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Foxy said:

williamglenn said:

Foxy said:

That is what May signed up to back in December though. We either stick to it or gain a reputation for not keeping our word.

Better than that, the Patten amendment is in the Withdrawal Bill/Act, so the government is committed by law not to do anything which creates a border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland with wording that is even more severe than in the joint report.

Nothing in section 7, 8, 9 or 17 of this Act authorises regulations which—

(a) diminish any form of North-South co-operation across the full range of political, economic, security, societal and agricultural contexts and frameworks of co-operation, including the continued operation of the North-South implementation bodies, or

(b) create or facilitate border arrangements between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland after exit day which feature—
(i) physical infrastructure, including border posts,
(ii) a requirement for customs or regulatory compliance checks,
(iii) a requirement for security checks,
(iv) random checks on goods vehicles, or
(v) any other checks and controls,
that did not exist before exit day and are not subject to an agreement between Her Majesty’s Government and the Government of Ireland.

Yes, pretty definite that the Irish have an effective veto on the final Deal.

Which means that there will either be a customs border in the Irish Sea or the whole of the UK will remain in the single market and customs union.

Technical question. Does anyone else using Chrome have trouble scrolling on PB using the up/down and page up/down keys having expanded a discussion?

Today's Tesco Strawberry score is again a nine:

Aberdeenshire
Angus
Perthshire
Fife
Staffordshire
Norfolk
Herefordshire
Surrey
Kent

The main point of interest being that a record four Scottish areas of origin.

There appears to be an increase in other British soft fruits with raspberries from Cambridgeshire, Herefordshire, Kent and West Sussex, Blueberries from Berkshire and West Sussex and blackberries from West Sussex.

I find it curious that West Sussex has been a source of strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries but East Sussex has not yet featured.

I wonder if PBers from that area could shed light on this difference ?

And to answer Torby-Fennel's question from the previous thread I neither buy nor touch the packs but use merely a brief visual examination in passing. Its entirely possible that if I physically searched through the stacks of packs I would find extra places of origin. But doing that would be a bit sad wouldn't it.

another_richard said:

Today's Tesco Strawberry score is again a nine:

Aberdeenshire
Angus
Perthshire
Fife
Staffordshire
Norfolk
Herefordshire
Surrey
Kent

The main point of interest being that a record four Scottish areas of origin.

There appears to be an increase in other British soft fruits with raspberries from Cambridgeshire, Herefordshire, Kent and West Sussex, Blueberries from Berkshire and West Sussex and blackberries from West Sussex.

I find it curious that West Sussex has been a source of strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries but East Sussex has not yet featured.

I wonder if PBers from that area could shed light on this difference ?

And to answer Torby-Fennel's question from the previous thread I neither buy nor touch the packs but use merely a brief visual examination in passing. Its entirely possible that if I physically searched through the stacks of packs I would find extra places of origin. But doing that would be a bit sad wouldn't it.

East Sussex is simply inferior.

Is it just me, or has Theresa May had a good couple of weeks?

williamglenn said:

rcs1000 said:

PeterC said:

RobD said:

anothernick said:

williamglenn said:

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/tánaiste-warns-of-no-deal-brexit-as-negotiations-stall-1.3538765

Mr Coveney added: “But let’s be very clear, there will be no withdrawal agreement, no transition agreement and no managed Brexit if the British government do not follow through on their clear commitments in writing to Ireland and the whole EU.”

Couldn't be clearer. May is going to have to accept an open-ended commitment to NI remaining in SM/CU or it's over the cliff.

Then over the cliff it is...

The Irish go over the cliff as well. And guess who gets to build the dreaded border ...

Romanian immigrants?

No-one builds the dreaded border, but the idea that if no-one starts building the dreaded border on the day after a cliff-edge Brexit it means we've won the game of chicken is delusional.

