Peter_the_Punter said:

Benpointer said:

Roger said:

Philip_Thompson said:

As a left-field idea to break the deadlock in Parliament can anyone tell me why the following wouldn't work:

Request an extension of Article 50 until the end of 2020 as an alternative to a transition but on the understanding that we park the backstop and instead immediately start negotiating the future trade agreement as would be negotiated during a transition.
That removes the cliff edge for now, deals with the Irish border for now, continues payments for now while allowing talks to get onto where they belong. And if a future trade agreement can be reached in that time then the Irish backstop which is preventing Parliament from ratifying the deal becomes moot.

Of course it requires unanimity from the other 27 but they could accept it as preferable to no deal.

Left field idea; Divide the UK into several regions and allow each to hold their own referendum. Those who want to stay in the EU-London and Scotland for example stay while places like Stoke Hartlepool Thanet and Wales form their own union. They can set up their own obesity clinics for example

Great idea.

I'd just like to point out that Dorset is mainly populated (well, ok financed) by ex-Londoners now so should be considered part of the Greater London region in those refs.

Hey, the Cotswolds voted Remain. Can we stay? We're pretty and our farm-produce is nice.

HisMajestyKingZog said:

Kamala Harris will be the Dem nominee & the 45th President of the United States.

My first bet on her was in March 2017 at 80/1 odds.

I've been putting between £50-100 on Harris every week for the last year at least.

HisMajestyKingZog said:

Kamala Harris will be the Dem nominee & the 45th President of the United States.

My first bet on her was in March 2017 at 80/1 odds.

I've been putting between £50-100 on Harris every week for the last year at least.

Yellow_Submarine said:

More lunacy.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/jan/10/ex-brexit-minister-to-put-pressure-on-may-with-new-deal-proposal

HisMajestyKingZog said:

Kamala Harris will be the Dem nominee & the 45th President of the United States.

My first bet on her was in March 2017 at 80/1 odds.

I've been putting between £50-100 on Harris every week for the last year at least.

HisMajestyKingZog said:

Beto O' Rourke will be her VP.

And Arizona, Texas, North Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa will all go blue...

Mortimer said:

Alistair said:

HisMajestyKingZog said:

Kamala Harris will be the Dem nominee & the 45th President of the United States.

My first bet on her was in March 2017 at 80/1 odds.

I've been putting between £50-100 on Harris every week for the last year at least.

Just checking, you didn't used to go by the name of Cromwell and have firm views on Marco Rubio's nomination chances did you?

Lol

Still can’t believe he became favourite after coming third in Iowa!

Mortimer said:

Alistair said:

HisMajestyKingZog said:

Kamala Harris will be the Dem nominee & the 45th President of the United States.

My first bet on her was in March 2017 at 80/1 odds.

I've been putting between £50-100 on Harris every week for the last year at least.

Just checking, you didn't used to go by the name of Cromwell and have firm views on Marco Rubio's nomination chances did you?

Lol

Still can’t believe he became favourite after coming third in Iowa!

Sandpit said:

FrancisUrquhart said:

Sandpit said:

FrancisUrquhart said:

Being Dave's bodyguard sounds like a decent gig...

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6577765/David-Cameron-Costa-Rica-Theresa-Mays-Government-sent-Brexit-meltdown.html

Cameron must be one of the best assignments for the VIP protection squad. Much easier to work with a former minister who does very little work and travel, than a current one who's got 20 meetings a day from 6am until midnight.

Also despite the EU referendum and coalition, I don’t think he is targeted in the way thatcher or Blair was / are many years after they left power.

Indeed. Gordon Brown or John Major would also be good postings. They, like DC, do a few well paid lectures and speeches but not a lot else. Blair, on the other hand, probably still does more travelling than the current foreign secretary, and still gets plenty of credible threats made against him. At least it's not the constant threats that it was only a couple of decades ago under the Troubles.

For retired senior politicians, it must be a right pain the arse to have a couple of policemen follow you absolutely everywhere, and certainly for former PMs knowing that it will always be the case. DC could well have 40 years left in him.

Sandpit said:

FrancisUrquhart said:

Sandpit said:

FrancisUrquhart said:

Being Dave's bodyguard sounds like a decent gig...

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6577765/David-Cameron-Costa-Rica-Theresa-Mays-Government-sent-Brexit-meltdown.html

Cameron must be one of the best assignments for the VIP protection squad. Much easier to work with a former minister who does very little work and travel, than a current one who's got 20 meetings a day from 6am until midnight.

Also despite the EU referendum and coalition, I don’t think he is targeted in the way thatcher or Blair was / are many years after they left power.

