Brexit: Supreme Court says Parliament must give Article 50 go-ahead

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-38720320

Not that it will make any difference to the end result.
However I am puzzled as to why the Government ever wanted to go down the non democratic 'Royal Prerogative' route in the first place.
It rather strikes the note that Brexit will be whatever May & her hangers on want it to be - irrespective of what might be best for Britain.

The crucial part of the entire decision is probably that only the Parliament in Westminster needs to approve the move towards enacting Article 50.
If the Scottish, Irish & Welsh Assemblies had also needed to have ratified the move then that would have really set the cat amongst the pigeons..

"The crucial part of the entire decision is probably that only the Parliament in Westminster needs to approve the move towards enacting Article 50"--BH

Doesn't it go to the other unelected mob after that---The Lords

It is extremely unlikely that the Lords would wish to block the enactment of article 50.
As a non-elected chamber to attempt to stop the result of a National Referendum would be suicidal to their remaining as they are.

If, in a sudden rush towards suicide, they did block the passage of the Bill then May could undoubtedly still introduce the Bill into law under the 1911 Parliament Act as a great deal of the exiting from the EU will be of a financial nature..

Sorry about the faulty link in my last post. Try this. It's the same but the other was'nt fully entered onto the page.
https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives ... -expelled/

Why Has Israeli Spy Shai Masot Not Been Expelled? 193
8 Jan, 2017 in Uncategorized by craig

There is no starker proof of the golden chains in which Israel has entangled the British political class, than the incredible fact that “diplomat” Shai Masot has not been expelled for secretly conspiring to influence British politics by attacking Britain’s Deputy Foreign Minister, suggesting that he might be brought down by “a little scandal”. It is incredible by any normal standards of diplomatic behaviour that immediate action was not taken against Masot for actions which when revealed any professional diplomat would normally expect to result in being “PNG’d” – declared persona non grata.

Obama has just expelled 35 Russian diplomats for precisely the same offence, with the exception that in the Russian case there is absolutely zero hard evidence, whereas in the Masot case there is irrefutable evidence on which to act.

https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives ... -expelled/

It would appear that more good than harm has come out of the Supreme Court ruling - originally David Davis (the Brexit Minister) had ruled a White Paper out..

Brexit: Theresa May promises White Paper on EU exit plan

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-38737967

A White Paper is a non binding document that clearly sets out what the Government plan to do about a situation or how they intend to approach a problem.

As Brexit will probably have an element of negotiation it will not be what definitely will happen but at least it will give the public a better idea of what Britain will look like after the break & allow some impacted companies to make plans of their own..

It will also, maybe to some individual's detriment , give a measure of just how successful any negotiations are..

It rather strikes the note that Brexit will be whatever May & her hangers on want it to be - irrespective of what might be best for Britain.
Or Dennis Skinners, or Tony Blairs or Corbyns.???? Who's vision would you rather see.

Any vision or decision made by Tony Blair is certainly bound to be a real winner. =D>

parrot wrote:

parrot wrote:Coups and Thailand go together like sticky rice and papaya salad. Every time there is one, I try to visualize someone like Colin Powell riding atop a Bradley tank, crashing the White House gates, and announcing 'I'm in charge now". Try as I may, I never get a clear high definition picture of the event in my mind.
Now that the Brexit folks have in effect staged their own coup.......a much more modern and potentially more traumatic style of coup......and Donald Trump sitting in the wings, I'll have to reexamine my idea of a coup in the US. I'd like to think it'll never happen......but then, I never expected the vote in the UK to turn out as it did........and a lot of very intelligent people in the US never expected Trump to get this far.

Well, I never thought I'd say it, but all of a sudden, the idea of someone like a more modern Colin Powell riding atop a Bradley tank, crashing the White House gates, doesn't seem so farfetched. I doubt anyone with any historical reference knows what's really in store in DC these days. Certainly interesting times ahead!

And the dream continues to unfold:
Bannon Seizes a Security Role From Generals
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/29/us/s ... v=top-news

Parrot's dreaming about a colon pal. You rectum he'll find one? :-& :-"

Well, as a result of the legal appeals the Government have produced their White Paper on what their aims are in the Brexit negotiations.
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-38836906

As could only be expected, given that it is the framework for negotiations, it is a bit light on details. It does contain enough in the way of aims to show if the end product can be classified as a success or failure though.

