Law Jaw

[smokingboot]

The high court has, unsurprisingly, come down on the side of the challengers regarding the government's attempt to use the Royal Prerogative to prevent MPs in the Houses of Parliament voting on Brexit.

It did not bode well to have one of the judges point out the obvious.( 'I'm baffled,' Lord Thomas said. 'These rights are under treaty. If amending the treaty, parliamentary approval is needed. So, I don't understand why the content of these rights are not controlled by parliament?' http://uk.businessinsider.com/supreme-court-article-50-court-case-day-3-lord-chief-justice-was-baffled-by-the-uk-governments-key-arguments-2016-10)

 I may wade through the entire judgement at some point. https://www.judiciary.gov.uk/judgments/r-miller-v-secretary-of-state-for-exiting-the-european-union/ But the bit that sings to me so far is here: https://twitter.com/StevePeers/status/794124143369355265

Now of course we have a backlash against the judges  from those who fervently fight for parliamentary sovereignty until it doesn't agree with them.

This is actually a good time to be ill. Viewing all this through a fever almost makes sense of it.

Comments

[semyaza.livejournal.com]

You need a general election.

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

We do.

Farage is braying for it, which indicates he sees more power to UKip from such a development. So do I, unfortunately. At least one party somewhere must stand on the mandate of staying in the EU,and if that means Tories and Labourites hiving off, then so be it. Then the people have a proper legal vote, with a proper manifesto and all is done and dusted. And if the bad times are coming, at least we can prepare.

This rubbish has turned up in Liverpool Street Station : http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/posters-for-new-police-antiterror-initiative-on-trains-spark-racism-row-a3385836.html

This is the front page of the Mail: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CwXyo91WEAA7NUq.jpg

Here is what was on the web page. I think they have removed it nowhttps://queerty-prodweb.s3.amazonaws.com/content/docs/2016/11/03140854/Screen-Shot-2016-11-03-at-11.08.34-AM-670x448.jpg

I do not know how close to real trouble we are. These are grotesque things to see and read, as we approach Remembrance Day.

[benicek.livejournal.com]

I reckon an election now would probably see a large Tory majority. UKIP and Labour are feeble right now. The Lib Dems, Sinn Fein and SNP will stand on an anti-Brexit platform. Labour can't because too much of its base in the north voted for Brexit.

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

Yes, I think you may well be right.

But I do not see what the alternative is, tbh. After the nonsense regarding the royal prerogative and the Lord Chancellor, it is pretty clear that the actual mechanics of parliamentary democracy don't matter to May. Her refusal to condemn the attacks on the High Court judges, especially from the press, suggests that Kitten Heels is running scared of the far right. I thought this after hearing the regrettable rhetoric of the Tory Party Conference. They are pandering, for all May's tough attitude.

[benicek.livejournal.com]

She might be pandering but also bluffing the far right. The promises she made to Nissan sound like she might be going for a Norway EEA option while pretending not to. Hard to say.

Could be...

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

... It would be a serviceable bluff, and certainly more palatable than the impression I got .

[benicek.livejournal.com]

I once watched Powell & Pressburger's 'Tales of Hoffman' while home alone with a mind-bending fever. It was odd.

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

That actually sounds rather marvellous! I have never seen it at all - I should probably remedy that.

[benicek.livejournal.com]

My favourite composer (http://benicek.livejournal.com/137961.html) combined with my favourite directors. Translating the opera into English made it even more surreal.

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

I have seen a few operas but know very little about it as an art form. Your entry on the subject is fascinating and makes me want to seek out Vert-Vert's song. But perhaps it would be too melancholy... I shall wait till the mood seems right.

[benicek.livejournal.com]

Track three here http://www.opera-rara.com/vert-vert.html

It is much funnier than it sounds, painting a picture of the extremely spoilt deceased pet eating and boozing itself to death somewhat happily.

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

I listened to all of them, thoroughly enjoyed it, probably going to buy it.

Cheered up something of a gloomy time for me, thank you! :-)

[benicek.livejournal.com]

It's great, though for complete Offenbach operettas these two are still my favourites:

http://amzn.eu/cd54cKc
http://amzn.eu/et59emE

Thank you!

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

I'm going to listen to these while in the bath, see if they help me cheer up. Vert-Vert was very light and sweet!