Brexit and the waning days of the United Kingdom

[mongers]

Every time the US puts up a score in the Retard Country Stakes, the UK digs down deep and manages to keep it close.

You said it; Trump'll need to dig deep this time. 

Our hope in this race to the bottom is that the US buffers are lots of nuclear weapons, we'll then feel justifiably smug for the last remaining 3 minutes. 

[The Brain]

I hope Macron vetoes an article 50 extension if it comes to that. This farce needs to end.

Yeah, I always am in favour of outcomes that will hurt people over what is tedious for me.

The EU will be fine.

EU citizens are the only people?

If the UK didn't want to gorge itself on stool I don't think it would have triggered Article 50.

[Duque de Bragança]

I hope Macron vetoes an article 50 extension if it comes to that. This farce needs to end.

Macron could indeed use some diversion right now. 

PS: Macron just said now pressure was (more) on the UK than on the EU

[The Minsky Moment]

BBC quick interview with leave voter outside parliament. We voted on stay or leave. There was no tick box for deal.

Yes there was also no tick box for breathing or ingesting liquids so why are you still alive?

[Zanza]

The British constitution seems flawed. Not being able to combine a vote on a law with a vote of confidence means that you now have this zombie government that cannot actually govern on the most important policy of the legislative period. Even after a no deal crash, she will still not be able to govern.

[Syt]

The NYT has a handy info graphic about the options.

[Richard Hakluyt]

Great fun for political journalists, annoying for nearly everyone else 

I'd like there to be fewer lies in the next few weeks, a wish that is unlikely to be granted.

[Tamas]

Nathalie Loiseau, the Europe minister, told France Inter this morning: "It's bad news, because this withdrawal agreement negotiated for nearly two years is a good agreement and the only agreement possible. It's for the British to decide what they want. We see there is no majority for this agreement, but we don't know what there IS a majority for... they want to leave the European Union to do what?"

Asked why leaving the EU was proving so difficult, Loiseau said: "A certain number of British, including British politicians, didn't realise what being a member of the EU meant." She added that there had been "massive disinformation" during the referendum campaign.

Can the agreement be renegotiated? "The text cannot be reopened especially after we've gone 17 months with all the coming and going. It's been one third of my work since I became minister, which is a bit excessive, and we have other things to do in Europe than busy ourselves with a divorce ..."

She added: "Nobody thinks a no deal is a good situation, but we are preparing for that", but warned: "We aren't going to unknit the European Union because the UK wants to leave."

[Tamas]

Great fun for political journalists, annoying for nearly everyone else 

I'd like there to be fewer lies in the next few weeks, a wish that is unlikely to be granted.

Yeah that's a bit ambitious I am afraid. The Tories are, well, Tories, and Labour is already in election campaign mode, what's with their "a customs union, except we get to do what we want" proposal for a deal.

[Maladict]

The NYT has a handy info graphic about the options.

None of those options, apart from No Deal and begging, can realistically be achieved without postponing the deadline.

[garbon]

True they screwed up by listing postpone as just one branch.

[Richard Hakluyt]

Should also have revocation of Article 50.

[Syt]

Should also have revocation of Article 50.

Wouldn't that lead to rioting Brexiteers in the streets?

[Tamas]

Should also have revocation of Article 50.

Wouldn't that lead to rioting Brexiteers in the streets?

I don't see a way out of this without some major short-term upheveal at least.

Of course protesting urban middle class must seem far less dangerous to MPs than protesting far-righters, so that must be pushing things towards No Deal.

[Zanza]

May does not seem to move on any of her red lines and her cross party talks do not include Corbyn. This is hopeless and pointless.