If the tory election strategy is to win former mining towns in the north, how on earth do they expect to campaign in those towns if they cant handle 40 people shouting?
It was a press conference between two heads of state, not a campaign event.
The serious point about the Luxembourg brouhaha is that the PM of Luxembourg - like the other EU leaders - has no interest in UK public opinion. What matters to him is opinion in Luxembourg. He clearly believes what happened today will work well for him. If he is representative of other EU leader’s Johnson’s chances of getting a deal are close to zero.
The serious point about the Luxembourg brouhaha is that the PM of Luxembourg - like the other EU leaders - has no interest in UK public opinion. What matters to him is opinion in Luxembourg. He clearly believes what happened today will work well for him. If he is representative of other EU leader’s Johnson’s chances of getting a deal are close to zero.
I would imagine it is a clear counter to the over optimistic Tory weekend spin that a deal was now close.
The serious point about the Luxembourg brouhaha is that the PM of Luxembourg - like the other EU leaders - has no interest in UK public opinion. What matters to him is opinion in Luxembourg. He clearly believes what happened today will work well for him. If he is representative of other EU leader’s Johnson’s chances of getting a deal are close to zero.
I would imagine it is a clear counter to the over optimistic Tory weekend spin that a deal was now close.
If you like Bozo you’ll think he was hard done by , if you don’t like him then you’ll think he got what he deserved .
"My friends, as I have discovered today, there are never disasters, only opportunities. And, indeed, opportunities for fresh disasters!" - Boris, 2004.
Tbf I think Boris did the sensible thing there, a press conference in those circumstances would have been stupid. I don't think Bettle's behaved very well, and as most of you know I am in no way a supporter of Johnson.
He (Boris) will get a PR boost from this (which is why Bettel was so silly to do it) BUT...
...any Boris boost will be short-lived. Remember May receiving sympathy for being badly treated at an EU conference - how long did that sympathy last?
He should have gone out, a la Alex Chalk the other day, said look if you don't let me speak there's no point in me being here, politely answered some questions which would be drowned out, then turned to Bettel while shrugging his shoulders, mouthed "sorry" to the press, and walked off.
Is what he *should* have done.
Except then the likes of you would have accused him, even more vehemently, of being a coward, the incontinent sulk, the big girl's blouse who couldn't conclude a press conference, the optics for him would have been even worse. A Prime Minister walking off a podium, like some teen in a tantrum?
The correct thing here was for the EU bigwigs to see that Boris was right, it was too noisy for a presser, and go indoors. How hard would that have been?
Instead they overreached, in their desire to humiliate the British PM. Foolish, foolish, foolish.
This is just another example of Britain’s stock in the world falling through the floor. They have no respect for us and why would they? We are a laughing stock.
Even tiny Luxembourg can tell a British PM to F.O. Remember he has a veto.
This is just another example of Britain’s stock in the world falling through the floor. They have no respect for us and why would they? We are a laughing stock.
Just another example of the EU's stock in the world falling through the floor. Trust me, I work with non-EU folk all the time and they can't see why we've put up with this shit for so long.
Tbf I think Boris did the sensible thing there, a press conference in those circumstances would have been stupid. I don't think Bettle's behaved very well, and as most of you know I am in no way a supporter of Johnson.
He (Boris) will get a PR boost from this (which is why Bettel was so silly to do it) BUT...
...any Boris boost will be short-lived. Remember May receiving sympathy for being badly treated at an EU conference - how long did that sympathy last?
He should have gone out, a la Alex Chalk the other day, said look if you don't let me speak there's no point in me being here, politely answered some questions which would be drowned out, then turned to Bettel while shrugging his shoulders, mouthed "sorry" to the press, and walked off.
Is what he *should* have done.
Except then the likes of you would have accused him, even more vehemently, of being a coward, the incontinent sulk, the big girl's blouse who couldn't conclude a press conference, the optics for him would have been even worse. A Prime Minister walking off a podium, like some teen in a tantrum?
The correct thing here was for the EU bigwigs to see that Boris was right, it was too noisy for a presser, and go indoors. How hard would that have been?
Instead they overreached, in their desire to humiliate the British PM. Foolish, foolish, foolish.
Shoulda, woulda, coulda...you know I'm right. You may not have the imagination to work out the best course of action for a PM in such a situation, but he has people for that sort of thing.
This is just another example of Britain’s stock in the world falling through the floor. They have no respect for us and why would they? We are a laughing stock.
Just another example of the EU's stock in the world falling through the floor. Trust me, I work with non-EU folk all the time and they can't see why we've put up with this shit for so long.
Tbf I think Boris did the sensible thing there, a press conference in those circumstances would have been stupid. I don't think Bettle's behaved very well, and as most of you know I am in no way a supporter of Johnson.
He (Boris) will get a PR boost from this (which is why Bettel was so silly to do it) BUT...
...any Boris boost will be short-lived. Remember May receiving sympathy for being badly treated at an EU conference - how long did that sympathy last?
He should have gone out, a la Alex Chalk the other day, said look if you don't let me speak there's no point in me being here, politely answered some questions which would be drowned out, then turned to Bettel while shrugging his shoulders, mouthed "sorry" to the press, and walked off.
Is what he *should* have done.
Except then the likes of you would have accused him, even more vehemently, of being a coward, the incontinent sulk, the big girl's blouse who couldn't conclude a press conference, the optics for him would have been even worse. A Prime Minister walking off a podium, like some teen in a tantrum?
The correct thing here was for the EU bigwigs to see that Boris was right, it was too noisy for a presser, and go indoors. How hard would that have been?
Instead they overreached, in their desire to humiliate the British PM. Foolish, foolish, foolish.
Why is it foolish? The PM of Luxembourg wants to win votes in Luxembourg not in the UK. When Johnson compared the EU to the Nazis he was after votes in the UK, not in Germany!
Tbf I think Boris did the sensible thing there, a press conference in those circumstances would have been stupid. I don't think Bettle's behaved very well, and as most of you know I am in no way a supporter of Johnson.
He (Boris) will get a PR boost from this (which is why Bettel was so silly to do it) BUT...
...any Boris boost will be short-lived. Remember May receiving sympathy for being badly treated at an EU conference - how long did that sympathy last?
He should have gone out, a la Alex Chalk the other day, said look if you don't let me speak there's no point in me being here, politely answered some questions which would be drowned out, then turned to Bettel while shrugging his shoulders, mouthed "sorry" to the press, and walked off.
Is what he *should* have done.
In his glory days, Boris would have ambled over, and charmed the protesters in French. Blair would have done the same. It might not have worked, but they'd have been sure enough of himself to try it.