I expect the UK will go to unilateral free trade - at least temporarily. The EU will certainly not turn a blind eye, but they will have to impose border checks on all goods inbound to the customs union area. If they failed to do so they would have to open their entire eastern frontier with Russia etc to free trade.

(Continued)
Second, let's not mince words. The UK is a massive loss to the EU. It's the one really significant military power, the financial hub of Europe - arguably, one of only two hubs on the planet - it is home to almost all of Europe's top universities, much of the medical and pharmaceutical industries and around 15% of the population. Losing the UK is a serious blow to the EU's dreams of becoming the world's most powerful entity and not only are they still reeling from shock, they think if they make leaving difficult we'll change our minds and come back in to their great benefit. In this as I have made clear many times they are approximately as wrong as Richard Dawkins on the religious views of Joseph Stalin (and that's pretty damn wrong) but again, we come back to the fact that they see the world through an alcoholic haze and low IQ.

I think we are going to leave with no deal and that will be immensely damaging to both of us. I think not only is the EU extraordinarily blasé about creating a major hostile power on its north-western and southern periphery, but the fallout for them directly will be serious - it seems entirely possible it will down banking systems in Italy, Spain and Ireland for a start. Indeed, this foreseeable car crash is one of the key reasons I voted remain (it certainly wasn't out of starry eyed admiration for the EU, although I appreciate you would never guess that from my posts). But they don't seem to care. They're so wedded to the project they can't bear to compromise to save it. Their attitude reminds me very forcibly of the great Sir Boyle Roche: "It would surely be better, Mr. Speaker, to give up not only a part, but, if necessary, even the whole, of our constitution, to preserve the remainder!"

Jacob Rees Mogg dismisses Chuka Umunna's argument the prospect of a Parliamentary motion on Brexit could still delay Brexit, saying Brexit is now in statutory law and statute is supreme

https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/977442/Brexit-news-Rees-Mogg-bill-passed-UK-EU-withdrawal-latest-Umunna-motion-video

Jonathan said:

another_richard said:

Today's Tesco Strawberry score is again a nine:

Aberdeenshire
Angus
Perthshire
Fife
Staffordshire
Norfolk
Herefordshire
Surrey
Kent

The main point of interest being that a record four Scottish areas of origin.

There appears to be an increase in other British soft fruits with raspberries from Cambridgeshire, Herefordshire, Kent and West Sussex, Blueberries from Berkshire and West Sussex and blackberries from West Sussex.

I find it curious that West Sussex has been a source of strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries but East Sussex has not yet featured.

I wonder if PBers from that area could shed light on this difference ?

And to answer Torby-Fennel's question from the previous thread I neither buy nor touch the packs but use merely a brief visual examination in passing. Its entirely possible that if I physically searched through the stacks of packs I would find extra places of origin. But doing that would be a bit sad wouldn't it.

East Sussex is simply inferior.

Its the home of some renowed PBers - Richard Nabavi, Plato, HHemelig and the late Mark Senior.

williamglenn said:

Foxy said:

That is what May signed up to back in December though. We either stick to it or gain a reputation for not keeping our word.

Better than that, the Patten amendment is in the Withdrawal Bill/Act, so the government is committed by law not to do anything which creates a border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland with wording that is even more severe than in the joint report.

Nothing in section 7, 8, 9 or 17 of this Act authorises regulations which—

(a) diminish any form of North-South co-operation across the full range of political, economic, security, societal and agricultural contexts and frameworks of co-operation, including the continued operation of the North-South implementation bodies, or

(b) create or facilitate border arrangements between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland after exit day which feature—
(i) physical infrastructure, including border posts,
(ii) a requirement for customs or regulatory compliance checks,
(iii) a requirement for security checks,
(iv) random checks on goods vehicles, or
(v) any other checks and controls,
that did not exist before exit day and are not subject to an agreement between Her Majesty’s Government and the Government of Ireland.

