I disagree. The SNP is not benign, though it likes to give the impression it is. It has some very sinister undertones that are ba cannot make this excuse. Scotland has been massively overrepresented in British government, and Scottish subjects were very strongly influential on the growth of the British Empire. Their victim status is contrived.
Not s to Mother?
Hmm. You are still being too kind to the SNP. At the heart of Scottish nationalism is a burning hatred of the English, stemming from, and allied with, a deep inferiority complex vis-a-vis the Sassenachs, They have done well to build a facade of “civic nationalism” to disguise this, but it is still there, lurking. Down in the crypt.
Irish nationalism has similar demons in its past, but they have been largely exorcised by independence, and more lately by prosperity, to the extent that Ireland is now content to be run as a colony of Berlin and Brussels, as long as the money keeps coming in. A flavoursome irony.
Agreed with all but the nonsense in the last bit about Ireland being a colony. They are no more a colony of the EU than we are of the United States. Rather Mark Francoisesque and grotesquely silly.
During the financial crisis the Irish government had to submit its budget for approval by the Bundestag BEFORE it was seen by Irish MPs. You don’t get much more colonised than that.
As a small member of the eurozone, Dublin is now completely subordinate to Brussels and Berlin. It has no real sovereignty, merely the simulacrum of sovereignty. If it ever tried to rebel, or leave, it would be treated like Greece. Moreover, it cannot ever leave. Leaving the eurozone is impossible. We’ve seen how difficult it is to Brexit, quitting the eurozone would be Brexit to the power of ten.
BTW the difficulty of Brexiting gives the lie to Remainer arguments that the UK was always sovereign, a free nation, able to leave any time, what’s the big fuss. As we now see, we gave away so much sovereignty, by stealth, quitting the EU was and is virtually impossible. British “sovereignty” was fast becoming a polite fiction.
We should have left before the Lisbon Treaty and its hideous Article 50, expressly designed to punish any seceding state. But we are where we are.
“This is classic mob technique to send a signal to the individual who Mr. Trump has called a ‘rat’ for telling the truth," he said. "Now, that word ‘rat’ comes directly out of organized crime. It’s also a signal to other inmates in a potential prison situation."
“But the family of Michael Cohen has been called out by Donald Trump," Davis said. "Once again, he ducks or lies about what he knows he’s done, which is to attack a father-in-law and wife as a way of getting to Mr. Cohen, and that is called witness tampering, obstruction of justice.”...
...On Thursday, Davis called Giuliani "mentally unstable" and said he's "a prosecutor who would prosecute what he just did," referring to the claims Giuliani made on CNN. Davis declined to say if Cohen's family would pursue legal action against Giuliani but called on Congress to vote on a resolution of censure to reprimand Trump.
"You can go after Mr. Cohen, if that’s their design, because Mr. Cohen’s an adverse witness," Davis said. "What do his father-in-law and his wife have to do with anything — other than the crime of witness tampering, intimidation, and corrupt intent to try to deter Mr. Cohen from telling the truth? And I hope the Senate and the House, they can vote a resolution of censure, and Mr. Giuliani can be indicted and certainly criminally investigated for doing what he just did, that is prima facie a crime to threaten a witness before Congress."
Robert Mueller's investigation has been methodical and very disciplined. The absence of leaks is striking, as is the way in which he seems to be plucking pieces off the board one at a time, slowly circling in to the centre. At every stage he's underpromised and overdelivered. That in turn creates a virtuous circle as those potentially in line seek to make sure of their own position.
We don't know what he knows, but equally obviously neither do any of those on team Trump, and none of them trust each other to know what might be out there. The panic is palpable.
I agree, he (and his team) have been sensationally good at their jobs so far.
I'd give it 5 years max 'till they make an Oscar contender out of this. Hmm, who to play Mueller? Baldwin as Trump, natch.
Mueller = Sam Waterson who plays Jack McCoy in Law & Order.
In terms of % of population the Irish Army is bigger than the British.
So what? This isn’t top trumps. The Irish Army is under a tenth of the size of the British army and far more poorly equipped.
This is Varadkar shitting himself with ever more outlandish claims as he belatedly realises that trying to bully the British to make himself look a big hard man back home might backfire drastically.
Another cretin. Jesus. For every crazed Remainer like A C Grayling or Adonis, there’s a frothing loon of a Leaver like Francois or S Jackson (ex of this parish)
What the F has happened to us? We are a nation of donkeys led by maggots.
Sorry, but I don't think the scales are quite as even as you would like. Whatever you might say about Adonis he is very intelligent. These idiots? I am actually beginning to feel sorry for the more thoughtful people who voted for Brexit...well only a bit
Adonis intelligent!! Wow, that's some judgement you have.
Informative article - but I don't agree with your conclusion. The only deal which passes is one with Labour and Conservative votes, which must be a softer one to get Labour support.
May would have to break her red line on the customs union I think. And will she? I doubt it.
So: No Deal?
I just can’t see it. Parliament will go bonkers as No Deal approaches. MPs will swarm. Something will be passed. But a lot of damage will be done in the meantime.
It is also possible that the EU - or Ireland - will blink first.
I fear the EU/Ireland will blink first is the new German carmakers will ensure we get a good deal.
You think Varadkar is going to want to face a general election, with a Hard Border being kinda policed by the Gardai/Army?
I disagree. The SNP is not benign, though it likes to give the impression it is. It has some very sinister undertones that are based on classical hatred themes that are so typical of nationalism and where it crosses into fascism. It also has a pretty unpleasant history with strong links to European fascism in the 30s. The bile that is spewed by the couple of SNP supporters that come on here if anyone criticises them is indicative. Irish nationalism, while its violence is repugnant, is based on a genuine history of repression and underrepresentation. Scottish nationalism cannot make this excuse. Scotland has been massively overrepresented in British government, and Scottish subjects were very strongly influential on the growth of the British Empire. Their victim status is contrived.
Not saying I have a particular soft spot for Scottish nationalism, and I will take on trust those comments about nastiness in the 1930s, I can believe it, and yes you are quite right that they were more partners in colonialism than victims of it, but - but but but - there is no way in my mind that a cause such as that, or say Catalonia, or the Kurds, this type of 'nationalism' ought to be viewed in the same light as Front National, BNP, AfD, Golden Dawn, these sorts of grisly and wholly reprehensible movements. I mean, Nicola Sturgeon or Martin Webster? Who are you going to take home to Mother?
Hmm. You are still being too kind to the SNP. At the heart of Scottish nationalism is a burning hatred of the English, stemming from, and allied with, a deep inferiority complex vis-a-vis the Sassenachs, They have done well to build a facade of “civic nationalism” to disguise this, but it is still there, lurking. Down in the crypt.
Irish nationalism has similar demons in its past, but they have been largely exorcised by independence, and more lately by prosperity, to the extent that Ireland is now content to be run as a colony of Berlin and Brussels, as long as the money keeps coming in. A flavoursome irony.
My favourite example of that was when a regular nationalist poster on here - who’s all been Mr.Civic Nationalist in the past - managed to post a comment on here that got ‘blood’ and ‘soil’ into the same paragraph, seemingly without irony.
There really ought to come a point when England can just surrender. This is torture and humiliation.
Stubborn defiance in the face of overwhelming odds is supposed to be a defining part of the English national character. We'll get them in singles. With one arm tied behind our backs.
At the very least it would be nice to see one of the top six score an obdurate century in defeat.
Developing the right attitude in response to English cricketing defeats such as this builds the national character that would be able to look a no deal Brexit in the eye and say that we all needed to lose a bit of weight anyway. If there is panic-buying it will be because cricket has been behind the Sky paywall since 2005.
A century? I think a cavalier 20 might be all that we can hope for.
Like with Brexit, you just have to believe.
I believe Brexit will prove the better option for us as the EU continues to consolidate. English batting, unfortunately, is a step too far. Presumably Holder wants his 100 before he lets Roache loose. It will probably be the easiest one he will ever get.
Informative article - but I don't agree with your conclusion. The only deal which passes is one with Labour and Conservative votes, which must be a softer one to get Labour support.
May would have to break her red line on the customs union I think. And will she? I doubt it.
So: No Deal?
I just can’t see it. Parliament will go bonkers as No Deal approaches. MPs will swarm. Something will be passed. But a lot of damage will be done in the meantime.
