EdgeCase wrote: » They'll blame whoever the tabloids decide to blame and the finger pointing certianly will not be directed at themselves. That's the one thing you can be very sure of.
EdgeCase wrote: » The problem with that strategy is the EU will also assume that the UK government and its negotiators are grown ups.
Zubeneschamali wrote: » No, I think after 2 years that the EU are well aware that the UK government are complete idiots. They were apparently very surprised to learn this during the talks, but they know now. They also know there is no point in trying to do the UK government any favours - they reluctantly agreed to May's request to extend the backstop CU to the whole UK from just NI... ... and not one person in the UK recognized it as a concession. In fact, they immediately started complaining about the EU demanding the UK stay in a CU.
EdgeCase wrote: » It was really shocking that May, despite everyone who knew anything about NI politics and the DUP warning her not to do it, just went ahead and did it anyway. It's made Brexit undeliverable, effectively extended the NI Assembly deadlock as the DUP have no incentive to share power, removed any perception of neutrality of the UK government as a guardian of the GFA and even has the potential to derail a delicately balanced peace that took about 30 years to achieve.
Thomas_IV wrote: » The EU is right to treat the present UK govt as grown ups cos they have to be held accountable for what they have done
Zubeneschamali wrote: » Not the EUs problem, but we all know they won't be held properly accountable.
It'd be nice to imagine the Lib Dems winning an overall majority when Tory/Labour spoofery about Brexit is shown to be utter nonsense, but it will not happen. In 15 years, Corbyn's successor will be facing May's at the dispatch box, and the MPs will be yelling and hear-hearing, and Westminster will be as it has been for so many years.
They will just be arguing about a much smaller pie, and no-one outside England will much care anymore.
Thomas_IV wrote: » Power corrupts and after May lost her from Cameron inherited majority in the Commons but was determined to stay on as PM, she engated herself with the 'devils pact'. I haven't been following recent developments in NI on the subject of the DUP's involvement but I am still (well, not really) surprised that the people in NI which by a majority voted for Remain aren't doing anything to protest against them.
cryptocurrency wrote: » People find a few loons and the media is all over it. They never show the genome of the leftie loons who are at that craic all the time. It's all distasteful but let's be honest the left leaning folk who are that loud could outnumber his kind 10 to 1 in the UK.
Zubeneschamali wrote: » I am really amazed that young people are taking all of this so quietly- their future is about to go up in smoke, and they are Keeping Calm and Carrying On. Why haven't 5 million of them marched on Westminster and threatened to burn it down?
josip wrote: » I can't imagine that Simon Coveney's remarks will convince any hard Brexiting MPs to change their minds. I think that between now and the end of March all Irish politicians should just repeat "We await and respect whatever decision the UK parliament arrives at", regardless of the question they're asked. Otherwise, it's simply ammunition for the media outlet to fire off.https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/jan/08/mps-must-stop-wishful-thinking-and-back-may-on-brexit-irish-deputy-pm-simon-coveney Elsewhere on the Guardian, German industrial output slumped at the end of last year. I would expect that David Davis sees that as all the more reason to hold on until the EU blink and give in.https://www.theguardian.com/business/live/2019/jan/08/german-slowdown-industrial-output-recession-fears-uk-house-prices-stock-markets-business-live
seamus wrote: » Davis is most likely another one who's moved all his money offshore. The UK holding out for unicorns is in his best interests.
Enzokk wrote: » She doesn't even have the excuse that she wasn't warned. Her desire to stay as PM was more important than anything, and even now all her actions are to keep her in No.10 for as long as possible. I am by no means an expert in the politics of NI but it does seem to me that the historical tensions mean that even when the party you support screws up you are stuck doing nothing as the other option is to support the other side which cannot happen. As for NI and progress, this tweet seems to sum up where we are right now.https://twitter.com/SJAMcBride/status/1082582285185110016 Sam McBride - "A year ago today, Karen Bradley was appointed Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. That day she said her "top priority" in the "exciting" role was to restore Stormont. Since then, attempts to revive devolution have gone into reverse & now there are not even plans for talks."