Interesting but surely if Williamglenn has quoted the section correctly then:

"Nothing in section 7, 8, 9 or 17 of this Act authorises..."

is very different from

"This act prohibits..."

My understanding from previous commentators on here is that the GFA does not in any way prohibit a border. Since this amendment does not prohibit it either I do not see the obstacle to a border.

Barnesian said:

Alistair said:

Wow, Trump is on a massive upswing approval wise at the moment.

Not masssive

https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/trump-approval-ratings/

And latest five polls suggest a downswing.

Sure, but long term on the Gallup tracker he is up pretty much to his innaugeration score.

Presidential approval score is highly volatile, it's all about the long term trends.

another_richard said:

Today's Tesco Strawberry score is again a nine:

Aberdeenshire
Angus
Perthshire
Fife
Staffordshire
Norfolk
Herefordshire
Surrey
Kent

The main point of interest being that a record four Scottish areas of origin.

There appears to be an increase in other British soft fruits with raspberries from Cambridgeshire, Herefordshire, Kent and West Sussex, Blueberries from Berkshire and West Sussex and blackberries from West Sussex.

I find it curious that West Sussex has been a source of strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries but East Sussex has not yet featured.

I wonder if PBers from that area could shed light on this difference ?

And to answer Torby-Fennel's question from the previous thread I neither buy nor touch the packs but use merely a brief visual examination in passing. Its entirely possible that if I physically searched through the stacks of packs I would find extra places of origin. But doing that would be a bit sad wouldn't it.

Today's Sainbury's score from a store in the People's Republic of Kent is one:

Kent

Not that we are protectionist here.

To summarise some of the OBR borrowing predictions of the last year and a half:

FY 2016/17
Nov 2016 prediction £68.2bn
Mar 2017 prediction £51.7bn
Actual out-turn £45.7bn

FY 2017/18
Nov 2016 prediction £59.0bn
Mar 2017 prediction £58.3bn
Nov 2017 prediction £49.9bn
Mar 2018 prediction £45.2bn
Actual out-turn £39.5bn

FY 2018/19
Nov 2016 prediction £46.5bn
Mar 2017 prediction £40.8bn
Nov 2017 prediction £39.5bn
Mar 2018 prediction £37.1bn

another_richard said:

Jonathan said:

another_richard said:

Today's Tesco Strawberry score is again a nine:

Aberdeenshire
Angus
Perthshire
Fife
Staffordshire
Norfolk
Herefordshire
Surrey
Kent

The main point of interest being that a record four Scottish areas of origin.

There appears to be an increase in other British soft fruits with raspberries from Cambridgeshire, Herefordshire, Kent and West Sussex, Blueberries from Berkshire and West Sussex and blackberries from West Sussex.

I find it curious that West Sussex has been a source of strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries but East Sussex has not yet featured.

I wonder if PBers from that area could shed light on this difference ?

And to answer Torby-Fennel's question from the previous thread I neither buy nor touch the packs but use merely a brief visual examination in passing. Its entirely possible that if I physically searched through the stacks of packs I would find extra places of origin. But doing that would be a bit sad wouldn't it.

East Sussex is simply inferior.

Its the home of some renowed PBers - Richard Nabavi, Plato, HHemelig and the late Mark Senior.

Like I say, inferior to the glorious West.

Casino_Royale said:

MarqueeMark said:

Casino_Royale said:

I don’t know if anyone else has commented on this but Javid seems to be releasing headlines daily now, this one calculated to appeal to Leavers, as his moves on cannabis relaxation might be viewed as more liberal and progressive: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-44553225

I think when we come to look back at the way Brexit progressed in the spring of 2018, then Windrush - and the consequential removal of Amber Rudd - will be seen to be pivotal. She's gone from Remainer Big Beast to Who?

It sort of shows she wasn’t all that great shakes.

I would say I’m worried Javid might run out of energy, but given how quickly he got to the global board of Deutsche Bank and a £3million salary in his youth, I’m not so sure.