Indeed. Gordon Brown or John Major would also be good postings. They, like DC, do a few well paid lectures and speeches but not a lot else. Blair, on the other hand, probably still does more travelling than the current foreign secretary, and still gets plenty of credible threats made against him. At least it's not the constant threats that it was only a couple of decades ago under the Troubles.

For retired senior politicians, it must be a right pain the arse to have a couple of policemen follow you absolutely everywhere, and certainly for former PMs knowing that it will always be the case. DC could well have 40 years left in him.

Foxy said:

HYUFD said:

PPP poll of the swing state of North Carolina, which went for Obama in 2008 and Trump in 2016, has Biden polling best against the President, leading him by 5% while Harris gets a tie.

Biden 49% Trump 44%
Sanders 48% Trump 45%
Warren 46% Trump 46%
Harris 45% Trump 45%
O'Rouke 45% Trump 46%
Booker 45% Trump 46%

https://www.publicpolicypolling.com/polls/north-carolina-looks-like-battleground-once-again-for-2020/

I am not sure that shows much other than 45% will always vote Republican and 45% for any Democrat and that of the remaining 10%, a few have heard of Biden and Sanders.

TheScreamingEagles said:

https://twitter.com/Peston/status/1083444557642125313

Peter_the_Punter said:

Sandpit said:

FrancisUrquhart said:

Sandpit said:

FrancisUrquhart said:

Being Dave's bodyguard sounds like a decent gig...

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6577765/David-Cameron-Costa-Rica-Theresa-Mays-Government-sent-Brexit-meltdown.html

Cameron must be one of the best assignments for the VIP protection squad. Much easier to work with a former minister who does very little work and travel, than a current one who's got 20 meetings a day from 6am until midnight.

Also despite the EU referendum and coalition, I don’t think he is targeted in the way thatcher or Blair was / are many years after they left power.

Indeed. Gordon Brown or John Major would also be good postings. They, like DC, do a few well paid lectures and speeches but not a lot else. Blair, on the other hand, probably still does more travelling than the current foreign secretary, and still gets plenty of credible threats made against him. At least it's not the constant threats that it was only a couple of decades ago under the Troubles.

For retired senior politicians, it must be a right pain the arse to have a couple of policemen follow you absolutely everywhere, and certainly for former PMs knowing that it will always be the case. DC could well have 40 years left in him.

Once met a guy who was security for TB and Cherie when he was PM. He quite enjoyed the job.

Philip_Thompson said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

https://twitter.com/Peston/status/1083444557642125313

WTF is the point of leaving but being permanently tied to the rules and with no say in them?

So if a repeat of something like the Working Time Directive comes through, perhaps with a Fremch inspired 35hr limit, we would automatically adopt it, have no say and no opt outs?

HisMajestyKingZog said:

Alistair said:

HisMajestyKingZog said:

Kamala Harris will be the Dem nominee & the 45th President of the United States.

My first bet on her was in March 2017 at 80/1 odds.

I've been putting between £50-100 on Harris every week for the last year at least.

Just checking, you didn't used to go by the name of Cromwell and have firm views on Marco Rubio's nomination chances did you?

No.

Philip_Thompson said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

https://twitter.com/Peston/status/1083444557642125313

WTF is the point of leaving but being permanently tied to the rules and with no say in them?

So if a repeat of something like the Working Time Directive comes through, perhaps with a Fremch inspired 35hr limit, we would automatically adopt it, have no say and no opt outs?

Nigelb said:

HYUFD said:

Foxy said:

HYUFD said:

PPP poll of the swing state of North Carolina, which went for Obama in 2008 and Trump in 2016, has Biden polling best against the President, leading him by 5% while Harris gets a tie.

Biden 49% Trump 44%
Sanders 48% Trump 45%
Warren 46% Trump 46%
Harris 45% Trump 45%
O'Rouke 45% Trump 46%
Booker 45% Trump 46%

https://www.publicpolicypolling.com/polls/north-carolina-looks-like-battleground-once-again-for-2020/

I am not sure that shows much other than 45% will always vote Republican and 45% for any Democrat and that of the remaining 10%, a few have heard of Biden and Sanders.

It does at least confirm Biden is the Democrats best bet, he is the only Democrat who gets Trump under 45% in North Carolina and he matches the 49% Obama got in 2008 when he narrowly won the state over John McCain

FFS, it’s nearly two years until the election, and you are treating polling now as definitive.
... & Biden might not even run, though I think he will.

(I have money on Harris, but I’m not foolish enough to be certain about the nominee. It’s always good to selectively hedge at this point, particularly if you can get long odds on realistic candidates.)

Sandpit said:

FrancisUrquhart said:

Sandpit said:

FrancisUrquhart said:

Being Dave's bodyguard sounds like a decent gig...

