Snap General Election called

[Mellsblue]

Sod FTA’s, free ports, GM crops etc etc. This is the important stuff:

https://www.itv.com/news/2019-07-26/itv ... -to-staff/

One day soon, I hope, this guy, Joey Essex, Katie Hopkins, Rod Liddle and Will Self are going to release a joint press statement stating they were all part of the largest and longest running practical joke in history.

[Mellsblue]

Sod FTA’s, free ports, GM crops etc etc. This is the important stuff:

https://www.itv.com/news/2019-07-26/itv ... -to-staff/

One day soon, I hope, this guy, Joey Essex, Katie Hopkins, Rod Liddle and Will Self are going to release a joint press statement stating they were all part of the largest and longest running practical joke in history.

Oh yeah. Add Mark Francois and Barry Gardiner to that list.

[Mellsblue]

Sod FTA’s, free ports, GM crops etc etc. This is the important stuff:

https://www.itv.com/news/2019-07-26/itv ... -to-staff/

One day soon, I hope, this guy, Joey Essex, Katie Hopkins, Rod Liddle and Will Self are going to release a joint press statement stating they were all part of the largest and longest running practical joke in history.

Oh yeah. Add Mark Francois and Barry Gardiner to that list.

Apologies, terrible form, chaps. I completely forgot to sign off.

Yours Sincerely,
Mellsblue Esq.

[Puja]

You know, there is an edit button.

Puja

[Mellsblue]

You know, there is an edit button.

Puja

As you well know, some chancer on the EMB is after my crown and I ain’t having it.

[Stones of granite]

Sod FTA’s, free ports, GM crops etc etc. This is the important stuff:

https://www.itv.com/news/2019-07-26/itv ... -to-staff/

One day soon, I hope, this guy, Joey Essex, Katie Hopkins, Rod Liddle and Will Self are going to release a joint press statement stating they were all part of the largest and longest running practical joke in history.

I’m just surprised that he hasn’t demanded that the official language be Latin.

[Mellsblue]

Sod FTA’s, free ports, GM crops etc etc. This is the important stuff:

https://www.itv.com/news/2019-07-26/itv ... -to-staff/

One day soon, I hope, this guy, Joey Essex, Katie Hopkins, Rod Liddle and Will Self are going to release a joint press statement stating they were all part of the largest and longest running practical joke in history.

I’m just surprised that he hasn’t demanded that the official language be Latin.

They are just waiting for the delivery of parchment and quills before issuing that memo.

[Digby]

I do.

In fairness the Brexiteers have been astutely following the rules all throughout this Brexit process, it was perhaps a touch outlandish to suggest they'd step outside the margins now.

Difficult to negotiate an FTA when we have no idea whether will be in the CU, SM, both, Canada ++ etc etc.

None of this is my fault, I never asked them to do it. They advised there'll be rainbows and unicorns and now they need to deliver it.

Though I suppose they could arrange deals based on each of those possible EU deals.

[Digby]

Sod FTA’s, free ports, GM crops etc etc. This is the important stuff:

https://www.itv.com/news/2019-07-26/itv ... -to-staff/

One day soon, I hope, this guy, Joey Essex, Katie Hopkins, Rod Liddle and Will Self are going to release a joint press statement stating they were all part of the largest and longest running practical joke in history.

Oh yeah. Add Mark Francois and Barry Gardiner to that list.

Apologies, terrible form, chaps. I completely forgot to sign off.

Yours Sincerely,
Mellsblue Esq.

Your status as the board's Rowan of choice is intact, also, I don't have a clue the last time I saw ITV doing any news coverage, though I do sometimes flick Peston on

[twitchy]

[Mellsblue]

In fairness the Brexiteers have been astutely following the rules all throughout this Brexit process, it was perhaps a touch outlandish to suggest they'd step outside the margins now.

Difficult to negotiate an FTA when we have no idea whether will be in the CU, SM, both, Canada ++ etc etc.

None of this is my fault, I never asked them to do it. They advised there'll be rainbows and unicorns and now they need to deliver it.

Though I suppose they could arrange deals based on each of those possible EU deals.

That wasn't really the point. I was answering the question as to whether I thought they had or hadn't been negotiating FTA's and I then gave one reason as to why I thought they hadn't.

I' m sure we could arrange deals based on all the possibilities but I'm also sure it would be thought to be a waste of time and manpower and I'm sure those on the other side would think the same.

[Puja]

Poor Mells. Quotes himself a dozen times and it turns out that still no-one actually reads what he's said.

Puja

[Digby]

Difficult to negotiate an FTA when we have no idea whether will be in the CU, SM, both, Canada ++ etc etc.

None of this is my fault, I never asked them to do it. They advised there'll be rainbows and unicorns and now they need to deliver it.

