#chief brexit negotiator

[creme-meme]

literally going to make another video about this clusterfuck somewhere down the line because it just keeps getting wilder:

- Rishi got 100 MPs to back him, meaning he’s in the race to be PM

- among Rishi’s backers include Lord Frost, who was, and I quote, “an unknown whisky salesman until Boris made him UK’s chief brexit negotiator and gave him a peerage in the house of lords’

- and Boris’ former chief of staff also backs Rishi

- Boris ALLEGEDLY has 100 MPs to back him, but right now only 51 MPs have publicly declared their support for him, so now there’s twitter spats over this

- wild rumours saying that it’s an attempt to save face for Boris to announce he has 100 MPs backing him before he’s even secured 100

- the Der Tagesspiegel front page is just a picture of Boris with the caption ‘Ernsthaft?’... meaning ‘Seriously?’

- Boris’s FATHER has gone on the record to say that calling a general election would be political suicide for the Tory party

- meanwhile Penny Mordaunt’s own constituents don’t know who she is

for easy reference I’m tagging everything as #lettuce gate

[stele3]

https://www.reuters.com/sports/ugandan-runner-cheptegei-dies-after-attack-by-boyfriend-national-olympic-2024-09-05/

[dertaglichedan]

Emmanuel Macron has driven his country to the brink of a “Frexit” moment, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator has said.

In an interview with The Telegraph, Michel Barnier said: “I regret that in my country that this warning has not been listened to… about migration, about security, about authority of the state, and the respect and development of the poorest parts of the country.”

The first chapter of Mr Barnier’s memoir was written as a warning that other countries could quit the European Union if lessons were not learned from Brexit.

Shortly after leaving his role as the bloc’s chief Brexit negotiator, he handed a copy to Mr Macron. But three years later, Mr Barnier believes the French president has failed to heed his warning.

“The first chapter was written precisely in the spirit of what could happen in [France],” he added

[head-post]

Voting under way in UK general election

Rishi Sunak will remain leader of Britain’s Conservative Party if he loses today’s election to ensure an “orderly transition” of power to Labour. There had been fears in the country that the party would descend into an internal struggle for the party chief’s chair. The Cabinet has already directly asked the prime minister to stay on as party leader until September, The Times reports. (Updated at 11:12 a.m.)

British voters go to the polls Thursday for a crucial general election seen as a referendum on 14 years of Conservative rule.

The snap vote, called by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, is being held months earlier than necessary and has caught most of his Conservative Party members by surprise. The opposition Labour Party suffered its biggest defeat since 1935 in the last general election but has since recovered under the leadership of Keir Starmer.

Thursday’s vote comes after a six-week campaign that has seen all the main parties scour the country for votes. Much of the debate has centred on the economy, the cost of living, the state of Britain’s public services, tax and immigration.

Polls of Brits

A YouGov poll, the latest in the UK before today’s election, has revealed that Labour will achieve its highest representation in the UK since 1832, breaking Tony Blair’s 1997 record.

According to the poll, the Labour Party will win 431 of the 650 seats in Parliament, a mono-majority. A number of other opinion polls show that the gap will be huge at all, Labour could take 484 seats.

For the Conservatives the polls show an unfavourable picture – about 20%, and the Reform UK Party could take about 16%.

Candidates’ positions on the Ukraine issue

The positions of the first two parties on Ukraine are not particularly different: Sunak promises to support Ukraine “whatever it takes”, Labour leader K. Starmer says their support is “ironclad.” Labour is also prepared to work “to create a path to Ukraine’s NATO membership” and to “diplomatically isolate Russia”.

Meanwhile, Reform UK Party Leader Nigel Farage believes Ukraine and Russia should begin negotiations through mediators. He also criticises NATO’s eastward expansion, believing that Ukraine should be a buffer state.

As early as Friday morning, the leader of the winning party is due to appear at Buckingham Palace in front of King Charles III, ready to form a Government.

Predictions of the election outcome are already coming true and opinion polls are confirming them. The Conservatives are losing the trust of voters and unfulfilled promises on Brexit could cost the party the general election.

Read more HERE

[a-world-in-grey]

This is gonna be pretty much stream of consciousness because I Have An Idea But Words Are Hard. Anyway.

In Spark verse, if Ramuh is aware that the prophecy was irreversibly derailed because Ifrit happened, he might be willing to intervene more directly in the world. Not by showing up in his Astral form, oh no. But, more subtle stuff could be happening. (Let it be know that Astrals have a different definition of "subtle" than humans.)