It is also possible that the EU - or Ireland - will blink first.
I fear the EU/Ireland will blink first is the new German carmakers will ensure we get a good deal.
Indeed. There will only be a deal if the EU agrees one. And the EU will only reopen negotiations if they are convinced that May can get a revised deal through parliament. And May will only be able to get a revised deal through parliament if she attracts a substantial number of Labour MPs in support. And this will only happen if May backs down on her red lines, a customs union in particular. And this would split the Tories and May probably could not deliver on it anyway. So the chances of a revised deal are pretty slim IMO.
... BTW the difficulty of Brexiting gives the lie to Remainer arguments that the UK was always sovereign, a free nation, able to leave any time, what’s the big fuss. As we now see, we gave away so much sovereignty, by stealth, quitting the EU was and is virtually impossible. British “sovereignty” was fast becoming a polite fiction. ...
What difficulty? We have a perfectly viable route to leaving. The document implementing the transition is all ready to sign, and has been since November. Parliament is sovereign, and so far has chosen not to ratify it, but that is a political choice.
... BTW the difficulty of Brexiting gives the lie to Remainer arguments that the UK was always sovereign, a free nation, able to leave any time, what’s the big fuss. As we now see, we gave away so much sovereignty, by stealth, quitting the EU was and is virtually impossible. British “sovereignty” was fast becoming a polite fiction. ...
What difficulty? We have a perfectly viable route to leaving. The document implementing the transition is all ready to sign, and has been since November. Parliament is sovereign, and so far has chosen not to ratify it, but that is a political choice.
Almost correct ... parliament has ALREADY ratified our exit route (No Deal).
Informative article - but I don't agree with your conclusion. The only deal which passes is one with Labour and Conservative votes, which must be a softer one to get Labour support.
May would have to break her red line on the customs union I think. And will she? I doubt it.
So: No Deal?
I just can’t see it. Parliament will go bonkers as No Deal approaches. MPs will swarm. Something will be passed. But a lot of damage will be done in the meantime.
It is also possible that the EU - or Ireland - will blink first.
The EU or May might blink, but if everyone holds firm, I think we will some kind of Grieve amendment passing that takes the decision out of her hands and revokes Article 50. So I still think there won't be a No Deal exit.
Revocation? Nah. It would be political suicide for any MP that voted for it.
Hmm. You are still being too kind to the SNP. At the heart of Scottish nationalism is a burning hatred of the English, stemming from, and allied with, a deep inferiority complex vis-a-vis the Sassenachs, They have done well to build a facade of “civic nationalism” to disguise this, but it is still there, lurking. Down in the crypt.
Well I am kind. It's why I'm always getting trampled on.
I'm sticking to the view that nationalism of the SNP variety is not in all fairness to be placed in the vicinity of AfD, BNP, #MAGA etc - this must surely be accepted by all people of sober disposition - but that point of yours about a burning antipathy towards the English? Hmm, maybe something in that.
I was in Scotland when Beckham missed that penalty in a WC match a few years ago - the embarrassing one where he slipped on his arse - and the yelps of delight, this incredible wall of noise all around the neighbourhood where I was - it was really something.
Oh and the match was NOT against Scotland - as I say it was the WC.
Informative article - but I don't agree with your conclusion. The only deal which passes is one with Labour and Conservative votes, which must be a softer one to get Labour support.
May would have to break her red line on the customs union I think. And will she? I doubt it.
So: No Deal?
I just can’t see it. Parliament will go bonkers as No Deal approaches. MPs will swarm. Something will be passed. But a lot of damage will be done in the meantime.
It is also possible that the EU - or Ireland - will blink first.
The EU or May might blink, but if everyone holds firm, I think we will some kind of Grieve amendment passing that takes the decision out of her hands and revokes Article 50. So I still think there won't be a No Deal exit.
Revocation? Nah. It would be political suicide for any MP that voted for it.
Why or is that just your own wishful thinking?
My personal opinion is that if panic sets in, revocation will be done and the mess cleared up afterwards, but I feel "No Deal" may be the only practical method of burning this corrosive form of English Nationalism out of our politics.
... BTW the difficulty of Brexiting gives the lie to Remainer arguments that the UK was always sovereign, a free nation, able to leave any time, what’s the big fuss. As we now see, we gave away so much sovereignty, by stealth, quitting the EU was and is virtually impossible. British “sovereignty” was fast becoming a polite fiction. ...
What difficulty? We have a perfectly viable route to leaving. The document implementing the transition is all ready to sign, and has been since November. Parliament is sovereign, and so far has chosen not to ratify it, but that is a political choice.
Perfectly viable??? This is the same Deal which has been denounced by the ex-head of MI6, no less, as a practically traitorous document which surrenders our military independence? This is the same Deal which potentially locks us into a Customs Union (but with no say in its rules) for the rest of recorded time?
That’s perfectly viable? Dear Richard, I hereby propose we should wed, I have a prenup ready to sign, don’t worry about the small print, dear. Xx
Just Brexit. Then get ourselves a PM with the spine to tell them to "piss off" on the bits we don't like. We'd have years to organise proper WTO and any other trade deals that way.
Business will depart? Not with our corporate tax rates. Read them, Brussels - and weep....
I disagree. The SNP is not benign, though it likes to give the impression it is. It has some very sinister undertones that are ba cannot make this excuse. Scotland has been massively overrepresented in British government, and Scottish subjects were very strongly influential on the growth of the British Empire. Their victim status is contrived.
Not s to Mother?
Hmm. You are still being too kind to the SNP. At the heart of Scottish nationalism is a burning hatred of the English, stemming from, and allied with, a deep inferiority complex vis-a-vis the Sassenachs, They have done well to build a facade of “civic nationalism” to disguise this, but it is still there, lurking. Down in the crypt.
Irish nationalism has similar demons in its past, but they have been largely exorcised by independence, and more lately by prosperity, to the extent that Ireland is now content to be run as a colony of Berlin and Brussels, as long as the money keeps coming in. A flavoursome irony.
Agreed with all but the nonsense in the last bit about Ireland being a colony. They are no more a colony of the EU than we are of the United States. Rather Mark Francoisesque and grotesquely silly.
During the financial crisis the Irish government had to submit its budget for approval by the Bundestag BEFORE it was seen by Irish MPs. You don’t get much more colonised than that.
As a small member of the eurozone, Dublin is now completely subordinate to Brussels and Berlin. It has no real sovereignty, merely the simulacrum of sovereignty. If it ever tried to rebel, or leave, it would be treated like Greece. Moreover, it cannot ever leave. Leaving the eurozone is impossible. We’ve seen how difficult it is to Brexit, quitting the eurozone would be Brexit to the power of ten.
BTW the difficulty of Brexiting gives the lie to Remainer arguments that the UK was always sovereign, a free nation, able to leave any time, what’s the big fuss. As we now see, we gave away so much sovereignty, by stealth, quitting the EU was and is virtually impossible. British “sovereignty” was fast becoming a polite fiction.
We should have left before the Lisbon Treaty and its hideous Article 50, expressly designed to punish any seceding state. But we are where we are.
Quitting the EU isn't "virtually impossible". It's quitting while attempting to retain some trappings of membership that's hard. If all the UK wants to do is quit all they have to do is wait until 30th March. That isn't even difficult never mind virtually impossible.
Mr. T, it doesn't lock us in for the rest of time. Only until the EU agrees to let us leave.
The barrier for leaving May's deal is substantially higher than it is for leaving the EU.
No deal isn't good (it'd be easier if the Government, particularly May/Hammond, had thought to prepare for it). May's deal isn't good. Remain isn't good.
All have very significant problems attached to them, whether economic or political. That said, I think the politicians blaming the electorate for voting to leave, when they themselves dragged the UK far closer to the EU than the electorate ever wanted, would be akin to Aron Ralston blaming his pen knife rather than the boulder for his pain.
... BTW the difficulty of Brexiting gives the lie to Remainer arguments that the UK was always sovereign, a free nation, able to leave any time, what’s the big fuss. As we now see, we gave away so much sovereignty, by stealth, quitting the EU was and is virtually impossible. British “sovereignty” was fast becoming a polite fiction. ...
