The passage of time in Wellington and elsewhere
Saturday morning run done.
A beautiful autumnal morning-so English or at least temperate.
The crunch of fallen leaves under foot and the noises of children playing football and others exercising. Cold but fresh and with the added beauty of the Thames and Barnes common.
Merkel welcomes deal but hints this is last chance
There is “no question” of further Brexit negotiations if the deal struck by Theresa May is rejected, Angela Merkel has said.
Speaking in Berlin, the German chancellor welcomed the deal but warned a chaotic exit was still possible as a “worst case” scenario.
“We have a document on the table that Britain and the EU 27 have agreed to, so for me there is no question at the moment whether we negotiate further,” the Chancellor said.
Today the front page of the Telegraph:
A proposed option proposed is a further renegotiation though how does that have legs? The draft has come from two plus years of negotiation. Is the EU willing to do restart? There is a time limit here as other steps have to fall in place. Another example of the lack of reality.
Plus we have the promotion that ‘no deal’ is all fine. Nothing really to fear. Fear promoted by the ‘establishment’. That coming from Charles Moore! The sniff of desperation from Brexiteers. No one really knows of course as it is the future that one is analysing but the majority of people as concerned about the impact of no deal because the sudden change in rules and agreements will be disruptive-seriously. Brexiteers told us it would all be so easy to reach a deal, achieve what we wanted, all so quickly. That was a pack of lies. Now they promote the idea that a ‘no-deal’ transition will be easy. On the Telegraph podcast one leading ERG member confidently said that the disruption would last only a few months and then all would be fine. I am more inclined to think this is more lies.
Just a few notes and links to record the goings on with the current political upheaval. Apparently the most politically momentous day since WW2.
It seems so unreal and less dramatic than that as it has all been coming for so long and the resulting issues and troubles are as one predicted two years ago or more after the referendum result and the reality of what could be offered and negotiated. The draft agreement that the government has reached does not satisfy anyone.
It is possibly the best compromise for a bad idea that could be reached though it is easy to be critical of the whole negotiating method since the onset. Bluster and arrogance followed by realisation and retreat.
So the deal on offer does not satisfy the mad Brexiteers as the links to the EU remain and its influence continues-‘UK being as rule taker and not a rule maker’- so much for taking back control and sovereignty. But compromise is needed in the eyes of most to avoid the ‘hard’/ ‘cliff edge’ Brexit that anyone with any sense sees as leading to chaos and pain in the short to medium term.
Of course the Brexit brigade claim the changes will not be so bad and all will be good in the end. The ‘end’ being possibly 50 years time according to William R-M one of the evangelist exiters who is most certainly ‘all right Jack’ and is in a position to take the shit when it hits the country’s fan.
So much of this is predictable and continues to be impossible to reach a state that satisfies a majority. The arch Brexiters will never be satisfied as they still live in Brexit dream and with no acknowledgement of the potential downsides of the change. They continue to harangue from the sidelines, criticising the negotiation plans and outcomes yet offering nothing as an alternative. When they are in charge- such as Raab and David Davies they resign when they have failed to conjure something that fits their dream and bitterly complain it is someone else’s fault, ie, Theresa May. I note R-M lists the potential Tory party leaders as those Brexiters who have been involved as ministers and resigned- because it all became too difficult to square their dreams and the reality. That does not augur well for their leadership of the future.
Now R-Mogg and co are looking to unseat May through a party no confidence bid. To what end? Is it to take he decision out of Parliament’s hands where they have no majority for a ‘no deal’ Brexit and so try to force a crashing out by default and achieve what they have always wanted? A ‘sovereign ‘ in name country but which will be bossed around by more powerful nations or pressured by any state negotiating because of the UK’s position of weakness through desperation. But they will try to follow through with their neoliberal small state agenda. No regulations, free business oppression of all while claiming they are doing the poor a favour. Nauseating.
A comical look at the state of affairs and how even now cannot admit the ridiculous and impossible demands of the original Brexit campaign which was also evidenced during May’s press conference yesterday afternoon after the prolonged statement to Parliament.
It’s all intrigue and acrimony from the right wing Brexit press without insight into their own failings:
May is continuing to fight her corner– doggedly I suppose but with what expectation.
The possible routes from this point remain multiple. Who knows? Crashing or stopping Brexit through another vote? More change ahead but a wounded May to continue for now I expect but in the end no parliamentary approval of the deal.
So the real reason for being in Covent Garden was to meet in the Porterhouse and go for a meal across the road. Pub was heaving. All arrived eventually.
Good fun had by all.
An afternoon spent in the ‘Maple Leaf’ pub watching England v New Zealand with Bridge and Elaine along with a host of other rugby fans.
Of note, other than the tight win for the ABs with the cancellation of an England try at the death thanks to the TMO, was my support for New Zealand. With these contests I am split for loyalty if that is really an important issue. NZ were the team today as being perverse comes easily with so many supporting England. Equally the arrogance of England comes into play.
And next week NZ v Ireland- a closer call.
Invoking ‘democracy’ to avoid another referendum is the refuge of charlatans
Britain’s worst politicians, which is to say the leaders of the Conservative and Labour parties, pretend that the democracy of a second referendum is a danger to democracy. Outsiders may believe that the true danger lies in a Brexit that threatens the hard-won peace in Ireland, the union with Scotland, the living standards of the poorest people and regions and Britain’s influence in the world, for the sake of a fantasy that was invented by charlatans and is being implemented by incompetents, so unqualified in statecraft they can neither agree among themselves nor be honest with the public about the dismal choices ahead.
British politicians believe that they can play the innocent because the referendum has freed them from responsibility. All they must do is execute the “people’s will” and “the people” will thank them.
An interesting article on the (previously) proposed sale of Wembley stadium by the FA.
It comes across as a useful metaphor for broader society:
In a football nation with 20 mostly overseas-owned Premier League clubs sharing £8.4bn in TV deals from 2016-19, two out of three grass pitches were found to be inadequate. More than 147,000 grassroots matches were postponed last year because of pitches being unplayable. Over decades since the establishment of major public playing fields, particularly in cities, severe underfunding during the last Conservative government from 1979 to 1997, followed by relentless budget cuts since 2010, has also left many with no or pathetically inadequate changing rooms.
