The worst PM of my lifetime. Totally unsuited for this crisis. Actually unsuited for any office. A chaotic, appalling, lying, opportunistic, thoroughly nasty piece of work who threw Paterson under the bus and habitually shafts people.
If he's the sort of person you like, Sean, then you're welcome to him. The rest of us will move on and look back on this as the most disastrous premiership of our lives.
Not disastrous at all. He did break the Brexit logjam, and he did make some pretty good calls on Covid. And the focus on levelling-up was astute. He will go down as a consequential PM who committed hari-kiri in a most bizarre way. A brief blazing meteor of a premiership.
And, Leon is right, we will miss such an entertainer in high office.
Regardless of Boris being crap I really don’t agree with MPs switching parties like this - really think morally they should trigger a by-election as in most cases they are elected as a member of their original party.
If they believe that the other party is better for the country then they should have the courage of their convictions that their constituents would agree and vote for them in their new party.
Would be more honest or fair to resign the whip and act as an Independent IMHO.
Under FPTP we elect individuals. If we as a nation want to continue with the dreadful system then you have to accept that an individual can switch party at any time for any reason and demanding they put themselves up for re-election means you think FPTP is a sham.
Theoretically you are right but do you honestly believe that the vast majority of MPs aren’t elected because of the Party that they are telling voters they represent?
Do you think this MP would be current MP if he had stood as an independent or even more appropriately- would he be the current MP if he had stood as a Labour candidate? Does he have some special genius that attracted the voters of Bury South?
Well, no…… he was elected as a Tory MP and as I said, if he really believes that he is correct and the voters of his constituency value him above a party, or that he reflects the change in their views then he should have the balls to put it to the test.
Tiny majority, though, and per the current polls the seat is safe Labour. So all this is doing is reflecting that now rather than putting it off until 2024. It can be viewed as accelerated democracy.
Accelerated democracy where the constituents don't get to vote. Sounds like the sort of democracy that elected von der Leyen as EU President.
They will get to vote in 2024. Meanwhile a seat that is clear Labour on current polls has a Labour MP. I get the point about "should have a by-election" but it's not the biggest outrage in the world imo. I'd say the same if the parties were reversed.
2024 is years away. The people of Bury South deserve to have a say on the person representing them now, given his voting behaviour will now be completely different. They voted for someone with "Conservative and Unionist Party" under their name at the last election.
If we do 'form over substance' they elected a person - him. Who they still have. Fine. If we do 'substance over form' a seat with a current polling Lab majority has a Lab MP. Fine. So either way - Fine. Or to go back to my more nuanced wording, it's not the biggest outrage in the world. If it were Maldon Essex or something, a safe Tory seat, I'd draw a different conclusion on the 'substance over form' metric. Although of course he'd have been unlikely to have defected in that case. Looks like a piece of seedy careerism to me.
Great to see the Covid theatre nonsense coming to an end.
End of self isolation for the positive by March, and possibly earlier too.
I was called all sorts of names when I suggested that a month or two ago. Great to see it happening soon.
Yes, because a month or two ago it would have been totally inappropriate.
My wife calls me names if I suggest turning off the heating in February, but suddenly in May she's all for it.
Nice try but I was saying that at some point next year (now this year) we should be looking to drop the measure and March is quite early this year relatively. This is coming faster than I expected. 👍
The reaction of a lot of people here was that it would never be appropriate for the legal restriction on isolation for the positive to be dropped. Not that it should only be dropped in March instead.
Nice try, but this is what you actually said:
Rip off the bandage, have the virus burn through a vaccinated population and if anyone's unvaccinated then they can claim their Darwin Award on the way out.
(It's also worth pointing out that much of the country is laughing at the absurdities of Boris Johnson. We've gone from revulsion at what happened to mockery at his responses.)
If he keeps that up then he will of course survive
Today at pmqs he had all the ammunition and much more to near fatally wound Boris and while he made some good jokes his self satisfied demeanour and body language were maybe not a good look
He welcomed Gary Neville into labour and made the extraordinary suggestion he could became a shadow minister which in itself is ridiculous without knowing Neville's views which ironically include being against all covid restrictions
Today he had Wakeford sit immediately behind him and extolled his defection to labour, while Wakeford wore a union jack face mask and supports right wing conservative policies. No wonder some in labour are far from impressed
In my opinion Starmer is trying to hard and is not receiving the best advice
I can explain why Boris was handed a clear win, Starmer was self satisfied and complacent and not serious enough in approach to channel the electorates anger and hurt as he done well last week. You get your tone and strategy wrong, you hand the win to the other side and make yourself look bad like he did.
I’ll contrast it with another good example. Prime ministers questions but Boris didn’t go near answering a single question. However what he did do, if you put all his answers together especially the last one, was deliver a far better conference speech than he delivered at the last party conference. At the conference Boris speech got tone and strategy all wrong, partly landed him in this trouble. If he delivered “todays speech” at the conference it would have been much better received.
I was joking, but I genuinely thought BJ was unexpectedly upbeat. David Davis redressed the balance though
SKS giving a fairly good part 2 kicking in response to Covid statement, though
Interested on that last bit (not watching and 'live' reporting hasn't reported that yet). I'd have thought SKS would be on the defensive about that, given that the government has been shown to be right and Labour have been shown to be wrong.
His basic point, BJ incapable of carrying on business of govt at all
Ah, thanks. Well, yes, that is a point for all seasons
Guido: "in 2020 Christian Wakeford co-sponsored and voted for a private members bill that would “enable the recall of Members of the House of Commons who voluntarily change their political party affiliation; and for connected purposes.” "
Keeps two jobs. Heavy expenses user. Writes one way and votes the other. Changes party to keep his MP salary. Refuses to let his constituents have their say after they no longer have the "Christian Wakeford, Conservative and Unionist Party" they voted for, despite previously supporting the principle. The man is just awful.
Aaaaaggggghhhh!!!! Bury South is not Red Wall. It is a classic marginal.
Whilst I agree it has never been the reddest seat in the red wall, it's also not a "classic marginal" in that it was won by Labour by 7%, 10% and 12% (not ultra-safe of course, but not shabby majorities) in 2010, 2015, and 2017. Indeed, it probably would have been Labour in 2019 had the sitting Labour MP not stood as an independent (he got a derisory vote but enough to make the difference).
I'd say a classic Con/Lab marginal is one where you'd generally expect the MP to be a governing party MP.
I'd say it is a classic marginal. David Sumberg won it by small majorities in 1983, 1987 and 1992 for the Tories.
It's also interesting in that it's one of the most Jewish seats in the country. I'd say this was a big part of its swing against Labour in 2019.