What difficulty? We have a perfectly viable route to leaving. The document implementing the transition is all ready to sign, and has been since November. Parliament is sovereign, and so far has chosen not to ratify it, but that is a political choice.
Perfectly viable??? This is the same Deal which has been denounced by the ex-head of MI6, no less, as a practically traitorous document which surrenders our military independence? This is the same Deal which potentially locks us into a Customs Union (but with no say in its rules) for the rest of recorded time?
That’s perfectly viable? Dear Richard, I hereby propose we should wed, I have a prenup ready to sign, don’t worry about the small print, dear. Xx
Yes that one. One ex-head of MI6 has some completely incoherent views on it, accusing it simultaneously of being too close to the EU and not close enough, and some idiots who haven't read it think we'd be locked into a customs union which would be superbly favourable to us. But it's perfectly viable, and there for the signing. Of course it's not as good as remaining in the EU on Cameron's renegotiated terms, or even without them, but don't blame me for that - I voted Remain. How did you vote?
I disagree. The SNP is not benign, though it likes to give the impression it is. It has some very sinister undertones that are ba cannot make this excuse. Scotland has been massively overrepresented in British government, and Scottish subjects were very strongly influential on the growth of the British Empire. Their victim status is contrived.
Not s to Mother?
Hmm. You are still being too kind to the SNP. At the heart of Scottish nationalism is a burning hatred of the English, stemming from, and allied with, a deep inferiority complex vis-a-vis the Sassenachs, They have done well to build a facade of “civic nationalism” to disguise this, but it is still there, lurking. Down in the crypt.
Irish nationalism has similar demons in its past, but they have been largely exorcised by independence, and more lately by prosperity, to the extent that Ireland is now content to be run as a colony of Berlin and Brussels, as long as the money keeps coming in. A flavoursome irony.
Agreed with all but the nonsense in the last bit about Ireland being a colony. They are no more a colony of the EU than we are of the United States. Rather Mark Francoisesque and grotesquely silly.
During the financial crisis the Irish government had to submit its budget for approval by the Bundestag BEFORE it was seen by Irish MPs. You don’t get much more colonised than that.
As a small member of the eurozone, Dublin is now completely subordinate to Brussels and Berlin. It has no real sovereignty, merely the simulacrum of sovereignty. If it ever tried to rebel, or leave, it would be treated like Greece. Moreover, it cannot ever leave. Leaving the eurozone is impossible. We’ve seen how difficult it is to Brexit, quitting the eurozone would be Brexit to the power of ten.
BTW the difficulty of Brexiting gives the lie to Remainer arguments that the UK was always sovereign, a free nation, able to leave any time, what’s the big fuss. As we now see, we gave away so much sovereignty, by stealth, quitting the EU was and is virtually impossible. British “sovereignty” was fast becoming a polite fiction.
We should have left before the Lisbon Treaty and its hideous Article 50, expressly designed to punish any seceding state. But we are where we are.
Erm, before A50 there was no mechanism for exiting the EU treaties, and as they are between the member states, the Vienna Convention prohibited unilateral denunciation.
And before anyone says “but Greenland”, it left through Denmark redefining it as an overseas territory not covered by the treaties.
Informative article - but I don't agree with your conclusion. The only deal which passes is one with Labour and Conservative votes, which must be a softer one to get Labour support.
May would have to break her red line on the customs union I think. And will she? I doubt it.
So: No Deal?
I just can’t see it. Parliament will go bonkers as No Deal approaches. MPs will swarm. Something will be passed. But a lot of damage will be done in the meantime.
It is also possible that the EU - or Ireland - will blink first.
The EU or May might blink, but if everyone holds firm, I think we will some kind of Grieve amendment passing that takes the decision out of her hands and revokes Article 50. So I still think there won't be a No Deal exit.
Revocation? Nah. It would be political suicide for any MP that voted for it.
Why or is that just your own wishful thinking?
My personal opinion is that if panic sets in, revocation will be done and the mess cleared up afterwards, but I feel "No Deal" may be the only practical method of burning this corrosive form of English Nationalism out of our politics.
I feel like No Deal if it happens will be like the closure of the mining pits. A big uproar at the time, some upset with long memories but ultimately no harm to the economy overall.
Hmm. You are still being too kind to the SNP. At the heart of Scottish nationalism is a burning hatred of the English, stemming from, and allied with, a deep inferiority complex vis-a-vis the Sassenachs, They have done well to build a facade of “civic nationalism” to disguise this, but it is still there, lurking. Down in the crypt.
Irish nationalism has similar demons in its past, but they have been largely exorcised by independence, and more lately by prosperity, to the extent that Ireland is now content to be run as a colony of Berlin and Brussels, as long as the money keeps coming in. A flavoursome irony.
Agreed with all but the nonsense in the last bit about Ireland being a colony. They are no more a colony of the EU than we are of the United States. Rather Mark Francoisesque and grotesquely silly.
During the financial crisis the Irish government had to submit its budget for approval by the Bundestag BEFORE it was seen by Irish MPs. You don’t get much more colonised than that.
As a small member of the eurozone, Dublin is now completely subordinate to Brussels and Berlin. It has no real sovereignty, merely the simulacrum of sovereignty. If it ever tried to rebel, or leave, it would be treated like Greece. Moreover, it cannot ever leave. Leaving the eurozone is impossible. We’ve seen how difficult it is to Brexit, quitting the eurozone would be Brexit to the power of ten.
BTW the difficulty of Brexiting gives the lie to Remainer arguments that the UK was always sovereign, a free nation, able to leave any time, what’s the big fuss. As we now see, we gave away so much sovereignty, by stealth, quitting the EU was and is virtually impossible. British “sovereignty” was fast becoming a polite fiction.
We should have left before the Lisbon Treaty and its hideous Article 50, expressly designed to punish any seceding state. But we are where we are.
Erm, before A50 there was no mechanism for exiting the EU treaties, and as they are between the member states, the Vienna Convention prohibited unilateral denunciation.
And before anyone says “but Greenland”, it left through Denmark redefining it as an overseas territory not covered by the treaties.
There is another example: Algeria. Though I agree that doesn't really add much to the discussion.
Informative article - but I don't agree with your conclusion. The only deal which passes is one with Labour and Conservative votes, which must be a softer one to get Labour support.
May would have to break her red line on the customs union I think. And will she? I doubt it.
So: No Deal?
I just can’t see it. Parliament will go bonkers as No Deal approaches. MPs will swarm. Something will be passed. But a lot of damage will be done in the meantime.
It is also possible that the EU - or Ireland - will blink first.
The EU or May might blink, but if everyone holds firm, I think we will some kind of Grieve amendment passing that takes the decision out of her hands and revokes Article 50. So I still think there won't be a No Deal exit.
Revocation? Nah. It would be political suicide for any MP that voted for it.
Why or is that just your own wishful thinking?
Is that a serious question??
How do you think it would look, a majority of MPs simply voting away the referendum result, so we Remain in the EU? It would signal the end of British democracy as we know it. It’s far far worse than a 2nd referendum, which is already a perilous course of action.
Any MP that voted for this: to simply ignore and abort the expressed wish of the people, would be severely punished in any subsequent election, by all Leave voters, and a good number of appalled Remain voters. Only MPs in overwhelmingly Remain constituencies could hope to get away with it.
If Westminster can ignore the outcome of a Referendum on the EU that went against their preference, then it can do so to deliver an Independent Scotland too.... Nicola will say.
Informative article - but I don't agree with your conclusion. The only deal which passes is one with Labour and Conservative votes, which must be a softer one to get Labour support.
May would have to break her red line on the customs union I think. And will she? I doubt it.
So: No Deal?
I just can’t see it. Parliament will go bonkers as No Deal approaches. MPs will swarm. Something will be passed. But a lot of damage will be done in the meantime.
It is also possible that the EU - or Ireland - will blink first.
The EU or May might blink, but if everyone holds firm, I think we will some kind of Grieve amendment passing that takes the decision out of her hands and revokes Article 50. So I still think there won't be a No Deal exit.
Revocation? Nah. It would be political suicide for any MP that voted for it.
It might be, but they might hope that they can square it with the electorate by pointing to the opposition to the deal from the no deal faction of the Conservatives. They might be wrong in this hope, but people have done things on the basis of mistaken beliefs before.
Personally, I don't think it is likely they will be sufficiently organised or determined to do so, but it is possible.
