Originally Posted by Annetje (Post 12624110)

Re Catalonia ... Are you really suggesting the EU should have intervened in an internal Spanish problem ?

Originally Posted by Pizzawheel (Post 12624121)

Absolutely not! But, Catalonia becoming an independent country within the EU is a very different thing than without the EU. It would be an administrative exercise as borders wouldn't effectively change.

Ditto Scotland really, of the last referendum went the other way.

Originally Posted by Annetje (Post 12624110)

Re Catalonia ... Are you really suggesting the EU should have intervened in an internal Spanish problem ?

Originally Posted by dbd33 (Post 12618653)

I'm still undecided if electing Trump or voting for Brexit will turn out to be the most stupid thing done by people in my lifetime. I'm up to day with the Cheeto but I've rather fallen behind on the Brexit side of things so can someone explain the latest developments, simply and clearly for me?

My understanding is that:

The UK gave notice to leave the EU, the notice expires in less than three months.

May negotiated a deal to cover the administration of the leaving. It requires action to be implemented and that requires a successful vote in Parliament.

The vote on May's deal is set for next Tuesday, the vote is expected to go against it.

The same MPs voting against May's package don't want the leaving notice to just expire so they've introduced legislation objecting to a "no deal Brexit". They've set a timeline of three days after Tuesday for something to happen.

Accepting that no one involved has much of a clue, faced with a need to end an apartment rental agreement or employment contract early, they'd hide in the toilet; what do they think can happen? A new offer from the EU, a national realization that it was all a bad dream, extension of the current limbo for a decade? Are they after something and, if so, do they know what it is?

Originally Posted by dbd33 (Post 12623846)

relative poverty of the Republic

Originally Posted by bc2015 (Post 12624260)

Wow you actually are that ignorant.

Originally Posted by dbd33 (Post 12624264)

Enlighten me, do.

Originally Posted by bc2015 (Post 12624273)

(wonder why?)

Originally Posted by Pizzawheel (Post 12626288)

So plan B is plan A with sprinkles on. But, not even many sprinkles. So the plan is to force the deal through by scaring both the brexiteers (you'll lose your brexit) and the remainers (terrified of no deal).

You know, it might work.

Originally Posted by Almost Canadian (Post 12626614)

Or May could simply try that old Harper trick of proroguing Parliament.