Javid has certainly been impressive so far.

Casino_Royale said:

MarqueeMark said:

Casino_Royale said:

I don’t know if anyone else has commented on this but Javid seems to be releasing headlines daily now, this one calculated to appeal to Leavers, as his moves on cannabis relaxation might be viewed as more liberal and progressive: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-44553225

I think when we come to look back at the way Brexit progressed in the spring of 2018, then Windrush - and the consequential removal of Amber Rudd - will be seen to be pivotal. She's gone from Remainer Big Beast to Who?

It sort of shows she wasn’t all that great shakes.

I would say I’m worried Javid might run out of energy, but given how quickly he got to the global board of Deutsche Bank and a £3million salary in his youth, I’m not so sure.

I thought that to get to the Board of DB the only skill you needed was how to do bad deals and lose loadsa money.

I see that Juncker and Barnier were in Dublin today. The speech is linked to here in full. Doesn't sound to me as if the EU will be stitching up Ireland.

https://twitter.com/DPhinnemore/status/1009787587022778369?s=19

Foxy said:

I see that Juncker and Barnier were in Dublin today. The speech is linked to here in full. Doesn't sound to me as if the EU will be stitching up Ireland.

https://twitter.com/DPhinnemore/status/1009787587022778369?s=19

I am sure you are right that the EU26 do not intend to stich up ROI. But by pushing the UK into a NO DEAL corner they will achieve precisely that.

AndyJS said:

Andrew Teale's review of today's by-elections:

https://britainelects.com/2018/06/20/previews-21-jun-2018/

Good luck to Yetunde Adeshile in Pitsea South East in Basildon who I campaigned for on Saturday and is hoping to take the seat from UKIP

ydoethur said:

(Continued)
Second, let's not mince words. The UK is a massive loss to the EU. It's the one really significant military power, the financial hub of Europe - arguably, one of only two hubs on the planet - it is home to almost all of Europe's top universities, much of the medical and pharmaceutical industries and around 15% of the population. Losing the UK is a serious blow to the EU's dreams of becoming the world's most powerful entity and not only are they still reeling from shock, they think if they make leaving difficult we'll change our minds and come back in to their great benefit. In this as I have made clear many times they are approximately as wrong as Richard Dawkins on the religious views of Joseph Stalin (and that's pretty damn wrong) but again, we come back to the fact that they see the world through an alcoholic haze and low IQ.

I think we are going to leave with no deal and that will be immensely damaging to both of us. I think not only is the EU extraordinarily blasé about creating a major hostile power on its north-western and southern periphery, but the fallout for them directly will be serious - it seems entirely possible it will down banking systems in Italy, Spain and Ireland for a start. Indeed, this foreseeable car crash is one of the key reasons I voted remain (it certainly wasn't out of starry eyed admiration for the EU, although I appreciate you would never guess that from my posts). But they don't seem to care. They're so wedded to the project they can't bear to compromise to save it. Their attitude reminds me very forcibly of the great Sir Boyle Roche: "It would surely be better, Mr. Speaker, to give up not only a part, but, if necessary, even the whole, of our constitution, to preserve the remainder!"

The EU's attitude to to Brexit was entirely predictable. it is not to the liking of the British and both sides will be left weaker. This is inevitable - when was there a divorce that left a family stronger?

Argentina

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

EU 1, Argentina nil.

Surely the fundamental question wrt Ireland is whether you believe that the stance on the "no N-S hard border" is genuinely the Irish concern, or whether there true concern is to try and avoid a hard border with the UK? Because from an economic point of view it is difficult to believe that their priority is not the latter.

If so focussing on the NS border to avoid the latter is an extremely high risk tactic, especially when combined with the suggested EU proposal of creating a hard border across the Irish sea. It is difficult to believe that the latter was proposed for any other reason than the UK would find that unacceptable.