I disagree. The SNP is not benign, though it likes to give the impression it is. It has some very sinister undertones that are ba cannot make this excuse. Scotland has been massively overrepresented in British government, and Scottish subjects were very strongly influential on the growth of the British Empire. Their victim status is contrived.
Not s to Mother?
Hmm. You are still being too kind to the SNP. At the heart of Scottish nationalism is a burning hatred of the English, stemming from, and allied with, a deep inferiority complex vis-a-vis the Sassenachs, They have done well to build a facade of “civic nationalism” to disguise this, but it is still there, lurking. Down in the crypt.
Agreed with all but the nonsense in the last bit about Ireland being a colony. They are no more a colony of the EU than we are of the United States. Rather Mark Francoisesque and grotesquely silly.
During the financial crisis the Irish government had to submit its budget for approval by the Bundestag BEFORE it was seen by Irish MPs. You don’t get much more colonised than that.
As a small member of the eurozone, Dublin is now completely subordinate to Brussels and Berlin. It has no real sovereignty, merely the simulacrum of sovereignty. If it ever tried to rebel, or leave, it would be treated like Greece. Moreover, it cannot ever leave. Leaving the eurozone is impossible. We’ve seen how difficult it is to Brexit, quitting the eurozone would be Brexit to the power of ten.
BTW the difficulty of Brexiting gives the lie to Remainer arguments that the UK was always sovereign, a free nation, able to leave any time, what’s the big fuss. As we now see, we gave away so much sovereignty, by stealth, quitting the EU was and is virtually impossible. British “sovereignty” was fast becoming a polite fiction.
We should have left before the Lisbon Treaty and its hideous Article 50, expressly designed to punish any seceding state. But we are where we are.
Erm, before A50 there was no mechanism for exiting the EU treaties, and as they are between the member states, the Vienna Convention prohibited unilateral denunciation.
And before anyone says “but Greenland”, it left through Denmark redefining it as an overseas territory not covered by the treaties.
So we just need Gibraltar to redefine the UK as an overseas territory and we're home & hosed.
Informative article - but I don't agree with your conclusion. The only deal which passes is one with Labour and Conservative votes, which must be a softer one to get Labour support.
May would have to break her red line on the customs union I think. And will she? I doubt it.
So: No Deal?
I just can’t see it. Parliament will go bonkers as No Deal approaches. MPs will swarm. Something will be passed. But a lot of damage will be done in the meantime.
It is also possible that the EU - or Ireland - will blink first.
The EU or May might blink, but if everyone holds firm, I think we will some kind of Grieve amendment passing that takes the decision out of her hands and revokes Article 50. So I still think there won't be a No Deal exit.
Revocation? Nah. It would be political suicide for any MP that voted for it.
Why or is that just your own wishful thinking?
My personal opinion is that if panic sets in, revocation will be done and the mess cleared up afterwards, but I feel "No Deal" may be the only practical method of burning this corrosive form of English Nationalism out of our politics.
I feel like No Deal if it happens will be like the closure of the mining pits. A big uproar at the time, some upset with long memories but ultimately no harm to the economy overall.
As long as you're happier sourcing the country's primary energy supplies from Russia, Qatar and Colombia, rather than from under the feet of Yorkshiremen/women.
Informative article - but I don't agree with your conclusion. The only deal which passes is one with Labour and Conservative votes, which must be a softer one to get Labour support.
May would have to break her red line on the customs union I think. And will she? I doubt it.
So: No Deal?
I just can’t see it. Parliament will go bonkers as No Deal approaches. MPs will swarm. Something will be passed. But a lot of damage will be done in the meantime.
It is also possible that the EU - or Ireland - will blink first.
The EU or May might blink, but if everyone holds firm, I think we will some kind of Grieve amendment passing that takes the decision out of her hands and revokes Article 50. So I still think there won't be a No Deal exit.
Revocation? Nah. It would be political suicide for any MP that voted for it.
Why or is that just your own wishful thinking?
My personal opinion is that if panic sets in, revocation will be done and the mess cleared up afterwards, but I feel "No Deal" may be the only practical method of burning this corrosive form of English Nationalism out of our politics.
I feel like No Deal if it happens will be like the closure of the mining pits. A big uproar at the time, some upset with long memories but ultimately no harm to the economy overall.
The miners were so forgiving when their pits closed. It only took them a week or two to get over it....
Not!
If that is your comparison for a successful Brexit then God help us all.
As if the Tories could give a fuck. We've got the circus of Heidi Allen touring the country saying "something has to be done" to the egregious deliberate fuck the poor effects of UC. But her party colleagues don't give a toss.
No, clearly we would have left, but it would have been Sui generis, and done over several years, and it would have involved lots of tedious lawyering and compromising and fudging and bilateral negotiations, all of the stuff we are good at, and most of all there wouldn’t be this hideous ticking two year clock, as there is in Article 50, which gives all the power to the EU and makes the seceding nation a desperate flailing supplicant (as it is designed to do, according to the Brit that wrote it, Lord Kerr)
Let's be honest though, if the ticking clock were not there, we'd find a way to make the endless displacement activity that's been going on since last summer last for years, perhaps decades.
Nothing Has Changed metastasizes from being an in-joke to a national motto.
“This is classic mob technique to send a signal to the individual who Mr. Trump has called a ‘rat’ for telling the truth," he said. "Now, that word ‘rat’ comes directly out of organized crime. It’s also a signal to other inmates in a potential prison situation."
“But the family of Michael Cohen has been called out by Donald Trump," Davis said. "Once again, he ducks or lies about what he knows he’s done, which is to attack a father-in-law and wife as a way of getting to Mr. Cohen, and that is called witness tampering, obstruction of justice.”...
...On Thursday, Davis called Giuliani "mentally unstable" and said he's "a prosecutor who would prosecute what he just did," referring to the claims Giuliani made on CNN. Davis declined to say if Cohen's family would pursue legal action against Giuliani but called on Congress to vote on a resolution of censure to reprimand Trump.
"You can go after Mr. Cohen, if that’s their design, because Mr. Cohen’s an adverse witness," Davis said. "What do his father-in-law and his wife have to do with anything — other than the crime of witness tampering, intimidation, and corrupt intent to try to deter Mr. Cohen from telling the truth? And I hope the Senate and the House, they can vote a resolution of censure, and Mr. Giuliani can be indicted and certainly criminally investigated for doing what he just did, that is prima facie a crime to threaten a witness before Congress."
There is the bona fide vibe of a crime family. And I'm sure the Don himself would be secretly flattered by the allusion.
Fits in with his 'base' too. They always make me think of those salt of the earth cockney types in the East End who idolized the Twins in the 60s, swore blind that they were straight up and down proper geezers who had the interests of the common working man at heart. But meanwhile ...
As if the Tories could give a fuck. We've got the circus of Heidi Allen touring the country saying "something has to be done" to the egregious deliberate fuck the poor effects of UC. But her party colleagues don't give a toss.
I was involved in writing Housing Benefit systems after a big legislation change in the 1980s and it went live on time (4th April '88) and dealt with variable periods, 53 week years, etc. etc. I look at the current shambles where technology is orders of magnitude better and I wonder what the heck is going on.
Has incompetence become a mandated recruitment characteristic?
You do wonder though for how long staff doing these safety critical roles will continue to work at full speed / strength / availability when their president / congresspeople (delete as appropriate) seem utterly uninterested in their wellbeing
"The miners were so forgiving when their pits closed. It only took them a week or two to get over it...."
Ah, if we only had the pits still. It would be like the fracking furore, we'd have the Green loons abseiling down them and demanding they be closed immediately.
Informative article - but I don't agree with your conclusion. The only deal which passes is one with Labour and Conservative votes, which must be a softer one to get Labour support.
May would have to break her red line on the customs union I think. And will she? I doubt it.
So: No Deal?
I just can’t see it. Parliament will go bonkers as No Deal approaches. MPs will swarm. Something will be passed. But a lot of damage will be done in the meantime.
It is also possible that the EU - or Ireland - will blink first.
The EU or May might blink, but if everyone holds firm, I think we will some kind of Grieve amendment passing that takes the decision out of her hands and revokes Article 50. So I still think there won't be a No Deal exit.
Revocation? Nah. It would be political suicide for any MP that voted for it.
