POLITICS CORNER

[Tripps]

I've checked Hansard from yesterday -

Ian Murray MP. Edinburgh South (Lab).
The problem that the Prime Minister has is that nobody in this House trusts him. He has been asked five times this evening if he would abide by all the provisions of the European Union (Withdrawal) (No. 2) Act, and he refuses to answer the question. So for the sixth and final time: if he does not get a deal or a no deal through this House by 19 October, will he seek an extension to 31 January from the European Union?

The Prime Minister
No.

John McDonell MP (Lab)
Mr Speaker, the Prime Minister has left the Chamber, even though you indicated quite clearly to him that the point of order related to his behaviour. I ask you to express the view that we expect the Prime Minister to be back in this House, so we can ask that question again.

Mr Speaker
Reply too long to inflict on you, but worth reading. Long on words - short on sense.

- https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2 ... terSUpdate

Demonstrates I'd say, why this aggressive confrontational system (the words surrender and turkey were actually used) is not the best way to discuss things. In fact it may be the worst. I doubt anything was achieved.

[Stanley]

Good posts and all illuminate the problem. Love the Ahab analogy and this jumped out at me. "as the 2016 referendum did not compel parliament to act. In reality, MPs have interpreted the referendum as having the force of law; a law that cannot be repealed." That's one of the roots of the problem. It was advisory Dummy!!. Problem is that by repeating this canard they have convinced the majority it is mandatory.
Tiz is dead right, revoke Article 50, get in there as a full member and act as a moderator.
David, yes they have politics, and all politics is dirty, but you have to be impressed by a system that can get agreement from 27 member countries.....
Meanwhile, in another part of the forest... See THIS BBC report on the progress of the impeachment proceedings against President Trump. Commentators seem to be agreeing that Trump is rattled by this. Perhaps he has at last overstepped the mark...

[plaques]

There is a report out that the NHS may be at risk come the 31Oct if we leave without a deal.
Quote.
Labour MP Meg Hillier, who chairs the cross-party Public Accounts Committee, said the report was "deeply concerning".

"I've seen countless examples of deadlines missed and government failing," she said.

"If government gets this wrong, it could have the gravest of consequences."

Dr Layla McCay, of the NHS Confederation, which represents managers, said the planning had been detailed but the situation was still concerning.

She also warned it was the "unknowns and unknowables" that perhaps presented the biggest risk.

I'm not sure if 'gravest' was mean to portray the severity in its ultimate sense.
"unknowns and unknowables" usually classed as 'events dear boy, events. What could possibly go wrong? Abandon hope all ye who enter here.

[Stanley]

David, the truth is that nobody knows what will happen. It could range from a re-run of the 'Millennium Bug' to a serious disruption of transport and trade with serious short and long term repercussions. Experience teaches that a safe bet is somewhere between the two extremes. So we can be fairly sure it will be damaging. At the moment this is being over-stressed by Remainers and underestimated by Brexiteers (but even they have admitted there will be some 'temporary disruption'.).
I see that Nicola Sturgeon is getting worried enough about Tory machinations to change her mind (possibly) about Corbyn as head of a temporary administration to follow a vote of No Confidence in the government. This sounds like a good plan to me.
The elephant in the room is Dominic Cummings. I came across this on page 222 of Cameron's memoir:-
When Michael Gove was coming under fire as Minister of Education he went to Cameron and offered to resign but was refused, he said that in that case he needed a good adviser as Cameron had made him fire his spad Dominic Cummings as a condition of getting the job. The reason being that Cameron regarded Cummings as a "Rottweiler spad" and didn't want him anywhere near Ten Downing Street. Gove asked for Jeremy Heywood who was Permanent Secretary at Number Ten but Cameron refused. In a "moment of weakness" he allowed Gove to rehire Cummings. Cameron says that this was a mistake and was at the root of Gove's 'teacher bashing' and generally abrasive approach which in the end was counter productive. "This would store up problems for the future".
I wonder if anyone has pointed this out to Johnson?

