UK Politics Thread

[Jimbuna]

After many months of rumours that he would pull the plug, David Davis has actually quit as Brexit Secretary.

His unhappiness in government has been no secret for some time, but after the prime minister's Chequers agreement with cabinet ministers to pursue closer ties with the EU than he desired, he found his position untenable.

After a visit to Downing Street on Sunday he concluded that he had no choice but to walk. Junior ministerial colleague Steve Baker has also quit alongside him from the Brexit department. David Davis' move, while not completely surprising, throws doubt on to how secure the government's Brexit strategy is.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-44747445

Looks like one Tory that has a few more principles than most.

Dominic Raab has been appointed Brexit secretary by Theresa May after David Davis resigned from the government.

Mr Raab, who is currently housing minister, was a prominent Leave campaigner during the 2016 referendum.

Mr Davis quit late on Sunday night, saying Theresa May had "given away too much too easily".

The 44-year old Mr Raab, a lawyer before becoming an MP in 2010, will now take over day-to-day negotiations with the EU's Michel Barnier.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-44763998

Cometh the hour, cometh the 'yes' man.

[Jimbuna]

Boris Johnson has launched a scathing attack on Theresa May's Brexit strategy, saying the "dream is dying, suffocated by needless self-doubt".

In his letter resigning as foreign secretary he claimed the prime minister was leading the UK into a "semi-Brexit" with the "status of a colony".

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-44770847

The clown has finally left the circus but I can honestly say I fundamentally agree with him

What next, a leadership challenge?

[Jimbuna]

Brussels fears UK cabinet crisis may be a path to no-deal Brexit

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-44770630

A fairly balanced article IMHO.

[Catfish]

...was leading the UK into a "semi-Brexit" with the "status of a colony".

Do they even think before they speak out

[Jimbuna]

Boris never has and probably never will

[Catfish]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

Is it really necessary to use offensive nicknames? I'm no fan of the guy either, but that sort of thing just doesn't seem right to me.

Offensive. I consider everything that Trump says and does, as 'offensive'. And he is not a sympathetic 'guy', but an angry old man who destroys all he can for the sake of his narcistic self-portrayal. His hate, despise and racist speech is disgusting, and his "twittering" (lmAo) ridiculous.
I have not yet found the right words to describe him properly, but for the sake of the forum and hurt feelings of his worshippers i shall try not to mention him again, at all.


edit: –

[STEED]

Originally Posted by Jimbuna

What next, a leadership challenge?

No one has got the guts because they know the mess Brexit is in. Even if someone did PM May will win.

Nigel is back sort of, he is thinking to stand for the UKIP leadership next March after this Tory mess came to light. Sorry Nigel its to late by then.

[Jimbuna]

Boris Johnson's resignation letter and May's reply in full.

Dear Theresa

It is more than two years since the British people voted to leave the European Union on an unambiguous and categorical promise that if they did so they would be taking back control of their democracy.

They were told that they would be able to manage their own immigration policy, repatriate the sums of UK cash currently spent by the EU, and, above all, that they would be able to pass laws independently and in the interests of the people of this country.

Brexit should be about opportunity and hope. It should be a chance to do things differently, to be more nimble and dynamic, and to maximise the particular advantages of the UK as an open, outward-looking global economy.

That dream is dying, suffocated by needless self-doubt.

We have postponed crucial decisions - including the preparations for no deal, as I argued in my letter to you of last November - with the result that we appear to be heading for a semi-Brexit, with large parts of the economy still locked in the EU system, but with no UK control over that system.

It now seems that the opening bid of our negotiations involves accepting that we are not actually going to be able to make our own laws. Indeed we seem to have gone backwards since the last Chequers meeting in February, when I described my frustrations, as Mayor of London, in trying to protect cyclists from juggernauts. We had wanted to lower the cabin windows to improve visibility; and even though such designs were already on the market, and even though there had been a horrific spate of deaths, mainly of female cyclists, we were told that we had to wait for the EU to legislate on the matter.

So at the previous Chequers session we thrashed out an elaborate procedure for divergence from EU rules. But even that now seems to have been taken off the table, and there is in fact no easy UK right of initiative. Yet if Brexit is to mean anything, it must surely give ministers and Parliament the chance to do things differently to protect the public. If a country cannot pass a law to save the lives of female cyclists - when that proposal is supported at every level of UK government - then I don't see how that country can truly be called independent.

Conversely, the British government has spent decades arguing against this or that EU directive, on the grounds that it was too burdensome or ill-thought out. We are now in the ludicrous position of asserting that we must accept huge amounts of precisely such EU law, without changing an iota, because it is essential for our economic health - and when we no longer have any ability to influence these laws as they are made.