Though I suppose they could arrange deals based on each of those possible EU deals.

That wasn't really the point. I was answering the question as to whether I thought they had or hadn't been negotiating FTA's and I then gave one reason as to why I thought they hadn't.

I' m sure we could arrange deals based on all the possibilities but I'm also sure it would be thought to be a waste of time and manpower and I'm sure those on the other side would think the same.

I don't buy for one moment we aren't having discussions about what our future official discussions might entail, partly it's just doesn't seem likely to me with anyone in charge of the process, and then with Brexiteers flouting so many rules/laws anyway we'd be relying on the integrity of David Davies and disgraced former defence secretary Liam Fox, and I wouldn't be betting on those two to play with a straight bat (which does mean they might yet play in the Ashes)

[Which Tyler]

He's doing his best to boost industry.
Specifically the quil and parchment industries.

[Mellsblue]

None of this is my fault, I never asked them to do it. They advised there'll be rainbows and unicorns and now they need to deliver it.

Though I suppose they could arrange deals based on each of those possible EU deals.

That wasn't really the point. I was answering the question as to whether I thought they had or hadn't been negotiating FTA's and I then gave one reason as to why I thought they hadn't.

I' m sure we could arrange deals based on all the possibilities but I'm also sure it would be thought to be a waste of time and manpower and I'm sure those on the other side would think the same.

I don't buy for one moment we aren't having discussions about what our future official discussions might entail, partly it's just doesn't seem likely to me with anyone in charge of the process, and then with Brexiteers flouting so many rules/laws anyway we'd be relying on the integrity of David Davies and disgraced former defence secretary Liam Fox, and I wouldn't be betting on those two to play with a straight bat (which does mean they might yet play in the Ashes)

Of course we were having discussions about what future trade deals may look like. The May govt. has said as much, as have the Aussies and the Kiwis, amongst others. However, that isn’t negotiating FTA’s. Which is what Boris’s govt. has now said they will do. The EU have had no issues with these talks, at least not that I’ve seen/read, and I think we can therefore safely assume that they don’t breach any EU rules on FTA discussions. Let’s not forget that a lot of these nations would also like an FTA with the EU and they aren’t going to upset the apple cart.

[Mellsblue]

Poor Mells. Quotes himself a dozen times and it turns out that still no-one actually reads what he's said.

Puja

Tell me about it. And then WT goes and kicks me when I’m down.

It’s enough to make me think they’ve blocked/muted me. That would really make me Rowan Mk II. God bless Putin and every other authoritarian nutter.

[Digby]

That wasn't really the point. I was answering the question as to whether I thought they had or hadn't been negotiating FTA's and I then gave one reason as to why I thought they hadn't.

I' m sure we could arrange deals based on all the possibilities but I'm also sure it would be thought to be a waste of time and manpower and I'm sure those on the other side would think the same.

I don't buy for one moment we aren't having discussions about what our future official discussions might entail, partly it's just doesn't seem likely to me with anyone in charge of the process, and then with Brexiteers flouting so many rules/laws anyway we'd be relying on the integrity of David Davies and disgraced former defence secretary Liam Fox, and I wouldn't be betting on those two to play with a straight bat (which does mean they might yet play in the Ashes)

Of course we were having discussions about what future trade deals may look like. The May govt. has said as much, as have the Aussies and the Kiwis, amongst others. However, that isn’t negotiating FTA’s. Which is what Boris’s govt. has now said they will do. The EU have had no issues with these talks, at least not that I’ve seen/read, and I think we can therefore safely assume that they don’t breach any EU rules on FTA discussions. Let’s not forget that a lot of these nations would also like an FTA with the EU and they aren’t going to upset the apple cart.

Essentially then you're drawing a strong distinction between casual discussions on what a future trade deal will look like, and 'official' talks on what a future trade deal will look like, and I simply don't do that, partly because so many of the actual discussion on agreements are preceded by discussions on what parties would agree to, and that's what we have now. The only distinction I'd draw is we can't sign anything for now, and thus any broad outline or even detailed positions are subject to change.

[Mellsblue]

I don't buy for one moment we aren't having discussions about what our future official discussions might entail, partly it's just doesn't seem likely to me with anyone in charge of the process, and then with Brexiteers flouting so many rules/laws anyway we'd be relying on the integrity of David Davies and disgraced former defence secretary Liam Fox, and I wouldn't be betting on those two to play with a straight bat (which does mean they might yet play in the Ashes)

Of course we were having discussions about what future trade deals may look like. The May govt. has said as much, as have the Aussies and the Kiwis, amongst others. However, that isn’t negotiating FTA’s. Which is what Boris’s govt. has now said they will do. The EU have had no issues with these talks, at least not that I’ve seen/read, and I think we can therefore safely assume that they don’t breach any EU rules on FTA discussions. Let’s not forget that a lot of these nations would also like an FTA with the EU and they aren’t going to upset the apple cart.