Leave aside the rights and wrongs of the location. This isn't glad confident Boris any more.
Boris Johnson’s problem is that respect is earned not bestowed. And he hasn’t earned it.
That would be true if he were not Prime Minister
In most anti no dealers eyes, any respect he gained from becoming PM has already been spent.
Unlike with May, sympathy for this wont cut across the political divide. After all it comes just after he compares himself to the Incredibile Hulk, and now he runs off in a sulk.
You are so wrong!
When this plays in the news all that people will see is the graceless and idiotic premier of a small country behaving as one would expect him to.
Boris Johnson’s problem is that respect is earned not bestowed. And he hasn’t earned it.
That would be true if he were not Prime Minister
In most anti no dealers eyes, any respect he gained from becoming PM has already been spent.
Unlike with May, sympathy for this wont cut across the political divide. After all it comes just after he compares himself to the Incredibile Hulk, and now he runs off in a sulk.
It will, but in terms of a different emotion. Not sympathy for Johnson. Anger, at the EU's deliberate attempt to humiliate the UK PM. The very opposite of the warm, fuzzy feelings of empathy they want us to feel for their project of political union.
Boris Johnson’s problem is that respect is earned not bestowed. And he hasn’t earned it.
That would be true if he were not Prime Minister
In most anti no dealers eyes, any respect he gained from becoming PM has already been spent.
Unlike with May, sympathy for this wont cut across the political divide. After all it comes just after he compares himself to the Incredibile Hulk, and now he runs off in a sulk.
It will, but in terms of a different emotion. Not sympathy for Johnson. Anger, at the EU's deliberate attempt to humiliate the UK PM. The very opposite of the warm, fuzzy feelings of empathy they want us to feel for their project of political union.
That is the feeling of leavers and no dealers! It will strengthen that view yes.
Boris Johnson’s problem is that respect is earned not bestowed. And he hasn’t earned it.
That would be true if he were not Prime Minister
In most anti no dealers eyes, any respect he gained from becoming PM has already been spent.
Unlike with May, sympathy for this wont cut across the political divide. After all it comes just after he compares himself to the Incredibile Hulk, and now he runs off in a sulk.
You are so wrong!
When this plays in the news all that people will see is the graceless and idiotic premier of a small country behaving as one would expect him to.
Boris is the graceless idiot!
Have the Luxembourgers ever prorogued their Parliament (except for German occupation, natch)?
Boris Johnson’s problem is that respect is earned not bestowed. And he hasn’t earned it.
That would be true if he were not Prime Minister
In most anti no dealers eyes, any respect he gained from becoming PM has already been spent.
Unlike with May, sympathy for this wont cut across the political divide. After all it comes just after he compares himself to the Incredibile Hulk, and now he runs off in a sulk.
You are so wrong!
When this plays in the news all that people will see is the graceless and idiotic premier of a small country behaving as one would expect him to.
Classic right-wing willy waving. So what if they are a small country? Does that make them less worthy?
The serious point about the Luxembourg brouhaha is that the PM of Luxembourg - like the other EU leaders - has no interest in UK public opinion. What matters to him is opinion in Luxembourg. He clearly believes what happened today will work well for him. If he is representative of other EU leader’s Johnson’s chances of getting a deal are close to zero.
You presume Bettel was acting rationally, and also acting in concert with wider EU opinion. None of this is known. It is very possible that Bettel tipped into a fit of anger (he is quite emotional in his presser) - perhaps because his stunt failed, perhaps because Boris was annoying.
It is equally possible, in fact probable, that other EU leaders like Merkel, who really really want a deal, are spitting tacks at Bettel for this childish pantomime, which makes a deal that bit harder.
Good heavens, a little bit of booing and jeering. This is what politics is made of and real politicians, not incredible hulks, gain their spurs. It is not in press conferences. Harold Wilson, Harold McMillan used to handle it wonderfully well, jokes, comments and facts, and what is more the hecklers did not get ejected,
Tbf I think Boris did the sensible thing there, a press conference in those circumstances would have been stupid. I don't think Bettle's behaved very well, and as most of you know I am in no way a supporter of Johnson.
He (Boris) will get a PR boost from this (which is why Bettel was so silly to do it) BUT...
...any Boris boost will be short-lived. Remember May receiving sympathy for being badly treated at an EU conference - how long did that sympathy last?
He should have gone out, a la Alex Chalk the other day, said look if you don't let me speak there's no point in me being here, politely answered some questions which would be drowned out, then turned to Bettel while shrugging his shoulders, mouthed "sorry" to the press, and walked off.
Is what he *should* have done.
Except then the likes of you would have accused him, even more vehemently, of being a coward, the incontinent sulk, the big girl's blouse who couldn't conclude a press conference, the optics for him would have been even worse. A Prime Minister walking off a podium, like some teen in a tantrum?
The correct thing here was for the EU bigwigs to see that Boris was right, it was too noisy for a presser, and go indoors. How hard would that have been?
Instead they overreached, in their desire to humiliate the British PM. Foolish, foolish, foolish.
Why is it foolish? The PM of Luxembourg wants to win votes in Luxembourg not in the UK. When Johnson compared the EU to the Nazis he was after votes in the UK, not in Germany!
Leaving aside that that is a highly partisan reading of what he actually wrote, there is the other small detail that at the time he was a journalist. Whereas Bettel is a PM (albeit of small, insignificant european principality best know for tax avoidance).
Boris Johnson’s problem is that respect is earned not bestowed. And he hasn’t earned it.
That would be true if he were not Prime Minister
In most anti no dealers eyes, any respect he gained from becoming PM has already been spent.
Unlike with May, sympathy for this wont cut across the political divide. After all it comes just after he compares himself to the Incredibile Hulk, and now he runs off in a sulk.
You are so wrong!
When this plays in the news all that people will see is the graceless and idiotic premier of a small country behaving as one would expect him to.
Boris is the graceless idiot!
Have the Luxembourgers ever prorogued their Parliament (except for German occupation, natch)?
I swear someone has taken over your account recently!
@Kevin_Maguire Follow Follow @Kevin_Maguire More Incredible Hulk to Incredible Sulk: Boris Johnson's problems is people are now laughing at him, and no longer with him, when he's too scared to go to his own press conference and does a runner
The serious point about the Luxembourg brouhaha is that the PM of Luxembourg - like the other EU leaders - has no interest in UK public opinion. What matters to him is opinion in Luxembourg. He clearly believes what happened today will work well for him. If he is representative of other EU leader’s Johnson’s chances of getting a deal are close to zero.
You presume Bettel was acting rationally, and also acting in concert with wider EU opinion. None of this is known. It is very possible that Bettel tipped into a fit of anger (he is quite emotional in his presser) - perhaps because his stunt failed, perhaps because Boris was annoying.