The gamble is that the compromise will drive the UK away from installing a hard border with the EU as a whole, when it seems highly likely that the opposite will happen - ie. hard NS border and hard UK-EU border. And the Irish will regret not pushing harder for the EU to encourage compromise wrt Freedom of Movement to remove the UK objections to a soft border.

Jonathan said:

Is it just me, or has Theresa May had a good couple of weeks?

She won all the votes on the Brexit Bill so I suppose that is good, although there's still a bunch of can kicking it seems, and merely surviving through the period is not a high bar to vault. I suppose the question is now she managed that achievement, can she build on it in any way?

As for any other matters, I cannot think of anything definitely good. Some announcements which might do ok or might not.

Foxy said:

I see that Juncker and Barnier were in Dublin today. The speech is linked to here in full. Doesn't sound to me as if the EU will be stitching up Ireland.

https://twitter.com/DPhinnemore/status/1009787587022778369?s=19

No deal stitches Ireland up like a kipper.

They are using Ireland as a stick to beat the UK with. Or better maybe, they’re in the front seat in a head on game of chicken, only they’re the ones not wearing the seat belt.

When it’s all over Ireland will be less than 2% of the EU. I suspect they’ll be told to alter their corporate taxes. For starters.

HYUFD said:

Casino_Royale said:

MarqueeMark said:

Casino_Royale said:

I don’t know if anyone else has commented on this but Javid seems to be releasing headlines daily now, this one calculated to appeal to Leavers, as his moves on cannabis relaxation might be viewed as more liberal and progressive: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-44553225

I think when we come to look back at the way Brexit progressed in the spring of 2018, then Windrush - and the consequential removal of Amber Rudd - will be seen to be pivotal. She's gone from Remainer Big Beast to Who?

It sort of shows she wasn’t all that great shakes.

I would say I’m worried Javid might run out of energy, but given how quickly he got to the global board of Deutsche Bank and a £3million salary in his youth, I’m not so sure.

If Javid becomes PM he will be I think the richest PM (excluding inheritance or spouse) since Churchill

But, but, but - he's the humble son of a bus driver.

So this chap Javid. Stuck his head up Osbo's servant chimney to get into Govt. Then as Business Sec his biggest challenge was Tata making a decision on Port Talbot. Where was Javid, on holiday, FFS on holiday, even the useless Kinnock was outside Tata HQ. No clue at DLCG. Going to be panned in the Grenfell enquiry if the journalist is right.

But he has had a patsy 10 min interview with Marr "So Sajid, tell me your fathers backstory?" "Yes we really did live in a septic chip bag". Then said to the SPADS give me some populist headlines. Simple kick a woman when she is down and needing support. Right Ho I will get the bovver boots on.

Mr Javid is only being discussed because with the exception of two others the whole cabinet are boring non-entities whose idea of a wild weekend is a convention of Management Cost Accountants.
This is the real Tory problem, boring useless non politicians at the top of the party. It is an idea free zone apart from we are going to raise taxes.
They deserve to lose.

welshowl said:

Foxy said:

I see that Juncker and Barnier were in Dublin today. The speech is linked to here in full. Doesn't sound to me as if the EU will be stitching up Ireland.

https://twitter.com/DPhinnemore/status/1009787587022778369?s=19

No deal stitches Ireland up like a kipper.

They are using Ireland as a stick to beat the UK with. Or better maybe, they’re in the front seat in a head on game of chicken, only they’re the ones not wearing the seat belt.

When it’s all over Ireland will be less than 2% of the EU. I suspect they’ll be told to alter their corporate taxes. For starters.

This is the definitive article to read on why it is not in Ireland’s interests to back down.

http://www.irisheconomy.ie/index.php/2017/09/24/is-no-deal-better-than-a-bad-deal-irish-edition/

alex. said:

Surely the fundamental question wrt Ireland is whether you believe that the stance on the "no N-S hard border" is genuinely the Irish concern, or whether there true concern is to try and avoid a hard border with the UK? Because from an economic point of view it is difficult to believe that their priority is not the latter.

