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  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 116,719

    Why would the EU bother agreeing to a further three month extension without an election this year? If November and December are out, January has to be too as the campaign cannot begin until next year gets underway. I cannot see past November - unless we do crash out on 31st October. If that happens then we definitely will not get an election until well into 2020 at the earliest.

    November is only possible with all party agreement if the two thirds vote is held by 24 October. For a November election via a vote of no confidence, the vote needs to take place by 10 October.
    I've been told confidently by activists in all 3 major parties plus the Greens (I went to all the conferences for my day job and people gossip between meetings) that they are sure the election will be Nov 21 or 28. How much of that is just response to parties geeing up the activists in case it happens I don't know, but it makes me reluctant to put money against it. The theory is that the opposition will deny Johnson his Oct 31 deadline and will then have less reason and no excuse to refuse an election, one theme being "Johnson has failed, let us sort it out".

    Incidentally, I'm not sure that Yellow Submarine's various dates that interfere with campaigning add up to a substantial hurdle to late November or even early December. The number of people who are involved in all of them (Diwali AND Guy Fawkes AND nativity plays AND...) is small and campaigners will work around them. Serious activists in Scotland cheerfully campaign in the dark - I've been torchlight canvassing in a Glasgow by-election and it was good fun - and there's always weekends.
    Indeed plus US general and presidential elections are always in November
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 41,684

    TGOHF2 said:
    LOL - "Awkwardly raises hand" ...in support of his own article... which turns out to be a piece of puff.

    E.g. "4. What happens if he decides to squat in Number 10?" - on current numbers he can be VoNC'ed at any time, leading to a GE, rather than a return of BoJo (who will be toast by then anyway).
    Daisley is all puff and no substance, an absolute duffer.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 116,719
    edited October 2019
    Nigelb said:

    Another New Hampshire poll showing Warren in the lead.

    Granted it's still some ways off, but if Warren takes Iowa and New Hampshire (with Saunders third), and is runner up to Biden in S Carolina, does Saunders drop out at that point ?

    Sanders then endorses Warren, making Warren effectively the nominee and the most left liberal Democratic candidate for president since George McGovern in 1972 against Nixon and we all know how that went for the Democrats! McGovern also beat a centrist former VP in the 1972 Democratic primary, Hubert Humphrey, who would have given Nixon a tighter race
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 49,964
    Dura_Ace said:

    Who in Brussels wouldn't want that?

    Anybody who doesn't want to give Boris a massive victory.
    If the Project is as shallow as that.....
  • algarkirkalgarkirk Posts: 10,351

    I don't think you can have an election in December in modern Britain. The whole of December is ' Winterval ' and broadcasters, advertisers, retailers and activists will absolutely hate it. There would be a backlash in Scotland because of the weather and light. Closing schools for polling stations will create social media outrage over cancelled Nativity plays etc etc. I just think whoever calls it risks a backlash.

    Ah nativity plays. It is a long long time since my kids were appearing in these and I would have loved the excuse not to be there. I like the story of when Joseph asked if there was room at the inn the child playing the innkeeper replied Yes thus undermining the rationale for the rest of the play.
    Ha ha! Yes, the cancelling of nativity plays is one of the strongest arguments I’ve seen for a Christmas election. If only!
    Narrator: "In the night Mary gave birth to a baby. It was a girl".

  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 49,964

    Any further extension is a really dumb idea for the EU.

    You have to remember that the people making this decision on the EU side are politicians and will be making their decision for political reasons.

    Unlike the UK, the EU has not seen a campaign by people extolling the virtues of a No Deal. The EU politicians will not want to take responsibility for a No Deal. They will ensure that they can say it was Britain's choice.

    They will offer an extension (even if they hope it is rejected - so they won't fear a No Deal government following an election either)
    Risk of No Deal is non-existent if they grant us no further extensions. Hell, we've even passed a law to prevent it.....all those MPs couldn't just be virtue sgnalling, surely?

    No further extension - and the Brexit saga gets put to bed for good by 31st October. Pretty much on the deal they negotiated with May. Who in Brussels wouldn't want that?
    The problem for no-deal apologists is that it is very much not "put to bed" if we leave without a deal on 31st October. It will be the beginning of woes, and we will end up in a very very weak position to try and attempt endless mini-deals. Not "put to bed" at all. Simplistic claptrap on a par with all the other simplistic claptrap that leaders of Leave have tried to hoodwink the nation with.
    Your comprehension skills not at their finest in the early morning, are they?
  • SquareRootSquareRoot Posts: 7,095
    malcolmg said:

    TGOHF2 said:
    Big deal a handful of cheapskates desperate to save a few pennies crossed the border. Key point is that sales in all Scotland have dropped and are all of the crazy high alcohol content garbage drunk by losers. Early days but it appears to actually be working and we will see the results after the 5 year trial. Trail blazing policy yet again from the SNP.
    Its hoolocks Malcy, the under sales are being met by sales in England. Actual drop probably closer to zero.
  • BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 31,289
    HYUFD said:

    Why would the EU bother agreeing to a further three month extension without an election this year? If November and December are out, January has to be too as the campaign cannot begin until next year gets underway. I cannot see past November - unless we do crash out on 31st October. If that happens then we definitely will not get an election until well into 2020 at the earliest.

    November is only possible with all party agreement if the two thirds vote is held by 24 October. For a November election via a vote of no confidence, the vote needs to take place by 10 October.
    I've been told confidently by activists in all 3 major parties plus the Greens (I went to all the conferences for my day job and people gossip between meetings) that they are sure the election will be Nov 21 or 28. How much of that is just response to parties geeing up the activists in case it happens I don't know, but it makes me reluctant to put money against it. The theory is that the opposition will deny Johnson his Oct 31 deadline and will then have less reason and no excuse to refuse an election, one theme being "Johnson has failed, let us sort it out".

