Bollocks to Brexit

[Joan]

Things are crumbling. Is this good, or bad?

We won't know until historians write the history of World War III.

You can tell the Brexit rhetoric is junk. No one is holdings those views now.

Yup. I'm in a black place.

[Regulator]

My new EU flags arrived today. I'm going to knock up a flagpole...

[Iris]

My new EU flags arrived today. I'm going to knock up a flagpole...

I look forward to a picture of the happy parents in due course.

[Joan]

Government responded:

This Government will not revoke Article 50. We will honour the result of the 2016 referendum and work with Parliament to deliver a deal that ensures we leave the European Union.

It remains the Government’s firm policy not to revoke Article 50. We will honour the outcome of the 2016 referendum and work to deliver an exit which benefits everyone, whether they voted to Leave or to Remain.

Revoking Article 50, and thereby remaining in the European Union, would undermine both our democracy and the trust that millions of voters have placed in Government.

The Government acknowledges the considerable number of people who have signed this petition. However, close to three quarters of the electorate took part in the 2016 referendum, trusting that the result would be respected. This Government wrote to every household prior to the referendum, promising that the outcome of the referendum would be implemented. 17.4 million people then voted to leave the European Union, providing the biggest democratic mandate for any course of action ever directed at UK Government.

British people cast their votes once again in the 2017 General Election where over 80% of those who voted, voted for parties, including the Opposition, who committed in their manifestos to upholding the result of the referendum.

This Government stands by this commitment.

Revoking Article 50 would break the promises made by Government to the British people, disrespect the clear instruction from a democratic vote, and in turn, reduce confidence in our democracy. As the Prime Minister has said, failing to deliver Brexit would cause “potentially irreparable damage to public trust”, and it is imperative that people can trust their Government to respect their votes and deliver the best outcome for them.

Department for Exiting the European Union.

[Joan]

Tl;dr?

Summary: fuck you.

[Dunckel]

I had the e-mail earlier, the standard response, just like you get the standard response when you contact an MP; we acknowldge your interaction, but it will make no difference to our views.

Except of course, in this case, six million (almost) signing a petition, and a million marching is difficult to ignore when so many MPs are struggling to make sure they are on the right side of history when a decision is finally made. The indicative votes are interesting (as discussed on Newsnight), they give MPs a chance to express their real views and give themselves cover if the whole Brexit outcome is a disaster.

[Dunckel]

Oh look, another e-mail, so they are going to debate the petition after all.

[Rocky]

1 April........there must be a joke somewhere there

[Planetary Gear]

We can but hope. I've just heard JRM on the radio, talking about "Remainiacs" and claiming that only 300 000 were on the People's Vote march. He sounds a bit rattled, although that could be motivated perception on my part.

[Rutabaga]

He actually said, "Half a loaf is better than no bread." The cheek of that, from someone who's almost certainly never had to manage on half a loaf. He can probably see the potential personal profits of a crash-out gradually leaking away.

[Sonic Budgie]

We can but hope. I've just heard JRM on the radio, talking about "Remainiacs" and claiming that only 300 000 were on the People's Vote march. He sounds a bit rattled, although that could be motivated perception on my part.

This from fullfact, they've been absolutely slated for the methods they've used to estimate, but right or wrong, it's out there now.

[Sonic Budgie]

[Greg]

Oh he is naughty, but I like him.

[Rutabaga]

Brilliant - they won't renegotiate anything now. As they have repeatedly said.

[Regulator]

Donald Tusk is kind of "yeah... I would probably would... I bet he's quite kinky".