Brexit

[Ray Scully]

Did anyone watch Liam Fox's interview on the Andrew Marr show today. It was encouraging to hear him speak to the reality that could be facing UK ltd. Got to admire him for his honesty on this occasion, better late than never.

Barney with you being a guy for the detail, perhaps could you comment on Liam Fox's remarks.

[barney]

I didn't see it Ray so have no comment on it.
What was said of importance?

[Ray Scully]

I didn't see it Ray so have no comment on it.
What was said of importance?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m ... w-23062019 From 45 min.

[barney]

Cheers Ray.
That sounds about right.
If the EU want tariffs then tariffs it will need to be.

Alternatively, move on the backstop and the proposal goes through.

[towny44]

The last comments I heard from Varadker was that removing the backstop was akin to a no deal Brexit, which was why he opposed changing anything related to the backstop. Although I don't want to consider a no deal brexit it would maybe be worth it to see his reaction as the whole Irish trading edifice crumbled around his ears, which he could have prevented with just a wee bit of common sense.

[barney]

Without a change to the backstop, the proposed deal will not pass.
It's a simple as that really.
Both Hunt and Johnson could get it through with an amendment.
Only Varadker cannot see it.
He will be hoisted by his own petard.

[Mervyn and Trish]

I don't get it. He's right. But not removing the backstop means the default is no deal. At least if it was removed and both sides then negotiated in good faith there'd be no need for it anyway.

[oldbluefox]

Seems it is only UK who are not allowed red lines.

[barney]

I don't get it. He's right. But not removing the backstop means the default is no deal. At least if it was removed and both sides then negotiated in good faith there'd be no need for it anyway.

They don't trust us.

They don't trust the country that pays for their security and who liberated their fathers.

The EU as an institution will not tolerate anyone who doesn't toe the line.

Ask Italy

[Ray Scully]

Watched this evenings interview with Laura K. Bojo has gone and let the unicorns out

[Ray Scully]

Gets more entertaining by the day, old photo with girlfriend? gets shot down for lying when saying Sadiq Khan was partly responsible for £17m of expenditure on the Garden bridge project. What entertainment has he in store for us this afternoon.

[barney]

Are you a tory voter Ray.
You seem a little obsessed.

it's hardly a shock that Boris Johnson acts like ….. Boris Johnson

It's all irrelevant my old mate.

We don't get a vote until the general election.

Then, we can all vote for Jezza the Red

[barney]

I don't get it. He's right. But not removing the backstop means the default is no deal. At least if it was removed and both sides then negotiated in good faith there'd be no need for it anyway.

The EU don't have to budge an inch Merv.

They know full well that there is little chance of our MPs allowing any kind of no deal exit.
Some Tories have gone public in saying that they would bring down their own government before agreeing to that.

It would then need a GE to sort it out.

I note that Labour have written to all of their MPS asking them if they wish to contest the next GE.
If they do, then they need the backing of two thirds of their local party to proceed.
If they cannot get two thirds, then they can be challenged internally by alternative candidates.
So, it's the end of a job for life in a safe Labour seat.
I expect quite a few will be 'unselected' by this method.

I wonder if the Tories will do something similar to eject the dissenters
The likes of Grieve, Lee, Bubb and others are looking to be on a sticky wicket.

[Ray Scully]

Are you a tory voter Ray.
You seem a little obsessed.

it's hardly a shock that Boris Johnson acts like ….. Boris Johnson

It's all irrelevant my old mate.

We don't get a vote until the general election.

Then, we can all vote for Jezza the Red

No no Barney, I am politically homeless at the moment. However I am enjoying the antics and performance of Bojo. As for the general election I can see a coalition headed by Rees Mogg and John McDonald

[barney]

Are you a tory voter Ray.
You seem a little obsessed.

it's hardly a shock that Boris Johnson acts like ….. Boris Johnson

It's all irrelevant my old mate.

We don't get a vote until the general election.

Then, we can all vote for Jezza the Red

No no Barney, I am politically homeless at the moment. However I am enjoying the antics and performance of Bojo. As for the general election I can see a coalition headed by Rees Mogg and John McDonald

If you are politically homeless, then the future doesn't look too great for you.

Labour lurching to the far left and the Tories … well, I'm not quite sure where they are going.

The Libdems could be an alternative but history has proven that it is easy to be a minor party spouting off every five minutes about what you would do, but when given the chance, they blew it bigtime and went back to political oblivion.

One thing that I will predict is that if the UK is still in the EU come 1st November, then there will be a huge surge from Tory and Labour to the Brexit Party.
I'd go as far as to say mass defections form the Tories.


Chuka and Soubry have pointed out that you can change party (more than once in Chuka's case) without the inconvenience of asking your electorate.

As I've said previously, after 29th March, all bets are off for the future of British ploitics.

[Kenmo1]

Both Boris and Jeremy Hunt are visiting the Isle of Wight this coming Thursday and already 3 woman are intending to arrange a protest against domestic abuse for when Boris is here. I think that subject will haunt Boris for the next month at least.

[barney]

I honestly believe that he would have been better off to front it out and said, yep, we had a bit of a row.
People do occasionally.
Trying to deflect the issue leaves questions.

[david63]

As I said before, Boris is, in my opinion, positioning himself for the next leader after this one. He does not want a short tenure and would rather someone else took up the "poisoned chalice"

[Manoverboard]

I honestly believe that he would have been better off to front it out and said, yep, we had a bit of a row.
People do occasionally.
Trying to deflect the issue leaves questions.

That would surely be a bad idea as it would deffo have been seen as a green light for the muck raking journalists to go seek a response from his partner plus their cat and the cleaner etc.

[oldbluefox]

Let's face it, the Metropolitan media don't like Boris and his views on Brexit and are constantly looking to discredit him. It does not help his cause amongst the left wing media that he is white, wealthy, privileged and Eton educated.

[Stephen]

I honestly believe that he would have been better off to front it out and said, yep, we had a bit of a row.
People do occasionally.
Trying to deflect the issue leaves questions.

I personally feel what happens in his and anyone else's private life is no one else's business. Would the media have been interested if he wasn't in the running for PM....possibly not, or at most, news one day chip wrapper the next. No one was hurt or murdered so I don't blame him for avoiding personal questions. I'm sure there are plenty of skeletons in the cupboards of most MP's and ministers.

[Ray Scully]

Let's face it, the Metropolitan media don't like Boris and his views on Brexit and are constantly looking to discredit him. It does not help his cause amongst the left wing media that he is white, wealthy, privileged and Eton educated.

and a buffoon

[barney]

It always amuses me when folk deride public figures as idiots or buffoons.

If we look at the facts, Johnson is an elected MP, ex mayor of London twice (reelected) again elected as MP, Telegraph columnist earning 700 k a year.

Devicive yes.
Outspoken yes.
Self promoting yes.

But idiot and buffoon?
Highly unlikely.

Caveat. I am not a Johnson fan.

[Ray Scully]

It always amuses me when folk deride public figures as idiots or buffoons.

If we look at the facts, Johnson is an elected MP, ex mayor of London twice (reelected) again elected as MP, Telegraph columnist earning 700 k a year.

Devicive yes.
Outspoken yes.
Self promoting yes.

But idiot and buffoon?
Highly unlikely.

Caveat. I am not a Johnson fan.

Barney, Please can I add duplicitous to your list

[barney]

Absolutely Ray.
Add anything that is factual.

My point really is, as repugnant as Johnson is to me, he achievements dictate that he is anything but an idiot.

I've met lots of idiots in my life as no doubt you have.
None to the best of my knowledge have risen to the job if Prime Minister.