    Incidentally, I'm not sure that Yellow Submarine's various dates that interfere with campaigning add up to a substantial hurdle to late November or even early December. The number of people who are involved in all of them (Diwali AND Guy Fawkes AND nativity plays AND...) is small and campaigners will work around them. Serious activists in Scotland cheerfully campaign in the dark - I've been torchlight canvassing in a Glasgow by-election and it was good fun - and there's always weekends.
    Indeed plus US general and presidential elections are always in November
    Early November
  • TGOHF2TGOHF2 Posts: 584
    malcolmg said:

    TGOHF2 said:
    Big deal a handful of cheapskates desperate to save a few pennies crossed the border. Key point is that sales in all Scotland have dropped and are all of the crazy high alcohol content garbage drunk by losers. Early days but it appears to actually be working and we will see the results after the 5 year trial. Trail blazing policy yet again from the SNP.
    Arf..

    https://twitter.com/cjsnowdon/status/1177241692669431808?s=21
  • NickPalmerNickPalmer Posts: 21,267



    Those dates, particularly 21 November, are very hard to reconcile with the statutory timetable. There must be 25 working days as a minimum in the election campaign (five weeks). If the two main parties don't agree - and agreement seems fairly unlikely - you have to add another two weeks in for a vote of no confidence. For 21 November, that means a vote of no confidence today or tomorrow.

    Yes, the theory is that the main parties do agree once Oct 31 is thwarted. I agree with Casino that activists are always being geared up, but the unanimity about those precise dates was very striking. DYOR though!
  • TGOHF2TGOHF2 Posts: 584

    ”The number of units of alcohol sold in the off trade in the first nine months of minimum pricing actually rose, as the IRI figures below show. ”
  • BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 31,289


    A referendum is going to require a general election win by a party/parties pledging this. There has been no appetite for it in Westminster, basically because nobody can agree the question to be asked. Any referendum prior to an election risks a mass boycott by Leavers, saying they will wait to vote in the general election. The EU might not worry about the second referendum having no democratic legitimacy, but it stores a mass of problems domestically when it gets labelled the Cheats Charter.

    Leavers will boycott it if they think they're going to lose it, and if they lose it they'll complain about its democratic legitimacy forever. They'll call it something like the Cheat's Charter, only snappier. This is equally true whether it's somebody's manifesto commitment or not.
    Well 28% boycotted the last one! :wink:
  • DougSealDougSeal Posts: 11,059
    HYUFD said:

    Why would the EU bother agreeing to a further three month extension without an election this year? If November and December are out, January has to be too as the campaign cannot begin until next year gets underway. I cannot see past November - unless we do crash out on 31st October. If that happens then we definitely will not get an election until well into 2020 at the earliest.

    November is only possible with all party agreement if the two thirds vote is held by 24 October. For a November election via a vote of no confidence, the vote needs to take place by 10 October.
    I've been told confidently by activists in all 3 major parties plus the Greens (I went to all the conferences for my day job and people gossip between meetings) that they are sure the election will be Nov 21 or 28. How much of that is just response to parties geeing up the activists in case it happens I don't know, but it makes me reluctant to put money against it. The theory is that the opposition will deny Johnson his Oct 31 deadline and will then have less reason and no excuse to refuse an election, one theme being "Johnson has failed, let us sort it out".

    Incidentally, I'm not sure that Yellow Submarine's various dates that interfere with campaigning add up to a substantial hurdle to late November or even early December. The number of people who are involved in all of them (Diwali AND Guy Fawkes AND nativity plays AND...) is small and campaigners will work around them. Serious activists in Scotland cheerfully campaign in the dark - I've been torchlight canvassing in a Glasgow by-election and it was good fun - and there's always weekends.
    Indeed plus US general and presidential elections are always in November
    Not relevant. In the US campaigning runs though the Summer and early Autumn before an early November vote that avoids Thanksgiving and Christmas - furthermore the US (other than Alaska) is all, even Maine, at a much more southerly latitude than the U.K. (we’re about level with Newfoundland in Canada) so it gets darker a lot later than it does here.
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 44,082
    Nigelb said:

    Another New Hampshire poll showing Warren in the lead.

    Granted it's still some ways off, but if Warren takes Iowa and New Hampshire (with Saunders third), and is runner up to Biden in S Carolina, does Saunders drop out at that point ?

    Trumpinomics may well be hitting the buffers this Fall too, worst manufacturing forecasts in a decade. Pretty grim in the RoW too.

    https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/01/economy/ism-manufacturing/index.html
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 41,684
    edited October 2019
    Scottish sub region party appear to be doing well trying to beat Labour to the bottom
    https://bellacaledonia.org.uk/2019/10/01/cold-fury-carlaw/
  • nichomarnichomar Posts: 7,483

    Dura_Ace said:

    Who in Brussels wouldn't want that?

    Anybody who doesn't want to give Boris a massive victory.
    If the Project is as shallow as that.....
    Well it has been as shallow as that for the tories who have only ever done anything in the parties interest.
  • RogerRoger Posts: 18,891
    Jonathan said:

    Why would the EU bother agreeing to a further three month extension without an election this year? If November and December are out, January has to be too as the campaign cannot begin until next year gets underway. I cannot see past November - unless we do crash out on 31st October. If that happens then we definitely will not get an election until well into 2020 at the earliest.

    November is only possible with all party agreement if the two thirds vote is held by 24 October. For a November election via a vote of no confidence, the vote needs to take place by 10 October.
    I've been told confidently by activists in all 3 major parties plus the Greens (I went to all the conferences for my day job and people gossip between meetings) that they are sure the election will be Nov 21 or 28. How much of that is just response to parties geeing up the activists in case it happens I don't know, but it makes me reluctant to put money against it. The theory is that the opposition will deny Johnson his Oct 31 deadline and will then have less reason and no excuse to refuse an election, one theme being "Johnson has failed, let us sort it out".
    They are foolish and playing with fire. We could easily be looking at 1983. Are we ready for 5-10 years of Boris majority government?
    I'm getting limited news but it feels in this contest of Johnson V The Rest that Johnson's winning. If Parliament is sitting they're not registering while Johnson is wall-to-wall and usually accompanied by a cheering mob. If radio 4 hasn't gone native or this is the calm before the storm we're looking at a Trumpian future.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 61,591
    HYUFD said:

    Nigelb said:

    Another New Hampshire poll showing Warren in the lead.

    Granted it's still some ways off, but if Warren takes Iowa and New Hampshire (with Saunders third), and is runner up to Biden in S Carolina, does Saunders drop out at that point ?

    Sanders then endorses Warren, making Warren effectively the nominee and the most left liberal Democratic candidate for president since George McGovern in 1972 against Nixon and we all know how that went for the Democrats! McGovern also beat a centrist former VP in the 1972 Democratic primary, Hubert Humphrey, who would have given Nixon a tighter race
    Trump's Watergate started well before election year, though. :smile:
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 61,591
    Foxy said:

    Nigelb said:

    Another New Hampshire poll showing Warren in the lead.

