Frances Fitzgerald through the years and (above) a near prang with photogrpahers while leaving government buildings this evening.

“Today I made the decision to tender my resignation to the Taoiseach, stepping-down with immediate effect as Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation. It has been the greatest honour of my life to serve in Government, but I believe it is necessary to take this decision to avoid an unwelcome and potentially destabilising general election at this historically critical time.

Throughout my career I have always sought to act with integrity and responsibility, and that is why I have decided on this occasion to put the national interest ahead of my own personal reputation. I have always believed in fairness and equality and these principles have guided my work as Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, as Minister for Justice and Equality, and now as Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation.

I would like to thank the Taoiseach for showing the same courage and determination to protect my good name that he displayed three years ago when he stood-up and defended the reputation of Maurice McCabe. What I admire most about the Taoiseach is that he has always believed in doing what was right – not what was popular or politically expedient. I will always be grateful for his confidence and support and for giving me the opportunity to serve in a Government that is making a real difference in people’s lives at a critical time in our history.

However, I decided that my continuation in office risks destabilising that good work, and so I have decided to step-down so that this work may continue and the country can be spared an unnecessary election. It will also allow me to vindicate my good name at the Charleton Tribunal, without causing any further distraction to the work of the Government. I have always believed in due process and I believe that in the current situation that is becoming increasingly difficult for me. I acted correctly in difficult circumstances and, in fact, did everything that I could to support the search for truth and protect whistleblowers.

I would like to thank all those who have worked with me over the years and I am so grateful for the incredible support I received from family, friends, supporters, staff, and my constituents in Dublin Mid-West. And I look forward to continuing to serve all the people of Dublin Mid-West.

I have no further comment to make.”

Frances Fitzgerald, this afternoon.

“This morning, Frances Fitzgerald came to me to offer her resignation as Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation. She is doing so to avoid an unnecessary and early General Election that could have left the country without a functioning government and Oireachtas for several months at a crucial time for Ireland.

Over the next few weeks and months, the government will need to focus on the Brexit negotiations, both phase one and phase two. We have a Finance Bill and Appropriations Bill to enact. Legislation to pass for public sector pay restoration and pension and social welfare increases. We also have the important work of the committee on the 8th amendment to complete paving the way for a referendum next year. All of these would fall in the event of a general election.

The work of the government and the parliament must not be interrupted during this important period. So, it is with deep regret that I have accepted her resignation.

It is my strong view that a good woman is leaving office without getting a full and fair hearing.

Frances has been an exemplary member of Government and a loyal colleague. She established the Department of Children and Tusla, changed the constitution twice to enshrine in it children’s rights and the right to marriage equality. She was one of the most reforming Ministers for Justice we have ever had setting up the Independent Policing Authority chaired by Josephine Feehily, the Legal Services Regulatory Authority and bringing in a raft of reforming legislation including the Sexual Offences Act. She always supported whistle-blowers, and enshrined a code of ethics in An Garda Síochána to protect them.

In the past few days a drip-drip of information may have made certain things seem greater than they are. There was a feeding frenzy, and it became impossible for her to get a fair hearing based on the full facts. I hope that will change in the period ahead.

While all of the facts still remain unclear, there are a few things that we do know. Frances had no hand act or part in the former Commissioner’s legal strategy, did not devise or guide it in any way. She was advised by her own officials that she had no function in the matter. The Attorney General has since confirmed this advice and further advised that she would have been acting improperly and inappropriately if she had sought to interfere with the work of the O’Higgins Commission.

We know from the e-mails, that Frances Fitzgerald had no knowledge of it until the Commission’s hearing were already underway and that her knowledge of the detail was limited.

I hope calm, measured reading of the evidence will show that the Tánaiste acted appropriately, and I hope the Charleton Tribunal will establish this conclusively in the weeks ahead, and that she will have her good name vindicated. I expect her to continue to play a full role in political and public life including at the highest level.

