Be Excellent To Each Other

More likely than to enter a formal coalition, particularly if those entering government were aware that they had only main task to achieve (pause or revoke Brexit). These aren't normal times, and the existing extent of cross-party working suggests that such an agreement would be possible.

I really hope you're right, and the current situation is indeed anything but normal. Whatever that means. It certainly means PM Boris as of today, everyone knew it was coming but I'd been hoping it was all a dream. A bad one. Nightmare. Aaaargh!
As an expat I tend to limit the extent to which I stick my big nose in when it comes to UK politics. After all, we're shielded from it over here, but my family and friends are not. I've done my bit for Indy, talked my relatives into voting Yes in 2014 (of course, they might have just told me that to shut me up), joined the you-know-what and donated to the Dug etc. My personal take on the situation is that something has to happen now, something other than begging for "permission", but I have no idea what the clever strategy is. It just feels like we're at the last chance saloon, and if it can't be done now, then when?

I'm taking comfort form the fact that the day will come when Mr Johnson leaves office as a despised failure. All being well, that should come sooner rather than later.

There's a caveat that if he lives up to his reputation as a serial liar and betrayer, sees the way the wind is blowing, and plumps for "revoke" then he'll be seen as having one heck of a redemention ark. But I think there are safer bets.

Where in Germany are you? Love the country; really should head back there someday.

Yeah, you should, lots of options over here. As I mentioned to Zoidberg, we're in Freiburg, not a big city or anything (my wife just said it's a bit like Cambridge, dunno, never been there, I'm more familiar with Coatbridge) but well worth a look. Plus it's relatively close to the Swiss and French borders, so plenty to see and you're also more than welcome to drop by if it's on your way, one of us is bound to be around. Or if you need any tips, just ask.

The one thing that seems 100% certain about Johnson is he'll always act in his own interests. What I can I can take comfort in is the thought that he is uniquely capable of fucking things up, so maybe he's a blessing in disguise? (a very good disguise).

Cologne is my favourite place in the world, I think.

Glad you spelled that correctly

My lasting memory Cologne was the sheer volume of wasps around every bin.

I didn't, it's Köln

Ham knuckle and potatoes was something I approved greatly of.

A "barrel" being an unit of beer measurement you can order at the bar was something I approved greatly of.

I don't believe it (read that with a Victor Meldrew voice), Grim.. beat me to the smart-arse response AND found the Umlaut on a UK keyboard...bastard!

Phones are exceedingly helpful for umlauts

I've been to Freiburg! Some beautiful mountains and a narrow gauge (possibly) railway, a mountain lake with an amusing name and cool trams! Also an Irish pub. Visited a friend there in my twenties. Played my first euro-boardgame Thurm und Taxis, about the 18th century Barvarian postal service.

I doubt my thoughts on Johnson and his *cough* incredible mandate need mentioning, so I just wanted to chime in with cheery recollection.

You're very welcome Pete, not so sure about the railway, been here for years, should have noticed it by now. The amusing name you're thinking of might be the Titisee. There's definitely an Irish pub in the middle of town, can't remember the name, but I don't drink these days.

That was a lovely post, btw, much appreciated by both of us. Was the "incredible mandate" a euphmism for...oh, you know

Are all the mods smartypants these days. And am I allowed to say that? What do you mean "stand up next to ze wall" Surely y...

I just remember alt+0246. The only other one I know by heart is alt+0179 (and - by extension - 0178) so I can correctly write Alien³.

Can someone have this guy arrested, he's clearly insane?

I always found alt+171 handy for ½

https://twitter.com/Steven_Swinford/sta ... 9123005442

The whole set up of No 10 and the top team appears to be about getting the Vote Leave gang back together to deliver Brexit

Hence Cummings in No 10, Gove as CDL, Raab as foreign sec, Priti Patel as Home Secretary

— Steven Swinford (@Steven_Swinford) July 24, 2019

Fucking hell.

I'll probably get into trouble now, but what the hell.

Cummings! Disgraced-by-the-House-of-Commons Dominic Cummings! Oh god.

Suddenly the out-of-schedule electoral roll survey my local authority sent round last week makes sense. Election September or November?

My mechanical memory for these things, honed during A-levels, only extends as far as keyboards with numberpads.

