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Friday 1st June 2018

Posted: Fri 01 Jun, 2018 7:40 am
by PaulfromYorkshire
@AngelaRayner
3 minutes ago
The Tories promised that they would run the ‘most transparent government ever’ but we now have the absurd spectacle of their unelected schools minister refusing to be transparent about his own transparency policy.
Morning!

Re: Friday 1st June 2018

Posted: Fri 01 Jun, 2018 7:46 am
by PaulfromYorkshire
Is the European Union a 'protectionist racket'?
By Andrew Walker
BBC World Service economics correspondent

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-44291103" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Recommended by Portes

Re: Friday 1st June 2018

Posted: Fri 01 Jun, 2018 9:05 am
by frog222
PaulfromYorkshire wrote:Is the European Union a 'protectionist racket'?
By Andrew Walker
BBC World Service economics correspondent

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-44291103" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Recommended by Portes
My impression from a quick read is that gains from brexit might lower the broader cost of living by a teeny amount but certain sectors such as parts of agriculture would be hard hit .

The EU compares very well with the rest of the world, so if it ain't broke why fix it ? ( Barriers to trade from Africa are shown to be false, which was new to me ! )

Re: Friday 1st June 2018

Posted: Fri 01 Jun, 2018 9:42 am
by gilsey
Fionna O'Leary #FBPE #BrexitBetraysBritain #ABTV


@fascinatorfun
1h1 hour ago
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Legatum Institute criticised by Charity Commission and ordered to remove its report on Brexit from its website. It failed to reflect the potential negative aspects of Brexit, thus failing in its requirement of impartiality.
https://www.ft.com/content/50952a76-64d ... f188287fff" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


not paywalled

Re: Friday 1st June 2018

Posted: Fri 01 Jun, 2018 9:47 am
by gilsey
Stephen Bush

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@stephenkb
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Honestly the urge to just file "if the Secretary of State won't take Brexit seriously, why should I?" is pretty strong this morning

Re: Friday 1st June 2018

Posted: Fri 01 Jun, 2018 10:03 am
by PaulfromYorkshire
Any more news on the "buffer zone"?

Re: Friday 1st June 2018

Posted: Fri 01 Jun, 2018 10:09 am
by refitman
PaulfromYorkshire wrote:Any more news on the "buffer zone"?
Not heard anything. However, Arlene is on her way to Scotland to go on an Orange march.

Re: Friday 1st June 2018

Posted: Fri 01 Jun, 2018 10:52 am
by PorFavor
PaulfromYorkshire wrote:Any more news on the "buffer zone"?
I'm having trouble comprehending the whole idea. Is it envisaged as some sort of space travel air-lock zone?

Re: Friday 1st June 2018

Posted: Fri 01 Jun, 2018 10:52 am
by PorFavor
Good morfternoon.

Re: Friday 1st June 2018

Posted: Fri 01 Jun, 2018 10:57 am
by RogerOThornhill
PorFavor wrote:
PaulfromYorkshire wrote:Any more news on the "buffer zone"?
I'm having trouble comprehending the whole idea. Is it envisaged as some sort of space travel air-lock zone?
Twitter reaction from the people who know a thing or two has been largely one of derision.

Morning all. Apart from one bit of fact-checking to do on Monday, my third local history article is finished.

Re: Friday 1st June 2018

Posted: Fri 01 Jun, 2018 11:02 am
by PaulfromYorkshire
PorFavor wrote:
PaulfromYorkshire wrote:Any more news on the "buffer zone"?
I'm having trouble comprehending the whole idea. Is it envisaged as some sort of space travel air-lock zone?
I think it's probably quite simple.

There can be no infrastructure or checks of any kind on the geographical border between the Republic and NI.

There have to be checks somewhere, most logically at Irish Sea ports. But the border in the Irish Sea is intolerable to the Unionists, and you can see why.

So I'm guessing Davis is proposing a new, second administrative border 10 miles inside UK territory. If you live in Derry (or amusingly in Arlene Foster's house) you will be able to travel and trade freely with the south, but may get stopped on your way to Belfast.

I think that'll be it, but who knows....

Re: Friday 1st June 2018

Posted: Fri 01 Jun, 2018 11:08 am
by PaulfromYorkshire
You can see how a civil servant would come up with a proposal like this. It's a classic compromise. It's probably also quite sensible. The ten miles is probably well chosen so that it is in less populated regions than the real border, so relatively few roads cross it and so on.