    Granted it's still some ways off, but if Warren takes Iowa and New Hampshire (with Saunders third), and is runner up to Biden in S Carolina, does Saunders drop out at that point ?

    Trumpinomics may well be hitting the buffers this Fall too, worst manufacturing forecasts in a decade. Pretty grim in the RoW too.

    https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/01/economy/ism-manufacturing/index.html
    UK's worst run of manufacturing figures since 2009.
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 41,684

    malcolmg said:

    TGOHF2 said:
    Big deal a handful of cheapskates desperate to save a few pennies crossed the border. Key point is that sales in all Scotland have dropped and are all of the crazy high alcohol content garbage drunk by losers. Early days but it appears to actually be working and we will see the results after the 5 year trial. Trail blazing policy yet again from the SNP.
    Its hoolocks Malcy, the under sales are being met by sales in England. Actual drop probably closer to zero.
    Rubbish , it is a handful of saddo's at the border, Anyone travelling more than a few mile would be paying more and the borders are not exactly well populated. No-one and I mean no-one is travelling from populated areas of Scotland to save a few pennies. The punters who drink Frosty Jack do not have access to transport given they have trouble enough walking never mind driving.
    For any normal person there has been NO change in prices whatsoever.
    My wine is still the same £10 - £15 a bottle and craft beer is exactly same price as always.
  • TGOHF2TGOHF2 Posts: 584
    Boris’s deal has the DUP and most of the Spartans on board - should put it to the house...
  • TGOHF2TGOHF2 Posts: 584
    edited October 2019
    malcolmg said:

    malcolmg said:

    TGOHF2 said:
    Big deal a handful of cheapskates desperate to save a few pennies crossed the border. Key point is that sales in all Scotland have dropped and are all of the crazy high alcohol content garbage drunk by losers. Early days but it appears to actually be working and we will see the results after the 5 year trial. Trail blazing policy yet again from the SNP.
    Its hoolocks Malcy, the under sales are being met by sales in England. Actual drop probably closer to zero.
    Rubbish , it is a handful of saddo's at the border, Anyone travelling more than a few mile would be paying more and the borders are not exactly well populated. No-one and I mean no-one is travelling from populated areas of Scotland to save a few pennies. The punters who drink Frosty Jack do not have access to transport given they have trouble enough walking never mind driving.
    For any normal person there has been NO change in prices whatsoever.
    My wine is still the same £10 - £15 a bottle and craft beer is exactly same price as always.
    No of units sold have gone up both sides of the border - Nats clinging to some dodgy survey rather than real retail figures.

  • dyedwooliedyedwoolie Posts: 7,786
    TGOHF2 said:

    Boris’s deal has the DUP and most of the Spartans on board - should put it to the house...

    Put it to the house immediately, pass it, show the EU they have a good to go solution and let them force no deal
  • OblitusSumMeOblitusSumMe Posts: 9,143
    HYUFD said:

    The FTPA only applies if Boris is still PM in which case Labour would want a general election if Boris has agreed to extend past October 31st as the Tory vote will have collapsed to the Brexit Party putting Labour in front by default.

    With many of the opinion polls Labour would still not be in the lead even if the Conservative + Brexit Party vote was evenly split between the two parties.

    I'm not convinced that Labour will want a general election with Nigel Farage leading the polls.
  • AlastairMeeksAlastairMeeks Posts: 30,340

    TGOHF2 said:

    Boris’s deal has the DUP and most of the Spartans on board - should put it to the house...

    Put it to the house immediately, pass it, show the EU they have a good to go solution and let them force no deal
    Why do you think it would pass the House of Commons?
  • Nigelb said:

    Foxy said:

    Nigelb said:

    Another New Hampshire poll showing Warren in the lead.

    Granted it's still some ways off, but if Warren takes Iowa and New Hampshire (with Saunders third), and is runner up to Biden in S Carolina, does Saunders drop out at that point ?

    Trumpinomics may well be hitting the buffers this Fall too, worst manufacturing forecasts in a decade. Pretty grim in the RoW too.

    https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/01/economy/ism-manufacturing/index.html
    UK's worst run of manufacturing figures since 2009.
    2012

    https://tradingeconomics.com/united-kingdom/manufacturing-pmi
  • dyedwooliedyedwoolie Posts: 7,786

    TGOHF2 said:

    Boris’s deal has the DUP and most of the Spartans on board - should put it to the house...

    Put it to the house immediately, pass it, show the EU they have a good to go solution and let them force no deal
    Why do you think it would pass the House of Commons?
    I'm saying that should be the plan. It's up to them to work out if they have the support. But deal agreed on basis EU agree? Cant see why it wouldn't pass unless the rebel alliance want to confirm blocking Brexit is the aim rather than stopping no deal.
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 41,684
    edited October 2019
    TGOHF2 said:

    malcolmg said:

    malcolmg said:

    TGOHF2 said:
    Big deal a handful of cheapskates desperate to save a few pennies crossed the border. Key point is that sales in all Scotland have dropped and are all of the crazy high alcohol content garbage drunk by losers. Early days but it appears to actually be working and we will see the results after the 5 year trial. Trail blazing policy yet again from the SNP.
    Its hoolocks Malcy, the under sales are being met by sales in England. Actual drop probably closer to zero.
    Rubbish , it is a handful of saddo's at the border, Anyone travelling more than a few mile would be paying more and the borders are not exactly well populated. No-one and I mean no-one is travelling from populated areas of Scotland to save a few pennies. The punters who drink Frosty Jack do not have access to transport given they have trouble enough walking never mind driving.
    For any normal person there has been NO change in prices whatsoever.
    My wine is still the same £10 - £15 a bottle and craft beer is exactly same price as always.
    No of units sold have gone up both sides of the border - Nats clinging to some dodgy survey rather than real retail figures.

    Harry, I actually live in Scotland , I don't rubbish it from afar. It has had no impact on normal every day people whatsoever. It may have impacted some piss artists and ne'er do wells but for most people it has no impact. Anything is worth a try to get the heavy drinkers of cheap muck to try and turn their lives around.
    https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/3455232/frosty-jacks-cider-sales-scotland-70-down-minimum-price/
    https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/2866302/cider-sales-plummet-scotland-minimum-pricing-alcohol/
  • AlastairMeeksAlastairMeeks Posts: 30,340

    TGOHF2 said:

    Boris’s deal has the DUP and most of the Spartans on board - should put it to the house...

