Off Topic The Politics Thread

Yeah - you'd think someone like Kier Starmer would make Cummings/Boris think twice.

 

He'd be more formidable although he's a bit of a stiff lawyer. In his persuasive years, Blair combined the lawyer with the personable bloke persona which worked

 

Swinson? She’s no Dianne Abbott.

 

There's only one Diane Abbott. Tory Leavers may well chant that if we get out on 31/10 and are set for a good GE win

 

Unfortunately Tony Blair is right in his maths. If there is an election before Brexit has been resolved then the remain vote will be split 3 ways (4 in Scotland) and, with Britain's undemocratic voting system this can only lead to one result. He's right - it is a trap.

 

10th October now being widely tipped as GE day. Corbyn's dithering and lack of any clear position on Brexit plus demanding an election at every opportunity is going to haunt him now...

 

The Brexit Party has released a statement saying it is open to a non aggression electoral pact with the Tories, if Boris completely abandons the Withdrawal Agreement beyond the backstop.

 

I’m sure you were perfectly happy with the undemocratic voting system in 1997 when Pubic Blair got hit landslide, Odie.

 

PM to make a statement at 6pm outside Downing Street. Guess it will be that if extension bill is passed (which has just been published) he will immediately call an election.

If so, and election is in October, I'll be £200 richer as I got odds of 4-1 on an October election last week. Fingers crossed here.

 

I have never been happy with Britain's voting system Uber. It leads to the long term disengagement of people from politics if you always have around 60% of the population scratching their heads after an election thinking 'I didn't vote for that'. Under such a scenario the majority are always against the government in power - whoever they are. Basically all you need to do to hold power is to keep around 37% of those who vote happy and, as long as the rest are divided, they can take a running jump. Whatever analysis you use this is not democratic. Added to this is the fact that Britain is also a very centralized country with nothing much between Westminster and the dwindling powers of county councils - so win Westminster and you win everything. Britain does not have an effective balance of powers. There is no other country in Europe where the internal problems of one party could cause such mayhem on such a large scale as at present.

 

Stewards Inquiry there, inside info...

 

Drat - didn't help this time but worth the gamble.

Edit - BBC seem to think his slightly opaque speech could actually mean Oct election if bill passes so who knows, maybe still on.

 

The Tories threaten suspension and deselection for anyone who votes against them from their party! If only May had done this! It would all be over now I reckon.

 

It's always been about the money ain't it

 

The sneaky bastard

 

I reckon he will eat it

 

I may have got this wrong, because I didn't see his statement, but it seems to me that Johnson is saying that he doesn't want a GE, but will call for one if parliament rules out No Deal. This doesn't seem so smart now. So if Opposition parties pass legislation that requires an extension to A50 if no deal is in place by 31st October, and then decline his offer of a GE, he will be forced to bring a deal back to parliament, which will most likely be some time after 31st October and will probably be May's deal with some tinkering on the backstop. If that then fails to win parliament's approval, a GE will be inevitable at that point and Johnson is massively weakened. Here's what Farage had to say....

The big message here is Boris Johnson wants the Withdrawal Agreement. He wants Mrs May’s Withdrawal Agreement, but minus the backstop.

“And if he does get voted down in the House of Commons tomorrow, which I have to say, looking at the Tory rebels who are beginning to stand up, does look quite likely to me, then there will be a general election.

“Do I think it is acceptable that a general election could be held on the basis that he goes back to Brussels to get the Withdrawal Agreement? Well I absolutely don’t.”

"Given there is less than 60 days to go to that right now, no-deal is the best deal.

“Getting out with a clean break Brexit and after we will get a trade deal. But we cannot re-jig or re-work that Withdrawal Agreement in any way at all and I think Boris Johnson is making a historical mistake.

“If he gets it through, and (it) becomes law, the acrimony it will lead to… because we will have given the whip hand in all future negotiations to Brussels.”

Not much sign of an electoral pact there, Goldie.

 

It's all getting too much for me. Whatever happens, this country will never be the same again.