Saturday 25th & Sunday 26th November 2017

[HindleA]

http://www.communitycare.co.uk/2017/11/ ... cial-care/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[PorFavor]

Night night.

[AngryAsWell]

Head's spinning now.... this is from The Mail..

Putin's link to Boris and Gove's Brexit 'coup' revealed: Tycoon who netted millions from Russian gas deal funds think tank that helped write the ministers letter demanding May take a tougher stance on leaving the EU

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... z4zUFA34id" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... ealed.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[adam]

More dancing.

[youtube]9NW6jyE4Z0M[/youtube]

[AngryAsWell]

The city of Hamburg just destroyed a giant swastika with bulldozers and jackhammers

"It was built 72 years ago as part of a government make-work program, and the swastika was originally covered in bricks, he said."

http://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/as- ... -1.4417902" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Highlighted as our government love the slogan "make work pay" - or words to that effect.

[AngryAsWell]

Electoral body rejects claim by Vote Leave that it allowed donations
Electoral Commission denies assertion by group’s former chief that it sent letter permitting payments to other anti-EU campaigns

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/20 ... -donations" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[tinybgoat]

hmm, more legatum ideas ..
Irish border:
http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/brexit/2017/09/1 ... oblematic/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
airship patrols was one of theirs:
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-41232991" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[RogerOThornhill]

Jonathan Portes‏
@jdportes
4m4 minutes ago
More
Good sense on nationalisation from @PJTheEconomist. Government is buying an asset, so key issue is *not* cost/increased borrowing - it is how it is run in the public vs private sector #Marr

Quite.

I saw some really uninformed comments the other day about nationalisation not being an investment. If a private sector company bought into another company, then an investment is exactly how it would be treated.

[PaulfromYorkshire]

http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/edi ... 75971.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
For many of the British people, Brexit has been a long, slow process in accepting the reality that should have been better understood before the referendum. In the next three weeks, some things will become brutally clear that should have been obvious long ago.

I didn't understand at the time (or at any time since) why Cameron couldn't simply have said, OK, interesting input, this is a mandate to look at what Brexit would mean and we'll get back to you when we know more. ie: the referendum was a reason to spend time and money looking into it.

I think the biggest point about Cameron - that every one forgets or ignores (or pretends wasn't true/ was just a ploy) - is that he won the tory leadership on Euroscepticism. He based his campaign (to the party - if not his public persona) on being anti EU. At some point he had to live up to his leadership campaign's EU scepticism. During the coalition term he had good excuses why he could not act against the EU. After he won his small majority he had no more excuses and so the referendum - arranged/organised on the best terms possible for "out" to win - was born, and won.
To Cameron's satisfaction.
He got what he wanted all along, even at the cost of his own personal power.

This is spot on AAW.

And more precisely he won the leadership by promising to withdraw the Tories from the centre right coalition in the European Parliament.

At the time a Tory MEP forecast this would end in disaster. Sure enough when he needed Euro allies at the end, there were none.

[PaulfromYorkshire]

From 2009

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/20 ... ctions-epp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

david-cameron-european-elections-epp

[Caroline Jackson] was scathing about Cameron. She said: "David Cameron's decision on the EPP is pathetic and will sow the seeds of endless trouble. It will leave David Cameron and William Hague very isolated because it will leave bad blood with Christian Democrat parties throughout Europe. It is a stupid, stupid policy.

"The party will probably have to creep back to the EPP and say sorry. The Tories are doing this because the party is run by people whose ultimate agenda is to pull Britain out of the EU. I have been a member of the Conservative party since 1963 and started working for the Conservative Research Department in 1973. This is one of the most dotty escapades the Conservative party had ever embarked on."

[Willow904]

I wonder what Caroline Jackson thinks of current Tory party escapades.

Seriously, you do wonder where all the sensible Tories have gone. I could have sworn they weren't all extreme Eurosceptics once upon a time.

[PaulfromYorkshire]

I wonder what Caroline Jackson thinks of current Tory party escapades.

Seriously, you do wonder where all the sensible Tories have gone. I could have sworn they weren't all extreme Eurosceptics once upon a time.

It's a good question!

[AngryAsWell]

£72 BILLION: The cost of Brexit is already turning Britain into a second-rung nation

http://uk.businessinsider.com/the-econo ... dp-2017-11" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[PaulfromYorkshire]

No comment needed

[PorFavor]

Does anyone here know what Liam Fox's latest pronouncement (from this morning) is? It seems to be causing a few ripples but no-one (so far) is telling me what he said.

