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[MetalSlimeHunt]

inb4 the miraculous LibDem surge that happens in every alternate history ever written about the UK

inb4 LibDem-SinnFein-UKIP coalition from hell

inb4 hysteria over whoever's got the ex-BNP membership this time around

inb4 "why don't we just abolish the monarchy and be done with it"

[smjjames]

Well then.

Mrs. May calling for snap elections. Let's see if Bregret is an actual thing.

Only ~6 weeks for campaigning though. Hopefully opposition parties have been on the ball with their plans for Brexit.

So, she's trying to get a two thirds majority for her party before the actual vote? I think that's the gist of it? Could backfire on her since she has no control over how things actually go.

[Loud Whispers]

Spoiler: Random musings (click to show/hide)

Thanks for the welcome back guys, though I can say with confidence no seamines were laid down, excepting perhaps the bags of sick left behind by an Italian shipmate who had quite a bit to drink. I find it very amusing in that I tend to be out of London whenever one of these big kerfluffles arise, and all I can say is that the whole Gibraltar issue did not sit well in England - the EU delivered an unnecessary provocation, and it's a shame that Spain needed to be reminded that any attempt to take Gibraltar against the wishes of its people would be a declaration of war against the United Kingdom. Nonetheless, cooler heads have prevailed, no one appears to be making any rash movements since then and so all is well. My travels through the coast of northern Europe and southern England I found immensely amusing in characterizing much of the history, faults, ambitions and virtues of its peoples.
Passing the small English towns, truly beautiful things, I was struck by how trusting and welcoming all of the coastal people were - by comparison, my own shipmates were all mostly possessed of an ignorant, childlike, prejudiced spirit, with far too much fondness for alcohol. I found them thoroughly useless, a constant living reminder that upon the United Kingdom leaving the European Union, there is still much work to be done towards fixing the moral character of this nation. The coast was dotted with beautiful fortresses and castles overlooking river entrances and such, the cliffs around England providing the rest of the Fortress Britannia - sailing past the channel forts on their tripod legs or rock foundations, one could see from the times of Constantine to Napoleon and Hitler, the British have been distinctly wary of European attempts at hegemony.

At the European coasts the hospitality with which we were all received was no less than that in England, with exception to one kebab shop owner who genuinely wanted to charge us 50 euros for chips. Seeing European cities awash with modern buildings, one could see where a lone church remained that all the rest had been completely obliterated by luftwafte and RAF bombing in the second world war. Fortresses, ever useful landmarks when navigating, were especially noticeable - many were the sights of devastating sieges wherein shifting coalitions fought against the most threatening European hegemons, from Anglo-Dutch against Spanish Hapsburg to Anglo-Prussian against French Imperialists. I chuckled reading of the Czar suggesting to the allies to not partition France, so as to not entrench the dominance of an intolerable rising naval power called Britain, before being eclipsed by the USA the United Kingdom had its time under the sun. Perhaps if I travel through central Europe one day I can see the Fortresses of Hapsburg Austria, it is altogether startling how fiercely their state managed to defy revolutionary France for so long, even with all the central powers running around with extensive subsidies from wicked Anglo credit magic.

All previous hegemons have all thus far concluded that to attain total European hegemony would never be a permanent affair, so long as the possibility for nation states to survive independently within Europe was possible, and this would always be possible for as long as the flank nations of Europe were not pacified diplomatically, economically or militarily - namely, the British Isles, Russia and in this modern age it's worth adding the USA. Enjoying as much of the local cultures as I could in the brief time allotted, I wondered if in time I stayed, would I come to hold the European Union dearer? No, I concluded, not at all, and in Belgium we had to leave port early because there was a terror threat made against our ship, making it so that every time I've been to mainland Europe my plans have been disrupted by enriched terrorism. I've felt safer traveling to Turkey and Egypt lmao

On that note of security, whether or not the European Union survives or dies is of no real concern. I think it is ideal for it to perish, as it looks set to repeat all the mistakes of Europe's past hegemons - particularly their desire to shut away the world. It was neat seeing where the French and British diverged on their attitudes to trade and power, broadly speaking anyways. Power and prosperity is relative - the United Kingdom today is more advanced and wealthy than it has ever been in history, but its share in global wealth and its strength of global presence is relatively much smaller as compared to the times of the Empire wherein in at its peak the UK was responsible for 40% of the world's manufacturing output. In real terms, poorer, in relative terms, much more influential. This I suppose is what enthralled our academic-politician-CEOs, I need to come up with a better name for that trifecta tbh, this idea of bringing the UK in line with Europe's attempt to band together all of its resources to usurp the USA as world hegemon.

