EU referendum, brexit and the aftermath

Wow, the Labour Party must really miss these loyal friends.

Doesn't this just depend what you think the biggest issue of the day is? I'd say brexit is more important than getting the Tories out - no government will be able to implement policies that assist the worse off if we're suffering the kind of economic loss that brexit makes likely.

I'm less confident that Theresa "hostile environment" May is going to double down on committing to solving the 'burning injustices' in Britain if Brexit were to be stopped.

It suggests at the very best that they've become single-issue politicians who would happily go along with whatever as long as they get their way on Brexit - and at worst, that there is essentially very little ideological difference between them and the Tories, at a time when the government's policies have needlessly put thousands into poverty or into the streets.

I seem to remember another centrist party which made a deal with the Tories in exchange for a referendum. Can't quite recall how that worked out...

Agreed, we should probably give the hard-right everything they want so people don’t poke fun at us.

The splitters are now 11. The DUP is 10.

Would it not be megalulz if May would dump the DUP for them :)

(She probably can't though)

The non-tory splitters are the number that matter, 8 isn't 10.

^ 9 is nearly 10... but only if he joins the indies.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-47330079

Why is Austin quitting labour but not joining the independent group? Is it because MPs like to think they’re really important, but actually nobody really cares about the MP for Dudley East?

He's joining the new independent group, the Recursive Party.

I think it might be due to the fact that he wants a brexit deal rather than a second referendum. Be interesting to see if he aligns to them once that all becomes clearer.

In July 2016, Austin was reprimanded by the Speaker of the House of Commons for heckling the Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn by shouting "sit down and shut up" and "you're a disgrace", as Corbyn criticised the 2003 invasion of Iraq in his response to the publication of the Chilcot Inquiry.

what a charmer.

Chuka was right, politics has become too acrimonious and divisive.

I would like John Mann to leave next, please.

Not the party for joined up thinkers, the Cursive Party?

No, their message gets lost outside the capital.

He will be wanting to join JRM's new spinoff the UPPERCASTE then.

Born in the North, die in the North.

https://unherd.com/2019/02/why-wont-remainers-talk-about-family/

That piece is one of the stupidest things I've ever read in my life.

It labours blissfully under the misapprehension that the financial crisis didn't happen, and that the emphasis on earning enough to pay your bills is still an easy thing to do, something which could be cast aside at a moment's notice to look after a sick family member.

When he says that most of us consider "caring for a family member" to equate to "lost earnings", he's absolutely right. What he seems to miss is that 'lost earnings' mean we stop paying the rent. We stop paying the bills. We get kicked out of homes. We become homeless.

Not all of us are in the exalted position of a Giles Fraser that this is an option. The UK wanted us all to be working full time. Well we are, and social care for our parents is the price they need to pay for increased productivity.

Plus I completely disagree with the premise of the whole thing already: "Children have a responsibility to look after their parents."

As others have pointed out, he's married to an Israeli. Presumably an Israeli orphan.

Also he's a leaver who seems to be espousing that we all open our eyes to the reality that other cultures have a better grasp on societal issues than we do... which is why we should cut ourselves off from them as soon as possible?

Always on the move, always hot desking. Short-term contracts. Laptops and mobiles – even the tools of modern workplace remind us that work no longer has any need of place. All this is a philosophy that could not have been better designed to spread misery and unhappiness. Human beings need roots for their emotional and psychological flourishing. They need long-term, face-to-face relationships; they need chatting in the local post office;

Giles has clearly never been to Bayswater post office.

"Brexit seeks a reclamation of something we have lost. The ability to stay put and care for each other."

Unless you are any furrin' coming back to care for UK family members, then you can fuck off per the Home Office. Edit: and this hard anti immigrants brexit is also making it harder for Brits to go to mainland EU to care for family there.

Honestly, are these people high? People move out cos some jobs simply do not exist in small towns and commuting is hell. Rent is too high for one income in some areas. If you've never worked and your partner dies/you split up, well good luck finding a job.

Nice got him better his pension and wealth are sorted.

He seems to be suggesting freedom of movement be restricted to your home town. Although it wont affect most of the sad sacks I went to school with, i'm rather fond of the life I've built for myself elsewhere.

I'm from a working class family, didn't go to University and not having kids either so I imagine I am the type of person in his ire.

He also seems to gloss over the fact, that due to Thatcher killing industry there was no opportunities for people in their home towns for many years.