In recent weeks I've spent a few hours watching the debates in Britain's House of Commons on the Guardian's YouTube channel. Having watched the fare dished up in Canada's Parliament, it's easy to see how Westminster was named the "mother of all parliaments."
I have been deeply impressed watching the oratory of Theresa May, Boris Johnson and others. Corbyn, not so much. However my favourite parliamentarian, hands down, is the current Speaker, John Bercow. When it comes to flare I've never seen his like. He's definitely worth the price of admission.
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And yet:
http://chrisgreybrexitblog.blogspot.com/2019/01/a-dangerous-political-void.html?m=1
“Unless something radical changes – and it may, precisely because of the desperate plight we are now in - then it seems highly likely that Britain will leave the EU with no deal. That will mean that in ten weeks’ time we will face severe economic and social dislocation, with the probability of food and medicine shortages, troops on the street, disruptions to travel and much else.
It would be an outcome desired by only a tiny minority of grossly irresponsible ideologues in parliament and amongst the public. The division, crisis and extremism it would unleash make that feared were there to be another referendum, or even a revocation of Article 50 without a vote, seem like a walk in the park. ”
"Out, out, brief candle! Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more: it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing." Macbeth Quote (Act V, Scene V).
Yes, Speaker, John Bercow is top rate. Have we ever had a competent Speaker in Canada's Parliament? The job seems to go to someone who would otherwise be a back bencher.
I regularly listen to BBC and a talk radio (LBC London). What comes through is that Theresa May and crew are not being forthright in the so called negotiations. She has her lines which she will not cross but it is across those lines that Corbyn's bunch insist that they want changes. As you know, Brexit resulted from Cameron's political stunt, the Referendum. The Tories never imagined that the leave side would win. Theresa May was always against Brexit. She is trying to convince everyone that her deal will take England out of the EU while cherry picking the best of what membership offered. I think she is brandishing smoke and mirrors.
I agree, Toby, May is boxed in and out of options. What possible incentive might the Euros have to offer her a better deal at this point?
Jay, it's a hell of a mess. Cameron, like Trump, is busy trying to dodge responsibility for the mess he created. May is squirming about but to what end is unclear. Her own caucus is fractured. Westminster has gone catatonic.
8 weeks to go and the Brexiteers are still chasing fantasy Brexits.
Almost two years utterly wasted in barking at the EU and trying to appease the Nazi’s again.
At least Chamberlain’s capitulation brought Britain 2 years time,
Maybe they should have put someone who actually knew anything about the EU in charge.
There are times I find it almost impossible to believe that Cameron/May's Conservatives botched this so miserably.
Why?
These are the Children of the Children if the Laffer Curve, who have spent their whole lives drinking the koolaide proffered by the Daily Mail, the Grope and Flail, the Torygraph. They lost the ability to govern, or build anything, a generation ago. Look at the Queen E class carriers, 2 years in service, built for aircraft Britain no longer has and replacement aircraft Britain can’t afford to buy, ( that are still in the prototype stage).
Of course they were going to screw up badly.
there is a pill for that? how about a joint for that, its legal now or a shot of booze for that. Anything.
Boris is a bore, Corbin, similar, May is rather amazing, she just keeps on going and going.
The British Speaker is down right amazing. He could have his own t.v. show. Speakers all over the world could take a lesson from him. He is a riot
Hi, EAF. I found the debate on the motion to approve the Brexit deal riveting although it was primarily Theresa May and Boris Johnson, leaders in the same party at each other's throat. Bercow was brilliant and he made it so easy to spend a couple of hours listening to the debate. I disagree with May, and Johnson for that matter, but their oratorical skills were masterful.
You mean like that fellow who's been a member of the EU parliament for the past two decades? What's his name again? Ah, yes, Nigel Farage!
Cap
Cap,
One would have thought that having spent time elected to the EU Parliament that Nigel would have learned something, anything about the EU,
But nope.
Said it before and I'll say it again.
My initial upbringing in England involved going to a private school back in the 1950s. Some kids were quite capable of standing up and lying on the run to avoid a caning for being despicable little rascals. Didn't mean they did very well at academic pursuits, though, even if it honed their quick thinking.
Of modern politicians, Blair stands out as the liar who could dream up an excuse after beginning a sentence and before finishing it. Just by his body language, I recognized the liars of my youth.
The oratorical chops of Johnson and May disguise not particularly deep thinking. Corbyn has a brain, even if he is not flashy. Even I, when we came to Canada was regarded as being well able to express myself. My parents found that Canadian kids did not have a good grasp of the language. But as we all found out, that inability has little to do with later success in life, nor of the ability to reason.
The speaker Bercow reminds me of the housemaster in private school herding all the little geniuses about as they opined in haughty clear tones. The MPs are like children and Bercow treats them appropriately!
Off topic Rant:
Jr. finally grew some balls.
As I mentioned when this blew up .... Breaking sanctions on Iran? Never should have executed the arrest in the 1st place.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/mccallum-meng-huawei-china-1.4989235
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