I've just remembered that I didn't actually finish this book. I should probably make amends, but perhaps omit the final chapter. Still, I'd forgotten about old Goderich. By the sounds of it, a more honorable man than Mr Johnson.

UK currently free-wheeling.

Let's just enjoy this moment.

I hate the new regeneration. Bring back the previous one!

Good luck with that, Mr Johnson.

"... and yet without that anti-democratic backstop" what?

It's like he just stopped mid-sentence.

He also doesn't understand that the backstop is there just in case an arrangement can't be made. As someone who I don't remember once said: "Useless. Cretinous. Moron".

Just switched over to R4 and heard the newsreader say "Prime Minister Boris Johnson". I suppose I need to get used to this, quick.

Giphy "reality sucks":
https://media1.giphy.com/media/iDTl0Y9wxFPSbSW1Ur/giphy-loop.mp4

Don't forget those pesky anti-democratic elections, in case one of those happens. And those anti-democrtic voters, damn them.

Anyone willing to take a bet on "FAKE NEWS!" coming into fashion in the next week or two?

I was surprised to see Jo Johnson in the Cabinet. So much for the great anti-Brexit hero of last winter.

No Rory. Is he the only candidate that didn't get a post?

He doesn't come across as a fan of Mr Johnson in the interviews I've heard.

To be honest, were it not for Brexit and in a different dimension, I'd want him in government or as Tory leader. Comes across as very thoughtful, and his willingness to admit errors and failings is refreshing.

Hunt

of course, just shows how memorable he is!

His 'full disclosure' interview with James O'Brien is superb. He's far too sane, intelligent, and thoughtful to be leader or in the cabinet though, unfortunately.

He also explicitly ruled himself out of serving in a Johnson cabinet because he won't advocate for the possibility of No Deal.

It's a great interview, I respectfully recommend taking the time to listen to it.

https://www.lbc.co.uk/radio/podcasts/ja ... interview/

EDIT - They are also available as Podcasts, just search for 'Full Disclosure' in your podcast application of choice.

Hunt got a post, Defence, but turned it down.

Can't blame him (not for that, at least). Must really sting coming in second to Boris

It’s because he wanted to stay as foreign sec and Johnson said no.

Don't see that that contradicts anything I wrote. And look at the current appointments, much scarier than Hunt. Probably.

Astute analysis of Johnson's possible plan.

https://twitter.com/syrpis/status/1154286327699005440

This may well be nonsense (it was ever thus...); but PM Johnson seems to have a plan. It gives me no pleasure to say this, but it will be difficult to stop. 1/

— Phil Syrpis (@syrpis) July 25, 2019

?

Labour will fuck up any chance of remaining in the UK, by non-commitally kinda going for the remainers in an unclear and undefined way, which will split the remain vote between labour and libdem, giving BJ the GE win.

1. Wear a different cologne.

2. Don't hang around waste bins.

Shot of the week in the Friday pub is 'Prime Sinister':

Creme de la Cassis, Kahluna, and Jameson's.

£2 (no, really).

I cannot imagine that tasting at all good.

The real news regarding the result of last night's Brecon by-election is that the Saviour of the Human Race came fifth.

...The Pink Lady?

She invented medicinal compounds. Most efficacious in every way.

And still beat UKIP!

So, Johnson’s majority is now 1, even including the DUP.

There’s got to be someone really tempted to defect to the Lib Dem’s or to go independent...

If Mr Johnson goes for an early election, there's a very short window when Parliament returns to actually do it before 31st October. I'm not entirely certain he could muster the requisite 2/3rds majority to do so. Labour might go along with it, but others such as The-Party-That-Formerly-Known-as-ChangeUK-That-Was-Formerly-Known-As-The-Independent-Group or the scattering of non-aligned ex-Tories would be happy to vote themselves out of a job.

More likely would be a vote of confidence, which, if lost, gives a fortnight of mayhem before ending a Parliament. A national government might be possible in such a circumstance, but only if a suitable leader could be found. If nothing is resolved and Parliament dissolves itself, we might find ourselves falling out of the EU during an election campaign.

I'm also not entirely sure if the reporting requirements under the recent Northern Ireland Act take precedence over the dissolution procedures under the Fixed Term Act.

I'd wish everyone a good summer but I'm looking at the exchange rate and weeping.