A momentous month that will put a stake in the
ground of this great country’s history for centuries as we move forward
independent of the EU. A new chapter that will shape this island for
generations to come when the people and MPs held hands and took control of
their future. A proud moment for all in the UK.
What’s that? Oh, hang on a second. Say that
again. We didn’t leave on 29th March? Ah……
Here’s how March 2019 will be remembered……
Political
Paralysis
You would be forgiven for thinking that MPs
represent the demands, needs and wishes of the constituencies they serve. However,
if you ever want to understand how irrelevant this fanciful idea is, just
follow the voting habits of these MPs with anything to do with Brexit.
Regardless of your view on the rights / wrongs
of Brexit, the fact remains the referendum highlighted that the ‘will of the
people’ at that time was to leave the EU. But the backdrop in delivering this
is messy. Very Messy.
75% of MPs want the UK to remain in the EU.
The other 27 countries that make up the EU want
the UK to remain in the EU.
Given this, is it any wonder that after 2½
years there is no majority agreement to the terms of the withdrawal. MPs have
rejected no Brexit, rejected leaving without a deal and rejected the negotiated
withdrawal agreement. So, what exactly do MPs want?
The bizarre thing is, the withdrawal agreement
that has been rejected three times only contains details on the financial
settlement with the EU, guarantees about the rights of EU / UK citizens and the
Northern Ireland border. That’s it. The majority of the leaving details will be
thrashed out during the ‘transition period’ until the end of 2020.
Whether MPs want it or not, they have probably created
a lengthy delay in leaving the EU and significantly more uncertainty for all on
the shape of the UK’s future. Ultimately all options are on the table – it
would take a fool to bet again on Article 50 being revoked, another General
Election or a further referendum. Such is the uncertainty, I wouldn’t bet
against Donald Trump being the next Prime Minister. Farcical.
Our political system is broken and our MPs have
failed us. It really is that simple. It is beneath the dignity of this country
to have two main political parties so utterly without talent, intellect,
agreement or vision debating something as mind-bogglingly complex and dangerous
as Brexit.
They say countries get the politicians they
deserve……I’m struggling to understand what the hell we have done to deserve
this!
Just for the record……12th April is
the new date we crash out unless something new is negotiated. Apparently.
Definitely maybe. Kind of.
Cameron Calling
Appearing from nowhere like an arsonist who
burned down your house offering to sell you a fire alarm……David Cameron has
entered left stage over the last few weeks.
Offering the following ‘top tips’ on Brexit……“There
are four groups in Parliament - people who want the PM's deal, people who want
no deal, people who want a second referendum and people who want a softer
Brexit. The Government needs to 'work together' and 'compromise' to get a deal.”
Unfortunately, he forgot the fifth
group……people who want no Brexit at all. A bit like him.
Springless
Statement
In amongst all of the Brexit shenanigans, the
Chancellor Philip Hammond delivered his Spring Statement on the state of the
economy, public coffers, budget assumptions, et al.
I get that it’s an important statement. We need
to be kept informed and to understand the likely direction of travel with the
public finances and the economy. I get it. I really do get it.
But here’s the thing……
The EU is the largest single trading block in
the world and not to have access or to even have negotiated the terms of access
is shambolic. How can UK businesses and the economy function when it doesn’t
have negotiated rules to trade and have access to the EU?
Which makes the financial statements the
Chancellor made based on assumptions that do not consider all of the Brexit (or
not) scenarios pretty worthless.
I am sorry Mr Hammond but your statement was like
a fork salesman appearing when it's raining soup. Pointless.
Calamitous
Chris
I despair. Just when you thought political
incompetence had hit a new high, the next story emerges. Westminster is the
gift that keeps on giving……and not in a good way.
You may remember the story of the Transport
Secretary Chris Grayling awarding Seaborne a £13.8 million contract to provide
extra ferry services in the event of a no-deal Brexit…..even though the company
didn’t own a single ferry or had ever run a ferry service.
Well, the Government has now made an out of
court settlement to Eurotunnel of £33 million of our money as they successfully
argued that the contracts were handed out in a "secretive" way.
Eurotunnel argued it would have been a strong contender for a contract, having
run a ferry service as recently as 2015.
The Government was essentially ‘held over a
barrel’ by Eurotunnel and was left with little choice but to settle. Or I guess
they had the choice to follow a competent procurement process in the first
place and save £33 million as a result. Just a thought.
Chris Grayling is still Transport Minister in
case you were wondering.
Top Trump
The Mueller Report to determine if there was a Trump-Russia
conspiracy during the presidential campaign was finalised……no evidence was
found.
“The Special Counsel did not find that the
Trump Campaign or anyone associated with it, conspired or coordinated with the
Russian Government in these efforts, despite multiple offers from
Russian-affiliated individuals to assist the Trump Campaign.”
Trump cleared then. For now. While the report
does not conclude that the President committed a crime it also does not exonerate
him either.
Given the vast number of convictions of Trumps
inner circle for wide ranging crimes that were unearthed during the
investigation, it was no surprise that The Trump declined a smug lap of honour.
There are too many other investigations into The Trump still to be finalised
before we see that.
Imagine the joyless, empty and anxious feeling
I got when I realised we are only 18 months from his potential re-election for
a second term. Terrific.
March’s Biggest Loser……Option 1 – Theresa
May
Away from Brexit, knife crime is a serious
issue that is escalating in the UK and has been further heightened by recent
fatal episodes.
When questioned if the fall in police numbers
had contributed to the rise in knife crime, Theresa May responded: “If you look
at the figures, what you see is that there's no direct correlation between
certain crimes and police numbers.”
Fair enough then……let’s test this by removing
all police protection for politicians!
March’s Biggest Loser……Option 2 – The
Trump
According to the Washington Post, Donald Trump
has made 9,014 false or misleading claims in nearly 800 days whilst President.
The Trump averaged nearly 6 false or misleading
claims a day in his first year in office. He hit nearly 17 a day in his second
year. So far in 2019, he’s averaging nearly 22 claims a day.
And that is the most important man in world
politics, economics and power.
March’s Biggest Loser……Option 3 – Nigel
Farage
Like an annoying Jack Russell at your heels,
Nigel Farage caused enough of a nuisance to get the main political parties to
add the EU referendum to their General Election manifestos in 2016. He started
it and he caused it.
Rearing his head again in the build up to the previous
29th March Brexit date, he arranged a march from the North East to
Parliament proclaiming……“Before 2016, I promised to cause an earthquake in
British politics. This time, I will attempt a revolution. It will be democratic
and peaceful.”
The ‘epic protest march’ saw 68 people turn
up……resembling a group of ramblers attempting to prove that a public footpath
is still a viable right of way.
Quite the revolution!
And Finally……
The UK has just passed the £5 billion spend mark
on the HS2 train project……and we haven't laid a single metre of track.
Meanwhile in China, they have built a 59 storey skyscraper in 30 days. A little
perspective for you!
At risk of sounding repetitive…… Chris Grayling is still
Transport Minister.
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