Throughout her career, the Tánaiste has been a champion of women’s rights, and equal rights, she has been a pioneer when it comes to supporting children, and fighting against all forms of inequality and injustice.

The events of the past few days have exposed major problems once again within a dysfunctional Department of Justice, including the way important emails were not found and therefore not sent on to the Charleton Tribunal during discovery. I am directing that there will be an external inquiry into that to report before Christmas. Systemic problems within the Department were identified in the Toland Report. Minister Fitzgerald began the process of implementing the Report, and this has continued under her successor Charlie Flanagan. These reforms will now be accelerated, and the government is planning radical action to restore public confidence in the Department of Justice.

An independent and change implementation group will be established to:

a) assess progress in implementing the recommendations of the Toland Report;

b) review the culture of the Department, make recommendations for change, particularly in the light of evidence of a continued siloed and secretive culture and a failure to provide accurate information to me and the Oireachtas;

c) examine in particular, the relationship between the Department and the Gardaí, to ensure that the relationship is appropriately structured, is understood in both organisations and operates in such a way as to ensure accountability and better performance;

d) draw on the expertise of the Policing Authority in conducting its work;

The Government will in the coming days provide further details on this. The Minister and Secretary General of the Department for Justice & Equality will ensure that all future PQs are replied to as fully and openly as possible, subject to Dáil Standing Orders and the law. All recent PQs asked by any Deputy relating to Maurice McCabe will be reviewed and it will be ensured that they have been answered as fully and openly as possible. Any additional relevant additional information will be provided to Deputies as quickly as possible.

These events have reminded us of some of the ways Maurice McCabe was undermined, when he shone a light in some very dark places. As Taoiseach I am determined to shine the brightest of lights into the darkest of places, so that we arrive at the truth and have true accountability.

I continue to believe that the Tánaiste acted throughout in a way that was appropriate. But these are matters that will now be investigated and adjudicated upon by a tribunal.

In the meantime, the Government will continue to work for the good of the country. We will focus on the challenge of Brexit, and deal with the many other problems we are facing. We will not be distracted as we strive to do what is in the best interests of all the people.”

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, this afternoon.

‘I’m resigning by my own volition’ – Frances Fitzgerald tells Cabinet (Niall O’Connor and kevin Doyle, Independent.ie)

Earlier: Endgame

Rollingnews

Meanwhile…

Ah here.

Via Pol

Meanwhile…

So it begins…

Rollingnews

 

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121 thoughts on “Gone

    1. Killian G

      Absolutely. No points for ‘accountability’ or ‘integrity’ here. They resisted this with all their might. If anything, it’s the opposite – did all they could to resist accountability and deny integrity. Fupp them.

      1. LW

        +1 it’s not accountability and integrity if the country has to be on the cliff edge of an election before you act

  1. anne

    She also turned a blind eye, ergo endorsed the smearing of Maurice McCabe, by her own volition.

    Toodles ya corrupt lying sliveen.

    1. realPolithicks

      They all did, you can be sure that Varadkar, Kenny, Shatter and all the other scumbags involved with this government knew exactly what was going on but nonetheless allowed Sgt. McCabe to suffer for the last 10 years or more. Its a disgrace, they should all go.

  2. Junkface

    As usual, Irish politicians have to be dragged away kicking an screaming. Couldn’t resign when it was respectable, oh no.

    1. ahjayzis

      +1

      It’s really, really undignified how they’ll try to hold onto office, they’ll destroy their reputation for ever rather than give up the fancy desk.

      1. Otis Blue

        That statement is just self serving rubbish. Mere cant and empty words.

        And it had to be dragged out of her.

  3. ahjayzis

    Leo bungled this massively.

    He actually had pretty good credentials on whistleblowers and the garda scandal. But he’s actively wiped the mud back onto his ‘new’ government, and all for nothing. Massive political miscalculation.