So, relatively few check points needed. Not in areas that as many people cross much in their daily lives.

But never going to happen I guess :twisted:

Re: Friday 1st June 2018

Posted: Fri 01 Jun, 2018 11:11 am
by PorFavor
PaulfromYorkshire wrote:
PorFavor wrote:
PaulfromYorkshire wrote:Any more news on the "buffer zone"?
I'm having trouble comprehending the whole idea. Is it envisaged as some sort of space travel air-lock zone?
I think it's probably quite simple.

There can be no infrastructure or checks of any kind on the geographical border between the Republic and NI.

There have to be checks somewhere, most logically at Irish Sea ports. But the border in the Irish Sea is intolerable to the Unionists, and you can see why.

So I'm guessing Davis is proposing a new, second administrative border 10 miles inside UK territory. If you live in Derry (or amusingly in Arlene Foster's house) you will be able to travel and trade freely with the south, but may get stopped on your way to Belfast.

I think that'll be it, but who knows....
Ah, thanks. Put like that, it all makes perfect sense . . .

Now, having solved that problem - in addition to having achieved an "easy" and "quick" trade deal with the USA, we can move on to sorting out Gibraltar if it now proves necessary to do so. Theresa May will enjoy a different challenge.

Re: Friday 1st June 2018

Posted: Fri 01 Jun, 2018 11:21 am
by PaulfromYorkshire
PorFavor wrote:Ah, thanks. Put like that, it all makes perfect sense . . .

Now, having solved that problem - in addition to having achieved an "easy" and "quick" trade deal with the USA, we can move on to sorting out Gibraltar if it now proves necessary to do so. Theresa May will enjoy a different challenge.
A ten mile buffer zone in Gibraltar may prove more of a challenge ;-)

Re: Friday 1st June 2018

Posted: Fri 01 Jun, 2018 11:36 am
by tinybgoat
edit: decided, on reflection, it was in bad taste.

Re: Friday 1st June 2018

Posted: Fri 01 Jun, 2018 11:37 am
by Willow904
https://amp.theguardian.com/politics/20 ... ssion=true" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Jonathan Bartley and Siân Berry to run as Green party co-leaders

Re: Friday 1st June 2018

Posted: Fri 01 Jun, 2018 11:56 am
by Willow904
David Davis is getting dangerously close to turning into his Newsthump caricature. Is this really our government?

http://newsthump.com/2017/08/16/uk-brex ... y-fairies/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Wednesday 16 August 2017 by Neil Tollfree

UK Brexit paper proposes ‘magic’ Irish border staffed by fairies

Re: Friday 1st June 2018

Posted: Fri 01 Jun, 2018 12:20 pm
by AnatolyKasparov
tinybgoat wrote:edit: decided, on reflection, it was in bad taste.
That hasn't stopped many in the past tbf.

Re: Friday 1st June 2018

Posted: Fri 01 Jun, 2018 12:20 pm
by tinybgoat
http://newsthump.com/2018/05/29/uk-brex ... -category/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
"UK Brexit proposals nominated for Hugo Award in Fantasy category"

Re: Friday 1st June 2018

Posted: Fri 01 Jun, 2018 12:38 pm
by AnatolyKasparov
Willow904 wrote:https://amp.theguardian.com/politics/20 ... ssion=true
Jonathan Bartley and Siân Berry to run as Green party co-leaders
The obvious combo when Lucas is out of the equation, could well end up being unopposed.

Re: Friday 1st June 2018

Posted: Fri 01 Jun, 2018 12:40 pm
by RogerOThornhill
David Allen Green



@davidallengreen
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Half-expecting Davis to declare the 10 mile zone without customs or infrastructure to be the "Irish free state".
:D

Re: Friday 1st June 2018

Posted: Fri 01 Jun, 2018 12:44 pm
by PorFavor
tinybgoat wrote:edit: decided, on reflection, it was in bad taste.
Bumboils! I missed it.

Re: Friday 1st June 2018

Posted: Fri 01 Jun, 2018 12:55 pm
by PorFavor
From yesterday -
Transport secretary may face grilling by MPs over rail chaos

Chris Grayling accused of being ‘asleep at the wheel’, with MPs set to review handling of botched timetable changes (Guardian)
Chris "Mussolini" Grayling may face grilling?

