Labour rallies on snap election push and referendum. Hard Brexit more likely. Trump promotes isolationism.

The red rose of Labour was ascendant in the Arena in Liverpool (yes I know the picture is not of a rose), finishing with a rousing speech by his godliness Jeremy Corbyn. The key elements re Brexit from the Conference are that  a)  Labour will magnanimously support the government brexit plan if it meets the six Labour requirements. Otherwise b) it will be pushing for a snap election. And c) The party voted overwhelmingly to support a second referendum on any decision on Brexit, including the option of remaining in the EU.

Labours six tests are:

1. Fair migration system for UK business and communities
2. Retaining strong, collaborative relationship with EU
3. Protecting national security and tackling cross-border crime
4. Delivering for all nations and regions of the UK
5. Protecting workers' rights and employment protections
6. Ensuring same benefits currently enjoyed within single market

These are unlikley to all be met by a conservative Brexit at present as they can only seriously be met by staying within the EU. Even the promise of a customs union would still result in a border between the EU and the UK in Ireland as border checks would still have to be made.

A snap election would require around 6 weeks from announcement to voting, judging by the last one. Vince Cable had suggested a 12 week plan for a December 2018 Referendum when proposing it last year. Presumably this would put all negotiations with the EU on hold.

Meanwhile, the EU is looking for a final decision on the present negotiations by mid October, or November at the latest.

Since elections and/or referendum would delay negotiations, all this would suggest that the chances of a hard Brexit are dramatically increased unless the Brexit decisions can be pushed down the line.

How is it that rather than uniting to find a common solution to Brexit negotiations, the main UK political parties are more interested in their infighting and political power battles?!?

President Trump visited the UN today to chair a session. He raised an audible giggle from the audience when he repeated his mantra that he has achieved more to date than nearly any other President. He announced his opposition to globalism, a fundamental element of the UN, in favour of 'patriotism'. POTUS attacked China during a debate on Iran, accusing China of attempting to interfere with the 2018 US elections. Yet nowhere did he criticise Russia, despite that country's past record.

I only took all this in through a nebulous haze of a cold that is now receding. I look forward to a day where I don't spend most of my time in bed.