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British PM Johnson's own brother quits on eve of Brexit election campaign

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By Elizabeth Piper

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Simon Foston - Or the fact that the Brexit campaign sold the public something it can't deliver.

The failure to deliver Brexit is a direct result of elected representatives who deliberately chose to ignore the results of a democratic vote on whether, or not, to leave the E.U..

0 ( +0 / -0 )

arrestpaulToday  06:41 am JST

A democracy held a popular vote, and many elected representatives refuse to support the results of that vote.

Meanwhile, some people prefer that the conversation be redirected towards U.S. politics.

They may just be pointing out that other people seem to be happy to ignore the result of a popular vote whenever it suits them, while going on about how important it is to respect the result of the 2016 referendum. Double standards do tend to get commented on.

Discussing apples and oranges isn't going to advance the issue of British PM Johnson's own brother quiting on eve of Brexit election campaign.

No, and sanctimonious preaching bout popular votes and the will of the people doesn't really address the Jo Johnson issue either. Or the fact that the Brexit campaign sold the public something it can't deliver.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Simon Foston - You would think that the people who keep harping on about what the majority voted for would be pretty down on the Electoral College, but apparently not.

A democracy held a popular vote, and many elected representatives refuse to support the results of that vote.

Meanwhile, some people prefer that the conversation be redirected towards U.S. politics. Discussing apples and oranges isn't going to advance the issue of British PM Johnson's own brother quiting on eve of Brexit election campaign.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Serrano: So? The majority of voters voted for Brexit.

Serrano's typical hypocrisy here being spread thicker than an American trying Marmite for the first time.

What hypocrisy? I merely stated a fact.

This is interesting -

I guarantee you; it's totally not.

I guarantee you it is. You might learn something from watching it.

Here's another one you oughta watch -

Nigel Farage Reveals He Would Work With Any Party to Deliver No-Deal Brexit | Good Morning Britain

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcaSpXb-Rx4

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

"Bori's progroguement of Parliament"

What's a "progoguement"?

Ah, it's that thing that's worth £100, £200, maybe £300 quid.

Silly moi.

Btw. No deal is DEAD and buried.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Bojo did one thing very wise this week : he bought himself a dog. Dogs are totally loyal and blond to their master's defects. He won't end up alone. Unless the girl he's living with takes the pet when she leaves.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

From your link -

 Lord Justice Burnett said she could immediately appeal because of the important points of law at stake.

Yes.

Still doesn't stop the initial application from being rejected earlier today.

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

Gina Miller's court case against Bori's progroguement of Parliament has just been rejected.

From your link -

 Lord Justice Burnett said she could immediately appeal because of the important points of law at stake.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

What a circus !

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Gina Miller's court case against Bori's progroguement of Parliament has just been rejected.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-49604584

I believe she is starting her 5th court case later next week.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Both can be rather smug, though.

Oh, yes.

I’d say O’Brien can be as partisan as Farage. Nick Ferrari is decent but Majiid Nawaz is my favourite. He can be very funny and sharp with a put-down when he loses it.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

He’s actually pretty good.

Prefer James O'Brien myself. My problem with Farage on LBC is that it's basically a platform for his views as a politician, rather than pundit.

Both can be rather smug, though.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

I would never click on a serrano link again after seeing a demented hairy crackpot in a basement, but I have watched Farage’s show on LBC.

He’s actually pretty good.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

SerranoToday  05:38 pm JST

This is interesting -

Don't say you've started on the "interesting" YouTube clips again. What's "interesting" is that anyone would actually use YouTube to go looking for this kind of stuff, never mind posting links to it. Or is some money passing hands here?

3 ( +4 / -1 )

This is interesting -

I guarantee you; it's totally not.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Seriously, what's up with that?

Interesting how Trump supporters are completely behind a no deal Brexit. But ask them why and they can't/won't expand on it.

What's up with that is a number of factors, including the most dangerous one - the future of the GFA. Don't you think it's better to have a backstop and that a no-deal, rushed Brexit is not in the interests of peace between the two islands?

Don't the slumbering Stormont and, indeed, the Dail have some say in the whole debacle?

The British may have voted yes but it affects more than just the island of Great Britain.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Serrano: So? The majority of voters voted for Brexit.

Serrano's typical hypocrisy here being spread thicker than an American trying Marmite for the first time.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

This is interesting -

Farage: The Brexit Party is ready for a general election

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Yhqu9Zyqfk

-8 ( +1 / -9 )

Not in the traditional Labour strongholds. You are projecting your own manic Brexit feelings onto others here. I’m from the north and I know the hatred of the Tories and conservative ideas, and the sense that Labour is the party of the people.

But if Tories don't stand there, and only Brexit Party candidates do, Labour won't win.

