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No compromise as Johnson drives through brute Brexit
Where's the offer? That's the main question. The government says it is extending the hand of friendship to Remainers and that's very nice to hear. But what's the actual offer behind it?
Boris Johnson's new year's message seemed to promise something. "I want to reassure you that I will be a prime minister for everyone, not just those who voted for me," he said. "I know that you love this country no less, simply because you voted for another party or wanted to remain." Admirable stuff. He had a large majority now. Perhaps this gave him the freedom to be more conciliatory, to actually introduce policies which might unite the country rather than divide it.
But that's not what we got. In fact every decision, every statement, seems to go in the precise opposite direction. It seeks the approval of the most hardline and extreme Leave opinion and discards even the most moderate of Remain demands.
Take Lord Dubs' amendment this week. He had sought for the government to guarantee family reunion rights for child refugees. "What could be more humane than asking that unaccompanied child refugees stranded in Europe be able to join relatives in this country?" he asked. Genuinely what indeed. Which distorted masquerade of political morality would consider that in any way controversial?
This provision had even been in the bill, but it was removed after the election victory. No need for that sort of thing anymore.
Stephen Barclay insisted the government was still committed to it, but that it did not require legislation. It was an extraordinary thing to say, given the government has just legislated to force the prime minister to stick to his own one-year timetable on Brexit trade talks - a grimly insane move in which leaders now created law to ensure they stuck to the promises they themselves have set. Why would that require legislation but not this?
Indeed there was an awful lot to learn from what apparently required a law and what did not. Another amendment focused on Erasmus, the scheme which funds young people to train and study across Europe. It is about as plainly beneficial as you could imagine a programme being. One study even found that a quarter of those who take part in it meet their partner during their time abroad - with over a million babies produced as a result. Living testaments to a shared European culture, regardless of EU membership.
The amendment was shot down, of course. As with the Dubs amendment, the government insists it intends to do it, but it won't legislate for it.
Another amendment asked for physical documentation to prove European citizens' settled status. It's about as modest a demand as they could have made, given they have been relentlessly lied to by the government. First they were told there would be no change in their status. Then they were held as negotiation hostages by Thresa May. Then they had a flawed application system imposed on them. And now they are asking for this one basic thing: physical proof of a right to live here.
At the moment it is entirely online. A database proves your right of residence. But the hostile environment has put down countless demands for proof of immigration status, from hospitals, landlords and others. It has essentially outsourced immigration enforcement to the public on themselves.
In that context, having a recognised document makes life much easier. It means a landlord would not need to go online and make checks on someone status - something they might not be bothered to do, or may not be convinced by. Instead they could just look at the document. And yet this too was denied. Not an inch will be given. Not one.
The same applies to the future relationship with the EU. Speaking to the Financial Times last weekend, chancellor Sajid Javid insisted there would be no regulatory alignment whatsoever. Despite the desperate pleas of British industry, which relies on a lack of checks to maintain its production system across the continent, the government was going to disconnect from everything. In many areas, like aerospace and automobiles, there is simply no upside to this whatsoever. But Javid knows that any EU supervision of British regulations, which is what a close relationship would entail, would be poison to the Brexit hardliners. So their interests are placed above those of British companies and workers.
There is, quite simply, no offer. Not even on the most harmless and uncontroversial of Remain requests. There is no movement to the 48% whatsoever. Instead, there is just the rhetoric of reaching out, of can't-we-all-be-friends. But friendship requires some movement. It requires a little compromise. Where there is none, it is not possible.
What is being pursued is the most hard Brexit imaginable - not just outside of the customs union, not just outside the single market, but without any meaningful linkage whatsoever - without even the symbols of linkage. Full victory in the culture war.
It is the most extreme interpretation of the vote outside of no-deal. In that context, the request for friendship is actually something altogether more sinister: it is a demand that you shut up. That you be silent, so that the programme which is being delivered can be made to appear like the will of the people, rather than the agenda of a tribal faction.
It is a dismal way to behave, although it is also entirely in line with the new form of political leadership, followed both here and in the US, where political leaders cement their position not by trying to attract the broadest collection of voters but by relentlessly delivering for their tribal base.
However, it also has another effect. It outrages and incentivises the opposition to maintain the fight. If Remainers really did feel that they were being taken into account - and at this stage, under so catastrophic a defeat as last month, that actually might not require a lot - they would be more likely to accept what was happening. Because they are not, they cannot. The extremism of the project creates its own continued opposition.
"Full victory in the culture war" indeed. You see that on here. Winning for the more vocal Brexiteers seems to be more important than realising what you've actually won (or more importantly, understanding what we're about to lose).
I'm not sure about taking the angle of reaching out to remainers. I'd just like to see an effort of the Govt to understand and do what's needed for the country rather than placate the hardliner Brexiteers. Maybe those are very similar things though.
I anticipated things going badly when we left but when the microscopic details of the whole shebang start filtering through to us it's going to be worse than any project fear-mongerer ever imagined.
Everything will be 'their' fault and 'they' are whoever Brexiters dislike the most.