Why or is that just your own wishful thinking?
My personal opinion is that if panic sets in, revocation will be done and the mess cleared up afterwards, but I feel "No Deal" may be the only practical method of burning this corrosive form of English Nationalism out of our politics.
I feel like No Deal if it happens will be like the closure of the mining pits. A big uproar at the time, some upset with long memories but ultimately no harm to the economy overall.
Except in the mining communities, which were absolutely devastated, and still yet to recover.
So No Deal is like the whole country is Easington or Ollerton.
No deal would actually be quite popular judging by the attitudes of the bushy eyebrowed and ill tempered men Sky are always finding to interview. They are livid that the UK is even negotiating with the EU.
Informative article - but I don't agree with your conclusion. The only deal which passes is one with Labour and Conservative votes, which must be a softer one to get Labour support.
May would have to break her red line on the customs union I think. And will she? I doubt it.
So: No Deal?
I just can’t see it. Parliament will go bonkers as No Deal approaches. MPs will swarm. Something will be passed. But a lot of damage will be done in the meantime.
It is also possible that the EU - or Ireland - will blink first.
The EU or May might blink, but if everyone holds firm, I think we will some kind of Grieve amendment passing that takes the decision out of her hands and revokes Article 50. So I still think there won't be a No Deal exit.
Revocation? Nah. It would be political suicide for any MP that voted for it.
Why or is that just your own wishful thinking?
My personal opinion is that if panic sets in, revocation will be done and the mess cleared up afterwards, but I feel "No Deal" may be the only practical method of burning this corrosive form of English Nationalism out of our politics.
I feel like No Deal if it happens will be like the closure of the mining pits. A big uproar at the time, some upset with long memories but ultimately no harm to the economy overall.
As long as you're happier sourcing the country's primary energy supplies from Russia, Qatar and Colombia, rather than from under the feet of Yorkshiremen/women.
Alternatively, cover Yorkshire with bloody great wind turbines.
Go north from Doncaster, and you might suspect it had happened already.
No deal would actually be quite popular judging by the attitudes of the bushy eyebrowed and ill tempered men Sky are always finding to interview. They are livid that the UK is even negotiating with the EU.
They (and the BBC) always seem to interview people in shopping centres or market towns in the middle of the afternoon. A disproportionately high gammon content which unsurprisingly leads to lots of Europhobic froth.
Informative article - but I don't agree with your conclusion. The only deal which passes is one with Labour and Conservative votes, which must be a softer one to get Labour support.
May would have to break her red line on the customs union I think. And will she? I doubt it.
So: No Deal?
I just can’t see it. Parliament will go bonkers as No Deal approaches. MPs will swarm. Something will be passed. But a lot of damage will be done in the meantime.
It is also possible that the EU - or Ireland - will blink first.
I fear the EU/Ireland will blink first is the new German carmakers will ensure we get a good deal.
Indeed. There will only be a deal if the EU agrees one. And the EU will only reopen negotiations if they are convinced that May can get a revised deal through parliament. And May will only be able to get a revised deal through parliament if she attracts a substantial number of Labour MPs in support. And this will only happen if May backs down on her red lines, a customs union in particular. And this would split the Tories and May probably could not deliver on it anyway. So the chances of a revised deal are pretty slim IMO.
You think we will have No Deal?
I'd say it's 50 50 at the moment between no deal and a last-minute revokation as suggested here by Ms Beverley. It all depends on the level of panic in late March - it's not behind the bounds of possibility that parliament will revoke at 10 pm on March 29 if the forecasts of project fear have been proved correct by then.
BTW the difficulty of Brexiting gives the lie to Remainer arguments that the UK was always sovereign, a free nation, able to leave any time, what’s the big fuss. As we now see, we gave away so much sovereignty, by stealth, quitting the EU was and is virtually impossible. British “sovereignty” was fast becoming a polite fiction.
This is a good point. If we cannot leave without economic ruination and a return to the Troubles, then we cannot leave. Which means we have lost our sovereignty and must therefore leave.
On the other hand, essentially the same sentiment can be expressed more benignly - that we are in a club whose benefits to us are so great that we would be nuts to even think about leaving.
As if the Tories could give a fuck. We've got the circus of Heidi Allen touring the country saying "something has to be done" to the egregious deliberate fuck the poor effects of UC. But her party colleagues don't give a toss.
I was involved in writing Housing Benefit systems after a big legislation change in the 1980s and it went live on time (4th April '88) and dealt with variable periods, 53 week years, etc. etc. I look at the current shambles where technology is orders of magnitude better and I wonder what the heck is going on.
Has incompetence become a mandated recruitment characteristic?
Its beyond the possible realm of even gross incompetence. This is done on purpose by mendacious amoral uncaring bastards who set out to create a system that punishes the people on it. And when the effects of said punishment are pointed out to those who support it they post a tweet demanding that those made homeless be swept from their tents - as if they are there by choice.
Myself and Tories disagree on all kinds of policies, but usually they are either / or options that are differences of opinion on how to reach a similar goal. What is the goal here with UC if its not to fuck over the poor? The implementation of - and unwillingness to listen to and then change the effects of - UC is simply wrong. Its no longer a policy issue its one of basic human morality and decency.
BTW the difficulty of Brexiting gives the lie to Remainer arguments that the UK was always sovereign, a free nation, able to leave any time, what’s the big fuss. As we now see, we gave away so much sovereignty, by stealth, quitting the EU was and is virtually impossible. British “sovereignty” was fast becoming a polite fiction.
This is a good point. If we cannot leave without economic ruination and a return to the Troubles, then we cannot leave. Which means we have lost our sovereignty and must therefore leave.
On the other hand, essentially the same sentiment can be expressed more benignly - that we are in a club whose benefits to us are so great that we would be nuts to even think about leaving.
Same facts, starkly different conclusion.
If everyone was being honest, UK and EU, Remainers and Leavers, we’d move to an associate membership status of the EU over a period of 7-10 years.
But everyone has decided to be dickish about it for their own political ends, so we are where we are.
As if the Tories could give a fuck. We've got the circus of Heidi Allen touring the country saying "something has to be done" to the egregious deliberate fuck the poor effects of UC. But her party colleagues don't give a toss.
I was involved in writing Housing Benefit systems after a big legislation change in the 1980s and it went live on time (4th April '88) and dealt with variable periods, 53 week years, etc. etc. I look at the current shambles where technology is orders of magnitude better and I wonder what the heck is going on.
Has incompetence become a mandated recruitment characteristic?
Its beyond the possible realm of even gross incompetence. This is done on purpose by mendacious amoral uncaring bastards who set out to create a system that punishes the people on it. And when the effects of said punishment are pointed out to those who support it they post a tweet demanding that those made homeless be swept from their tents - as if they are there by choice.
Myself and Tories disagree on all kinds of policies, but usually they are either / or options that are differences of opinion on how to reach a similar goal. What is the goal here with UC if its not to fuck over the poor? The implementation of - and unwillingness to listen to and then change the effects of - UC is simply wrong. Its no longer a policy issue its one of basic human morality and decency.
It is hard not to agree with that. It is clear that someone, somewhere has no intention of listening.
Well, good points, but many things are on a continuum, and just because Nicola looks like the stunt double for Janette Krankie doesn't automatically mean should doesn't also enjoy dressing up in leather and singing songs about Scottish Lebensraum (only joking of course ...
Myself and Tories disagree on all kinds of policies, but usually they are either / or options that are differences of opinion on how to reach a similar goal. What is the goal here with UC if its not to fuck over the poor? The implementation of - and unwillingness to listen to and then change the effects of - UC is simply wrong. Its no longer a policy issue its one of basic human morality and decency.
It is hard not to agree with that. It is clear that someone, somewhere has no intention of listening.
It's almost as if every political animal of every hue is completely absorbed by another issue to the detriment of ABSOLUTELY FUCKING EVERYTHING.
Well, good points, but many things are on a continuum, and just because Nicola looks like the stunt double for Janette Krankie doesn't automatically mean should doesn't also enjoy dressing up in leather and singing songs about Scottish Lebensraum (only joking of course ...
I will do my very best not to hold that thought.
An image that we used to call a "wilter" due to it's physiological impact.
Informative article - but I don't agree with your conclusion. The only deal which passes is one with Labour and Conservative votes, which must be a softer one to get Labour support.
