The Circus comes to town !

Is it worth taking the day off to watch the historical vote tomorrow?

Didn't find your answer?

They will all be there when the Circus comes to town for a vote on the future of Brexit.

Clowns will make us laugh and the Ringmaster will amaze us with his continuing unprecedented antics. There will be a lot of tightrope walking, expert trapeeze artistry and knife throwing .... but how many will fall to the ground in pain as they lose their grip. Although there are no animals involved, there will be a lot of performers giving us animal impressions with much baying and snorting and a lot of puffing-up to look bigger than they really are. Others will perform acrobatics, expertly avoiding making direct answers and jumping from one view to another.

The finale will be spectacular as the performers form groups to cast their votes. The audience will fall silent as the tension builds up with wine, beer and popcorn in hand as the vote is counted, and then when the result is announced, the noise will be thunderous and reverberate around the world for ever. Not ever before has there been a spectacle like this.

Mrs Theresa May - The Greatest Showlady on earth

This is something not to be missed .... will you be watching?

 

Replies (29)

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RLI
By lionofludesch
14th Jan 2019 14:06

No.

Not interested any more.

Thanks (2)
avatar
By Accountant A
14th Jan 2019 14:32

The thought occurred to me the other day. How many of the 650 (?) MPs would ever be considered for a £75,000 (+ generous benefits) job in the real world? Easily fewer than half, I'd say.

Thanks (1)
avatar
By lesley.barnes
14th Jan 2019 14:21

No I'll be in the middle of my own circus, spinning plates whilst completing tax returns.

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the sea otter
By memyself-eye
14th Jan 2019 14:32

Isn't the vote tomorrow evening?
No need to miss out on any tax return work....

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Oaklea
By Chris.Mann
14th Jan 2019 14:56

The only outcome of this tragic debacle, is that the nation is as divided as it has ever been.
I'd imagine that once this whole charade has been finalised, however that is contrived, that David Cameron's publishers, will release his memoirs.
Oh dear, not another memoir? And, from such a popular public figure, with such a proven track record.
In all of this, I'm with Accountant A.
This shower make estate agents look credible.
"We're all doomed", in the words of Private Frazer

Thanks (1)
paddle steamer
By DJKL
14th Jan 2019 15:01

Welcome back, my friends
To the show that never ends
We're so glad you could attend
Come inside! Come inside
There behind a glass
Stands a real blade of grass
Be careful as you pass
Move along! Move along
Come inside, the show's about to start
Guaranteed to blow your head apart
Rest assured you'll get your money's worth
The greatest show in Heaven, Hell, or Earth
You've got to see the show, it's a dynamo
You've got to see the show, it's rock and roll
Right before your eyes
We'll pull laughter from the skies
And he laughs until he cries
Then he dies, then he dies
You've got to see the show, it's a dynamo
You've got to see the show, it's rock and roll
Soon the Gypsy Queen
In a glaze of Vaseline
Will perform on guillotine
What a scene! What a scene
Next upon…

ELP-Brain Salad Surgery

Thanks (1)
Flag of the Soviet Union
By thevaliant
14th Jan 2019 16:09

It's not on till 7pm, and will take about ten minutes.
I agree I take the day off AFTER General Elections (stay up all night you see) but Parliamentary votes?

Wouldn't even consider taking a holiday.

And I'm a massive political geek.

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avatar
By Matrix
14th Jan 2019 16:32

I took a break and turned on the news, that was enough to make me get back to work. Tax returns seem quite easy compared to all these different permutations set out today.

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By ireallyshouldknowthisbut
14th Jan 2019 16:46

it makes the ungrateful disorganised bunch of muppets who miss your deadlines and dump half finished tax returns on your desk in late December (or indeed early Jan) seem like an attractive proposition.

The only bit of comedy, is seeing what will be the next bizzare bit of rubbish come out of Grayling's / May/ anyone else on her side (if there are any) increasingly desperate sounding mouth.

Its a shame no-one has got the balls to admit half the country voted one way, half voted the other, based on a shocking campaign of misinformation by both sides.

