3 December 2018
This could be the most grumpy week of my life. Politics has always fascinated me as have politicians. I started studying it and them in 1966 so if, as Harold Wilson once said I believe, a week is a long time in politics, my 52 years is scarily long. I will be watching and commenting during this week and next as we head toward probably the most important time for our future for many years.
Prior to the Attorney General giving us all a brief précis of the advice he has given to the government, I have been watching the Minister for Exiting Brexit answering questions, or more precisely not answering questions, from the House committee, chaired by Hilary Benn.
Mr Benn asked if the government would say that they would not leave the EU without a deal. Mr Barclay replied with a lovely answer that, when he finished, Mr Benn praised him for but politely pointed out that he hadn't answered the question which Mr Benn then repeated. Mr Barclay once again failed to answer but pointed out, as his leader has done on numerous occasions, that the deal on offer was the only one available and if it wasn't passed then there would be great uncertainty which no one wanted. It might mean a no-deal exit or it might mean no brexit.
Shoot me down in flames, but my little brain says that if the government ruled out a no-deal exit, 50% of the uncertainty of which Mr Barclay spoke would be removed. In other words the government is complaining about the uncertainty that they are contributing to with their lack of decisiveness.
Later on 3 December 2018
Excuse me for saying but I was listening to the Attorney General today and he kept saying I will answer any question, I am here to give legal advice..................... and then proceeded to tell everyone what he believed would happen. If you are the AG, are your beliefs enshrined in legality?
24 December 2018
I am going to organise my life from the start of January 2019 so that this grumpy old blog becomes a regular daily feature and I can
assure you that in this modern world there is more than enough to raise my grumpiness every day.
Till then, have a Merry Christmas and I wish you a Happy New Year, all without any grumps. I hope you get the presents you wanted
although, unlike our Prime Minister, I hope you don't open them till Christmas Day. That drone kit was a wonderful idea Philip. Now how can we keep Brexit off
the front pages next.