Like say. Niflheim's initial invasion, the one right after the Wall got pulled in, getting completely wrecked by some storms.

Everyone thinks that it's just hurricane season starting early but still. The emperor can't just order another invasion right away, because they just lost a huge amount of resources with literally nothing to show for it. In fact, if Besithia's research was sufficiently derailed by Ardyn and Ifrit's escape, those were human soldiers and not MTs who died in the invasion. So the support for war is also low.

Anyway, this is where your post about Lucis-Galahd fealty comes in. Because this Galahd still has access to their copies of the treaty. And they are not above bringing out diplomatic guns to get some help from the Mainland. They don't think Mors will actually send soldiers but sending some financial and medical aid would be nice.

Mors' answer is Very Much Not Diplomatic.

In fact, it's pretty much just saying "you are on your own" but with fancy wording.

The Chiefs all look at each other, look at the treaty and shrug because it that's how Mors wants to do it then ok. Hard way it is. They send another message, this time stating that they consider Mors to be breaking the terms of the treaty that assured Galahd's conditional fealty to the King. (Copies of this message might be send to various regional governors of Lucis. And to Tenebrae. And to Altissia.)

And then they put stop to all export of Galahdian goods to Lucis. Because if we are not part of the kingdom anymore then all those trade agreements are not valid anymore, you know how it is, they say to all traders who complain. This all will have to be negotiated again.

Meanwhile nobles and commoners alike are side-eyeing Mors, because they might not care about some island savages but the price of chocolate just increased 10 times. And prices of spices, and of silk, and of gemstones, and of exotic hardwoods and...

(Basically Mors gets screwed over but Eos' equivalent of brexit)

Not sure if this is the direction I'll take this fic in, but I am always entertained by Mors getting screwed over by his own poor decisions. Now, if only more of his poor decisions affected him instead of everyone else that would be fantastic.

[darkmaga-retard]

Eldar Mamedov

Sep 07, 2024

Sixty days after the parliamentary elections that delivered a hung parliament, French President Emmanuel Macron has nominated the experienced center-right politician Michel Barnier as the nation’s new prime minister. Irrespective of Barnier’s qualities, this decision, more than pointing to an exit from France’s political crisis, risks plunging the country deeper in a turmoil which could undermine support for Ukraine and impair its ability to play a significant role in Europe and on the world stage.

Barnier’s last stint in the limelight was in his role as the chief EU negotiator on Brexit from 2016 to 2019. Former British diplomat Peter Ricketts described him as “a competent technocrat, formal, unbending, and not that well known in France as he has spent decades in various jobs in Brussels.” The last point may indeed be true, but before decamping to Brussels, Barnier, a surviving pillar of the French Gaullist tradition, served as minister for European affairs and then foreign minister in the administration of President Jacques Chirac (1995-2007), who was infamous in Washington for his staunch opposition to the U.S./U.K. war in Iraq and the broader neoconservative project of remaking the Middle East into liberal democracies with military might.

Barnier may have been less brilliant and eloquent than his predecessor Dominique De Villepin, who delivered that historic speech at the U.N. Security Council in 2003 warning — tragically, to no avail — about the risks of the invasion of Iraq. But as the French journalist George Malbrunot recalls, he was considered a safe enough pair of hands to focus on Iraq’s rebuilding post-invasion which required some sort of a re-accommodation with Washington.

Fast forward to 2024: Barnier’s skills and experience are not at issue — what’s concerning is that Macron chose him as prime minister.

[xnewsinfo]

