In fairness, Labour are also split on the EU and Corbyn has been extremely shy about telling us what he thinks, cherry picking which aspects of "leave" that suit his agenda.
With such a fragile parliamentary majority, May has been walking a tightrope but, at some point she has to make it to he other side and this will inevitably cause her to fall both metaphorically and politically.
Every chance of another general election, right in the midst of EU negotiations.
It looked a mess at the outset and looks no clearer now and all of our futures rest with the "strong and stable" leadership of the country.

As for the shift in public opinion, I understood that there had been relatively little change, certainly no substantial movement in either direction. Mind you, the pollsters haven't been too hot over the past 5 years or so.

Quote ="wrencat1873"As for the shift in public opinion, I understood that there had been relatively little change, certainly no substantial movement in either direction. Mind you, the pollsters haven't been too hot over the past 5 years or so.'" Personal well-being in the UK: July 2016 to June 2017 https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulation ... tojune2017

Quote ="wrencat1873"As for the shift in public opinion, I understood that there had been relatively little change, certainly no substantial movement in either direction. Mind you, the pollsters haven't been too hot over the past 5 years or so.'" Personal well-being in the UK: July 2016 to June 2017 https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulation ... tojune2017

Whether it's deal or no deal the Tories will remain split. The idea that a referendum would "settle this issue once and for all" is proven to be complete baloney.

Split parties don't usually win elections. Labour is keeping quiet because they too are split but will end up picking up the pieces and a situation far worse than 2010 with public services in ruins, country even more in debt and operating at a trading handicap in comparison with our competitors.

I remain of the view that at this moment in time, there is no meaningful political gain in coming out as directly opposing Brexit; that would engender a massive campaign from the right wing MSM, and the resulting dog whistle reaction from those people who seem to agree that having any kind of political view that doesn't align with their own, makes them a 'traitor' or an 'enemy of the people.'

I'm relatively relaxed about Labour's position at the moment - the Tories are by any measure ballsing up the negotiations, and their leader is on a knife-edge in terms of any kind of longevity; if there's one thing the Tories do well, it's ruthlessly kill off a weak leader - as can be seen by JRM's sinister cabal of 35 or so MP's, who have formed a party within a party - they're not far off a leadership challenge with those kind of numbers, and with the Minister for the 18th Century the hot favourite to take over, I'm content that would make the Tories unelectable for a number of years to come.

I think there's plenty more to play out before the so-called transition period is over, and as has been pointed out many times by the man who drafted it, A50 can be revoked at any time. Meanwhile, Labour's take on the NHS, social care, privatisation, homelessness, inequality etc is gaining popular support - there might still be a chance to salvage something from this mess.

Interesting watching Stephen Fry on The Last Leg on Friday night. He summed it up pretty well - if you're a Conservative party leader, the enemy isn't sitting opposite you, they're sitting behind you.

If the ground would open up and swallow her, May would be more than relieved. My big question... Why is her hubby always hanging around like a bad smell?

Of course we're not going to get everything we would want in a perfect world. As I've said since the beginning - a deal will be reached that is reasonably good for all concerned. We'll probably see some trade tariffs but anything punitive would also damage the EU. This is precisely why the terms 'hard' and 'soft' Brexit are utterly meaningless: both sides simply want the best they can agree and the deal will be whatever it ends up being.

We're leaving the customs union - this has been made clear - the EU's stance has always been that any customs union means ceding to EU rules and that's what we're moving away from. There's a slim chance some bespoke union could be agreed but I think it's unlikely given the EU's dogged insistence on retaining power.

The only ones making a massive fuss of every single syllable uttered by every single Tory says are the press. People within every party have differing views, always have, always will. Look at Labour if you want true bitter division and confusion (Momentum anyone?) - I'm not even sure most Labour MPs know what line they're supposed to be following. Fact is, it doesn't really matter what Bojo or Hammond or anyone else says - Davis (and his team) and May are the voices that matter and despite the daily doom-mongering of the press, things are progressing.