    In Britain a PM (other than Theresa!) would sack their granny to avoid this kind of crap.

    1. Charger Salmons

      @ahjayzis
      Well to be fair to Theresa May she has sacked ministers guilty of misconduct ( Sir Michael Fallon ) and poor judgement ( Priti Patel ).
      But the idea that a deputy prime minister should even be aware of an attempt to smear an innocent cop and not do anything about it or even worse collude in the smear campaign and then claim not to know anything about it and STILL refuse to resign is extraordinary.
      Generally when British politicians get caught out they’re quietly asked to fall on their sword and most do.
      The reality is Dail business is parish pump politics by third-rate glad-handers.
      This country deserves better of its elected representatives.

      1. Listrade

        Nope, just checked, Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson is still Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. Maybe the sword he’s been asked to fall on is held up in customs.

        1. Listrade

          Also checked to see what happened to the Home Secretary who was aware of Met Police and Media corruption over the Daniel Morgan Murder. Theresa May. Maybe she’s waiting on Boris’s sword.

          1. Killian G

            Unfortunately, Charger won’t respond to that!

            He deals in half-truths and ignorance. Please don’t confront him with facts.

        2. Listrade

          Best not mention covering up the Trident failure just before renewing the contract. Oh wait, Theresa May again. Shown to be lying on television.

          1. Killian G

            “Lying on television”?

            Sure that’s just what actors do all the time. Oh wait, Paddy doesn’t have a television? Haw-haw-haw.

        3. Listrade

          Or any of that nefarious stuff around Housing Minister Gavin Barwell and Grenfall. Now a special adviser to Theresa May.

          This is exemplary stuff in quietly dealing with corruption and incompetence.

      2. Charger Salmons

        Nope.
        Not a single example of anything that requires a resignation to save a government’s skin.
        You’ll have to try harder than that Spudders.
        And by the way,Boris is a hugely popular politician in Blighty and all the more so because he winds up the old colonials like the Irish.
        And you know I can’t ever recall a British Chancellor of the Exchequer who never had a bank account and kept his moolah in a safe.
        And I’m sure the Brits would have had enough intelligence to work out that a Prime Minister couldn’t afford a Palladian mansion,yacht,racehorses and the life of a multi-millionaire on his salary alone.
        But as I say,Paddy is easily led.
        Even the Catholic Church fooled him for him for decades.
        Spudtastic !

        1. Killian G

          Try to think this one through again. All that Special Brew has dulled the cerebrum. We know you can do it…

        2. Listrade

          Ok. According to U-GOV 53% of people “dislike or really dislike” Boris Johnson. By those statistics I’m a hugely popular contributor to this site.

          He’s not even popular among the Tories.

          And if there wasn’t another little bit of corruption emerging around the DUP funding for the election…(oh boy and it’s a biggie) then the DUP might make a bit of stand and cause any one of those issues to potentially bring down a government. But they can’t because they’re screwed with regards to funding.

          But hey, you knew that right? I mean you’d have to either be a genuine troll or possibly the most ill-informed shill contributing to this site (and that includes me).

          You probably also know that the almost daily documented divisions within the Tory government mean that each new scandal has to be buried. May can’t sack Boris, not because he’s popular, but because the party don’t want to give him the opportunity to gloat when Brexit goes very badly. “It’d have been fine if I were there.” But then he’s probably already got three or four editorials already written out like he did for Brexit.

          And whoops, something a bit iffy about Gove’s attachment to DUP funding.

          But you know all that.

          1. Charger Salmons

            This ” biggie ” DUP corruption scandal that’s ” emerging ” – it’s not the one involving Scottish Tory Richard Cook that’s been kicking around the lesser-read leftie rags since the beginning of the year is it ?

            And Boris not even popular amongst Tories you say ?
            Oh dear,I say.

            http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/boris-johnson-tory-leader-conservative-party-members-top-choice-theresa-may-yougov-poll-a7973256.html

            The Tories with support from the DUP are going to be in power for the next five years old cock – because Labour are flat-lining in the polls under Comrade Corbyn.