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Good piece by Ian Dunt today on 17:06 - Jan 24 with 2388 views
the tory party is changing its symbol to a condom, to reflect its party's political stance. a condom allows for inflation, halts production, destroys the next generation, protects a bunch of dicks , and gives you a sense of security while you're actually being screwed
p.s. i changed it from republican party to tory party. it still apt thou
forensic experts say footers and spruces fingerprints were not found at the scene after the weekends rows
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Good piece by Ian Dunt today on 20:22 - Jan 24 with 2176 views
Good piece by Ian Dunt today on 17:06 - Jan 24 by Herbivore
The Brexiteers want surrender, not reconciliation.
The problem, despite all the usual shyte from Johnson, is that it is not in his hands. The backsliding and about turns over the past couple of weeks should be enough of an indication as to how this going to go, as
"The European Commission has produced a map of where it expects the UK to apply internal customs checks under Boris Johnson's Brexit withdrawal agreement."
And the simple minded were never told that
"Upon arrival in Northern Ireland, the UK will have to apply relevant EU rules and carry out any required checks under the Brussels rulebook.
The guide notes that EU institutions will have the same oversight as today, with the European Court of Justice as the final arbiter. EU representatives will also have the right to be present at the internal checkpoints and monitor the activity."
read it and weep dimwits because I can assure you this only the beginning, and for those still stupid enough to think this is all about 'johnny foreigner' doing as he is told then I suggest they have a read up on how future trade disputes will be resolved as the EU has it that the ECJ will still be the arbiter, and any attempt at flouting theur rulings by the UK which put simply will mean the EU applying sanctions ie pulling the plug on any deal
of course this is not being printed in the idiot's comics, as they are full of Tory MPs wanting firework displays and illuminated messages on the cliffs at Dover
but if in such a few short days we already have the EU deciding on what customs checks there will be at an internal UK border, insisting that the ECJ will still be in force, deciding when talks begin and the ahgenda (all or nothing) it doesn't quite sound like the simplistic 'get it done' that so many naively believed
and here to some up my thoughts about brexiteers
34 secs in
0
Good piece by Ian Dunt today on 20:46 - Jan 24 with 2137 views
Good piece by Ian Dunt today on 19:10 - Jan 24 by jaykay
the tory party is changing its symbol to a condom, to reflect its party's political stance. a condom allows for inflation, halts production, destroys the next generation, protects a bunch of dicks , and gives you a sense of security while you're actually being screwed
p.s. i changed it from republican party to tory party. it still apt thou
Good piece by Ian Dunt today on 19:10 - Jan 24 by jaykay
the tory party is changing its symbol to a condom, to reflect its party's political stance. a condom allows for inflation, halts production, destroys the next generation, protects a bunch of dicks , and gives you a sense of security while you're actually being screwed
p.s. i changed it from republican party to tory party. it still apt thou
and only accepts bristish made Durex
...............................foreign johnnies not welcome
2
Good piece by Ian Dunt today on 21:15 - Jan 24 with 2084 views
Good piece by Ian Dunt today on 19:10 - Jan 24 by jaykay
the tory party is changing its symbol to a condom, to reflect its party's political stance. a condom allows for inflation, halts production, destroys the next generation, protects a bunch of dicks , and gives you a sense of security while you're actually being screwed
p.s. i changed it from republican party to tory party. it still apt thou
you could always post daveu don't be shy.
forensic experts say footers and spruces fingerprints were not found at the scene after the weekends rows
Good piece by Ian Dunt today on 21:56 - Jan 24 by HARRY10
err....yes
Somewhile back some dimwitted Tory MP said in Parliament that the EU could go whistle for the 'divorce payment'. In his usual level of ignorance Johnson agreed.
However in his usual level of backsliding the UK has agreed that the estimated payment of £39bn ' <i>extornionate sums </I> ' (B Johnson) will be met in full. A sum which is believed to have dropped to around £32bn last Oct due to payments made in 2019,
But that still leaves another £32bn that will be paid between now and 2025- tfollowed by a few hundred thousand every year until
.............<b>2063</b>, or there about
There will be a border within the UK overseen by the EU, the ECJ will still hold sway, the divorce payment of £39bn will be paid......sounds more like someone is getting done that get it done.
Surely there can't be anymore U-turns and surrender can there ?
0
Good piece by Ian Dunt today on 08:07 - Jan 25 with 1875 views
Good piece by Ian Dunt today on 23:19 - Jan 24 by HARRY10
Somewhile back some dimwitted Tory MP said in Parliament that the EU could go whistle for the 'divorce payment'. In his usual level of ignorance Johnson agreed.
However in his usual level of backsliding the UK has agreed that the estimated payment of £39bn ' <i>extornionate sums </I> ' (B Johnson) will be met in full. A sum which is believed to have dropped to around £32bn last Oct due to payments made in 2019,
But that still leaves another £32bn that will be paid between now and 2025- tfollowed by a few hundred thousand every year until
.............<b>2063</b>, or there about
There will be a border within the UK overseen by the EU, the ECJ will still hold sway, the divorce payment of £39bn will be paid......sounds more like someone is getting done that get it done.
Surely there can't be anymore U-turns and surrender can there ?
It is only just starting & still they don't understand that if you want to play in a game you have to play to the rules of the game otherwise you don't play
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