Brexit.

[Luisa Land]

I am not the first one who mentions that the british voting system with its first-past- the-post is not favourable for developments in a changing society and in politics.
take the situation created by Brexit
both parties in the UK Tories and Labour are split, there is no real option for a remainer and maybe also not for a leaver to vote. A vote for a small british party, is considered ( rightly) as a lost vote. As developments in other countries show, it needs time, till new parties become so big, that they can play an important role and influence the political events. and these parties like the Greens, libdem etc. need to show, that they are able to effect something. that they can convince more ppl to vote for them.
So it seems far too easy for the Tories and for Labour to play tactical plays just for the benefits of the own party and to avoid clear statements and discussions where they stand. this is possible because the other big party plays similiar tactical plays and avoids also clear statements.

There is a survey, published by YouGov about which political party people like and dislike in the UK
Greens are Britain’s most-liked party | YouGov

the Greens are the most liked party and the only british party more ppl like than dislike.
But do they have a chance to play a decisive role in the UK-Parliament? No

So as it seems this is a dangerous situation for a democracy.
One could argue, that the british voting system keeps populism and maybe fascism in check, but I doubt that this will realy succeed in the long run.
Imho it needs for this much more serious and honest discussions and a more responsible attitudes by all parts of the society, but of course also a more honest attitude of politicians and not - for example- blaming the EU for results/ failures of the politics of the own government
and it needs a fair chance for new political groups/parties.

Dont misunderstand me, I dont think, the voting system in the UK is the reason for Brexit, But it is an impotant factor (among others) which makes a solution not only difficult, but nearly impossible with out a deep crisis of state and society

 

[Daniel Voyager]

BBC reports no-confidence vote in Theresa May’s leadership to take place after threshold reached

 

[Daniel Voyager]

The Chief Whip is back in Number 10. I wonder what this could mean ?

 

[Porsupah Ree]

Well, she seems to be on speaking terms with reality at long last..

Theresa May says her Brexit deal is ‘only deal available’ and backstop is ‘necessary’ after meeting with Merkel

Speaking in Brussels ahead of a meeting with EU president Jean-Claude Juncker Ms May echoed EU language and said the agreement was “the best deal available, indeed it’s the only deal available”. She added: “The backstop, which is the issue that parliament has raised, the backstop is a necessary guarantee for the people of Northern Ireland and whatever outcome you want, whatever relationship you want in the future, there is no deal available that doesn’t have a backstop in it.”

The admission brings the prime minister into line with the EU’s view, but could further enrage Eurosceptic rebels in her own party, some of whom want to oust her over the plan.

The shiv-holders are emerging:

Conservative rebels renew push to oust Theresa May as she tries to save her deal from collapse

But while unnamed rebels indicated they believed sufficient letters had been submitted to force a no-confidence vote in the Conservative leader, The Independent understands official confirmation was unlikely to come on Tuesday evening.

Leadership rivals continued to manoeuvre amid the intense speculation, with home secretary Sajid Javid giving an interview focussing on his background, while Boris Johnson was seen speaking with MPs in the Commons tea rooms.

Opposition parties raised the stakes further on Tuesday by moving to table a motion of no confidence in the whole Conservative government, as it became clear the country would likely face Brexit uncertainty into the new year.

I doubt he holds much sway in the party these days, but still..

John Major calls for Article 50 to be scrapped 'with immediate effect'

John Major has become the first Conservative to call for Brexit to be scrapped, saying: “We need to revoke Article 50 with immediate effect.”

 

[Porsupah Ree]

Whoa. Only a rumor, but still..

 

[Porsupah Ree]

'Twas the night before Christmas, Brexit edition

Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the House
But one creature was stirring in an asymmetrical blouse
The Deal had been set by the chimney with care
In the hoping that flames take the whole damned affair

The proles were all tucked up snug in their beds
While visions of Brexitry danced in their heads
And May in her shoulderpads, and Corbyn his cap
Had disbanded our Parliament for a long Winter's nap

When out on the webs there arose such a clatter!
I looked up from my book to see what was the matter
Whipped out my phone while I sat on the shitter
And looked up what's trending on the front page of Twitter

The incels, the snowflakes, feminazis and bro's
Had put down their slurs and let rivalry go
The uppers and lowers, the left and the right
They all sang together, in the snowy moonlight

"Fuck Theresa! Fuck Boris! Fuck Nigel Farage!
Fuck Cameron and Trump and whoever's in charge!
From the wanky old bankers to the crusty old crown,
They've fucked it all up, now let's burn it all down!"

As dry leaves that before the hurricane fly
They took to the streets and they took to the sky
So up to the House the Twioters they flew
With satchels of toys, and Stephen Fry too

And then in a twinkling, he stood on the roof
With a smile in his eye and a glint on his tooth
He threw back his head and turning around
Presented his gifts to the whole of the crowd

His eyes-how they twinkled! His dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the grin of his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
Handing out shovels and tools with a smirk
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
He drew a chalk line cross the walls and the roads

We sprang to the work we were showed with aplomb
Cutting trenches round Whitehall with shovels and bombs
With a song in my heart and my giblets a-quiver
I booted the House and sent it off down the river!

As it edged near the bridges we threw off May's friends
Tory and Labour, to float down the Thames
As they left the trade union, I heard a voice from the steeple
"You can't do this to us! We're the voice of the people!"

Stephen sprang to his taxi, gath'ring his raiment
And let three people in to dodge conges-ti-on payment
But I heard him exclaim as they drove out of sight
"Happy Brexit to all! And to all a good night!"