It is equally possible, in fact probable, that other EU leaders like Merkel, who really really want a deal, are spitting tacks at Bettel for this childish pantomime, which makes a deal that bit harder.
Boris Johnson’s problem is that respect is earned not bestowed. And he hasn’t earned it.
That would be true if he were not Prime Minister
In most anti no dealers eyes, any respect he gained from becoming PM has already been spent.
Unlike with May, sympathy for this wont cut across the political divide. After all it comes just after he compares himself to the Incredibile Hulk, and now he runs off in a sulk.
You are so wrong!
When this plays in the news all that people will see is the graceless and idiotic premier of a small country behaving as one would expect him to.
Boris is the graceless idiot!
Have the Luxembourgers ever prorogued their Parliament (except for German occupation, natch)?
Boris Johnson’s problem is that respect is earned not bestowed. And he hasn’t earned it.
That would be true if he were not Prime Minister
In most anti no dealers eyes, any respect he gained from becoming PM has already been spent.
Unlike with May, sympathy for this wont cut across the political divide. After all it comes just after he compares himself to the Incredibile Hulk, and now he runs off in a sulk.
You are so wrong!
When this plays in the news all that people will see is the graceless and idiotic premier of a small country behaving as one would expect him to.
Boris is the graceless idiot!
Have the Luxembourgers ever prorogued their Parliament (except for German occupation, natch)?
I swear someone has taken over your account recently!
SeanT/Byronic I think. I'm posting from my squillion pound flat in Primrose Hill (Borders) sat next to my pretty 20-something Corbynista wife!
Tbf I think Boris did the sensible thing there, a press conference in those circumstances would have been stupid. I don't think Bettle's behaved very well, and as most of you know I am in no way a supporter of Johnson.
He (Boris) will get a PR boost from this (which is why Bettel was so silly to do it) BUT...
...any Boris boost will be short-lived. Remember May receiving sympathy for being badly treated at an EU conference - how long did that sympathy last?
He should have gone out, a la Alex Chalk the other day, said look if you don't let me speak there's no point in me being here, politely answered some questions which would be drowned out, then turned to Bettel while shrugging his shoulders, mouthed "sorry" to the press, and walked off.
Is what he *should* have done.
Except then the likes of you would have accused him, even more vehemently, of being a coward, the incontinent sulk, the big girl's blouse who couldn't conclude a press conference, the optics for him would have been even worse. A Prime Minister walking off a podium, like some teen in a tantrum?
The correct thing here was for the EU bigwigs to see that Boris was right, it was too noisy for a presser, and go indoors. How hard would that have been?
Instead they overreached, in their desire to humiliate the British PM. Foolish, foolish, foolish.
Why is it foolish? The PM of Luxembourg wants to win votes in Luxembourg not in the UK. When Johnson compared the EU to the Nazis he was after votes in the UK, not in Germany!
Leaving aside that that is a highly partisan reading of what he actually wrote, there is the other small detail that at the time he was a journalist. Whereas Bettel is a PM (albeit of small, insignificant european principality best know for tax avoidance).
Less discussed is the impact this will have on parties on the other side of the debate. Perhaps there was little doubt that the Lib Dems just want to cancel Brexit, but now they are openly advocating it.
You'd imagine that would energise the other side. Would that be the Brexit party or the Tories?
The policy is certainly dogmatic. The Brexit Party will use it to say , The Lib Dems do not respect the referendum result. They are correct. If they got into government with a majority and had to implement it. It would be a clusterfuck. If Corbyn had announced this ,the outcry would have been huge.
The LD policy is aimed at inner and Southwest London, Oxford and Cambridge, Scotland, the posher parts of the Home Counties like St Albans, Guildford and Lewes ie diehard Remainerville. Areas which voted Remain and may have voted LD in the European Parliament elections too.
It will go down like a lead balloon in the largely Leave voting former LD heartlands of the South West bar a few areas like Cheltenham and Bath but the LDs seem to be willing to make that sacrifice and it will also go down badly in the Leave voting North and Midlands but the LDs are weak there anyway.
We all know the voting system we have rewards parties who can concentrate their vote and brutally punishes those which cannot (there is a reason why Farage wants to change it). Anyone who doesn't like what the LDs are doing needs to support voting reform to a more proportional system.
The serious point about the Luxembourg brouhaha is that the PM of Luxembourg - like the other EU leaders - has no interest in UK public opinion. What matters to him is opinion in Luxembourg. He clearly believes what happened today will work well for him. If he is representative of other EU leader’s Johnson’s chances of getting a deal are close to zero.
You presume Bettel was acting rationally, and also acting in concert with wider EU opinion. None of this is known. It is very possible that Bettel tipped into a fit of anger (he is quite emotional in his presser) - perhaps because his stunt failed, perhaps because Boris was annoying.
It is equally possible, in fact probable, that other EU leaders like Merkel, who really really want a deal, are spitting tacks at Bettel for this childish pantomime, which makes a deal that bit harder.
It doesn't look particularly EU-strategic - I think the simple human explanation works on both sides. Johnson bottled it because he's sensitive about being booed all the time, it was last minute so relocating was impractical, Bettel was annoyed and showed it by going ahead in a way that would be embarrassing.
That said, a deal remains impossible until the UK brings forward something coherent that it wants, and if that ever happens little details like this event won't make it any harder to conclude.
Boris Johnson’s problem is that respect is earned not bestowed. And he hasn’t earned it.
That would be true if he were not Prime Minister
In most anti no dealers eyes, any respect he gained from becoming PM has already been spent.
Unlike with May, sympathy for this wont cut across the political divide. After all it comes just after he compares himself to the Incredibile Hulk, and now he runs off in a sulk.
You are so wrong!
When this plays in the news all that people will see is the graceless and idiotic premier of a small country behaving as one would expect him to.
Classic right-wing willy waving. So what if they are a small country? Does that make them less worthy?
You have no idea whether im right-wing or not. All i would say is that yours is the classic tactic of the left - play the man and not the ball.
Does it matter that Luxembourg is a small, insignificant country? Yes, it probably does. But it certainly means we dont need to take much notice of them. Except to remark on the idiocy and lack of manners of their PM. Perhaps its something to do with the size of their gene pool...
It's not the fault of the electorate that we are governed by cowards, morons and hypocrites. who refuse to pass an EU deal, even when it is offered, three times. it is not the fault of the electorate that MPs are voting down a Deal because half of them secretly want to Remain, and another chunk are fetishising the worst deal possible.
It is not the fault of the voters that parliament is not fit-for-purpose. So we must get rid of it, and start again, with an election.