Ivan Lewis, who was MP from 1997 to 2019 and is Jewish, stood as an independent in 2019 ostensibly in protest at antisemitism (although he'd also been suspended over some sexual harassment allegations so it's a more complex picture). He actually ceased his campaign and endorsed Wakeford in the election, but remained on the ballot drawing in 1,366 votes as well as some presumably who he persuaded over to Wakeford.
So it is almost certain those issues were enough to make the difference (given majority was 402).
I can explain why Boris was handed a clear win, Starmer was self satisfied and complacent and not serious enough in approach to channel the electorates anger and hurt as he done well last week. You get your tone and strategy wrong, you hand the win to the other side and make yourself look bad like he did.
I’ll contrast it with another good example. Prime ministers questions but Boris didn’t go near answering a single question. However what he did do, if you put all his answers together especially the last one, was deliver a far better conference speech than he delivered at the last party conference. At the conference Boris speech got tone and strategy all wrong, partly landed him in this trouble. If he delivered “todays speech” at the conference it would have been much better received.
I was joking, but I genuinely thought BJ was unexpectedly upbeat. David Davis redressed the balance though
SKS giving a fairly good part 2 kicking in response to Covid statement, though
Interested on that last bit (not watching and 'live' reporting hasn't reported that yet). I'd have thought SKS would be on the defensive about that, given that the government has been shown to be right and Labour have been shown to be wrong.
My understanding was that Labour were going along with the experts as were the government. i don't believe the public believe Labour had a distinctive Covid policy. PMQs will be noted for two things and only two. Starmer is MUCH better than any of us thought and the DAVID DAVIS MOMENT
Yep, probably true. Ishmael has explained that it was a general attack. Recent Covid policy is one of the few things it should be hard to attack the government over.
The worst PM of my lifetime. Totally unsuited for this crisis. Actually unsuited for any office. A chaotic, appalling, lying, opportunistic, thoroughly nasty piece of work who threw Paterson under the bus and habitually shafts people.
If he's the sort of person you like, Sean, then you're welcome to him. The rest of us will move on and look back on this as the most disastrous premiership of our lives.
"Threw Paterson under the bus" - Paterson bloody had it coming. The only complaint is Boris didn't throw him hard enough.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 26m What the DD intervention shows is how wide the anger is. It’s not just one faction of the Tory Party. Red Wallers. Spartans. Grandees. They’re all gunning for Boris.
I'd have him back, actually. His successor wants to charge me for driving to the shops, and has - based on his own words - presided over about a million crises since taking office.
The worst PM of my lifetime. Totally unsuited for this crisis. Actually unsuited for any office. A chaotic, appalling, lying, opportunistic, thoroughly nasty piece of work who threw Paterson under the bus and habitually shafts people.
If he's the sort of person you like, Sean, then you're welcome to him. The rest of us will move on and look back on this as the most disastrous premiership of our lives.
All that can be true - heck, half of it surely is true - and yet I still believe we will miss him, more than many expect. Even you
He is a huge figure in British politics. His bombastic but upbeat personality has dominated our politics for years, he is the guy that won the Brexit referendum, then got Brexit done, then steered us through the plague - first badly, then rather well. He makes people laugh (or he used to), he dwarfs everyone else in terms of colourful character. He is a one man walking soap opera, he always gets reactions, he is infuriating, funny, strange, blonde, idiotic, forceful, mendacious, clever, stupid, brilliant, surprisingly short, priapic, knackered, vivid, pitiful, and speaks ancient Greek. He is BORIS. The whole country knows him by his first name, not true of any other politician of the day.
When he goes - and that will surely be soon - he will leave a huge psychological void. He will be replaced by relative midgets (character-wise), droning on as most politicians do. And one day after his exit even his haters might find themselves missing that blonde clown who could tell a joke.
He is an entertainer, and we will miss the entertainment.
Not entirely sure Davis’s intervention is a positive for those who want Boris out.
He’s a preening prima donna and there might be a fair fee Tories who think that whilst they want to get rid of Boris but not because DD said something unoriginal and they certainly won’t want his giant oversized head floating forever as the Howe to Boris.
I think if another senior/respected Tory who didn’t have the same history as Davis had done it then it would have been a killer blow.
I take the point re Davis but for an MP on a Prime Ministers own side, in a febrile and highly charged occasion, to stand up and use those words, so full of gravity and history, is devastating no matter who utters them.
If I were a senior Tory now I’d really accept that there’s no putting the genie back in the bottle and I’d be starting to gather the grey suits. Maybe I am misreading the situation, but this has the feelings to me of those crazy days in 1990 about it. They’re all ready to move*. They just need the spark to ignite the powder keg. And maybe that was it.
*the only unknown in this being the cabinet as I mentioned above. But it’s cause and effect, so if this really is the start of a big move against the PM the cabinet will need to shift quickly. I can imagine they are starting to prepare their “I would support you to the end of the world and back, but you won’t win this one” speeches.
Guido: "in 2020 Christian Wakeford co-sponsored and voted for a private members bill that would “enable the recall of Members of the House of Commons who voluntarily change their political party affiliation; and for connected purposes.” "
Keeps two jobs. Heavy expenses user. Writes one way and votes the other. Changes party to keep his MP salary. Refuses to let his constituents have their say after they no longer have the "Christian Wakeford, Conservative and Unionist Party" they voted for, despite previously supporting the principle. The man is just awful.
He must be having psychological issues to move from a party founded on one ideology to a completely different one. Perhaps feel sorry for him, must have been torment for him.
Wonder why he didn't get off at the first stop the LibDems?
The papers were totally wrong about the masks – @maarsh and @MaxPB were absolutely right. Kudos.
Indeed. I have to say I wished I had been as bullish as Maarsh and Max. I meekly pointed out that the masks would expire with the rest of Plan B with the relevant SI next Weds unless it was updated and I couldn't possibly see how that could happen with any Parliamentary scrutiny at the current time. Should have been more confident in my prediction,
Guido: "in 2020 Christian Wakeford co-sponsored and voted for a private members bill that would “enable the recall of Members of the House of Commons who voluntarily change their political party affiliation; and for connected purposes.” "
Keeps two jobs. Heavy expenses user. Writes one way and votes the other. Changes party to keep his MP salary. Refuses to let his constituents have their say after they no longer have the "Christian Wakeford, Conservative and Unionist Party" they voted for, despite previously supporting the principle. The man is just awful.
He must be having psychological issues to move from a party founded on one ideology to a completely different one. Perhaps feel sorry for him, must have been torment for him.
Wonder why he didn't get off at the first stop the LibDems?
How on Earth does the PM survive this? What exactly is his way back to being taken even halfway seriously, let alone running the country? Boris backers please explain.