Btw, you've used the word "manic" quite a few times now. It starting to come across as a bit manic.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Brexit remains up in the air more than three years after Britons voted to leave the bloc in a 2016 referendum. 

Seriously, what's up with that?

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

That picture of Boris Johnson standing in front of the police recruits looks a bit Kim Jong Un. I do wonder what kind of image he's trying to project?

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/sep/05/bumbling-boriss-speech-at-police-academy-was-classic-dom

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Now Lying Johnson says he would rather die in a ditch than obey the law and ask for an extension to the EU departure date. Perhaps he can find a ditch on the site of Heathrow's third runway and kill two birds with one stone.

If you haven't seen it, have a look at Kenneth Clarke calmly and methodically taking down Johnson in Parliament the other day (from 8:33:30)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aj_KGFcOz3c

Even Corbyn looks good when compared to Johnson, who comes across as an unhinged, ranting buffoon.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

They're going to lose many constituencies.

Not in the traditional Labour strongholds. You are projecting your own manic Brexit feelings onto others here. I’m from the north and I know the hatred of the Tories and conservative ideas, and the sense that Labour is the party of the people. Farage speaks warmly about a woman who devastated the north of England while the people danced when she died.

You should be more worried about Tory seats flipping to the Lib Dems.

Can you begin to imagine the kind of freak show Farage is going to roll out? 635 hastily assembled members of the Brexit Party?

The authorities are going to need tranquilizer guns.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Labour did well in the north in the last election as always, and well in the Brexit-supporting areas of the north.

In 2017, on a manifesto which promised to respect the result of the referendum and implement it. They have done a complete 180. They're going to lose many constituencies.

Plus, Farage is going to have to find candidates. He’s essentially a one-man show and even he has failed to win a seat. Talk of ‘bongo bongo land’ and shooting poofters isn’t going to wash.

Come on. I know you're pretending to be ignorant, but I know you aren't. The Brexit Party have announced several times that they have already set up 635 candidates for any possible election.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

If it is a choice between Corbyn or Farage, I don't think Corbyn can count on their votes.

Labour did well in the north in the last election as always, and well in the Brexit-supporting areas of the north.

Plus, Farage is going to have to find candidates. He’s essentially a one-man show and even he has failed to win a seat. Talk of ‘bongo bongo land’ and shooting poofters isn’t going to wash.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

There are comments here from Trump supporters who are always preaching about respecting the will of the people, although they're perfectly happy about Trump losing the popular vote but winning the Electoral College.

I see where you are coming from.

I suppose one could argue that in the US, the will of the people is represented through the Electoral Collage in a way which prevents cities with large populations from dominating each election. As America is so large, there needs to be a system which provides a level of proportional representation and that takes into account the size the country.

With the UK, the size of the country is much smaller, with a fairer balance of population spread. Majority votes work out fairer in this situation.

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

Tangerine2000Today  02:01 pm JST

"You would think that the people who keep harping on about what the majority voted for would be pretty down on the Electoral College, but apparently not."

This is news to me. People who support majority votes are against the Electoral Collage.

There are comments here from Trump supporters who are always preaching about respecting the will of the people, although they're perfectly happy about Trump losing the popular vote but winning the Electoral College.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

If the pact goes ahead, it's likely that Tories won't stand in traditional Labour strongholds. You're right, they're toxic, but the Brexit Party aren't. If it is a choice between Corbyn or Farage, I don't think Corbyn can count on their votes.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

Labour is going to lost large swathes of the north of England because of their remain stance.

Don’t get too carried away with that either. The Tory brand is toxic in most of northern England and for good reason.

Johnson with Farage is a very big if. Farage will be trailing a lot of crackpots with him and moderate Tories won’t have it.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

I think we are working with different ideas of ‘useless’ here. My use of ‘useless’ is crap at their jobs regardless of where they stand on Brexit. Yours seems to be MPs who oppose Brexit.

Not going to disagree there. Most of them are completely crap.

Also, it’s probably best not to get carried away with percentage support for the Brexit Party. UKIP had similar figures but got no MPs apart from defectors from the Tories if memory serves.

Farage himself is totally useless at getting elected to parliament.

Well.... I think we cannot ignore the fact the the most recent by-election proved that if the Brexit Party and the Conservatives run against each other, they'll both lose. If (and this is a big if) Farage and Boris form a pact, that would transform the policital landscape. Labour is going to lost large swathes of the north of England because of their remain stance.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Looks like Jo Johnson doesn’t ruffle his hair up for the cameras and buys suits that fit him.

How not charming, not buffoonish and not lovable.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

How many eager people waiting with spades ready to obligingly dig said ditch, one wonders.

Am sure Frank O'Connor has written a story like that!

5 ( +5 / -0 )

So? The majority of voters voted for Brexit.