Perhaps instead of solely blaming remainers, you can throw some of your righteous ire at the ERGers, Farage and the Brexit Party, who also did a good amount of work to kill May's deal.
But that probably cuts a little close to home ...
Er, I did. Read it again.
"another chunk are fetishising the worst deal possible"
Less discussed is the impact this will have on parties on the other side of the debate. Perhaps there was little doubt that the Lib Dems just want to cancel Brexit, but now they are openly advocating it.
You'd imagine that would energise the other side. Would that be the Brexit party or the Tories?
The policy is certainly dogmatic. The Brexit Party will use it to say , The Lib Dems do not respect the referendum result. They are correct. If they got into government with a majority and had to implement it. It would be a clusterfuck. If Corbyn had announced this ,the outcry would have been huge.
The LD policy is aimed at inner and Southwest London, Oxford and Cambridge, Scotland, the posher parts of the Home Counties like St Albans, Guildford and Lewes ie diehard Remainerville. Areas which voted Remain and may have voted LD in the European Parliament elections too.
It will go down like a lead balloon in the largely Leave voting former LD heartlands of the South West bar a few areas like Cheltenham and Bath but the LDs seem to be willing to make that sacrifice and it will also go down badly in the Leave voting North and Midlands but the LDs are weak there anyway.
We all know the voting system we have rewards parties who can concentrate their vote and brutally punishes those which cannot (there is a reason why Farage wants to change it). Anyone who doesn't like what the LDs are doing needs to support voting reform to a more proportional system.
And shock horror that the LDs aren't playing their allotted stereotype of naive sandal wearing beardys!!!
Tbf I think Boris did the sensible thing there, a press conference in those circumstances would have been stupid. I don't think Bettle's behaved very well, and as most of you know I am in no way a supporter of Johnson.
He (Boris) will get a PR boost from this (which is why Bettel was so silly to do it) BUT...
...any Boris boost will be short-lived. Remember May receiving sympathy for being badly treated at an EU conference - how long did that sympathy last?
He should have gone out, a la Alex Chalk the other day, said look if you don't let me speak there's no point in me being here, politely answered some questions which would be drowned out, then turned to Bettel while shrugging his shoulders, mouthed "sorry" to the press, and walked off.
Is what he *should* have done.
Except then the likes of you would have accused him, even more vehemently, of being a coward, the incontinent sulk, the big girl's blouse who couldn't conclude a press conference, the optics for him would have been even worse. A Prime Minister walking off a podium, like some teen in a tantrum?
The correct thing here was for the EU bigwigs to see that Boris was right, it was too noisy for a presser, and go indoors. How hard would that have been?
Instead they overreached, in their desire to humiliate the British PM. Foolish, foolish, foolish.
Why is it foolish? The PM of Luxembourg wants to win votes in Luxembourg not in the UK. When Johnson compared the EU to the Nazis he was after votes in the UK, not in Germany!
I cannot imagine any British Head of State or PM acting that way to a guest in our country - not even for votes.
The serious point about the Luxembourg brouhaha is that the PM of Luxembourg - like the other EU leaders - has no interest in UK public opinion. What matters to him is opinion in Luxembourg. He clearly believes what happened today will work well for him. If he is representative of other EU leader’s Johnson’s chances of getting a deal are close to zero.
You presume Bettel was acting rationally, and also acting in concert with wider EU opinion. None of this is known. It is very possible that Bettel tipped into a fit of anger (he is quite emotional in his presser) - perhaps because his stunt failed, perhaps because Boris was annoying.
It is equally possible, in fact probable, that other EU leaders like Merkel, who really really want a deal, are spitting tacks at Bettel for this childish pantomime, which makes a deal that bit harder.
I presume Bettel was acting in what he decided were his best political interests, just as Johnson did when he compared the EU to Nazis. He clearly believed not giving Johnson what he wanted will play well for him among his electorate. If other EU leaders feel the same, then it’s No Deal.
A Luxembourgeois friend writes: "knowing the ministry's building, civil servants and employees, I'd say the LU explanation is absolutely plausible: no room, no one wants to do the work to change things".
Anyone know where I can download past GE results by constituency going back to the 70s (or further), in an easily analysable format (e.g. csv)?
Not sure - you'll quickly gain a hatred for constituencies with more than one possible name though, particularly stuff like "Aberdeen West & Kincardine" will be listed under "West Aberdeen and Kincardine" in some databases.
@Kevin_Maguire Follow Follow @Kevin_Maguire More Incredible Hulk to Incredible Sulk: Boris Johnson's problems is people are now laughing at him, and no longer with him, when he's too scared to go to his own press conference and does a runner
No all that will happen is...
Remainers will think: Go Luxenbourg! Be as insulting as you can be to the UK. We deserve it.
Leavers will think: How rude. If they are going to insult our country like this we're better off out.
And then we'll all go back to yelling at each other.
A Luxembourgeois friend writes: "knowing the ministry's building, civil servants and employees, I'd say the LU explanation is absolutely plausible: no room, no one wants to do the work to change things".
Tbf I think Boris did the sensible thing there, a press conference in those circumstances would have been stupid. I don't think Bettle's behaved very well, and as most of you know I am in no way a supporter of Johnson.
He (Boris) will get a PR boost from this (which is why Bettel was so silly to do it) BUT...
...any Boris boost will be short-lived. Remember May receiving sympathy for being badly treated at an EU conference - how long did that sympathy last?
He should have gone out, a la Alex Chalk the other day, said look if you don't let me speak there's no point in me being here, politely answered some questions which would be drowned out, then turned to Bettel while shrugging his shoulders, mouthed "sorry" to the press, and walked off.
Is what he *should* have done.
Except then the likes of you would have accused him, even more vehemently, of being a coward, the incontinent sulk, the big girl's blouse who couldn't conclude a press conference, the optics for him would have been even worse. A Prime Minister walking off a podium, like some teen in a tantrum?
The correct thing here was for the EU bigwigs to see that Boris was right, it was too noisy for a presser, and go indoors. How hard would that have been?
Instead they overreached, in their desire to humiliate the British PM. Foolish, foolish, foolish.
Why is it foolish? The PM of Luxembourg wants to win votes in Luxembourg not in the UK. When Johnson compared the EU to the Nazis he was after votes in the UK, not in Germany!
I cannot imagine any British Head of State or PM acting that way to a guest in our country - not even for votes.
I can quite easily imagine a very political PM seeking a confrontation with a foreign political leader for domestic gain.
Tbf I think Boris did the sensible thing there, a press conference in those circumstances would have been stupid. I don't think Bettle's behaved very well, and as most of you know I am in no way a supporter of Johnson.