French far-right chief Marine Le Pen on Sunday urged President Emmanuel Macron to carry a referendum on key points reminiscent of immigration, suggesting that giving French folks a direct vote might assist break the political impasse.Final week, Macron named center-right Michel Barnier, a 73-year-old former overseas minister who acted because the European Union's Brexit negotiator, as prime minister, looking for to make progress after snap elections in June-July resulted in a hung parliament.However analysts say the nation is heading for a interval of instability, with Barnier's grip on energy seen as fragile and depending on assist from Le Pen's eurosceptic, anti-immigration Nationwide Rally (RN) celebration, which is the biggest celebration within the new Nationwide Meeting.A left-wing coalition, which emerged as France's largest political bloc after the election, albeit removed from an general majority, can be placing stress on Barnier.Greater than 100,000 left-wing demonstrators gathered throughout France on Saturday to protest in opposition to her nomination and denounce Macron's "energy seize."Le Pen, who leads RN lawmakers in parliament, has stated her celebration is not going to be a part of the brand new cupboard.'POWER TO DECIDE DIRECTLY'On Sunday, he urged Macron to carry a referendum on key points reminiscent of immigration, healthcare and safety to offer the folks a direct vote."RN will unreservedly assist any strategy that goals to offer folks the facility to determine instantly," Le Pen stated within the northern city of Henin-Beaumont, a conventional bastion of the far proper."Emmanuel Macron himself, within the chaos he has created, has the leverage to maintain our democracy alive," he added.To forestall the RN from profitable an absolute majority and forming a authorities, round 200 candidates withdrew earlier than the ultimate spherical of early legislative elections in July, sparking outrage on the far proper.Le Pen additionally indicated that she would monitor Barnier's each transfer."If within the coming weeks the French are as soon as once more forgotten or mistreated, we is not going to hesitate to censure the federal government," he added.Talking to reporters, Le Pen, 56, additionally stated she hoped France would maintain new legislative elections "inside a yr.""That is good as a result of I feel France wants a transparent majority," he stated.The left-wing coalition has additionally vowed to oust Barnier with a vote of no confidence.The alliance needed Lucie Castets, a 37-year-old economist, to change into prime minister, however Macron dominated out that concept, arguing she wouldn't survive a vote of confidence in a hung parliament.COMPETENT AND PLEASANTIn response to a ballot revealed on Sunday, the French are largely happy with Barnier's appointment as prime minister, however consider he is not going to final lengthy in his new position.In response to an Ifop survey for the Journal du Dimanche, 52% of respondents are happy with Barnier's appointment. By comparability, 53 % of respondents accredited the nomination of Barnier's predecessor, Gabriel Attal, when he was appointed prime minister in early January, turning into France's youngest ever prime minister at 34.In response to the survey, the vast majority of respondents take into account Barnier, the longest-serving prime minister in trendy French historical past, to be competent (62 %), open to dialogue (61 %) and likable (60 %). Nevertheless, 74 % of respondents consider he is not going to final lengthy in workplace.Ifop surveyed 950 adults on-line on September 5 and 6. The margin of error was as excessive as 3.1 factors.Posted on: September 9, 2024

[williamchasterson]

Michel Barnier's journey from Mr Brexit to French PM

France’s new prime minister is best known even in his native France as the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator. from BBC News https://ift.tt/eW27bha via IFTTT

[beardedmrbean]

Veteran French conservative Michel Barnier has taken over as prime minister, almost two months after France's snap elections ended in political stalemate.

He said France had come to a "serious moment" and he was facing it with humility: "All political forces will have to be respected and listened to, and I mean all."

President Emmanuel Macron named the EU's former chief Brexit negotiator, ending weeks of talks with political parties and potential candidates.

Mr Barnier, 73, arrived at the prime minister's residence at Hôtel Matignon in Paris on Thursday evening, taking over the role from Gabriel Attal, France's youngest ever prime minister who has been in office for the past eight months.

His immediate task will be to form a government that can survive a National Assembly divided into three big political blocs, with none able to form a clear majority.

But Mr Barnier will need all his political skills to navigate the coming weeks, with the centre-left Socialists already planning to challenge his appointment with a vote of confidence.

He said he would respond in the coming days to the "challenges, the anger and the sense of being abandoned and of injustice that run through our towns and countryside".

He promised to tell the truth to the French people about the financial and environmental challenges facing the country, and to work with "all those in good faith" towards great respect and unity.

It has taken President Macron 60 days to make up his mind on choosing a prime minister, having called a "political truce" during the Paris Olympics.

In his farewell speech outside Hôtel Matignon, Gabriel Attal said "French politics is sick, but a cure is possible, provided that we all agree to move away from sectarianism".

Having led the marathon talks on the UK's exit from the European Union between 2016 and 2019, Mr Barnier has considerable experience of political deadlock. He has had a long political career in France as well as the EU and has long been part of the right-wing Republicans (LR) party.

Known in France as Monsieur Brexit, he is France's oldest prime minister since the Fifth Republic came into being in 1958.

Three years ago, he tried and failed to become his party's candidate to take on President Macron for the French presidency. He said he wanted to limit and take control of immigration.

Mr Macron's presidency lasts until 2027. Normally the government comes from the president's party, as they are elected weeks apart.

But the man who has called himself "the master of the clocks" changed that when he called snap elections in June and his centrists came second to the left-wing New Popular Front.

President Macron has interviewed several potential candidates for the role of prime minister, but his task was complicated by the need to come up with a name who could survive a so-called censure vote on their first appearance in the National Assembly.