    Put it to the house immediately, pass it, show the EU they have a good to go solution and let them force no deal
    Why do you think it would pass the House of Commons?
    I'm saying that should be the plan. It's up to them to work out if they have the support. But deal agreed on basis EU agree? Cant see why it wouldn't pass unless the rebel alliance want to confirm blocking Brexit is the aim rather than stopping no deal.
    I would say it's more likely to induce more to jump off the Boris bus than to get them clambering back aboard. Hardening the Irish border is a tough sell.
  • TGOHF2TGOHF2 Posts: 584

    TGOHF2 said:

    Boris’s deal has the DUP and most of the Spartans on board - should put it to the house...

    Put it to the house immediately, pass it, show the EU they have a good to go solution and let them force no deal
    Why do you think it would pass the House of Commons?
    Arithmetic would suggest it would be closer than any or May’s attempts - possibly even pass.

    Would certainly pass if the Benn act is debunked in court.
  • dyedwooliedyedwoolie Posts: 7,786

    TGOHF2 said:

    Boris’s deal has the DUP and most of the Spartans on board - should put it to the house...

    Put it to the house immediately, pass it, show the EU they have a good to go solution and let them force no deal
    Why do you think it would pass the House of Commons?
    I'm saying that should be the plan. It's up to them to work out if they have the support. But deal agreed on basis EU agree? Cant see why it wouldn't pass unless the rebel alliance want to confirm blocking Brexit is the aim rather than stopping no deal.
    I would say it's more likely to induce more to jump off the Boris bus than to get them clambering back aboard. Hardening the Irish border is a tough sell.
    But is an inevitable part of Brexit given the EU and Irelands red lines versus ours. If that means the commons wants to cancel Brexit then they should do so, or they should allow an election so we can decide what to do, or they should VONC and a GNU try and negotiate a deal. Anything but the current pathetic display by a completely inept opposition
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 49,964
    Anyone know what time Boris's speech to conference is happening?
  • edmundintokyoedmundintokyo Posts: 17,136
    TGOHF2 said:

    Boris’s deal has the DUP and most of the Spartans on board - should put it to the house...

    Good idea, that debate would be the perfect launchpad for Operation Sylvia Hermon PM
  • GallowgateGallowgate Posts: 19,072
    Scott_P said:
    This cant be true as @HYUFD has told me time and time again that if BoZo extends then the Tories will collapse in the polls.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 55,039
    malcolmg said:

    TGOHF2 said:
    Big deal a handful of cheapskates desperate to save a few pennies crossed the border. Key point is that sales in all Scotland have dropped and are all of the crazy high alcohol content garbage drunk by losers. Early days but it appears to actually be working and we will see the results after the 5 year trial. Trail blazing policy yet again from the SNP.
    The final six words of that post are where you started from, and drove the rest of it.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 116,719
    edited October 2019

    HYUFD said:

    The FTPA only applies if Boris is still PM in which case Labour would want a general election if Boris has agreed to extend past October 31st as the Tory vote will have collapsed to the Brexit Party putting Labour in front by default.

    With many of the opinion polls Labour would still not be in the lead even if the Conservative + Brexit Party vote was evenly split between the two parties.

    I'm not convinced that Labour will want a general election with Nigel Farage leading the polls.
    Farage won't be leading the polls unless Boris agrees to extend and send the letter, which he won't at most a civil servant will do it if Boris refuses

    From the news this morning anyway Corbyn and McDonnell have said they will call a VONC if Boris has not agreed a Deal with the EU by the end of the EU council on 17th October, Boris then likely loses that VONC and with no alternative PM agreed within 14 days as is likely we would then be in a general election campaign
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 116,719
    Nigelb said:

    HYUFD said:

    Nigelb said:

    Another New Hampshire poll showing Warren in the lead.

    Granted it's still some ways off, but if Warren takes Iowa and New Hampshire (with Saunders third), and is runner up to Biden in S Carolina, does Saunders drop out at that point ?

    Sanders then endorses Warren, making Warren effectively the nominee and the most left liberal Democratic candidate for president since George McGovern in 1972 against Nixon and we all know how that went for the Democrats! McGovern also beat a centrist former VP in the 1972 Democratic primary, Hubert Humphrey, who would have given Nixon a tighter race
    Trump's Watergate started well before election year, though. :smile:
    Watergate broke in the 1972 election campaign, Nixon still won a landslide
  • JackWJackW Posts: 14,787

    Anyone know what time Boris's speech to conference is happening?

    Dominic says at 11:40am .... Clashing with PMQ's and the Rabb C Nesbit/Russ Abbott show.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 116,719
    DougSeal said:

    HYUFD said:

    Why would the EU bother agreeing to a further three month extension without an election this year? If November and December are out, January has to be too as the campaign cannot begin until next year gets underway. I cannot see past November - unless we do crash out on 31st October. If that happens then we definitely will not get an election until well into 2020 at the earliest.

    November is only possible with all party agreement if the two thirds vote is held by 24 October. For a November election via a vote of no confidence, the vote needs to take place by 10 October.
    I've been told confidently by activists in all 3 major parties plus the Greens (I went to all the conferences for my day job and people gossip between meetings) that they are sure the election will be Nov 21 or 28. How much of that is just response to parties geeing up the activists in case it happens I don't know, but it makes me reluctant to put money against it. The theory is that the opposition will deny Johnson his Oct 31 deadline and will then have less reason and no excuse to refuse an election, one theme being "Johnson has failed, let us sort it out".

    Incidentally, I'm not sure that Yellow Submarine's various dates that interfere with campaigning add up to a substantial hurdle to late November or even early December. The number of people who are involved in all of them (Diwali AND Guy Fawkes AND nativity plays AND...) is small and campaigners will work around them. Serious activists in Scotland cheerfully campaign in the dark - I've been torchlight canvassing in a Glasgow by-election and it was good fun - and there's always weekends.
    Indeed plus US general and presidential elections are always in November
    Not relevant. In the US campaigning runs though the Summer and early Autumn before an early November vote that avoids Thanksgiving and Christmas - furthermore the US (other than Alaska) is all, even Maine, at a much more southerly latitude than the U.K. (we’re about level with Newfoundland in Canada) so it gets darker a lot later than it does here.
    I campaigned in a November council by election last year, November elections can happen and this year it will be a November general election
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 49,964
    JackW said:

    Anyone know what time Boris's speech to conference is happening?