[Whyperion]

BBC Report Tory Conference Ideas for Sunday

Transporting animals on long journeys for slaughter could be banned, under animal welfare plans unveiled by the Conservative party.

Under the move, livestock would have to be sent to the closest abattoir - effectively banning most live exports.

It is one of a number of animal welfare and environmental policies set to be discussed at the Tory party conference.

Others include creating a £1bn fund to boost the electric motor industry and a pledge to plant one million new trees.

The party said earlier attempts to restrict the journey time for live animals had been hindered by EU single market rules. [ that might be got-roundable should Brexit not occur ?]

Environment Secretary Theresa Villiers said the proposals would "choke off" the live exports trade and help protect animals.

Other animal welfare measures to be discussed at the conference, which begins in Manchester on Sunday, include:

a move to ban all trophy hunting imports
making micro-chipping for domestic cats compulsory
a ban on keeping primates as pets

The Tories also plan to plant up to one million trees in three new forests in Northumberland by 2024, in addition to creating more so-called "pocket parks" on small pieces of derelict or undeveloped land in towns and cities.



[ I would trust some of these measures could get cross party support - anyone want to get 4 bills done at HoP while tories are in conference - if they are good ideas why wait ? ]
[ Repsonses - In agreement or otherwise awaited ]

[Tripps]

making micro-chipping for domestic cats compulsory
a ban on keeping primates as pets

They put up Theresa Villiers on LBC this morning to publicise these measures. If it was an (almost literal) 'dead cat on the table' effort to take our minds away from their current difficulties, then it failed.

She was weak/ignorant on the actual number of primates kept as pets in UK, and mentioned marmosets. I didn't know they were primates. As for chipping cats - she didn't know how large the cat theft problem was. Compared to dogs I'd guess it's zero. I found a cat collar complete with bird bell and owner details outside my front door yesterday, and phoned the owner who collected it. I'm fairly sure a determined cat could get rid of a chip.

[Tizer]

..a ban on keeping primates as pets..

Could this force Johnson to get rid of Cummings, perhaps?
Talking of `Dom', the New Statesman article about him which I linked a few days ago is published as a shortened version today in The Times newspaper. Even in its shorter form it's two pages long.

What worries me most at the moment is the growth and dominance of a minority of angry, abusive and belligerent elements in our population and the fact that they'll get even more confident and nasty once Brexit has happened (or not). It's not just around the Brexit issue of course but spreads everywhere now. It was brought to my mind again when I read this article about Greta Thunberg (`Climate change: Greta Thunberg calls out the 'haters' LINK ). She's quoted as saying "The haters are as active as ever...going after me, my looks, my clothes, my behaviour and my differences". (She has Asperger's Syndrome.) Social media has made it easy for the `haters' to spread their messages and take advantage of the echo chamber effect of this medium. We've heard how politicians, especially women, are suffering terrible verbal abuse and serious threats to their lives and families. How are we going to attract suitable people into politics in the future when this is happening? I'm annoyed with our politicians for having abdicated their responsibilities to do the best for the nation in the Brexit issue but I'd never resort to the directed abuse shown by the haters. The problem was around before 2016 but Brexit has thrown petrol on the fire. How do we extinguish this fire? If Brexit disappeared overnight we would still have the hate problem.

[plaques]

Talking of `Dom', the New Statesman article about him which I linked a few days ago

Read through the article. It didn't surprise me when the interviewer brought up several points where Cummings was either wrong or had change his mind his reply was "people have short memories so it does't matter". Sad but true.
The first thing the Commons could do to improve peoples approach to politics is curtail the schoolyard bear garden atmosphere that allows even the most serious discussion to degenerate into Yob culture.