[PorFavor]

Good morfternoon.

[AngryAsWell]

Vote Leave donations: the dark ads, the mystery ‘letter’ – and Brexit’s online guru
Dominic Cummings seemed the perfect man to lead Vote Leave’s strategic team. Where did he discover his passion for data?

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/20 ... are_btn_tw" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[AngryAsWell]

Does anyone here know what Liam Fox's latest pronouncement (from this morning) is? It seems to be causing a few ripples but no-one (so far) is telling me what he said.

Try these ?
Liam Fox faces stormy trip to Australia in row over trade quotas

https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics ... rts-Brexit" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Liam Fox’s fantasy of tariff-free future may collide with zombie reality
Phillip Inman
Trade secretary’s vision of entrepreneurial Britain fails to account for under-skilled workers, lack of training and opportunities

https://www.theguardian.com/business/20 ... uk-reality" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

TRADE WARS Liam Fox slapped down by Theresa May after he blasts British business and claims that ‘if they don’t want to export, that doesn’t do us any good’
The International Trade Secretary's comments were rebuffed by the PM's spokesperson after he said it was up to British businesses to take advantage of his trade deals

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/4990641/l ... e-economy/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[tinybgoat]

Does anyone here know what Liam Fox's latest pronouncement (from this morning) is? It seems to be causing a few ripples but no-one (so far) is telling me what he said.

Try these ?
Liam Fox faces stormy trip to Australia in row over trade quotas

https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics ... rts-Brexit" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Liam Fox’s fantasy of tariff-free future may collide with zombie reality
Phillip Inman
Trade secretary’s vision of entrepreneurial Britain fails to account for under-skilled workers, lack of training and opportunities

https://www.theguardian.com/business/20 ... uk-reality" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

TRADE WARS Liam Fox slapped down by Theresa May after he blasts British business and claims that ‘if they don’t want to export, that doesn’t do us any good’
The International Trade Secretary's comments were rebuffed by the PM's spokesperson after he said it was up to British businesses to take advantage of his trade deals

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/4990641/l ... e-economy/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

And this
" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

International Trade Secretary Liam Fox has told Sky News the Government does not want a hard border in Ireland but no decision will be made until the final Brexit deal is agreed

[AngryAsWell]

Johnson & Johnson pulls plan for first UK research centre

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/201 ... ch-centre/#" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[PaulfromYorkshire]

Johnson & Johnson pulls plan for first UK research centre

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/201 ... ch-centre/#" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[PaulfromYorkshire]

Does anyone here know what Liam Fox's latest pronouncement (from this morning) is? It seems to be causing a few ripples but no-one (so far) is telling me what he said.

Try these ?
Liam Fox faces stormy trip to Australia in row over trade quotas

https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics ... rts-Brexit" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Liam Fox’s fantasy of tariff-free future may collide with zombie reality
Phillip Inman
Trade secretary’s vision of entrepreneurial Britain fails to account for under-skilled workers, lack of training and opportunities

https://www.theguardian.com/business/20 ... uk-reality" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

TRADE WARS Liam Fox slapped down by Theresa May after he blasts British business and claims that ‘if they don’t want to export, that doesn’t do us any good’
The International Trade Secretary's comments were rebuffed by the PM's spokesperson after he said it was up to British businesses to take advantage of his trade deals

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/4990641/l ... e-economy/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

And this
" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

International Trade Secretary Liam Fox has told Sky News the Government does not want a hard border in Ireland but no decision will be made until the final Brexit deal is agreed

This is almost an admission of failure isn't it? ROI have been quite clear the issue needs settling forthwith.

[Willow904]

The Irish situation is getting interesting. Liam Fox talks of exceptions the UK has made for Republic of Ireland in the past:

" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

He also says we don't want a hard border. The implication as far as I can tell is that when a hard border becomes inevitable because the UK has chosen to leave the SM and CU, he's suggesting that will be the Republic of Ireland's fault for not granting us similar exceptions to those we have granted them in the past. As if they aren't part of the SM and it's our choice to leave the SM. I may be reading him wrong, but I can't see any other reason to bring up our unique past relationship with RoI, which was mostly, if not completely, superseded by our both being EU members.

Meanwhile the DUP is adamant they won't accept a border between NI and rest of UK. Of course they won't, because that's a fast track to a united Ireland, so the only solution within the UK's gift is off the table because May failed to win the snap election which was supposed to make such unpopular choices easier to push through Parliament.