The Elysée Palace said that by appointing Mr Barnier, the president had ensured that the prime minister and future government would offer the greatest possible stability and the broadest possible unity.

Mr Barnier had been given the task of forming a unifying government "in the service of the country and the French people", the presidency stressed.

Mr Barnier's initial challenge as prime minister will be to steer through France's 2025 budget and he has until 1 October to submit a draft plan to the National Assembly.

Gabriel Attal has already been working on a provisional budget over the summer, but getting it past MPs will require all Mr Barnier's political skills.

His nomination has already caused discontent within the New Popular Front (NFP), whose own candidate for prime minister was rejected by the president.

Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the leader of the radical France Unbowed (LFI) - the biggest of the four parties that make up the NFP - said the election had been "stolen from the French people".

Instead of coming from the the alliance that came first on 7 July, he complained that the prime minister would be "a member of a party that came last", referring to the Republicans.

"This is now essentially a Macron-Le Pen government," said Mr Mélenchon, referring to the leader of the far-right National Rally (RN).

He then called for people to join a left-wing protest against Mr Macron's decision planned for Saturday.

To survive a vote of confidence, Mr Barnier will need to persuade 289 MPs in the 577-seat National Assembly to back his government.

Marine Le Pen has made clear her party will not take part in his administration, but she said he at least appeared to meet National Rally's initial requirement, as someone who "respected different political forces".

Jordan Bardella, the 28-year-old president of the RN, said Mr Barnier would be judged on his words, his actions and his decisions on France's next budget, which has to be put before parliament by 1 October.

He cited the cost of living, security and immigration as major emergencies for the French people, adding that "we hold all means of political action in reserve if this is not the case in the coming weeks".

Mr Barnier is likely to attract support from the president's centrist Ensemble alliance. Macron ally Yaël Braun-Pivet, who is president of the National Assembly, congratulated the nominee and said MPs would now have to play their full part: "Our mandate obliges us to."

The former Brexit negotiator had only emerged as a potential candidate late on Wednesday afternoon.

Until then, two other experienced politicians had been touted as most likely candidates: former Socialist prime minister Bernard Cazeneuve and Republicans regional leader Xavier Bertrand. But it soon became apparent that neither would have survived a vote of confidence.

That was Mr Macron's explanation for turning down the left-wing candidate, Lucie Castets, a senior civil servant in Paris who he said would have fallen at the first hurdle.

The president has been widely criticised for igniting France's political crisis.

A recent opinion poll suggested that 51% of French voters thought the president should resign.

There is little chance of that, but the man Mr Macron picked as his first prime minister in 2017, Édouard Philippe, has now put his name forward three years early for the next presidential election.

[sa7abnews]

Boris Johnson in running for senior role at UK newspaper – media

New Post has been published on https://sa7ab.info/2024/08/16/boris-johnson-in-running-for-senior-role-at-uk-newspaper-media/

Boris Johnson in running for senior role at UK newspaper – media

The ex-British PM has reportedly held talks with former Tory Nadhim Zahawi, who is eyeing a takeover of the Telegraph

Former British prime minister Boris Johnson is being considered for the role of global editor-in-chief of The Telegraph newspaper, several UK media outlets have reported. Johnson has reportedly held preliminary talks about the post with Nadhim Zahawi, the former chancellor of the exchequer who is now aiming to buy the financially troubled paper. The Tory firebrand played a prominent role in the Brexit campaign ahead of the 2016 European Union membership referendum. Having become prime minister in July 2019, Johnson led the country through subsequent negotiations with Brussels, as well as the Covid-19 pandemic. However, with dissatisfaction growing among the British public and within his own Conservative Party over a series of political scandals, he was forced to step down in July 2022. In an article on Monday, Sky News quoted an anonymous source close to the former prime minister as saying that, while the idea of him assuming a senior role at The Telegraph was “floating around,” no formal agreement had been reached.

Read more

The evil clown returns: Boris Johnson is not done haunting world politics

Johnson, who previously worked for the newspaper as a correspondent in Brussels and more recently as a columnist, “still holds The Telegraph in high affection,” an unnamed source told Sky News. The Telegraph also confirmed on Monday that Johnson had discussed the matter with Zahawi, who is currently assembling a consortium to buy the newspaper at auction. According to Sky News, the former chancellor has already mentioned the possibility of Johnson becoming the global editor-in-chief at the daily to prospective investors in his bid. The Telegraph itself has suggested that this could help foster more interest among the billionaires Zahawi has presumably approached in the hope of setting up a consortium and buying the newspaper. The fate of The Telegraph has been in limbo for over a year after the Barclay family, which owned the daily for nearly 20 years, fell behind on debt repayments. Following several setbacks, the media outlet was eventually put up for auction, with several tycoons vying for the asset. A spokesperson for Johnson declined to comment regarding the reported job negotiations with Zahawi.