Regardless of Boris being crap I really don’t agree with MPs switching parties like this - really think morally they should trigger a by-election as in most cases they are elected as a member of their original party.
If they believe that the other party is better for the country then they should have the courage of their convictions that their constituents would agree and vote for them in their new party.
Would be more honest or fair to resign the whip and act as an Independent IMHO.
Under FPTP we elect individuals. If we as a nation want to continue with the dreadful system then you have to accept that an individual can switch party at any time for any reason and demanding they put themselves up for re-election means you think FPTP is a sham.
Theoretically you are right but do you honestly believe that the vast majority of MPs aren’t elected because of the Party that they are telling voters they represent?
Do you think this MP would be current MP if he had stood as an independent or even more appropriately- would he be the current MP if he had stood as a Labour candidate? Does he have some special genius that attracted the voters of Bury South?
Well, no…… he was elected as a Tory MP and as I said, if he really believes that he is correct and the voters of his constituency value him above a party, or that he reflects the change in their views then he should have the balls to put it to the test.
Tiny majority, though, and per the current polls the seat is safe Labour. So all this is doing is reflecting that now rather than putting it off until 2024. It can be viewed as accelerated democracy.
Accelerated democracy where the constituents don't get to vote. Sounds like the sort of democracy that elected von der Leyen as EU President.
They will get to vote in 2024. Meanwhile a seat that is clear Labour on current polls has a Labour MP. I get the point about "should have a by-election" but it's not the biggest outrage in the world imo. I'd say the same if the parties were reversed.
2024 is years away. The people of Bury South deserve to have a say on the person representing them now, given his voting behaviour will now be completely different. They voted for someone with "Conservative and Unionist Party" under their name at the last election.
If we do 'form over substance' they elected a person - him. Who they still have. Fine. If we do 'substance over form' a seat with a current polling Lab majority has a Lab MP. Fine. So either way - Fine. Or to go back to my more nuanced wording, it's not the biggest outrage in the world. If it were Maldon Essex or something, a safe Tory seat, I'd draw a different conclusion on the 'substance over form' metric. Although of course he'd have been unlikely to have defected in that case. Looks like a piece of seedy careerism to me.
They elected a person that was part of a party. Both his name and the party he belonged to were described on the ballot paper. It is seedy careerism indeed and the voters deserve to have their say. Some of us care a lot about democracy and some of us have a more elitist view of the world.
Today at pmqs he had all the ammunition and much more to near fatally wound Boris and while he made some good jokes his self satisfied demeanour and body language were maybe not a good look
He welcomed Gary Neville into labour and made the extraordinary suggestion he could became a shadow minister which in itself is ridiculous without knowing Neville's views which ironically include being against all covid restrictions
Today he had Wakeford sit immediately behind him and extolled his defection to labour, while Wakeford wore a union jack face mask and supports right wing conservative policies. No wonder some in labour are far from impressed
In my opinion Starmer is trying to hard and is not receiving the best advice
The worst PM of my lifetime. Totally unsuited for this crisis. Actually unsuited for any office. A chaotic, appalling, lying, opportunistic, thoroughly nasty piece of work who threw Paterson under the bus and habitually shafts people.
If he's the sort of person you like, Sean, then you're welcome to him. The rest of us will move on and look back on this as the most disastrous premiership of our lives.
All that can be true - heck, half of it surely is true - and yet I still believe we will miss him, more than many expect. Even you
He is a huge figure in British politics. His bombastic but upbeat personality has dominated our politics for years, he is the guy that won the Brexit referendum, then got Brexit done, then steered us through the plague - first badly, then rather well. He makes people laugh (or he used to), he dwarfs everyone else in terms of colourful character. He is a one man walking soap opera, he always gets reactions, he is infuriating, funny, strange, blonde, idiotic, forceful, mendacious, clever, stupid, brilliant, surprisingly short, priapic, knackered, vivid, pitiful, and speaks ancient Greek. He is BORIS. The whole country knows him by his first name, not true of any other politician of the day.
When he goes - and that will surely be soon - he will leave a huge psychological void. He will be replaced by relative midgets (character-wise), droning on as most politicians do. And one day after his exit even his haters might find themselves missing that blonde clown who could tell a joke.
He is an entertainer, and we will miss the entertainment.
Guido: "in 2020 Christian Wakeford co-sponsored and voted for a private members bill that would “enable the recall of Members of the House of Commons who voluntarily change their political party affiliation; and for connected purposes.” "
Keeps two jobs. Heavy expenses user. Writes one way and votes the other. Changes party to keep his MP salary. Refuses to let his constituents have their say after they no longer have the "Christian Wakeford, Conservative and Unionist Party" they voted for, despite previously supporting the principle. The man is just awful.
He must be having psychological issues to move from a party founded on one ideology to a completely different one. Perhaps feel sorry for him, must have been torment for him.
Wonder why he didn't get off at the first stop the LibDems?
The worst PM of my lifetime. Totally unsuited for this crisis. Actually unsuited for any office. A chaotic, appalling, lying, opportunistic, thoroughly nasty piece of work who threw Paterson under the bus and habitually shafts people.
If he's the sort of person you like, Sean, then you're welcome to him. The rest of us will move on and look back on this as the most disastrous premiership of our lives.
All that can be true - heck, half of it surely is true - and yet I still believe we will miss him, more than many expect. Even you
He is a huge figure in British politics. His bombastic but upbeat personality has dominated our politics for years, he is the guy that won the Brexit referendum, then got Brexit done, then steered us through the plague - first badly, then rather well. He makes people laugh (or he used to), he dwarfs everyone else in terms of colourful character. He is a one man walking soap opera, he always gets reactions, he is infuriating, funny, strange, blonde, idiotic, forceful, mendacious, clever, stupid, brilliant, surprisingly short, priapic, knackered, vivid, pitiful, and speaks ancient Greek. He is BORIS. The whole country knows him by his first name, not true of any other politician of the day.
When he goes - and that will surely be soon - he will leave a huge psychological void. He will be replaced by relative midgets (character-wise), droning on as most politicians do. And one day after his exit even his haters might find themselves missing that blonde clown who could tell a joke.
He is an entertainer, and we will miss the entertainment.
Our MP was elected to represent our town and our people. Yesterday, Christian Wakeford let down the people claiming Universal Credit. That's a cut of £1000 per year for 17000 families across #Bury. #cancelthecut
The worst PM of my lifetime. Totally unsuited for this crisis. Actually unsuited for any office. A chaotic, appalling, lying, opportunistic, thoroughly nasty piece of work who threw Paterson under the bus and habitually shafts people.
If he's the sort of person you like, Sean, then you're welcome to him. The rest of us will move on and look back on this as the most disastrous premiership of our lives.