    Dominic says at 11:40am .... Clashing with PMQ's and the Rabb C Nesbit/Russ Abbott show.
    Thanks Jack.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 116,719

    Scott_P said:
    This cant be true as @HYUFD has told me time and time again that if BoZo extends then the Tories will collapse in the polls.
    Boris won't extend, a civil servant will and Boris will campaign on Brexit Deal or No Deal with a Tory majority
  • Scott_P said:
    This cant be true as @HYUFD has told me time and time again that if BoZo extends then the Tories will collapse in the polls.
    Vain lying PM prefers breaking his word rather than being shortest serving PM in history shocker.
  • GallowgateGallowgate Posts: 19,072
    edited October 2019
    HYUFD said:

    Scott_P said:
    This cant be true as @HYUFD has told me time and time again that if BoZo extends then the Tories will collapse in the polls.
    Boris won't extend, a civil servant will and Boris will campaign on Brexit Deal or No Deal with a Tory majority
    Surely it will just be “no deal” if the EU have already rejected his “final offer” today?

    And if Boris authorises a civil servant to extend its the same as he himself extending.
  • JonathanJonathan Posts: 20,901
    Roger said:

    Jonathan said:

    Why would the EU bother agreeing to a further three month extension without an election this year? If November and December are out, January has to be too as the campaign cannot begin until next year gets underway. I cannot see past November - unless we do crash out on 31st October. If that happens then we definitely will not get an election until well into 2020 at the earliest.

    November is only possible with all party agreement if the two thirds vote is held by 24 October. For a November election via a vote of no confidence, the vote needs to take place by 10 October.
    I've been told confidently by activists in all 3 major parties plus the Greens (I went to all the conferences for my day job and people gossip between meetings) that they are sure the election will be Nov 21 or 28. How much of that is just response to parties geeing up the activists in case it happens I don't know, but it makes me reluctant to put money against it. The theory is that the opposition will deny Johnson his Oct 31 deadline and will then have less reason and no excuse to refuse an election, one theme being "Johnson has failed, let us sort it out".
    They are foolish and playing with fire. We could easily be looking at 1983. Are we ready for 5-10 years of Boris majority government?
    I'm getting limited news but it feels in this contest of Johnson V The Rest that Johnson's winning. If Parliament is sitting they're not registering while Johnson is wall-to-wall and usually accompanied by a cheering mob. If radio 4 hasn't gone native or this is the calm before the storm we're looking at a Trumpian future.
    The opposition has a weak hand and is split. The hung parliament is deceptive. Anyone not signed up to Boris and the populist right need to prepare for the long haul. Everything could be about to change. It took 14 years to recover from 1983.
  • Grim Construction PMI.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 116,719

    HYUFD said:

    Scott_P said:
    This cant be true as @HYUFD has told me time and time again that if BoZo extends then the Tories will collapse in the polls.
    Boris won't extend, a civil servant will and Boris will campaign on Brexit Deal or No Deal with a Tory majority
    Surely it will just be “no deal” if the EU have already rejected his “final offer” today?
    If he wins a Tory majority with no need for the DUP Boris would go for the Withdrawal Agreement with just a NI only backstop
  • Wulfrun_PhilWulfrun_Phil Posts: 4,572
    From the thread:
    "Because of the FTPA and the parliamentary arithmetic this is the first time ever in British political history that it is the the opposition leader who has the power to choose whether there should be an early General Election..."

    I agree, but it understates the position. It should read "..it is the opposition leader ALONE who has the power to choose whether there should be an early General Election..."

    The FTPA has turned out to be an utterly bonkers piece of legislation.
  • GallowgateGallowgate Posts: 19,072
    HYUFD said:

    HYUFD said:

    Scott_P said:
    This cant be true as @HYUFD has told me time and time again that if BoZo extends then the Tories will collapse in the polls.
    Boris won't extend, a civil servant will and Boris will campaign on Brexit Deal or No Deal with a Tory majority
    Surely it will just be “no deal” if the EU have already rejected his “final offer” today?
    If he wins a Tory majority with no need for the DUP Boris would go for the Withdrawal Agreement with just a NI only backstop
    So its not the “final offer” then. Maybe he was mistaken.
  • nico67nico67 Posts: 4,502
    Even if the EU could make concessions they have zero confidence it could get through the Commons .

  • GallowgateGallowgate Posts: 19,072

    From the thread:
    "Because of the FTPA and the parliamentary arithmetic this is the first time ever in British political history that it is the the opposition leader who has the power to choose whether there should be an early General Election..."

    I agree, but it understates the position. It should read "..it is the opposition leader ALONE who has the power to choose whether there should be an early General Election..."

    The FTPA has turned out to be an utterly bonkers piece of legislation.

    But that isn’t the case. Boris is free to resign and then no confidence the minority Labour government, resulting in a GE.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 55,039



    Those dates, particularly 21 November, are very hard to reconcile with the statutory timetable. There must be 25 working days as a minimum in the election campaign (five weeks). If the two main parties don't agree - and agreement seems fairly unlikely - you have to add another two weeks in for a vote of no confidence. For 21 November, that means a vote of no confidence today or tomorrow.

    Yes, the theory is that the main parties do agree once Oct 31 is thwarted. I agree with Casino that activists are always being geared up, but the unanimity about those precise dates was very striking. DYOR though!
    The extension can’t be secured until the European Council meeting. I can’t see any moves before that and, if there are, it will be to put a caretaker PM instead to send a letter and not to call an election.

    That meeting concludes on Friday 18th October, with a yay or nay decision. So the earliest Parliament could vote for dissolution by the 2/3rds route is Monday 21st October, giving an election on 27th November at the earliest. If it doesn’t move that week, it’s in December. If it decides to then go down the VoNC route it’s also in December, as you have to factor in the extra 14 days of the ticking clock, which drives it to the 12th December.

    There are all sorts of reasons why it might not. It depends on the polls, whether there’s an extension or not, how long that extension is, whether there’s a caretaker PM or not and the fact that the existing speaker retires on 31st October with the election for the new one on 4th November.

    There are only three credible dates for a GE this year: Thurs 28th Nov, Thurs 5th Dec or Thurs 12th Dec.

    It’s not impossible those happen, but November must now be about a 10/1 shot given how the cards need to fall inside 72 hours during the w/c 21st October, and December a 7/2.

