This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/oct/03/brexit-means-brexit-cabinet-secretary-delphi-oracle-eu-kpmg
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Brexit means Brexit: the sweet, sickly smell of clarity | Brexit means Brexit: the sweet, sickly smell of clarity |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Cabinet secretary Apart from your Great Repeal Bill, you still have to say what “Brexit means Brexit” actually means. | Cabinet secretary Apart from your Great Repeal Bill, you still have to say what “Brexit means Brexit” actually means. |
| PM Any ideas? | PM Any ideas? |
| Cabinet secretary That’s challenging. | Cabinet secretary That’s challenging. |
| PM There’s one problem: there’s no way back. And there’s another problem: I can’t see the way forward. So I’ve been reading about the Oracle at Delphi. Everything I say should be open to interpretation. | PM There’s one problem: there’s no way back. And there’s another problem: I can’t see the way forward. So I’ve been reading about the Oracle at Delphi. Everything I say should be open to interpretation. |
| Cabinet secretary The oracle was actually the high priestess Pythia, whose name referred to the sweet sickly smell of the decomposing body of Cameron – sorry, Python - that enveloped her after he was slain. | Cabinet secretary The oracle was actually the high priestess Pythia, whose name referred to the sweet sickly smell of the decomposing body of Cameron – sorry, Python - that enveloped her after he was slain. |
| PM Yes, I didn’t like that bit. Must we still hire so many people to staff the Brexit Department and International Trade? | PM Yes, I didn’t like that bit. Must we still hire so many people to staff the Brexit Department and International Trade? |
| Cabinet secretary Yes. It’s challenging. First we have to hire lots of people, just to process the CVs of the people we need to hire. | Cabinet secretary Yes. It’s challenging. First we have to hire lots of people, just to process the CVs of the people we need to hire. |
| PM God! Then what? | PM God! Then what? |
| Cabinet secretary We either get people from KPMG at very high cost. Or place an advert: “Multi-lingual, world-class authority on global trade and international law required.” | Cabinet secretary We either get people from KPMG at very high cost. Or place an advert: “Multi-lingual, world-class authority on global trade and international law required.” |
| PM Why hasn’t Corbyn asked me about Brexit at PMQs? Could he be on my side? | PM Why hasn’t Corbyn asked me about Brexit at PMQs? Could he be on my side? |
| Cabinet secretary Maybe. You’ve been accused of pretending to support Remain during the referendum while soft on an emergency brake for immigration. | Cabinet secretary Maybe. You’ve been accused of pretending to support Remain during the referendum while soft on an emergency brake for immigration. |
| PM Rubbish! I split up 33,000 immigrant families and refused to put any time limit on the detention of immigration detainees. I said I’d allow refugees only a temporary stay in Britain. I withdrew British support for naval search and rescue missions in the Mediterranean. My record on immigration is unblemished and clear. | PM Rubbish! I split up 33,000 immigrant families and refused to put any time limit on the detention of immigration detainees. I said I’d allow refugees only a temporary stay in Britain. I withdrew British support for naval search and rescue missions in the Mediterranean. My record on immigration is unblemished and clear. |
| Cabinet secretary Corbyn says he won’t put any curbs on immigration. | Cabinet secretary Corbyn says he won’t put any curbs on immigration. |
| PM None of us do things just because we say so. | PM None of us do things just because we say so. |
| Cabinet secretary He might. Knowing him. | Cabinet secretary He might. Knowing him. |
| PM Good thing he can’t then. When this bill goes through parliament we’ll be in a much better place. | PM Good thing he can’t then. When this bill goes through parliament we’ll be in a much better place. |
| Cabinet secretary What if the Lords hold it up? | Cabinet secretary What if the Lords hold it up? |
| PM They won’t want to provoke a constitutional crisis. | PM They won’t want to provoke a constitutional crisis. |
| Cabinet secretary Aren’t we already in one? | Cabinet secretary Aren’t we already in one? |
| PM Oh yes. | PM Oh yes. |
| Jonathan Lynn is the co-creator of Yes Minister. @mrjonathanlynn | Jonathan Lynn is the co-creator of Yes Minister. @mrjonathanlynn |
Previous version
1
Next version