[Nonsense]

I'll row back slightly on my earlier comment. The referendum wasn't useless, in that it got us where we are now. If you're happy with where we are now then it was useful. Brexit's failure's not my fault, I live in a Tory constituency. May is smart. She knew she would batting on an extremely tricky wicket, but to shamelessly mix sporting analogies, when the ball comes lose from the scrum, you need to grab it. In politics you never know if you'll get a second chance.

So May knew she had a giant problem before she even took the job. She was Tory leader first and Prime Minister second. If she reached acoss the house to opposition MPs she wouldn't be party leader for long. The whole point of Brexit was to stop the Tory party splitting. May wasn't going to do a Ramsey Macdonald. Tony Blair seemed to finally eclipse MacDonald as the Labour hate figure after a mere 70 odd years. The Tory party was massively split, this meant she was going to be dependant on the 40 to 80 hard Brexiteers Tory MPs to get any deal through Parliament.

So when May had a massive opinion poll lead. she did the smart thing in going to the country. She can hardly blamed for failing to predict that Football crowds and Festival audiences would be chanting "Oh Jeremy Corby." She can hardly be blamed fot not predicting that Jeremy Corby would deliver the biggest increase in the Labour vote since World War II. So since the election her problem is worse. The Tory party can't agree on what sort of Brexit they want, but she can't reach out to Labour, because if she did, the Tory MPs really would dump her.

A lot of Tory MPs are very unhappy with May, but their unhappy for completely opposing reasons. Some want her to go harder and appease the Tory right, but some want her to go softer and reach out to Labour MPs. So you can whine about May as much as you want, but any replacement would face the same arithemetic, and even an election probably wouldn't change it.

Nonsense -

I would be the first to admit that the tone of your latest post is more moderate & improved than the last one.

However, your criticism, IMHO, is too Tory-centric.

CAMERON('Bullingdon Boy'-if you like ), stepped out of the box, for want of a better description, gave people the freedom to vote on the issue of Europe, which is something that happened only once under Labour & the public were subjected to biased government messages in it's desire to influence the voting back in 1975, even though the actual referendum questions were virtually identical to 2016..

The economic background back then, was very different than today, the oil crisis was barely two years on & industrial relations were, as always post war, 'messy'.

No one rejoices at how Theresa MAY has dragged the country, as well as herself into a downward spiral over her mis-handling of the referendum result's intention.
The referendum result ordered the government to take us out of the E.U,she should never have ceded any control over the issue to parliament, or even her Ministers,she is soon to be-was)in the 'driving seat', but now, she is a passenger, it's her own fault, no one else is to blame.

The day she ceded control to parliament, was like watching street stray dogs(MP's), waiting for scraps to be thrown at them, tails waggling, but, instead of each fighting for the scraps, they all headed for the person(the PM) that threw the pieces at them & have been devouring the carcass ever since.

That is no way for any 'leader' to behave, or for any 'parliament' worthy of the name.

Of equal measure did Labour descend on that windfall thrown at them, Theresa MAY's arch-nemesis, CORBYN' whom she once said in parliament, said that she would do everything in her power to stop being voted into power, has, by her actions, elevated CORBYN into being the bookies favourite as the leader at the next election.

That is something that I have alluded to before, the 'Nuclear' option, arising from the BREXIT betrayal by Theresa MAY, which is rather ironical.

[ingliz]

BREXIT betrayal

It's official.

It's off.

Confirmed, as a “non legislative act”, when it was published in the Official Journal of the EU:

Non-legislative acts
DECISIONS

★ European Council Decision (EU) 2019/476 taken in agreement with the United Kingdom of
22 March 2019 extending the period under Article 50(3)TEU .............

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content ... LL&from=EN …


Interestingly, now the 29th is not set in EU Law, no new 'legal' leaving date is given.