          2. Listrade

            Now now Charger, how about a poll since he pooped up on the diplomatic front and Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe?

            https://yougov.co.uk/news/2017/11/14/boris-johnsons-favourability-takes-big-hit-among-c/

            Oh Boy.

            And I mean the DUP Brexit funding that has been widely reported on in all the press. Sure , I mean Gove’s old pal (and biggest supporter what with all his pro Gove social media accounts) has only just been caught out lying by FOI. Lines between the two issue can be drawn yourself.

            I mean it’s only stupid paddy’s who get caught out with that stuff right?

          3. Charger Salmons

            Yet strangely no-one,not even the Labour party,has called on Gove to resign over any wrong-doing.
            There’s the difference you see – one is the rough and tumble of politics between two parties opposed to each other fighting it out in parliament every day.
            The other is a collection of politicians of different parties clinging to each other like drunks at Closing Time because none of them is competent or popular enough to form a strong government.
            I mean,making Enda Kenny look like a good leader is the work of utter genius.

          4. Listrade

            Just for future reference, indicate with *Goal Post Shift* or something when you next slip away from your original point. I’m old, it gets confusing.

            So the argument now is that corruption in UK is better because it doesn’t involve coalitions.

            Ummmm. Do you still have time on the edit button? Might want to think a bit more about that.

        3. Listrade

          “And you know I can’t ever recall a British Chancellor of the Exchequer who never had a bank account and kept his moolah in a safe.”

          No but you might remember Lord Ashcroft, Treasurer of the Conservative Party. It was only a couple of weeks ago.

        4. Listrade

          Maybe you remember Liam Fox? No? Expense scandal while in the shadow cabinet? didn’t resign, appointed Defence Secretary and got a little bit too cosy with lobbyists, jollies, brown envelopes…didn’t resign and is now Secretary of State for International Trade?

    1. GiggidyGoo

      Kenny needs to be looked at too. But Flanagan is the author of his own political demise. There’s a reason why FG are out if power more times than they are in. Same reason each time. Corruption.
      Let’s see how the Independent Alliance deal now. Ross and Halligan still have not delivered for their constituents- they are being played by Varadkar

      1. ahjayzis

        It’s more arrogance than corruption. Fine Gael have acquired in 7 years what it took 14 for Fianna Fail to achieve.

        Let’s never, EVER forget – no matter how much you hate Fine Gael, the true masters of corruption are seated across from them.

        Just don’t vote for either :)

        1. Zoella

          + 1. Nor Labour. Not much left really :(

          Maybe we should elect people who are willing to work for minimum wage. If we got rid of the bloated salaries, it would weed out a lot of the self-serving, corrupt mediocrities. Some visionaries might well emerge. What have we got to lose?

  4. Mourning Ireland

    The very people yelling about Sinn Féin and subversion of the State are revealed to be subverting the State; the Dept of Justice, Cops, Ministers…,

  5. Catherine costelloe

    There will be two little girls visiting their murdered mothers grave this Christmas. Maurice Mc Cabe highlighted the grave injustices in allowing the killer bail in Cavan after seriously assaulting a taxi driver and going on to attempt to abduct a little girl from her bedroom in the early hours. Given bail to murder a woman . kick Maurice Mc Cabes facts into touch and malign him, mock him , slander him, , every effort made to push him to a breakdown. Noirin o Sullivan and Frances Fitzgerald are two disgusting old trouts. Good riddance to ye!

    1. anne

      +1

      I can’t help but wonder how Maurice McCabe is coping with all this also.

      He comes across as a private man…his name all over the headlines again not of his own ‘volition’ by any means.

    2. Paddy at the Howth Summit

      Lets not also forget how the behaviour of members of the Gardai and Tusla have totally undermined reporting of abuse.

