More Brexit lunacy

I see Lord Adonis has resigned as the Infrastructure adviser and has come out very strongly in condemnation of the Government's strategy on Brexit.

"The government's infrastructure adviser has announced he is quitting his role, describing Brexit as a "populist and nationalist spasm".
Lord Adonis said Prime Minister Theresa May was "pursuing a course fraught with danger" over the UK's EU departure." from BBC news.

Suzie, I don't think brexiteers care about whether most people will be better off.

It is worth reading Adonis’s letter in full.

Extracts

“The Government is hurtling towards the EU exit without any plan for future trade an European cooperation, all the while ignoring- beyond sound bites and inadequate programmes- the crises of housing, education, the NHS social and regional inequality which are undermining our country and creating a populist surge”

More extract

“Brexit is causing a nervous breakdown across Westminster and conduct unworthy of Her Majesties Government.
I am told by those with greater experience that it resembles Suez and the bitter industrial disputes of the 1970s, both of which endangered the national integrity but of the very state itself”

But who do Brexieers believe will be better off? Those with squillions of cash invested offshore, those with huge tax bills they wish to reduce, those who want to increase trade with sweatshop economies? Not the poor and disadvantaged in the UK who voted Brexit that’s for sure.

Very strong words. But will May and her Government listen?

More

“Britain must be deeply engaged, responsible and consistent as a European power. When in times past we have isolated ourselves from the continent in the name of empire or sovereignty, we were soon sucked back in. This will inevitably happen again given our power, trade, democratic values and geography. Putin and the rise of nationalist populism in Poland and Hungary are flashing red lights.
As Edmund Burke so wisely wrote “people will not look forwards to posterity who do not look backwards to their ancestors”

Astonishingly and naively (why on earth would the correct version not be put out for view?) No 10 briefed a totally inaccurate version of the Adonis letter.

They are no even competent enough in their inaccurate briefings. I would advise strongly that they shut up.

Interesting article by Lis concerning Labour’s long game over Brexit, in politics.co. Exactly as we on GN were suggesting earlier on.

Fortunately sensible people know where they can get a true copy.

labourlist.org/2017/12/labour-peer-adonis-quits-as-infrastructure-czar/

Interestingly it's a link from Sky News, so Murdoch must have gone off May.

Watching Lord Adonis on the news - very interesting. Talking about the Brexit disease which is spreading across the government. He was referring to No 10 and was careful to exempt May. I am not sure that makes it any better as it sounds as if she has no control.

Using his time to make a case for the Customs Union and the Single Market with reference to Norway and Switzerland. It is really beginning to seem as if there is a large, cross party centre view that is pro CU and SM.

Now talking about the 'nervous breakdown across Whitehall" causing the "collapse of orderly government. I wonder if this is this governments "savaged by a dead sheep" moment.

Not surprisingly, good words for Kier Starmer.

To May

“ by becoming the voice of UKIP, and the extreme nationalist right wing of your party, you have taken a different course, for which you have no parliamentary or popular mandate”

A lot of stuff in Adonis's letter about the East Coast Mainline bailout.
Just heard on the news that passengers between Newcastle and London got the worst deal in the country in 2017.
Why does that not surprise me?

More

“If Brexit happens, taking us back into Europe will become our children’s generation mission, who will marvel at your act of destruction”

www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2017/12/29/the-2018-quiz-of-the-year/

Lots of questions on here about the future, which should alarm you.

“A responsible government would be leading the British people to stay in Europe while also tackling, with massive vigour, the social and economic problems within Britain which contribute to the Brexit vote. Unfortunately, your policy is the reverse.”

I bet this hurt May.

A good metaphor for brexit, which I just read.

If we imagine that all organisms are sentient beings and get to decide what we eat for breakfast.
People will choose eggs, bacon, muesli, etc.
Unfortunately democratic voting will say that we all have to eat excrement, as there are far more bacteria and dung beetles than humans.

Quite a good metaphor really. I see that anyone with a European flag flying outside of their house stands a good chance of having their windows smashed. Says it all doesn’t it?

Yes; we decided not to put a flag on the house in Northumberland because we were afraid that something like that could happen; as it is people have tried to scrape off my sticker.. I find it terribly upsetting that I'm afraid to put a flag up when UKIP voters have happily taken over the Union Jack and made it their own

I must admit, Tegan, that I have decided not to put a Europe sticker in my car, just in case.

Probably wise not to ( flags/stickers etc) of any kind, either pro Europe or for Leaving, as either could be a target for anybody in an angry mood.

In any case, why bother, as we are leaving the EU anyway.

Whitewave wrote:

"Does anyone think that one day they will wake up and all this utter lunacy will fade into a horrible memory? I do as every day brings something even more ridiculous."

It is nightmarish indeed!

The nightmare is dangerously real not an illusion but a symptom of how much of the media are owned by the political far right.

'Probably wise not to ( flags/stickers etc) of any kind, either pro Europe or for Leaving, as either could be a target for anybody in an angry mood.' We live in a democracy do we not; I should be able to do whatever I like on my own property without fearing for the safety of either myself or my property. How dare that person put time and effort into trying to take off a sticker that was in my garden . I just hope they trashed either their fingernail or their car key in the process...

'trashed their fingernail'
Tegan - how cruel!!


That was trespass unless they could reach it with their fingernail from the pavement