[anarchist23]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Yellowhammer

On 22 March confidential Cabinet documents on Operation Yellowhammer were obtained by The Guardian newspaper. The document warned that departments would have to work 24 hours a day for at least twelve weeks,


Operation Yellowhammer is the codename used by the UK Treasury for cross-government contingency planning for the possibility of a "no-deal" Brexit. In the event of no-deal, the UK's unilateral departure from the EU would disrupt, for an unknown duration, many aspects of the relationship between the UK and European Union, including financial transfers, movement of people, trade, customs and other regulations. Operation Yellowhammer is intended to mitigate, within the UK, the effects of this disruption.
Contents
Disclosure and naming
Edit
The existence of the operation leaked on 6 September 2018, when a press photographer captured a snapshot of a document revealing some "no-deal" plans and the HM Treasury codename for them. The document appeared to indicate the Civil Contingencies Secretariat, a department of the Cabinet Office responsible for emergency planning, had been used in anticipation of government policy. No further details were revealed. The National Audit Office subsequently made public some documents about the operation.
The operation code name "Yellowhammer", which relates to a small songbird, was chosen at random.
On 2 February 2019, The Times received leaked documents with this code name, about Department for Transport command and control structure plans.
Activation
Edit
Operation Yellowhammer covers actions to be taken in a no-deal scenario, some of which would be implemented prior to the date of leaving.
On 29 January 2019 the House of Commons voted, in a non-binding ballot, to reject a no-deal Brexit. However, unless the House of Commons were to accept the Brexit withdrawal agreement, or the EU's other members were to grant the UK an extension under Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, or the UK were to revoke its Article 50 notice, the United Kingdom would by default exit the EU on 29 March 2019 with no deal.
On 20 March 2019, Kent county council activated plans to keep roads, hospitals and schools open, and the UK government's Brexit secretary, Steve Barclay, said that Operation Yellowhammer command and control structures would be "enacted fully" on 25 March 2019 unless a new exit date was agreed between the UK and the EU. On 21 March 2019 the Cobra emergency committee took control of no-deal planning with a view to implementing contingency measures on 25 March 2019. [Note 1]
On 21 March 2019, possible new exit dates were agreed between the UK and the EU:[Note 2] 22 May 2019 if the House of Commons approve's the Brexit withdrawal agreement by 29 March 2019; or
12 April 2019 otherwise.
Organisation
Edit
Operation Yellowhammer was developed by the Civil Contingencies Secretariat (CCS) though Cobra took control on 25 March 2019. This will be organised via a Command and control structure (C3).These will co-ordinate:
Up to 30 UK Government departments
If a Government department's contingency plans are inadequate Operation Yellowhammer will take over planning and decisions for that department.
42 Local resilience forums in England and Wales
Similar bodies in Northern Ireland and Scotland
Governing authorities for the United Kingdom, overseas territories and crown dependencies
Co-ordination with impacted industries and sectors.
Major decisions will be taken by the European Union Exit and Trade (Preparedness) sub-Committee, set up in January 2019 and chaired by the prime minister. It will have wide-ranging powers to order emergency measures, including use of the military, and overriding regulations.
Areas of risk
Edit
Operation Yellowhammer identifies 12 areas of risk. These include medicine supply chain and UK citizens in the EU. There are also three risks common to all areas.:
The twelve areas of risk are:
Transport systems
People crossing borders
Key goods crossing borders
Healthcare services
UK energy and other critical systems
UK food and water supplies
UK Nationals in the EU
Law enforcement implications
Banking and finance industry services
Northern Ireland
Specific risks to oversea territories and Crown dependencies (including Gibraltar)
National Security
Risks common to all areas:
Legal
Communications
Data
Criticism
Edit
On 21 March 2019, the UK government's decision to risk a no-deal Brexit and to invoke Operation Yellowhammer was criticised by the First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon. Her sentiments were echoed by the First Minister of Wales, Mark Drakeford. On 22 March confidential Cabinet documents on Operation Yellowhammer were obtained by The Guardian newspaper. The document warned that departments would have to work 24 hours a day for at least twelve weeks, without input from higher up in government. A source with knowledge of the operation said that, although planning had stepped up, the overall picture remained chaotic and "rudderless". The Ministry of Defence set up a bunker underneath its main building in Whitehall to coordinate any military response required.

[Nonsense]

It's official.

It's off.

Confirmed, as a “non legislative act”, when it was published in the Official Journal of the EU:

Non-legislative acts
DECISIONS



★ European Council Decision (EU) 2019/476 taken in agreement with the United Kingdom of
22 March 2019 extending the period under Article 50(3)TEU .............

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content ... LL&from=EN …


Interestingly, now the 29th is not set in EU Law, no new legal leaving date is given.

Nonsense -

Dream on my friend, 'nothing has changed'...yet!