If so focussing on the NS border to avoid the latter is an extremely high risk tactic, especially when combined with the suggested EU proposal of creating a hard border across the Irish sea. It is difficult to believe that the latter was proposed for any other reason than the UK would find that unacceptable.

The gamble is that the compromise will drive the UK away from installing a hard border with the EU as a whole, when it seems highly likely that the opposite will happen - ie. hard NS border and hard UK-EU border. And the Irish will regret not pushing harder for the EU to encourage compromise wrt Freedom of Movement to remove the UK objections to a soft border.

I find it extremely plausible that, being in a strong position, the EU including Ireland are willing to gamble on getting everything they want, even at the risk that political realities will not permit that to happen on our end. The 'they'll not do x because terrible thing y will happen and they'll see sense' tactic often works, but clearly doesn't all the time or we'd never have voted to Leave in the first place.

Foxy said:

welshowl said:

Foxy said:

I see that Juncker and Barnier were in Dublin today. The speech is linked to here in full. Doesn't sound to me as if the EU will be stitching up Ireland.

https://twitter.com/DPhinnemore/status/1009787587022778369?s=19

No deal stitches Ireland up like a kipper.

They are using Ireland as a stick to beat the UK with. Or better maybe, they’re in the front seat in a head on game of chicken, only they’re the ones not wearing the seat belt.

When it’s all over Ireland will be less than 2% of the EU. I suspect they’ll be told to alter their corporate taxes. For starters.

Tax policy is part of the speech that Juncker made, in my link.

Indeed. Seemed a shot across his host’s bows.

Argentina's defence is making England's look world class.

ralphmalph said:

So this chap Javid. Stuck his head up Osbo's servant chimney to get into Govt. Then as Business Sec his biggest challenge was Tata making a decision on Port Talbot. Where was Javid, on holiday, FFS on holiday, even the useless Kinnock was outside Tata HQ. No clue at DLCG. Going to be panned in the Grenfell enquiry if the journalist is right.

But he has had a patsy 10 min interview with Marr "So Sajid, tell me your fathers backstory?" "Yes we really did live in a septic chip bag". Then said to the SPADS give me some populist headlines. Simple kick a woman when she is down and needing support. Right Ho I will get the bovver boots on.

Mr Javid is only being discussed because with the exception of two others the whole cabinet are boring non-entities whose idea of a wild weekend is a convention of Management Cost Accountants.
This is the real Tory problem, boring useless non politicians at the top of the party. It is an idea free zone apart from we are going to raise taxes.
They deserve to lose.

If you want charisma and passion and lower taxes then love him or loathe him Boris is the only contender in the Cabinet (though whichever party gets in we are going to have to pay more for the NHS and social care) and on the backbenches there is the Moggster of course

SandyRentool said:

HYUFD said:

Casino_Royale said:

MarqueeMark said:

Casino_Royale said:

I don’t know if anyone else has commented on this but Javid seems to be releasing headlines daily now, this one calculated to appeal to Leavers, as his moves on cannabis relaxation might be viewed as more liberal and progressive: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-44553225

I think when we come to look back at the way Brexit progressed in the spring of 2018, then Windrush - and the consequential removal of Amber Rudd - will be seen to be pivotal. She's gone from Remainer Big Beast to Who?

It sort of shows she wasn’t all that great shakes.

I would say I’m worried Javid might run out of energy, but given how quickly he got to the global board of Deutsche Bank and a £3million salary in his youth, I’m not so sure.

If Javid becomes PM he will be I think the richest PM (excluding inheritance or spouse) since Churchill

But, but, but - he's the humble son of a bus driver.

