in which the crimes were alleged to have taken placed had not been in his ownership until 1-2 years after the alleged date of the offences. I fail to see why they could not have discovered this 2 years earlier.
Can I just take back everything I previously said about William Glenn posting tweets? That one pays for 100 of your previous ones.
Much as I loath the fat little oaf, innocent until proven guilty. We will have to wait to see if he will be shouting "you'll never take our freedom" as they lead him to the cells!
Indeed. As someone once falsely accused of rape, I know how important it is to remember that a charge means nothing. A jury must convict.
That said, it is impossible to ignore the optics. We already know there is a scandal about a potential cover up, re Salmond. Now this? Sturgeon will be lucky to survive, I think. She suddenly looks very imperiled. The Nats should want a complete clear out, and a new, untainted generation of leaders.
There is a strong case to be answered for Sturgeon. That said, there are all sorts of cases to be answered from a lot of politicians at the moment, and few have the decency to do the decent thing. The Nats will probably blame the English and the Tories and say it is all a conspiracy. As most of them are not that bright she will be safe.
As far as Salmond is concerned my response is no comment
From that clip FB sounded pretty good. You had to feel sorry for DA in that she was in a difficult position of Corbyn's making and she didn't handle it well. She was lucky that she had two such supercilious Tories on either side of her
He opposed it because it “entrenched free market capitalism” but it has “evolved” and there were “now substantial progressive European forces”.
What EU is he talking about? The one where Macron is trying to liberalise France, where Salvini is running Italy, where Kurtz is in charge of Austria and Orban in Hungary and Poland’s government is hardly progressive and the Danes are getting very tough with their immigrants etc? The one where Greece has had to endure austerity the likes of which we have no idea about it to preserve the euro or where Ireland had to do the same to save bondholders in German banks? The EU where far right, nationalist and fascist parties are gaining votes and influence on government in a way unimaginable 20 years ago?
Either he hasn’t a clue or he told you what you wanted to hear. Or he’s fooling himself.
Someone unkinder than me might call you naive about the clever way your party’s leader uses words to make his audience believe what they would like to be true.
I think that is a little unfair. I am not a Corbyn fan and I don't think his performance on Brexit, or anything much else since the general election, has been up to much, but I do not think he is playing a complicated game of deception about his true views on Brexit. Because Brexit is an issue of such talismanic importance to most people in politics, and especially most Tories, it is impossible for them to conceive of a politician who does not see it in that way. But before the referendum EU membership was a complete non issue in Labour circles, it was hardly ever discussed at meetings, EU related pressure groups, both for and against, had tiny followings and were well outside the main political discourse.
Many Tories have spent their whole career campaigning for Brexit, it is the very essence of their political being, and, as we have seen, they are prepared to sacrifice everything, including the country, to get the UK out of the EU. They cannot imagine any politician being indifferent to the subject and they see Corbyns past opposition as similar to their own, he is, they think, a committed Brexiteer who will stop at nothing to ensure the UK leaves. But this is a false picture, many, many Labour figures have changed their views inmates eUrope over the years, I give you Neil Kinnock, David Blunkett and Robin Cook as examples but there are many more. Corbyn is following a well trodden path and I think Nick Ps description of his position is an accurate one.
Can I just take back everything I previously said about William Glenn posting tweets? That one pays for 100 of your previous ones.
Much as I loath the fat little oaf, innocent until proven guilty. We will have to wait to see if he will be shouting "you'll never take our freedom" as they lead him to the cells!
Indeed. As someone once falsely accused of rape, I know how important it is to remember that a charge means nothing. A jury must convict.
That said, it is impossible to ignore the optics. We already know there is a scandal about a potential cover up, re Salmond. Now this? Sturgeon will be lucky to survive, I think. She suddenly looks very imperiled. The Nats should want a complete clear out, and a new, untainted generation of leaders.
There is a strong case to be answered for Sturgeon. That said, there are all sorts of cases to be answered from a lot of politicians at the moment, and few have the decency to do the decent thing. The Nats will probably blame the English and the Tories and say it is all a conspiracy. As most of them are not that bright she will be safe.
Her problem is that she is so closely linked to Salmond. She was his protege. The anointed successor. I fail to see how she can escape this without damage, likewise her party. It was always a faintly unhealthy situation, one party in total control of every aspect of a small nation’s life, from police to education to rape.
Will she be called to give evidence ? That would be box office.
Can I just take back everything I previously said about William Glenn posting tweets? That one pays for 100 of your previous ones.