The E.U is simply playing Theresa MAY's game...to the beat of tick-tock,tick-tock, it's, 'Making your mind up' time, as if 2 years is not enough.
They have given her a deadline to get her job done, it's deal or no deal, we Leave.
Any group of MP's caving in to her pleadings now will look pretty servile & stupid afterwards.

She is, weak & unstable.

[JohnRawls]

It's official.

It's off.

Confirmed, as a “non legislative act”, when it was published in the Official Journal of the EU:

Non-legislative acts
DECISIONS

★ European Council Decision (EU) 2019/476 taken in agreement with the United Kingdom of
22 March 2019 extending the period under Article 50(3)TEU .............

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content ... LL&from=EN …


Interestingly, now the 29th is not set in EU Law, no new legal leaving date is given.

Article 1 in the same document has the dates. You are being delusional.

The only real way to stop Brexit is to get a leader for the remainers in the UK somehow or to burn down the house of parliament and i am saying that as a supporter of EU unity.

[B0ycey]

So the great shitfest continues for another two weeks...

And on her return May discovers the DUP still will not support her deal so we may not have a meaningful vote next week either. Although it does need to be said that she doesn't actually need their support for her deal to pass - although a referendum would need to be attached to it - in other words compromise. But May is a delusionists. You can't force sense into the ignorance.

As for May blaming MPs for her failures, does she not realise it is her who is in power? There are many ways to pass Brexit even in this divided parliament but it would mean taking a much softer approach. So no May, get off you high horse and actually look around you. You want Brexit then change your bloody red lines.

And finally apparently she is 'on our side!!!' Is she BOLLOCKS!!!. She talks of democracy but refuses to let the people vote on her deal. If we are indeed on her side we will vote for her deal and the impasse is over. Brexit will happen. But we do not get a say. We voted three years ago and we must not change our minds apparently. So much for democracy. Although we can have an early election after two years and MPs can vote as many times that are needed on a deal that never changes. That is OK. No irony there. The Queen of democracy has spoken. Time for her to go. Let Corbyn have a go.

#NotOnMySide

#EvictTheFool

[ingliz]

Article 1 in the same document has the dates.

A technicality:

a) Legislative acts are adopted by the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament acting together, and have their legal basis in the treaties.

b) Non-legislative acts are adopted by the European Commission in pursuance with powers given to it by legislative acts.

1) The agreement was cobbled together by the Council of the European Union, alone.

2) With the Treaty of Amsterdam, the European Parliament acquired the power to bring an action to annul an act of another institution.

Unlikely as it is.

If so minded.

The European Parliament can revoke its delegation of powers and force a hard brexit.


Trivia:

Coincidence?

The Titanic was on its maiden voyage across the Atlantic on the 12th April.

[B0ycey]

I have always liked Watson. Looking forward to hearing him speak later. At least one person can see a way out. May is still trying to slam the square peg in. If she believes she is on our side let us show her one way or another in a vote whether she is or not. You know, the democratic way.

[Heisenberg]

As for May blaming MPs for her failures, does she not realise it is her who is in power?

May is in office. She is certainly not in power, and hasn't been for quite some time.

But hey, even the Big Two political leaders - David Cameron and Adolf Hitler - had a rough go of it towards the end. As long as she doesn't kill herself in the next few weeks, Theresa May will have to be counted among the all time greats.

[B0ycey]

May is in office. She is certainly not in power, and hasn't been for quite some time.

Correction she is indeed in power although she doesn't have support for her deal as it stands. There is a difference.

[Beren]

I wonder if there has ever been a British PM in power less than she is. She's pushing her deal as Hitler was playing with his non-existent armies on his table map in his bunker.

[B0ycey]

As long as she doesn't kill herself in the next few weeks...

One way to end the impasse...

[Atlantis]

Pro-EU demonstration in London. This does look impressive.

[Rich]

Why do people think think there should be five year parliaments, but want a new referendum less than three years after the first. It makes no sense.

[B0ycey]

Why do people think think there should be five year parliaments, but want a new referendum less than three years after the first. It makes no sense.

Said the so called remainer...

We haven't had a ratification vote FYI. Although we had two general elections in two years BTW.

[Nonsense]

Why do people think think there should be five year parliaments, but want a new referendum less than three years after the first. It makes no sense.

It only makes 'sense', if you cannot accept democracy & if you think that action outside of the democratic process can achieve the objective you seek that runs counter to it.

