To paraphrase Alan Cresswell: Thatcher had policies which were bad, hateful and divisive, but she knew how to get them approved by Parliament and put properly into place
To get my week off to a flying cheerful start, I awoke this morning to the news that there is a crippling strike by immigration / customs officials at the Gare du Nord Eurostar terminal because the Brexit preparations are clearly not done and they want to get a head start on the mayhem.
If anyone needs me, I’ll be gibbering in a heap in the corner. (My parents are meant to be coming for an extremely important family event in early April.)
In the light of the current lot's reluctance to do anything substantial about climate change or plastic pollution or pesticides, I would forgive Thatcher rather a lot for helping ban CFCs, if her wider policies and rhetoric hadn't enabled the current lot's attitude (and most of the prominent UK climate deniers were in her cabinet).
If anyone can explain to me this tweet from the Political Editor of the Sun, I'd be most grateful.
At this point, in my estimation it doesn't matter who's in charge in Westminster if they can't make the House of Commons agree to the deal on the table (or alternatively, are capable of unilaterally pulling the plug on the whole withdrawal thing, which seems even more unlikely if such a thing can be imagined).
If anyone can explain to me this tweet from the Political Editor of the Sun, I'd be most grateful.
I fear I'm going to be spending most of this week rocking on my heels groaning and pulling my earlobes.
It's part of a thread. Dunn thinks Theresa May will end up pulling tomorrow’s planned vote (a vote on an actual deal available to the UK) and replace it with an indicative vote (a vote on a hypothetical deal, so far rejected by the EU). Which could be seen as proving the point that she and the Brexiters have fully entered La La Land.
That vote may - or may not - be followed by the vote to reject no deal and the article 50 extension. (The Boles, Letwin and Cooper amendments).
However, if she pulls the meaningful votes it may all kick off with cabinet resignations, a motion to hold her in contempt of Parliament and an attempt to get her to resign. Or combo of all of these ...
Ok but who says the European Council gets to decide between competing ideas?
I might have to turn off all the best for a week, I'm not sure I can cope.
The Council have to agree to the extension request plus any other randoms that come out of Parliament.
The extension isn't something that May wants. She wants her deal to go through / the UK to leave at the end of March / free movement to end / the Tories not to explode / to be PM forever or at least, longer than Gordon Brown. (Not necessarily in the order listed though)
No, the EC can only negotiate with the UK government. There is no possible way they could accept an alternative put forward by anyone who isn't the UK government.
No, the EC can only negotiate with the UK government. There is no possible way they could accept an alternative put forward by anyone who isn't the UK government.
This whole thing is getting surreal.
Parliament can direct the government. It's possible that Parliament may direct the government to do stuff they really don't like - customs union, Norway, extension, public vote, not leave without a deal etc.
No, the EC can only negotiate with the UK government. There is no possible way they could accept an alternative put forward by anyone who isn't the UK government.
This whole thing is getting surreal.
Parliament can direct the government. It's possible that Parliament may direct the government to do stuff they really don't like - customs union, Norway, extension, public vote, not leave without a deal etc.
Not very easily it can't. At present, unless somehow there is a HoC majority to change the way parliament works, the gov sets the agenda and seeks a majority in their agenda.
One cannot arbitrarily set binding motions on the government. The opposition tried and failed to do this.
No, the EC can only negotiate with the UK government. There is no possible way they could accept an alternative put forward by anyone who isn't the UK government.
This whole thing is getting surreal.
Parliament can direct the government. It's possible that Parliament may direct the government to do stuff they really don't like - customs union, Norway, extension, public vote, not leave without a deal etc.
Not very easily it can't. At present, unless somehow there is a HoC majority to change the way parliament works, the gov sets the agenda and seeks a majority in their agenda.
One cannot arbitrarily set binding motions on the government. The opposition tried and failed to do this.
An EU-UK customs union was inserted back into Trade Bill by the Lords and will be there when it returns to the Commons. If the government want that part of the Bill removed, they will have to get MPs to vote for it.
As the Tories are in a minority government, the HoC have more power to set the agenda. Hence Boles-Letwin-Cooper ...
I've not much faith that we will see a way out of this mess tomorrow - by the end of the week, my guess is that a) the draft will be defeated b) no deal will be voted down and c) an extension will get a majority.
Then they will have, due to gross incompetence, have pushed (or attempted to push) the responsibility of whether or not there is a delay onto the EU.
And, as far as the EU is saying, a three month delay is unacceptable.
