Brexit Most Messy
UK PM Theresa May released a video this morning from 10 Downing Street, as her situation becomes as shaky as the camera work in her impromptu message.
Let me explain what's happening with Brexit.pic.twitter.com/gjGkvFk8fT
— Theresa May (@theresa_may) April 7, 2019
Her own party is not only uninspired, but may have finally had enough, with reaching out to Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn a bridge too far.
Jacob Rees-Mogg says Theresa May "risks giving a degree of credibility to Mr Corbyn and undermining the general thrust of the Conservative argument that he is a Marxist who would be dangerous to this nation's interests" #Ridge https://t.co/q2DW9wNbzD pic.twitter.com/RqaIogWRBi
— Ridge on Sunday (@RidgeOnSunday) April 7, 2019
Meanwhile, Corbyn himself is not having a great day in the UK press:
Today's front page: Labour’s hate files expose Jeremy Corbyn’s anti‑semite army.
Leaked emails reveal party’s ‘shocking’ failure to act. Read the full story here https://t.co/ymZ1lj0JO2 pic.twitter.com/LBD15qftZN
— The Sunday Times (@thesundaytimes) April 7, 2019
And lest you think the issue is just a sensational headline without implications from a Murdoch-owned paper, some members of the Labour Party are not sitting idly by.
"He is one person and he won't be leader forever" – Shami Chakrabarti asks the Jewish Labour Movement to "stay in the Labour movement and tackle racism together. Not to personalise it and make it about Jeremy Corbyn" #Ridge https://t.co/q2DW9wNbzD pic.twitter.com/uwtX5Nywkg
— Ridge on Sunday (@RidgeOnSunday) April 7, 2019
Jewish Labour members have branded the party leadership “antisemitic” in a fresh blow to Jeremy Corbyn and his handling of antisemitism in the party.
The Jewish Labour Movement (JLM) passed the damning motion at its annual general meeting on Sunday, accusing Mr Corbyn of having “condoned antisemitism and antisemites”.
The group said the Labour leader was “unfit to be prime minister” and that a government he led “would not be in the interests of British Jews”.
JLM is Labour’s only official Jewish affiliate and has been part of the party for almost 100 years.
One source at the meeting told The Independent the decision to approve the motion of no confidence in Mr Corbyn was “almost unanimous”.
What a mess.
They seem to have arrived at the 11-dimensional chess stage of things, with everyone doing all sorts of tricky signaling. Parliament in the process of passing a law that requires the government to ask for an extension, but not specifying what sort of extension. May preemptively asking for an extension, short rather than long, that the EU Council rejected the last time. The French (with apparent support from Spain and Belgium) saying that the Council said last time that the UK must take certain actions in order to get any further extensions, and that none of those actions have been taken. The Republic of Ireland saying that the EU27 are standing firm on protecting Ireland and that none of them will veto further extensions. Tusk and Juncker suggesting that the EU Council can counter-offer a long flextension on its own; assorted lawyer types saying that the Council is restricted to dealing with the type of short-term extension that the UK has actually requested. Hard Brexit Tories threatening to use any seats they win if EU Parliamentary elections are held to sabotage the EU from within; other EU27 members threatening retaliation if that happens.
Wednesday, when it looks like all these things will come crashing together, ought to be interesting.Report
The Galactic Trade Federation invades Naboo and the Senate sits on its hands, unable to do anything at all. Senator Palpatine is right, Chancellor Valorum has to go.Report
This is where Cincinattus appears, replaces the elected government, and decrees “We’re going to hold another referendum next week, and unless it’s 60% for leaving, we stay.” After it only gets 48%, the crisis averted, he goes back to his farm, the catcalls of a nation that has no clue he just saved them echoing in his ears.Report
Alternate re-write:
Her Royal Majesty dissolves Parliament and overturns Brexit, then for good measure re-absorbs the American colonies and appoints Prince William as Governor General, declaring that after several centuries of attempts, self rule by the people simply has failed.
The people rejoice with scones and tea and designate every November 8 as Donald Trump Day and light bonfires chanting “Remember, remember, the eighth of November, emails, treason and plot”.
Hey, its no more ridiculous than our current script.Report
Trust an American to come up with a solution where an overbearing executive seizes power and fixes everything by decree.Report
There’s a rumour going around that Will’s taken up some of his dad’s less benign habits, so it’s probably going to be Harry and his wife that are sent over.
(There’s a school of thought that us in the US shouldn’t give a twopence about the UK royal family, and that is generally correct. But a royal scandal right now, particularly in the Millennial generation could very well throw everything into a even deeper tailspin with how unconfident everyone is with the government)Report
“Your Majesty, there is evidence the Prince may have cheated on his wife. Shall we still send him to represent America?”
“Why do you think I suggested it?”Report
I notice that even some of the EU bureaucrats are getting snippy this morning over Parliament’s apparent refusal to understand their options at this time: crash out, sign the withdrawal agreement, or rescind the Article 50 notice. One of them (finally!) pointed out that if the UK crashes out, then asks to start negotiations on a long-term relationship, the EU’s initial position will include the same three red-line items that are in the WA: no hard border in Ireland, assured status for EU citizens, and the £59B settlement payment.
I’m actually feeling a little sorry for Theresa May and how she’s likely to be treated in the EU Council session tomorrow.Report
The BBC recently ran a three part documentary called “BBC Inside Europe: Ten Years of Turmoil”. I found it on the Interwebs. The first episode is on Brexit, the second is on the near financial collapse of the Euro due to Greek debt, and the third is on the waves of migrants.
It’s mostly retrospective interviews with all the key players like Cameron, Merkel, Sarkozy, Juncker, and others, explaining exactly what was happening behind the scenes during the tense and transformative moments of the EU.
I highly recommend it, though you may have to get a bit creative to watch it, as iPlayer isn’t available outside the UK.
Anyway, populist and Euroskeptic parties are set to form the largest coalition in Brussels, so perhaps the juggernaut of EU bureaucracy will get better at avoiding icebergs.Report