[Joanna Lytton-Vasey]

Re: Which will last longer: Brexit dream or Trump presidency?

After the second vote I made the following comment:

Prime Ministress May has scored a great triumph this evening, reducing the parliamentary majority against her from an historic and record-breaking 230 votes to a mere 149. This reveals that 40.5 members of parliament have been won over to her side and, assuming this success rate continues, it should only take another two votes on the same question for her to bend her own supporters to her will.

I was very wrong: she has just lost the same vote for a third time, but this time by a mere 58 votes, revealing that this time 45.5 people had moved over to her side (or possibly 145.5 moved in her direction and 100 moved the other way or were simply bewildered by the complexity of the Yes/No choice).

The good news is that this means Mrs May does not have to resign after all, as her resignation depending on people supporting her. Or something like that.

[Basilissa]

Re: Which will last longer: Brexit dream or Trump presidency?

It's getting close to Trump's State Department putting the whole country on shithole watch.

For a good reason, too - their entire Parliament went ape!

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...rexit-day.html

[WilliamJenningsBryan]

Re: Which will last longer: Brexit dream or Trump presidency?

I dare say it looks like the situation is continuing to decay at an alarming rate. It's getting close to Trump's State Department putting the whole country on shithole watch.

[Basilissa]

Re: Which will last longer: Brexit dream or Trump presidency?

<on edit> My dear husband Matthew has just pointed out that if this vote ends in a draw, which is technically possible, Mr Bercow will have the casting vote. If he refuses to use it, then it will have to go to penalties. Nobody is quite clear as to how that would work in a parliamentary context.

I admit I have been watching a lot of BBC lately - with all the anti-Trump negativity in late night shows, I had to explore other comedy options, and with the ongoing Brexit show, BBC is it!

However, while the Brexit show is incredibly funny, I do wonder - is it proper to laugh at someone else's agony? Or should we do the merciful act of ending British agony and just drop a nuke in London?

[Didymus Much]

Re: Which will last longer: Brexit dream or Trump presidency?

...if this vote ends in a draw, which is technically possible, Mr Bercow will have the casting vote. If he refuses to use it, then it will have to go to penalties. Nobody is quite clear as to how that would work in a parliamentary context.

Codpieces and halberds at ten paces?

[Joanna Lytton-Vasey]

Re: Which will last longer: Brexit dream or Trump presidency?

From what I read, the war ("Decisive Parliamentarian victory") established the precedent that an English monarch cannot govern without Parliament's consent...

And that, in a nutshell, has been Queen Theresa's problem. The current state of play is difficult to explain: perhaps a soccerball analogy would help, for those TC™ Gentlemen who follow the game of thugs? At half time, after the initial vote on the Mrs May Master Plan (MMMP), the score was May 0 - 1 Parliament. The second half didn't go too well for her either, as she scored an own-goal, and at full time (when she was told she wouldn't be allowed to present the MMMP for a third vote) it was 0-2 to Parliament.

But nice Mr Bercow (see below), whose job it is to keep order, has kindly let the match go to extra time, for the sake of our (and his) entertainment. The MMMP will be voted on once more and if Mrs May wins, she will win the match (despite having lost 1-2) and move forward to the next round in the tournament. Or she would, except that she has had to promise that if they let her win, she will resign and let someone else rule. It is not entirely clear why she would do this, but it makes little difference as nobody believes her anyway.

<on edit> My dear husband Matthew has just pointed out that if this vote ends in a draw, which is technically possible, Mr Bercow will have the casting vote. If he refuses to use it, then it will have to go to penalties. Nobody is quite clear as to how that would work in a parliamentary context.

[Dr. Anthony J. Toole]

Re: Which will last longer: Brexit dream or Trump presidency?

You'd need quite a large room. Now that the weather's improving, it might be better to have it on one of the old Civil War battlefields. Marston Moor is nice, but maybe a bit far north; Naseby would be more convenient.

Goodness that does sound rather exciting! I had to read up on my English civil war history to learn about Naseby and see if there were any parallels with today's events.

There aren't but some of the tussles between the King and Parliament about getting funding for certain projects do sound familiar. From what I read, the war ("Decisive Parliamentarian victory") established the precedent that an English monarch cannot govern without Parliament's consent although the idea of Parliament as the ruling power of England was only legally established as part of the Glorious Revolution in 1688.