Not disastrous at all. He did break the Brexit logjam, and he did make some pretty good calls on Covid. And the focus on levelling-up was astute. He will go down as a consequential PM who committed hari-kiri in a most bizarre way. A brief blazing meteor of a premiership.
And, Leon is right, we will miss such an entertainer in high office.
I truly won't. Having a guy like this as our PM bugged me terribly. I hated what it said about this country that I love.
Tory friend - "dagger in the back for Boris" - he's hoping for a dignified exit but thinks Boris is going to throw a toddler tantrum and will have to be forced out.
In the back ? I think his MPs are ready for a frontal assault.
Today at pmqs he had all the ammunition and much more to near fatally wound Boris and while he made some good jokes his self satisfied demeanour and body language were maybe not a good look
He welcomed Gary Neville into labour and made the extraordinary suggestion he could became a shadow minister which in itself is ridiculous without knowing Neville's views which ironically include being against all covid restrictions
Today he had Wakeford sit immediately behind him and extolled his defection to labour, while Wakeford wore a union jack face mask and supports right wing conservative policies. No wonder some in labour are far from impressed
In my opinion Starmer is trying to hard and is not receiving the best advice
Yes, the Starmer crisis is all the talk right now. How long can he cling on?
The worst PM of my lifetime. Totally unsuited for this crisis. Actually unsuited for any office. A chaotic, appalling, lying, opportunistic, thoroughly nasty piece of work who threw Paterson under the bus and habitually shafts people.
If he's the sort of person you like, Sean, then you're welcome to him. The rest of us will move on and look back on this as the most disastrous premiership of our lives.
All that can be true - heck, half of it surely is true - and yet I still believe we will miss him, more than many expect. Even you
He is a huge figure in British politics. His bombastic but upbeat personality has dominated our politics for years, he is the guy that won the Brexit referendum, then got Brexit done, then steered us through the plague - first badly, then rather well. He makes people laugh (or he used to), he dwarfs everyone else in terms of colourful character. He is a one man walking soap opera, he always gets reactions, he is infuriating, funny, strange, blonde, idiotic, forceful, mendacious, clever, stupid, brilliant, surprisingly short, priapic, knackered, vivid, pitiful, and speaks ancient Greek. He is BORIS. The whole country knows him by his first name, not true of any other politician of the day.
When he goes - and that will surely be soon - he will leave a huge psychological void. He will be replaced by relative midgets (character-wise), droning on as most politicians do. And one day after his exit even his haters might find themselves missing that blonde clown who could tell a joke.
He is an entertainer, and we will miss the entertainment.
Same with Peter Kay. Fortunately he isn't PM. Although couldn't be a lot worse.
Guido: "in 2020 Christian Wakeford co-sponsored and voted for a private members bill that would “enable the recall of Members of the House of Commons who voluntarily change their political party affiliation; and for connected purposes.” "
Keeps two jobs. Heavy expenses user. Writes one way and votes the other. Changes party to keep his MP salary. Refuses to let his constituents have their say after they no longer have the "Christian Wakeford, Conservative and Unionist Party" they voted for, despite previously supporting the principle. The man is just awful.
He must be having psychological issues to move from a party founded on one ideology to a completely different one.
It doesn't make sense to me either, but I wouldn't pretend to know what, or more importantly, how he thinks.
One of our local Labour district councillors jumped ship to the Conservatives a couple of years back. She was despairing of the local CLP, thought she could get more done for her ward and for the district by being a Conservative (it's blue-rosette country), and didn't really see the ideology of the parties as a big thing - I think she said "I've always been centre-right anyway". She's now a cabinet member on the council and seems to be ok at it.
Mind you, she was quoted in the Guardian the other day saying that she thought Johnson should go...
How on Earth does the PM survive this? What exactly is his way back to being taken even halfway seriously, let alone running the country? Boris backers please explain.
By clinging on like a limpet, in the hope that the letters don't get to 54 (53?), if they do he survives the vote, and then a war breaks out so he can do his Churchill Cosplay.
Great to see the Covid theatre nonsense coming to an end.
End of self isolation for the positive by March, and possibly earlier too.
I was called all sorts of names when I suggested that a month or two ago. Great to see it happening soon.
Yes, because a month or two ago it would have been totally inappropriate.
My wife calls me names if I suggest turning off the heating in February, but suddenly in May she's all for it.
Nice try but I was saying that at some point next year (now this year) we should be looking to drop the measure and March is quite early this year relatively. This is coming faster than I expected. 👍
The reaction of a lot of people here was that it would never be appropriate for the legal restriction on isolation for the positive to be dropped. Not that it should only be dropped in March instead.
Nice try, but this is what you actually said:
Rip off the bandage, have the virus burn through a vaccinated population and if anyone's unvaccinated then they can claim their Darwin Award on the way out.
That's far from the only post I ever made and is not what I was referring to since self isolation wasn't even mentioned in that post or the one I was replying to.
The worst PM of my lifetime. Totally unsuited for this crisis. Actually unsuited for any office. A chaotic, appalling, lying, opportunistic, thoroughly nasty piece of work who threw Paterson under the bus and habitually shafts people.
If he's the sort of person you like, Sean, then you're welcome to him. The rest of us will move on and look back on this as the most disastrous premiership of our lives.
Not disastrous at all. He did break the Brexit logjam, and he did make some pretty good calls on Covid. And the focus on levelling-up was astute. He will go down as a consequential PM who committed hari-kiri in a most bizarre way. A brief blazing meteor of a premiership.
And, Leon is right, we will miss such an entertainer in high office.
Today at pmqs he had all the ammunition and much more to near fatally wound Boris and while he made some good jokes his self satisfied demeanour and body language were maybe not a good look
He welcomed Gary Neville into labour and made the extraordinary suggestion he could became a shadow minister which in itself is ridiculous without knowing Neville's views which ironically include being against all covid restrictions
Today he had Wakeford sit immediately behind him and extolled his defection to labour, while Wakeford wore a union jack face mask and supports right wing conservative policies. No wonder some in labour are far from impressed
In my opinion Starmer is trying to hard and is not receiving the best advice
So. You're calling today a bad day for Starmer?
No I did not say that
It is just I do not rate him, and do you disagree with the points I have made
Today at pmqs he had all the ammunition and much more to near fatally wound Boris and while he made some good jokes his self satisfied demeanour and body language were maybe not a good look
He welcomed Gary Neville into labour and made the extraordinary suggestion he could became a shadow minister which in itself is ridiculous without knowing Neville's views which ironically include being against all covid restrictions
Today he had Wakeford sit immediately behind him and extolled his defection to labour, while Wakeford wore a union jack face mask and supports right wing conservative policies. No wonder some in labour are far from impressed
In my opinion Starmer is trying to hard and is not receiving the best advice
Yes, the Starmer crisis is all the talk right now. How long can he cling on?