All in all it would appear to want to make the best (for Great Britain) out of the Brexit situation.
How the ex-partners in the EU will view it is another matter. Wanting all of the benefits ++ with none of the costs, comes to mind!!

It sets out the themes of the government's goals for its negotiations with the EU, as announced by Prime Minister Theresa May last month.

These include:

Trade: The UK will withdraw from the single market and seek a new customs arrangement and a free trade agreement with the EU.
Immigration: A new system to control EU migration will be introduced, and could be phased in to give businesses time to prepare. The new system will be designed to help fill skills shortages and welcome "genuine" students.
Expats: The government wants to secure an agreement with European countries "at the earliest opportunity" on the rights of EU nationals in the UK and Britons living in Europe.
Sovereignty: Britain will leave the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice but seek to set up separate resolution mechanisms for things like trade disputes.
Border: Aiming for "as seamless and frictionless a border as possible between Northern Ireland and Ireland."
Devolution: Giving more powers to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland as decision-making is brought back to the UK.

Looks like the House of Lords is going to kick a bit of sand in Theresa's face over Brexit.
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-39123604

It won't make much difference at the end of the day, just a bit of ping pong.

I do somewhat wonder that they are taking a stance on EU members currently living in the UK though.
It seems to me that the negotiators will need to use them as a bargaining tool in establishing the rights of UK citizens living in Europe. Taking that chip off the table before the negotiations have even started seems like very poor strategy.
The EU negotiators would undoubtedly be seeking concessions somewhere else for UK citizen rights if the amendment does become part of the Act of Parliament.

Ah, i think it is a case of controlling the moral high ground. Currently, May's refusal to rule out anything comes across as mean, and plays into EU's anti-Brexit propaganda. All it needs is the proviso that this assumes UK citizens who already live in Europe get equal treatment. NOW the EU will come across as the mean one if they do not do so.

So where do we stand on Brexit benefits? 8 months on, the pound is still down 20%, the NHS is still going to be cut, and trade deficit for 2016 rose by 10 billion pounds (due to imports cost more). Still waiting.

I think the budget later this month will be fun

The Lords give the Government a second defeat over the Brexit bill.

Brexit: Government suffers second defeat in Lords

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-39200658

This time over the more damaging idea that Parliament should have a 'meaningful' vote over the Brexit terms once the negotiations are over..

The idea that the result of the negotiations are going to satisfy anyone looking at the end result who has not been involved in the actual negotiation seems completely naive to me..
The idea that after 2 years of negotiation & reaching agreement then one party can want to return to the table for another go is quite hilarious..

This is starting to look like a complete farce before the Government team even meet their opponents.

Its just a shame we cant have a "Dallas style scenario" where Bobby Ewing is in the shower and its discovered the last year was just a bad dream and none of the events actually happened !

Starring,David Cameron as Bobby Ewing.
Starring,Melania Trump as Pam Ewing.

Just an excuse to show Mrs Trumps assets again,really,readers !

I will post this here as I feel that it must be related..

May to seek snap election for 8 June

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-39629603

It seems to me a strange time to hold one & on what 'grounds'.
The Tories are way ahead in the polls to Labour, but they sure as hell won't get any seats in Scotland & are possibly at risk of a Lib-Dem come back as well..

Before she handed in the Brexit letter I could see the need, now, exactly what will the 'issues' be, or does that actually not matter any more..??

I think she is trying to get a stronger mandate from the people and overcome the opposition & obstacles that Labour and the Lib Dems will otherwise bring into play along the way of the Brexit negotiations and the now required final vote (in parliament).

If she gets a landslide majority, then she will have the power, it will be very clear that the people have spoken, and it will have put any dissenters (from her own or other parties and from the unelected House of Lords) firmly in their places, (if they still have places/"seats" after the General Election); and she can play the negotiations her way, - hard or soft Brexit.

Labour under Corbin are currently weak and disorganised, so I suppose she is seeking to capitalise on that opportunity, and maybe even get the "Wicked Witch" (Nicola Sturgeon) off her back.

