Brexit.

[Innula Zenovka]

One of the few positive signs in this whole debacle is I cannot believe that even Theresa May would have put Chris Grayling, of all people, in charge of commissioning ferries if she thought they were ever likely to be needed -- a bit like Liam Fox and negotiating international trade deals.

ETA: Chris "Failing" Grayling really is the least competent of Theresa May's ministers by far. He's a sort of Mr Bean of contemporary British politics.

 

[Kara Spengler]

ETA: Chris "Failing" Grayling really is the least competent of Theresa May's ministers by far. He's a sort of Mr Bean of contemporary British politics.

I am not sure if that is a fair analogy. I always considered Mr Bean to be clever at times.

 

[Bartholomew Gallacher]

Can we start a gofundme for James Vietch to reply?

Not everyone knows James Veitch, so let's just say James Veitch loves toasters:

 

[Kara Spengler]

Not everyone knows James Veitch, so let's just say James Veitch loves toasters:

I can rewatch those forever and ever ....

 

[Rose Karuna]

Just wanted to throw this out there

Can't get the link to work as media and can't seem to get it just as a link, trying again by removing https: www.cnn.com/videos/world/2019/01/02/larry-the-cat-downing-street-brexit-anna-stewart-pkg-vpx.cnn

Who would be more likely to secure a good Brexit deal with the EU?

3% Theresa May
5% Jeremy Corbyn
92% Larry the Cat



Go Larry!

 

[Innula Zenovka]

Brexit freight ferry firm appears all geared up – to deliver pizzas

First, it emerged that the “startup” company hired to operate extra ferries as part of no-deal Brexit planning had no ships.

Now, new questions are being asked about the readiness of Seaborne Freight to handle the £13.8m contract after it turned out that terms and conditions on its website appeared to be intended for a food delivery firm.

“It is the responsibility of the customer to thoroughly check the supplied goods before agreeing to pay for any meal/order,” read part of the text on the company’s website.

 

[Tigger]

For pity's sake...

Other signs that the website may have been cobbled together included a “portal login” section that was an image of username and password boxes rather than an actual means of logging in. A language settings option also appeared to be an image of a union flag rather than an interactive option.

But what's more embarassing, Failin' Grayling's ghost ship ferry company or Theresa May's refusal to face reality as she desperately tries to get European leaders to roll back on their statement that there will be no re-negotiations?

May's ring round of EU leaders seeking further Brexit talks fails

 

[Innula Zenovka]

For pity's sake...

But what's more embarassing, Failin' Grayling's ghost ship ferry company or Theresa May's refusal to face reality as she desperately tries to get European leaders to roll back on their statement that there will be no re-negotiations?

May's ring round of EU leaders seeking further Brexit talks fails

That's expected, though. I think the point of the delay and the abortive attempt to seek renegotiations was to make it clear to Parliament that, despite what a lot of MPs were saying about "go back and renegotiate," this really is the only deal on offer.

 

[Kara Spengler]

That's expected, though. I think the point of the delay and the abortive attempt to seek renegotiations was to make it clear to Parliament that, despite what a lot of MPs were saying about "go back and renegotiate," this really is the only deal on offer.

Maybe. Unfortunately some politicians will continue to lie to themselves and their constituents while they think there is a shred of hope of another deal.

The best thing the EU could do for the process is be completely clear (yes, I know they have already done this) that this is their final offer and nothing will change that. Maybe even hold a press conference and say so as it seems some are not getting the message.

 

[Tigger]

Interesting article in a trade publication on Seaborne freight, including the other companies the directors have been involved in (spoilers: these weren't exactly successes)and the history of Ramsgate and its failed ferry operators.

Government Ridiculed Over RoRo Freight Investment in Company with Neither Ships nor Experience - Latest industry shipping news from the Handy Shipping Guide

 

[Innula Zenovka]

Maybe. Unfortunately some politicians will continue to lie to themselves and their constituents while they think there is a shred of hope of another deal.

The best thing the EU could do for the process is be completely clear (yes, I know they have already done this) that this is their final offer and nothing will change that. Maybe even hold a press conference and say so as it seems some are not getting the message.

Our friends in the DUP don't seem to have received the memo yet:

Pressure mounts on Theresa May as DUP says there is no need for key parts of Prime Minister's Brexit deal

(though, as someone I know who was involved in the Peace Process negotiations put it, "Show an Ulsterman a wire and he'll go right up to it").

 

[Veritable Quandry]

Maybe the backstop is there because the EU does not fully trust the UK to come up with a solution to keep the border open. I notice there is a pattern of people saying that there is a solution who can't seem to say exactly what that would be.

 

[Kara Spengler]

Maybe the backstop is there because the EU does not fully trust the UK to come up with a solution to keep the border open. I notice there is a pattern of people saying that there is a solution who can't seem to say exactly what that would be.

Politicians not solving something unless their feet are held to the fire? Nah, that would never happen.

The border will be solved through the magic of technology! What more detail do you need?

Of course, even assuming there is a technological solution what they seem to be proposing just effectively moves the border somewhere else. Since there has to be a border between the EU and the UK it is either between the ROI and NI or it is not, no logician would see a flaw in that logic which is why it is so mystifying to politicians. The 'solution' of moving it starts to sound more like infinite recursion than anything else. Turtles all the way down ...

 

[Veritable Quandry]

Just make the border fence out of blockchains. Problem solved.

 

[Kara Spengler]

Just make the border fence out of blockchains. Problem solved.

It is 2019 now, that was last year's "any button".

 

[Innula Zenovka]

Maybe the backstop is there because the EU does not fully trust the UK to come up with a solution to keep the border open. I notice there is a pattern of people saying that there is a solution who can't seem to say exactly what that would be.

The solution is to reach a lasting permanent agreement that is acceptable to both the EU and the UK. So, in effect, the people who are complaining about the backstop are saying that they don't think one can be reached in the time allowed.

 

[Sid]

Police reinforcements for Northern Ireland in case of no-deal Brexit. | The Guardian.

Almost 1,000 police officers from England and Scotland are to begin training for deployment in Northern Ireland in case of disorder from a no-deal Brexit, the Guardian has learned.

The plans were put in place after Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) chiefs asked for reinforcements to deal with any trouble that arises from a hard border. The training for officers from English forces and Police Scotland is expected to begin this month.

The Brexit secretary, Stephen Barclay, said the government was to “accelerate our no-deal planning further” to include a public information campaign, using radio and social media to raise awareness about the need to prepare.

Seems like the UK government is willing to go for a no deal.

 

[Innula Zenovka]

Police reinforcements for Northern Ireland in case of no-deal Brexit. | The Guardian.




Seems like the UK government is willing to go for a no deal.

They have to be seen as being willing to go for "no deal," certainly, since their only chance (very slim, and quite probably non-existent) of getting the deal through Parliament is to persuade sufficient MPs that it really is this deal or no deal, and that this deal is the lesser of the two evils.

Whether they are actually prepared to go for no deal is another question.

My main worry now is that we risk blundering into no deal by accident. That's the risk inherent in playing "chicken."

 

[Tigger]

I can conceive of our government ending up at no deal out of incompetence and ignorance. But the idea of deliberately heading for no deal is mad, the consequences of that would surely, surely destroy the Tory party for good and if there is one thing May is loyal to, it's her party.

 

[Innula Zenovka]

Most of the jokes probably depend on references no one but Brits will get, but The Times' evisceration of Chris Grayling is quite fun: In this ferry tale, Grayling is Peter Pan looking for his Lost Buoys (Evernote Link because paywall).