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6577765/David-Cameron-Costa-Rica-Theresa-Mays-Government-sent-Brexit-meltdown.html

Cameron must be one of the best assignments for the VIP protection squad. Much easier to work with a former minister who does very little work and travel, than a current one who's got 20 meetings a day from 6am until midnight.

Also despite the EU referendum and coalition, I don’t think he is targeted in the way thatcher or Blair was / are many years after they left power.

Indeed. Gordon Brown or John Major would also be good postings. They, like DC, do a few well paid lectures and speeches but not a lot else. Blair, on the other hand, probably still does more travelling than the current foreign secretary, and still gets plenty of credible threats made against him. At least it's not the constant threats that it was only a couple of decades ago under the Troubles.

For retired senior politicians, it must be a right pain the arse to have a couple of policemen follow you absolutely everywhere, and certainly for former PMs knowing that it will always be the case. DC could well have 40 years left in him.

Sandpit said:

Philip_Thompson said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

https://twitter.com/Peston/status/1083444557642125313

WTF is the point of leaving but being permanently tied to the rules and with no say in them?

So if a repeat of something like the Working Time Directive comes through, perhaps with a Fremch inspired 35hr limit, we would automatically adopt it, have no say and no opt outs?

Yes it's pointless. It could also become a real problem if, as myself and many others expect, there's a bunch of EU legislation aimed squarely and deliberately at the UK from the day after we actually leave the political side. All part of their strategy to ensure no-one else dares to take the same course in future.

Philip_Thompson said:

RobD said:

Philip_Thompson said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

https://twitter.com/Peston/status/1083444557642125313

WTF is the point of leaving but being permanently tied to the rules and with no say in them?

So if a repeat of something like the Working Time Directive comes through, perhaps with a Fremch inspired 35hr limit, we would automatically adopt it, have no say and no opt outs?

Permanently? I thought no parliament could bind its successor?

It can if it is part of an international agreement.

While the EU have said that the agreement is final that means they're not willing to give us any more concessions. If we voluntarily agree to prostrate ourselves further binding ourselves to them more than they asked for I'm sure they'd be happy to facilitate that by adding a legally binding annex to the withdrawal agreement binding us into honouring that.

Dura_Ace said:

Philip_Thompson said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

https://twitter.com/Peston/status/1083444557642125313

WTF is the point of leaving but being permanently tied to the rules and with no say in them?

So if a repeat of something like the Working Time Directive comes through, perhaps with a Fremch inspired 35hr limit, we would automatically adopt it, have no say and no opt outs?

Yeah, imagine if people only worked 35 hours/week. That would be fucked.

RobD said:

Philip_Thompson said:

RobD said:

Philip_Thompson said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

https://twitter.com/Peston/status/1083444557642125313

WTF is the point of leaving but being permanently tied to the rules and with no say in them?

So if a repeat of something like the Working Time Directive comes through, perhaps with a Fremch inspired 35hr limit, we would automatically adopt it, have no say and no opt outs?

Permanently? I thought no parliament could bind its successor?

It can if it is part of an international agreement.

While the EU have said that the agreement is final that means they're not willing to give us any more concessions. If we voluntarily agree to prostrate ourselves further binding ourselves to them more than they asked for I'm sure they'd be happy to facilitate that by adding a legally binding annex to the withdrawal agreement binding us into honouring that.

Ah, the law is being used to direct negotiations for the future relationship? HMG can just say they tried...

Sandpit said:

FrancisUrquhart said:

Sandpit said:

FrancisUrquhart said:

Sandpit said:

FrancisUrquhart said:

Being Dave's bodyguard sounds like a decent gig...

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6577765/David-Cameron-Costa-Rica-Theresa-Mays-Government-sent-Brexit-meltdown.html

Cameron must be one of the best assignments for the VIP protection squad. Much easier to work with a former minister who does very little work and travel, than a current one who's got 20 meetings a day from 6am until midnight.

Also despite the EU referendum and coalition, I don’t think he is targeted in the way thatcher or Blair was / are many years after they left power.

Indeed. Gordon Brown or John Major would also be good postings. They, like DC, do a few well paid lectures and speeches but not a lot else. Blair, on the other hand, probably still does more travelling than the current foreign secretary, and still gets plenty of credible threats made against him. At least it's not the constant threats that it was only a couple of decades ago under the Troubles.

For retired senior politicians, it must be a right pain the arse to have a couple of policemen follow you absolutely everywhere, and certainly for former PMs knowing that it will always be the case. DC could well have 40 years left in him.

Nah you don’t want grumpy Gordon as you don’t get the jollies to Costa Rica and with captain underpants you better really really really like cricket.