May would have to break her red line on the customs union I think. And will she? I doubt it.
So: No Deal?
I just can’t see it. Parliament will go bonkers as No Deal approaches. MPs will swarm. Something will be passed. But a lot of damage will be done in the meantime.
It is also possible that the EU - or Ireland - will blink first.
The EU or May might blink, but if everyone holds firm, I think we will some kind of Grieve amendment passing that takes the decision out of her hands and revokes Article 50. So I still think there won't be a No Deal exit.
Revocation? Nah. It would be political suicide for any MP that voted for it.
Why or is that just your own wishful thinking?
My personal opinion is that if panic sets in, revocation will be done and the mess cleared up afterwards, but I feel "No Deal" may be the only practical method of burning this corrosive form of English Nationalism out of our politics.
I feel like No Deal if it happens will be like the closure of the mining pits. A big uproar at the time, some upset with long memories but ultimately no harm to the economy overall.
Except in the mining communities, which were absolutely devastated, and still yet to recover.
So No Deal is like the whole country is Easington or Ollerton.
Worth noting that it is areas on the former coalfields (and related heavy industry like Steel, Shibuilding, Chemicals) that felt so strongly about not being listened to, that they voted Leave.
That sort of grudge against the Tories (such as Cameron and Osborne) came out in the end asa dish served cold.
Its beyond the possible realm of even gross incompetence. This is done on purpose by mendacious amoral uncaring bastards who set out to create a system that punishes the people on it. And when the effects of said punishment are pointed out to those who support it they post a tweet demanding that those made homeless be swept from their tents - as if they are there by choice.
Myself and Tories disagree on all kinds of policies, but usually they are either / or options that are differences of opinion on how to reach a similar goal. What is the goal here with UC if its not to fuck over the poor? The implementation of - and unwillingness to listen to and then change the effects of - UC is simply wrong. Its no longer a policy issue its one of basic human morality and decency.
You do post the most absurd rubbish. What on earth has Universal Credit got to do with the problem of rough sleepers in Cardiff not taking up the beds which are available to them?
As for the goals of Universal Credit, they are well documented and are widely agreed in principle even by Labour.
Myself and Tories disagree on all kinds of policies, but usually they are either / or options that are differences of opinion on how to reach a similar goal. What is the goal here with UC if its not to fuck over the poor? The implementation of - and unwillingness to listen to and then change the effects of - UC is simply wrong. Its no longer a policy issue its one of basic human morality and decency.
It is hard not to agree with that. It is clear that someone, somewhere has no intention of listening.
It's almost as if every political animal of every hue is completely absorbed by another issue to the detriment of ABSOLUTELY FUCKING EVERYTHING.
*huff* *huff* *huff* *huff* ... tossers all.
If you mean Brexit, the Tories have been amoral bastards about UC for long before Brexit was an issue
Similarly, with the exception of possibly Biden, every 2020 Dem candidate will go into the election with populist transformative policies. Providing the Dems do win in 2020, and it's obviously a big if, one of politics great ironies maybe that by pushing liberals too far with Trump and other assorted outrages (Garland, McConnell's obstructionism, repeatedly trying to gut Obamacare), conservatives may have dug their own graves by awakening them from inertia and killing the traditional desire to compromise.
Maybe also KLOBUCHAR will be running on conventional Dem policies. Almost the entire field seems to be running left but I wonder if there isn't more support in the centre that it sounds. Dems *really* want to win and they won't want to take anything for granted after 2012. There was a lot of talk about the left taking over before the midterm primaries but they managed to pick fairly moderate candidates in swing districts. And if the GOP side isn't seriously contested, right-leaning anti-Trump voters will often be voting in the Dem primary more than the GOP one.
I was involved in writing Housing Benefit systems after a big legislation change in the 1980s and it went live on time (4th April '88) and dealt with variable periods, 53 week years, etc. etc. I look at the current shambles where technology is orders of magnitude better and I wonder what the heck is going on.
Has incompetence become a mandated recruitment characteristic?
Part of it is Second System effect.
The original Child Support system was green screen mainframe.
CS2 was Java forms and websphere middleware, to hide the mainframe. Not the same mainframe. Not from the same manufacturer...
As if the Tories could give a fuck. We've got the circus of Heidi Allen touring the country saying "something has to be done" to the egregious deliberate fuck the poor effects of UC. But her party colleagues don't give a toss.
I was involved in writing Housing Benefit systems after a big legislation change in the 1980s and it went live on time (4th April '88) and dealt with variable periods, 53 week years, etc. etc. I look at the current shambles where technology is orders of magnitude better and I wonder what the heck is going on.
Has incompetence become a mandated recruitment characteristic?
Its beyond the possible realm of even gross incompetence. This is done on purpose by mendacious amoral uncaring bastards who set out to create a system that punishes the people on it. And when the effects of said punishment are pointed out to those who support it they post a tweet demanding that those made homeless be swept from their tents - as if they are there by choice.
Myself and Tories disagree on all kinds of policies, but usually they are either / or options that are differences of opinion on how to reach a similar goal. What is the goal here with UC if its not to fuck over the poor? The implementation of - and unwillingness to listen to and then change the effects of - UC is simply wrong. Its no longer a policy issue its one of basic human morality and decency.
I think the way Universal Credit has been handled gives me a greater degree of rage than Brexit. If a benefit is intended to help people with their rent then it should help with their rent. It's not complicated.
I'd say it's 50 50 at the moment between no deal and a last-minute revokation as suggested here by Ms Beverley. It all depends on the level of panic in late March - it's not behind the bounds of possibility that parliament will revoke at 10 pm on March 29 if the forecasts of project fear have been proved correct by then.
No - project fear was the Osborne frothing about the immediate impact on the markets of a leave vote. Which was a politician's view of events motivated by the desire to influence a vote. What we have now is project fact - industry isn't making up the effects of crash Brexit no matter how many times that morons say "project fear" in response.
I expect that the majority of "its all project fear" morons will change their minds as reality slams them in the gut. The minority won't as they are fixated on the ideology of their "prize". And we will be able to feel the effects before we crash out as business starts to pull the plugs out before the bomb drops. Whether thats enough to change opinions or not I don't know - I've said before that I can see May's final act as PM being revocation of Article 50. It would end her politically of course. But her sense of duty - if its to the country and not the party - surely would shape her thinking.
Myself and Tories disagree on all kinds of policies, but usually they are either / or options that are differences of opinion on how to reach a similar goal. What is the goal here with UC if its not to fuck over the poor? The implementation of - and unwillingness to listen to and then change the effects of - UC is simply wrong. Its no longer a policy issue its one of basic human morality and decency.
It is hard not to agree with that. It is clear that someone, somewhere has no intention of listening.
It's almost as if every political animal of every hue is completely absorbed by another issue to the detriment of ABSOLUTELY FUCKING EVERYTHING.
*huff* *huff* *huff* *huff* ... tossers all.
If you mean Brexit, the Tories have been amoral bastards about UC for long before Brexit was an issue
A general catch all for the entire senior political class. I don't actually disagree with UC on a conceptual basis, but the implementation has been a fiasco, and one which really, really hurts people. Unforgiveably poor.
I was involved in writing Housing Benefit systems after a big legislation change in the 1980s and it went live on time (4th April '88) and dealt with variable periods, 53 week years, etc. etc. I look at the current shambles where technology is orders of magnitude better and I wonder what the heck is going on.
Has incompetence become a mandated recruitment characteristic?
Part of it is Second System effect.
The original Child Support system was green screen mainframe.
CS2 was Java forms and websphere middleware, to hide the mainframe. Not the same mainframe. Not from the same manufacturer...
Obviously some people never learned anything from Fred Brooks....
The miners were so forgiving when their pits closed. It only took them a week or two to get over it....
Not!
If that is your comparison for a successful Brexit then God help us all.
Yes. If my intention were to allay concerns about the impact of a No Deal Brexit I would not be offering up the current woe-begotten state of those communities in South Yorkshire which used to rely on the coal industry. It's all stray dogs and slag heaps now. Will that be most of the country after we leave the EU without a deal? Stray dogs and slag heaps?
No deal would actually be quite popular judging by the attitudes of the bushy eyebrowed and ill tempered men Sky are always finding to interview. They are livid that the UK is even negotiating with the EU.
