Rayvin

Dortmund would be interesting like - he'd fit the Dortmund of a couple of years ago, all speed and counters. Not sure how they play now in truth. Can they afford £35m though?

Absolutely. I like his possible solution in that article though, of just kicking it into the long grass and sorting it out at the next GE. At least public mood may have shifted by then. Also, she must know that running with Brexit will cost her political career - even if it is possible to make a success of it, it's not a short term outlook.

gpirlo soldiering on here

So, I don't watch TV series episode to episode like the rest of you - I tend to wait for a season to finish so that I can watch the episodes without having to wait a week each time. I find it's easier to follow the storyline that way for one thing, and I also get impatient waiting for each new episode. I tend to avoid Facebook during these periods, and only really read politics or sports pages in the news. Everyone at work is under strict instruction not to talk to me about it. I'm also safe on here because people are so good at preventing spoilers from seeping into non-specific topic chat. In fact, the level of respect shown about such issues is one of the major reasons I value this community, and come back to it day to day. There's admittedly the odd slip up from time to time, and even I've been guilty of it, although I've always made sure to re-edit my posts once I've been called out on it. I feel that this simple action, even if one has made a mistake, implicitly suggests to people that I'm not a massive fucking bell end. I'm up to episode 5.

More to the point, according to that article, we can't even negotiate with anyone until we're actually out.

Interesting, thanks for posting that HF

I don't think we've covered a lot of that CT... We're not sufficiently up to speed on trade deals to have known a lot of that...

I wonder how far off the truth a lot of that is...

CT, she could have walked in today and given cabinet positions to several farmyard animals and you'd have claimed she was playing an absolute blinder. What has she done that is actually of any merit here? What do you know about the people she has just appointed?

I don't see the issue. I get why people are antsy given Europe's imperial past but at the end of the day, a combined force would be more effective if ever needed than a multitude of separate forces. Moreover, it'd counter balance US influence globally.

It's a fair point though isn't it? It's a very slender majority and she must have pissed off more than 7 Tories today.

@CT: Why would they help her? They care about power not principles or policies. No chance they'd be propping her up.

That isn't an argument.

What is everyone so afraid of an EU army for, exactly? How is that any different to a series of smaller armies who would, if Europe was ever invaded, fight collectively against the opposing force? Other than that the latter model would be considerably less efficient.

Do you think she's going to have a stable enough party after all this bloodshed? Some of the commentators are speculating that with a majority of only 12, and now a very likely hostile set of back benchers, she may have to go for an early GE after all...

Who does believe in magical healing water...?

I gather our educational standards are well thought of, and we export a lot of material in that respect. Probably why risking academic research isnt a great idea actually.

Don't think so CT, the left has fractured. In your analogy it would be like a sizeable chunk of the supporter base decided to throw their lot in with Gateshead. Why do you keep trying to persuade us it'll be ok though - you have what you want - endless Tory control as far as the eye can see. That's the main thing brexit has won us. Well played, in all fairness.

Are there any competent politicians left in this country...

The line about dissolving the people is a good point. Also sadly true of the referendum though.

It's the cabinet from hell.

Genuinely worried or hilariously worried?

Did you catch that report about British scientists being dropped from EU projects CT? Appreciate it may have been discussed already. Many of these academic studies receive funding solely from the EU, so we're going to have to make up quite a short fall.

Although you know what, I've just read Owen Smith's speech and he sounds ok. I'll reflect on this more in the build up to the vote. I'd much prefer to vote optimistically.