So, let’s imagine. It’s the Ides of March. MPs have voted against Mrs May’s Deal (again). They’ve voted against No Deal. They’ve voted in favour of an extension.
Labour’s Parliamentary Committee - senior PLP members - met this afternoon & I’m told everyone present agreed with Tom Watson that Chris Williamson should be suspended - except the non-MP rep from Corbyn’s office who was adamant they didn’t want him suspended
Britain should take the two-year extension (and the EU should allow Richard Nabavi - and others - to say "I told you so" about the sequencing of talks).
Labour’s Parliamentary Committee - senior PLP members - met this afternoon & I’m told everyone present agreed with Tom Watson that Chris Williamson should be suspended - except the non-MP rep from Corbyn’s office who was adamant they didn’t want him suspended
Corbyn calls Watsons bluff...
Tough on antisemitism, tough on the causes of antisemitism....
In practice whatever HMG intends to ask for will already have been discussed informally with the EU. Indeed I suspect she did this already last week. So there shouldn't be any surprises.
At a previous outing by the charming Williamson...
According to Labour Against the Witchhunt, Chris Williamson “confronted the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism… declaring that he often described Israel as an apartheid state”, denounced the “terrible injustice” done to Jackie Walker and condemned the way Marc Wadsworth had been “demonised as a bigot”, before calling on Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell to “wake up” and “confront the rightwing witch-hunters”. Instead of going after the anti-Semites in the Labour Party, Williamson urged the leadership to go after those who were calling it out…
Williamson said that “bullying” would only stop when people stood up to, declaring that “the monster is getting bigger. Stop feeding the beast!” To top it off, Williamson was also sharing a platform at the event with the notorious Tony Greenstein, who was suspended by Labour for “repeatedly using ‘zio’ as a term of derision, stating ‘Gay zionists make me want to puke’ and referring to others as ‘Zionist scum’”.
What does Britain do in those circumstances? It would have no choice but to accept of course. It's what happens after that that's the issue.
Assuming May doesn't get ousted by her party once her year of security expires or more likely gets VONCed in Parliament before then, then the most likely outcome is another two years of fannying around followed by the EU offering the stark choice of crash-out or revoke.
I don't see May making it through a two-year (or more likely 21 month) extension though. We'll probably end up with another GE which will be a proxy referendum on something like her deal or remain.
Remainer MPs are just as fond of unicorns as Leaver MPs. They seem to think they will control the length of any extension. But they might not get one at all.
These cheques might be rather awkward for Trump to explain...
Lock him up.
It's the allegations of fraudulent devaluing of assets to evade property tax that are killer. Property taxes are levied by municipalities under state law. Only the state governor can issue pardons for that.
Remainer MPs are just as fond of unicorns as Leaver MPs. They seem to think they will control the length of any extension. But they might not get one at all.
Indeed. It's becoming clear that any extension will only be considered by the EU in terms of what Britain pledges to do with it, not the length of time requested.
Remainer MPs are just as fond of unicorns as Leaver MPs. They seem to think they will control the length of any extension. But they might not get one at all.
Indeed. It's becoming clear that any extension will only be considered by the EU in terms of what Britain pledges to do with it, not the length of time.
You can’t blame them for that, given how the last two years have been wasted.
Remainer MPs are just as fond of unicorns as Leaver MPs. They seem to think they will control the length of any extension. But they might not get one at all.
Indeed. It's becoming clear that any extension will only be considered by the EU in terms of what Britain pledges to do with it, not the length of time requested.
And May is a fundamental barrier to answering that question. After 14/3, no answer from May means we need to reach a point, in a very few days, whereby somebody else is in a position to answer. Exactly how that happens, I do not know.
Remainer MPs are just as fond of unicorns as Leaver MPs. They seem to think they will control the length of any extension. But they might not get one at all.
Indeed. It's becoming clear that any extension will only be considered by the EU in terms of what Britain pledges to do with it, not the length of time.
You can’t blame them for that, given how the last two years have been wasted.
And another 2 years would be spent really productively and usefully? Right....
Looks like the Reps only tactic is to play the man....
Yes. I initially thought the dismantling of Cohen was rather good and then it dawned on me he had completely ignored any and all of the evidence presented
Spelman isn't pushing her amendment, (the revised) Cooper looks like it will be accepted alongside Costa, and the Labour and SNP amendments won't get a majority. So it doesn't look like there'll be any suspense this evening, and the substantive should sail through tomorrow.
Remainer MPs are just as fond of unicorns as Leaver MPs. They seem to think they will control the length of any extension. But they might not get one at all.