The UK reached its zenith when Napoleon shut Britain out from the European Economy; Britain traded with the world, while the European economies stagnated, growing noncompetitive with a changing world economy. 200 years ago this was to the benefit of French farmers but few else, the Dutch and German industries suffering tremendously, leading to the collapse of the Napoleonic Empire and the rise of the UK. These days the UK would not reach such heights for the existence of the USA and the lack of a charismatic despot in charge of Europe, however there is a great risk of the EU running away into the fates of China, becoming so insulated from the changing world that it begins to fall behind. In relative terms it may still appear significant, but in competitiveness, it will fall behind. As Japan to China, as Britain to EUnion. The eurozone crisis could be manageable if Europe was a homogenous entity, but unlike Japan or the USA, when Europe's austerity and stagnancy continues, so too does the rise of populists. It has yet to solve its debt issues or the issue of its impending demographic death, which will make the earthquakes on the continent look like tremors.

Whatever the fate of the European Union, I am still of the opinion that we must ensure the European States remain strong, whatever fate befalls them usually befalls us after long. It's amusing that Merkel trusts our security services more than her own, it's trust we should maintain, if the EU threatens us we must in turn not make the mistake of allowing European Leaders to be left alone when they most need us. The EU may be no friend of ours, but Europeans certainly are.

My guess is that while no party (apart from the Lib Dem/Green) will back Bremain, the contest will eventually end up with the Tories backign Hard Brexit and Labour back Soft Brexit and staying in the Common market. Since for a bunch of reason the Tories are probably going to win anyway, the vote should overall be good news for Brexiters since it'd give the hard brexit more legitimacy.

There is no such thing as a hard Brexit or a soft Brexit. There is leaving the European Union, and there is staying in the European Union. Staying in the economic union with the EU wherein it would decide our trade terms with the entire world, with our trade partners, wherein it would lock us into the continent's protectionism against our will, is rather odd - we would under such a proposal mislabeled the soft brexit, be ostensibly leaving the European Union, whilst remaining shackled to the economic mechanisms which ensure the real control of the European Union. For the sake of what? Bankers having easy credit access to Europe? Hahahaha, no, that simply wouldn't do. It would be foolish to lower the EU flag only to remain within EU institutions. The libdems are having a right giggle if they genuinely thought we voted "Leave the European Union" in order to have the European Union negotiate our trade deals with the Commonwealth and the World. Gods forbid, having our trade deals negotiated by a Union determined to make the United Kingdom's economy fail as an example to other nations. Can't think of a quicker route to suicide tbh

It'd be political suicide at a national scale.

What about the LibDems?

Libdems committed suicide under Cleggy boi
It was a rather sad affair, he's very sorry for it. In regards to the snap election, it seems clear that the election was triggered by May with the hefty pressure of the SNP, LD and Lab MPs, using the EU referendum results to interpret whatever mandate they wanted. Ostensibly the polls suggest that the Tories will be able to wipe out considerable numbers of pro-EU MPs who sit on constituencies which voted to Leave, and are MPs threatening to grind our gov to a halt. It's a gamble, a safe one - but a gamble nonetheless. I believe as long as the Tories don't get arrogant over positive statistics they should do splendidly, it seems that every time an election was a certain victory, its supporters didn't bother showing up for the "certain victory" and it turns into a surprising defeat.

[Loud Whispers]

That's because London is a shit, m8.

Such individuals were not Londoners though, being from the rural countryside. I fear it is very much a generational thing, which would make it out to be considerably more than a geographic issue

'Elites' serves me well enough most of the time, but if you want something more banteriffic, I don't know, our all-powerful figureheads sounds about right.