It's a bit more nuanced than that. NI voted to remain, as did Scotland. In order to ensure a smooth Brexit, the backstop must be protected.

Unless you think the GFA is worth putting in jeopardy?

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Following that a large number of useless MPs will be replaced

There are useless Brexiteer and remainer MPs.

The problem of useless MPs isn’t tied to views on Brexit.

I disagree. I say it's very tied to Brexit. Have a look:

I think we are working with different ideas of ‘useless’ here. My use of ‘useless’ is crap at their jobs regardless of where they stand on Brexit. Yours seems to be MPs who oppose Brexit.

Also, it’s probably best not to get carried away with percentage support for the Brexit Party. UKIP had similar figures but got no MPs apart from defectors from the Tories if memory serves.

Farage himself is totally useless at getting elected to parliament.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

19% - UK leaves with Boris' own idea of what a deal would be

Considering Johnson has no idea and wants a neo-deal, it makes me wonder why this disingenous question was asked in the first place.

This poll must be taking with a pinch of salt and a healthy dose of cynicism.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

If they believed a crash-out was too risky, they shouldn't have voted for it.

Why would they think about the unthinkable?

And Article 50 can still be revoked.

Invalid CSRF

2 ( +3 / -1 )

I find it hard to comprehend why anyone would wish to break apart a successful country, ..... and draw an international frontier across our island

...writes Bozo in the Telegraph this week, failing to see the irony (and his own hypocrisy?).

It's OK to put an international border across the island of Ireland, but not across the island of Great Britain? It's OK to break away from a successful trading partner, but not for Scotland to be independent?

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-49599334

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Article 50 can be revoked any time prior to the actual withdrawal date, by the UK, unilaterally.

Yes. But until it is withdrawn, it is still legally binding.

How many of those 497! MPs, being sensible, rational people, believed that of course an acceptable deal would be agreed with the EU, that would not result in a crash-out? How many even considered the outrageous possibility of a crash-out?

No idea. They still voted for Article 50, though. If they believed a crash-out was too risky, they shouldn't have voted for it.

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

Article 50 is legally binding.

Article 50 can be revoked any time prior to the actual withdrawal date, by the UK, unilaterally.

Article 50, which parliament voted through (497 MPs!)

How many of those 497! MPs, being sensible, rational people, believed that of course an acceptable deal would be agreed with the EU, that would not result in a crash-out? How many even considered the outrageous possibility of a crash-out?

3 ( +4 / -1 )

You would think that the people who keep harping on about what the majority voted for would be pretty down on the Electoral College, but apparently not.

This is news to me. People who support majority votes are against the Electoral Collage.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

Tangerine2000Today  01:41 pm JST

The President isn't decided by the popular vote. Whether you are for or against it, the Electoral College decides.

You would think that the people who keep harping on about what the majority voted for would be pretty down on the Electoral College, but apparently not.

Tangerine2000Today  12:31 pm JST

@Simon Foston

Here's a link to the official YouGov Twitter page with the tweet in question. Yes, they regularly refer to him as Boris, even though he's PM.

Reminds me a bit of the headlines written by his sycophantic chums at The Torygraph but fair enough.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

The EU referendum was designed to be advisory, not binding.

Yes.

But as the referendum resulted in Article 50, which parliament voted through (497 MPs!). Article 50 is legally binding.

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

The EU referendum was designed to be, and was decided by a popular vote

The EU referendum was designed to be advisory, not binding.

PM Bozo say he would rather die in a ditch than ask for an extension.

How many eager people waiting with spades ready to obligingly dig said ditch, one wonders.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

Don't panic chaps,good ol'Boris will restore order with his Sith power.

https://twitter.com/paddypower/status/735461357676572672

3 ( +4 / -1 )

@wtfjapan

So the majority of voters voted for Hillary but she still had to leave!?

The President isn't decided by the popular vote. Whether you are for or against it, the Electoral College decides.

The EU referendum was designed to be, and was decided by a popular vote (i.e. the entire population of the UK who were eligible to vote).

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

So? The majority of voters voted for Brexit.

So the majority of voters voted for Hillary but she still had to leave!?

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Following that a large number of useless MPs will be replaced

There are useless Brexiteer and remainer MPs.

The problem of useless MPs isn’t tied to views on Brexit.

I disagree. I say it's very tied to Brexit. Have a look:

Westminster Voting Intention via @ICMResearch. (Sep 5)

If Election BEFORE 31st Oct:

CON: 37%

LAB: 30%

BXP: 9%

If Election AFTER 31st Oct:

CON: 28%

LAB: 28%

BXP: 18%

You can see 9% switches from CON to BXP. This is because the Tories will have failed to deliver Brexit and will be seen as useless. Also interesting to see that within the same poll, with the same respondents, Labour will lose 2% for going against the Oct deadline.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Following that a large number of useless MPs will be replaced

There are useless Brexiteer and remainer MPs.