  6. Daisy Chainsaw

    Capitulation to Meehole and Fianna Failure because of a weekend spent hearing complaints from the doorsteps. Blunder on for another while, with the FFers threatening withdrawal everytime the petulant brats don’t get their own way.

    Dark days ahead, eh?

    1. LW

      I’d say if that fresh batch hadn’t come out last night there’d have been no capitulation. Martin won’t lead them up the hill as quickly next time

  7. Fresher than ever Frilly Keane

    They planned this together
    Mehall and Leosock

    The last thing either of them wanted was to give Sinn Fein the day

    All the 2s lads
    22
    2 lame duck leaders

    Quack Quack
    Ye’ve all bin’ had

    1. LW

      Ah frilly, I’ve missed your brand of wiser-than-thou political analysis. Have you abandoned your FF-SF grand coalition?

  8. Charger Salmons

    Will anything change though ?
    Corruption and incompetence are endemic in Irish politics but the same merry-go-round of faces swap jobs every election and nothing appears to improve.
    Verruca and Coveney were meant to represent the new faces of modern politics but can anyone think of a single new initiative that’s been introduced to improve our lives since they came into power ?

    1. Brother Barnabas

      Suggestion above seems to be that you’re terrifically ignorant and unintelligent, Charger.

      Looks like Paddy is getting uppity.

  9. Eoin

    Should be gone to jail or a mental institution for sociopaths. What kind of person can sleep at night knowing what she knew about the treatment of whistle blowers?

    1. dav

      she slept easy, happy with the mistreatment of McCabe. It’s the same attitude that Baldy noonan showed when dragging a dying woman through the courts nearly 20years ago.

        1. Noone

          By the way Bodger why am I being modded? I merely discouraged other posters from dissemination with Clampers and now deeply regret the intemperate term I used in the intensity of debate.

  10. Charger Salmons

    And of course the difference in the political institutions of the UK and Ireland is that in one the highlight of the political calendar is the state opening of Parliament in a ceremony going back in modern times to 1852.
    And in the other it’s the National Ploughing Championships.

    1. Noone

      You will continue to plough your lonely and paltry furrow of bigotry, intolerance and ignorance until we all just ignore you – leaving you out, standing in your own field.

    2. Killian G

      Oh dear.

      So instead of any semblance of intelligent retort, you receive your beating like an unkempt cur – and once the bad man is gone away, you’re back with some juvenile insult. What a braindead yoke you are!

      I suppose making a fool of yourself here is better than how your compadres behave when they’re abroad – rather you throw childish insults around an online forum than tables and chair through shop windows.

      1. ReproBertie

        All this childish, racist guff from Charger comes from a place of deep, deep fear. Like all Brexiteers he’s just realised that there is an Irish border and that the Irish border is potentially a show stopper. Imagine, if you can, the horror as it dawns on these misguided fools, nostalgic for the glorious days of Empire, that the power to stop everything is in the hands of the damned Irish!

        The nonsense from the British establishment about “Remember your friends”, “rejoin the UK”, “ROI should sort out the border” and “a hard Brexit would be terrible for Ireland” is an attempt to distract and bully the Irish who, for the first time in centuries and through a classic British blunder, have a massive upper hand over Britain and the backing of the entire EU in taking full advantage of it.

        No trade talks until Britain sorts out the border. That was, and still is, the agreement.

        An election would have played right into Britain’s hands so we can all breathe a sigh of relief for Slánaiste.

        1. Ban the Poo. Ooh-er!

          Gibberish

          A hard brexit is a disaster for Ireland, they’re still a major trading partner

          For sure they will take some time to recover but it will work out for them

          Once this slight negotiation point is forgotten about and the EU makes some midnight deal with the UK, the knives will be out and they won’t forget what happened

        2. Charger Salmons

          No trade deal = Hard Brexit = bad times for Paddy.
          See that foot ? It’s yours and you’re going to be shooting it.
          Only Paddy could be so dumb as to cheer on disaster for his own country.