In that respect we are truly headed for the status of colony - and many will struggle to see the economic or political advantages of that particular arrangement.

It is also clear that by surrendering control over our rulebook for goods and agrifoods (and much else besides) we will make it much more difficult to do free trade deals. And then there is the further impediment of having to argue for an impractical and undeliverable customs arrangement unlike any other in existence.

What is even more disturbing is that this is our opening bid. This is already how we see the end state for the UK - before the other side has made its counter-offer. It is as though we are sending our vanguard into battle with the white flags fluttering above them. Indeed, I was concerned, looking at Friday's document, that there might be further concessions on immigration, or that we might end up effectively paying for access to the single market.

On Friday I acknowledged that my side of the argument were too few to prevail, and congratulated you on at least reaching a cabinet decision on the way forward. As I said then, the government now has a song to sing. The trouble is that I have practised the words over the weekend and find that they stick in the throat. We must have collective responsibility. Since I cannot in all conscience champion these proposals, I have sadly concluded that I must go.

I am proud to have served as Foreign Secretary in your government. As I step down, I would like first to thank the patient officers of the Metropolitan Police who have looked after me and my family, at times in demanding circumstances. I am proud too of the extraordinary men and women of our diplomatic service. Over the last few months they have shown how many friends this country has around the world, as 28 governments expelled Russian spies in an unprecedented protest at the attempted assassination of the Skripals. They have organised a highly successful Commonwealth summit and secured record international support for this government's campaign for 12 years of quality education for every girl, and much more besides. As I leave office, the FCO now has the largest and by far the most effective diplomatic network of any country in Europe — a continent which we will never leave.

The Rt Hon Boris Johnson MP

Dear Boris,

Thank you for your letter relinquishing the office of Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.

I am sorry - and a little surprised - to receive it after the productive discussions we had at Chequers on Friday, and the comprehensive and detailed proposal which we agreed as a Cabinet. It is a proposal which will honour the result of the referendum and the commitments we made in our general election manifesto to leave the single market and the customs union. It will mean that we take back control of our borders, our laws, and our money - ending the freedom of movement, ending the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice in the United Kingdom, and ending the days of sending vast sums of taxpayers' money to the European Union. We will be able to spend that money on our priorities instead - such as the £20 billion increase we have announced for the NHS budget, which means that we will soon be spending an extra £394 million a week on our National Health Service.

As I outlined at Chequers, the agreement we reached requires the full, collective support of Her Majesty's Government. During the EU referendum campaign, collective responsibility on EU policy was temporarily suspended. As we developed our policy on Brexit, I have allowed Cabinet colleagues considerable latitude to express their individual views. But the agreement we reached on Friday marks the point where that is no longer the case, and if you are not able to provide the support we need to secure this deal in the interests of the United Kingdom, it is right that you should step down.

As you do so, I would like to place on record my appreciation of the service you have given to our country, and to the Conservative Party, as Mayor of London and as Foreign Secretary - not least for the passion that you have demonstrated in promoting a Global Britain to the world as we leave the European Union.

Yours ever,

Theresa May

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-44772804

[Catfish]

Maybe he wrote it later, because he did not want to go home by foot

[Jimbuna]

Always expect the unexpected where Boris is concerned

[STEED]

[Jimbuna]

The UK's blueprint for future EU relations is to be published today hopefully.

[Catfish]

^ I think you should spare your "Express" and "The Sun" opinions, after all we will not demand money back for the Personal Union, fighting Napoleon or whatever happened in the stone age, when England was not yet an island. As we saw England has always tried to divide (Europe) and rule (alone), but it remains to be seen if the EU breaks apart now.

As for 'Realpolitik' following article 50 beating 70 if you obviously like to see it that way, the 'UK' (further called 'England' here ) does not need to pay anything and can walk straight out of the room. No deal.
This will then apply for all sides. No. deal.

Problem for the EU is that it is no sovereign state, so legally it probably cannot sue England. But.. there are 27 single sovereign nations who then will. No deal, and money back. And just walking away would also do some reputational damage to the UK - if it can't trusted on past obligations, why should anyone trust it on future ones?

There are however some pro-brexit who would prefer to pay, coming full circle back to Realpolitik:
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/b...-a8051891.html

Regarding T.'s tweet further north, i wish England a happy time with him and all that (but yes i suppose it's a prank).

[STEED]

Originally Posted by Jimbuna

The UK's blueprint for future EU relations is to be published today hopefully.

Don't care jim, Davis told the truth and that document is a sham.

[Jimbuna]

Forty eight signatures is all that is required.