Brexit - The UK leaves the EU

[Famine]

I have tried hard to like Jeremy Corbyn, I can't help but think he is a total clown.

 

[Robin]

As will the DUP, who, ironically, voted against May's deal tonight despite the fact that it would have left Northern Ireland in a ridiculously advantageous position.

Well being wholeheartedly part of the union is more important to the DUP than anything else, including trade and economics so it's not surprising.

 

[Touring Mars]

While Corbyn is certainly pro-Brexit, I can assure you that labeling all Labour voters as such is a wildly inaccurate and sweeping generalization

Sorry, my bad - polls do indicate that Labour voters in general mostly vote to Remain, although a majority of Labour constituencies voted to Leave... however I think it should be obvious that I wasn't suggesting that all Labour voters voted to Leave.

The trouble for Labour is that there is a massive disconnect between what their members voted for (Remain) and what Corbyn is supporting (Leave). An even bigger problem is that Corbyn is recommending a Brexit that is not possible.

 

[Scaff]

Sorry, my bad - polls do indicate that Labour voters in general mostly vote to Remain, although a majority of Labour constituencies voted to Leave... however I think it should be obvious that I wasn't suggesting that all Labour voters voted to Leave.

The trouble for Labour is that there is a massive disconnect between what their members voted for (Remain) and what Corbyn is supporting (Leave). An even bigger problem is that Corbyn is recommending a Brexit that is not possible.

Oh I agree his solution is absurd and certainly not representative of the majority in the party.

 

[Bram Turismo]

Congratulations UK, it seems like you managed to get hold of an equally ridiculous government as Belgium !

 

[Sick Cylinder]

I watched some of the coverage last night on Sky News and the comment which interested me most was that for the EU and its member states, the protection of Eire (Southern Ireland) takes priority.

I don't remember the Irish situation and its importance ever being discussed during the referendum campaign by either side.

 

[Robin]

I watched some of the coverage last night on Sky News and the comment which interested me most was that for the EU and its member states, the protection of Eire (Southern Ireland) takes priority

I don't remember the Irish situation and its importance ever being discussed during the referendum campaign by either side.

It's not exactly sincere. They are only suddenly interested because it has become a means to effectively blackmail the UK into not leaving. The Replublic of Ireland has become their trump card in making all of this extremely difficult.

The Irish situation may not have been discussed by the Leave and Remain campaigns in the run up to the referendum but neither was Europe exactly vocal about it either. Now it's all we hear about!

 

[Dotini]

...a means to effectively blackmail the UK into not leaving

If so, the Irish backstop ploy was more like a backstab or a blackmail from the EU to the UK, a bullying tactic of force majeure, an act of political and economic warfare. Instead on knuckling under to short term pecuniary interests, why not dedicate yourselves to something more emotionally satisfying, like systematically eliminating the EU from existence on Earth? You know you could do it if you wanted to.

 

[Tired Tyres]

If so, the Irish backstop ploy was more like a backstab or a blackmail from the EU to the UK, a bullying tactic of force majeure, an act of political and economic warfare. Instead on knuckling under to short term pecuniary interests, why not dedicate yourselves to something more emotionally satisfying, like systematically eliminating the EU from existence on Earth? You know you could do it if you wanted to.

Because the French also have nuclear weapons?

 

[Dotini]

Because the French also have nuclear weapons?

You are in no position for overt warfare, sadly. It would have to be done by guile, a quality deeply steeped in your national character, if I am not mistaken.

 

[Tired Tyres]

You are in no position for overt warfare, sadly. It would have to be done by guile, a quality deeply steeped in your national character, if I am not mistaken.

No. Has to be bang bangs. So you can sell PPV rights to pay for it all.

 

[Dotini]

No. Has to be bang bangs. So you can sell PPV rights to pay for it all.

Well, okay. But first you must scrub the rust off your muskets and dry your powder.

 

[Tired Tyres]

Well, okay. But first you must scrub the rust off your muskets and dry your powder.

Dry powder at this time of year... I knew there'd be a problem. Better give in and stay in the EU then. Then we could undermine it from inside.

 

[DK]

It's not exactly sincere. They are only suddenly interested because it has become a means to effectively blackmail the UK into not leaving. The Replublic of Ireland has become their trump card in making all of this extremely difficult.

Let me get my dreariest-sounding bagpipes.

 

[Saidur_Ali]

🤬 getting real.

This seems MPs current negotiating expectations with EU after being told they won't budge:

 

[TenEightyOne]

I don't remember the Irish situation and its importance ever being discussed during the referendum campaign by either side.

Then you haven't watched the many months of wrangling over the 'backstop'. Its very purpose is to prevent a hard border across Eire and the inevitable return to military action it would bring. The Irish Situation has been very much in the forefront, even more so since the hung Parliament was resurrected by the Democratic Ulster Party (aka the swivel-eyed loons).

Tonight's vote is a none-event, there's no way that the government will lose the confidence vote. Corbyn trampled straight into May's trap by calling the vote, the winner is May as she gets another day's breathing room.

