Scrutable

I'm sure that having said it will do that, the UK will do what it said, being entirely honest and trustworthy.

Johnson and von der Leyen to have dinner tomorrow evening.
https://twitter.com/peston/status/13363 ... 03584?s=21

Looks more like damage limitation than a choreographed photo opportunity for an announcement that they have reached an agreement. If there was to be serious top level negotiations on Wednesday then Johnson would be on his way to Brussels this evening.

Both sides will keep talking. But from Thursday onward they’ll need to focus upon no deal preparations.

Barnier has apparently told EU leaders No Deal is now the most likely outcome.

An excellent article
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfr ... are_btn_tw

Recommended.

In a way, it's been interesting seeing Conservatives put principles ahead of the economy for once.

It's just a shame that the principles were b.llsh.t, and some of them have always known that.

Woodchopper wrote: Tue Dec 08, 2020 8:35 pm An excellent article
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfr ... are_btn_tw

Recommended.

That was good, thanks.

One advantage of being in lockdown is that I don't get chatting to strangers in bars, and then when they find out I'm English have to embarrassingly explain that no, I haven't got a f.cking scooby what the government's doing either.

Woodchopper wrote: Tue Dec 08, 2020 8:35 pm An excellent article
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfr ... are_btn_tw

Recommended.

When I opened that article, for a second I thought the photo was of Father Jack.

Boris Johnson: no PM could accept trade terms offered by EU

I hope he has a nice meal tonight, because he's not going to come home with a free trade agreement.

Why do they have these meeting over dinner?

It seems like the sort of thing where you'd want pieces of paper, maybe a computer, to go through stuff in an organised and detailed way, not a sausage hanging out your mouth and gravy all down your tie and a pea on your shoe.

Bird on a Fire wrote: Wed Dec 09, 2020 2:31 pm Why do they have these meeting over dinner?

It seems like the sort of thing where you'd want pieces of paper, maybe a computer, to go through stuff in an organised and detailed way, not a sausage hanging out your mouth and gravy all down your tie and a pea on your shoe.

Because they're not actually going to negotiate anything.

Both want to make an effort to get along, and to be seen to be making an effort. But its a 'lets stay friends' breakup dinner.

Woodchopper wrote: Wed Dec 09, 2020 1:54 pm Boris Johnson: no PM could accept trade terms offered by EU

I hope he has a nice meal tonight, because he's not going to come home with a free trade agreement.

He's also ignoring the fact that many PMs have: Japan, Canada, etc.

Are they going to have some nice fresh sardines, or Scottish langoustine do you reckon?

veravista wrote: Wed Dec 09, 2020 3:32 pm Are they going to have some nice fresh sardines, or Scottish langoustine do you reckon?

Which of course are mostly exported to the EU

And of course it's Johnson who has rejected an extension

https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/amp/en ... c4c35f989/

The spokesperson did however reject suggestions from the European Commission on Tuesday morning that the Brexit trade talks could possibly be extended into January if there is still no agreement.

“We have been clear that the future relationship needs to be concluded by the end of the year and negotiations won’t continue into next year,” he said.

jimbob wrote: Wed Dec 09, 2020 3:40 pm And of course it's Johnson who has rejected an extension

Inevitably. That was Johnson's whole appeal to the maniacs exemplified by the slogan that's this thread's ironic title; he can't magic up a parachute for us as we plummet but by jingo he absolutely promised to put a stop to parliament's sneaky tactic of constantly moving the ground further away.

Woodchopper wrote: Wed Dec 09, 2020 1:54 pm Boris Johnson: no PM could accept trade terms offered by EU

One obvious solution presents itself...

Little waster wrote: Wed Dec 09, 2020 8:19 pm

Woodchopper wrote: Wed Dec 09, 2020 1:54 pm Boris Johnson: no PM could accept trade terms offered by EU

One obvious solution presents itself...

Less facetiousily it's pretty telling that Johnson started the whole catastrophic process with a load of bluster about cake and cards and he ends it whingeing that the only deal offer apparently leaves us the least sovereign country on the planet.

That and a shed load of gas lighting over exactly which deal was supposedly oven ready.

Just seen the pictures on the BBC page - jesus, he's a scruffy c.nt. Can't even wear a mask properly, he's just an embarrassment. A man in a made to measure suit, just measured for someone else.

What a surprise.

another 72 hours have been agreed for negotiations! a triumph for johnson!!

So, Sunday.

The really, final, ultimate, last day. The end of the end. Really. For real.

This Sunday.

So they say.

^^ The revelation according to unsaint Johnson.

Jupiter and Saturn shall conjoin anew.

Will you have a proper Apocalypse or just resignify the fireworks?

Merriam Webster Thesaurus:

Synonyms for apocalypse
calamity, cataclysm, catastrophe, debacle (also débâcle), disaster, tragedy

Words Related to apocalypse
bloodbath, collapse, crash, meltdown
Armageddon, doomsday, end-time
convulsion, paroxysm, upheaval
accident, casualty, fatality
misadventure, mischance, misfortune, mishap
blast, blow, double whammy, one-two (or one-two punch)

Near Antonyms for apocalypse
godsend, manna, windfall

veravista wrote: Wed Dec 09, 2020 10:07 pm Just seen the pictures on the BBC page - jesus, he's a scruffy c.nt. Can't even wear a mask properly, he's just an embarrassment. A man in a made to measure suit, just measured for someone else.

Remember when the former leader of the opposition was mocked by the former PM for having a scruffy tie.

Bird on a Fire wrote: Wed Dec 09, 2020 11:45 pm So, Sunday.

The really, final, ultimate, last day. The end of the end. Really. For real.

This Sunday.

So they say.

I've thought since the autumn of 2016 that the single most likely agreement point for a deal (withdrawal or trade) is 22:59 UK time on the last day of the deadline (in this case, Thursday 31 December), with decreasing likelihood for every point before that. Customs officials will be on the alert to stand by for both eventualities, but when the white smoke goes up the chimney, there will be a few e-mails down the chain of command and everything will go into an "adjustment period" with no paperwork or delays. (Arguably if you're going to have new rules coming in with a dramatic thud, the eve of a public holiday and subsequent weekend is the time to do it. Better than a Tuesday in the middle of July with international holiday traffic on the roads too.)

Thing is, though, the disruption is already happening in the haulage and logistics market because people have to plan for all contingencies. It's telling that nothing much happened with the previous "near no-deal" situations in 2019 because nobody really though there would be a cliff-edge. Now there will be major changes on 1 January even if the UK concedes all the points needed for a trade deal.