Hard Brexiters are in a real muddle on this and Liam Fox this morning seems to illustrate that muddle to perfection.

[AnatolyKasparov]

Johnson & Johnson

Makes them sound more respectable than they actually are

[PaulfromYorkshire]

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/20 ... -uk-brexit" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

liam-fox-northern-ireland-border-eu-trade-deal-uk-brexit

Not much here that hasn't already been said above, but worth a look.

[HindleA]

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfr ... are-crisis" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


The Observer view on the social care crisis
Observer editorial

[tinybgoat]

The Irish situation is getting interesting. Liam Fox talks of exceptions the UK has made for Republic of Ireland in the past:

" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

He also says we don't want a hard border. The implication as far as I can tell is that when a hard border becomes inevitable because the UK has chosen to leave the SM and CU, he's suggesting that will be the Republic of Ireland's fault for not granting us similar exceptions to those we have granted them in the past. As if they aren't part of the SM and it's our choice to leave the SM. I may be reading him wrong, but I can't see any other reason to bring up our unique past relationship with RoI, which was mostly, if not completely, superseded by our both being EU members.

Meanwhile the DUP is adamant they won't accept a border between NI and rest of UK. Of course they won't, because that's a fast track to a united Ireland, so the only solution within the UK's gift is off the table because May failed to win the snap election which was supposed to make such unpopular choices easier to push through Parliament.

Hard Brexiters are in a real muddle on this and Liam Fox this morning seems to illustrate that muddle to perfection.

Interesting, it's quite an achievement making a suggestion that's going to be unacceptable to all parties in Ireland & N.Ireland, but he may have managed it.

[PaulfromYorkshire]

The above in a cartoon

[tinybgoat]

Johnson & Johnson

Makes them sound more respectable than they actually are

To be fair, 'Baby Powder' always sounded slightly suspect.

[AnatolyKasparov]

For the fourth week in a row the Observer has Nick Cohen conspicuous by his absence, even though he has had stuff published elsewhere in that time.

Some are starting to wonder......

[PaulfromYorkshire]

[Willow904]

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/20 ... -uk-brexit

liam-fox-northern-ireland-border-eu-trade-deal-uk-brexit

Not much here that hasn't already been said above, but worth a look.

Not much more except this:

Barry Gardiner, the shadow international trade secretary, had earlier told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show that Labour had not ruled out staying in the single market and forging a new customs union with the EU.

Now we just need Corbyn to stop saying we can't be in the single market outside the EU and Labour will almost have a sensible Brexit policy

On the other hand insisting on leaving the SM whilst trying to keep the DUP on board and honour the Good Friday agreement might be the perfect path to declaring Brexit impossible and calling the whole thing off!

[AngryAsWell]

Robert Peston: 'I’m not saying Britain is finished, but our current problems are not a blip'
ITV’s political editor believes a universal basic income for every Briton is inevitable and that without a radical reinvention of the welfare state, the country is hurtling towards economic chaos

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2017/ ... are_btn_tw" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[tinyclanger2]

Johnson & Johnson pulls plan for first UK research centre

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/201 ... ch-centre/#" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

This cross-party Remain coalition we've heard mutterings about needs to start making some noise.

[tinyclanger2]

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/20 ... -uk-brexit

liam-fox-northern-ireland-border-eu-trade-deal-uk-brexit

Not much here that hasn't already been said above, but worth a look.

Not much more except this:

Barry Gardiner, the shadow international trade secretary, had earlier told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show that Labour had not ruled out staying in the single market and forging a new customs union with the EU.

Now we just need Corbyn to stop saying we can't be in the single market outside the EU and Labour will almost have a sensible Brexit policy

On the other hand insisting on leaving the SM whilst trying to keep the DUP on board and honour the Good Friday agreement might be the perfect path to declaring Brexit impossible and calling the whole thing off!

You say tomayto I say tomarto
You say Brexit I say Bollox
Tomayto Tomarto
Brexit Bollox
Let's call the whole thing off

[citizenJA]

No comment needed

Taking obscure shots at Gardiner gives away how terrified Tories are
When's the GE?

