Today, we’re spending Brexit 50ps, the Brits turn and flee, and we’re serenaded by MEPs.
This episode is sponsored by MedTech Europe, stick around until the end to find out more about their new podcast.
Now why is it that whenever I stand in for Jen, I’m forced to address the twitter-gift-that-keeps-on-giving, my own personal bete noire that keeps me up at night: Brexit Brexit BREXIT?
But professional that I am, I will do my Tweets duty and report on the best ones of the week, in a totally impartial manner….
So, are you ready for Brexit? Across the channel, there is some doubt about that…
As Adam Bienkov reports “Boris Johnson spent £46 million on a “Get ready for Brexit” campaign which didn’t actually help anyone get ready for Brexit.
Boris Johnson spent £46 million on a “Get ready for Brexit” campaign which didn’t actually help anyone get ready for Brexit. https://t.co/dsNKCPuhD4
— Adam Bienkov (@AdamBienkov) January 28, 2020
But fear not, the BBC presented their very own Brexit bulldog, who stood ready to answer your questions about Brexit.
We’re leaving the EU this Friday.
Our Brexit bulldog will answer your questions.
What would you like to know about Brexit? pic.twitter.com/dsDjblapEv— BBC London (@BBCLondonNews) January 28, 2020
Most Twitter users only had 1 question though: “Why is the bulldog green??
How will travel insurance work in Europe post 31st January?
How long will European health cards be valid for?
Will we now need to purchase driving permits in Europe to drive?
Why is the dog green?
— Disappointed Optimist (@disappoptimism) January 28, 2020
why is the dog green
— Alex P 👹 (@SaddestRobots) January 28, 2020
First question: why is the dog turning green?
— We Need EU 🇪🇺 👊 🇪🇺 (@WeNeedEU) January 28, 2020
1) Why is the dog green?
2) What tangible benefits will Brexit bring that are superior to what we've had as a member of the EU? And will I experience these benefits in my lifetime (I'm 56)?
If my question isn't answered properly, don't bother. I'm not interested in fudge.
— Clare in the garden 🕷🌍🇪🇺🌱🍂 (@ClareLaw23books) January 28, 2020
Why is it green? Has it been rolling in the grass on the sunlit uplands? Or has it been shat on by a unicorn?
— MaryChubb (@ChubbMary) January 28, 2020
Why is it green?
— Heather Hepplewhite ⚡️ (@HHepplewhite) January 28, 2020
But who cares about an info campaign when you’ve got new shiny coins to spend? Britain finally unveiled their special 50p Brexit coin to mark the occasion.
Parody Boris Johnson commented that Sajid Javid makes the new piece of silver look very PRECIOUSS!
Sajid Javid makes the Brexit 50p coin look very PRECIOUSS! pic.twitter.com/hD7wb53AdZ
— Parody Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson_MP) January 26, 2020
Lee Harvey chipped in, saying “They cannot be unaware of the similarities of these two images.”
They cannot be unaware of the similarities of these two images. pic.twitter.com/OZ8r6PdiBO
— Lee Harvey (@valleyguitarist) January 26, 2020
While comedian David Baddiel wonders if one can “actually pay for things with the Brexit 50p coin? Or will it be worthless, except for its symbolic value? Like the thing it’s commemorating?”
Can you actually pay for things which the Brexit 50p coin? Or will it be worthless, except for its symbolic value? Like the thing it's commemorating?
— David Baddiel (@Baddiel) January 26, 2020
The discussion reached another level after acclaimed author Philip Pullman pointed out that “The ‘Brexit’ 50p coin is missing an Oxford comma, and should be boycotted by all literate people.
The 'Brexit' 50p coin is missing an Oxford comma, and should be boycotted by all literate people.
— Philip Pullman (@PhilipPullman) January 26, 2020
Which brought up more questions. Like “What is an Oxford comma? Should it be on the Brexit 50p coin?”