So if the EU refuses to allow it at the end of this week.. then we are completely screwed. Who knows what happens then.
They're still in charge because the Tories are still the largest party, and haven't lost a vote of no confidence. The question is, should everything go wrong for the government over the next few days will Corbyn try again at a confidence vote, and will the former Conservative independents support the government? If all Tories, ex-Tories and DUP MPs back the government then they'll survive another confidence vote and still be nominally in charge.
Rachel Johnson currently has a series on Absent Mothers - which has proved revealing. Stanley Johnson was a hands on father as their mother was mainly absent - in and out of psychiatric units.
Rachel Johnson currently has a series on Absent Mothers - which has proved revealing. Stanley Johnson was a hands on father as their mother was mainly absent - in and out of psychiatric units.
What’s weird about that interview is the woman just doesn’t seem to contemplate doing a job in the uk, that is not her current job. She presents it as choice between working in Egypt, or not working.
(ETA OK, I lie, it’s raised later in the interview.)
Whilst @la vie en rouge and the rest of us gibber in a corner, swig WHISKY, or prepare to slash our metaphorical wrists, here is the news: https://bbc.co.uk/news
Your government is doing its level best to make Americans feel about ours. So, um, thanks?
It's called the special relationship. Your so-called President does something stupid, and our PM arranges a distraction. And, the Brexit fiasco provides neverending, nonstop distraction ... and, boy, is it needed.
For all I can’t stand May, the language being used about her at times is vile - even by mps ostensibly on her side.
This. And some very idiotic journalists are repeating unattributed comments in public.
If it was me and some dumb MP said something which sounded like a rape threat, I wouldn't be repeating it on twitter at very least I'd be telling him to stop saying that kind of thing in my earshot.
O, I do so hope that there is a special circle in Hell where T*ump and Treeza get to hold hands for bloody all eternity.....with BoJo The Clown, the Abominable Mi-Go, Jake the Mogg, and Nigel Garbage all dancing around them as Imps of Satan.
I think I'll go and lie down...perchance to sleep...
O, I do so hope that there is a special circle in Hell where T*ump and Treeza get to hold hands for bloody all eternity.....with BoJo The Clown, the Abominable Mi-Go, Jake the Mogg, and Nigel Garbage all dancing around them as Imps of Satan.
MPs are allowed to change their mind. The public that put them there are not.
Yes, this is quite glaring now, but May will ignore it, as she does everything not in her narrow view. When people keep saying, we decided 3 years ago, I reply, and we can't change our mind? But you might as well talk to the wall.
May is showing her colours as a dictator more and more. She is fundamentally opposed t othe democratic process. She sees it as being there purely to provide support for her ideas.
I am coming to realise that she is, in fact, far more dangerous, ruthless, and unstable than Cameron.
May is showing her colours as a dictator more and more. She is fundamentally opposed t othe democratic process. She sees it as being there purely to provide support for her ideas.
I am coming to realise that she is, in fact, far more dangerous, ruthless, and unstable than Cameron.
I had assumed for a while that she was merely doing the usual politician’s trick of putting Party before Country.
But looking at the way she’s shredded the Tory Party, it’s now become apparent that she’s putting herself and her own power ahead of everything and everyone else - and justifies it in her own addled brain by being the only person who’s right.
She is a serious danger to this country in a way that no other PM has been in my lifetime - or, perhaps, ever before.
She is a serious danger to this country in a way that no other PM has been in my lifetime - or, perhaps, ever before.
More than Cameron, whose brilliant idea to hold a non-binding referendum that turns out to somehow be binding got y'all into this mess in the first place?
Comments
She won't, of course. That would mean going back on her word, and it's not as if she's ever done that, is it?
If anyone needs me, I’ll be gibbering in a heap in the corner. (My parents are meant to be coming for an extremely important family event in early April.)
I fear I'm going to be spending most of this week rocking on my heels groaning and pulling my earlobes.
At this point, in my estimation it doesn't matter who's in charge in Westminster if they can't make the House of Commons agree to the deal on the table (or alternatively, are capable of unilaterally pulling the plug on the whole withdrawal thing, which seems even more unlikely if such a thing can be imagined).
It's part of a thread. Dunn thinks Theresa May will end up pulling tomorrow’s planned vote (a vote on an actual deal available to the UK) and replace it with an indicative vote (a vote on a hypothetical deal, so far rejected by the EU). Which could be seen as proving the point that she and the Brexiters have fully entered La La Land.