And of course Tony Blair's self satisfied demeanour and body language were fatal to his ambition.
The worst PM of my lifetime. Totally unsuited for this crisis. Actually unsuited for any office. A chaotic, appalling, lying, opportunistic, thoroughly nasty piece of work who threw Paterson under the bus and habitually shafts people.
If he's the sort of person you like, Sean, then you're welcome to him. The rest of us will move on and look back on this as the most disastrous premiership of our lives.
He is an entertainer, and we will miss the entertainment.
No we really won't.
Maybe if you're the kind of author who sells sex tips and jaunts around the world, you'll miss him.
But for most people with serious matters to deal with on a daily basis, we don't want a song and dance man in No. 10. Thanks. Especially not at the moment.
Today at pmqs he had all the ammunition and much more to near fatally wound Boris and while he made some good jokes his self satisfied demeanour and body language were maybe not a good look
He welcomed Gary Neville into labour and made the extraordinary suggestion he could became a shadow minister which in itself is ridiculous without knowing Neville's views which ironically include being against all covid restrictions
Today he had Wakeford sit immediately behind him and extolled his defection to labour, while Wakeford wore a union jack face mask and supports right wing conservative policies. No wonder some in labour are far from impressed
In my opinion Starmer is trying to hard and is not receiving the best advice
Christian Wakeford MP should not be admitted to the Labour Party. He has consistently voted against the interests of working-class people; for the £20 universal credit cut, for the Nationality and Borders Bill and for the Police and Crime Bill, against almost every climate change measure.
Labour is a Democratic Socialist Party CW like SKS is not
Great to see the Covid theatre nonsense coming to an end.
End of self isolation for the positive by March, and possibly earlier too.
I was called all sorts of names when I suggested that a month or two ago. Great to see it happening soon.
Yes, because a month or two ago it would have been totally inappropriate.
My wife calls me names if I suggest turning off the heating in February, but suddenly in May she's all for it.
Nice try but I was saying that at some point next year (now this year) we should be looking to drop the measure and March is quite early this year relatively. This is coming faster than I expected. 👍
The reaction of a lot of people here was that it would never be appropriate for the legal restriction on isolation for the positive to be dropped. Not that it should only be dropped in March instead.
Nice try, but this is what you actually said:
Rip off the bandage, have the virus burn through a vaccinated population and if anyone's unvaccinated then they can claim their Darwin Award on the way out.
That's far from the only post I ever made and is not what I was referring to since self isolation wasn't even mentioned in that post or the one I was replying to.
Leo Amery was quoting Oliver Cromwell addressing the Rump Parliament btw, everybody seems to think he was the original source
Everyone thinks that a leading biographer of Winston Churchill will have recognised it, and that he lied when claiming not to. (hmm. It does not seem to be mentioned in Boris's book.)
The worst PM of my lifetime. Totally unsuited for this crisis. Actually unsuited for any office. A chaotic, appalling, lying, opportunistic, thoroughly nasty piece of work who threw Paterson under the bus and habitually shafts people.
If he's the sort of person you like, Sean, then you're welcome to him. The rest of us will move on and look back on this as the most disastrous premiership of our lives.
All that can be true - heck, half of it surely is true - and yet I still believe we will miss him, more than many expect. Even you
He is a huge figure in British politics. His bombastic but upbeat personality has dominated our politics for years, he is the guy that won the Brexit referendum, then got Brexit done, then steered us through the plague - first badly, then rather well. He makes people laugh (or he used to), he dwarfs everyone else in terms of colourful character. He is a one man walking soap opera, he always gets reactions, he is infuriating, funny, strange, blonde, idiotic, forceful, mendacious, clever, stupid, brilliant, surprisingly short, priapic, knackered, vivid, pitiful, and speaks ancient Greek. He is BORIS. The whole country knows him by his first name, not true of any other politician of the day.
When he goes - and that will surely be soon - he will leave a huge psychological void. He will be replaced by relative midgets (character-wise), droning on as most politicians do. And one day after his exit even his haters might find themselves missing that blonde clown who could tell a joke.
He is an entertainer, and we will miss the entertainment.
Same with Peter Kay. Fortunately he isn't PM. Although couldn't be a lot worse.
Beat up on him as you like - Leon is a really magnificent observer. We don't care so much about his life, but when he looks elsewhere it's very interesting. Brushes over the realm are queing up to have their daft opinions considered though.
Today at pmqs he had all the ammunition and much more to near fatally wound Boris and while he made some good jokes his self satisfied demeanour and body language were maybe not a good look
He welcomed Gary Neville into labour and made the extraordinary suggestion he could became a shadow minister which in itself is ridiculous without knowing Neville's views which ironically include being against all covid restrictions
Today he had Wakeford sit immediately behind him and extolled his defection to labour, while Wakeford wore a union jack face mask and supports right wing conservative policies. No wonder some in labour are far from impressed
In my opinion Starmer is trying to hard and is not receiving the best advice
So. You're calling today a bad day for Starmer?
• A Tory MP defecting to Labour is bad for Labour
• David Davis knifing Boris is bad for Labour
• Starmer brimming with confidence and being funny at PMQs is bad for Labour
Today at pmqs he had all the ammunition and much more to near fatally wound Boris and while he made some good jokes his self satisfied demeanour and body language were maybe not a good look
He welcomed Gary Neville into labour and made the extraordinary suggestion he could became a shadow minister which in itself is ridiculous without knowing Neville's views which ironically include being against all covid restrictions
Today he had Wakeford sit immediately behind him and extolled his defection to labour, while Wakeford wore a union jack face mask and supports right wing conservative policies. No wonder some in labour are far from impressed
In my opinion Starmer is trying to hard and is not receiving the best advice
Yes, the Starmer crisis is all the talk right now. How long can he cling on?
Guido: "in 2020 Christian Wakeford co-sponsored and voted for a private members bill that would “enable the recall of Members of the House of Commons who voluntarily change their political party affiliation; and for connected purposes.” "
Keeps two jobs. Heavy expenses user. Writes one way and votes the other. Changes party to keep his MP salary. Refuses to let his constituents have their say after they no longer have the "Christian Wakeford, Conservative and Unionist Party" they voted for, despite previously supporting the principle. The man is just awful.
He must be having psychological issues to move from a party founded on one ideology to a completely different one. Perhaps feel sorry for him, must have been torment for him.
Wonder why he didn't get off at the first stop the LibDems?
I think we can safely say that the LibDems aren’t going to win in Bury.