          How many times do I have to spell it out for you ?

          1. ReproBertie

            I don’t know. How many times must a lie be repeated before it becomes true?

            As I recall it was the British who voted to scuttle their own country. Now you’re sinking and trying to convince us that the water’s lovely.

          2. Nigel

            When it comes to jingoistic scapegoating of an Other to deflect from and blame for the failings of your favoured nation state, as many times as it takes for you to finally start believing it yourself, usually.

          3. Listrade

            Try one more time, but include reference to UK agreeing to terms where NI border is progressed before discussing trade deal. Might make the spelling out a bit more difficult for you.

            Damn bullies making you go along with terms that you agreed too.

          4. Junkface

            Nobody has shot themselves in the Foot more than the British with Brexit. In fact the British have used a large Cannon and blown their foot clean off in front of the entire world with Brexit. Its the dumbest thing to happen in international politics in a long, long time. And they never even had a plan for Brexit, and still don’t! Hilarious!

          5. Charger Salmons

            Paddy’s Lament,Scene I

            Interior: rundown country pub in County Meath.
            It’s late.
            Time to go home late.
            And Paddy is at the bar with Seamus,swaying and slurring and holding on to his mate for support.
            ” Ah Jaysus,Seamus,remember that time we finally put one over on the Brits and stopped their lousy Brexit negotiations in their tracks.It was brilliant wasn’t it ? ”
            ” I dunno ” says Seamus,a small tear beginning to form in his eye.
            ” You see,because we demanded they sort out the border issue they couldn’t get a deal on Brexit and now there’s a border anyway and all our vehicles are being stopped going up there. ”
            ” Yeah ” burped Paddy ” but we still sorted dem bastards out didn’t we ? ”
            ” I dunno ” says Seamus again.
            ” Why’s that ” asked Paddy.
            ” Well we’re both out of a job,aren’t we. We worked on the farm all those years then suddenly because there was no trade deal and the price of our food exports to the UK shot up and we became uncompetitive de boss had to lay us off didn’t he ? ”
            A look of incomprehension spread over Paddy’s face.
            ” But,but,but ” he spluttered,spilling more beer down his shirt front ” I thought our friends in Europe were going to look after us.They said it would all be fine Seamus.Say it ain’t so,Seamus.Say it ain’t so ”
            ” I’m afraid it is ” confirmed Seamus ” which is why I’m having to leave the country to find work again. ”
            ” Jaysus ” said Paddy ” where are ye goin’ ? ”
            ” Britain ” says Seamus ” just like I did before.I reckon I’ll get my old bedsit in Kilburn back and meet up with the fellers again. ”
            ” Yeah,but we pulled one over on de Brits didn’t we ” said Paddy,but with not quite the same conviction this time.
            More tears form in Seamus’ eyes.

            ( fade to black with ” Rainy Night in Soho ” underlay )

          6. ReproBertie

            Another lie. We’re not demanding that Britain sort out the border. Britain agreed to sort out the border before any trade talks took place. Now that they’ve realised it’s a bit complicated they’re trying to find someone to blame for their own incompetence.

            London: We want control of our borders.
            EU: Fine, what sort of border will you have in Ireland?
            London: We’ll have one like Norway.
            EU: Sure. Norway is part of the EEA, a Schengen country, ensures all exports meet EU regulations and pays €350 million per year to the EU. How does that sound?
            London: No, we’ll have one like Switzerland.
            EU: OK, well Switzerland is also a Schengen member and a virtual EEA member meaning they allow free movement of people, goods, services and capital. How does that sound?
            London: No, we want control of our borders.
            EU: So what sort of border do you want?
            London: We want Ireland to sort it out.

          7. Listrade

            Only thing to add is that the border doesn’t even have to be sorted out before the next stage, just “significant progress”.