I just hope it doesn't go wrong!

arjay wrote:I think she is trying to get a stronger mandate from the people and overcome the opposition & obstacles that Labour and the Lib Dems will otherwise bring into play along the way of the Brexit negotiations and the now required final vote (in parliament).

If she gets a landslide majority, then she will have the power, it will be very clear that the people have spoken, and it will have put any dissenters (from her own or other parties and from the unelected House of Lords) firmly in their places, (if they still have places/"seats" after the General Election); and she can play the negotiations her way, - hard or soft Brexit.

Labour under Corbin are currently weak and disorganised, so I suppose she is seeking to capitalise on that opportunity, and maybe even get the "Wicked Witch" (Nicola Sturgeon) off her back.

I just hope it doesn't go wrong!

That just about sums it up, a gamble but if she wins and I am pretty sure she will it will be the end of Corbyn and more rangling in "his" party, and over the border voters will have a chance to get rid of the Sturgeon woman whose only concern is not the countries welfare but her own attempt to be someone. A huge number don't want separation from the UK and they now know a vote for her is a vote for independence which they don't want .They will see this as a referendum issue and vote accordingly.Two birds with one stone and they know it .Go Theresa, a 100+ majority please , it will help all us poor pensioners with a better exchange rate .

Yes,I think Theresa May wants a clear mandate as she has never won a General Election and is just an elected leader for the Tories.
Labour are an absolute shambles and will be blown out of the water.It would be nice if the Scots made Nicola Sturgeons position untenable,too.
The Lib-Dems could well increase their vote but that would be more about disillusioned Labour and Tory voters voting for them.Its certainly not anything to do with the amazing policies they have.

Pound soars and FTSE 100 tumbles after election announcement
4 hours ago BBC

The pound rose strongly and share prices in London fell sharply after Theresa May announced plans to call a general election on 8 June.
Sterling had fallen before the statement, but it quickly recovered following Mrs May's announcement.
The pound charged 2.2% higher at $1.2846 and rose 1.4% against the euro to 1.1968 euros.
On the stock market, the benchmark FTSE 100 share index fell 180 points, or 2.5%, to 7,148.
That left the blue-chip index at its lowest level for nearly 10 weeks and meant the FTSE 100 was just 0.2% higher than at the start of the year.
The FTSE 100 had already been lower ahead of Mrs May's announcement, with shares in mining companies suffering some of the biggest falls due to lower iron ore prices.
But the increase in the pound hit the FTSE down further as many of the companies listed on the index make most of their revenues abroad.
A stronger pound cuts the value of these revenues when they are converted back into sterling, meaning lower profits.

Laith Khalaf of Hargreaves Lansdown, said: "Currency markets have roared their approval for a snap UK election, with the pound enjoying strong gains against the dollar and the euro.
"The fall in the stock market is not a negative response to the UK election per se, rather it is a knock-on effect of a surging pound, combined with price falls in some key commodity markets, all of which has taken its toll on the heavyweights of the FTSE 100 index."
The rise in sterling took it to its highest point for 10 weeks, although the pound still remains well below levels seen before the UK's Brexit vote last June.
One of Europe's largest investment banks, Deutsche Bank, said the news of the forthcoming UK election meant it would not be so downbeat about the outlook for the UK and its currency.
"It makes the deadline to deliver a 'clean' Brexit without a lengthy transitional arrangement after 2019 far less pressing given that no general election will be due the year after," its analysts said.

Gosh,phrases like "surging pound" and "pound soars"........Its 44.07 Thai baht to the pound this morning......I might be able to afford a chicken steak in Santa Fe this lunchtime now.....still some way to go to my "break even" target of 70,though ! :-"

May will undoubtedly win big because the only Brexit opposition are the Liberal democrats, Remainers have a Hobson's choice there. Labour will loose a LOT of seats as no real position on Brexit but Liberals could get as many as 30.
Just coincidence? But a few hours after May's announcement a report was released that 27 Conservative MP's are being formally investigated for electoral expenses fraud in 2015. If they had to stand down the Conservative majority would have been lost. How to bury bad news and profit from it!