Off Topic The Politics Thread

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Should the UK remain a part of the EU or leave?

  • Stay in

    Votes: 56 47.9%
  • Get out

    Votes: 61 52.1%

  • Total voters
    117
  • Poll closed .
Kier Starmer needs to be kept in the loop too, so there is a united front (initially anyway) in the talks.
I agree with this, but I think the ball is in Labours court (and possibly the SNPs). Though I find it hard to hide my glee at the Tories discomfort, the fact is we face a national challenge which will have consequences for decades. Although the mess was made by the Tories they are no longer in a position to be trusted to sort it out themselves (if they ever were), we need, at least temporarily through the first phase of Brexit negotiations to get the bill, migrants rights and freedom of movement sorted, a united, national perspective. It shouldn't be too difficult for Corbyn, a Brexiter whose performance in the referendum campaign was shameful, to say 'you are in a much weaker position in negotiating with Brussels, let's agree a common stance on the key issues and we will support you both in Parliament and in public'.

Of course it won't happen because we are locked into a childish confrontational style of politics and can't snap out of it.

Just heard that Ruth Davidson is tweeting in less than positive terms about the DUPs record on gay rights, and is allegedly going to take the Scottish Tory party out of the national party, set up a completely separate party. Perhaps the 13 Scottish Tory MPs, who clearly owe her a debt as they got in on her excellent campaign which was very different to May's, may not be so compliant in the minority government. Davidson is said, by the Telegraph, to be preparing to use her clout to prioritise the Single Market over immigration in the Brexit discussions.
 
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I agree with this, but I think the ball is in Labours court (and possibly the SNPs). Though I find it hard to hide my glee at the Tories discomfort, the fact is we face a national challenge which will have consequences for decades. Although the mess was made by the Tories they are no longer in a position to be trusted to sort it out themselves (if they ever were), we need, at least temporarily through the first phase of Brexit negotiations to get the bill, migrants rights and freedom of movement sorted, a united, national perspective. It shouldn't be too difficult for Corbyn, a Brexiter whose performance in the referendum campaign was shameful, to say 'you are in a much weaker position in negotiating with Brussels, let's agree a common stance on the key issues and we will support you both in Parliament and in public'.

Of course it won't happen because we are locked into a childish confrontational style of politics and can't snap out of it.

Just heard that Ruth Davidson is tweeting in less than positive terms about the DUPs record on gay rights, and is allegedly going to take the Scottish Tory party out of the national party, set up a completely separate party. Perhaps the 13 Scottish Tory MPs, who clearly owe her a debt as they got in on her excellent campaign which was very different to May's, may not be so compliant in the minority government. Davidson is said, by the Telegraph, to be preparing to use her clout to prioritise the Single Market over immigration in the Brexit discussions.
you are happy the mess will last decades. Basically you hate the Tories and hate your Country
 
I was telling my wife this morning about one time in 1987 I saw Thatcher re-elected and there was a fellow standing against her called Lord Buckethead and he just had a metal bucket over his head - so she had to wait for his result first. When about a minute later they showed the same geezer standing against May last night - I almost ingested myself laughing. He looks like he's been saving up for a costume the last 30 years


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As an alternative take on all of this, here's something put out yesterday by musician Francis Dunnery. It might resonate with some of you, it might not.

/starts/
Hey guys , I've got a great idea about trump and brexit and the hung parliament and all that ulster defense army and Jeremy Corbin stuff and all that political drama.

Let them all carry on and you focus on your own family and friends. Don't lose sight that your own life and family and friends are far more important than any of those people. F**k em. Your life and the life of your children and family and friends is paramount. Don't let them get you sidetracked away from what's important. Your life won't change much no matter which one of those psychopaths is in power. My old mam voted Labour all her life and they knocked 3pence off a packet of cigarettes when they got in power. That's how much her lifelong loyalty was worth. They had top class food and hotels and wages for themselves. But my old mam got 3 pence knocked off a packet of cigarettes. They convinced her she was Labour. My school teacher voted Tory all her life. She didn't have a pot to piss in but they convinced her she was 'somebody' if she voted Tory. They convinced her she was above all those vermin Labour free loaders. My poor school teacher believed she was a Tory.

Go back to your family and children. Don't give these c**ksuckers another ounce of your energy. Your a tiny little pawn in a money and power game that's so far beyond you it's not worth the energy.

Have a beautiful day. Tell your family and kids I send them all my best wishes. Your not Labour or Tory or any of the other nonsense. It's all made up. Nature doesn't have Labour or Tory. They made the **** up. It keeps you divided.

You and your children and family are real. Keep it real.

/ends/

He's got a way with words, old Frankie. Writes fantastic, lovingly human songs, too.

Have a good weekend, everyone.
 
As an alternative take on all of this, here's something put out yesterday by musician Francis Dunnery. It might resonate with some of you, it might not.

/starts/
Hey guys , I've got a great idea about trump and brexit and the hung parliament and all that ulster defense army and Jeremy Corbin stuff and all that political drama.

Let them all carry on and you focus on your own family and friends. Don't lose sight that your own life and family and friends are far more important than any of those people. F**k em. Your life and the life of your children and family and friends is paramount. Don't let them get you sidetracked away from what's important. Your life won't change much no matter which one of those psychopaths is in power. My old mam voted Labour all her life and they knocked 3pence off a packet of cigarettes when they got in power. That's how much her lifelong loyalty was worth. They had top class food and hotels and wages for themselves. But my old mam got 3 pence knocked off a packet of cigarettes. They convinced her she was Labour. My school teacher voted Tory all her life. She didn't have a pot to piss in but they convinced her she was 'somebody' if she voted Tory. They convinced her she was above all those vermin Labour free loaders. My poor school teacher believed she was a Tory.