That vote may - or may not - be followed by the vote to reject no deal and the article 50 extension. (The Boles, Letwin and Cooper amendments).
However, if she pulls the meaningful votes it may all kick off with cabinet resignations, a motion to hold her in contempt of Parliament and an attempt to get her to resign. Or combo of all of these ...
I might have to turn off all the best for a week, I'm not sure I can cope.
The Council have to agree to the extension request plus any other randoms that come out of Parliament.
The extension isn't something that May wants. She wants her deal to go through / the UK to leave at the end of March / free movement to end / the Tories not to explode / to be PM forever or at least, longer than Gordon Brown. (Not necessarily in the order listed though)
This whole thing is getting surreal.
Parliament can direct the government. It's possible that Parliament may direct the government to do stuff they really don't like - customs union, Norway, extension, public vote, not leave without a deal etc.
Not very easily it can't. At present, unless somehow there is a HoC majority to change the way parliament works, the gov sets the agenda and seeks a majority in their agenda.
One cannot arbitrarily set binding motions on the government. The opposition tried and failed to do this.
An EU-UK customs union was inserted back into Trade Bill by the Lords and will be there when it returns to the Commons. If the government want that part of the Bill removed, they will have to get MPs to vote for it.
As the Tories are in a minority government, the HoC have more power to set the agenda. Hence Boles-Letwin-Cooper ...
I've not much faith that we will see a way out of this mess tomorrow - by the end of the week, my guess is that a) the draft will be defeated b) no deal will be voted down and c) an extension will get a majority.
Then they will have, due to gross incompetence, have pushed (or attempted to push) the responsibility of whether or not there is a delay onto the EU.
And, as far as the EU is saying, a three month delay is unacceptable.
So if the EU refuses to allow it at the end of this week.. then we are completely screwed. Who knows what happens then.
https://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/mps/current-state-of-the-parties/
The best scenario this morning appears to be that the deal is voted down and Mrs May leaves stage left.
I can't see how this directly would prevent no-deal, but it would appear to be a step forwards.
And the preening Boris or the smirking Gove step into her kitten heels? Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord!
I hadn't seen that one before - excellent! But hard to explain to my American wife.
Surely, there's no way Jemery could make a worse job of it, is there?
(*IIRC, the Abominable Migo is an eldritch being in H. P. Lovecraft's fantasies.....sounds about right).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mi-Go
What’s weird about that interview is the woman just doesn’t seem to contemplate doing a job in the uk, that is not her current job. She presents it as choice between working in Egypt, or not working.
(ETA OK, I lie, it’s raised later in the interview.)
Aaaaaaaaarrghhh make it stop MAKE IT STOP
I'm off to gibber in the corner again.
Thank you for listening.
https://bbc.co.uk/news
Kyrie, eleison.
Betty, dissolve Parliament immediately - PLEASE!!!!!!
And open the doors of The Tower to welcome those responsible. Sharpening of the Headsman's Axe might also be worth doing......
How's the Orange Oaf, BTW? Any sign of arrest/impeachment/imprisonment/generally spectacular downfall yet?
Keep us posted - there's a few bozos here who might benefit from such treatment, should the Tower of London/Traitors' Gate etc. be oversubscribed.
This. And some very idiotic journalists are repeating unattributed comments in public.
If it was me and some dumb MP said something which sounded like a rape threat, I wouldn't be repeating it on twitter at very least I'd be telling him to stop saying that kind of thing in my earshot.
I think I'll go and lie down...perchance to sleep...
It is amazing that you have a Mafia Baby in charge and yet you are only the second worse administration in the west.
Nor do I.
Lock her up, someone, please!
Yes, this is quite glaring now, but May will ignore it, as she does everything not in her narrow view. When people keep saying, we decided 3 years ago, I reply, and we can't change our mind? But you might as well talk to the wall.
I am coming to realise that she is, in fact, far more dangerous, ruthless, and unstable than Cameron.
I had assumed for a while that she was merely doing the usual politician’s trick of putting Party before Country.
But looking at the way she’s shredded the Tory Party, it’s now become apparent that she’s putting herself and her own power ahead of everything and everyone else - and justifies it in her own addled brain by being the only person who’s right.
She is a serious danger to this country in a way that no other PM has been in my lifetime - or, perhaps, ever before.
More than Cameron, whose brilliant idea to hold a non-binding referendum that turns out to somehow be binding got y'all into this mess in the first place?