He (Boris) will get a PR boost from this (which is why Bettel was so silly to do it) BUT...
...any Boris boost will be short-lived. Remember May receiving sympathy for being badly treated at an EU conference - how long did that sympathy last?
He should have gone out, a la Alex Chalk the other day, said look if you don't let me speak there's no point in me being here, politely answered some questions which would be drowned out, then turned to Bettel while shrugging his shoulders, mouthed "sorry" to the press, and walked off.
Is what he *should* have done.
Except then the likes of you would have accused him, even more vehemently, of being a coward, the incontinent sulk, the big girl's blouse who couldn't conclude a press conference, the optics for him would have been even worse. A Prime Minister walking off a podium, like some teen in a tantrum?
The correct thing here was for the EU bigwigs to see that Boris was right, it was too noisy for a presser, and go indoors. How hard would that have been?
Instead they overreached, in their desire to humiliate the British PM. Foolish, foolish, foolish.
Why is it foolish? The PM of Luxembourg wants to win votes in Luxembourg not in the UK. When Johnson compared the EU to the Nazis he was after votes in the UK, not in Germany!
I cannot imagine any British Head of State or PM acting that way to a guest in our country - not even for votes.
Think Trump. We arrange it so that he is sheltered from the most egregious displays of disrespect to the position of President of USA.
The serious point about the Luxembourg brouhaha is that the PM of Luxembourg - like the other EU leaders - has no interest in UK public opinion. What matters to him is opinion in Luxembourg. He clearly believes what happened today will work well for him. If he is representative of other EU leader’s Johnson’s chances of getting a deal are close to zero.
You presume Bettel was acting rationally, and also acting in concert with wider EU opinion. None of this is known. It is very possible that Bettel tipped into a fit of anger (he is quite emotional in his presser) - perhaps because his stunt failed, perhaps because Boris was annoying.
It is equally possible, in fact probable, that other EU leaders like Merkel, who really really want a deal, are spitting tacks at Bettel for this childish pantomime, which makes a deal that bit harder.
I presume Bettel was acting in what he decided were his best political interests, just as Johnson did when he compared the EU to Nazis. He clearly believed not giving Johnson what he wanted will play well for him among his electorate. If other EU leaders feel the same, then it’s No Deal.
You might be half right. There's an interesting theory floating around Twitter (amongst some well-informed opinion) that Brexit, of any kind, is good for Luxembourg, and that Revoke/Remain would be terrible for them (presumably based on a fair chunk of City biz drifting to Lux)
Bettel is the PM of a tiny, insignificant country. His opportunities to direct Brexit in a way that betters his nation are meagre. But this was one rare moment where he could do it.
Set up a press conference close to expected protestors. Humiliate the British PM. Make a no deal Brexit slightly more likely. Look good in front of Luxembourg voters?
Boris Johnson’s problem is that respect is earned not bestowed. And he hasn’t earned it.
That would be true if he were not Prime Minister
In most anti no dealers eyes, any respect he gained from becoming PM has already been spent.
Unlike with May, sympathy for this wont cut across the political divide. After all it comes just after he compares himself to the Incredibile Hulk, and now he runs off in a sulk.
You are so wrong!
When this plays in the news all that people will see is the graceless and idiotic premier of a small country behaving as one would expect him to.
Classic right-wing willy waving. So what if they are a small country? Does that make them less worthy?
You have no idea whether im right-wing or not. All i would say is that yours is the classic tactic of the left - play the man and not the ball.
Does it matter that Luxembourg is a small, insignificant country? Yes, it probably does. But it certainly means we dont need to take much notice of them. Except to remark on the idiocy and lack of manners of their PM. Perhaps its something to do with the size of their gene pool...
@Kevin_Maguire Follow Follow @Kevin_Maguire More Incredible Hulk to Incredible Sulk: Boris Johnson's problems is people are now laughing at him, and no longer with him, when he's too scared to go to his own press conference and does a runner
When a Tory PM loses the Daily Mirror, it really is serious
Anyone know where I can download past GE results by constituency going back to the 70s (or further), in an easily analysable format (e.g. csv)?
Not sure - you'll quickly gain a hatred for constituencies with more than one possible name though, particularly stuff like "Aberdeen West & Kincardine" will be listed under "West Aberdeen and Kincardine" in some databases.
Yeah I'm expecting to have to do quite a bit of cleaning.
The alternative is to try to scrape wikipedia, but I'd rather not.
The serious point about the Luxembourg brouhaha is that the PM of Luxembourg - like the other EU leaders - has no interest in UK public opinion. What matters to him is opinion in Luxembourg. He clearly believes what happened today will work well for him. If he is representative of other EU leader’s Johnson’s chances of getting a deal are close to zero.
You presume Bettel was acting rationally, and also acting in concert with wider EU opinion. None of this is known. It is very possible that Bettel tipped into a fit of anger (he is quite emotional in his presser) - perhaps because his stunt failed, perhaps because Boris was annoying.
It is equally possible, in fact probable, that other EU leaders like Merkel, who really really want a deal, are spitting tacks at Bettel for this childish pantomime, which makes a deal that bit harder.
Why does Merkel want a deal so badly?
Because Germany is close to recession, you swithering nitwit.
The serious point about the Luxembourg brouhaha is that the PM of Luxembourg - like the other EU leaders - has no interest in UK public opinion. What matters to him is opinion in Luxembourg. He clearly believes what happened today will work well for him. If he is representative of other EU leader’s Johnson’s chances of getting a deal are close to zero.
You presume Bettel was acting rationally, and also acting in concert with wider EU opinion. None of this is known. It is very possible that Bettel tipped into a fit of anger (he is quite emotional in his presser) - perhaps because his stunt failed, perhaps because Boris was annoying.
It is equally possible, in fact probable, that other EU leaders like Merkel, who really really want a deal, are spitting tacks at Bettel for this childish pantomime, which makes a deal that bit harder.
Why does Merkel want a deal so badly?
Because Germany is close to recession, you swithering nitwit.
Tbf I think Boris did the sensible thing there, a press conference in those circumstances would have been stupid. I don't think Bettle's behaved very well, and as most of you know I am in no way a supporter of Johnson.
He (Boris) will get a PR boost from this (which is why Bettel was so silly to do it) BUT...
...any Boris boost will be short-lived. Remember May receiving sympathy for being badly treated at an EU conference - how long did that sympathy last?
He should have gone out, a la Alex Chalk the other day, said look if you don't let me speak there's no point in me being here, politely answered some questions which would be drowned out, then turned to Bettel while shrugging his shoulders, mouthed "sorry" to the press, and walked off.
Is what he *should* have done.