Indeed. It's becoming clear that any extension will only be considered by the EU in terms of what Britain pledges to do with it, not the length of time requested.
And May is a fundamental barrier to answering that question. After 14/3, no answer from May means we need to reach a point, in a very few days, whereby somebody else is in a position to answer. Exactly how that happens, I do not know.
Simultaneous defections of hundreds of MPs from Labour and Conservatives to TIG. Someone becomes interim PM.
Looks like the Reps only tactic is to play the man....
Yes. I initially thought the dismantling of Cohen was rather good and then it dawned on me he had completely ignored any and all of the evidence presented
Yep, Cohen clearly lied time and time again in the past. But there's evidence here of clear payments which need answers.
Remainer MPs are just as fond of unicorns as Leaver MPs. They seem to think they will control the length of any extension. But they might not get one at all.
Indeed. It's becoming clear that any extension will only be considered by the EU in terms of what Britain pledges to do with it, not the length of time requested.
And May is a fundamental barrier to answering that question. After 14/3, no answer from May means we need to reach a point, in a very few days, whereby somebody else is in a position to answer. Exactly how that happens, I do not know.
Simultaneous defections of hundreds of MPs from Labour and Conservatives to TIG. Someone becomes interim PM.
Of course hindsight always improves one's apparent perception but when the EU insisted that they were not going to discuss the future relationship until the WA had been finalised there were 2 sensible responses.
The first was to utilise the reply in Arkell-v-Pressdram and refuse to comply with that timetable.
The second, marginally more constructively, would have been to fix a period of 6 months, maximum, to agree the WA and then spend the next 18 months fixing the future relationship.
To waste 2 years faffing about stuff that was pretty technical, not very interesting and largely inevitable was incompetence of an unbelievable level. To then say at the end of those 2 largely wasted years that we need more time is pathetic. Just pathetic.
Remainer MPs are just as fond of unicorns as Leaver MPs. They seem to think they will control the length of any extension. But they might not get one at all.
It is one of the, albeit many, reasons for the whole shambles.
I said the other day we should ask for a 21 month extension. Anything else is pointless.
It looks like the EU are going to play hard ball and refuse an extension without a reason and even then no longer than the end of June, so TM deal or no deal become very likely
These cheques might be rather awkward for Trump to explain...
Lock him up.
Not just at this moment, I need him to run then lose in 2020.
I've come to the conclusion that the best thing for America is for Trump to lose in 2020.
If he's impeached and convicted then his fans will see it as the swamp taking back control and they'll become even more angry.
From the point of view of the rule of law, if Trump is guilty of what is being rumoured is in the Mueller report, then he needs to be tried and -if guilty- to face the rest of his life in jail. That is a necessary cleaning of the swamp: a criminal President, possibly even one guilty of out and out treason, should be removed from office as soon as possible.
I watched that BBC documentary on Europe the other day on the Euro crisis.
I was reminded how the Greek PM did a U-turn on the evening of the referendum result on whether to accept the EU terms on the Euro bailout. Whilst the UK is not in the Euro and I would never support our entry to it. I think May, if her deal is defeated again should follow the Greek route and just retract Article 50 and to hell with the advisory referendum of 2016. All that Leave promised has turned out to be just fantasy and not deliverable without more pain for those who cannot afford it. Our best deal is to stay within the European Union.
These cheques might be rather awkward for Trump to explain...
Lock him up.
Not just at this moment, I need him to run then lose in 2020.
I've come to the conclusion that the best thing for America is for Trump to lose in 2020.
If he's impeached and convicted then his fans will see it as the swamp taking back control and they'll become even more angry.
From the point of view of the rule of law, if Trump is guilty of what is being rumoured is in the Mueller report, then he needs to be tried and -if guilty- to face the rest of his life in jail. That is a necessary cleaning of the swamp: a criminal President, possibly even one guilty of out and out treason, should be removed from office as soon as possible.
I should have expanded.
Trump loses the 2020 election and ends up in prison for the various state crimes many think he has committed.
I said the other day we should ask for a 21 month extension. Anything else is pointless.
It looks like the EU are going to play hard ball and refuse an extension without a reason and even then no longer than the end of June, so TM deal or no deal become very likely
I don't see evidence for that. Months ago yes that is what was being said but now the mood music is different.
2 year extension with simultaneous discussions on the future trade agreement makes perfect sense. Bypasses current deadlock, and annoys all the right people.
2 year extension with simultaneous discussions on the future trade agreement makes perfect sense. Bypasses current deadlock, and annoys all the right people.