It is not a good look for our Country and Marc Francois has given me serious thought as to whether I can stay in the same party as such an ignorant and prejudiced individual. He is not and never will be my type of politics, nor his fellow travellers.
As if the Tories could give a fuck. We've got the circus of Heidi Allen touring the country saying "something has to be done" to the egregious deliberate fuck the poor effects of UC. But her party colleagues don't give a toss.
I was involved in writing Housing Benefit systems after a big legislation change in the 1980s and it went live on time (4th April '88) and dealt with variable periods, 53 week years, etc. etc. I look at the current shambles where technology is orders of magnitude better and I wonder what the heck is going on.
Has incompetence become a mandated recruitment characteristic?
For DWP ministers, yes. If they change the requirements on you faster than you can implement the changes then you'll never finish.
No deal would actually be quite popular judging by the attitudes of the bushy eyebrowed and ill tempered men Sky are always finding to interview. They are livid that the UK is even negotiating with the EU.
It is not a good look for our Country and Marc Francois has given me serious thought as to whether I can stay in the same party as such an ignorant and prejudiced individual. He is not and never will be my type of politics, nor his fellow travellers.
Shame on him
+1. I simply cannot understand the mentality of these people. They will not listen to reason and say anything they don't agree with is project fear. Anybody with common sense can see No Deal will fundamentally affect the economy in a detrimental way for years to come.
Obviously some people never learned anything from Fred Brooks....
Books will be written about CS2...
Legal ones containing the words "Class Action" perhaps?
At least Brooks is still with us - another of my "heros", Jerry Weinberg, popped his clogs last August. Personally I think Weinberg and Brooks should be required courses for any programmer / analyst.
No deal would actually be quite popular judging by the attitudes of the bushy eyebrowed and ill tempered men Sky are always finding to interview. They are livid that the UK is even negotiating with the EU.
It is not a good look for our Country and Marc Francois has given me serious thought as to whether I can stay in the same party as such an ignorant and prejudiced individual. He is not and never will be my type of politics, nor his fellow travellers.
Shame on him
+1. I simply cannot understand the mentality of these people. They will not listen to reason and say anything they don't agree with is project fear. Anybody with common sense can see No Deal will fundamentally affect the economy in a detrimental way for years to come.
No deal would actually be quite popular judging by the attitudes of the bushy eyebrowed and ill tempered men Sky are always finding to interview. They are livid that the UK is even negotiating with the EU.
It is not a good look for our Country and Marc Francois has given me serious thought as to whether I can stay in the same party as such an ignorant and prejudiced individual. He is not and never will be my type of politics, nor his fellow travellers.
Shame on him
+1. I simply cannot understand the mentality of these people. They will not listen to reason and say anything they don't agree with is project fear. Anybody with common sense can see No Deal will fundamentally affect the economy in a detrimental way for years to come.
If no deal came about, I would resign my party and join the lib dems, if they would have me
I'd say it's 50 50 at the moment between no deal and a last-minute revokation as suggested here by Ms Beverley. It all depends on the level of panic in late March - it's not behind the bounds of possibility that parliament will revoke at 10 pm on March 29 if the forecasts of project fear have been proved correct by then.
No - project fear was the Osborne frothing about the immediate impact on the markets of a leave vote. Which was a politician's view of events motivated by the desire to influence a vote. What we have now is project fact - industry isn't making up the effects of crash Brexit no matter how many times that morons say "project fear" in response.
I expect that the majority of "its all project fear" morons will change their minds as reality slams them in the gut. The minority won't as they are fixated on the ideology of their "prize". And we will be able to feel the effects before we crash out as business starts to pull the plugs out before the bomb drops. Whether thats enough to change opinions or not I don't know - I've said before that I can see May's final act as PM being revocation of Article 50. It would end her politically of course. But her sense of duty - if its to the country and not the party - surely would shape her thinking.
Study the form. What's her form? It indicates she puts Party before Country. What damages her Party more, Revocation or a No Deal Brexit?
I'd say it's 50 50 at the moment between no deal and a last-minute revokation as suggested here by Ms Beverley. It all depends on the level of panic in late March - it's not behind the bounds of possibility that parliament will revoke at 10 pm on March 29 if the forecasts of project fear have been proved correct by then.
No - project fear was the Osborne frothing about the immediate impact on the markets of a leave vote. Which was a politician's view of events motivated by the desire to influence a vote. What we have now is project fact - industry isn't making up the effects of crash Brexit no matter how many times that morons say "project fear" in response.
I expect that the majority of "its all project fear" morons will change their minds as reality slams them in the gut. The minority won't as they are fixated on the ideology of their "prize". And we will be able to feel the effects before we crash out as business starts to pull the plugs out before the bomb drops. Whether thats enough to change opinions or not I don't know - I've said before that I can see May's final act as PM being revocation of Article 50. It would end her politically of course. But her sense of duty - if its to the country and not the party - surely would shape her thinking.
Study the form. What's her form? It indicates she puts Party before Country. What damages her Party more, Revocation or a No Deal Brexit?
I ... don't know. But I greatly fear she thinks the former.
I'd say it's 50 50 at the moment between no deal and a last-minute revokation as suggested here by Ms Beverley. It all depends on the level of panic in late March - it's not behind the bounds of possibility that parliament will revoke at 10 pm on March 29 if the forecasts of project fear have been proved correct by then.
No - project fear was the Osborne frothing about the immediate impact on the markets of a leave vote. Which was a politician's view of events motivated by the desire to influence a vote. What we have now is project fact - industry isn't making up the effects of crash Brexit no matter how many times that morons say "project fear" in response.
I expect that the majority of "its all project fear" morons will change their minds as reality slams them in the gut. The minority won't as they are fixated on the ideology of their "prize". And we will be able to feel the effects before we crash out as business starts to pull the plugs out before the bomb drops. Whether thats enough to change opinions or not I don't know - I've said before that I can see May's final act as PM being revocation of Article 50. It would end her politically of course. But her sense of duty - if its to the country and not the party - surely would shape her thinking.
Study the form. What's her form? It indicates she puts Party before Country. What damages her Party more, Revocation or a No Deal Brexit?
Her form is not deciding but letting the choice be made for her. So whichever grouping in Parliament wrests the initiative can expect her passive support.
I'd say it's 50 50 at the moment between no deal and a last-minute revokation as suggested here by Ms Beverley. It all depends on the level of panic in late March - it's not behind the bounds of possibility that parliament will revoke at 10 pm on March 29 if the forecasts of project fear have been proved correct by then.
No - project fear was the Osborne frothing about the immediate impact on the markets of a leave vote. Which was a politician's view of events motivated by the desire to influence a vote. What we have now is project fact - industry isn't making up the effects of crash Brexit no matter how many times that morons say "project fear" in response.
I expect that the majority of "its all project fear" morons will change their minds as reality slams them in the gut. The minority won't as they are fixated on the ideology of their "prize". And we will be able to feel the effects before we crash out as business starts to pull the plugs out before the bomb drops. Whether thats enough to change opinions or not I don't know - I've said before that I can see May's final act as PM being revocation of Article 50. It would end her politically of course. But her sense of duty - if its to the country and not the party - surely would shape her thinking.
Regrettably I see little evidence that May has a sense of duty to the country. If she had we would not be in this mess. Just like her predecessor she has always put party interests first. I think revocation would have to be forced on her by a vote in the Commons.
As for the goals of Universal Credit, they are well documented and are widely agreed in principle even by Labour.
Whatever the goals are, the implementation and roll-out have been shambolic.
Strongly disagree.
What is shambolic is trapping millions in poverty because work doesn't pay. Whatever the teething issues (of which there have been many) with UC its implementation has helped a record number of people enter work. It's no coincidence that reforms to make work pay rather than welfare paying better than work has then seen employment surge to record levels.
Any reform of this magnitude would have teething issues but not doing anything isn't the solution.
Mr. NorthWales, what if almost all Con MPs backed the deal put it didn't pass?
If ERG and DUP support the deal and it falls that would largely be labours responsibility and of course in that scenario the party would be more unified. Notwithstanding, Francois, Bridgen and others are still outside of my politics and hopefully post brexit they will start being sensible conservatives - but I will not hold my breath
As for the goals of Universal Credit, they are well documented and are widely agreed in principle even by Labour.