Commoners -> House of Commons -> House of Lords -> House of Overlords

[MetalSlimeHunt]

Commoners -> House of Commons -> House of Lords -> House of Overlords

The House of Overlords of the United Kingdom, referred to ceremonially as the Eye of Godsmen, is the final house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons and the House of Lords, it meets in the Palace of Westminster.^[3] Officially, the full name of the house is: We Godsmen Of Furthest Sight Who Guide The Fate Of The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland convened in Shadow.

Unlike the publicly exposed lower houses, the members of the House of Overlords are not appointed based on democratic or aristocratic principles, but are taken from a mixture of elevation meritocracy from relevant corporate and social circles as well as non-heritable ritual attainment.^[4] The membership of the House of Overlords is divided between these two groups, the Enlightened Eyes and the Sanguine Eyes. The Enlightened Eyes consist of exactly 256 beings elevated as Overlords by the methods of their seat, which exists in perpetuity. Elevation methods are determined by each seat's circle and are occasionally under retaliative binding, precluding their listing here.^[5] The Sanguine Eyes consist of survivors of the Proclamation of Starless Night and all ongoing survivors of the Fated Venture. They have no set number and, lacking any elevation circle, rarely leave their seats except through death.^[6] The Sanguine Eyes and the Enlightened Eyes are bound together through parliamentary obscurantism, not requiring any member of either group to identify themselves, as well as those members who have been identified adopting creation monitors. Very few of the latter group are female for obvious reasons.^[7]

Few members of the House of Lords and only the Speaker of the House of Commons are aware of the Overlords. The Speaker employs their immemorial pronunciation at the instruction of the Monarch to clear difficulties created by the House of Commons, while the House of Lords is more independent, being retained through useful traditions and the legal weakness of the body.^[8] Following the passage of the House of Lords Act of 1999, however, they have been far more obstructive to the Overlords, a trend that is believed to be sourced in the Lords who are aware of the Overlords guiding their ignorant peers. ^{[citation needed]}

The House of Overlords scrutinizes bills that have been approved by the lower houses and implants bills it wishes them to enact.^[9] It regularly adds hidden clauses and amendments to legislation that was not originally implanted.^[10] No act of law may be finalized in the United Kingdom without the approval of the Overlords^[11], with the exception of the Monarch's rarely-invoked Divine Right of Establishment.^[12] In this capacity, the House of Overlords serves to manage and protect the section of the human superorganism living under its authority.^{[13][14][15] [dubious - discuss]} Bills can be introduced into either the House of Overlords directly or implanted within the lower houses or another public group. Members of the Overlords may never take on roles as government ministers even while employing a false identity, upon penalty of death ^{[weasel words]} under the Regulation for False Consciousness Act of 1951. The House of Overlords retains the right to partake of government support services, but in practice the Enlightened Eyes make use of their circles while the Sanguine Eyes are not in need.

A second Queen's Speech was held in the House of Overlords following the first speech in the House of Lords until 1991, when political difficulties regarding the Monarch's visitation began to emerge. The Overlords have little involvement in the British judicial system outside of the Judicial Management Committee, and some members of the Committee have infamously called for the disestablishment of Justice, a contributing factor to the Monarch's displeasure.^[16] The Overlords also protect the practice and ritual of the Innermost Catholic Church of Lunes, and ensure that the Lunes do not reach beyond safe practice or are investigated by the public.^[17]

>_

[ChairmanPoo]

... the f*ck....

[Loud Whispers]

Now that is a work of art

[TD1]

Surely that just describes Europe, though?

[Sergarr]

My guess is that while no party (apart from the Lib Dem/Green) will back Bremain, the contest will eventually end up with the Tories backign Hard Brexit and Labour back Soft Brexit and staying in the Common market. Since for a bunch of reason the Tories are probably going to win anyway, the vote should overall be good news for Brexiters since it'd give the hard brexit more legitimacy.

