Article 50

As I mentioned before, there are three more potential court cases lined up to delay the process - they won't give in without a fight.

Well Article 50 was passed by 498 votes to 114 so it is now presumably going to be triggered in March.

Now we will witness political shenanigans for sure.

Probably not at all. Most Labour supporters agree that he did what he had to do.
They've voted against, but will not have the whip taken away from them, so no need to rebel further.
Corbyn never once had the whip taken away from him despite the number of times he voted against the party line.

Afterthought - wonder how this affects Corbyn's tenure.

MPs back government's Brexit bill by 498 votes to 114. It's all changed for good now. 47 Labour MPs voted against including 3 whips and there were some abstensions.

No, he doesn't have the right qualifications for a work permit. Apparently the USA only takes the brightest and the best when looking at someone wanting to get into journalism!

A bit late for this look at the history of Britain and Europe, but it makes me despair of what's happening now.

theconversation.com/not-long-ago-there-was-a-british-european-identity-so-what-happened-69482

Was he born in a Muslim country?

Wonderful!

By the way, he's supposed to be working for Fox, but the US won't give him a work permit, so I read today.

Have you seen this as well?

www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/feb/01/i-had-a-screw-it-moment-says-mep-who-held-sign-up-behind-nigel-farage

Farage sticking up for Trump in the EU parliament. They must get really sick of the man. They are probably hoping we pass article 50 really early just so they don't need to see him again.

I expect that's what Farage will say as well.

Marine Le Pen has said she is not paying back the money

That's a Farage and Le Pen been accused of falsely using EU funds - horses out of the same stable. Hope they are forced to pay back these funds provided by us.

You have lots of others in agreement gin and var including me.

www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/feb/01/nigel-farage-among-ukip-meps-accused-of-misusing-eu-funds

This should prove an interesting diversion.
So should this.

www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/feb/01/paul-nuttall-stoke-byelection-papers-gave-address-he-had-not-moved-into

Well said, Ginny I respect that you are a proud English woman, in spite of, or perhaps because of, your international connections. Your experience of living elsewhere and working with people of different nationalities has helped you to value our relationship with Europe and the wider world.

I am a proud Scot but people like me have been called traitors by the nationalist trolls because, like most Scots, we want to remain British citizens.

It is outrageous that people like you and I who are proud to be part of the EU as well as loving our own country are being told that if we dont accept this crazy destructive brexit we should get out if our own country!

It would be brilliant if this happened!

So youd be happy if we get what most Brexiters have felt we can only dream of, a reasonable trade deal without free movement?

Whitewave It does look promising. Not only are these men politicians but some are retired captains of industry. One of them was once head of Dunlop and Vikers, so they know a thing or two about how things work. We need more people like this speaking out, but it does appear they have a lot of power, fingers crossed.

Good to hear the Belgian government. I hope this helps towards strong ties with our European neighbours. It would be brilliant if this happened!

It's a pity that there are still three more court cases seeking to disrupt our divorce from the EU. Just delaying tactics.

There's a plea on the 'Trump Presidency' thread for people to behave more respectfully towards each other. My understanding was that mocking people by using language such as 'Pity Party' was implicit in that plea.

It is indeed good news to read the Belgian government's report.

Im just going to interrupt your Pity Party Re Trump and mention some good news Re brexit.
Senior politicians within the Belgium government have published an * extroardinary* report calling for Brussels to pursue the continuation of free trade with the uk or face * dire consequences.
They conclude that 1in 4 jobs in the country will be under threat if Eurocrats push ahead with plans to force a so-called 'hard brexit' on Britain.
Not what some of you want to read but we have to put the good stuff out there when we see it.
Back to your Pity Party

Sorry but I'm going to swear. If one more person suggests that because I wished to remain in Europe, as a proud English woman with family living in Europe and a GC who was born in another European country, suggests that ...what's that expression you used YG, 'up sticks and move', I will go bloody mad.

I am very proud to be English. I have had a good life, a prosperous life, fulfilled in every way both personally and professionally. However, I have a wider perspective to my life.

I have family in Europe and I wished us all to be European.
I have made my living working in many countries in the world and working with foreign nationals in this country. For the last 10 years I have worked almost exclusively with Europeans. I respect all cultures and peoples with the obvious exception of terrorists. I respect other peoples' lifestyles and religions.

BUT I am English first and last. Please stop assuming because I hold different views from yourself/selves, that I must go and live somewhere else.

You are not more English than I am because you want to exit the EU and I wish to remain.

In any case, I thought I was coming to read about Article 50. Some brilliant speakers both days. Very compelling arguments powerfully delivered.

We'll see what happens, and I await the debate on the Scottish amendment this evening with interest.

I can't help feeling that one of the problems the US have is that it has a fierce adherence to the principle of non involvement of 'the state' and a belief that people make their own destinies by working hard and being self reliant. This makes it very difficult to introduce social policies which help the poor and disadvantaged as being poor seems to be regarded as the result of some moral deficit in the poor individual (a view which we see to a certain extent here in the UK).

I think that Trump will find it very difficult to circumvent these beliefs. His only chance of doing anything positive would appear to be through the workings of the capitalist system as, I think, any attempt to give state aid would be strongly resisted. He has to somehow persuade industry to invest heavily in deprived areas; how can he do this without offering huge incentives to make it worth their while?

Our US friends might put me right on this?

I agree with you, but ultimately, the people choose the politicians in a democracy. They're not going for the boring politicians, who get on with their job in an unassuming and conciliatory way. There are actually quite a few of them, who don't necessarily make a good impression in the media. I think we demonise our judiciary and civil service at our peril. You only have to compare what we have with America.

PS. Trump and some other American presidents have even made me more supportive of our monarchy (and I'm no royalist).