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Replying to ireallyshouldknowthisbut:
paddle steamer
By DJKL
14th Jan 2019 17:51

Would I lie to you?
Would I lie to you honey?
Now would I say something that wasn't true?
I'm asking you sugar
Would I lie to you?
My friends, know what's in store.
I won't be here anymore.
I've packed my bags
I've cleaned the floor.
Watch me walkin'.
Walkin' out the door.
Believe me, I'll make it make it
Believe me, I'll make it make it
Would I lie to you?
Would I lie to you honey?
Now would I say something that wasn't true?
I'm asking you sugar
Would I lie to you?
Tell you straight, no intervention.
To your face, no deception.
You're the biggest fake.
That much is true.
Had all I can take.
Now I'm leaving you
Believe me, I'll make it make it
Believe me, I'll make it make it
Would I lie to you?
Would I lie to you honey?
Now would I say something that wasn't true?
I'm asking you sugar
Would I lie to you?
Would I lie to you?
Would I lie to you honey?
Now would I say something that wasn't true?
I'm asking you sugar
Would I lie to you?
My friends, know what's in store.
I won't be here anymore.
I've packed my bags
I've cleaned the floor.
Watch me walkin'.
Walkin' out the door.
Believe me, I'll make it make it
Believe me, I'll make it make it
Would I lie to you?

I do so love this Quine frae Aiberdein.

Video-worth waiting through all the intro bits-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uhpu2N4rQZM

Of course in March 2019 if a No Deal I can possibly just play this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HG7I4oniOyA

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ALISK
By atleastisoundknowledgable...
14th Jan 2019 17:47

For my 2-pennies worth ... half the country voted one way, half voted the other, based on a shocking campaign of misinformation by both sides. Pathetic.

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Replying to atleastisoundknowledgable...:
RLI
By lionofludesch
14th Jan 2019 17:54

But that's the rock-bottom standard of politics today.

What do you expect ?

It's the politics of John the Plumber - telling lies to justify doing what you want to do.

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Red Leader
By Red Leader
15th Jan 2019 09:42

What do you think the losing margin will be tonight? I'm going with 70. Any other bids?

Thanks (0)
Replying to Red Leader:
Tornado
By Tornado
15th Jan 2019 10:14

I am usually pretty confident about my views but this time I am confident that I am not confident.

When it comes to the crunch, logic tells me that despite the problems with Mrs May's deal, there is no practical alternative. I would be quite happy with a No Deal situation, but this seems unlikely due to potential disruption from Parliament in enabling this, and all other alternatives that have been offered simply reflect the aspirations of small groups that have minority personal agendas and would not change the situation if implemented.

I think there is a possibility that Mrs May could win this as no matter how much it is disliked by me and many others, it is the best we have and will largely fulfil Brexit. This will then leave us to concentrate more on the finer points of the Withdrawal Agreement and ensure that the backstop never happens.

Today's vote will be decided by a simple majority of as little as 1. There is no difference between this system of voting and the Brexit Referendum, so MP's need to remember that leaving the EU was what the people voted for, and their responsibility is to abide by the result of that vote. That is how democracy works and all MP's should be working to achieve this result as our representatives and not trying to build their own personal empires.

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Replying to Tornado:
paddle steamer
By DJKL
15th Jan 2019 10:17

Are you talking about tonight or over the long haul- I cannot see it having a hope of passing tonight, longer term, winds down clock, better letter from EU, etc it is a maybe imho, I still have it as circa 25%-30% chance of a WA something like May's, but that, imho, will not be tonight.

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Replying to Red Leader:
paddle steamer
By DJKL
15th Jan 2019 10:13

Presuming it is counted as the difference between the Aye's and the Nae's I am on between 150-200, this could well modify down if certain of currently tabled amendments do get added .

I would be a little surprised at only 70 given the semi "stated" sweep of intentions is circa > 400 against, circa 200 for, but MPs are awful fibbers so I do not expect the >200 to be achieved.

If I have to plump for only one number, with no attractive amendments being appended, I would take 153.

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Replying to Red Leader:
RLI
By lionofludesch
15th Jan 2019 10:33

Red Leader wrote:

What do you think the losing margin will be tonight? I'm going with 70. Any other bids?

This is the big Union game, isn't it ?

Thanks (0)
Replying to lionofludesch:
Red Leader
By Red Leader
15th Jan 2019 10:44

All Blacks vs Japan?

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counting
By Counting numbers
15th Jan 2019 14:03

Absolutely not! Surely we already know what the outcome will be.