Those 'activist' inside or out of parliament, say that things have 'changed' in the 3 years since the referendum, more accurately, 'change' is a universal constant, no big 'deal' there then.

Remember, it's 46 years since we joined with europe, only once(1975) was there an opportunity to express the democractic will of the people under Harold WILSON, resulting in a 'remain' vote win, with no shenanigans by way of reaction, unlike with the current debacle, yet now, when the people have had a chance, the first in 44 years, the democratic choice has been subjected to villification unlike any other.
It is disgraceful, shameless behaviour against democracy & against the majority of the electorate that voted the way that they did..

It's the same when one compares a general election vs a referendum, contrary to Theresa MAY's mantra, " nothing has changed', everything has changed, that is a fact of life.
It doesn't however justify calling for a 'second' referendum, anymore than it does 3 years down the line from a previous general election, demanded because one doesn't like the effects of the election result, that is 'democracy'.

Back in 1972, the 'Leavers' never demanded another choice by way of 'options', neither did they demand a 'second' referendum 3 years on, even though that 1975 decision was a referendum, the result, of which, was 'remain', the initial entry was a pretty limited & partisan pledge through a general election.

* Below is an extract in full from the 1970 Manifesto, judge for yourselves, whether the present day 'remainers' calling for a 'second' referendum, based on what they say was, "We were never told everything", are justified or not, in having a valid complaint compared to the available information then.


We accepted the democratic decision back then, no matter how, as individuals we voted, it was a democratic choice, we must abide by that, no matter what the methodology process is.

The current petition, along with the London march, is not, as one marcher stated, an expression of 'the will of the people', it was probably the will of the people attending the march.

Now, I accepts the right to demonstrate, no matter what side one is on, the sad thing is, why does no one organise a march to demand that practising,as well as upholding Democracy is first & foremost in what they do.
The people voted 'Leave', the date of withdrawal has been moved by Theresa MAY moving the 'goalpost', the people will neither forgive, or forget the treachery of those intent on implementing a denial of BREXIT through delay.

* 1970 Conservative Party Manifesto

A better tomorrow -

Our economy has expanded more slowly than that of any other comparable country in the world. Almost everywhere in Western Europe and North America the standard of living grows faster than in Britain. International experts are predicting that if these trends are allowed to continue Britain will soon be the poorest major country in the West.



Programme for a parliament -

These policies will strengthen Britain so that we can negotiate with the European Community confident in the knowledge that we can stand on our own if the price is too high.


Steadier prices -

Under the last Conservative Government, wages rose twice as fast as prices, living standards rose three times as fast as they have under Labour, and Britain achieved one of the best records in Europe for steady prices.

A Stronger Britain in The World -

If we can negotiate the right terms, we believe that it would be in the long-term interest of the British people for Britain to join the European Economic Community, and that it would make a major contribution to both the prosperity and the security of our country. The opportunities are immense. Economic growth and a higher standard of living would result from having a larger market.

But we must also recognise the obstacles. There would be short-term disadvantages in Britain going into the European Economic Community which must be weighed against the long-term benefits. Obviously there is a price we would not be prepared to pay. Only when we negotiate will it be possible to determine whether the balance is a fair one, and in the interests of Britain.

[snapdragon]

Pro-EU demonstration in London. This does look impressive.

Oh my god, it was! We got caught in the crush in Parliament Street so wriggled out from the marchers and came home.

My daughter has just joined the end of the march from a Brexit demonstration in a different part of London, so it's still going strong.

I was there. I was there.

[Istanbuller]

Second referendum?

Will you have a third one if loser side wants?

[JohnRawls]

Second referendum?

Will you have a third one if loser side wants?

I don't think remain cares if there will be 2,3,4 referendums. They have learned their lesson in a sense.

The problem is though there is not going to be a 2nd referendum unless they get some representation. They have almost 0 representation in parliament(Lib dems and SNP is very small compared to their support among population). Also they have no clear leader. (Corbyn ain't remain leader, he has favoured Brexit for a long time)

[Beren]

(Corbyn ain't remain leader, he has favoured Brexit for a long time)

Corbyn would be a Remain leader if he could become PM only that way. But his actual way to premiership leads through a soft-Brexit-or-Remain campaign, which also includes harshly opposing the Tories and their hard Brexit, of course.