            There hasn’t been any progress hence Leo’s call for a written guarantee on what the plans are.

            That’s it. Tell us what the plan is and we can move on to the next stage.

          8. Charger Salmons

            And how,pray,does the UK define what its border policy will be when discussions haven’t started on what type of trade deal there will be.
            This is where Ireland is being played by the European Commission.
            It’ll end in tears you chumps.

          9. ReproBertie

            Funny how that never occurred to the British when they agreed to clarify the border before trade talks begin. You took back control, now show us what that means. To do otherwise would be to suggest that the British have entered into this process without having a single clue how things would look at the end and that would make them some elite class of chumps.

            Of course the border, while a thorny issue, is not the only barrier to progress. It is, however, a nice distraction from the exit bill which also has to be agreed. It would suit the Brexiteers perfectly to blame the border (and, by extension, the Irish) for a collapse in talks when it’s actually the cash that counts.

    1. ahjayzis

      You’ve really made a fool of yourself on this thread, Salmons.

      It’s not even quality trolling, you just look thick.

      1. LW

        +1 He was doing better when he was just popping up and lobbing out a few insults. Actually trying to defend his points really showed his shortcomings

      2. Brother Barnabas

        Reminds of the old adage – better to keep your mouth shut and be thought a fool than open it wide and remove all doubt.

  11. Charger Salmons

    So news tonight that the UK and EU negotiators have agreed the Brexit divorce bill after intense behind the scenes negotiations.
    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/11/28/exclusive-britain-eu-agree-brexit-divorce-bill/
    Any Paddy who thinks the border issue will seriously hold up the substantive Brexit negotiations is deluding themselves.
    You’re going to hear the phrase ” memorandum of understanding ” quite a few times over the next month.It’s EU talk for compromise deal.
    Eventually the Irish delegation will be dragged out of Brussels’ O’Neill’s Irish pub and told which way to jump.
    Enjoy your few days in the sun Spudders.

      1. Charger Salmons

        I’ve been out for a few hours enjoying a very convivial dinner accompanied by a number of bottles of very good claret.
        I genuinely don’t have a clue what you’re talking about.
        But thank you for contributing and I hope you thought it was worth the effort.

        1. Nigel

          Charger returned from his repast of several bottles of Chateau De Nonne Bleue to discover that some smelly street urchin had incapacitated his butler, logged onto his elctrickal computing mechanism and imitated a raving xenophobic blowhard Brexiteer with a potato chip on each shoulder! Summon the constabulary! Call out the guard! Raise the drawbridge! I hope the Palace doesn’t catch wind of this outrage in tomorrow’s papers they may call of the engagement in shock and horror!

          1. Charger Salmons

            You’re such a dry old stick Nigel.
            If you were a sandwich you’d be a Tuna Mayo on White but hold the mayo.

          2. Brother Barnabas

            It’s like the last pathetic gasp of a beaten wretch.

            If I may express your unspoken thoughts, Charger [and apologies to RP]:

            Though you’ve belted me and flayed me,
            By the livin’ Gawd that made me,
            You’re a better man than I am, Nigel.

    1. Listrade

      Only me.

      Those intense behind the scenes discussions happened days ago when May had to beg the cabinet to give into the EU bill and pay what they were asking for. The behind the scenes discussions with the EU is that by paying that they will recommend moving discussion forward to the next stage at the upcoming vote. That isn’t a guarantee. Ireland has veto.

      And small point. I’ve drafted a fair few memorandums of understanding. When between countries they fall under the rules of Treaties and so have to be registered with the UN. They are agreements, not compromises, significant difference. The whole Brexit has to be on the basis of negotiation and agreement so it was always going to be done through Treaties. A lot of them.

      Anyway, thanks for the €65bn.

  12. Papi

    Any police who need a witness to Charger getting the bejesus beat out of him can call me. Poor thing was leathered up and down the street.

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