Who knew?! That's what I love about England. So much history and obscure precedents and battles on your own soil. Ah good times, to be young again... the thrill of battle, the spoils of war, taking your country back.

[Joanna Lytton-Vasey]

Re: Which will last longer: Brexit dream or Trump presidency?

You'd need quite a large room. Now that the weather's improving, it might be better to have it on one of the old Civil War battlefields. Marston Moor is nice, but maybe a bit far north; Naseby would be more convenient.

Some of the placards at that march in London yesterday were frankly offensive. I do hope this smirking man has been reported to the police.

[Dr. Anthony J. Toole]

Re: Which will last longer: Brexit dream or Trump presidency?

It just occurred to me as I was eating rustic baguette and aged camembert the other day (not an acceptable subsitute for Kraft tin-cheese and Sara Lee triple honey slice white bread), what if, like, all the remainers and all the leavers got in a room together one day and fought to sort all this out. Honor would be satisfied if this were to happen.

[Joanna Lytton-Vasey]

Re: Which will last longer: Brexit dream or Trump presidency?

The DUP has just weighed in with support for President May.

Has it? An hour or two ago it weighed in (or possibly out) against her.

According to a DUP spokesman, "the government has consistently settled for inferior compromises when they didn’t need to and when there was, and is, more negotiating with the EU to be done."

The Ulster prods have always been noted for their moderation and ace negotiating skills.

[Dr. Anthony J. Toole]

Re: Which will last longer: Brexit dream or Trump presidency?

The DUP has just weighed in with support for President May. As you all know, the DUP is a political party in Northern Ireland known for it's competent handling of political matters. Interested readers can look at the follow link (the clue's in the title):

https://theconversation.com/theres-a-reason-why-northern-ireland-has-been-without-a-government-for-more-than-500-days-brexit-102297

According to a DUP spokesman, "the government has consistently settled for inferior compromises when they didn’t need to and when there was, and is, more negotiating with the EU to be done."

Unfortunately the DUP is the party that negotiated themselves out of having any government at all in Northern Ireland. President May must be just thrilled to receive their advice. She should feel particularly proud to have allied her own political party with one known for bringing down the government. Go DUP! Whoops oh no, I did it again. Another government brought down.

[Joanna Lytton-Vasey]

Re: Which will last longer: Brexit dream or Trump presidency?

In the light of the current situation, the British parliament is currently (as I write) discussing the state of hospitals in Gaza. I think this goes some way toward explaining why Britain is where it is at this time.

Meanwhile in Europe, French leader Monsieur Macaron is being frightfully rude, even by French standards, about Mrs May. This is surprising as we all know he likes mutton dressed as lamb elderly ladies in youthful clothing. Perhaps she spurned his advances? Or is he just trying to distract his own people from the fact that their country is mostly on fire?

[MitzaLizalor]

Re: Which will last longer: Brexit dream or Trump presidency?

I didn't know their Speaker was so musical. They do have a Speaker don't they?

[Dr. Anthony J. Toole]

Re: Which will last longer: Brexit dream or Trump presidency?

Slow day again in Brexit-land. The President Theresa May reached out directly to the people telling them "I'm on your side" while castigating the other 649 Congressmen in Parliament for failing to provide free ponies, rainbows and $350M/week for everyone. One partiularly weak-kneed individual cried out loud:

Wes Streeting MP (@wesstreeting) I’ve thought long and hard before saying this, but @theresa_may knows that MPs across the House are subjected to death threats - some very credible. Her speech was incendiary and irresponsible. If any harm comes to any of us, she will have to accept her share of responsibility.

What a sissy! Come visit the United States - or any other civilized country, for that matter, like the Philippines, Russia or Turkey - and enjoy the spectacle of freedom loving people actively encouraged by the President to openly carry automatic weapons "to protect themselves" from hateful, socialist speech. If you love your freedom, you should stop talking right about now.

[MitzaLizalor]

Re: Which will last longer: Brexit dream or Trump presidency?

Hell doesn't get invoked much in transnational politics. Europe is conjuring up a special magic version for Englishes but more pertinent to the issue in hand would be exactly, why? Is this an opening gambit? Or the last spouting of idiocy from a ruined foe.

Nobody wants to see coffins. But claims about what happens later directed at any nation whether Welsh or Hebridean or Atlantic or, let's face it, even the Cornish confronted with jibes will respond. How? again is not quantified but threats of subterranean consequences are not likely to upset the Cornish.