UK in/out referendum on the EU (Brexit vs Bremain)

That was embarrassing and horrible. just a bunch of boring men shouting over each other. Not one new piece of information, just soundbites we have heard a hundred times. The interviewer was useless and aggressive, nobody answered a question, just terrible. Waste of time. Boris looked like a complete moron. The best one of the bunch is Rory.

I believe the one you've read must be The Places Inbetween.

Yes, that's the one! Not only was it well written, it was an amazing window into the world view of the people living in the tribal regions of Afghanistan and Pakistan where your loyalty is to your family and home village rather than to some hazy theoretical concept of a nation.

Yes, it's one of those rare beautiful sunny days, and I should be outside tending my fields and shooting at interlopers, but instead I'm in here at the computer corresponding with attorneys what's farming coming to anyway?

The best one of the bunch is Rory.- Figg

{{ I agree, he's still a Tory but he seems much more honest and straight down the middle than the rest, not interested in inflating his own ego so much, and he is obviously intelligent.
I'm rather hoping he makes it through to the last 2 and is the one to face Boris but that still seems a long shot at this point.

And dont worry Dave, while your all tied up and unable to fend off intruders Ill take good care of your fields, especially on the way back from the Duck N Muck }}

{{{ Well its looking likely we will have a our next PM Boris Johnson.
So as a Scottish voter, and as he will not only be PM of the entire UK but also leader of the Conservative and Unionist Party, best find out his thoughts on Scottish folk then.

'Writing in the Spectator in 2005, Johnson said that it would be "utterly outrageous" if the then Chancellor Gordon Brown succeeded Tony Blair as prime minister, on the grounds that he is Scottish... "The Labour machine will try, at some point in the next few years, to insert Gordon Brown," Johnson wrote.
"That would be utterly outrageous, not just because he is a gloomadon-popping, interfering, high-taxing complicator of life, but mainly because he is a Scot, and government by a Scot is just not conceivable"...Johnson also claimed that Brown was "not really interested in British values" but instead in "his personal political disability as a Scottish MP.'

Ok well, maybe that was just a one off thing about Brown.

"when Johnson edited the Spectator, he authorised the publication of a jocular poem describing Scottish people as vermin who should face "extermination."

Yes, Better Together! }}]

Why is the whole world rolling into our Trumpian nightmare? I can't figure if conditions changed in the last 5 years, or if this is just a worldwide swing of the political pendulum.

Parliament is so much more fun than Congress.

{{{ This pretty much sums up how much of a crap English Tory party members and Tories at Westminster give for Scotland- and why Ruth Davidson is sadly wasted being a Tory. Also just how far England has gone on the pro-Brexit side, and is willing to go for it. Presumably their ideal is just England, on its own, outside the EU!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-scotland-48666358/tory-leadership-race-ruth-davidson-in-don-t-break-up-uk-warning

Conservative and Unionist Party remember! }}

{{ 3rd vote is under way- results to follow! }}

Well said Blackford!

{{{ Rory Stewart is sadly out the race. Boris, Hunt and Gove make up the top three. So whatever happens now we can be sure of one thing for certain at least - we now know our next PM will definitely be an utter cunt. }}

the good news is that Johnson is an incompetent shyster and will probably sink the Tories for good. When the gammons realise that we are in the exact same position we were in March, or when Hammond demands a second referendum. By all accounts around 67% of the tory membership wouldn't give a toss if we lose the Union if it meant getting a no-deal brexit. They will do literally anything to leave and claw back the farage conned voters. its barking mad.

{{ One of the things I continue to fail to understand is government economy.
Since 2010 the Tories have cut approx between 30-40 billion to services. We were told this was not idealogical but necessary after the economic collapse to balance the books. That we had no choice but to cut spending. The money was simply gone.

So how come the Chancellor says he has over 26 billion earmarked for post Brexit spending? Where did that come from?- that's half the amount they cut from public services over the last decade- where did that come from if we were so skint we had no choice but to cut everything?