One can be both the humble son of a bus driver and incredibly successful individually. I don't see anything wrong, quite the opposite success is a good thing.

williamglenn said:

welshowl said:

Foxy said:

I see that Juncker and Barnier were in Dublin today. The speech is linked to here in full. Doesn't sound to me as if the EU will be stitching up Ireland.

https://twitter.com/DPhinnemore/status/1009787587022778369?s=19

No deal stitches Ireland up like a kipper.

They are using Ireland as a stick to beat the UK with. Or better maybe, they’re in the front seat in a head on game of chicken, only they’re the ones not wearing the seat belt.

When it’s all over Ireland will be less than 2% of the EU. I suspect they’ll be told to alter their corporate taxes. For starters.

This is the definitive article to read on why it is not in Ireland’s interests to back down.

http://www.irisheconomy.ie/index.php/2017/09/24/is-no-deal-better-than-a-bad-deal-irish-edition/

The author of the article doesn't even sound totally convinced by his argument, and even says that from an economic only perspective (at least in the short term) "no deal" is worse. Could easily be read as a devil's advocate argument.

The Iceland-Croatia draw price will crash if Croatia hold on here. (Much like the France-Denmark draw did earlier today).

2 0 to Croatia.

Dreadful World Cup so far for Germany and Argentina, the heart bleeds!

Tissue_Price said:

The Iceland-Croatia draw price will crash if Croatia hold on here. (Much like the France-Denmark draw did earlier today).

Iceland have yet to play Nigeria so a bit different.

Tissue_Price said:

The Iceland-Croatia draw price will crash if Croatia hold on here. (Much like the France-Denmark draw did earlier today).

If Iceland win tommorow, they may be fine on 4 points and goal difference.

Tissue_Price said:

The Iceland-Croatia draw price will crash if Croatia hold on here. (Much like the France-Denmark draw did earlier today).

Really? Depends on Iceland beating Nigeria, doesn't it?

Foxy said:

Tissue_Price said:

The Iceland-Croatia draw price will crash if Croatia hold on here. (Much like the France-Denmark draw did earlier today).

If Iceland win tommorow, they may be fine on 4 points and goal difference.

Nigeria look woeful and Argentina will know how many they need to give themselves a chance. A mutually beneficial draw looks likely (even more so than the France-Denmark game).

Foxy said:

HYUFD said:

ralphmalph said:

So this chap Javid. Stuck his head up Osbo's servant chimney to get into Govt. Then as Business Sec his biggest challenge was Tata making a decision on Port Talbot. Where was Javid, on holiday, FFS on holiday, even the useless Kinnock was outside Tata HQ. No clue at DLCG. Going to be panned in the Grenfell enquiry if the journalist is right.

But he has had a patsy 10 min interview with Marr "So Sajid, tell me your fathers backstory?" "Yes we really did live in a septic chip bag". Then said to the SPADS give me some populist headlines. Simple kick a woman when she is down and needing support. Right Ho I will get the bovver boots on.

Mr Javid is only being discussed because with the exception of two others the whole cabinet are boring non-entities whose idea of a wild weekend is a convention of Management Cost Accountants.
This is the real Tory problem, boring useless non politicians at the top of the party. It is an idea free zone apart from we are going to raise taxes.
They deserve to lose.

If you want charisma and passion and lower taxes then love him or loathe him Boris is the only contender in the Cabinet (though whichever party gets in we are going to have to pay more for the NHS and social care) and on the backbenches there is the Moggster of course

BoJo was the future once. Not any more.

He waited too long and has missed his chance. Granted, I'm hardly in a position to guess what makes the Tory membership get all excited, but it just feels like his star started waning awhile ago and he has plenty more baggage.

Tissue_Price said:

Foxy said:

Tissue_Price said:

The Iceland-Croatia draw price will crash if Croatia hold on here. (Much like the France-Denmark draw did earlier today).

If Iceland win tommorow, they may be fine on 4 points and goal difference.

Nigeria look woeful and Argentina will know how many they need to give themselves a chance. A mutually beneficial draw looks likely (even more so than the France-Denmark game).

