The Irish Times on the British midlife crisis that is Brexit.
So it's been a shocking week Politically in the UK, and there's big stuff planned later today, so just to catch everyone up:
. Boris Johnson wants a No-Deal Brexit but knows that elected MPs in Parliament will not support a No-Deal
. He has made it his manifesto that by the 31st of October we will be leaving without a deal, if he backs down on this, it will likely spell the end of his leadership
. To get around this, Johnson has announced he will Prorogue Parliment. Prorogation means suspending Parliament essentially, to end a session and start a new one
. It's usually normal procedure and that's how he's selling it, but he's timed it perfectly to his advantage. Parliament already has very little time to put legislation in place to stop No-Deal. Now they have lost an entire month
. In order to sell this move to the public, he's begun to convince people that elected MPs are working against the public, and that he is working for the peoples interest by silencing Parliament. Hardcore Brexiteers are cheering this move, shouting "drain the swamp" in response
. Parliament opened today after it's recess, but by the 9th it will be prorogued. The opposition parties and Rebel Tories have to work quickly to vote in legislation that will prevent a No-Deal. The rebel Tories play a key role in this, and the governmrnt aren't happy about it.
. You might have heard of Dominic Cummings, he's Johnsons right hand man and believes the party should be ruled by fear. Because of this, new shocking developments were announced
. Aware that 22 or more Tories could vote in favour of an Extension to the Brexit deadline, Johnson has announced that any Tory who does so will have their "whip withdrawn" This essentially means the MPs will be suspended from their party and will not be able to run as Tory candidates in elections
. This is unheard of, especially since Johnson had frequently voted against Theresa Mays government himself. It has already scared some MPs into backing down.
. The vote is due later today. That's when we'll learn 2 things. How many rebels stand up against Johnson, and whether Johnson will truly go through with evicting those rebels
. This vote is considered one of the last chances to stop No-Deal
Ashley from Pinner said that he was willing to take a “short-term” hit on his business in order to free Britain from the bureaucratic red tape of the EU.
James asked for just one European law that he was excited to repeal. And Ashley couldn’t name a single one.
Eventually, Ashley laughed as he said: “The shape of your bananas.”
But James responded: “It’s not funny, is it? The pound is at the lowest it’s been since 1985, you just said “any law” and I’m just asking you to name one.
“We both know that bananas was a lie made up by Boris Johnson. Remind me which side he was on during the Leave campaign.
“What is the law? You know you were going to take short-term economic damage, you knew that all your customers would do as a newly-formed electrician company. Every single customer in the country is going to be potentially worse off than they were before the vote.
“So I’m just wondering what those laws are that you won’t have to obey any more that made you vote for this short-term economic hit.
“Can you name one?”
Ashley’s response: “I wouldn’t be able to, no.”
This is exactly what happens when the Mail, Express, Sun go on about “meddling Brussels” and “EU bureacracy” time and time again. Repeat the soundbites, and people will believe them as truth. But ask them to tell you what it means and they haven’t got a fucking clue. And the gullibility and stupidity of these people are exactly why we’re going to be utterly fucked.
Ok so since this morning
This article includes the phrase “mercifully fully clothed” and that is the best comment I’ve read about Boris in a while.
I know that there’s a lot of uncertainty and distress in regards to the UK voting to leave the EU, but the ageism I’ve seen in response is pretty alarming.
In case you’ve missed it, there have been many people calling for voting rights to be taken away from the elderly “because they’re not going to be here as long.”
A person’s worth is not measured in how much longer they have to live (would you take voting away from terminally ill people???) and oftentimes the older voters still have 20+ years left to live.
I don’t think anybody votes for things because they’re old and therefore don’t have to live with the consequences. They vote the way they do because that’s what they genuinely believe (whether it is right or not).
Discussing the removal of voting rights from one group of people only opens the door to a broader conversation as to “who deserves to vote.” (Which hasn’t worked out so well in the past.)
Disagreeing with the older generation is not a reason to strip them of their rights. It’s a reason to go out to vote in force.
^^^^^^^^
probablyasocialecologist
oh-glasgow
outlanderalien
enfant--terrible
wholove
blamelessbourgeoisdomesticity
disabilityhealth
emily84