[citizenJA]

Good-afternoon, everyone

[tinyclanger2]

#Shipping - Britain’s potential loss of access to the EU single market has already seen two of the world’s top shipping insurers choose Ireland as a new base of operations, as The Irish Times reports.
https://afloat.ie/port-news/port-and-sh ... exit-storm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[tinyclanger2]

http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/bre ... 76476.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
“We want to double our nation’s exports to £1 trillion this decade,” the former Chancellor, George Osborne, proclaimed in his 2012 Budget speech. Many said at the time that it was a foolishly unrealistic target. But ministers insisted it really could be done. Comparing it to Maoist pledges of a great leap in steel production was unduly cynical, we were told. So, five years on, are we nearly there yet? Not exactly.

Alongside Philip Hammond’s Autumn Budget last week, the Office for Budget Responsibility released its latest UK exports forecasts. The total value of overseas sales in 2017 is projected to be only £549bn, up just 16 per cent on the £473bn in 2012. And the forecast for 2020, the date when we were supposed to hit the magic £1 trillion number? £575bn. So a miss by a mere £425bn. Not exactly the kind of sum one finds down the back of the sofa.

[citizenJA]

Who is writing Guardian's headlines
Tabloid much

[citizenJA]

I wonder what Caroline Jackson thinks of current Tory party escapades.

Seriously, you do wonder where all the sensible Tories have gone. I could have sworn they weren't all extreme Eurosceptics once upon a time.

History teaches us more sensible voices get drowned out once past a tipping point

[citizenJA]

Who is writing Guardian's headlines
Tabloid much

I'm in a bad mood

[AnatolyKasparov]

Robert Peston: 'I’m not saying Britain is finished, but our current problems are not a blip'
ITV’s political editor believes a universal basic income for every Briton is inevitable and that without a radical reinvention of the welfare state, the country is hurtling towards economic chaos

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2017/ ... are_btn_tw" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Peston has been saying some interesting things lately, wonder if he would have felt as free to if he was still at the BBC?

[tinyclanger2]

https://descrier.co.uk/politics/brexit- ... -escapade/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Farage is not the only leading Brexit figure that has attempted to manipulate the plight of British fishermen. During the EU referendum campaign, Michael Gove repeatedly claimed that the CFP caused his family financial hardship and forced his father to sell his fishing business. Gove’s version of events was contradicted by his father in an interview with the Guardian.

[PorFavor]

Boom in renewables weakens fracking's case in UK, says Tory MP

Chair of policy committee also points to action to extract more North Sea gas and oil, suggesting support for shale gas is cooling (Guardian)

https://www.theguardian.com/environment ... -gas-shale

[AnatolyKasparov]

Hilarious self-own by Ren-tool on Twitter today

[Willow904]

Boom in renewables weakens fracking's case in UK, says Tory MP

Chair of policy committee also points to action to extract more North Sea gas and oil, suggesting support for shale gas is cooling (Guardian)

https://www.theguardian.com/environment ... -gas-shale

Yay!

I've always been sceptical about the economic case for fracking in the UK, even when oil prices were high. As renewables become more established and cheaper, reducing our dependence on imported gas, hopefully the economic case for fracking will reduce even further.

[citizenJA]

[Liam] Fox said the European commission was “obsessed … about the concept of ever-closer union” and should put economic considerations first.
“I think this needs to be an economic Brexit, not a political one,” he said.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/20 ... -uk-brexit" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Liam Fox has accused the EU of putting politics over prosperity by threatening to take a hard line on the terms of post-Brexit trade with Britain.
The international trade secretary said it was in everyone’s interests for trade barriers to be kept to a minimum when Britain leaves the EU, and called on senior figures in Brussels to curb their rhetoric.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/20 ... s-liam-fox" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Nothing has changed! Nothing has changed!

[PaulfromYorkshire]

[Liam] Fox said the European commission was “obsessed … about the concept of ever-closer union” and should put economic considerations first.
“I think this needs to be an economic Brexit, not a political one,” he said.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/20 ... -uk-brexit" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Liam Fox has accused the EU of putting politics over prosperity by threatening to take a hard line on the terms of post-Brexit trade with Britain.
The international trade secretary said it was in everyone’s interests for trade barriers to be kept to a minimum when Britain leaves the EU, and called on senior figures in Brussels to curb their rhetoric.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/20 ... s-liam-fox" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Nothing has changed! Nothing has changed!

Yes this seems to be the latest Tory line. Because of course a free-trade Europe without political safeguards has always worked so well before right?

[citizenJA]

Boom in renewables weakens fracking's case in UK, says Tory MP

Chair of policy committee also points to action to extract more North Sea gas and oil, suggesting support for shale gas is cooling (Guardian)

https://www.theguardian.com/environment ... -gas-shale

Sane people never did support hydraulic fracturing in the UK