For me the only true sticking point is the border with Eire and oil be fecked if I can figure out how they're gonna sort it. Some form of soft border is inevitable I suspect, but whether that's at the NI/Eire border, or the NI or even Eire sea/air borders I don't know. The rest will be thrashed out and agreed in due course.

I feel it's only right to reference this [url=https://www.economist.com/news/britain/21736178-harrogates-downward-migration-trend-few-years-ahead-britains-how-it-faringEconomist article[/url again for a possible snapshot of what we can look forward to. Rising wages, more job opportunities, lower unemployment, house and rental prices increasing at a more reasonable pace due to a less frantic demand, lower end wages up by 9% - even some teenagers being paid above minimum wage. Exactly the reverse of some of the big issues surrounding freedom of movement.

Quote ="Cronus" I feel it's only right to reference this [url=https://www.economist.com/news/britain/21736178-harrogates-downward-migration-trend-few-years-ahead-britains-how-it-faringEconomist article[/url again for a possible snapshot of what we can look forward to. Rising wages, more job opportunities, lower unemployment, house and rental prices increasing at a more reasonable pace due to a less frantic demand, lower end wages up by 9% - even some teenagers being paid above minimum wage. Exactly the reverse of some of the big issues surrounding freedom of movement.'" Talk of rising wages, post Brexit, is an extremely interesting thought, when pretty much all of the "models" indicated the exact opposite and more job opportunities is laughable. IF the economy is likely to be squeezed and again, most indicators seem to suggest this, exactly where are these opportunities come from ? As regards " some teenagers being paid above minimum wage", this already happens in certain sectors, it will have rock all to do with being out of the EU. Again, our ruling party have seemed to revel in austerity cuts, something which is embedded within their DNA and there will be no loosening of the purse strings just because we have left the EU. Wages will rise in a strong vibrant economy and despite our "record employment" numbers, our economy is not strong (or, stable) and will be less so, post Brexit. IIRC, even you suggested this would be a price worth paying to rid ourselves of the faceless EU bureaucrats. THe article is certainly an interesting snap shot of Northern life, a town where house prices are somewhat higher than other parts of Yorkshire and generally having a more aged population and I would suggest this is not representative of other Northern towns, never mind a fair representation of what may be coming our way. Feeling like mystic meg, the BBC have this: www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-42977967 Harrogate may be loving their over 50's all white population and paying its few young people a relatively decent wage but, Harrogate isn't even representative of North Yorkshire, never mind the rest of the country.

Quote ="Cronus" I feel it's only right to reference this [url=https://www.economist.com/news/britain/21736178-harrogates-downward-migration-trend-few-years-ahead-britains-how-it-faringEconomist article[/url again for a possible snapshot of what we can look forward to. Rising wages, more job opportunities, lower unemployment, house and rental prices increasing at a more reasonable pace due to a less frantic demand, lower end wages up by 9% - even some teenagers being paid above minimum wage. Exactly the reverse of some of the big issues surrounding freedom of movement.'" Talk of rising wages, post Brexit, is an extremely interesting thought, when pretty much all of the "models" indicated the exact opposite and more job opportunities is laughable. IF the economy is likely to be squeezed and again, most indicators seem to suggest this, exactly where are these opportunities come from ? As regards " some teenagers being paid above minimum wage", this already happens in certain sectors, it will have rock all to do with being out of the EU. Again, our ruling party have seemed to revel in austerity cuts, something which is embedded within their DNA and there will be no loosening of the purse strings just because we have left the EU. Wages will rise in a strong vibrant economy and despite our "record employment" numbers, our economy is not strong (or, stable) and will be less so, post Brexit. IIRC, even you suggested this would be a price worth paying to rid ourselves of the faceless EU bureaucrats. THe article is certainly an interesting snap shot of Northern life, a town where house prices are somewhat higher than other parts of Yorkshire and generally having a more aged population and I would suggest this is not representative of other Northern towns, never mind a fair representation of what may be coming our way. Feeling like mystic meg, the BBC have this: www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-42977967 Harrogate may be loving their over 50's all white population and paying its few young people a relatively decent wage but, Harrogate isn't even representative of North Yorkshire, never mind the rest of the country.