Brexit 50p coin: What is an Oxford comma? Should it be on Brexit 50p coin? https://t.co/0VgLWulQkW pic.twitter.com/vbD045tpnJ
— Bibhu Mishra (@startupbiz4sale) January 27, 2020
Back in Brussels, Marko Ruonala captured the moment that UK minister Chris Pincher walked out of Britain’s final Council meeting
Here we go! British Minister @ChrisPincher walks away from their very last #EU Council meeting #GAC #Brexit #UK @EUCouncil #Brussels pic.twitter.com/XlDkG8eAmv
— Marko Ruonala (@MarkoRuo) January 28, 2020
Then the European Parliament gave its not entirely unexpected blessing to the Withdrawal Agreement.
James Crisp pointed out that Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s bye-bye to the British nicely channelled Whitney Houston.
"We will always love you and we will never be far. Long live Europe," says Ursula von der Leyen as she channels Whitney Houston. pic.twitter.com/1QzZZX8B62
— James Crisp (@JamesCrisp6) January 29, 2020
While LBC reported that “Nigel Farage’s final speech at the EU ended very dramatically when he was cut off for ‘disobeying the rules’”
Nigel Farage’s final speech at the EU ended very dramatically when he was cut off for ‘disobeying the rules’#Brexit pic.twitter.com/Avd7rBIwfU
— LBC News (@LBCNews) January 29, 2020
EP Vice President Mairead McGuinness told Farage:
“Put your flags away, you’re leaving… and take them with you… goodbye!”
"Put your flags away, you're leaving… Goodbye"
Mairead McGuinness, Irish MEP and vice president of the European Parliament, responds after Nigel Farage says goodbye to the European Union while waving a flag. pic.twitter.com/MJaaJ1Q7cw
— BBC News NI (@BBCNewsNI) January 29, 2020
As Farage left the plenary, MEP colleague Martin Sonneborn tweeted : “As of now, I’m the only political clown here … Smiley!”
Ab sofort bin ich der einzige Politclown hier… Smiley! pic.twitter.com/MQcLbghZ3A
— Martin Sonneborn (@MartinSonneborn) January 29, 2020
Green MEP Molly Scott Cato bid an emotional farewell to the Parliament as the UK’s members took their leave
"I hold in my heart the knowledge that one day I will be back in this chamber celebrating our return to the heart of Europe."
Green MEP Molly Scott Cato bids an emotional farewell to the European Parliament as the UK's members leave ahead of Brexit. pic.twitter.com/bUTMqWnAIN
— Channel 4 News (@Channel4News) January 30, 2020
Probably the most defining moment of the week was when MEPs broke into a heart-warming rendition of “Auld Lang Syne”.
Singing of Auld Lang Syne starts in the European Parliament as the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement is approved by MEPshttps://t.co/tzNNPSGZXc pic.twitter.com/pTiLrW0Qlf
— BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) January 29, 2020
Jeremy Cliffe wondered whether in the not-too-distant during talks with Trump or China, future British officials would realise that their “truest friends had been there in front of their eyes all along”.
I wonder whether Britain's leaders will pause during some god-forsaken solo negotiation with Trump or Xi or Modi in the not-so-distant future and realise that their truest friends had been there, in front of their eyes, all along. https://t.co/XmRAL6Tyno
— Jeremy Cliffe (@JeremyCliffe) January 29, 2020
And to continue the Lord of the Rings theme that is inexplicably running through this episode, Mep Assistant summed up Brexit with this apt gif. It. is. done.
#Brexit pic.twitter.com/mo7GfKibIo
— mepassistant (@mepassistants) January 29, 2020
But that’s where you’re WRONG, Frodo. It’ll NEVER be over. We’ve got 11 months of negotiations to sit through. Then years and years of Brexit regret and limbo to enjoy!
This week we are sponsored by MedTech Europe, to listen to their brand new podcast about new medical technology regulations and their impact on the CE marking process, give this tweet a click
With new EU regulations on the horizon, the CE Marking process for #medtech will evolve. For our first episode, we talk to Oliver Bisazza to understand how and to see what’s coming next. #MedTechONAIR
Listen and subscribe🎙️ https://t.co/QK7HcNWWJG pic.twitter.com/6JpEIvxsoO
— MedTech Europe (@medtecheurope) January 29, 2020
And that’s it for another mad-cap installment of Tweets. See you next time.. Maybe… I’m off to see a man about a new passport… Au revoir!