Much as I loath the fat little oaf, innocent until proven guilty. We will have to wait to see if he will be shouting "you'll never take our freedom" as they lead him to the cells!
Indeed. As someone once falsely accused of rape, I know how important it is to remember that a charge means nothing. A jury must convict.
That said, it is impossible to ignore the optics. We already know there is a scandal about a potential cover up, re Salmond. Now this? Sturgeon will be lucky to survive, I think. She suddenly looks very imperiled. The Nats should want a complete clear out, and a new, untainted generation of leaders.
There is a strong case to be answered for Sturgeon. That said, there are all sorts of cases to be answered from a lot of politicians at the moment, and few have the decency to do the decent thing. The Nats will probably blame the English and the Tories and say it is all a conspiracy. As most of them are not that bright she will be safe.
As far as Salmond is concerned my response is no comment
Corbyn voted for No Deal when he voted for the EU Withdrawal Bill last year. That law does not impose any conditions on our from the EU departure on March 29th.
Don't know how you've worked that out. The withdrawal bill aims to "enable domestic law to reflect the content of a withdrawal agreement under Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union once the UK leaves the EU."
Seems a strange thing to say that voting for that means you are voting against having a withdrawal agreement at all.
Strange choice of words from Salmond: "innocent of any criminality" . Why not say innocent of all charges? They are obviously all criminal, but it is a curious use of words from someone protesting their innocence.
Before Morris Dancer gets in with it, the charge sheet reminds of this from Edward Gibbon.
"Of the three popes, John the Twenty-third was the first victim: he fled and was brought back a prisoner: the most scandalous charges were suppressed; the vicar of Christ was only accused of piracy, murder, rape, sodomy, and incest;"
Can I just take back everything I previously said about William Glenn posting tweets? That one pays for 100 of your previous ones.
Much as I loath the fat little oaf, innocent until proven guilty. We will have to wait to see if he will be shouting "you'll never take our freedom" as they lead him to the cells!
Indeed. As someone once falsely accused of rape, I know how important it is to remember that a charge means nothing. A jury must convict.
That said, it is impossible to ignore the optics. We already know there is a scandal about a potential cover up, re Salmond. Now this? Sturgeon will be lucky to survive, I think. She suddenly looks very imperiled. The Nats should want a complete clear out, and a new, untainted generation of leaders.
There is a strong case to be answered for Sturgeon. That said, there are all sorts of cases to be answered from a lot of politicians at the moment, and few have the decency to do the decent thing. The Nats will probably blame the English and the Tories and say it is all a conspiracy. As most of them are not that bright she will be safe.
Her problem is that she is so closely linked to Salmond. She was his protege. The anointed successor. I fail to see how she can escape this without damage, likewise her party. It was always a faintly unhealthy situation, one party in total control of every aspect of a small nation’s life, from police to education to rape.
Will she be called to give evidence ? That would be box office.
Precisely. Given the cover up scandal, which closely involves Sturgeon, on a personal basis - meetings in various domiciles, etc - I fail to see how she can avoid the fallout from this. She’s far too intimately involved. Plus she’s a secret .
Of course, this is the danger. It takes only one country to veto an extension.
It does make you wonder if the EU are heading for the break up of their so called unity
It doesn't make much sense to me that the Euro-elections should be a major stumbling block to an extension, but - as it is a question of unanimity - it may be that eight weeks is the longest extension we can be confident of getting.
Mr. Recidivist, must admit, when you mentioned Popes I thought you were going to be referring to the trial of Boniface VIII. It was notable for Boniface being both the defendant, and deceased.
Strange choice of words from Salmond: "innocent of any criminality" . Why not say innocent of all charges? They are obviously all criminal, but it is a curious use of words from someone protesting their innocence.
He's said himself previously that he is "No saint"
Strange choice of words from Salmond: "innocent of any criminality" . Why not say innocent of all charges? They are obviously all criminal, but it is a curious use of words from someone protesting their innocence.
He's said himself previously that he is "No saint"
Clearly not when it comes to another helping of pie, but I suspect he must have been suggesting he can't keep wee willy from popping oot from under his kilt
The recent warnings from business including Airbus and another today from Jaguar Land Rover seem to co-inside with Davos. I believe Phil Hammond is there, so is there any doubt at all that he is encouraging them.
I am sure ERG will not be pleased but he is right to do so
A very curious Guardian ‘profile’ of Salmond, just published, outlines his career and says that he resigned as leader in 2000 for ‘reasons which remain mysterious’
Am I being a bit grassy knoll, or is that a big fat hint?
