Neverending Story 3: The Ongoing Brexit Thread

@The Jitty Slitter

This is what I was talking about the other day about being part of a customs union...



I suspect the truth is a lot closer to what Ken Clarke is saying than Andrew Neil.

If you're part of a customs union and certainly if you're one of the largest markets in it, the rest of the people in it will have to consult with you anyway, regardless of the legal formalities.

Apart from anything Neil seems to have missed the point that the larger economies in the EU DO have more influence in it now and that's the case, again, regardless of the fact there's no legal basis for it to happen.

IOW we will obviously lose influence but the extreme brexit nutters line, (that we'll be rule takers and not rule makers), is a rather one-eyed view of 'realpolitik' as it actually happens.

 

Oh Boy...... New Brexit extension requested, UK may take part in EU elections. The circus goes on....

May asks EU for Brexit extension to June 30; EU could offer a year https://t.co/bzGAcYhacL pic.twitter.com/GyNTpJnPP4

— Reuters (@Reuters) April 5, 2019

 

I'm just curious....are there any palm trees in Brussels?

 

There's a Palm in Steenhuffel, 12.5 miles from Brussels:

 

Got the feeling they're stalling the Brexit decision so that the geriatrics that voted leave become part of the mortality stats and then decide a new referendum.

 

I agree. The description of a 2nd referendum as 'sub-optimal' is almost the very definition of British understatement*

But if we ask a question and give 4 or 5 relatively clear options on an AV/instant run-off basis then we should get a pretty clear answer.

I think it will be divisive but it's not like what we have now is exactly uniting the country and the other fear, (that it might lead to a 'no-deal' option being chosen), isn't a realistic possibility.

IMO there is literally NO chance of more than 50% of the British population choosing no-deal as their 1st option. The latest figures I've seen from polls is it's about 15-20%, essentially because that's the percentage of complete morons who don't actually know what it means.

The most likely outcome would either be a remain verdict or a Norway-style/EEA-EFTA/Common Market 2.0 deal if that was offered. None of those are that bad, although some are more problematic than others, obviously.


* Although, in the age of clowns like Boris Johnson, Rees-Mogg and this new Francois arsehole, is that really 'a thing'?

 

Can't somebody call in a doctor and declare her clearly insane and lock her up?

 

What an utter embarrassment for the UK. Now they have to be dictated by the EU on the length of the extension.

Parliament is about to have a completely normal one. #Brexit pic.twitter.com/LmsNUoB5Ks

— Free Speech Defender™ (@FreeExpression) April 9, 2019

 

Must be fun to be Europe's cat toy

 

So... how much longer until a snap election is ordered? May’s motion to request an A50 extension passed largely because of opposition support..

Is it possible for the Conservatives to remove her as PM without it resulting in a snap election?

https://www.theguardian.com/politic...-growing-tory-unrest-mps-approve-brexit-delay

 

Not via normal process. They can only have one no confidence vote every 12 months, and had one in December. They can try to force her out with resignations, but I get the impression that she's slightly stubborn so that may not work.

Speaking of no confidence votes, one MP (Anne Marie Morris) said she would vote for no confidence in May, but not if it was brought by Labour. Nobody has double standards like a Tory MP.

 

The ERG have the political skills of a goldfish. They've mis-played just about everything they've done in the last couple of years.

 

We're practicing with this mouse to deal with the Orange Rat across the ocean later.

 

That was the case with the previous extension as well. They don't want a 'no deal' either.

 

It's interesting seeing this threat from the swivel-eyed ERG brigade which is remarkably similar to France's 'Empty Chair Policy' back in the day which various European politicians, (including the then British equivalents of the modern day ERG's), called typical of the intransigence of European politicians.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hallstein_Commission#Empty_chair_crisis

 

We've been given an extension because the dog ate our homework and we've got to do it again.

 

It looks like the 'radiator-hugger' on the other side of the classroom has caught the teacher's eye instead of us...

https://www.theguardian.com/politic...rmony-in-brussels-as-macron-sings-out-of-tune



But she's still got her eye on us...

Speaking later to journalist, Tusk said the extension was “as flexible” although “a little bit shorter than I expected. But it’s still enough to find the best possible solution.”

His parting message to the UK: “please do not waste this time.”​

 

Well, it gives us a chance to replace this

With a chilling scary Halloween version.
Any suggestions?

 

What about this?