25 votes

Topic deleted by author

8 comments

  1. Algernon_Asimov
    Link
    His actions belie his words. The only way to finalise a deal is for Parliament to approve it. But Parliament can't approve anything if it's not in session. Ergo, no deal.

    The PM says he wants to leave the EU on 31 October with a deal

    His actions belie his words. The only way to finalise a deal is for Parliament to approve it. But Parliament can't approve anything if it's not in session. Ergo, no deal.

    10 votes
  2. Luna
    (edited )
    Link
    The queen has agreed to suspend parliament (in September). Edit: This was Boris Johnson in 2007 on Gordon Brown being an unelected PM: The irony is truly astounding.

    The queen has agreed to suspend parliament (in September).

    Edit: This was Boris Johnson in 2007 on Gordon Brown being an unelected PM:

    It’s the arrogance. It’s the contempt. That’s what gets me. It’s Gordon Brown’s apparent belief that he can just trample on the democratic will of the British people. It’s at moments like this that I think the political world has gone mad, and I am alone in detecting the gigantic fraud.

    The irony is truly astounding.

    10 votes
  3. [3]
    VoidOutput
    Link
    Mat I ask how a crafty PM would benefit from a No Deal? Are there simple ways that this could enrich Johnson or give him power or leverage in any way? I don't believe that he wants No Deal on an...

    Mat I ask how a crafty PM would benefit from a No Deal? Are there simple ways that this could enrich Johnson or give him power or leverage in any way? I don't believe that he wants No Deal on an ideological level.

    4 votes
    1. Greg
      (edited )
      Link Parent
      Anything on this is highly speculative, but a few of the more compelling suggestions I've heard include: The ability for the rich (the prime minister himself, his business associates, those who...

      Anything on this is highly speculative, but a few of the more compelling suggestions I've heard include:

      • The ability for the rich (the prime minister himself, his business associates, those who hold sway via wealth) to dodge the EU's incoming Anti-Tax Avoidance Directive.
      • The reduction of EU-backed consumer protections and safety regulations, which would allow business greater profits at the expense of their employees and/or customers.
      • The direct ability to profit from instability. Anyone shorting GBP, for example, will have made significant money in the course of this whole mess.

      [Edit] An interesting Guardian piece about how this may also play out as a populist election tactic: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/aug/28/boris-johnson-election-prorogue-parliament-populist-majority

      7 votes
    2. Algernon_Asimov
      Link Parent
      Why not? Some people are strongly in favour of self-determination, and see a multilateral organisation like the EU as diminishing that self-determination. Some other people are ideologically...

      I don't believe that he wants No Deal on an ideological level.

      Why not? Some people are strongly in favour of self-determination, and see a multilateral organisation like the EU as diminishing that self-determination. Some other people are ideologically against supposedly being ruled by foreigners. Some other people are ideologically opposed to being ruled by anyone, but are opposed to foreign rule more than local rule. A lot of people are nationalist and/or libertarian.

      2 votes
  4. [3]
    unknown user
    Link
    Is there any particular reason the title here ("UK Government asks...") doesn't match the article ("Boris Johnson asks...")?

    Is there any particular reason the title here ("UK Government asks...") doesn't match the article ("Boris Johnson asks...")?

    3 votes
    1. Greg
      Link Parent
      Looks as though the BBC themselves changed it - in their top stories list it's still showing as "Government asks..." but on the article itself it comes up as "Boris Johnson asks...".

      Looks as though the BBC themselves changed it - in their top stories list it's still showing as "Government asks..." but on the article itself it comes up as "Boris Johnson asks...".

      6 votes
    2. welly
      Link Parent
      Over the course of a day, big stories change title and content often (on the BBC news site, not sure about others). I'm not sure if there is some kind of diff tool available on BBC news to see the...

      Over the course of a day, big stories change title and content often (on the BBC news site, not sure about others). I'm not sure if there is some kind of diff tool available on BBC news to see the edits but this story has changed title easily 3 or 4 times while I've been keeping on top of it during today.

      2 votes