I was thinking big and fat, but a four letter word that is not hint came to mind
Before Morris Dancer gets in with it, the charge sheet reminds of this from Edward Gibbon.
"Of the three popes, John the Twenty-third was the first victim: he fled and was brought back a prisoner: the most scandalous charges were suppressed; the vicar of Christ was only accused of piracy, murder, rape, sodomy, and incest;"
if we're being honest, which of us hasn't done these things?
A very curious Guardian ‘profile’ of Salmond, just published, outlines his career and says that he resigned as leader in 2000 for ‘reasons which remain mysterious’
Am I being a bit grassy knoll, or is that a big fat hint?
Check out the replies to Andrew Neil's tweet on the charges .
Can I just take back everything I previously said about William Glenn posting tweets? That one pays for 100 of your previous ones.
Much as I loath the fat little oaf, innocent until proven guilty. We will have to wait to see if he will be shouting "you'll never take our freedom" as they lead him to the cells!
Indeed. As someone once falsely accused of rape, I know how important it is to remember that a charge means nothing. A jury must convict.
That said, it is impossible to ignore the optics. We already know there is a scandal about a potential cover up, re Salmond. Now this? Sturgeon will be lucky to survive, I think. She suddenly looks very imperiled. The Nats should want a complete clear out, and a new, untainted generation of leaders.
There is a strong case to be answered for Sturgeon. That said, there are all sorts of cases to be answered from a lot of politicians at the moment, and few have the decency to do the decent thing. The Nats will probably blame the English and the Tories and say it is all a conspiracy. As most of them are not that bright she will be safe.
Her problem is that she is so closely linked to Salmond. She was his protege. The anointed successor. I fail to see how she can escape this without damage, likewise her party. It was always a faintly unhealthy situation, one party in total control of every aspect of a small nation’s life, from police to education to rape.
Will she be called to give evidence ? That would be box office.
Precisely. Given the cover up scandal, which closely involves Sturgeon, on a personal basis - meetings in various domiciles, etc - I fail to see how she can avoid the fallout from this. She’s far too intimately involved. Plus she’s a secret lesbian.
I see the Yoons after getting themselves in a fankle over accusing Sturgeon of simultaneously plotting against & on behalf of Salmond have at last plumped for one view.
The recent warnings from business including Airbus and another today from Jaguar Land Rover seem to co-inside with Davos. I believe Phil Hammond is there, so is there any doubt at all that he is encouraging them.
I am sure ERG will not be pleased but he is right to do so
Comments
Maduro and his cronies will have to give back most of what they have laundered from the country in exchange for immunity from further prosecution.
And if we do 'brexit' and then in, say, the next 10 years do little of note that we could not just as easily have done as a member of the EU then that will be a QED.
I do feel that the UK is run primarily for the benefit of the English and that if I were a Scot I would be extremely unhappy about this.
I can understand why swathes of the country voted leave but it ain't going to solve their problems. Globalisation will still be with us. In general the more dynamic sections of society wanted to remain. If the country had voted to leave with the strong backing of the young and entrepreneurs and against the wishes of the OAPs then it stood a chance of success. As it is we have the reverse situation.
You’re a man.
Your breasts are made of silicone
Your vagina goes nowhere
And we can tell the difference
Even when you are not there
Your hormones are synthetic
And lets just cross this bridge
What you have you stupid man
Is male privilege.
I'm talking about bring the whole kit & caboodle into public ownership.
Brussels would prevent us from doing that, centrist dads that they are.
Outside Edinburgh Sheriff Court, Alex Salmond says he is "innocent of any criminality whatsoever" - "the only thing I can say is I refute absolutely these allegations of criminality and I will defend myself to the utmost in court"
Corbyn voted for No Deal when he voted for the EU Withdrawal Bill last year. That law does not impose any conditions on our from the EU departure on March 29th.
You mean everything is not going splendidly in the marxist playground of Venezuela?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwbYjgL0qdA
- I feel sorry for Theresa May but I don't think she's quite got it. [gestures to head]
- She was chucked into it.
- Yeah 'cause David Cameron messed up, but I wouldn't want Boris Johnson either. He's another twat, isn't he?
That said, people tend to have an innate desire to belong to groups bigger than themselves, and to want to believe that there is something virtuous in that group. If it isn't the nation, it's a religion or a political belief or something similar. It'd be a mistake to believe that without nationalism, the world would be a better place: chances are, the evil forces concentrated on nationalism would just concentrate on something else.
But that particular flavour of 'Project Fear' - of what the EU might force upon us in the future - did not play a big part in the Leave campaign. It was far more about 'throwing off the shackles'.