    So I’d currently rate a GE this year at <40% chance and not at >65% chance as the markets have it.
  • OblitusSumMeOblitusSumMe Posts: 9,143
    Looks like it could be a very long three Test series for South Africa in India. Seven sixes in the first two sessions.
  • Scott_P said:
    I've predicted that all along! Pin the blame on others and rally Brexiteers that you're the one person able to overcome the treacherous Remainer MPs, the courts etc
  • NooNoo Posts: 2,380
    TGOHF2 said:
    Yes, minimum pricing lowered alcohol consumption. Good to see the legislation having the intended effect.
  • FlannerFlanner Posts: 405
    HYUFD said:



    I've been told confidently by activists in all 3 major parties plus the Greens (I went to all the conferences for my day job and people gossip between meetings) that they are sure the election will be Nov 21 or 28..

    As an activist in one of them I've had no such instructions. But at our conference, and at meetings before and since, there's been no shortage of notorious wise guys authoritatively telling you "I'm sure it'll be x date"

    The truth is (I say this on great authority: my own judgement) is that five of the six leaders (add in Brexit and the SNP) haven't got the foggiest and the sixth thinks Dom will chop his goolies off if he even hints that he's beginning to think late at night we'll still be in on November 1.
  • HYUFD said:

    HYUFD said:

    Scott_P said:
    This cant be true as @HYUFD has told me time and time again that if BoZo extends then the Tories will collapse in the polls.
    Boris won't extend, a civil servant will and Boris will campaign on Brexit Deal or No Deal with a Tory majority
    Surely it will just be “no deal” if the EU have already rejected his “final offer” today?
    If he wins a Tory majority with no need for the DUP Boris would go for the Withdrawal Agreement with just a NI only backstop
    If he wins a Tory majority there's no need to do that. He can force the EU to choose between Withdrawal Agreement minus the backstop, or No Deal including no backstop.

    Either way the backstop would be gone. Not NI only.
  • logical_songlogical_song Posts: 9,669

    Scott_P said:
    I've predicted that all along! Pin the blame on others and rally Brexiteers that you're the one person able to overcome the treacherous Remainer MPs, the courts etc
    But how does the election get called?
  • eekeek Posts: 24,797

    Scott_P said:
    I've predicted that all along! Pin the blame on others and rally Brexiteers that you're the one person able to overcome the treacherous Remainer MPs, the courts etc
    This is the game Boris and the Tories are playing

    https://twitter.com/SimonUbsdell/status/1178951174973730816

    It won't end well for anyone.
  • rkrkrkrkrkrk Posts: 7,881
    edited October 2019
    Noo said:

    TGOHF2 said:
    Yes, minimum pricing lowered alcohol consumption. Good to see the legislation having the intended effect.
    Great to see the fear of the alcohol lobby grow as this policy is proved successful.
    https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.bmj.com/content/366/bmj.l5274&ved=2ahUKEwilqJq6mf3kAhUQzqQKHfDrAHoQFjACegQIBBAC&usg=AOvVaw3lCGmSWfb62ZUHIGEiqTya&cshid=1570006431990
  • From the thread:
    "Because of the FTPA and the parliamentary arithmetic this is the first time ever in British political history that it is the the opposition leader who has the power to choose whether there should be an early General Election..."

    I agree, but it understates the position. It should read "..it is the opposition leader ALONE who has the power to choose whether there should be an early General Election..."

    The FTPA has turned out to be an utterly bonkers piece of legislation.

    But that isn’t the case. Boris is free to resign and then no confidence the minority Labour government, resulting in a GE.
    But he doesnt want to. Its not fair!
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 49,964
    nico67 said:

    Even if the EU could make concessions they have zero confidence it could get through the Commons .

    Utter bollocks. If there is no extension, then whatever the deal is by that point gets through before the end of October. End of.
  • GallowgateGallowgate Posts: 19,072

    nico67 said:

    Even if the EU could make concessions they have zero confidence it could get through the Commons .

    Utter bollocks. If there is no extension, then whatever the deal is by that point gets through before the end of October. End of.
    Take back control!
  • StereotomyStereotomy Posts: 4,092
    HYUFD said:

    Scott_P said:
    This cant be true as @HYUFD has told me time and time again that if BoZo extends then the Tories will collapse in the polls.
    Boris won't extend, a civil servant will
    Oh well in that case the electorate definitely won't hold it against him. Maybe he'll cross his fingers behind his back for added political effect
  • moonshinemoonshine Posts: 5,226
    TGOHF2 said:

    TGOHF2 said:

    Boris’s deal has the DUP and most of the Spartans on board - should put it to the house...

    Put it to the house immediately, pass it, show the EU they have a good to go solution and let them force no deal
    Why do you think it would pass the House of Commons?
    Arithmetic would suggest it would be closer than any or May’s attempts - possibly even pass.

    Would certainly pass if the Benn act is debunked in court.
    The relevant question is who voted for the Brady amendment that would now refuse to vote for an improved deal (and vice versa)? Brady passed by 317 to 301 last time.

    The Tory rebels that voted against Brady were:

    Allen
    Bebb
    Clarke
    Grieve
    Lee
    Morris
    Soubry
    Wallaston

    Gyimah, Greening, Jo Johnson, Sandbach, Laing all abstained, as did Redwood.

    You can certainly add Gyimah to the Against column now. Sandback might be tempted by the return of the whip. I doubt Greening and Jo would vote against at this point and might just abstain again. Don't know anything about Laing. Redwood might be persuaded to vote For this time rather than abstain. So roughly where you were on that group.

    Of the rest of the Tory 21, they all previously voted for Brady. Some probably only did so to keep ministerial / cabinet jobs and would rather rot than give Boris a win. But I do wonder how many of the remaining 16 would be willing to complete the kamikaze of their careers, when there's a deal to vote for and the prospect of getting the whip back. Gauke, Soames, Letwin, Vaizey, Stewart etc...

    Labour rebels voting For were:

    Austin
    Barron
    Fitzpatrick
    Godsiff
    Hoey
    Mann
    Stringer

    With a further 8 Labour abstaining. The Labour side would likely tip more in favour of the Deal given the likes of Flint would probably go from Abstain to Yes and Kinnock a flip from No to Yes.

    I'm not persuaded that the vote would even be that close, I think if the Irish go for it then it clears the Commons.

  • StereotomyStereotomy Posts: 4,092

    nico67 said:

    Even if the EU could make concessions they have zero confidence it could get through the Commons .

    Utter bollocks. If there is no extension, then whatever the deal is by that point gets through before the end of October. End of.
    So why make concessions?
  • Scott_P said:
    I've predicted that all along! Pin the blame on others and rally Brexiteers that you're the one person able to overcome the treacherous Remainer MPs, the courts etc
    But how does the election get called?
    The opposition can't be cowards forever and the longer they are cowards the more damage it will do to them.