Nigeria do have a great Midfielder in Ndidi, with two decent strikers in 'Nacho and Musa. It is the defence that lets them down.

alex. said:

Tissue_Price said:

The Iceland-Croatia draw price will crash if Croatia hold on here. (Much like the France-Denmark draw did earlier today).

Really? Depends on Iceland beating Nigeria, doesn't it?

Yes. You could of course back that double as well.

CarlottaVance said:

PeterC said:

Foxy said:

I see that Juncker and Barnier were in Dublin today. The speech is linked to here in full. Doesn't sound to me as if the EU will be stitching up Ireland.

https://twitter.com/DPhinnemore/status/1009787587022778369?s=19

I am sure you are right that the EU26 do not intend to stich up ROI. But by pushing the UK into a NO DEAL corner they will achieve precisely that.

Dublin gets to worry about lorry queues at Holyhead AND Dover. Just as well they don’t sell lots of food to the UK and EU....

I don't want to conflate several current issues, however, Boris Johnson said he would go down into a ditch to stop a third runway at Heathrow. How can a man of principle not resign over this matter if the vote in parliament is successful next Monday? Maybe it is due to his genetic make-up in that he displays characteristics of a nefarious back stabbing weasel? He cannot help himself, he gets himself in so many difficult and frankly badly judged political messes that really his political number should be up.

Heathrow of course is not the only vexing issue on which he looks like he will be performing cartwheels and humiliating u-turns. The question of Europe beckons as if Johnson can let the Third runway happen, then, he can U-Turn on the UK leaving the EU. After all, it is not like he backed Brexit for the stated purpose of leaving the EU, rather he fancied destabilizing Cameron and replacing him as PM. . Maybe Johnson has two articles penned for next Tuesdays Newspapers in which he now backs expanding Heathrow and an alternative one in which he castigates it?

Johnson is a low quality politician and it never ceases to amaze me how many people seem to be taken in by his supposed charm.

What a brilliant goal that was. 3-0 to Croatia.

The problem for Iceland is they have a night to sleep on this. The problem for Argentina is that I can't see them beating Nigeria!

FrancisUrquhart said:

Brazil must be intensively relaxed at the moment. None of the big teams look very good, especially in defence.

Brazil didn't look great either.

Spain or Portugal, look most likely. Uruguay my dark horse for the final.

williamglenn said:

Richard_Tyndall said:

williamglenn said:

Foxy said:

That is what May signed up to back in December though. We either stick to it or gain a reputation for not keeping our word.

Better than that, the Patten amendment is in the Withdrawal Bill/Act, so the government is committed by law not to do anything which creates a border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland with wording that is even more severe than in the joint report.

Nothing in section 7, 8, 9 or 17 of this Act authorises regulations which—

(a) diminish any form of North-South co-operation across the full range of political, economic, security, societal and agricultural contexts and frameworks of co-operation, including the continued operation of the North-South implementation bodies, or

(b) create or facilitate border arrangements between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland after exit day which feature—
(i) physical infrastructure, including border posts,
(ii) a requirement for customs or regulatory compliance checks,
(iii) a requirement for security checks,
(iv) random checks on goods vehicles, or
(v) any other checks and controls,
that did not exist before exit day and are not subject to an agreement between Her Majesty’s Government and the Government of Ireland.

Interesting but surely if Williamglenn has quoted the section correctly then:

"Nothing in section 7, 8, 9 or 17 of this Act authorises..."

is very different from

"This act prohibits..."

My understanding from previous commentators on here is that the GFA does not in any way prohibit a border. Since this amendment does not prohibit it either I do not see the obstacle to a border.

But if it's not authorised under the Act which provides the legal basis for leaving the EU, by what power could it be done?

It doesn't need a power. It is not prohibited so can be done if the Government deem it necessary. But they don't need to do anything. It will be the EU's problem not ours.

Croatia still 18-1 in the outright. Longer than England!