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paddle steamer
By DJKL
15th Jan 2019 21:06

230, 230,230,
230,230,230 (extended)
230,230,230
230,230

and repeat-

Still, I expect her to win tomorrow, her pals in the DUP are back and all is right in the world.

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Replying to DJKL:
RLI
By lionofludesch
16th Jan 2019 09:12

Bigger than the All Blacks- Japan score then.

It's Chinese dentist time.

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Replying to DJKL:
Tornado
By Tornado
16th Jan 2019 09:31

Interesting these binary votes.

If only 116 MP's had voted the other way, the motion would have been carried. The difference is not as big as it looks, but still not good enough of course.

The divide between the people and their MP's (as their representatives) grows ever bigger, as MP's with their own personal agendas take control.

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Replying to Tornado:
avatar
By andy.partridge
16th Jan 2019 09:45

. . . . only 116 . . .

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Replying to Tornado:
RLI
By lionofludesch
16th Jan 2019 09:47

Tornado wrote:

Interesting these binary votes.

If only 116 MP's had voted the other way, the motion would have been carried. The difference is not as big as it looks ...

Yes it is, isn't it ? Twice as many MPs voted against than voted for. Way bigger than the referendum vote.

Let's not lose sight that 116 MPs is more than a sixth of the MPs who voted.

I bet that lass wishes she'd had her Caesarian now.

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Replying to Tornado:
paddle steamer
By DJKL
16th Jan 2019 10:09

If only (insert team name here but use Hibs as default if no imagination) had scored 5 goals rather than conceded 5 goals they would have won.

(I do appreciate in football we are not actually expecting each match to divide 5 goals between the sides (though it could make it more interesting )

I do struggle to find a bright side of life in a government losing a commons vote by that number, so your attempt is actually rather admirable.

From a historical perspective at least Ramsay Mac had the excuse of being a minority government and he only managed to lose by 166, Theresa, on paper had her ten little pals from NI who somehow, despite being there to give her a majority, could not be persuaded on her backstop to support the WA - what , in light of that knowledge, possessed her to push ahead with it, does she listen or is that , as is becoming more and more evident,her problem.

She now is going to talk with senior figures, cross party, in the H of C , but seemed to indicate only if they sort of already agree with her approach to leaving, sorry , she cannot be serious, I can see and everyone else can see, that such a listening process is mere play acting.

If, she continues with such a sop then frankly H of C has little choice but to take control of the process by debating and amending her WA on Monday, if they can.

I think I know why she behaves as she does, she is balancing getting a WA that leaves the EU with keeping the Conservatives intact as a single political party, catch is Theresa, it is not possible, the sooner you accept you cannot have both the better.

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Replying to DJKL:
RLI
By lionofludesch
16th Jan 2019 10:17

DJKL wrote:

If only (insert team name here but use Hibs as default if no imagination) had scored 5 goals rather than conceded 5 goals they would have won.

(I do appreciate in football we are not actually expecting each match to divide 5 goals between the sides (though it could make it more interesting )

Ah well, if there are going to be five goals every game, Hibs would only need to score three of them.

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Replying to lionofludesch:
paddle steamer
By DJKL
16th Jan 2019 10:31

Knowing Hibs they would still lose.

"Hibs It"

https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=hibs%20it

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Replying to DJKL:
RLI
By lionofludesch
16th Jan 2019 10:43

Bit like Hearts '86 Championship bid.

It's an Edinburgh thing.

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Replying to lionofludesch:
paddle steamer
By DJKL
16th Jan 2019 11:10

Do not remind me, I was in my ICAS training at the time, but I trained in Glasgow so went to classes there (ICAS trained their own) One of the lecturers was actually called "Tommy Gemmell", think him and Derek Allen did tax, but memory is ropey.

On the Monday we all turned up, he came in, started fiddling about with slides re overhead projector (not yet switched on) then switched it on to reveal a drawing of a maroon heart with a green dagger plunged through the middle, large roar from appreciative audience (well circa half- presume some not so chuffed)

I, back then on paper a Hearts supporter, sunk deeper into my chair and misery.

These days I actually see more Hibs games than Hearts as other half and two kids have Hibs season tickets, I suspect I sort of support both though when they play one another I have to support Hearts over Hibs.

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