UK Politics Thread (Part 1)

[Barnestormer]

Haha its been going on for the past 25 years

UK Hydrographic Office

[Flobs]

Brilliant, I was reading about the Irish equivalent a few months ago (can’t remember why probably just museing about the continental shelf, corals, sea weed and the such like). i’ll give that a bouchers later (there’s a match tonight.

[Barnestormer]

They know where the undersea UFO bases are mate…ner-nee-ner-ner

[Flobs]

I’ll get my tin foil hat out

[ISMF]

Peter Stefanovic (PeterStefanovi2)

Cleverly doing the rounds (saying same thing on multiple interviews) gas-lighting.

[Flobs]

He must be completely ignorant and dishonest over the shenanigans over the Irish border stuff then. Just business as usual!

[Kopstar]

Brexit: UK signals possible changes to bill in Brexit row

[Lowton_Red]

@Kopstar

I personally think that the outcome as at 1st January will be “No deal…for now” and talks will just continue until it’s sorted.

Whether that means WTO from 1st January or an extension of the transition period I don’t know. It would seem absurd to temporarily go to WTO if there’s a chance that a deal can be ratified within the first few months of 2021. So that’s probably what will happen cos, you know.

If a deal is substantially done, then it would be insanity to walk away from negotiations over the (few?) remaining sticking points.

Consequently, an extension of time (of the transition period), to enable negotiations to continue whilst ensuring the least disruption to trade, would therefore, in my opinion, be the logical way to go.

However, would this be seen as an “U” turn / loss of face, by Bojo; and would his party support it?

[anon27364116]

‘If you sign a deal with us we might not override our previous deal.’

[anon27364116]

Turns out chatting with Ursula didn’t achieve anything, who could have possibly predicted that?

[Kopstar]

@anon27364116

‘If you sign a deal with us we might not override our previous deal.’

Sounds reasonable

[Arminius]

The awkward point there is that extension of the transition period will require agreement from the member states. I have no idea what the disposition of each member would be.

[cynicaloldgit]

I’m sure Bozo used his charm and made loads of crap Ursula Undress jokes.

[Flobs]

My guess is France would be against I just get a feeling they have had enough, they drew their lines a long time ago and the UK hasn’t even gotten close.

[Lowton_Red]

@Arminius

The awkward point there is that extension of the transition period will require agreement from the member states. I have no idea what the disposition of each member would be.

Likewise parliamentary approval.

I would hope that both sides would accept an extension of time of the transition period, albeit with a faux show of reluctance, rather than being portrayed as being unreasonable and the party guilty of killing off any chance of a deal.

Some hope, I know.

[Arminius]

Parliamentary approval would be a rubber stamp, I expect. The risk around member state approval is more complicated, because I believe that would require unanimity, which in turn would mean some members with other agendas on otherwise unconnected matters would have the opportunity to link their extension vote. The EU is facing a good many challenges right now.

[Arminius]

Possible, but France also has an enormous stake in getting to some kind of deal - not just any deal though.

[Barnestormer]

This all sounds very fishy to me.

[Lowton_Red]

@Arminius

Parliamentary approval would be a rubber stamp, I expect.

I’m not so certain; there are a number of hard Brexit Tories who would prefer no deal and would be willing to rebel to achieve their ends. Would Bojo be prepared to risk his standing (accusations of backsliding / weakness etc), and being dependent on Labour / SNP votes against a large block of his own mps, to get it done?

@Arminius

The risk around member state approval is more complicated, because I believe that would require unanimity, which in turn would mean some members with other agendas on otherwise unconnected matters would have the opportunity to link their extension vote. The EU is facing a good many challenges right now.

That is a definite risk. It would come down to what pressure the other member states could (or would be willing) to apply.

Suddenly I’m a lot less certain that an extension of time might happen.

[Barnestormer]

With every failed extension the prospect of another diminishes, but in this case, what is the alternative? I think it depends whether the interested parties consider the residual issues intractable.