The mystery is, if he’s such a venal and self-serving scoundrel, he wasn’t happy working for Boris?
@Leon 'He is an entertainer, and we will miss the entertainment.'
I get that, and confess I once voted for him partly for that reason. Also, his principal opponent was Ken Livingstone, so don't read too much into it. But these are serious times. We can't really afford to have a clown for PM.
Today at pmqs he had all the ammunition and much more to near fatally wound Boris and while he made some good jokes his self satisfied demeanour and body language were maybe not a good look
He welcomed Gary Neville into labour and made the extraordinary suggestion he could became a shadow minister which in itself is ridiculous without knowing Neville's views which ironically include being against all covid restrictions
Today he had Wakeford sit immediately behind him and extolled his defection to labour, while Wakeford wore a union jack face mask and supports right wing conservative policies. No wonder some in labour are far from impressed
In my opinion Starmer is trying to hard and is not receiving the best advice
Christian Wakeford MP should not be admitted to the Labour Party. He has consistently voted against the interests of working-class people; for the £20 universal credit cut, for the Nationality and Borders Bill and for the Police and Crime Bill, against almost every climate change measure.
Labour is a Democratic Socialist Party CW like SKS is not
David Davis's by-election under Cameron was over ID cards. He's generally been strong on civil liberties. He made a good speech in Parliament recently about the dreadful clause 9 in the Nationality and Borders Bill.
Re this from @Burgessian (fpt) "Funnily enough, I think that Boris's focus on Levelling-Up was a huge opportunity for the Tories to consolidate their position following the Brexit breakthrough. Whoever succeeds him needs to double-down on that, don a hard-hat, and get themselves to as many building sites in the North as possible. The success of Ben Houchen (Tees Valley Mayor) and the Hartlepool by-election are indications of how this could play out if the Tories resist the temptation to revert to type. And, let's face it, a less-than-scintillating London lawyer-type like Keir Starmer is not terribly well-placed to counter it."
I agree. I don't see Sunak or Truss as the leaders to do it, though. It's not just building sites which are needed - it's a range of measures: opportunities, education, housing, transport etc. And Sunak has just binned some of the transport proposals.
There is a fault line in the coalition the Tories built in 2019. Boris might have been able to bridge it. I don't see anyone else atm who can. And I just see complacency from Labour - "coming home" indeed, as if voters belong to a party as of right. I find something really grating about such an approach. It is fundamentally contemptuous of voters.
Meanwhile all this ghastly legislation will keep being quietly put on the statute book, voted for by all the MPs now putting the boot into Boris. And we're supposed to be pleased with them for finally doing just that - if they do. No thanks.
Today at pmqs he had all the ammunition and much more to near fatally wound Boris and while he made some good jokes his self satisfied demeanour and body language were maybe not a good look
He welcomed Gary Neville into labour and made the extraordinary suggestion he could became a shadow minister which in itself is ridiculous without knowing Neville's views which ironically include being against all covid restrictions
Today he had Wakeford sit immediately behind him and extolled his defection to labour, while Wakeford wore a union jack face mask and supports right wing conservative policies. No wonder some in labour are far from impressed
In my opinion Starmer is trying to hard and is not receiving the best advice
All most voters will hear from the news is; 'Tory MP defects to Labour' and 'Tory MP tells Boris to resign.' Starmer has nothing to worry about from today's performance.
Today at pmqs he had all the ammunition and much more to near fatally wound Boris and while he made some good jokes his self satisfied demeanour and body language were maybe not a good look
He welcomed Gary Neville into labour and made the extraordinary suggestion he could became a shadow minister which in itself is ridiculous without knowing Neville's views which ironically include being against all covid restrictions
Today he had Wakeford sit immediately behind him and extolled his defection to labour, while Wakeford wore a union jack face mask and supports right wing conservative policies. No wonder some in labour are far from impressed
In my opinion Starmer is trying to hard and is not receiving the best advice
So. You're calling today a bad day for Starmer?
• A Tory MP defecting to Labour is bad for Labour
• David Davis knifing Boris is bad for Labour
• Starmer brimming with confidence and being funny at PMQs is bad for Labour.
Today at pmqs he had all the ammunition and much more to near fatally wound Boris and while he made some good jokes his self satisfied demeanour and body language were maybe not a good look
He welcomed Gary Neville into labour and made the extraordinary suggestion he could became a shadow minister which in itself is ridiculous without knowing Neville's views which ironically include being against all covid restrictions
Today he had Wakeford sit immediately behind him and extolled his defection to labour, while Wakeford wore a union jack face mask and supports right wing conservative policies. No wonder some in labour are far from impressed
In my opinion Starmer is trying to hard and is not receiving the best advice
So. You're calling today a bad day for Starmer?
No I did not say that
It is just I do not rate him, and do you disagree with the points I have made
I agree with your take, largely
I expected Boris to crumble, in a silent Commons, after that awful Sky interview. He didn't, at all
And this is partly because Starmer was overly smug with his laboured jokes and scripted put-downs. Mannered. There is a lot of vanity in Starmer - look at the way he tends to his hair, so carefully - and it was visible today
Despite all that Starmer won the duel (how could he not) and the David Davis intervention plus the defection means it is, yet again, All About Boris
Starmer is mediocre, but Boris is self-destructing
It is an absolute disgrace a man with this voting record is happily seated behind Starmer and welcomed in to todays Labour Party
He's been a loyalist, and anyone who normally votes with their party has some uncomfortable moments (said he with some feeling), but if they didn't usually do that party government would collapse.
Anyway, haven't you said you plan to vote Tory yourself in protest against Starmer's centrism?
The worst PM of my lifetime. Totally unsuited for this crisis. Actually unsuited for any office. A chaotic, appalling, lying, opportunistic, thoroughly nasty piece of work who threw Paterson under the bus and habitually shafts people.
If he's the sort of person you like, Sean, then you're welcome to him. The rest of us will move on and look back on this as the most disastrous premiership of our lives.
All that can be true - heck, half of it surely is true - and yet I still believe we will miss him, more than many expect. Even you
He is a huge figure in British politics. His bombastic but upbeat personality has dominated our politics for years, he is the guy that won the Brexit referendum, then got Brexit done, then steered us through the plague - first badly, then rather well. He makes people laugh (or he used to), he dwarfs everyone else in terms of colourful character. He is a one man walking soap opera, he always gets reactions, he is infuriating, funny, strange, blonde, idiotic, forceful, mendacious, clever, stupid, brilliant, surprisingly short, priapic, knackered, vivid, pitiful, and speaks ancient Greek. He is BORIS. The whole country knows him by his first name, not true of any other politician of the day.