And if we declared war tomorrow on Iran or someone there would suddenly be billions available to spend on that too.

So how come when it comes to public spending there is no money, when it comes to Brexit or going to war there is suddenly billions spare to spend on it out of thin air? }}

{{ Very good explanation of whats going on with how the Tories are voting, who for and why.

}}

{{{ 3 left standing! (bit how this forum feels at times these days ) Boris, Gove and Hunt- now they are voting again to whittle it down to the last two. Results within the hour.
After that the last two go out to the party membership in a postal vote. And then we have a winner and our new PM! }}

{{ Gove is gone. Its Boris versus Hunt.
Interesting that every stage the preferred candidate of Ruth Davidson Scottish Tory leader (and therefore with the closest eye on Union matters) has been eliminated and her least favourite two and most likely to cause the break up of the UK are now the main contenders.
Chances of a Hard Brexit and just crashing out without a deal must be pretty high now. }} }}

But surely Parliament wont let that happen, the brexiteers don't have the numbers? Bercow and co said they wont let it happen. Its going to get ugly(er).
Johnson will get in, he will bluff and bluster and promise the world to the brexitloonies, then he will go to Brussels and they will say no way, he will do a May and to and fro for a bit, and then Parliament and Bercow will tell him there is no way in hell we are crashing out, result same position we are in now. stalemate of epic proportions with no way out apart from a general election, or revoke, or second ref.

{{ Depends how it pans out Figg- we triggered Article 50 so we have to leave by law - if it gets to oct 31 and there is no deal in place then the only choices are to revoke article 50- no chance either of them will do that, or to extend the deadline again- and that's unlikely here too, particularly if its Boris, or hold either another referendum or a general election, and both candidates for PM says that will never happen if they get the job.
In which case its no longer up to Parliaments wishes, they can say no to a no deal Brexit all they like, vote against it all they like- but its only an expression of Parliaments wishes, the law is on the 31st we are out like it or not.
If they cant get a deal in place then crashing out is therefore likely. }}

This guy is a genius

Don't even know the backstory but that's brilliant.

Jeez now I don't remember the original lyrics.

Don't even know the backstory - Halfy

{{Gove is a former journalist, and in his youth was a rather flamboyant type and more than prone to the odd line of coke as it turns out. And that news broke right before the voting for Pm began. That's what the reference to him getting high to is about.

Gove also formerly backed Boris and in fact was his running mate against May for PM, but halfway through the campaign Gove stabbed Boris in the back, withdrew from his campaign for PM and set himself up as a contender.

That pretty much covers the substance of the song. }}

wow if the Tories couldn't get more brutish, MP Mark Field drags a passive and non-violent female climate protester out of the Mansion House Speech by her NECK!, after smashing her into a stone column. Thankfully he is now suspended, I hope he is prosecuted for common assault. ffs his defence is he thought she was a terrorist, but he knew they were climate protestors because they said so, and had it written on their dresses. what the actual fuq.

Mrs Figg wrote:Thankfully he is now suspended, I hope he is prosecuted for common assault.

Suspension seems totally appropriate to me, but I'm afraid that in this crazy partisan world publicity like this may only increase his popularity for some people...

{{ The results of the yougove poll of Conservative party membership n what they see as worth risking to get Brexit makes for astonishing reading.

63% say Scotland leaving the UK is a price worth paying.
61% say significant damage to the economy is a price worth paying.
59% say N Ireland leaving the UK is a price worth paying for Brexit.

and perhaps even more astonishingly 54% say that its worth getting Brexit even if leads to the end of the Conservative Party itself!

In fact the only time the Tory membership sees anything which is worse than Brexit its the prospect of Corbyn being PM. With only 39% saying Brexit would be worth it even if Corbyn became PM as a result of it.

Frightening to think these narrow minded, little Englanders are in charge of selecting our next PM. Democracy in action folks!

Also makes it hard to argue that England views Scotland and NI as equal partners in the Union when the membership of the ruling UNIONIST party are happy to sacrifice us both to get what they want! }}