So if we do throw them off - the shackles - but then do very little that we could not have done when we were wearing them, that, for me, will be not a hard brexit, nor a soft brexit, nor even a brexit means brexit, it will be a pointless brexit.
(ducks..)
Maybe fighting crime rather than policing poetry should have their attention?
It suffered from two serious problems. One, GATT no longer exists. Two, the provisions don't mean what he thinks they mean.
It'd also mean a low chance of a referendum this year. Not impossible, but unlikely indeed.
"You invaded us.
You conquered us.
You divided us.
You robbed us
of our language,
our heritage, our land.
You starved us.
You starved us.
You starved us.
You shot us.
You imprisoned us.
You killed us.
We made peace.
We trusted you.
We trusted you."
My initial reaction was she must have been an idiot to trust people who did such naughty things to her.
https://twitter.com/DarrenEuronews/status/1088416353730609152
https://twitter.com/DarrenEuronews/status/1088445135946362884
He opposed it because it “entrenched free market capitalism” but it has “evolved” and there were “now substantial progressive European forces”.
What EU is he talking about? The one where Macron is trying to liberalise France, where Salvini is running Italy, where Kurtz is in charge of Austria and Orban in Hungary and Poland’s government is hardly progressive and the Danes are getting very tough with their immigrants etc? The one where Greece has had to endure austerity the likes of which we have no idea about it to preserve the euro or where Ireland had to do the same to save bondholders in German banks? The EU where far right, nationalist and fascist parties are gaining votes and influence on government in a way unimaginable 20 years ago?
Either he hasn’t a clue or he told you what you wanted to hear. Or he’s fooling himself.
Someone unkinder than me might call you naive about the clever way your party’s leader uses words to make his audience believe what they would like to be true.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FbWsINjpRY
Question Time presenter Fiona Bruce is told to stay off social media and hide her address amid ferocious left-wing hate campaign over Diane Abbott row
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6627787/Question-Time-presenter-Fiona-Bruce-told-stay-social-media-hide-address.html
O/T this amused me
https://www.facebook.com/JforG/photos/a.1514473558779322/2564269203799747/?type=3&theater
Mr. T, it's unusual for such a thing to happen, though.
Our former Lib Dem candidate here was hung out to dry by the Police / CPS for two and a half years before they stood up in court on Day 1 of the trial and "offered no evidence".
The clinching evidence was that the vehicle in which the crimes were alleged to have taken placed had not been in his ownership until 1-2 years after the alleged date of the offences. I fail to see why they could not have discovered this 2 years earlier.
Evidence problems; competence problems; disclosure problems;leaks to the media in advance problems. The whole things is a shower - and they maintain it is all fine and dandy.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5117413/Lib-Dem-star-wrongly-branded-paedophile-reveals-agony.html
I have very little faith at all in our prosecuting authorities on this kind of case; the record speaks for itself.
I can't stand the man, but I hope Salmond gets due process.
In my view, something in our prosecuting authorities stinks to high heaven.
I’ve always wanted to say that.
I’ve had a similar issue and informed Robert.
Many Tories have spent their whole career campaigning for Brexit, it is the very essence of their political being, and, as we have seen, they are prepared to sacrifice everything, including the country, to get the UK out of the EU. They cannot imagine any politician being indifferent to the subject and they see Corbyns past opposition as similar to their own, he is, they think, a committed Brexiteer who will stop at nothing to ensure the UK leaves. But this is a false picture, many, many Labour figures have changed their views inmates eUrope over the years, I give you Neil Kinnock, David Blunkett and Robin Cook as examples but there are many more. Corbyn is following a well trodden path and I think Nick Ps description of his position is an accurate one.
The withdrawal bill aims to "enable domestic law to reflect the content of a withdrawal agreement under Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union once the UK leaves the EU."
Seems a strange thing to say that voting for that means you are voting against having a withdrawal agreement at all.
And cheers.
"Of the three popes, John the Twenty-third was the first victim: he fled and was brought back a prisoner: the most scandalous charges were suppressed; the vicar of Christ was only accused of piracy, murder, rape, sodomy, and incest;"
An Oscar winning film, very enjoyable even if it was as historically accurate as an American war film.
Expecting historical accuracy from films is, sadly, to ignore Hollywood's habitual hokum.
I am sure ERG will not be pleased but he is right to do so
We just have to get a deal
Do Conservatives advocate foreign military intervention in Venezuela? Should we send British troops as part of a peacekeeping force to Caracas?