I have told the story on here when I caused a security alert when I knocked over Dennis thatcher. At the time I did think, this had to be a bit shit that even as an old duffer pottering around you are followed by cars full of heavies. Dennis was very understanding and really rather charming given the situation.

LOL okay. If I ever go for a change of career and find myself in the unit of the VIP protection squad that look after former PMs, I'll be sure to put in a request for Mr Cameron

Gardenwalker said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

https://twitter.com/Peston/status/1083444557642125313

How many would it lose?

I’m all for both environmental and employment protection but I thought the whole point was to take back control?

HYUFD said:

Pulpstar said:

HYUFD said:

Harris is yet another coastal liberal.

If the Democrats want to win the Electoral College and beat Trump they need to find candidate who can appeal to blue collar workers in the rustbelt not build up even bigger leads in California

Biden/Klobuchar would be a very strong ticket

Klobuchar is certainly a better addition to the ticket than Warren or Harris

FF43 said:

Philip_Thompson said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

https://twitter.com/Peston/status/1083444557642125313

WTF is the point of leaving but being permanently tied to the rules and with no say in them?

So if a repeat of something like the Working Time Directive comes through, perhaps with a Fremch inspired 35hr limit, we would automatically adopt it, have no say and no opt outs?

Welcome to rule-taking Brexit. The point I was trying to make on the previous thread, is that if all Leave options are worse than Remain, but we have to Leave anyway, it becomes a damage limitation exercise. So you take the rules. This doesn't have anything much to do with my opinion of Brexit. If Leavers were able to articulate real upsides to Brexit, damage limitation wouldn't be necessary and we would probably end up in a Hard Brexit. Absent Brexit upsides, we'll probably end up in an SM+CU arrangement.

Foxy said:

HYUFD said:

PPP poll of the swing state of North Carolina, which went for Obama in 2008 and Trump in 2016, has Biden polling best against the President, leading him by 5% while Harris gets a tie.

Biden 49% Trump 44%
Sanders 48% Trump 45%
Warren 46% Trump 46%
Harris 45% Trump 45%
O'Rouke 45% Trump 46%
Booker 45% Trump 46%

https://www.publicpolicypolling.com/polls/north-carolina-looks-like-battleground-once-again-for-2020/

I am not sure that shows much other than 45% will always vote Republican and 45% for any Democrat and that of the remaining 10%, a few have heard of Biden and Sanders.

NEW THREAD

FrancisUrquhart said:

Sandpit said:

FrancisUrquhart said:

Sandpit said:

FrancisUrquhart said:

Sandpit said:

FrancisUrquhart said:

Being Dave's bodyguard sounds like a decent gig...

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6577765/David-Cameron-Costa-Rica-Theresa-Mays-Government-sent-Brexit-meltdown.html

Cameron must be one of the best assignments for the VIP protection squad. Much easier to work with a former minister who does very little work and travel, than a current one who's got 20 meetings a day from 6am until midnight.

Also despite the EU referendum and coalition, I don’t think he is targeted in the way thatcher or Blair was / are many years after they left power.

Indeed. Gordon Brown or John Major would also be good postings. They, like DC, do a few well paid lectures and speeches but not a lot else. Blair, on the other hand, probably still does more travelling than the current foreign secretary, and still gets plenty of credible threats made against him. At least it's not the constant threats that it was only a couple of decades ago under the Troubles.

For retired senior politicians, it must be a right pain the arse to have a couple of policemen follow you absolutely everywhere, and certainly for former PMs knowing that it will always be the case. DC could well have 40 years left in him.

Nah you don’t want grumpy Gordon as you don’t get the jollies to Costa Rica and with captain underpants you better really really really like cricket.

I have told the story on here when I caused a security alert when I knocked over Dennis thatcher. At the time I did think, this had to be a bit shit that even as an old duffer pottering around you are followed by cars full of heavies. Dennis was very understanding and really rather charming given the situation.

LOL okay. If I ever go for a change of career and find myself in the unit of the VIP protection squad that look after former PMs, I'll be sure to put in a request for Mr Cameron

Well personally I like the cricket & perhaps I could convince John that he might like to do the Caribbean, Australia and New Zealand trips when England play over there.

Philip_Thompson said:

Dura_Ace said:

Philip_Thompson said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

https://twitter.com/Peston/status/1083444557642125313

WTF is the point of leaving but being permanently tied to the rules and with no say in them?

So if a repeat of something like the Working Time Directive comes through, perhaps with a Fremch inspired 35hr limit, we would automatically adopt it, have no say and no opt outs?

Yeah, imagine if people only worked 35 hours/week. That would be fucked.

Yes it would. Try competing with Asia while only working a maximum 35 hours. You think because you're European you're entitled to work less and compete adequately with Asians?