 

[Porsupah Ree]

Gave me a chuckle. ^_^ (Just, one I'd prefer to be enjoying from outside the UK)

reddit…eblfm62/

Looking back at the 2015 election debates now, it's a world of difference. The hot topics were balancing the budget, zero hour contracts and NHS funding.

Now we're talking about whether or not we'll have adequate food in a year's time, and whether the PM will be a useless former journalist, or a haunted Victorian waxwork.

 

[Porsupah Ree]

It's the latter part of this which intrigues me - why would the Palace be involved in merely a change of PM, should there be one? Does this suggest something else at play, whether suspending Parliament, or (if indeed she can) calling a General Election?

 

[Kara Spengler]

Happy now UK? My best friend is theorizing on my FB timeline that Doctor Who's next series being in 2020 is because of brexit.

 

[Kara Spengler]

I am not the first one who mentions that the british voting system with its first-past- the-post is not favourable for developments in a changing society and in politics.
take the situation created by Brexit
both parties in the UK Tories and Labour are split, there is no real option for a remainer and maybe also not for a leaver to vote. A vote for a small british party, is considered ( rightly) as a lost vote.

It is the same all over. Not rightly though, people treat an independent vote being lost as an article of faith. For example, in the 2016 US election DC voted 90+% for individual one's opponent. Yet if I brought up voting for an independent, and included the voting record for this area, people screamed like I was personally putting donnie into office. With first past the post you have to vote strategically however when you are somewhere that is strongly one way or another your best vote is to vote for who best represents your values.

 

[Tigger]

Not quite all over, most of europe has PR. You will find a lot of parties (at least, more than 2) involved in government in countries outside of the UK and US.

 

[Tigger]

 

[Sid]

Not quite all over, most of europe has PR. You will find a lot of parties (at least, more than 2) involved in government in countries outside of the UK and US.

We have 13 parties with MP's in parliament at the moment. The government is formed by a coalition of 4 different parties.

 

[Tigger]

If anyone can hear a strange sound, it's probably the sound of Alexander Boris DePfeffle Johnson masturbating himself to death.

 

[Porsupah Ree]

As for when the No Confidence vote will actually take place:

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/theresa-may-no-confidence-vote-conservative-tory-leadership-challenge-brexit-1922-committee-graham-a8678961.html

The contest will be staged between 6pm and 8pm this evening, when all 315 Conservative MPs will vote, in a secret ballot, on whether they believe Ms May should continue.

The prime minister requires 158 supporters to survive – after which there cannot be another contest for one year – although rejection by more than 100 Tory MPs could damage her fatally.

 

[eighthdwarf Checchinato]

I don't know... From my point of view, all EU member countries could and should follow UK's example and leave the EU, effectively disbanding it. The EU has no democratic validity anyways. It was born out of an economic treaty, after all, created by muppets of lobbyists. And most representatives in Brussels and Strasbourg (or wherever this wannabe parliament is located at any time) are still muppets of lobbyists.

However, in my opinion, Article 50 (Withdrawal from the EU) ought to be shortened to 2 sentences only:

1. Any Member State may decide to withdraw from the Union in accordance with its own constitutional requirements, any time and unilaterally, for any reason or no reason at all.
2. If a State which has withdrawn from the Union asks to rejoin, its request shall be subject to the procedure referred to in Article 49, it can rejoin unconditionally at any time.

 

[Tigger]

I don't know... From my point of view, all EU member countries could and should follow UK's example and leave the EU, effectively disbanding it. The EU has no democratic validity anyways. It was born out of an economic treaty, after all, created by muppets of lobbyists. And most representatives in Brussels and Strasbourg (or wherever this wannabe parliament is located at any time) are still muppets of lobbyists.

However, in my opinion, Article 50 (Withdrawal from the EU) ought to be shortened to 2 sentences only:

1. Any Member State may decide to withdraw from the Union in accordance with its own constitutional requirements, any time and unilaterally, for any reason or no reason at all.
2. If a State which has withdrawn from the Union asks to rejoin, its request shall be subject to the procedure referred to in Article 49, it can rejoin unconditionally at any time.

And then every european country would be trampled over by the US, China and who knows, maybe even Russia. Our countries are small, only by banding together do we get to be a force to be reckoned with. It's a really simple principle strength through unity. It comes with some positives, freedom of movement, consumer and employee protections, environmental protections, no european wars, a flourishing economy due to commonality of regulations and a lack of barriers between member states. I dont see what your objection is?

"democratic validity" what's that exactly? You get a vote for your MEP, your country gets a vote in the european council. What exactly in your view is it's democratic failing?

 

[eighthdwarf Checchinato]

"democratic validity" what's that exactly? You get a vote for your MEP, your country gets a vote in the european council. What exactly in your view is it's democratic failing?

In my opinion, the EU would ONLY have democratic validity if it had been founded by the will of the people of Europe (for example by referendum), not by the will of some lobbyists and their muppets among the politicians. While I am not opposed to the idea of a United Europe - if that's the will of the majority of the European people, I'm absolutely against this lobbyist-dominated abomination that the EU has been since its existence.

 

[Innula Zenovka]

The BBC’s Andrew Neil says BBC research shows that more than 158 Tory MPs – the threshold – have now said that they will vote for Theresa May.

But he points out that just because MPs says they will vote for May, that does not necessarily mean they will.

PMQs: Theresa May faces Jeremy Corbyn ahead of confidence vote – politics live

 

[Porsupah Ree]

I am much amused. ^_^

Conservative MPs can remove Theresa May but they have no route to a harder Brexit

with impeccable timing, the Conservatives’ Christmas party is also being held tonight