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/201 ... rail-chaos

Re: Friday 1st June 2018

Posted: Fri 01 Jun, 2018 1:06 pm
by Willow904
AnatolyKasparov wrote:
Willow904 wrote:https://amp.theguardian.com/politics/20 ... ssion=true
Jonathan Bartley and Siân Berry to run as Green party co-leaders
The obvious combo when Lucas is out of the equation, could well end up being unopposed.
It would be good to have a contest, for democracy's sake, but yes, they are looking like firm favourites for the job.

Re: Friday 1st June 2018

Posted: Fri 01 Jun, 2018 1:29 pm
by refitman
PorFavor wrote:From yesterday -
Transport secretary may face grilling by MPs over rail chaos

Chris Grayling accused of being ‘asleep at the wheel’, with MPs set to review handling of botched timetable changes (Guardian)
Chris "Mussolini" Grayling may face grilling?

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/201 ... rail-chaos
Hey! Il Duce managed to get 1 train to run on time.

Re: Friday 1st June 2018

Posted: Fri 01 Jun, 2018 4:19 pm
by RogerOThornhill
Government by "Making it up as we go along" continues...

https://twitter.com/SamCoatesTimes/stat ... 8696200192
Sam Coates Times

Verified account

@SamCoatesTimes
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No10 confirm what sources across government saying - that David Davis's plan for a Lichtenstein solution and a buffer zone - wont fly.

A No10 spokesman says the PM "will not accept a customs border down the Irish sea".

Ie no special status.
3:32 PM - 1 Jun 2018
Flippin' useless bunch.

Re: Friday 1st June 2018

Posted: Fri 01 Jun, 2018 5:16 pm
by AnatolyKasparov
Well, I for one am genuinely shocked that this BRILLIANT WHEEZE from Davis has unravelled within hours :D

Re: Friday 1st June 2018

Posted: Fri 01 Jun, 2018 5:34 pm
by tinybgoat
https://www.politico.eu/article/dexeu-d ... stminster/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
"Hello Brexit, goodbye Brexit department"
Some senior officials are concerned that to leave DExEU in place after Britain’s officially leaves the EU would undermine the government’s central promise to voters that it would take Britain out of the bloc by 2019.
“You can’t have a Department for Exiting the European Union after you’ve exited the European Union,” one top government official familiar with the internal discussions said, on condition of anonymity. “What message would that send? We have to give people concrete evidence that we’ve left the EU. That has to happen as soon as we’ve left.”
:line:

Re: Friday 1st June 2018

Posted: Fri 01 Jun, 2018 5:53 pm
by Willow904
Has our government been replaced by a sitcom?

Re: Friday 1st June 2018

Posted: Fri 01 Jun, 2018 6:04 pm
by RogerOThornhill
Willow904 wrote:Has our government been replaced by a sitcom?
It's Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em where every Cabinet member is playing Frank Spencer...

Re: Friday 1st June 2018

Posted: Fri 01 Jun, 2018 6:12 pm
by tinybgoat
Possibly the League of Super Evil
http://leagueosuperevil.wikia.com/wiki/ ... _Evil_Wiki" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
(except less sympathetic characters)

Re: Friday 1st June 2018

Posted: Fri 01 Jun, 2018 6:24 pm
by Willow904
***Breaking news***

https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/amp/en ... ssion=true" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Visa Outage Across Europe Causes Payment Chaos For Millions
Just in.

Re: Friday 1st June 2018

Posted: Fri 01 Jun, 2018 7:14 pm
by RogerOThornhill
But...but...but...Labour...anti-Semitism!

Tory councillor suspended after 'posting Islamophobic comments about Sadiq Khan on Facebook'


https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/p ... 79051.html
The comments add to the growing list of examples of Islamophobia demonstrated by Conservative councillors and candidates in recent months, amid growing pressure for the party to launch an inquiry into the issue.

Mr Ardley’s comment on a Facebook post said: “I think it’s unbelievable that a Muslim was actually elected the Mayor of this great Christian country – oh wait he’s labour so the blind just vote red and left.”