    If they succeed in forcing an extension and the public rightly blame them not Boris and then Boris calls for an election and they refuse it again and refuse a VONC again they are going to look utterly, utterly absurd.
  • anothernickanothernick Posts: 3,547

    Scott_P said:
    This cant be true as @HYUFD has told me time and time again that if BoZo extends then the Tories will collapse in the polls.
    HYUFD told us yesterday on here that Johnson would resign rather than extend.
  • HYUFD said:

    Scott_P said:
    This cant be true as @HYUFD has told me time and time again that if BoZo extends then the Tories will collapse in the polls.
    Boris won't extend, a civil servant will
    Oh well in that case the electorate definitely won't hold it against him. Maybe he'll cross his fingers behind his back for added political effect
    The electorate are not idiots and will hold it against the MPs who forced the extension.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 55,039
    rkrkrk said:

    Noo said:

    TGOHF2 said:
    Yes, minimum pricing lowered alcohol consumption. Good to see the legislation having the intended effect.
    Great to see the fear of the alcohol lobby grow as this policy is proved successful.
    https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.bmj.com/content/366/bmj.l5274&ved=2ahUKEwilqJq6mf3kAhUQzqQKHfDrAHoQFjACegQIBBAC&usg=AOvVaw3lCGmSWfb62ZUHIGEiqTya&cshid=1570006431990
    It’s ok. They’ve moved to taking drugs instead: https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/uk-scotland-48938509
  • Scott_P said:
    This cant be true as @HYUFD has told me time and time again that if BoZo extends then the Tories will collapse in the polls.
    HYUFD told us yesterday on here that Johnson would resign rather than extend.
    HYUFD says a lot of stuff.
  • StereotomyStereotomy Posts: 4,092

    HYUFD said:

    Scott_P said:
    This cant be true as @HYUFD has told me time and time again that if BoZo extends then the Tories will collapse in the polls.
    Boris won't extend, a civil servant will
    Oh well in that case the electorate definitely won't hold it against him. Maybe he'll cross his fingers behind his back for added political effect
    The electorate are not idiots and will hold it against the MPs who forced the extension.
    You don't think the electorate will mind that Boris made a promise over and over which was obviously impossible to keep, then failed to keep it?
  • NooNoo Posts: 2,380
    edited October 2019

    From the thread:
    "Because of the FTPA and the parliamentary arithmetic this is the first time ever in British political history that it is the the opposition leader who has the power to choose whether there should be an early General Election..."

    I agree, but it understates the position. It should read "..it is the opposition leader ALONE who has the power to choose whether there should be an early General Election..."

    The FTPA has turned out to be an utterly bonkers piece of legislation.

    It's not the legislation that's the problem. It's the cretinous approach by a PM who acts like he has a 100 seat majority when he doesn't.
    Parliament decides whether there's a general election. The PM could VONC his own government or make time in the Commons for other parties to bring such a vote as Theresa May allowed less than a year ago.
    Boris has choices here: to get the election he has to run the gauntlet of a VONC. He isn't pursuing the VONC so it makes you wonder what he's afraid of. AS far as I can tell it's one or more of the following:
    - he's afraid of the election itself
    - he's afraid the parliament can form a stable government without him
    - he's afraid that his own party will turn against him

    I think the third one is a strong candidate, but the the first two are also weighing on him.
    Doesn't he look tired?
  • solarflaresolarflare Posts: 3,623
    JackW said:

    Anyone know what time Boris's speech to conference is happening?

    Dominic says at 11:40am .... Clashing with PMQ's and the Rabb C Nesbit/Russ Abbott show.
    Gives me an idea. "Celebrity Prime Minister's Questions". Saturday nights at 9pm on ITV1. Cowell in the Speaker's chair, Bercow as a sort of celebrity politics referee.

    After a series of knockout rounds (including the likes of that guy off Emmerdale, that woman off Strictly, that guy from Homes Under The Hammer, those two faded popstars and that person from Instagram you've never heard of but has 12 billion followers) debating in the actual HoC in front of a studio audience, the winner gets to lead a minor UK political party (the Independent Group for Change).
  • GIN1138GIN1138 Posts: 20,697
    Scott_P said:
    And you know what? It'll work as well. :D
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 38,865
    Agree with Mike. This whole thing to slide into 2020. Smug city on the betting front for me if it does. As a Labour supporter I also hope for this outcome. We are not well placed electorally right now.
  • GIN1138GIN1138 Posts: 20,697
    So Brexit Psychosis is actually a diagnozed illness? (explains a lot of here) :D

    https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/brexit-news-latest-referendum-psychosis-delusions-a9127841.html
  • HYUFD said:

    Scott_P said:
    This cant be true as @HYUFD has told me time and time again that if BoZo extends then the Tories will collapse in the polls.
    Boris won't extend, a civil servant will
    Oh well in that case the electorate definitely won't hold it against him. Maybe he'll cross his fingers behind his back for added political effect
    The electorate are not idiots and will hold it against the MPs who forced the extension.
    You don't think the electorate will mind that Boris made a promise over and over which was obviously impossible to keep, then failed to keep it?
    No. I think the Brexit-supporting electorate will see that the opposition MPs are the obstructionists, that Boris is on their side, that Labour and the Lib Dems want to Remain and that only a Tory victory will allow their Brexit vote to be honoured.

    And they'd be right.
  • GIN1138GIN1138 Posts: 20,697
    edited October 2019
    kinabalu said:

    Agree with Mike. This whole thing to slide into 2020. Smug city on the betting front for me if it does. As a Labour supporter I also hope for this outcome. We are not well placed electorally right now.

    If Boris extends A50 in line with the Benn Act what possible excuse will Labour have to deny an election next (presumably Lib-Dem and SNP will be up for it) ?
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 38,865
    edited October 2019
    Agree with Mike. This whole thing to slide into 2020. Smug city on the betting front for me if it does. As a Labour supporter I also want this outcome. We are not well placed electorally right now.

    EDIT: So good I thought people might want it twice.
  • anothernickanothernick Posts: 3,547

    Scott_P said:
    This cant be true as @HYUFD has told me time and time again that if BoZo extends then the Tories will collapse in the polls.
    HYUFD told us yesterday on here that Johnson would resign rather than extend.
    HYUFD says a lot of stuff.
    Nearly all of which is b*ll*cks.
  • Noo said:

    From the thread:
    "Because of the FTPA and the parliamentary arithmetic this is the first time ever in British political history that it is the the opposition leader who has the power to choose whether there should be an early General Election..."