Keatsian wrote: » Regardless of how bad an idea leaving is, the EU doesn't inspire that kind of passion in anyone but middle-aged lawyers and academics.
The United Kingdom’s prowess was built on global trade. And the strength and innovation that made such trade possible was built on the backs of working people over successive generations. The history of this country is written in commercial contacts. From shipbuilders on the Clyde to mills in Lancashire, from the potters of Stoke to the miners of South Wales and the traders in London, it was ordinary men and women who transformed this country from a small, middle-ranking nation off the coast of Europe into a global free-trading state. It was also these people who secured better working conditions and rights, through the trade-union movement, and who then exported those ideas around the globe.
At the same time we could continue to work towards a new trading relationship with the EU. Article 24 of WTO rules allows for a tariff-free period while this is being done.
Enzokk wrote: » Here is a couple of voices from Labour wanting a no-deal and WTO terms. Seems no less crazy than the likes of JRM.Why we should leave the EU on WTO terms - Brendan Chilton The problems with this article starts of, well at the start. Spot the problem,
Strazdas wrote: » They don't need to protest 'for' the EU : they should be protesting 'against' their country being hijacked by a bunch of far right and alt right types and their press buddies who are busy shouting 'Democracy, democracy, democracy' from the rooftops. Very strange how it is the English far right who are talking about 'democracy' all the time and the genuine moderates and centre ground people can hardly get a word in.
Enzokk wrote: » Here is a couple of voices from Labour wanting a no-deal and WTO terms. Seems no less crazy than the likes of JRM.Why we should leave the EU on WTO terms - Brendan Chilton The problems with this article starts of, well at the start. Spot the problem, The United Kingdom’s prowess was built on global trade. And the strength and innovation that made such trade possible was built on the backs of working people over successive generations. The history of this country is written in commercial contacts. From shipbuilders on the Clyde to mills in Lancashire, from the potters of Stoke to the miners of South Wales and the traders in London, it was ordinary men and women who transformed this country from a small, middle-ranking nation off the coast of Europe into a global free-trading state. It was also these people who secured better working conditions and rights, through the trade-union movement, and who then exported those ideas around the globe.
Keatsian wrote: » Typically major protest movements emerge in response to something that affects, or threatens to affect, people's everyday lives in a very specific and tangible way, as in such examples as water charges and the 8th amendment in Ireland, fuel prices in France, and bus and train price hikes in Brazil in 2013. You won't see a major protest movement kicking off because of the editorial position of tabloid newspapers or the existence of Jacob Rees-Mogg.
lawred2 wrote: » It's funny right but that exact same sentence could just the same be heard coming out of the mouth of the most ardent Victorian era capitalist who saw people as nothing but a cheap and available resource to get rich off
The Irish Government would not object to a request from the British government to delay Brexit should they seek an extension to avoid a damaging no-deal scenario, Tánaiste Simon Coveney has said.
axer wrote: » Ireland would not object to Brexit delay, says Coveneyhttps://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/ireland-would-not-object-to-brexit-delay-says-coveney-1.3751080 Is it realistically possible for the British Government to be able to even request an extension? Isn't the date hardcoded into UK legislation requiring the commons to vote to change it? Doesn't sound likely to be changed with the political divide at the moment. I'd imagine Labour will only agree as a party to vote to change it if a general election will be called unless some party members go against the whip. Otherwise at the moment we hit the current default position which is a no-deal brexit
Enzokk wrote: » Kate Hoey has had her say in a Telegraph article. She seems to be backing on article 24 of the WTO to ensure no trade tariffs between the UK and the EU.Jeremy Corbyn must trust his instincts and back a no-deal Brexit She also comments that they will get to keep their £39b from the divorce bill. Is it safe to assume that we can discard anyone that has this opinion?
cryptocurrency wrote: » Go to any event and count the militant antfia
FreudianSlippers wrote: » 80 years ago they were called the Allies.
Leroy42 wrote: » What the massive national debate going on when you were in your twenties? And what was the access you had to information at the time? We have 24 hour news, smartphones. Brexit is everywhere you look.
Bambi wrote: » They were called the red army.