The problem of useless MPs isn’t tied to views on Brexit.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

@Simon Foston

Here's a link to the official YouGov Twitter page with the tweet in question. Yes, they regularly refer to him as Boris, even though he's PM.

https://twitter.com/YouGov/status/1169518242064474112

All of the tweets on that page contain the links to their official website where you can see all of the archive data. If you can't do that, here's a direct link to the page for the second poll I mentioned in my tweet:

https://yougov.co.uk/topics/politics/articles-reports/2019/09/05/what-do-public-think-can-still-realistically-happe?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=website_article&utm_campaign=realistic_Brexit

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Tangerine2000Today  12:05 pm JST

Latest YouGov Polls:

They call him "Boris" in a YouGov poll? Seems a bit odd.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Latest YouGov Polls:

"How much sympathy do you feel, if any, for MPs having to deal with the Brexit situation?"

24% - A great deal/somewhat

70% - None at all/not much

Then:

Of all the outcomes that you thought were still realistically possible, which would be your preference, or would you rather none of them happened?

21% - UK leaves with no deal

19% - UK leaves with Boris' own idea of what a deal would be

19% - UK remaining in the EU

12% - Soft Brexit (UK leaves EU, but stays in CM, SM)

10% - A second referendum

5% - The date of Brexit delayed beyond Oct 31

2% - May's WA

8% - None of the above

5% Don't know

Finally:

If Boris calls for an election in parliament to be held in mid-Oct, do you think MPs should vote for it or against it?

General population:

For 41%

Against 31%

Tory Voters:

For 48%

Against 30%

Labour Voters:

For 41%

Against 36%

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Serrano: The majority of voters voted for Brexit.

So? Sometimes political systems can be manipulated so the minority loses the vote but still gets their way.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Leave already.  All this ridiculous obsession with nonsense like this story overshadows real issues in UK society.  Membership of the EU is not one of them.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

And some on this site will deny ever supporting Trump’s decision to support Johnson....

7 ( +8 / -1 )

JimizoToday  10:03 am JST

All going pear-shaped for Johnson.

Who in their right mind thought this man was fit to lead? Being endorsed by Trump should have removed any remaining doubts.

Trump will drop him soon enough. Then he'll probably deny ever supporting him.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

SerranoToday  09:24 am JST

So? The majority of voters voted for Brexit.

You don't care about what majorities want when it doesn't suit you.

RecklessToday  09:46 am JST

Sounds like this guy may have the right stuff.

Who, Jo Johnson?

8 ( +9 / -1 )

All going pear-shaped for Johnson.

Who in their right mind thought this man was fit to lead? Being endorsed by Trump should have removed any remaining doubts.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

So, a politician resigned to spend less time with his family.

d'oh

4 ( +4 / -0 )

I'm sick of Brexit populating the news for years now, but this Boris Johnson chap makes for interesting viewing.

If there is an election, who is going to win? What are the polls suggesting?

My wish to see Brexit done and dusted will be dashed if an election produces a "nothing" result, and this whole debacle is dragged out even further...

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

Brexit remains up in the air more than three years after Britons voted to leave the bloc in a 2016 referendum

This is ridiculous.

The father of Boris Johnson is also opposed to Brexit.

So? The majority of voters voted for Brexit.

-14 ( +1 / -15 )

kurisupisuToday  08:19 am JST

...leading to finalization of this parody.

What does that entail, exactly? It doesn't sound too good.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

There has to be an election.

Following that a large number of useless MPs will be replaced leading to finalization of this parody.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

The policewoman collapsing is twenty minutes into Alfie's video. Johnson offers her no assistance or concern and goes back to his speech. Day four, and he already has a "Mission Accomplished" to add to other humiliations. Theresa May had to wait a year for the guy with the P45 and the collapsing set.

Corbyn says he's not taking the election bait, so presumably the default is now Boris Johnson doing something less preferable to being "dead in a ditch". To avoid it, he needs to follow that gentleman in Yorkshire's advice and be in Brussels negotiating, not electioneering for a non-existent election.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

The Self-Assassination of Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson Considered as a Downhill Clown Car Race:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0x1k6p8PJU

6 ( +7 / -1 )

An Englishman, a Scotsman, and an Irishman walk into a pub and sit down. The Englishman looks around and decides he wants to leave.

So they all had to leave.

My Brexit Joke for the day.

4 ( +8 / -4 )

So, a politician resigned to spend less time with his family.

9 ( +10 / -1 )

Boris' parents had a child that lived. I wonder if this guy is as ashamed of Boris as everyone with a measurable intellect should be.

9 ( +11 / -2 )

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