There is no such thing as a hard Brexit or a soft Brexit. There is leaving the European Union, and there is staying in the European Union. Staying in the economic union with the EU wherein it would decide our trade terms with the entire world, with our trade partners, wherein it would lock us into the continent's protectionism against our will, is rather odd - we would under such a proposal mislabeled the soft brexit, be ostensibly leaving the European Union, whilst remaining shackled to the economic mechanisms which ensure the real control of the European Union. For the sake of what? Bankers having easy credit access to Europe? Hahahaha, no, that simply wouldn't do. It would be foolish to lower the EU flag only to remain within EU institutions. The libdems are having a right giggle if they genuinely thought we voted "Leave the European Union" in order to have the European Union negotiate our trade deals with the Commonwealth and the World. Gods forbid, having our trade deals negotiated by a Union determined to make the United Kingdom's economy fail as an example to other nations. Can't think of a quicker route to suicide tbh

Hey, it's not our fault so many of you people want to remain in the EU's "common market" and are saying that their businesses and agricultural facilities will be in peril unless UK negotiates that. And guess what comes with this common market? That's right, regulations. UK will be forced to follow all EU regulations, and this time - it won't have any say at all about it. Ahahaha!

[Loud Whispers]

Hey, it's not our fault so many of you people want to remain in the EU's "common market" and are saying that their businesses and agricultural facilities will be in peril unless UK negotiates that. And guess what comes with this common market? That's right, regulations. UK will be forced to follow all EU regulations, and this time - it won't have any say at all about it. Ahahaha!

The same people who wanted us to remain in the EU want us to remain in the single market, for the exact reasons you mentioned - it strengthens their project whilst weakening the UK. I also question your laughter, as the UK is leaving the single market, thus will not be subject to EU regulation or EU control of British trade.

Any agreement with the EU must "allow for the freest possible trade in goods and services", Mrs May said.
"But I want to be clear: what I am proposing cannot mean membership of the single market.
"It would, to all intents and purposes, mean not leaving the EU at all.
"That is why both sides in the referendum campaign made it clear that a vote to leave the EU would be a vote to leave the single market."

It is of no surprise for example that before the referendum Nick Clegg wept, saying that to leave the EU would require leaving the single market - only to U-turn when he lost. Let them talk, the real contest will be decided in the elections, if the liberal democrats manage to achieve a majority they will have earned the mandate to cancel Brexit.

[Sergarr]

Well, hey, you're welcome to have your home industries ruined because their clients were all in EU, then!

[Loud Whispers]

Well, hey, you're welcome to have your home industries ruined because their clients were all in EU, then!

Hey look at none of the evidence you're providing

So much nothing is substantial in its emptiness

[Sergarr]

I have no need to provide evidence of UK's trade with EU. It's self-evident for anyone.

[Sergarr]

No, you have to provide evidence that the UK would suddenly lose every single bit of trade with the EU following Brexit.

Well, that's obvious. They leave the EU's single common market, so they don't get to trade with EU! Simple, really.

EDIT: Wait, there's also USA and China's trade with EU. I forgot about them. Shit.

EDIT2: I guess that makes my argument debunked, then.

[hector13]

What about all the ther countries that aren't part of the EU common market that trade with the EU? China, the US, Canada et. al.

Nah the British parties have to campaign that Brexit is still happening, but they can't do that in Scotland. I am curious how they deal with that dichotomy. I'm mostly surprised in my gut I still want the U.K. in yoorup.

I'm probably with you that Labour won't do well and I don't think the Lib Dems can move past the view they were spineless during the coalition, while Theresay May at least appears competent. She's also had the benefit of knowing she wants to do this, and has thus prepared for the campaigning.

My gut further tells me the Tories consolidate their position at the expense of Labour, while the SNP retain most of their seats in Scotland. Hopefully. May has forced Sturgeon's hand a bit, they may have to campaign on indyref2 to some extent. Could backfire handily though, for either side.

This seems a pretty astute summary of the factors involved. Though I imagine you're hoping it falls in Sturgeon's favour whereas I'm backing May.

Also, I thought you were backing independence for Scotland? If that's the case, why would you still want the U.K. in the EU? Or are you only in favour of Scottish independence in the event of the U.K. leaving the EU?

I am backing independence for Scotland, and my main reason for that (self-determination) kinda has me on the fence in terms of Brexit. I like the idea of Europe, but it is like most political things nice looking on paper but in practice, a bit shit. I also don't know that much about EU machinations to shift myself off the fence, one way or t'other. This on a conscious level, anyway.

As I say, my gut likes Europe, and doesn't like the Tories. Thus, a Tory-led charge away from the mainland doesn't sit comfortably.

Presently my desire for Scottish independence is kept separate from my feelings regarding Europe, until I can reconcile them. Which probably won't happen since I'm lazy.