When he goes - and that will surely be soon - he will leave a huge psychological void. He will be replaced by relative midgets (character-wise), droning on as most politicians do. And one day after his exit even his haters might find themselves missing that blonde clown who could tell a joke.
He is an entertainer, and we will miss the entertainment.
Same with Peter Kay. Fortunately he isn't PM. Although couldn't be a lot worse.
Beat up on him as you like - Leon is a really magnificent observer. We don't care so much about his life, but when he looks elsewhere it's very interesting...
He is indeed. He also writes hyperbollocks on a regular basis.
How on Earth does the PM survive this? What exactly is his way back to being taken even halfway seriously, let alone running the country? Boris backers please explain.
By clinging on like a limpet, in the hope that the letters don't get to 54 (53?), if they do he survives the vote, and then a war breaks out so he can do his Churchill Cosplay.
War didn’t play much today.
I’m pleased because I told my Dad is wrong that the leadership election is postponed for the war, based what I think after discussion on PB. Not often I’m right and he is wrong on Conservative politics. Mind you he’s not actually wrong yet.
Guido: "in 2020 Christian Wakeford co-sponsored and voted for a private members bill that would “enable the recall of Members of the House of Commons who voluntarily change their political party affiliation; and for connected purposes.” "
Keeps two jobs. Heavy expenses user. Writes one way and votes the other. Changes party to keep his MP salary. Refuses to let his constituents have their say after they no longer have the "Christian Wakeford, Conservative and Unionist Party" they voted for, despite previously supporting the principle. The man is just awful.
He must be having psychological issues to move from a party founded on one ideology to a completely different one. Perhaps feel sorry for him, must have been torment for him.
Wonder why he didn't get off at the first stop the LibDems?
I think we can safely say that the LibDems aren’t going to win in Bury.
The mystery is, if he’s such a venal and self-serving scoundrel, he wasn’t happy working for Boris?
Yes indeed. And we could ponder if the public hadn't fell out with Johnson would he have defected anyway? Hmmm, a head-scratcher.
Great to see the Covid theatre nonsense coming to an end.
End of self isolation for the positive by March, and possibly earlier too.
I was called all sorts of names when I suggested that a month or two ago. Great to see it happening soon.
Yes, because a month or two ago it would have been totally inappropriate.
My wife calls me names if I suggest turning off the heating in February, but suddenly in May she's all for it.
Nice try but I was saying that at some point next year (now this year) we should be looking to drop the measure and March is quite early this year relatively. This is coming faster than I expected. 👍
The reaction of a lot of people here was that it would never be appropriate for the legal restriction on isolation for the positive to be dropped. Not that it should only be dropped in March instead.
Nice try, but this is what you actually said:
Rip off the bandage, have the virus burn through a vaccinated population and if anyone's unvaccinated then they can claim their Darwin Award on the way out.
That's far from the only post I ever made and is not what I was referring to since self isolation wasn't even mentioned in that post or the one I was replying to.
And I stand by that comment 100%.
You are, of course, right. That is indeed far from the only post you ever made.
Alright, here's you a short while later, talking quite clearly about testing and enforced isolation (emphasis mine):
Its (sic) restrictions telling people to test and isolate etc that are causing more damage now than the virus itself. End the restrictions, the problem goes away.
Today at pmqs he had all the ammunition and much more to near fatally wound Boris and while he made some good jokes his self satisfied demeanour and body language were maybe not a good look
He welcomed Gary Neville into labour and made the extraordinary suggestion he could became a shadow minister which in itself is ridiculous without knowing Neville's views which ironically include being against all covid restrictions
Today he had Wakeford sit immediately behind him and extolled his defection to labour, while Wakeford wore a union jack face mask and supports right wing conservative policies. No wonder some in labour are far from impressed
In my opinion Starmer is trying to hard and is not receiving the best advice
All most voters will hear from the news is; 'Tory MP defects to Labour' and 'Tory MP tells Boris to resign.' Starmer has nothing to worry about from today's performance.
I agree and that is not the point I am making
Furthermore I do not rate Starmer and at this moment in time if I had to vote I would either abstain or vote Lib Dem
Today at pmqs he had all the ammunition and much more to near fatally wound Boris and while he made some good jokes his self satisfied demeanour and body language were maybe not a good look
He welcomed Gary Neville into labour and made the extraordinary suggestion he could became a shadow minister which in itself is ridiculous without knowing Neville's views which ironically include being against all covid restrictions
Today he had Wakeford sit immediately behind him and extolled his defection to labour, while Wakeford wore a union jack face mask and supports right wing conservative policies. No wonder some in labour are far from impressed
In my opinion Starmer is trying to hard and is not receiving the best advice
So. You're calling today a bad day for Starmer?
• A Tory MP defecting to Labour is bad for Labour
• David Davis knifing Boris is bad for Labour
• Starmer brimming with confidence and being funny at PMQs is bad for Labour
Today at pmqs he had all the ammunition and much more to near fatally wound Boris and while he made some good jokes his self satisfied demeanour and body language were maybe not a good look
He welcomed Gary Neville into labour and made the extraordinary suggestion he could became a shadow minister which in itself is ridiculous without knowing Neville's views which ironically include being against all covid restrictions
Today he had Wakeford sit immediately behind him and extolled his defection to labour, while Wakeford wore a union jack face mask and supports right wing conservative policies. No wonder some in labour are far from impressed
In my opinion Starmer is trying to hard and is not receiving the best advice
So. You're calling today a bad day for Starmer?
No I did not say that
It is just I do not rate him, and do you disagree with the points I have made
I agree with your take, largely
I expected Boris to crumble, in a silent Commons, after that awful Sky interview. He didn't, at all
And this is partly because Starmer was overly smug with his laboured jokes and scripted put-downs. Mannered. There is a lot of vanity in Starmer - look at the way he tends to his hair, so carefully - and it was visible today
Despite all that Starmer won the duel (how could he not) and the David Davis intervention plus the defection means it is, yet again, All About Boris
Starmer is mediocre, but Boris is self-destructing
As I said earlier. Tactical mistake by Labour to do this today:
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 3m Sense amongst Tory MPs is Wakeford defection may have pushed the crisis into next week. “Think they’ll wait for Sue Gray now” one tells me.
Today at pmqs he had all the ammunition and much more to near fatally wound Boris and while he made some good jokes his self satisfied demeanour and body language were maybe not a good look
He welcomed Gary Neville into labour and made the extraordinary suggestion he could became a shadow minister which in itself is ridiculous without knowing Neville's views which ironically include being against all covid restrictions
Today he had Wakeford sit immediately behind him and extolled his defection to labour, while Wakeford wore a union jack face mask and supports right wing conservative policies. No wonder some in labour are far from impressed
In my opinion Starmer is trying to hard and is not receiving the best advice
So. You're calling today a bad day for Starmer?