Except then the likes of you would have accused him, even more vehemently, of being a coward, the incontinent sulk, the big girl's blouse who couldn't conclude a press conference, the optics for him would have been even worse. A Prime Minister walking off a podium, like some teen in a tantrum?
The correct thing here was for the EU bigwigs to see that Boris was right, it was too noisy for a presser, and go indoors. How hard would that have been?
Instead they overreached, in their desire to humiliate the British PM. Foolish, foolish, foolish.
Why is it foolish? The PM of Luxembourg wants to win votes in Luxembourg not in the UK. When Johnson compared the EU to the Nazis he was after votes in the UK, not in Germany!
I cannot imagine any British Head of State or PM acting that way to a guest in our country - not even for votes.
I cannot imagine any foreign PM acting in that way to any previous British PM. The British PM used to be a respected figure in the world, now he is openly laughed at and treated with contempt. Which in Johnson's case is fully deserved.
Tbf I think Boris did the sensible thing there, a press conference in those circumstances would have been stupid. I don't think Bettle's behaved very well, and as most of you know I am in no way a supporter of Johnson.
He (Boris) will get a PR boost from this (which is why Bettel was so silly to do it) BUT...
...any Boris boost will be short-lived. Remember May receiving sympathy for being badly treated at an EU conference - how long did that sympathy last?
He should have gone out, a la Alex Chalk the other day, said look if you don't let me speak there's no point in me being here, politely answered some questions which would be drowned out, then turned to Bettel while shrugging his shoulders, mouthed "sorry" to the press, and walked off.
Is what he *should* have done.
Except then the likes of you would have accused him, even more vehemently, of being a coward, the incontinent sulk, the big girl's blouse who couldn't conclude a press conference, the optics for him would have been even worse. A Prime Minister walking off a podium, like some teen in a tantrum?
The correct thing here was for the EU bigwigs to see that Boris was right, it was too noisy for a presser, and go indoors. How hard would that have been?
Instead they overreached, in their desire to humiliate the British PM. Foolish, foolish, foolish.
Why is it foolish? The PM of Luxembourg wants to win votes in Luxembourg not in the UK. When Johnson compared the EU to the Nazis he was after votes in the UK, not in Germany!
I cannot imagine any British Head of State or PM acting that way to a guest in our country - not even for votes.
I can quite easily imagine a very political PM seeking a confrontation with a foreign political leader for domestic gain.
While they are guests in your country - not in the UK and not in most civilised countries.
@Kevin_Maguire Follow Follow @Kevin_Maguire More Incredible Hulk to Incredible Sulk: Boris Johnson's problems is people are now laughing at him, and no longer with him, when he's too scared to go to his own press conference and does a runner
Tbf I think Boris did the sensible thing there, a press conference in those circumstances would have been stupid. I don't think Bettle's behaved very well, and as most of you know I am in no way a supporter of Johnson.
He (Boris) will get a PR boost from this (which is why Bettel was so silly to do it) BUT...
...any Boris boost will be short-lived. Remember May receiving sympathy for being badly treated at an EU conference - how long did that sympathy last?
He should have gone out, a la Alex Chalk the other day, said look if you don't let me speak there's no point in me being here, politely answered some questions which would be drowned out, then turned to Bettel while shrugging his shoulders, mouthed "sorry" to the press, and walked off.
Is what he *should* have done.
Except then the likes of you would have accused him, even more vehemently, of being a coward, the incontinent sulk, the big girl's blouse who couldn't conclude a press conference, the optics for him would have been even worse. A Prime Minister walking off a podium, like some teen in a tantrum?
The correct thing here was for the EU bigwigs to see that Boris was right, it was too noisy for a presser, and go indoors. How hard would that have been?
Instead they overreached, in their desire to humiliate the British PM. Foolish, foolish, foolish.
Why is it foolish? The PM of Luxembourg wants to win votes in Luxembourg not in the UK. When Johnson compared the EU to the Nazis he was after votes in the UK, not in Germany!
I cannot imagine any British Head of State or PM acting that way to a guest in our country - not even for votes.
I can quite easily imagine a very political PM seeking a confrontation with a foreign political leader for domestic gain.
While they are guests in your country - not in the UK and not in most civilised countries.
The serious point about the Luxembourg brouhaha is that the PM of Luxembourg - like the other EU leaders - has no interest in UK public opinion. What matters to him is opinion in Luxembourg. He clearly believes what happened today will work well for him. If he is representative of other EU leader’s Johnson’s chances of getting a deal are close to zero.
You presume Bettel was acting rationally, and also acting in concert with wider EU opinion. None of this is known. It is very possible that Bettel tipped into a fit of anger (he is quite emotional in his presser) - perhaps because his stunt failed, perhaps because Boris was annoying.
It is equally possible, in fact probable, that other EU leaders like Merkel, who really really want a deal, are spitting tacks at Bettel for this childish pantomime, which makes a deal that bit harder.
Why does Merkel want a deal so badly?
Because Germany is close to recession, you swithering nitwit.
Johnson is bluffing on No Deal, and even if he isn’t, it just gives everyone else a scapegoat.
London also increased its share of trading euro-denominated interest rate swaps, accounting for 86 per cent of all deals, up from 75 per cent in 2016, the BIS said. The issue has become a flashpoint after the Brexit vote, with the EU demanding more direct oversight of the business. EU regulators have granted their investors and banks temporary access to the UK’s markets if there is a no-deal Brexit, but the permit is due to lapse in March next year.
“Without greater clarity . . . after this date, the contracts that EU members clear with UK clearing houses will need to be closed out or transferred by then,” said Mr Bailey on Monday. “This process would need to begin by the end of this year, and would impose significant costs on EU firms as well as potentially straining market capacity.”
I'm a little disappointed in Boris's lack of gumption over there in Lux. I don't like him and I don't rate him but one thing I've always thought he had - certainly more so than your average politician- was the ability to 'mix it' on the street with the great unwashed. This can be very effective, regardless of whether you are given a hard time or not. In fact some heckling can work for you. Remember Major and his soapbox in 92? It certainly worked for him. Well, here was a great opportunity for Boris to do something like that. He could have really took on those protesters, given them a mouthful, and while he was at it roasted the Lux PM too. But he flunked it. So it does beg the question - given his reluctance to do one of the few things he can do - what is the point of Boris?
Tbf I think Boris did the sensible thing there, a press conference in those circumstances would have been stupid. I don't think Bettle's behaved very well, and as most of you know I am in no way a supporter of Johnson.
He (Boris) will get a PR boost from this (which is why Bettel was so silly to do it) BUT...
...any Boris boost will be short-lived. Remember May receiving sympathy for being badly treated at an EU conference - how long did that sympathy last?