[url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/mar/27/parts-of-uk-that-voted-for-brexit-may-be-hardest-hit-study-findsIt looks like those areas who voted for a new dawn will be getting their reward[/url

Indeed and with out "London centric" government, they are sure to balance any economic help into the areas most in need.
Maybe project fear had an element of truth in their speil ?

To repeat an earlier question... At what point will the riots start?

Who will they blame then?

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

The Kaiser Chiefs have been predicting this for some time now.
It's not a riot that we need, it's a revolution, that will bring about a much fairer distribution of wealth.

Mike Betts, Chief exec of the CHARITY Mobility is getting £1.7 million pa.
£1.7 million is pretty excessive for any chief exec but, to run a charity, is fecking scandalous.

Where on earth did this become acceptable.

Kind of what I was hinting at.

I've been predicting it's been on its way for a few years now. My mates always used to laugh it off, now they're not so sure.

There's a reason millionaires live in gated properties, there's a reason multi-millionaires are building panic rooms and underground accommodation, there's a reason multi-billionaires are living on their own islands, and there's a reason the government are unable to commit to what to do about Brexit.

What's the weather like on Fantasy Island?

Thankyou to all you brexiteers. I just got less than 1.1 for my Euros for my holiday. I guess its a small price to pay to get the foreginers out of our country eh

Regards

King James

1.1 is 10% better than this time last year, things are on the up and up.
Even the Tories are getting their act together











I'm just glad that they aren't organising the brewery trip !

Definitely on the up and up, won't be long before we can get our toast done properly, British Bread does't fit in these EU standard toasters.

You spelt Forgers wrong.

Quite correct,it’s disgraceful asking foreigners who have no rights of residence to leave. What’s more we should as a matter of urgency open our doors to those wonderful people squatting at Calais to come over.
I am positive that all the remain voter will cheerfully contribute to the cost of house building and education.

So, we (the UK) are now seeking a "free trade" deal with the EU AND we want to be able to make our own deals outside the EU's jurisdiction, not to mention an open border between Northern and Southern Ireland, quite staggering.
Any politicians who actually believe that we will end up with this need a severe head teat.

WHY would the EU 27 grant the UK better terms than any of them are able to achieve, it's fecking ridiculous.

I know that during negotiations, it's better to ask for too much and compromise to what you really want/expect but, we are making ourselves look stupid.

Unless we contribute substantially to the EU, there wont be anything like a free trade deal and if we really want to be in a position to negotiate with the rest of the world, even this is less likely.

It's "fun" to watch both May and to a lesser extent, Corbyn, trying to juggle their own political needs and trying to prevent further fractures from appearing within their own parties, while putting forward their "vision" for life beyond the EU.

Who'd have thought it, a one-time Tory darling sticking it to the gang.


[url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/feb/28/in-the-land-of-the-brexit-blind-one-eyed-john-major-proves-kingClicky[/url



Old Jacob & Iain don't seem too pleased.

Rees-Mogg was so rattled by Major's intervention, that he accidentally broadcast a barefaced lie to millions of Channel 4 news viewers, stating that Jeremy Corbyn had voted against the Good Friday Agreement, which of course he didn't.

Naughty Jacob - I'm sure in the post Ben Bradley era, he'll issue a full and frank apology, and maybe make a hefty donation to a charity of Mr Corbyn's choosing...

He's now apologised. So that's alright then.

Sort of - he tweeted a Latin phrase and admitted he was wrong; for my money, the apology should have the same prominence as the lie, so he should return to Ch4 news and do it properly - or Nanny will spank his bot-bot.

The confusion is understandable given he voted against the Anglo-Irish Agreement, as it "strengthens rather than weakens the border between the six and the 26 counties, and those of us who wish to see a United Ireland oppose the agreement for that reason".

Corbyn's record in Ireland is nothing to shout about, except of course for some of the plastic paddies on here.

Another unpleasant aspect of Comrade Cob for his blinkered devotees to conveniently ignore...just like his hilariously poorly conceived speech on Monday...and his 1980s Czech 'contacts'...amongst many others...