 

[Liquid]

Tonight's vote is a none-event, there's no way that the government will lose the confidence vote. Corbyn trampled straight into May's trap by calling the vote, the winner is May as she gets another day's breathing room.

That said, any Tory MPs who vote against her deal but in the confidence of the government are a pack of howling :censored:s.

 

[PzR Slim]

Tonight's vote is a none-event, there's no way that the government will lose the confidence vote. Corbyn trampled straight into May's trap by calling the vote, the winner is May as she gets another day's breathing room.

Corbyn is a disaster for this country. The worst opposition leader I can remember.

Just watching Gove speak in the confidence vote debate and all the MP's are laughing and joking and having a jolly good time. Do then not get quite how serious this is? The fact of the matter is, it does not affect them. They aren't the average guy on the street, they will be alright no matter what happens in the next 6 months. I've got zero time for our politicians any more. The past three years has completed eroded any confidence I had in them and I'm not sure it will ever return.

 

[PzR Slim]

Government wins by 19.

 

[Keef]

I'm watching a live feed of Parliament right now and I have to ask: What in the absolute funicular is going on here? Why are they ranting and raving and booing like children? And why is there an old guy in a robe scratching his forehead like he has no idea what's going on?

EDIT: Why would he even bother saying "quickly and quietly" when I can plainly hear that nothing is being done quickly or quietly? The tone of his voice is as if he's completely given up all hope of establishing order "in this house".

Have y'all ever seen a feed of Congress? It's the most boring thing you've ever seen.

 

[TenEightyOne]

Government wins by 19.

Indeed, it seemed unlikely that any Conservative (or DUP SEL) would vote to put their seat under threat, and so it turned out.

Just watching Gove speak in the confidence vote debate and all the MP's are laughing and joking and having a jolly good time. Do then not get quite how serious this is?

Sadly not. Just as sadly it was a reminder that the front bench has skilled orators who can throw Corbyn about like a dog toy until the clock runs down. It would have been a great performance from Gove had it not been for the sheer gravity of the madness that the Tories are presiding over right now.

That said, any Tory MPs who vote against her deal but in the confidence of the government are a pack of howling :censored:s.

They all are anyway

I don't see that they should vote against confidence in HM Gov even if they didn't vote for the deal that was presented. The scope of each is quite different.

In all I think parliament is hung in a peculiar limbo with no inertia to carry it back into the fringes of workability.

Why are they ranting and raving and booing like children?

Those are our elected voices, the cumulative (well-sherried) voice of the people.

And why is there an old guy in a robe scratching his forehead like he has no idea what's going on?

That was probably the speaker, he's the cumulative voice of our cumulative voice, and a sort of unpopular Head Master.

 

[PzR Slim]

I'm watching a live feed of Parliament right now and I have to ask: What in the absolute funicular is going on here? Why are they ranting and raving and booing like children? And why is there an old guy in a robe scratching his forehead like he has no idea what's going on?

They never leave the public school debating society behind. Pathetic isn't it?

 

[Touring Mars]

Government wins by 19.

It was never in question that the Government would lose tonight's vote of no confidence - though the DUP (10 MPs) have just strengthened their hand no end... their votes, literally, made all the difference.

I'm not sure that it was necessary to have a six-hour debate before a vote that was always going to be a foregone conclusion, but there you go...

Meanwhile, the leaders of all of the main opposition parties have been invited by the PM to start direct talks tonight, but all of them have immediately made any talks contintgent upon the PM ruling out No Deal, not ruling out a second referendum, and not ruling out extending Article 50.

 

[PzR Slim]

It was never in question that the Government would win tonight's vote of no confidence - though the DUP (10 MPs) have just strengthened their hand no end... their votes, literally, made all the difference.

Yep, Corbyn walked right into it. Frothing at the mouth calling for the motion last night to the loser tonight. Incredibly worrying that 10 MP's hold such power.

 

[Liquid]

Magic money tree to the rescue.

 

[Keef]

At first this whole process came off as unprofessional but when you mentioned the well-sherried constituency @TenEightyOne it make their, err, "passion" seem appropriate. I mean, if you or I were in that room we'd be stark-raving mad and throwing beer cans.

 

[PzR Slim]

Interesting that the 117 Conservative MP's who voted to say May was not fit to be leader of the Party one month a go all voted that she was fit to be leader of the Government now.

 

[boiltheocean]

They'd rather cling to power than put their beliefs or the beliefs of their constituents first. Pathetic.

 

[PzR Slim]

And May offering to meet with all parties leaders to discuss the way forward. Why not do that two years ago before negotiations started?

 

[Sick Cylinder]

Then you haven't watched the many months of wrangling over the 'backstop'. Its very purpose is to prevent a hard border across Eire and the inevitable return to military action it would bring. The Irish Situation has been very much in the forefront, even more so since the hung Parliament was resurrected by the Democratic Ulster Party (aka the swivel-eyed loons).

Yes - I understand and agree with all that - my point was that the Irish situation received little or no publicity during the referendum campaign, by which I meant the campaign to get the public to vote in the referendum.