I said the other day we should ask for a 21 month extension. Anything else is pointless.
It looks like the EU are going to play hard ball and refuse an extension without a reason and even then no longer than the end of June, so TM deal or no deal become very likely
I don't see evidence for that. Months ago yes that is what was being said but now the mood music is different.
Indicated today by Macron and others. They do not want to run into and beyond their May elections with all the problems that would bring
If these GOP congressmen and women are indicative of the GOP senators then there's no way Trump gets convicted, or anywhere near the two thirds threshold.
On Trump, I'm backing him for the nomination and I believe it's still a decent bet (1.35/1.42). However I'm also backing Pence for the presidency amongst the many runners and riders present (55.0).
Of course hindsight always improves one's apparent perception but when the EU insisted that they were not going to discuss the future relationship until the WA had been finalised there were 2 sensible responses.
The first was to utilise the reply in Arkell-v-Pressdram and refuse to comply with that timetable.
The second, marginally more constructively, would have been to fix a period of 6 months, maximum, to agree the WA and then spend the next 18 months fixing the future relationship.
To waste 2 years faffing about stuff that was pretty technical, not very interesting and largely inevitable was incompetence of an unbelievable level. To then say at the end of those 2 largely wasted years that we need more time is pathetic. Just pathetic.
Oh I am sick of this.
"pretty technical, not very interesting and largely inevitable" = the relationship between NI, rUK, and RoI.
I said the other day we should ask for a 21 month extension. Anything else is pointless.
It looks like the EU are going to play hard ball and refuse an extension without a reason and even then no longer than the end of June, so TM deal or no deal become very likely
I don't see evidence for that. Months ago yes that is what was being said but now the mood music is different.
Indicated today by Macron and others. They do not want to run into and beyond their May elections with all the problems that would bring
Surely its more we can't go past July without the UK holding EU Parliament elections in May and 3 more months is not going to solve anything unless Parliament agree to something.
In fact the only thing that we could do in 3 months that might (and its a very small might) solve this issue would be to hold a general election and no one wants to do that at the moment.
Remainer MPs are just as fond of unicorns as Leaver MPs. They seem to think they will control the length of any extension. But they might not get one at all.
Indeed. It's becoming clear that any extension will only be considered by the EU in terms of what Britain pledges to do with it, not the length of time requested.
And May is a fundamental barrier to answering that question. After 14/3, no answer from May means we need to reach a point, in a very few days, whereby somebody else is in a position to answer. Exactly how that happens, I do not know.
Simultaneous defections of hundreds of MPs from Labour and Conservatives to TIG. Someone becomes interim PM.
Chuka is 40 for next PM after May
TIG slightly tricky to cover well in this market, but 40s seems worth a small amount. The reasoning behind my tipping (but then not backing - I'm slightly too casual about actually getting round to placing bets for my own good) Vince at 125s about a year ago does seem to be bearing up very well though.
At a previous outing by the charming Williamson...
According to Labour Against the Witchhunt, Chris Williamson “confronted the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism… declaring that he often described Israel as an apartheid state”, denounced the “terrible injustice” done to Jackie Walker and condemned the way Marc Wadsworth had been “demonised as a bigot”, before calling on Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell to “wake up” and “confront the rightwing witch-hunters”. Instead of going after the anti-Semites in the Labour Party, Williamson urged the leadership to go after those who were calling it out…
Williamson said that “bullying” would only stop when people stood up to, declaring that “the monster is getting bigger. Stop feeding the beast!” To top it off, Williamson was also sharing a platform at the event with the notorious Tony Greenstein, who was suspended by Labour for “repeatedly using ‘zio’ as a term of derision, stating ‘Gay zionists make me want to puke’ and referring to others as ‘Zionist scum’”.
You know, I would find this zeal more palatable if it included a similar zeal concerning places where Jews or women were similarly denied rights.
If these GOP congressmen and women are indicative of the GOP senators then there's no way Trump gets convicted, or anywhere near the two thirds threshold.
Yes, that's my rationale for both backing Trump for the nomination (In relatively large size for my overall POTUS book) but also backing Pence for the presidency. If Trump is somehow thrown in the slammer beyond the ability of the Senate to stop it (Which is a remote chance) I think Pence will become the nominee by acclamation; and he'll have a fair chance of getting in with a motivated GOP base behind him (Democrats won't have Trump to vote against)
I said the other day we should ask for a 21 month extension. Anything else is pointless.
It looks like the EU are going to play hard ball and refuse an extension without a reason and even then no longer than the end of June, so TM deal or no deal become very likely
I don't see evidence for that. Months ago yes that is what was being said but now the mood music is different.