Whatever the goals are, the implementation and roll-out have been shambolic.
And yet inequality has fallen, more people than ever are in work, and there has been a quite spectacular decrease in unemployment amongst the most disadvantaged groups (especially the disabled). So the government seems to be doing something right.
I'd say it's 50 50 at the moment between no deal and a last-minute revokation as suggested here by Ms Beverley. It all depends on the level of panic in late March - it's not behind the bounds of possibility that parliament will revoke at 10 pm on March 29 if the forecasts of project fear have been proved correct by then.
No - project fear was the Osborne frothing about the immediate impact on the markets of a leave vote. Which was a politician's view of events motivated by the desire to influence a vote. What we have now is project fact - industry isn't making up the effects of crash Brexit no matter how many times that morons say "project fear" in response.
I expect that the majority of "its all project fear" morons will change their minds as reality slams them in the gut. The minority won't as they are fixated on the ideology of their "prize". And we will be able to feel the effects before we crash out as business starts to pull the plugs out before the bomb drops. Whether thats enough to change opinions or not I don't know - I've said before that I can see May's final act as PM being revocation of Article 50. It would end her politically of course. But her sense of duty - if its to the country and not the party - surely would shape her thinking.
Regrettably I see little evidence that May has a sense of duty to the country. If she had we would not be in this mess. Just like her predecessor she has always put party interests first. I think revocation would have to be forced on her by a vote in the Commons.
Revoking A50 in this climate would have to have a majority HOC vote. Anything else would be unacceptable
Comments
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/michael-cohen-subpoenaed-senate-intelligence-committee-n962311
...Davis also criticized the president and his personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani for targeting Cohen's relatives in interviews.
“This is classic mob technique to send a signal to the individual who Mr. Trump has called a ‘rat’ for telling the truth," he said. "Now, that word ‘rat’ comes directly out of organized crime. It’s also a signal to other inmates in a potential prison situation."
“But the family of Michael Cohen has been called out by Donald Trump," Davis said. "Once again, he ducks or lies about what he knows he’s done, which is to attack a father-in-law and wife as a way of getting to Mr. Cohen, and that is called witness tampering, obstruction of justice.”...
...On Thursday, Davis called Giuliani "mentally unstable" and said he's "a prosecutor who would prosecute what he just did," referring to the claims Giuliani made on CNN. Davis declined to say if Cohen's family would pursue legal action against Giuliani but called on Congress to vote on a resolution of censure to reprimand Trump.
"You can go after Mr. Cohen, if that’s their design, because Mr. Cohen’s an adverse witness," Davis said. "What do his father-in-law and his wife have to do with anything — other than the crime of witness tampering, intimidation, and corrupt intent to try to deter Mr. Cohen from telling the truth? And I hope the Senate and the House, they can vote a resolution of censure, and Mr. Giuliani can be indicted and certainly criminally investigated for doing what he just did, that is prima facie a crime to threaten a witness before Congress."
So what? This isn’t top trumps. The Irish Army is under a tenth of the size of the British army and far more poorly equipped.
This is Varadkar shitting himself with ever more outlandish claims as he belatedly realises that trying to bully the British to make himself look a big hard man back home might backfire drastically.
https://twitter.com/danbloom1/status/1088820398580473857?s=21
https://twitter.com/danbloom1/status/1088820576154763264?s=21
Edit: Philadelphia and Newark airports too.
this will only happen if May backs down on her red lines, a customs union in particular. And this would split the Tories and May probably could not deliver on it anyway. So the chances of a revised deal are pretty slim IMO.
Mike
I'm sticking to the view that nationalism of the SNP variety is not in all fairness to be placed in the vicinity of AfD, BNP, #MAGA etc - this must surely be accepted by all people of sober disposition - but that point of yours about a burning antipathy towards the English? Hmm, maybe something in that.
I was in Scotland when Beckham missed that penalty in a WC match a few years ago - the embarrassing one where he slipped on his arse - and the yelps of delight, this incredible wall of noise all around the neighbourhood where I was - it was really something.
Oh and the match was NOT against Scotland - as I say it was the WC.
Business will depart? Not with our corporate tax rates. Read them, Brussels - and weep....
The barrier for leaving May's deal is substantially higher than it is for leaving the EU.
No deal isn't good (it'd be easier if the Government, particularly May/Hammond, had thought to prepare for it). May's deal isn't good. Remain isn't good.
All have very significant problems attached to them, whether economic or political. That said, I think the politicians blaming the electorate for voting to leave, when they themselves dragged the UK far closer to the EU than the electorate ever wanted, would be akin to Aron Ralston blaming his pen knife rather than the boulder for his pain.
And before anyone says “but Greenland”, it left through Denmark redefining it as an overseas territory not covered by the treaties.
Personally, I don't think it is likely they will be sufficiently organised or determined to do so, but it is possible.
Logs onto PB to find the atmosphere worse than ever. Decides it’s preferable to switch on the telly and watch England lose by an innings instead.
Good and hard.
Not!
If that is your comparison for a successful Brexit then God help us all.
And Scotland, and Wales and NI.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/some-flights-halted-at-laguardia-due-to-staff-shortages-amid-federal-shutdown
Some Flights Held Up at LaGuardia Due to Staff Shortages From Shutdown
"some flights held up" - whoopee.
Nothing Has Changed metastasizes from being an in-joke to a national motto.
Fits in with his 'base' too. They always make me think of those salt of the earth cockney types in the East End who idolized the Twins in the 60s, swore blind that they were straight up and down proper geezers who had the interests of the common working man at heart. But meanwhile ...
"Explanations exist; they have existed for all time; there is always a well-known solution to every human problem -- neat, plausible, and wrong."
Has incompetence become a mandated recruitment characteristic?
"The miners were so forgiving when their pits closed. It only took them a week or two to get over it...."
Ah, if we only had the pits still. It would be like the fracking furore, we'd have the Green loons abseiling down them and demanding they be closed immediately.
So No Deal is like the whole country is Easington or Ollerton.
Go north from Doncaster, and you might suspect it had happened already.
On the other hand, essentially the same sentiment can be expressed more benignly - that we are in a club whose benefits to us are so great that we would be nuts to even think about leaving.
Same facts, starkly different conclusion.
Myself and Tories disagree on all kinds of policies, but usually they are either / or options that are differences of opinion on how to reach a similar goal. What is the goal here with UC if its not to fuck over the poor? The implementation of - and unwillingness to listen to and then change the effects of - UC is simply wrong. Its no longer a policy issue its one of basic human morality and decency.
But everyone has decided to be dickish about it for their own political ends, so we are where we are.
https://www.buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/the-chief-whip-has-told-mps-the-uks-brexit-withdrawal
*huff* *huff* *huff* *huff* ... tossers all.
That sort of grudge against the Tories (such as Cameron and Osborne) came out in the end asa dish served cold.
As for the goals of Universal Credit, they are well documented and are widely agreed in principle even by Labour.
The original Child Support system was green screen mainframe.
CS2 was Java forms and websphere middleware, to hide the mainframe. Not the same mainframe. Not from the same manufacturer...
I expect that the majority of "its all project fear" morons will change their minds as reality slams them in the gut. The minority won't as they are fixated on the ideology of their "prize". And we will be able to feel the effects before we crash out as business starts to pull the plugs out before the bomb drops. Whether thats enough to change opinions or not I don't know - I've said before that I can see May's final act as PM being revocation of Article 50. It would end her politically of course. But her sense of duty - if its to the country and not the party - surely would shape her thinking.
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1088832908494888961
Shame on him
At least Brooks is still with us - another of my "heros", Jerry Weinberg, popped his clogs last August. Personally I think Weinberg and Brooks should be required courses for any programmer / analyst.
https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/f5215649-1ea7-40a0-b658-5adcb723915b
What is shambolic is trapping millions in poverty because work doesn't pay. Whatever the teething issues (of which there have been many) with UC its implementation has helped a record number of people enter work. It's no coincidence that reforms to make work pay rather than welfare paying better than work has then seen employment surge to record levels.
Any reform of this magnitude would have teething issues but not doing anything isn't the solution.
https://www.resolutionfoundation.org/publications/setting-the-record-straight-how-record-employment-has-changed-the-uk/