He should have gone out, a la Alex Chalk the other day, said look if you don't let me speak there's no point in me being here, politely answered some questions which would be drowned out, then turned to Bettel while shrugging his shoulders, mouthed "sorry" to the press, and walked off.
Is what he *should* have done.
Except then the likes of you would have accused him, even more vehemently, of being a coward, the incontinent sulk, the big girl's blouse who couldn't conclude a press conference, the optics for him would have been even worse. A Prime Minister walking off a podium, like some teen in a tantrum?
The correct thing here was for the EU bigwigs to see that Boris was right, it was too noisy for a presser, and go indoors. How hard would that have been?
Instead they overreached, in their desire to humiliate the British PM. Foolish, foolish, foolish.
Why is it foolish? The PM of Luxembourg wants to win votes in Luxembourg not in the UK. When Johnson compared the EU to the Nazis he was after votes in the UK, not in Germany!
I cannot imagine any British Head of State or PM acting that way to a guest in our country - not even for votes.
I can quite easily imagine a very political PM seeking a confrontation with a foreign political leader for domestic gain.
While they are guests in your country - not in the UK and not in most civilised countries.
The serious point about the Luxembourg brouhaha is that the PM of Luxembourg - like the other EU leaders - has no interest in UK public opinion. What matters to him is opinion in Luxembourg. He clearly believes what happened today will work well for him. If he is representative of other EU leader’s Johnson’s chances of getting a deal are close to zero.
You presume Bettel was acting rationally, and also acting in concert with wider EU opinion. None of this is known. It is very possible that Bettel tipped into a fit of anger (he is quite emotional in his presser) - perhaps because his stunt failed, perhaps because Boris was annoying.
It is equally possible, in fact probable, that other EU leaders like Merkel, who really really want a deal, are spitting tacks at Bettel for this childish pantomime, which makes a deal that bit harder.
I presume Bettel was acting in what he decided were his best political interests, just as Johnson did when he compared the EU to Nazis. He clearly believed not giving Johnson what he wanted will play well for him among his electorate. If other EU leaders feel the same, then it’s No Deal.
You might be half right. There's an interesting theory floating around Twitter (amongst some well-informed opinion) that Brexit, of any kind, is good for Luxembourg, and that Revoke/Remain would be terrible for them (presumably based on a fair chunk of City biz drifting to Lux)
Bettel is the PM of a tiny, insignificant country. His opportunities to direct Brexit in a way that betters his nation are meagre. But this was one rare moment where he could do it.
Set up a press conference close to expected protestors. Humiliate the British PM. Make a no deal Brexit slightly more likely. Look good in front of Luxembourg voters?
Job done. But I doubt Merkel feels the same.
Yep - I see a Luxembourg PM seeing an opportunity to make political hay by attacking an immensely unpopular UK PM. These are not opportunities that the PM of Luxembourg usually gets. To be honest, I doubnt if Merkel is that concerned. A deal will not be scuppered by Luxembourg.
Anyone know where I can download past GE results by constituency going back to the 70s (or further), in an easily analysable format (e.g. csv)?
You can get constituency results on Excel file from the report on each GE produced by the House of Commons library. You can if you need to merge the files from different years (which is doable as there is a common ons constituency id included in the file.) I am not sure how far back you can go though, and boundary changes will mess up comparisons across years.
I'm a little disappointed in Boris's lack of gumption over there in Lux. I don't like him and I don't rate him but one thing I've always thought he had - certainly more so than your average politician- was the ability to 'mix it' on the street with the great unwashed. This can be very effective, regardless of whether you are given a hard time or not. In fact some heckling can work for you. Remember Major and his soapbox in 92? It certainly worked for him. Well, here was a great opportunity for Boris to do something like that. He could have really took on those protesters, given them a mouthful, and while he was at it roasted the Lux PM too. But he flunked it. So it does beg the question - given his reluctance to do one of the few things he can do - what is the point of Boris?
Is there any evidence he has the ability to take on hecklers?
When confronted by that lone heckler in Morley he seemed absolutely lost for words.
The serious point about the Luxembourg brouhaha is that the PM of Luxembourg - like the other EU leaders - has no interest in UK public opinion. What matters to him is opinion in Luxembourg. He clearly believes what happened today will work well for him. If he is representative of other EU leader’s Johnson’s chances of getting a deal are close to zero.
You presume Bettel was acting rationally, and also acting in concert with wider EU opinion. None of this is known. It is very possible that Bettel tipped into a fit of anger (he is quite emotional in his presser) - perhaps because his stunt failed, perhaps because Boris was annoying.
It is equally possible, in fact probable, that other EU leaders like Merkel, who really really want a deal, are spitting tacks at Bettel for this childish pantomime, which makes a deal that bit harder.
Why does Merkel want a deal so badly?
Because Germany is close to recession, you swithering nitwit.
Johnson is bluffing on No Deal, and even if he isn’t, it just gives everyone else a scapegoat.
I really don't think he is bluffing. The problem is that he has no plan for what happens when No Deal arrives.
The serious point about the Luxembourg brouhaha is that the PM of Luxembourg - like the other EU leaders - has no interest in UK public opinion. What matters to him is opinion in Luxembourg. He clearly believes what happened today will work well for him. If he is representative of other EU leader’s Johnson’s chances of getting a deal are close to zero.
You presume Bettel was acting rationally, and also acting in concert with wider EU opinion. None of this is known. It is very possible that Bettel tipped into a fit of anger (he is quite emotional in his presser) - perhaps because his stunt failed, perhaps because Boris was annoying.
It is equally possible, in fact probable, that other EU leaders like Merkel, who really really want a deal, are spitting tacks at Bettel for this childish pantomime, which makes a deal that bit harder.
I presume Bettel was acting in what he decided were his best political interests, just as Johnson did when he compared the EU to Nazis. He clearly believed not giving Johnson what he wanted will play well for him among his electorate. If other EU leaders feel the same, then it’s No Deal.
You might be half right. There's an interesting theory floating around Twitter (amongst some well-informed opinion) that Brexit, of any kind, is good for Luxembourg, and that Revoke/Remain would be terrible for them (presumably based on a fair chunk of City biz drifting to Lux)
Bettel is the PM of a tiny, insignificant country. His opportunities to direct Brexit in a way that betters his nation are meagre. But this was one rare moment where he could do it.
Set up a press conference close to expected protestors. Humiliate the British PM. Make a no deal Brexit slightly more likely. Look good in front of Luxembourg voters?
Job done. But I doubt Merkel feels the same.
Yep - I see a Luxembourg PM seeing an opportunity to make political hay by attacking an immensely unpopular UK PM. These are not opportunities that the PM of Luxembourg usually gets. To be honest, I doubnt if Merkel is that concerned. A deal will not be scuppered by Luxembourg.