Indicated today by Macron and others. They do not want to run into and beyond their May elections with all the problems that would bring
Surely its more we can't go past July without the UK holding EU Parliament elections in May and 3 more months is not going to solve anything unless Parliament agree to something.
In fact the only thing that we could do in 3 months that might (and its a very small might) solve this issue would be to hold a general election and no one wants to do that at the moment.
Agree - in practise we only need the 3 months if TM deal passes for legislation. Otherwise it is pointless
2 year extension with simultaneous discussions on the future trade agreement makes perfect sense. Bypasses current deadlock, and annoys all the right people.
Doesn't get agreement with the EU.
Mainly as Euro elections required - Uk returns 50% gammon MEPs to disrupt Strasbourg.
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Verified account @MichaelLCrick
Labour’s Parliamentary Committee - senior PLP members - met this afternoon & I’m told everyone present agreed with Tom Watson that Chris Williamson should be suspended - except the non-MP rep from Corbyn’s office who was adamant they didn’t want him suspended
Corbyn calls Watsons bluff...
And then decide - most likely by referendum - what it is that we want to do next.
Of course what Britain should do is not, by any stretch of the imagination, what May is likely to do.
But are you saying a two year extension and then a further two year transition period?
Plus as has been mentioned it would be quite a volte face on the sequencing.
According to Labour Against the Witchhunt, Chris Williamson “confronted the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism… declaring that he often described Israel as an apartheid state”, denounced the “terrible injustice” done to Jackie Walker and condemned the way Marc Wadsworth had been “demonised as a bigot”, before calling on Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell to “wake up” and “confront the rightwing witch-hunters”. Instead of going after the anti-Semites in the Labour Party, Williamson urged the leadership to go after those who were calling it out…
Williamson said that “bullying” would only stop when people stood up to, declaring that “the monster is getting bigger. Stop feeding the beast!” To top it off, Williamson was also sharing a platform at the event with the notorious Tony Greenstein, who was suspended by Labour for “repeatedly using ‘zio’ as a term of derision, stating ‘Gay zionists make me want to puke’ and referring to others as ‘Zionist scum’”.
Assuming May doesn't get ousted by her party once her year of security expires or more likely gets VONCed in Parliament before then, then the most likely outcome is another two years of fannying around followed by the EU offering the stark choice of crash-out or revoke.
I don't see May making it through a two-year (or more likely 21 month) extension though. We'll probably end up with another GE which will be a proxy referendum on something like her deal or remain.
If he's impeached and convicted then his fans will see it as the swamp taking back control and they'll become even more angry.
No need for any extension.
Though it'll be more like the people's court, so long as I don't have a Roland Freisler vs Erwin von Witzleben moment.
https://twitter.com/Peston/status/1100754227620651008
On Topic: What should we say to a 2 year extension?
Yes, of course! - So long as we are not tormented with a REF2.
The first was to utilise the reply in Arkell-v-Pressdram and refuse to comply with that timetable.
The second, marginally more constructively, would have been to fix a period of 6 months, maximum, to agree the WA and then spend the next 18 months fixing the future relationship.
To waste 2 years faffing about stuff that was pretty technical, not very interesting and largely inevitable was incompetence of an unbelievable level. To then say at the end of those 2 largely wasted years that we need more time is pathetic. Just pathetic.
Oh I am sick of this.
I was reminded how the Greek PM did a U-turn on the evening of the referendum result on whether to accept the EU terms on the Euro bailout. Whilst the UK is not in the Euro and I would never support our entry to it. I think May, if her deal is defeated again should follow the Greek route and just retract Article 50 and to hell with the advisory referendum of 2016. All that Leave promised has turned out to be just fantasy and not deliverable without more pain for those who cannot afford it. Our best deal is to stay within the European Union.
It’s Charlie, Lord Falconer not Lord Charlie Falconer
Trump loses the 2020 election and ends up in prison for the various state crimes many think he has committed.
https://twitter.com/theobertram/status/1100795739704311808
In fact the only thing that we could do in 3 months that might (and its a very small might) solve this issue would be to hold a general election and no one wants to do that at the moment.
They should, but they won't.
If Trump is somehow thrown in the slammer beyond the ability of the Senate to stop it (Which is a remote chance) I think Pence will become the nominee by acclamation; and he'll have a fair chance of getting in with a motivated GOP base behind him (Democrats won't have Trump to vote against)
Mainly as Euro elections required - Uk returns 50% gammon MEPs to disrupt Strasbourg.
Not happening bruv.