Are we about to trigger Article 16?

I see that various government departments are being asked to develop plans.

I’m not sure Article 16 will be triggered. Perhaps we just have to seem serious about the whole thing.

Optics count.

And nothing concrete will happen about my concern over sleaze - well until the next G.E.
?

'Boris Johnson is deliberately picking Brexit fights with the EU to distract from scandals back in the UK, Keir Starmer has suggested.
The Labour leader claimed the prime minister was hoping to draw attention away from fiascos like the Owen Paterson lobbying affair by talking tough abroad.
It comes after the government dramatically ramped up the rhetoric against the European Union just as it was forced to U-turn on abolishing a corruption watchdog.'

Urmstongran, how does NO DEAL- butter any parsnips???

Do you have any understanding whatsoever of the consequences of triggering Art. 16? How long will your jubilation last? You truly scare me.

'Fine words butter no parsnips' means that nothing concrete is achieved by empty words or flattery.

How's that relevant here?

I am. But that’s not going to butter any parsnips.

Not so squeaky clean himself.
But then very few are once in power

That's right. So that's irrelevant when we think about what's happening and make up our own minds.

If you're worrying about "squeaky clean" tho UG, aren't you a little miffed by the widespread corruption in the current Government?

greenlady102

Alegrias1

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-59190547

Its a funny old world when I start thinking John Major is talking sense...

yeah but he bonked Edwina Curry, so I for one am not sure about trusting his judgement

And the guy whose number of affairs is beyond measure, including one with a pole dancer? How's his judgement?

Surely if you think that power corrupts any one person then spreading power, having say other countries and a form of government with proportional representation is a good thing as power is shared more equally, there are more checks and balances and corruption is reduced.

You say others 'bang on about Boris' Urmstongran but can you see why? Can you not see that people have due cause to be suspicious of him based on the entire evidence of his life?

Alegrias1

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-59190547

Its a funny old world when I start thinking John Major is talking sense...

yeah but he bonked Edwina Curry, so I for one am not sure about trusting his judgement

Some people need to grow up and stop seeing politics in terms of winners and losers.

When I read nonsense like the above, I really do despair about the future of the country. I cannot believe that anybody is so blinkered. Hopefully, it's a minority view.

I'll just add that Johnson has been filthy for most of his life. Didn't need to be 'in power' to become that; scum right from the start...

Is that you Angela?

In part I was just highlighting Major’s personal past. Just as others on her bang on about Boris.

John Major, with his "We are the masters now" criticism of the the Government, gives the game away about the view of the remainers.

They lost the referendum, and having initially managed to get a remainer in charge of the negotiations(!), they have now lost that too. They are no longer the "masters", and cannot control our relationship with the EU - that they want to remain very, very close, so that they can, at a time in the future, seek to rejoin, or all but rejoin the EU.

The remainers have been, and will continue to seek any opportunity to undermine this Government, and their targets will be those who voted for, or support Brexit.

But then very few are once in power.

I'll just add that Johnson has been filthy for most of his life. Didn't need to be 'in power' to become that; scum right from the start...

John Major? ???
The man who tried to hide the ‘cash for questions’ scandal
And had the affair with Edwina Currie.

It was Major who set up the Nolan enquiry and inaugurated the system of monitoring and maintaining standards we have now, BECAUSE of the cash for questions scandal.

Will you stop posting stupid insinuations.

I don't see what his affair with Edwina Currie has to do with his ability to think clearly, and speak knowledgeably, about the workings of parliament and the appalling conduct of the current government.

If unsuitability for any public office is measured by the number of affairs the aspirant/holder has then your man would be nowhere near being a parish councillor, let alone PM...

One thing I think we could very confidently say is that John Major is squeaky cleaner than Boris. For an ex PM to publicly condemn the actions of the current government of the same party so damningly there has to be just cause - and he isn’t alone. If they do attempt to invoke Article 16 I can see it being the end of Boris and Co. it will be an interesting week in politics ahead.

I am indeed.
What we have now is Brexit-lite.

John Major? ???
The man who tried to hide the ‘cash for questions’ scandal.
And had the affair with Edwina Currie.

Not so squeaky clean himself.
But then very few are once in power.

Urmstongran, are you actually hoping that they will?

Are you absolutely clear about the consequences that would have on the UK, in 1000s of ways?

He probably thinks it would be a good diversionary tactic after the sleaze of last week, so I wouldn't be surprised.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-59190547

Its a funny old world when I start thinking John Major is talking sense...

If we do then the EU can potentially put a tariff on everything we send to the EU how will this help us. Why isn’t it essential for Parliament to vote on it?