What I don't understand is why the PM of Luxembourg should feel the need to court popularity in the UK, though.
The most visited English speaking news website not doing Boris any favours.
That's a very intriguing photo. Juncker looks photoshopped, and drunk. Johnson looks smiley and uncaring.
Everyone else looks like thunder. From Barnier down.
Hmm. This kinda supports the alternative narrative (also on Twitter) that something really really bad happened in the meeting, and it enraged the Europeans, and the Luxembourgers snapped and refused to move the presser, and then their PM went into his rant.
Wha might Boris have said or done? That he really is going for No Deal, and he knows how to do it? Did he grab Madame Barnier's cleavage?
I won’t be the only person in this country whose reaction to those pictures is “f#ck ‘em”.
The only question is whether there’s enough of us in the right places to return a Gvt at the next election. It’s 50/50 I reckon.
Knock yourselves out. You could elect Godfrey Bloom Prime Minister for all the difference it would make to the reality of our choices.
So I’m racist and sexist? You people really are the worst kind of pond scum and at some point in the next ten years I’ll get to watch you fail to get your own way for the first time in your posh lives. It’s going to be hilarious.
Bloody hell talk about looking for reasons to be offended and go off on an unhinged rant.
I'm a little disappointed in Boris's lack of gumption over there in Lux. I don't like him and I don't rate him but one thing I've always thought he had - certainly more so than your average politician- was the ability to 'mix it' on the street with the great unwashed. This can be very effective, regardless of whether you are given a hard time or not. In fact some heckling can work for you. Remember Major and his soapbox in 92? It certainly worked for him. Well, here was a great opportunity for Boris to do something like that. He could have really took on those protesters, given them a mouthful, and while he was at it roasted the Lux PM too. But he flunked it. So it does beg the question - given his reluctance to do one of the few things he can do - what is the point of Boris?
I would have thought a crowd booing at him would have played well to Leavers. He has certainly missed an opportunity. He has remarkable similarities with Trump. They both like adulation and cannot stand criticism.
Comments
- Boris, 2004.
The correct thing here was for the EU bigwigs to see that Boris was right, it was too noisy for a presser, and go indoors. How hard would that have been?
Instead they overreached, in their desire to humiliate the British PM. Foolish, foolish, foolish.
https://twitter.com/steve_hawkes/status/1173604846764793857?s=20
If he would have come out and the noise continued then fair enough leave .
Clue : PB is not "mainstream public opinion"
Looking forward to 31st October.
Leave aside the rights and wrongs of the location. This isn't glad confident Boris any more.
When this plays in the news all that people will see is the graceless and idiotic premier of a small country behaving as one would expect him to.
If the racket was so much he couldn't converse with the press of Lux PM then fair enough, end it there and then.
Not showing up is just pathetic.
Anti no dealers and remainers wont care.
Have the Luxembourgers ever prorogued their Parliament (except for German occupation, natch)?
It is equally possible, in fact probable, that other EU leaders like Merkel, who really really want a deal, are spitting tacks at Bettel for this childish pantomime, which makes a deal that bit harder.
I cancelled Virgin subscription yesterday as the price kept on ramping up, and that annoys me.
Today they came back and offered internet for £17.00 pcm (it was an offer of £30 on Sunday)
Don't settle for more than £17.00 from Virgin!
I told them I would let as many people as possible know how cheap they are willing to be, so feel free to let the world know.
Although I think this is near to the base line for Virgin, I refused the offer as I really don't like them.
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Incredible Hulk to Incredible Sulk: Boris Johnson's problems is people are now laughing at him, and no longer with him, when he's too scared to go to his own press conference and does a runner
https://twitter.com/politicshome/status/1173625086827520000?s=20
Which great leaders have been elected on a sympathy vote?
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/boris-johnson-french-president-francois-hollande-nazi-brexit-eu-a7532981.html
Anyone who doesn't like what the LDs are doing needs to support voting reform to a more proportional system.
That said, a deal remains impossible until the UK brings forward something coherent that it wants, and if that ever happens little details like this event won't make it any harder to conclude.
Does it matter that Luxembourg is a small, insignificant country? Yes, it probably does. But it certainly means we dont need to take much notice of them. Except to remark on the idiocy and lack of manners of their PM. Perhaps its something to do with the size of their gene pool...
Remainers will think: Go Luxenbourg! Be as insulting as you can be to the UK. We deserve it.
Leavers will think: How rude. If they are going to insult our country like this we're better off out.
And then we'll all go back to yelling at each other.
*or Duchy or whatever it is.
Bettel is the PM of a tiny, insignificant country. His opportunities to direct Brexit in a way that betters his nation are meagre. But this was one rare moment where he could do it.
Set up a press conference close to expected protestors. Humiliate the British PM. Make a no deal Brexit slightly more likely. Look good in front of Luxembourg voters?
Job done. But I doubt Merkel feels the same.
The alternative is to try to scrape wikipedia, but I'd rather not.
https://twitter.com/andrew_adonis/status/1173628696806211588?s=21
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/picture/2019/sep/13/nicola-jennings-on-he-pms-efforts-to-find-a-brexit-deal-cartoon
https://twitter.com/espncricinfo/status/1173627607167963137?s=21
“Without greater clarity . . . after this date, the contracts that EU members clear with UK clearing houses will need to be closed out or transferred by then,” said Mr Bailey on Monday. “This process would need to begin by the end of this year, and would impose significant costs on EU firms as well as potentially straining market capacity.”
https://amp.ft.com/content/c653e9f0-d883-11e9-8f9b-77216ebe1f17?__twitter_impression=true
Told them I was planning to move unless they could offer a decent deal. Nope.
Left.
Couple of days later came back with a decent offer.
Nope - too late beardie. Not going through two processes.
How to lose customers.
They have gone bust again havent they?
When confronted by that lone heckler in Morley he seemed absolutely lost for words.
Feels like this has turned into a really dull thread with everyone just ramping their side and no-one is persuading anyone.
Am I missing anything? Are we so entrenched we can't see events outside our partisan blinkers?
Everyone else looks like thunder. From Barnier down.
Hmm. This kinda supports the alternative narrative (also on Twitter) that something really really bad happened in the meeting, and it enraged the Europeans, and the Luxembourgers snapped and refused to move the presser, and then their PM went into his rant.
Wha might Boris have said or done? That he really is going for No Deal, and he knows how to do it? Did he grab Madame Barnier's cleavage?
So it’s going to be done telepathically!
He has remarkable similarities with Trump. They both like adulation and cannot stand criticism.