Groundhog evening...

[Workingman]

.... and still she plods on.

She lost again, this time by 45 votes, with something like 70 'abstentions' once pairings were taken into consideration.

It must surely be clear to May that her deal is never going to pass parliament. With that being the case the EU is not going to make any changes to the already agreed deal. Downing Street had already admitted this prior to the vote.

In further twists all the amendments to her deal were also defeated - work those out!

Make no mistake, we really are in the mire.

[cromwell]

She is where she has put herself. I wouldn't believe a word she says. We voted to leave the EU, no to leave with x deal, or Y deal, or Z deal.
The problem is the same that it has always been. We have a political class who do not want to leave to EU and who are determined to stop Brexit.
To my mind there are very few of them who actually deserve a vote.

[AliasAggers]

She is where she has put herself. I wouldn't believe a word she says. We voted to leave the EU, no to leave with x deal, or Y deal, or Z deal.
The problem is the same that it has always been. We have a political class who do not want to leave to EU and who are determined to stop Brexit.
To my mind there are very few of them who actually deserve a vote.

That is the most sensible post on the subject I have seen for a long time.

But what the hell can we do about it?

[cromwell]

You've got me there Aggers.
Perhaps a mass abstention from voting at the next election? But who would organise such a thing?

[Workingman]

It is the weekend so the worms are out wriggling about.

David Gauke, the justice secretary. says leaving the European Union with no deal would have a "very adverse" effect on the UK.

Ian Dodds of the DUP keeps insisting that no-deal is better than a bad deal... so long as there is no backstop.

Then Business Minister, Richard Harrington, says he does not think Theresa May would let Britain leave the EU without a deal.

And Margot James became the latest cabinet member to threaten resignation over the possibility of no deal.

With May's deal being so poisonous that it has no chance of getting past parliament where the hell does this leave us?

The most laughable comment came from a No10 spokesbod saying that all these views left May in danger of losing control of the negotiations - losing control - she doesn't have any - the EU are in charge.

That was until today and May's letter to all 317 Tory MPs in which she - again - says that without a withdrawal deal passing in the Commons, Parliament might stop Brexit altogether or the UK might leave without a deal, which would disrupt the economy and damage jobs.

Que?

A mass abstention from voting might not work, but 'None of the Above' (NOTA) on ballot papers might. If NOTA wins we keep gong with new candidates until we get a winner. It might take till the 12th of never, but I have given up caring.

[Suff]

Meanwhile, not being groundhog day at all, another pillar or Project Fear bites the dust.

As I said in a post a while ago, there was absolutely no reason why London could not continue providing finance and clearing Euro trades as a third county. I posted the links, I laid it all out simply. But that was me not understanding the situation or "project hope" for Brexit which is, apparently, foolish.

So, today, the EU clears UK banks to continue clearing Euro trades as a third country.

I did say it at the time but apparently it didn't sink in. The regulations for third country trading are that the third country apply EU rules in their banking. What rules are our banking carried out under? Hmm, let me think. Oh, yes, got it, EU rules..... No Brainer.

From the Article

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) said the decision to allow LCH Limited, ICE Clear Europe and LME Clear to continue operating was to limit disruption and avoid potentially negative impacts on financial market stability.

Yep I said that too. I said that their businesses relied on London and without London they would be in Serious trouble.

The recognition of the clearing houses as so-called “third-country central counterparties” under the EU’s European Market Infrastructure Regulation (EMIR), would come into effect on the day after Britain leaves the bloc, ESMA said in a statement.

I said that too, that we would carry on under EMIR rules. It was certain and people like Junkers were talking bollocks.

And here is the kicker...

The move, which had been expected after a draft decision in December, follows efforts by EU rival Deutsche Boerse to woo clients to its clearing house, Eurex

Yep DBourse and Eurex are noddy operations who only deal in Euro. London is the big league. Strange that allt hat business didn't move even with the threat of being cut off...

The UK parliament is constantly under fire for being unprepared, no planning, unable to deliver. Is it any wonder when the people they are trying to negotiate with are lying their asses off??