Brexit.

[Aribeth Zelin]

I think it was a promise Cameron made that the Tories would honor the referendum no matter how stupid an idea it was, how close it was, and whether it was supposed to be binding or not.

I'd suspect he did that expecting it to -not- pass, and end that question once and for all, except none of this seems to show that much sense.

 

[Innula Zenovka]

I'd suspect he did that expecting it to -not- pass, and end that question once and for all, except none of this seems to show that much sense.

That was the idea, certainly -- we'd vote to remain, and that was supposed to put the issue to bed for another 40 years, just as the referendum on Scottish independence was supposed to make the SNP go away.

 

[Innula Zenovka]

 

[Bartholomew Gallacher]

Kermit fears that BoJo will lose:

 

[Essence Lumin]

It's been such a long journey that I've forgotten the finer details of Brexit. What was the bridge from a "non-binding referendum" to actually proceeding with Brexit?

Perhaps you asking about Article 50 signed by Theresa May March 29, 2017 that officially started the road to Brexit?

The History Behind Brexit | HISTORY

The often-rocky relationship between Britain and the European Union stretches back nearly half a century.

www.history.com

 

[Innula Zenovka]

 

[Innula Zenovka]

 

[Sid]

Why do these guys get the title of Sir?
Scumbag would be more appropriate.

 

[Innula Zenovka]

Why do these guys get the title of Sir?
Scumbag would be more appropriate.

According to Wikipedia, "Ratcliffe was appointed Knight Bachelor in the 2018 Birthday Honours for services to business and to investment. "

He's a self-made billionaire, Britain's richest man at one point, apparently, and a leading industrialist, so he's doubtless done politicians on all sides a lot of favours in his time.

 

[Sid]

Someone who was so pro Brexit and now leaves the sinking ship when it starts to hurt, is not worthy of such a tittle IMHO.
He makes a fool out of the person who gave him his tittle.
Can the Queen withdraw it for misbehavior?

 

[Innula Zenovka]

Someone who was so pro Brexit and now leaves the sinking ship when it starts to hurt, is not worthy of such a tittle IMHO.
He makes a fool out of the person who gave him his tittle.
Can the Queen withdraw it for misbehavior?

Yes, she can strip people of their honours but that happens only in very exceptional cases, like when the recipient is convicted of a serious criminal offence.

 

[Innula Zenovka]

(It's not just ambassadors who are wondering that).

Evernote link because paywall

 

[Arkady Arkright]

The Queen is just a figurehead, having no real power. The only advantage of having a Queen is that is prevents the existence of a 'President Boris'.

 

[Innula Zenovka]

The Queen is just a figurehead, having no real power. The only advantage of having a Queen is that is prevents the existence of a 'President Boris'.

While I'd rather we had an elected ceremonial president with no power as Head of State, the advantage to saying the HoS, whether elected or hereditary, has various powers which they use only on the advice of the Head of Government means that the advice the Head of Government gives is open to legal challenge, as the Supreme Court reminded Boris Johnson only last year (it seems a lifetime ago).

The Queen is above the law, but her ministers certainly aren't.

 

[Bartholomew Gallacher]

Here's Robert Peston with an explanation what's the stumbling block on the free trade agreement between UK and EU right now. And it's nothing which could be resolved easily. Also Boris Johnson confirmed this at PMQ.

 

[Sid]

Why on earth is he flying to Brussels then?
He can call from London, to tell the EU he wants no deal. Saves us the trouble of hosting.

Boris Johnson: no PM could accept trade terms offered by EU

Johnson defends UK negotiating stance as he prepares to fly to Brussels for last-ditch Brexit talks

www.theguardian.com

Boris Johnson claimed no prime minister would be right to accept the trade terms being offered by the EU, as he prepared to fly to Brussels for last-ditch talks.
Asked in the Commons by the veteran Tory backbencher Edward Leigh about the prospects for a deal, Johnson said: “Our friends in the EU are currently insisting that if they pass a new law in future with which we in this country do not comply or don’t follow suit, then they want the automatic right to punish us and to retaliate.

“And secondly they’re saying the UK should be the only country in the world not to have sovereign control over its fishing waters. I don’t believe that those are terms that any prime minister of this country should accept.”

 

[Innula Zenovka]

Why on earth is he flying to Brussels then?
He can call from London, to tell the EU he wants no deal. Saves us the trouble of hosting.

Boris Johnson: no PM could accept trade terms offered by EU

Johnson defends UK negotiating stance as he prepares to fly to Brussels for last-ditch Brexit talks

www.theguardian.com

I suspect it's because there's a deal ready for signature, but both sides -- and especially the UK -- need a bit of drama and cliff-hanging in the proceedings, otherwise there will be accusations of letting the EU/Brits get away with far too much.

I'm guided by what the exchange markets are doing, and they don't seem too worried about a no-deal Brexit -- the EUR/GBP rate is much the same as it's been throughout the last 5 years.

Still, there's a lot still to go wrong, and with Johnson involved, rather more than usual.

Euro British Pound Exchange Rate - EUR GBP (1999-2026)

Interactive historical chart showing the daily Euro - British Pound (EURGBP) exchange rate back to 1999.

www.macrotrends.net

 

[Sid]

I suspect it's because there's a deal ready for signature, but both sides -- and especially the UK -- need a bit of drama and cliff-hanging in the proceedings, otherwise there will be accusations of letting the EU/Brits get away with far too much.

I'm guided by what the exchange markets are doing, and they don't seem too worried about a no-deal Brexit -- the EUR/GBP rate is much the same as it's been throughout the last 5 years.

Let's hope and light a candle, that you are right on this one.

 

[Innula Zenovka]

Let's hope and light a candle, that you are right on this one.

All the points I've read about being important issues over the last few days have been potentially tricky questions about what happens if A does something it's said it won't, but if it were to, and B decides to be bloody-minded about it, which it probably wouldn't be.

They're all good questions, but I'd have thought there must be a form of words for "we'll let our successors worry about that if and when it ever happens, which it probably won't because people won't want to risk it" they could adopt. Both sides must prefer that to a no-deal Brexit at this point, I'd think.

We'll know for sure soon enough, though maybe not tomorrow.

I'm haunted by the fact, though, that WWI started by accident, more or less, or at least no one expected it to happen until suddenly it did.

 

[Sid]

I'm haunted by the fact, though, that WWI started by accident, more or less, or at least no one expected it to happen until suddenly it did.

Hard to say what really will happen in the next years, if there is no deal to sign the next few days/weeks.
I sometimes have that nasty feeling, that the dispute over fishing rights could trigger a war, when not dealt with properly.

One thing is certain. it will cost IMHO needless billions of euro/pounds on both sides when there will be no agreement.