Re: Friday 1st June 2018

Posted: Fri 01 Jun, 2018 8:23 pm
by PaulfromYorkshire
TBF Roger, not Labour anti-Semitism

Just the bits of Labour that are not BBC approved :roll:

Re: Friday 1st June 2018

Posted: Fri 01 Jun, 2018 8:24 pm
by RogerOThornhill
Chris Morton
‏@thechrismorton
3h
3 hours ago

More
Mr Putin is sat in his volcano hideout on a black swivel-chair slowly stroking a white cat, smiling wryly. "You can cancel our Visas, but now I shall cancel yours!" Mwhahahaha. #visadown #visa
:D

Re: Friday 1st June 2018

Posted: Fri 01 Jun, 2018 9:20 pm
by AnatolyKasparov
Delayed local council byelection round-up - seven in all last week:

Broadland DC: a LibDem gain from Tory here meant that they hold all three seats in this ward for the first time since it was created for the 2004 all-out elections; it then split 2Lib/1C but then went 2C/1Lib in 2007 and 2011 before the LibDems took one of the Tory seats in a 2013 byelection only for the Tories to take back that seat in 2015, then yet another byelection a year later saw a LibDem gain. LibDems actually saw a small swing against them since then, but a share in the mid 40s was enough to finally make it a clean sweep (and there was a healthy move to them compared to the last two regular polls) Labour third with about 15%, down on 2015 but slightly up compared with the previous two byes.

Bristol - in contrast to the above, this was a Tory gain from LibDem despite there being a swing since 2016 to the latter. This can be explained by the seat splitting 2C/1Lib in the all-out elections two years ago, the first since boundary changes which basically created this new ward from a safe Tory division and an only slightly less safe LibDem one. Tories saw their share almost unchanged since then, but that was enough to win - a 10 point LibDem increase to just short of 40% not being quite enough. They took some support from Labour since then, but mostly it would appear from the Greens - whose share of 5% was more than halved compared to last time.

Waverley DC - a hold for the localist Farnham Residents in a two member ward which they shared with the Tories in 2015 before taking the other seat in a previous 2016 byelection, so this confirms their dominant status here for the time being. This time round, though, they were run close not by the Tories but the LibDems - who won both seats here back in 2003 before falling back significantly in 2007 and 2011 when the Tories won both seats; their recovery started three years ago when their single candidate ran the Tories quite close for the second seat, and they duly moved into second place come the last byelection. Since then the Residents have dipped slightly to under 40% whilst the LibDems have increased by 5% (and double figures since 2015) whilst the Tories dropped a similar amount and are now clearly in 3rd and under 20%. Labour sat the last byelection out and scored less than 5% now (clearly down on three years ago) whilst an Independent brought up the rear with under 3%.

North Kesteven DC - a gain from the Tories by the localist Lincolnshire Independents by a narrow margin (both scored around 45%) but even this marked a 15% plus swing since the Tories beat them nearly 2 to 1 in a straight fight in the previous 2015 elections. They had also won easily in 2011 (with an Independent as their main opponent) and been unopposed in the initial contest here in 2007, so this result marks something of a change. Labour won the also-ran fight with a modest 5%, just ahead of the LibDems who got less than half their previous showing here in 2011.

Horsham DC - Tory hold, with over two thirds of the vote, in a very safe ward which has duly returned two members for them in every election since 2003 and also saw easy wins for them in previous byelections since then in 2005 and 2013. In all contests since then the LibDems have been runners up (indeed, since the original 2003 election for this ward they have provided the only opposition to the Tories) so the one minor point of interest now was Labour taking a distant second place with 16% in their first showing here for 15 years, narrowly beating the LibDems who roughly halved since three years ago.

Stockport - the one deferred election last Thursday saw Labour hold a ward which duly returned three members for them in the 2004 all-outs and has been safe ever since, this time with almost three quarters of the vote which is up 5% since two years ago. It says something that no other party even broke 10% here - the very distant runners up honours went to the LibDems with less than 9% (and they were the only other party to advance on 2016 significantly) Tories and Greens both almost unchanged in 3rd and 4th, and in last place UKIP who had finished second last time - their 3% down by three quarters since then.

Tamworth DC - the one Friday contest saw another deferred poll, and this one was a hold for Labour but only narrowly in an area where they have been struggling recently. Labour returned three members here in the 2002 all-outs, and since then this ward has tended towards them but not invariably so - an Independent won in in 2003/2007/2011 and the Tories in their national high point in 2008, they then fell just short in 2015 before UKIP - in a relatively late flourish - took this seat in the most recent contest two years ago. Given that, Labour will be happy with even a close run thing - both they and the Tories had double figure increases since 2016 and took some 85% of the vote between them. UKIP crashed to barely 10% now, whilst the Greens scored around half that - which was little changed on their most recent previous outing in 2015.

No principal level contests this past week as it happens, but June kicks off with three contests.