Why won’t Corbyn debate on TV? I understand why May won’t, but Corbyn has all to gain and usually presents well.

@northwind, I see the Tory election gameplan as capturing the UKIP vote without losing the remain leaning Tory vote. I read there are 71 non-Tory seats where the majority was less than the UKIP vote. That’d do it!

I don’t see Junker et al bothering to influence the UK GE. Why should they? Why would they expect it to work, when they know the Torypress will spin it anyway?

I suspect they’re beyond caring.

The leak would be for domestic consumption, to warn the various parties they are dealing with a fruitcake and not to anticipate a happy outcome.

word. a labour vote would be pointless where I live but after today’s events I am reassessing him all the same.

lol @bikebouy.

jamba – a bit early to say I think.

God made her do it.

Nah. God said “love thy neighbour”.

How many days till the “negotiations” breakdown?

Not many, as I suspect the EU side have now given up on trying to get any sense out of May.

I’m feeling for my various friends of EU origin at the moment. They’re all decent people who came here in good faith several years ago, and make a good contribution to this country. They shouldn’t be having to put up with this sh**e.

Direct link to video of May quote “acts deliberately timed to affect the result of the GE”.

http://bbc.in/2qsii23

Seriously woman, get a grip.

She’ll be bleating #fakenews next.

@brooess – yes, scary.

“Then they came for the Remainers …”

“She will take action against the people who seek to divide us.”

and wtf does that mean?

“May accuses unidentified figures in Brussels of meddling in election”
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2017/may/03/general-election-2017-official-campaign-begins-politics-live?page=with:block-5909ebe7e4b0336cfae757a0#block-5909ebe7e4b0336cfae757a0

Lost it totally.

Good lord what a fruitloop.

May will have a massive majority and a term till 2022 so will have a much stronger hand to go with WTO if the EU plays silly buggars.

Makes no difference to them.

This idea is just electoral smoke and mirrors.

I am not that convinced that Macron victory is guaranteed.

Absolutely not, I think the FN vote may be under self-reported.

On the upside, a Tory GE victory is not guaranteed either – but the runway is getting used up very fast.

Yeah – but all the quarter million a year are students? Nah.

If I was your student I’d study elsewhere. Stupid little country.

But I have to ask: if immigration procedures are so Kafkaesque, how come we still get around a quarter million non-EU immigrants a year?

Playlist!

So on that basis what divides France, Mattjq? Male/Female and ?

Near equal Le Pen/Macron vote.

But I’m happy to be wrong if I’m wrong.

France divided? France this, France that.

I take division in this sense to mean the electorate evenly balanced on a specific binary issue.

It’s OK, our Nige is on it.

Macron speaking with EU flag behind him. Says it all.

— Nigel Farage (@Nigel_Farage) April 23, 2017

Yes it’s nowhere near in the bag, and it’s a shame to see France so divided. (FAO Mrs May, just like our country).

I saw an interesting tweet asking if there was a movement back from left vs right to more historical conservative/nationalist and centre/optimist.

Tim says yellow is the new blue. And red.

Works for me Tim. ;-)

What has been billed as a “Brexit election” is an attempted power grab by the Tories, who wish to take advantage of a Labour party in seeming disarray to secure another five years of power before the reality of Brexit bites. Will the election of more Tory MPs give May a greater chance of securing a better Brexit deal? For those sitting around the table in Brussels, this is an irrelevance. British officials will represent the people of the UK in the negotiations, regardless of the number of Tory MPs.

Yeah pretty much what I expected.

EU have said they will deal with whoever is the government, that’s it really, it’s just a job.

It’s our side that are pitching it as gladiatorial combat, old simmering enmities (centuries old no less) reignited.

Good lord Jamba, big shark jumped there. Shocked at you.

oh.

But, will their incomes go down even further if the economy slides?

I suspect one will be OK as his client base is “old money” and he serves them well so gets plenty of repeats. The other, yes, more likely.

I see a strong trend of self victimisation amongst leavers. Blame the other. There are disturbing historical parallels.

Well done for destroying your own point in two lines – very impressive.[/quote]

Not to mention that anything assertive the EU does to protect its own members is “bullying us”.

Pathetic.

Drank the tap water (drinking water directive)

Bloody red tape!

oh look, here I am passing through the “uncontrolled, open” UK border at Calais last week.

(not pictured – French Army, French customs, ferry company ticketing).

lol if that’s not a controlled border what do you want?

Strangely enough, I can’t.

Me neither. It would presumably require the other party to treat the solo UK preferentially to the EU 27/28.

Does not compute.

Personally I think we were in a stronger position when we negotiated as a part of world’s largest trading block. But I can see the opposing argument.

Graham, any post-pint-with-Jamba insights you can share?

They don’t mean 2%.

I don’t totally buy it myself but it’s plausible.

But I don’t think leaving will fix it for them – if there’s less labour then their rates may rise a little but only until they hit the affordability ceiling, and if there’s negative impact on the economy (we’re in the SE so dependent on the City) then the market will contract. Less City bonuses = less spending on non-essential home upgrades.

I do live in a privileged bubble, so can someone point out the daily problems caused by the EU please.

Help me to understand your plight.

I have a couple of friends who work in trades and say their incomes have been reduced due to wage competition from EU incomers. I’ve no idea if that stands up to scrutiny, but that’s what they say and that’s directly why they voted leave.

–

NATO defends the borders.

But this is the first time in history the 3 major powers of Western Europe – UK, France, Germany, have been at peace for an extended period.

The EU is very material to that.

Even if that’s the only benefit of the EU, the fabled £350mm/week is loose change for the return.

I’ve not read 700 pages. But the accusation solo makes at the other in this case is false.

I see a strong trend of self victimisation amongst leavers. Blame the other. There are disturbing historical parallels.

FWIW I’ve been called toe curling things by people I have disagreed with (I was recently put on a Twitter list called “next time an immigrant commits rape, blame them”). But I don’t accuse the people who don’t do it (and I am confidant would not support it).

@solo he didn’t say anyone was dumb or racist.

You are self victimising.

@igm I suspect it would be sorted out with little fuss if it happened. However as yet no party is standing on that platform. Regrettably I think Brexit has now become normalised to many people, including remain voters, due to the incessant repetition of it being “will of the people” and “no going back” etc etc.

FYI folks who believe the process can’t be stopped – anyone telling you that is misguided themselves or deliberately trying to railroad you.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/apr/20/european-parliament-will-welcome-britain-back-if-voters-veto-brexit