Go back to your family and children. Don't give these c**ksuckers another ounce of your energy. Your a tiny little pawn in a money and power game that's so far beyond you it's not worth the energy.

Have a beautiful day. Tell your family and kids I send them all my best wishes. Your not Labour or Tory or any of the other nonsense. It's all made up. Nature doesn't have Labour or Tory. They made the **** up. It keeps you divided.

You and your children and family are real. Keep it real.

/ends/

He's got a way with words, old Frankie. Writes fantastic, lovingly human songs, too.

Have a good weekend, everyone.

That has always been my mantra Dipper. Nice post.
 
you are happy the mess will last decades. Basically you hate the Tories and hate your Country
What mess? According to sheep like you, the Tories won and secured a great result. We all love our conutry but none of us apart from you apparently think May has been successful. So go back and try to read something other than the spin put out by Central office or the Tory press.
 
I agree with this, but I think the ball is in Labours court (and possibly the SNPs). Though I find it hard to hide my glee at the Tories discomfort, the fact is we face a national challenge which will have consequences for decades. Although the mess was made by the Tories they are no longer in a position to be trusted to sort it out themselves (if they ever were), we need, at least temporarily through the first phase of Brexit negotiations to get the bill, migrants rights and freedom of movement sorted, a united, national perspective. It shouldn't be too difficult for Corbyn, a Brexiter whose performance in the referendum campaign was shameful, to say 'you are in a much weaker position in negotiating with Brussels, let's agree a common stance on the key issues and we will support you both in Parliament and in public'.

Of course it won't happen because we are locked into a childish confrontational style of politics and can't snap out of it.

Just heard that Ruth Davidson is tweeting in less than positive terms about the DUPs record on gay rights, and is allegedly going to take the Scottish Tory party out of the national party, set up a completely separate party. Perhaps the 13 Scottish Tory MPs, who clearly owe her a debt as they got in on her excellent campaign which was very different to May's, may not be so compliant in the minority government. Davidson is said, by the Telegraph, to be preparing to use her clout to prioritise the Single Market over immigration in the Brexit discussions.

Agreed, we need a sensible, non-partisan approach to these imminent negotiations
 
You do realise that this will make a softer, or as Ruth Davidson call it 'open' Brexit, more likely?

Not necessarily - the terms of the divorce comes first, legal obligations if any to pay our debts. Hopefully this will be less contentious between Tory and Labour, though the negotiations with Juncker will be intense. The big issue is then whether we trade free movement of people for membership of the single market. This is where we may face a second referendum now. Farron may get his way.
 
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Not necessarily - the terms of the divorce comes first, legal obligations if any to pay our debts. Hopefully this will be less contentious between Tory and Labour, though the negotiations with Juncker will be intense. The big issue is then whether we trade free movement of people for membership of the single market. This is where we may face a second referendum now. Farron may get his way.
Now the Tory Remainers have the potential to speak up it's going to get interesting. Hammond in particular, now he can't be sacked, might fight the economy corner a little more effectively, we know Rudd and Davidson are big Remainers and the majority of the Tory MPs were too.

I might be thinking myself into an overly optimistic place on this, but the election result, for people like me who have accepted (reluctantly) Brexit will happen but want it as soft/open as possible, could be the best available. But we have left it dreadfully late to be changing tack and it relies on May being proactive, decisive and inclusive, things she has not demonstrated at all.
 
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Not really sure if May is sure how hardline the DUP can be........it's a clusterfuck of the highest magnitude
 
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On the surface, the Conservatives (or just Mrs May, depending on who you are within her/their party) asked the electorate for a mandate to strengthen their position re Brexit negotiations. Obviously they didn't get what they said they wanted and have some egg on their faces.

If you believe the election was truly about Brexit and nothing else, then you have to accept that the electorate as a whole doesn't trust the Conservatives to negotiate for us on their own and probably wants an opportunity to approve whatever they end up with. It would be in the national interest if they involved other parties in this process - in part to take the blame if the people don't like the result and in part to have a better chance that they can do a better job for us by working together instead of sniping at each other.

To paraphrase something else from last week (about climate change). There is no plan B because we don't have a country B.

I'm hopeful.
 
Just heard that Ruth Davidson is tweeting in less than positive terms about the DUPs record on gay rights, and is allegedly going to take the Scottish Tory party out of the national party, set up a completely separate party. Perhaps the 13 Scottish Tory MPs, who clearly owe her a debt as they got in on her excellent campaign which was very different to May's, may not be so compliant in the minority government. Davidson is said, by the Telegraph, to be preparing to use her clout to prioritise the Single Market over immigration in the Brexit discussions.

She's now denying a breakaway party, but it does look like she may hold Westminster to ransom over single market access and immigration.....

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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-40232374
 
On the surface, the Conservatives (or just Mrs May, depending on who you are within her/their party) asked the electorate for a mandate to strengthen their position re Brexit negotiations. Obviously they didn't get what they said they wanted and have some egg on their faces.

If you believe the election was truly about Brexit and nothing else, then you have to accept that the electorate as a whole doesn't trust the Conservatives to negotiate for us on their own and probably wants an opportunity to approve whatever they end up with. It would be in the national interest if they involved other parties in this process - in part to take the blame if the people don't like the result and in part to have a better chance that they can do a better job for us by working together instead of sniping at each other.

To paraphrase something else from last week (about climate change). There is no plan B because we don't have a country B.

I'm hopeful.

If anyone out there believed the election was truly about Brexit and nothing else, they need to be certified. It was about austerity, May promising only pain to come, Corbin spreading the glad tidings that he had invented a magic money tree