[novumtimes]

The one important rule for travelling to Europe this summer by ferry according to the Port of Dover boss

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email One week ahead of the summer surge for ferry traffic at Dover, families heading for France are being urged not to arrive at the port too early. Doug Bannister, chief executive of the Port of Dover, told The Independent: “We are encouraging people to turn up two hours before their sailing – no more. “If everybody can stick to that, it will make the travel much easier for everyone trying to get through.” Dover, which has three competing ferry firms serving Calais as well as a link to Dunkirk, is by far the most busiest port for travellers to Europe. The third weekend in July, as many families begin their summer holidays, has seen long queues for each of the past two years. Following the Brexit vote, the UK government negotiated for British travellers to become “third-country nationals” – with every passport scrutinised and stamped before entering the European Union. At Dover, along with the Eurotunnel terminal at Folkestone and Eurostar’s London St Pancras hub, French frontier police conduct these checks on British soil. As a result, some motorists have waited in queues for many hours. New facilities have been installed, with four extra checkpoints for French border staff installed – taking the total to 11. But Mr Bannister said work to accommodate the future Entry Exit System (EES) is causing complications. A consequence of the UK’s status means that under the EES, due to start in October, every British passenger will have their fingerprints and facial biometric registered. The port CEO said: “As well as having even more tourist traffic coming our way this year, we have the added challenge of having to implement our infrastructure works required by France and the EU to support the Entry Exit System. “On arrival at the port this summer, our customers will see the contractors we have on-site, working around an already busy 24/7 operation to construct these facilities. “The effect of these works that are required to house the process means that our buffer zone, where traffic waits for French border clearance, will have a reduced capacity.” “If you enter the port two hours before your sailing, we’re going to endeavour get you through the border control process and get you checked in for your ferry.” Crucially, Mr Bannister said, there is no penalty if you missed your planned departure: “If you’re disrupted our ferry operators will automatically rebook you on the next available ferry, and typically that is the next sailing. So you will get away.” The port boss also asked motorists to stick to the designated routes along the A20 and A2. Trucks will be controlled using a permit system – with drivers who try their luck without one sent to the back of the queue. Source link via The Novum Times

[news2024news]

Theresa May's chief Brexit negotiator in talks to work with Labour http://dlvr.it/T90WR9

[head-post]

David Cameron could sell Gibraltar

Fears are growing that David Cameron will sell off Gibraltar and the UK will lose its sovereignty in the area, according to GBN.

The UK foreign secretary is preparing to visit Brussels to discuss the rock’s post-Brexit trade arrangements. Lord Cameron, who led the Brexit referendum, will chair a meeting of the Trade and Co-operation Agreement partnership council with European Commission executive vice-president Maroš Šefčovič on May 16.

He is expected to continue negotiations on the UK-EU treaty on Gibraltar alongside Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares and Gibraltar Chief Minister Fabian Picardo. The meeting will be the second of its kind.

However, some MPs fear that Lord Cameron seems “prepared to concede an arrangement” that will “erode UK sovereignty to the point of meaninglessness.” Last week the Commons European scrutiny committee wrote a letter to David Rutley, the UK minister for Gibraltar. The committee requested him to suspend talks until officials sigh a deal that would preserve the sovereignty of the rock.

A deal must not be pursued irrespective of the cost. Rather than being assured that you are pursuing a deal that strikes this balance and, most importantly, respects UK sovereignty, we are concerned that you are allowing the pendulum to swing too far in the direction of the EU.

Lord Cameron is negotiating a new deal with the EU to end a four-year political impasse. A deal including Gibraltar is necessary, as the wider EU-UK trade pact struck in 2019 did not include it.

Read more HERE

[andronetalks]

Emmanuel Macron has triggered France’s Brexit moment, warns Michel Barnier

Yahoo News – The Telegraph By Joe BarnesSat, June 22, 2024 at 6:36 AM EDT Emmanuel Macron has driven his country to the brink of a “Frexit” moment, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator has said. In an interview with The Telegraph, Michel Barnier said: “I regret that in my country that this warning has not been listened to… about migration, about security, about authority of the state, and the respect…