[Tripps]

his reply was "people have short memories so it doesn't matter"

That's true - Due to modern communications especially the interweb thingy. The amount of new information we get every day, makes sure of that. He denied he made a statement yesterday that he made the day before, and had just been played on air. I think the current bad behaviour and increase in 'swearing' is almost entirely due to the web. Lots of people are uninhibited and brave behind a keyboard.

[Stanley]

" Lots of people are uninhibited and brave behind a keyboard."
Bit like normally mild mannered people who do a Jekyll and Hyde transformation when they are behind the wheel David.
P, Cummings is undoubtedly right about short memories but it is a cynical and dishonest ploy to take advantage of it. He strikes me as a person who epitomises Mr Angry. It rubs off on those who take advantage of his undoubted intelligence.
His influence over Johnson is helped by the fact that Johnson was flawed in the first place. His moral compass has long been suspect.
The refusal to prorogue Parliament for the Tory Conference signal to me that the combined opposition is on the front foot. For that reason I think the vote of confidence is going to happen. Worth the risk in my opinion. True, it's taking advantage of the system but that's what the Tories have been doing. I wish them well.

[plaques]

I'm beginning to wonder whether Johnson and Cumming's are following the shock doctoring programme outlined by the book 'The Shock Doctrine', by Naomi Klein, The idea being to cause utter chaos within a country so that behind the scenes big money moves in gobbling up state enterprises while government drifts towards a dictatorship.
Here is something I came across when describing a particular politic party (I won't mention which one as its not politically correct in today's atmosphere) ...vulgar, heavily male and beer-drinking chauvinist, xenophobe, authoritarian,.... Where have we heard this recently? or is it just 'humbug'?

[Stanley]

That's interesting P. I am a great fan of Naomi Klein and had completely forgotten her. You are absolutely right in citing her as a useful text. What is happening is exactly the 'Shock Doctrine' she descibes. Thanks again!

[Tizer]

I'm beginning to wonder whether Johnson and Cumming's are following the shock doctoring programme outlined by the book 'The Shock Doctrine', by Naomi Klein, The idea being to cause utter chaos within a country so that behind the scenes big money moves in gobbling up state enterprises while government drifts towards a dictatorship.

Cummings is a big fan of Sun Tzu, the (possibly mythical) Chinese general much loved by modern military strategists and some politicians. Disrupting and confusing your enemy was central to his recommended methods.

James Naughtie hit the nail on the head this morning when discussing the current state of UK politics. He said we've now got both the government and opposition run by unelected extremists, namely Dominic Cummings and Seamus Milne.

[Stanley]

My late son in law Big Harry was a fan of 'the Art of War' and turned me on. I always have a copy to hand (next to The Prince!).
As one commentator said yesterday, "disruption is all well and good but you have to think about what the landscape will look like afterwards". I agree.
Did you see Matt Hancock defending his 40 hospitals promise and wriggling his way round every question thrown at him?
I can't help longing for a grounding post from Richard.....

[Stanley]

I know you are fed up with this but see THIS BBC report about the latest proposals for the Irish border. No Deal is looking inevitable.
Talk about the profits many hedge funds will make if as expected the Pound falls. Many of them, and in many cases those who financed the Leave Campaign and Boris Johnson, stand to make a lot of money. How surprising!
The Trump affair gets even worse. See THIS report implicating the Australian PM. Trump is rattled, he has been creating a Twitter storm overnight.

[plaques]

Boris claims that the leaked border plans are wrong and out of date.
Quote.But Mr Johnson told BBC Breakfast he was "not going to be producing now what we are going to be tabling" to the EU.
The leaked proposals were "confused" and "not right", the PM added.

This is probably the first instance that I would agree with Boris. Up to now all his plans are 'confused' and 'not right', what makes this leak any different? But to clarify things he won't tell us what the plans are just in case the EU gets wind of them and he will lose valuable time wasting time by them knowing he is wasting time in advance of him wasting time. Straight forward really.

[Tizer]

Talk about the profits many hedge funds will make if as expected the Pound falls. Many of them, and in many cases those who financed the Leave Campaign and Boris Johnson, stand to make a lot of money. How surprising!

