Johnson’s Government

Exactly Callistemon .....and it obviously did need explaining, nothing remotely xenophobic about your remark.

Have I ever attacked jura for being 'foreign' MaizieD?

No, because that would be "an own goal" (another idiom).

I had to Google Steve Bray and there were quite a few to choose from. Presumably Labaik means this person?

Steve Bray is an activist from Port Talbot in southern Wales, who makes daily protests against Brexit in College Green, Westminster. He is known as Mr. Stop Brexit. Wikipedia
Born: 26 June 1969 (age 50 years), Port Talbot
Known for: Protesting against Brexit

I hope they are keeping his job open for him in Port Talbot - or might he be surviving on benefits?
Heaven forfend he might have independent means

That was spiteful, too, MaizieD

Some of my family (and many friends) are European although not Swiss, MaizieD and do not always understand some of the nuances or idioms we use and ask to have them explained.
Good teachers of English to foreign students spend time teaching such idiomatic phrases so that the students can understand and chat more easily and not take these phrases literally.

Regarding ‘playing the long game’ jura ( and anyone else who didn’t understand the meaning)it is a well known idiom
As Callistemon says, about strategy and nothing to do with playing or games.
Labaik a person can be interested in politics without knowing the name of an eccentric who shouts about Brexit in the streets night and day.

Only if you say so.
Never been a cricket fan myself, but then I have only lived in England for 49 years.

It is when the poster who it is being 'explained' to is a constant target of attacks for being 'foreign', Maw

To explain a cricketing metaphor is not necessarily xenophobic is it MaizieD ?
Any more than Corbyn’s remark about the English sense of humour. In fact rather less so.

What spiteful posts, Laibak

Perhaps enlightening us with your presumably extensive knowledge would have been more useful.
Why should anyone know the activist is called Stephen Bray? Who is funding him btw? Someone or some organisation must be.

And there are other activists in evidence on both sides.

I presume you do mean that activist, not the hardworking businessman - or any other Stephen Bray for that matter?
It's a common enough name.

Nice bit of thinly veiled xenophobia there, Callistomen

Nor does it infer playing as you thought.

The English language can be confusing when such phrases are used!

play a long game is a well-known idiom jura which means using a long-term strategy or goal to achieve an objective.

It does not refer to a game when used in this instance.

Hope you have a lovely time in Spain Urmstongran and it isn't too hot.

I have serious misgivings about the waste of money involved in being part of the EU. I think many people do. It's just become so divisive and nasty now.

Interesting that Johnson appears to be trying to avoid legislation re- the immigration issue.

I suspect his long term plan (and remember it will only be about Johnson and power) is actually to win 5 year term. I think he will go for that even at the expense of Brexit.

I wonder if the ERG will tumble this.

Urmstongran safe journey, you shouldn't have to explain your lifestyle choices on here.

Those people who voted leave, in my opinion voted against the corrupt money pit that is the EU, which sustains 2 parliaments costing millions of Euros, and is a gravy train for every MEP and employee!! including Nigel Farage and the Kinnock Family.

It doesn't mean that we dislike Europe, it's varied countries, people and cultures. The UK will always be part of Europe because of its Geographical position.

lemon 'The EU play a very long game though WWM2' ...

a game, really - this is NO game for sure. And NO, the EU has not been playing- they have stated, right from the start- that the Irish border is NOT, and never will be - up for discussion. There must be a border between the EU and non EU- and there can't be a border between Ireland and NI- to respect the Good Friday Agreement. It is quite simple - and of course massively complex. But a 'game' it is NOT.

Your idea of the 2 properties seems a good one UG. I can't for the life of me understand why you seem to embrace Europe for a second home and adore the divisive NF and BJ.

A home abroad for me would be about embracing the culture, learn the language, broaden horizons and so on.

Mark Francois was an absolute embarrassment on Newsnight. He talked rubbish and his patronising attitude to Kirsty Wark just confirmed his misogyny, lest we be in any doubt after his assault of a female protester. This regime is appalling.

Worth a read

waterfordwhispersnews.com/2019/07/25/johnson-cabinet-a-whos-who-of-amoral-incompetent-bastards/

Well it seems that Johnson has made his first enemy in Steve Baker , the architect who ensured that we didn’t leave the EU by heading the ERG. Eurosceptics are already stirring the soup by blaming Cummins who has called members of the ERG a “ delusional sub-set” and “ metastasising tumour”

The row underlines Johnson weak grip on the Tory party with a majority of 1 or 2 he needs to be cleverer than he has shown in his treatment of Baker.

Laibak yes I’m off back to Spain tomorrow but what an unnecessaryily mean comment. You don’t know anything about my financial situation. Our small apartment here and the one in Spain would only fetch the price of a semidetached in the U.K. We are not rich! (money wise, but we are with health and family which is the main thing isn’t it.).

I’m 65y and my husband of 67y have been married 45y and no one has ever given us any money. We have not inherited anything. We worked hard, paid our dues and I’m lucky (because of good health and mobility) that we have never had to claim a penny in benefits from the state. I don’t even get my bluddy pension for another year!

We downsized 9 years ago and split the money from the sale of our house and it’s now in two very small places which I love. In fact, anyone could do it, if they chose to! We don’t have a huge garden to maintain, no fencing, gates, plants, ponds, guttering, a garage.

It was simply a lifestyle choice.

So stop throwing flamed spears my way. If you are envious, do the same as us. It’s a stress free way of life, no maintenance bills, tiny utility bills. Our flights are cheapies via Mr O’Leary. Our lifestyle gives us plenty of ‘me’ time to choose nice things to do. We decided to have less in the way of property so the tail doesn’t wag the dog as it were.

I know it wouldn’t suit everyone but it was our choice.

Here endeth the lesson.
????

Lemongrove some Gransnet EU loving posters on here might even be there now waving their EU flags lol.

The EU play a very long game though WWM2

Ah yes Firecracker ?the glockenspiel man!
All the eccentrics seem drawn to that venue now.
Still, I vastly prefer that to the bawling man.