    I agree, but it understates the position. It should read "..it is the opposition leader ALONE who has the power to choose whether there should be an early General Election..."

    The FTPA has turned out to be an utterly bonkers piece of legislation.

    It's not the legislation that's the problem. It's the cretinous approach by a PM who acts like he has a 100 seat majority when he doesn't.
    Parliament decides whether there's a general election. The PM could VONC his own government or make time in the Commons for other parties to bring such a vote as Theresa May allowed less than a year ago.
    Boris has choices here: to get the election he has to run the gauntlet of a VONC. He isn't pursuing the VONC so it makes you wonder what he's afraid of. AS far as I can tell it's one or more of the following:
    - he's afraid of the election itself
    - he's afraid the parliament can form a stable government without him
    - he's afraid that his own party will turn against him

    I think the third one is a strong candidate, but the the first two are also weighing on him.
    Doesn't he look tired?
    What are you talking about? The opposition hasn't tabled a VONC. You can't make time for the parties to bring such a vote until they table one.
  • Scott_PScott_P Posts: 51,453
    GIN1138 said:

    And you know what? It'll work as well. :D

    For limited definitions of "work"

    Win a general election on a pledge to make the country ungovernable...

    Classic Dom
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 38,865
    GIN1138 said:

    If Boris extends A50 in line with the Benn Act what possible excuse will Labour have to deny an election next (presumably Lib-Dem and SNP will be up for it?)

    It would ruin Christmas.
  • Harris_TweedHarris_Tweed Posts: 1,300

    HYUFD said:

    Scott_P said:
    This cant be true as @HYUFD has told me time and time again that if BoZo extends then the Tories will collapse in the polls.
    Boris won't extend, a civil servant will
    Oh well in that case the electorate definitely won't hold it against him. Maybe he'll cross his fingers behind his back for added political effect
    The electorate are not idiots and will hold it against the MPs who forced the extension.
    You don't think the electorate will mind that Boris made a promise over and over which was obviously impossible to keep, then failed to keep it?
    Quite. If he saw "extending and moaning about it" as even a 10 per cent chance, he shouldn't have been so gobby about "dying in a ditch".

    In a world without Farage, that would be OK. But BXP has only to slice off a small proportion of Boris's current polling to be the difference between a majority and NOC (or even NOC and Lab largest party if they manage to get their heads out of their arses before he does).

    Meanwhile, was La Boz not paying attention the other week when the Supreme Court basically said parliament could do pretty much what it liked?

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/10/01/speculation-government-could-mount-legal-challenge-against-surrender/
  • Scott_PScott_P Posts: 51,453

    You can't make time for the parties to bring such a vote until they table one.

    Yes you can.

    Another Brexiteer who doesn't know how Parliament works
  • Scott_P said:

    GIN1138 said:

    And you know what? It'll work as well. :D

    For limited definitions of "work"

    Win a general election on a pledge to make the country ungovernable...

    Classic Dom
    If the election is won the country will be governable.

    It was pathetic May and her failure to win a majority that caused this mess. Boris is just cleaning up the stinking pile of ordure she left behind.
  • Scott_P said:

    You can't make time for the parties to bring such a vote until they table one.

    Yes you can.

    Another Brexiteer who doesn't know how Parliament works
    But the opposition have ruled out tabling such a motion. What is Boris supposed to do "we are giving time here for a motion from the opposition they've said they're not voting for" "we are not putting this motion forward, we haven't called it" *tumbleweed*

    May provided time for a confidence vote only after Corbyn called for one, not beforehand.
  • kjhkjh Posts: 10,469
    Scott_P said:
    Yes but as usual it is not the EU is it? It is the UK gold plating stuff and enforcing stuff that should be ignored. I want my supermarkets to show consistency in measurements. I don't give two hoots what my local Greengrocer does. In fact it is a good marketing technique for the Olde Worlde sweet shop.

    Funny how this stuff never crops up in Europe. I have bought pints of beer in France, Italy and Spain!
  • YorkcityYorkcity Posts: 4,382
    GIN1138 said:

    kinabalu said:

    Agree with Mike. This whole thing to slide into 2020. Smug city on the betting front for me if it does. As a Labour supporter I also hope for this outcome. We are not well placed electorally right now.

    If Boris extends A50 in line with the Benn Act what possible excuse will Labour have to deny an election next (presumably Lib-Dem and SNP will be up for it) ?
    Because they do not think they will do very well.
    Would you go into a fight if you knew , you would get badly beaten ?
  • GIN1138GIN1138 Posts: 20,697
    kinabalu said:

    GIN1138 said:

    If Boris extends A50 in line with the Benn Act what possible excuse will Labour have to deny an election next (presumably Lib-Dem and SNP will be up for it?)

    It would ruin Christmas.
    28th November or 5th December election would ruin Christmas? :D
  • solarflaresolarflare Posts: 3,623

    HYUFD said:

    Scott_P said:
    This cant be true as @HYUFD has told me time and time again that if BoZo extends then the Tories will collapse in the polls.
    Boris won't extend, a civil servant will
    Oh well in that case the electorate definitely won't hold it against him. Maybe he'll cross his fingers behind his back for added political effect
    The electorate are not idiots and will hold it against the MPs who forced the extension.
    You don't think the electorate will mind that Boris made a promise over and over which was obviously impossible to keep, then failed to keep it?
    No. I think the Brexit-supporting electorate will see that the opposition MPs are the obstructionists, that Boris is on their side, that Labour and the Lib Dems want to Remain and that only a Tory victory will allow their Brexit vote to be honoured.

    And they'd be right.
    It must represent the lesser of two evils for him. He and his government could resign. The plus side is he is sticking to the courage of his convictions, he will not ask for an extension at any cost. The negative side is he's effectively saying he's beat, he can't do it, he's out of options, he can't deliver what he said.

    If he did that he could still win the subsequent election, but the optics of it are probably worse than shouting out "I was forced! The courts and the parliament is against me!"

    I'm sure neither option especially appeals to him but I can see extending and then fighting an election on that basis as the least bad option.
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 38,865

    You don't think the electorate will mind that Boris made a promise over and over which was obviously impossible to keep, then failed to keep it?

    And he promised a Deal. Or 99.9999% he did. Which we see now is not transpiring - since any Deal that the DUP support is by definition unacceptable to the EU.
This discussion has been closed.