For more see this article published in March: LINK

[Tripps]

A presenter on Radio 5 just said there is a concerted change of wording from the Tories.

They are not now saying 'we will leave on 31st of October' but rather ''we are determined to leave on the 31st of October'.

Wriggle room.

[PanBiker]

Just had Stephensons "Annual Report" poked through the letter box. AKA a photo opportunity album. Why folk in Pendle vote for him, I have no idea.

[Tizer]

..Why folk in Pendle vote for him, I have no idea.

Same reason so many people vote for Boris, Trump etc. They'll believe anything they're told by someone who talks loudly, swaggers about and says whatever they want to believe.

[Tripps]

Why folk in Pendle vote for him, I have no idea.

He's answering an 'urgent question' on the situation in Yemen, in the house now, in his capacity as a Foreign Office minister.

He seems to be friendless there too, as a couple of members have been rushed in to sit behind him so it doesn't show on the TV. They then had a vigorous conversation with each other, and didn't listen to a word that he said.
.

[Tripps]

Diane Abbott is doing PMQ's tomorrow vs Dominic Raab.

She's the shadow Home Secretary - and will surely have to defend the new immigration policy fresh from being passed at the Brighton conference by delegates, which pledges to:

Oppose the current immigration legislation and any curbing of rights
Campaign for free movement, equality and rights for migrants
Reject any immigration system based on incomes, migrants’ utility to business, and number caps/targets.
Close all detention centres
Ensure unconditional right to family reunion
Maintain and extend free movement rights
End “no recourse to public funds” policies
Scrap all Hostile Environment measures… and restrictions on migrants’ NHS access
Extend equal rights to vote to all UK residents regardless of nationality.

[chinatyke]

End “no recourse to public funds” policies

Meanwhile my friend returned to UK last week from living in the Philippines and cannot access benefits until he is "Habitually Resident" again in UK, and must wait 2 years to be put on the social housing list in Bristol. This is an English guy who did 9(?) years in the army (Paras) including 5 tours of duty in Northern Ireland, Myanmar, and other places. OK, like me he chose to live outside the UK after retirement, but should that exclude him from his entitlements? Hardly seems fair that people from all over the world can walk in and get immediate assistance.

[Stanley]

Re. the new proposals. I can't understand why he won't publish the document once he has sent it to the EU.
Correction, I think it may be because having the proposals in writing would make it easier for them to be questioned..... My forecast? They will be rejected by the EU.
Let's not start another circular argument about immigration, China is correct, there are anomalies and cruel decisions all round. May's Home Office policy of making it hard is still in place.
Later... More fragmentary information filters out about the new case to be presented to the EU. It contains elements like customs clearance which we know the EU will not accept. Johnson says this is the last chance and it's deal or No Deal, the last and final offer. The Good Friday agreement looks very fragile. The strategy seems to be to be able to point at the EU and accuse them off intransigence if the offer isn't accepted. I seem to remember Richard forecasting this as well! On the whole, I think we are doomed!

[plaques]

Thomas Cooke still hits the headlines. Germany apparently kept the profitable bit of Thomas Cooke airlines going which reduced the overall cost of the collapsed bit. We on the other hand let it all collapse with a massive cost to the tax payer but good pickings for the vultures. Meanwhile studies are showing that other holiday airlines could go under in a similar fashion. The suggestion is for an insurance levy per passenger on airlines to cover any eventualities of this kind. The stronger airlines are against it probably because it smacks of socialism but are willing to let the tax payer pick up the tab which somehow is not socialism.
A You Tube interview with Boris Johnson asked if we adopted a no deal Brexit the North East (Newcastle area) would suffer a 16% drop in output. Boris's answer was complete waffle but it raises the question of what would happen in the Pendle area, our MP Andrew Stephenson is quiet on this subject. No doubt we would get the 'Northern Powerhouse' crap.