@pedant

There will be at least a year to agree on the paperwork (in fact we already know what that looks like as the UK and EU import from outside the EU already). Trade doesnt stop because of tarifs. We pay more for stuff and receive a tax inflow on imports. You need at least a year to train up the additional people to implement it. A lot is…[Read more]

@whisht

I agree with you there. The only ay to negotiate something like Brexit on the basis of a national consensus. Since that doesnt exist, something Norway like is a win win for both sides. We’re out, but in enough to work for both sides. It will also kick the issue down the road for both Us and Europe. We can reach a final decision either way later.

@pedant

On Brexit, I was previously of the opinion that the odds were on a no deal exit.

@mudlark

🙂 I dont think the public wants/likes regional government. However, if there’s enough money and power and it does good things locally (as well as charging income tax) attitudes can change quickly. I would say the London Mayor has worked well, even though it doesnt have enough real powers

@pedant

I agree with you. What they want and…[Read more]

@lisa

Who can replace May. It looks like the party is sufficiently split that no one will. I’m guessing that they’ll leave her there to sort Brexit and then dump her in a couple of years for someone more popular. Boris Johnson is probably the most obvious candidate (he is at least popular), but he’s also a wag (that is a general joker and…[Read more]

@blenkinsopthebrave

Re Northern ireland

You’re absolutely correct.  The UK government is meant to be a neutral. I wont say the that the majority think its a problem (too much focus on the immediate aftermath), but it has been a significant theme in the news coverage today (alongside the general biblical style policies of the DUP party,…[Read more]

@lisa

Hi Lisa. I don’t know how knowledgeable you are regarding British politics and the political system. So apologies in advance is this is old news for you.

Whilst British Prime Ministers appear and act like presidents, they don’t actually have any personal mandate to rule. They are the boss, the CEO, but the Board of Directors (the Cabinet)…[Read more]

@mudlark

I agree May will stagger on, probably until the end of the Brexit negotiations (say 2020), be dumped and a new Tory leader will head into the next election. The Brexit talks are too soon to run a 3 month leadership election. They would need to appoint an MP as emergency leader asap. Is this possible  or worse is there a single MP they…[Read more]

@wolfweed excellent ! (but all too true)

@soundworld

Unfortunately our Westminster leaders are too in love with gaining absolute power from a minority of the electorate for any form of reform to be impossible. Clegg’s biggest mistake (apart from taking a centre-left party into a right wing  party coalition) was not to insist PR as the price for the deal (not a referendum than nobody…[Read more]

@whisht

I dont know what the cure is, but I think it must be built around local democracy. There was a time when Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Newcastle were important economic hubs rivaling London in economic importance (add Glasgow for Scotland and South Wales as a region). We have to get back to this way of looking at things. The…[Read more]

@soundworld

I’ve been a firm believer in the UK having some form of PR based electoral system for as long as I can vote.In some ways the French system is better (two rounds, with only 2 candidates in the final round, so the supporters of the other defeated candidates have to choose). This is rather PR like, but unlike PR big minority parties dont…[Read more]

@whisht @thane15

I broadly agree with you there. Whilst there are issues about how do we pay for the increasing cost of the older folk when they get sick and need social care, it’s probably safe to conclude that the majority view is that the government should pay for the largest chunk of the cost. This requires tax rises and that the long term…[Read more]

@thane15

Puro if things had gone to plan, Gummer would be brexit secretary (replacing Davies) and Rudd would be chancellor (replacing Hammond) as May put her loyal supporters into all of the key positions.

She is staying it seems at least for now. Running a minority government with the largest Northern ireland unionist party propping her up.…[Read more]

Are exit poles reliable as Bonkers ideas ? If even remotely accurate (ie a Tory majority of less than 20)  this would be the election of the century in terms of result.

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@whisht

I prefer Nirvana’s version to the original I’m afraid.

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On UK election day you can argue this article is political. It is, but I think its well worth reading. I’m a Northerner at heart (although I’ve lived in the SE for longer), but I think that some of the descriptions here from an American journalist traveling in Yorkshire (apparently writing for Guardian America) are realistic and accurate…[Read more]

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