Brexit and the waning days of the United Kingdom

[Zanza]

It's fascinating to watch a constitutional crisis like this unfold. It's eleven days until Brexit and there is zero clarity on what might still happen.

[Iormlund]

Your only hope now is that Bercrow refuses to put May's deal up for yet another vote.

Aaand here it goes:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tb_M8-twOFU

[Josquius]

I flew back from Switzerland yesterday and noticed an awful lot more security than normal on both sides and the entrants from the EU part of customs was closed off. Seems they're already acting as if the UK has lost

[celedhring]

Your only hope now is that Bercrow refuses to put May's deal up for yet another vote.

Aaand here it goes:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tb_M8-twOFU

I love how they cheer when he mentions the convention dates back to 1604. Brits 

[mongers]

Your only hope now is that Bercrow refuses to put May's deal up for yet another vote.

Aaand here it goes:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tb_M8-twOFU

I love how they cheer when he mentions the convention dates back to 1604. Brits 

Indeed. And some 13 years more ancient that the outdoor bench I sat on yesterday evening. 

[Barrister]

So what is happening with Brexit?  Is the EU giving an extension or not?  When will we know?

I can't believe you're 10 days out and still have such massive uncertainty.

[Valmy]

I believe it. If the 2019 British had been planning D-Day we would be working out on plans on the back of cocktail napkins on the night of June 5th.

[Tamas]

Rumour is that May will ask for an extension until end of June, PLUS the option to extend until well into 2020 if the Brits so choose.

I mean, come on. 

It's 10 days and they will say to the EU "we don't know what we want, we don't know how we want it, we don't even know when we want it. Gives us an open-ended deadline plz".

This is hugely embarrassing.

The British political class has managed to make EU bureaucrats and politicians look efficient, logical, and to-the-point. This is by far the biggest achievement from the British side in Brexit so far.

[Barrister]

Assuming there's an extension, is there any serious talk about holding either a new election, or a new referendum?  Parliament at this point seems deadlocked - there's no majority for any option that's on the table.  The Speaker is probably right - May can't keep presenting the same bill over and over, having it voted down each time.

[Tamas]

Assuming there's an extension, is there any serious talk about holding either a new election, or a new referendum?  Parliament at this point seems deadlocked - there's no majority for any option that's on the table.  The Speaker is probably right - May can't keep presenting the same bill over and over, having it voted down each time.

There is no serious talk of anything right now, not publicly, I mean. The EU just made very clear they want a proper reason for an extension, with the French fairly openly sending a "will you just GTFO finally" signal.

[Oexmelin]

There should have been either a government of national unity to deal with this crisis - for it was a crisis of that magnitude, or a a general election long ago - and as soon as it was clear that so many of the Conservative Brexiters were delusional.

[Barrister]

There should have been either a government of national unity to deal with this crisis - for it was a crisis of that magnitude, or a a general election long ago - and as soon as it was clear that so many of the Conservative Brexiters were delusional.

That's why its so unfortunate that Corbyn is opposition leader.  I agree that a national unity government would have been appropriate - or at least a cross-party coalition on Brexit itself.

[Iormlund]

All that was needed was a Parliament vote on Barnier's red lines. Once the MPs pick an option the rest is trivial (if time consuming).

[Josquius]

Though Corbyn and the Tories are incompetents don't forget Keir Starmer is still about.
I expect he is doing his best to reassure Europe that if we are just given time it will increase the chances of some adults taking over and sorting this mess out.
At least that's my hope.


On a lighter note

https://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/17510779.impact-of-brexit-on-rural-scotland-official-report-says-we-are-f/

"Impact of Brexit on rural Scotland official report says 'we are f*****'"

[garbon]

There should have been either a government of national unity to deal with this crisis - for it was a crisis of that magnitude, or a a general election long ago - and as soon as it was clear that so many of the Conservative Brexiters were delusional.

That's why its so unfortunate that Corbyn is opposition leader.  I agree that a national unity government would have been appropriate - or at least a cross-party coalition on Brexit itself.

But Brexit came about because of a lack of unity.