Off Topic The Politics Thread

Brexit: France activates no-deal plan

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Image copyright Getty Images
Image caption France will spend millions of euros preparing ports and airports for a no-deal Brexit
French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe has said a no-deal Brexit looks "less and less unlikely" and has launched a contingency plan to prepare for it.
After the UK Parliament rejected the withdrawal agreement, Mr Philippe said laws had to be passed and millions invested in French ports and airports.
An EU official will now visit all 27 capitals to co-ordinate no-deal plans.
EU countries with close UK ties have already begun preparing for its departure on 29 March without a deal.
"We are taking this very seriously now as the possibility of a no-deal Brexit is becoming more possible after Tuesday night," said European Commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas. "This is work which is ongoing and it's developing fully. We are not taking any chances."
He also revealed that Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and UK Prime Minister Theresa May had texted each other since her defeat in Parliament on Tuesday, but said they had not spoken.
Germany's Economy Minister, Peter Altmeier, has warned "everyone in Europe would lose" from the UK leaving without an agreement.
How are Europe's governments preparing?
The countries with closest trade links are most exposed, including Ireland, the Netherlands and Germany.

• Deal or no deal - how are EU countries preparing?
• Brexit: How would no deal affect UK citizens in the EU?
• Brexit: A really simple guide

France has already been gearing up for 29 March and Mr Philippe said a law would provide a legal framework for a "hard Brexit".
Some €50m (£44m; $57m) would be invested in ports and airports, focusing on control points and parking areas, with the possible appointment of 580 customs and veterinary staff.
Ireland's prime minister, Leo Varadkar, updated the Dáil (Irish parliament) about the Dublin government's plans for legislation on a no-deal Brexit on Tuesday.
Of all the EU member states, Ireland has the closest links to the UK and much of the government's non-priority business is being scrapped to focus on measures covering health, communications, education, finance, employment and justice.

• Medicine 'watch list' in Irish no-deal plan

The Netherlands' foreign trade minister, Sigrid Kaag, said on Wednesday night that the Netherlands was launching a major information campaign on 28 January.
"After Ireland, the Dutch economy is most entwined with that of the UK," she said, citing fisheries, meat-processing and flower exports. She warned that many small and medium enterprises had failed to make sufficient preparation for a no-deal Brexit.

• No-deal Brexit warning for UK drivers

Germany's foreign minister, Heiko Maas, said on Thursday that plans for a disorderly Brexit would have to be stepped up.
"In the coming days and weeks, we will do everything we can so that Britain exits with and not without an agreement," he told the Bundestag (German parliament).
Spain said on Thursday that staffing of immigration offices would be beefed up if the UK left the EU without a deal. Some 310,000 UK citizens live in Spain and they would have to confirm their residency under a no-deal Brexit, officials said.
The Spanish labour minister said the two countries had "close and solid" relations and they were working on a bilateral accord.
What is the UK prime minister doing?
Theresa May will have to put a new EU withdrawal plan to Parliament by 21 January ahead of a vote by MPs eight days later.

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Theresa May has called on MPs to "work constructively together" to find a way forward
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Media captionTheresa May has called on MPs to "work constructively together" to find a way forward

• May meets MPs 'to seek Brexit consensus'

Cabinet colleagues are to meet senior opposition politicians, but opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has refused to negotiate unless a no-deal Brexit is ruled out.
Conservative Party chairman Brandon Lewis ruled out discussion on staying in a customs union.
Mr Corbyn said the prime minister's approaches to other parties were a "stunt".
The Labour leader urged Mrs May to "ditch the red lines" and "get serious about proposals for the future".

 

They aren’t meant to blindly go with the “will of the people” which in all likelihood has changed anyway and is impossible to know beyond the gross oversimplification of referendum question. They are meant to our informed and intelligent representatives making the decisions which will benefit us. There’s a reason the vast majority of them supported Remain.

 

it all for show like that Maginot Line. We will just go around them and they will surrender in 3 weeks.

 

You need to look up what a politicians job is because according to you It doesn't matter what we say as they are somehow better than us?

 

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So Prince Phillip was breathalysed after crash?

 

On average they are. Not better, per se, but more intelligent and informed on the issues. It’s their job to do the research, though I expect many have it done for them, to weigh up the options. Few of us serfs have the time and fewer the inclination to do that.

 

No, it was Politics Live Special on BBC 2

 

They already have a set and we haven’t made any laws yet because we haven’t got a clue about the future

 

After the last few days I actually am beginning to believe the UK shambles deserves a No Deal

Where’s the plan?

Still good old British Bulldog will see us through

I am also sick that the opinion that the French will run away on any diplomatic event based on a stupid view they did so in the last WW

Brainwashed blue sheep all worried together

 

oh crap i missed it. Catch up!

 

some amazing numbers here
http://www.worldometers.info/

 

JUST IN: TRUMP HITS BACK: President Trump cancels U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s trip to Afghanistan, just as she was about to travel. This comes just a few days after Pelosi asked Trump to cancel SOTU speech.

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Did anyone watch Diana Abbott on QT She is so thick.

 

If I had a forelock I'd tug it. If those 650 are above average intelligence we're totally f*cked, they're an embarrassment...

 

They are an embarrassment but you can’t say they aren’t more intelligent than the average man on the street. We watch Eastenders and argue about vegan sausage rolls*.



*QPR not606 posters excepted.

 

Latest YouGov poll moves out of the margin of error differences realm.

Only 25% of respondents object to the idea of a second referendum
56% Remain 44% Leave
65% Remain v 35% May’s deal
59% Remain v 41% No deal
With 3 options 52% Remain, 39% No deal, 9% Norway plus or
54% Remain, 38% No deal, 8% Customs Union

One thing is clear, the British public understand that Norway/Customs Union are crappy options, only useful for mitigating economic challenges and leaving us in a limbo of continued bickering, and it should be a choice between staying in properly or leaving properly.

I don’t like referenda and don’t want another one, I want our politicians to do their jobs, but the tide might be turning on this.

Meanwhile, the DUP is saying, quietly, that it would accept Mays deal with a permanent Customs Union, as they said in their manifesto for 2017.

 

There does seem to be strengthening support for a new referendum, and for Remain. May's certainly not going to call a new vote - apparently, she's telling people who want a further referendum that it would take a year to organise, which is bollocks. Her 'reaching out' seems to consist of getting people in a room and telling them exactly what she's been saying all along, 'it's my deal or no deal'. Corbyn was right, it's just a stunt.

 

What question would you ask in a referendum, Strolls, apart from Remain?

 

May won't have one. She'd lose a huge number of votes to UKIP. Corbyn won't have one. He's never supported membership of the EU. So Remainers have to hope that there's a general election which sweeps Vince Cable into power