Essentially then you're drawing a strong distinction between casual discussions on what a future trade deal will look like, and 'official' talks on what a future trade deal will look like, and I simply don't do that, partly because so many of the actual discussion on agreements are preceded by discussions on what parties would agree to, and that's what we have now. The only distinction I'd draw is we can't sign anything for now, and thus any broad outline or even detailed positions are subject to change.

I’m not. The EU rules are.

[Digby]

Of course we were having discussions about what future trade deals may look like. The May govt. has said as much, as have the Aussies and the Kiwis, amongst others. However, that isn’t negotiating FTA’s. Which is what Boris’s govt. has now said they will do. The EU have had no issues with these talks, at least not that I’ve seen/read, and I think we can therefore safely assume that they don’t breach any EU rules on FTA discussions. Let’s not forget that a lot of these nations would also like an FTA with the EU and they aren’t going to upset the apple cart.

Essentially then you're drawing a strong distinction between casual discussions on what a future trade deal will look like, and 'official' talks on what a future trade deal will look like, and I simply don't do that, partly because so many of the actual discussion on agreements are preceded by discussions on what parties would agree to, and that's what we have now. The only distinction I'd draw is we can't sign anything for now, and thus any broad outline or even detailed positions are subject to change.

I’m not. The EU rules are.

They're more guidelines than rules, to borrow a phrase, and countries break them all the time. The notion we'd suddenly cling to one of them now when we're supposedly leaving anyway is just perverse.

If we hadn't voted to leave and where trying this on then I'm sure the EU would take a dim view indeed, but this is going to happen anyway (I assume whilst hoping I'm yet again wrong), and bigger picture which is to say global economy in mind the EU aren't going to want Brexit causing more problems than it has to.

[Mellsblue]

We’ve said we’re not having FTA talks, numerous countries on the other side have said the same, the EU, via their silence, seem to agree. Not sure what else to say about it.

[Stones of granite]

The easiest way to stop this plan is to prevent him from winning the GE. That depends on the opposition working together. Looking at the relationships between Corbyn, Sturgeon, Swinson and Lucas; Johnson might well calculate that he has nothing to fear.

Corbyn, and his lefty lunatics remain a giant turd shat over our political landscape, but beyond that there's a fair chance Ruth Davidson's name should be added to that list of opposition leaders that Boris needs to consider

Yes, there is going to be (already is) considerable friction between Ruthy and BoJo. Boris has attempted to address this by replacing Mundell, a close ally of Ruthy, with Alister Jack as Scottish Secretary.
I don't know much about Jack, but he does seem to be a hardline Brexiteer, despite representing a Remain constituency, albeit one with one of the narrowest margins in Scotland in the Referendum He also comes across as a bit old-money Scottish gentry, which probably plays well with BoJo but is certainly not Ruthy's cup of tea.

Dominic Cummings, er, I mean Boris Johnson has ratcheted up the aggro with Ruthy by overlooking every single Scottish Tory MPs to appoint Robin Walker Esq., MP for Worcester, as Parliamentary Under Secretary at the Scottish Office.

[Digby]

Corbyn, and his lefty lunatics remain a giant turd shat over our political landscape, but beyond that there's a fair chance Ruth Davidson's name should be added to that list of opposition leaders that Boris needs to consider

Yes, there is going to be (already is) considerable friction between Ruthy and BoJo. Boris has attempted to address this by replacing Mundell, a close ally of Ruthy, with Alister Jack as Scottish Secretary.
I don't know much about Jack, but he does seem to be a hardline Brexiteer, despite representing a Remain constituency, albeit one with one of the narrowest margins in Scotland in the Referendum He also comes across as a bit old-money Scottish gentry, which probably plays well with BoJo but is certainly not Ruthy's cup of tea.

Dominic Cummings, er, I mean Boris Johnson has ratcheted up the aggro with Ruthy by overlooking every single Scottish Tory MPs to appoint Robin Walker Esq., MP for Worcester, as Parliamentary Under Secretary at the Scottish Office.

Ricky Gervais likes to say when people ask him why he goes to such trouble to offend people that it's no trouble for him whatsoever. God bless 'em

[Which Tyler]

7 years ago today we were all watching the London Olympics opening ceremony. A celebration of optimism, unity, diversity, humanity and inclusion.

We've come a long way.

[Digby]

JRM straight in with his role as leader of the house with style directions, notably imo imploring the use imperial over metric measurements, it's like the dimwit is proud to be retarded.

[Puja]

You know, I've heard Max Clark is Welsh qualified...

Puja