• A Tory MP defecting to Labour is bad for Labour
• David Davis knifing Boris is bad for Labour
• Starmer brimming with confidence and being funny at PMQs is bad for Labour
It's a great day for Starmer in and of itself, but he ideally would want Johnson to hang on long enough to properly tarnish the brand. Today looks like the beginning of the end.
Today at pmqs he had all the ammunition and much more to near fatally wound Boris and while he made some good jokes his self satisfied demeanour and body language were maybe not a good look
He welcomed Gary Neville into labour and made the extraordinary suggestion he could became a shadow minister which in itself is ridiculous without knowing Neville's views which ironically include being against all covid restrictions
Today he had Wakeford sit immediately behind him and extolled his defection to labour, while Wakeford wore a union jack face mask and supports right wing conservative policies. No wonder some in labour are far from impressed
In my opinion Starmer is trying to hard and is not receiving the best advice
Yes, the Starmer crisis is all the talk right now. How long can he cling on?
Today at pmqs he had all the ammunition and much more to near fatally wound Boris and while he made some good jokes his self satisfied demeanour and body language were maybe not a good look
He welcomed Gary Neville into labour and made the extraordinary suggestion he could became a shadow minister which in itself is ridiculous without knowing Neville's views which ironically include being against all covid restrictions
Today he had Wakeford sit immediately behind him and extolled his defection to labour, while Wakeford wore a union jack face mask and supports right wing conservative policies. No wonder some in labour are far from impressed
In my opinion Starmer is trying to hard and is not receiving the best advice
Sir Keir is fully aware of Gary Neville's views on covid restrictions, has spoken to him at length about them, and raised the fact that they debated the matter as a positive during his, Keir's, recent appearance on the Nick Ferrari show. He said he preferred to be challenged by colleagues than have their sycophantic agreement.
As you clearly can't be bothered to check the basic contentions in your posts before publishing them, I'm not sure it's worthwhile reading the rest of your mutterings!
Guido: "in 2020 Christian Wakeford co-sponsored and voted for a private members bill that would “enable the recall of Members of the House of Commons who voluntarily change their political party affiliation; and for connected purposes.” "
Keeps two jobs. Heavy expenses user. Writes one way and votes the other. Changes party to keep his MP salary. Refuses to let his constituents have their say after they no longer have the "Christian Wakeford, Conservative and Unionist Party" they voted for, despite previously supporting the principle. The man is just awful.
He must be having psychological issues to move from a party founded on one ideology to a completely different one. Perhaps feel sorry for him, must have been torment for him.
Wonder why he didn't get off at the first stop the LibDems?
As I said earlier. Tactical mistake by Labour to do this today:
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 3m Sense amongst Tory MPs is Wakeford defection may have pushed the crisis into next week. “Think they’ll wait for Sue Gray now” one tells me.
As I said earlier. Tactical mistake by Labour to do this today:
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 3m Sense amongst Tory MPs is Wakeford defection may have pushed the crisis into next week. “Think they’ll wait for Sue Gray now” one tells me.
As I said earlier. Tactical mistake by Labour to do this today:
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 3m Sense amongst Tory MPs is Wakeford defection may have pushed the crisis into next week. “Think they’ll wait for Sue Gray now” one tells me.
The sweeping away of all restrictions, including masks, is a big win and a quite radical move. Who else is doing that ?
Today at pmqs he had all the ammunition and much more to near fatally wound Boris and while he made some good jokes his self satisfied demeanour and body language were maybe not a good look
He welcomed Gary Neville into labour and made the extraordinary suggestion he could became a shadow minister which in itself is ridiculous without knowing Neville's views which ironically include being against all covid restrictions
Today he had Wakeford sit immediately behind him and extolled his defection to labour, while Wakeford wore a union jack face mask and supports right wing conservative policies. No wonder some in labour are far from impressed
In my opinion Starmer is trying to hard and is not receiving the best advice
Christian Wakeford MP should not be admitted to the Labour Party. He has consistently voted against the interests of working-class people; for the £20 universal credit cut, for the Nationality and Borders Bill and for the Police and Crime Bill, against almost every climate change measure.
Labour is a Democratic Socialist Party CW like SKS is not
I've got some sympathy with your view, although on balance it would be foolish to turn down defections.
However, if he doesn't genuinely repent, would it be possible for Bury South CLP to deselect him in advance of the GE? That would be fun.
Today at pmqs he had all the ammunition and much more to near fatally wound Boris and while he made some good jokes his self satisfied demeanour and body language were maybe not a good look
He welcomed Gary Neville into labour and made the extraordinary suggestion he could became a shadow minister which in itself is ridiculous without knowing Neville's views which ironically include being against all covid restrictions
Today he had Wakeford sit immediately behind him and extolled his defection to labour, while Wakeford wore a union jack face mask and supports right wing conservative policies. No wonder some in labour are far from impressed
In my opinion Starmer is trying to hard and is not receiving the best advice
Yes, the Starmer crisis is all the talk right now. How long can he cling on?
As I said earlier. Tactical mistake by Labour to do this today:
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 3m Sense amongst Tory MPs is Wakeford defection may have pushed the crisis into next week. “Think they’ll wait for Sue Gray now” one tells me.
Exactly my post pmqs comments
Not a mistake. They want Johnson to stay. The longer he stays the better it is for Labour. They want to fight him at the next election if at all possible. The sooner he goes the quicker someone else comes in and this blows over. They want this to run and run and run.
As I said earlier. Tactical mistake by Labour to do this today:
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 3m Sense amongst Tory MPs is Wakeford defection may have pushed the crisis into next week. “Think they’ll wait for Sue Gray now” one tells me.
That's not a mistake. The longer this drags out, the more Johnson tarnishes the Tory brand and the less his successor has to build on. The worst (plausible) outcome for Labour now is a rapid Johnson exit.
As I said earlier. Tactical mistake by Labour to do this today:
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 3m Sense amongst Tory MPs is Wakeford defection may have pushed the crisis into next week. “Think they’ll wait for Sue Gray now” one tells me.
Yes, Labour will be gutted to see this Tory crisis extended into next week. That's the LAST thing they want.
Today at pmqs he had all the ammunition and much more to near fatally wound Boris and while he made some good jokes his self satisfied demeanour and body language were maybe not a good look
He welcomed Gary Neville into labour and made the extraordinary suggestion he could became a shadow minister which in itself is ridiculous without knowing Neville's views which ironically include being against all covid restrictions
Today he had Wakeford sit immediately behind him and extolled his defection to labour, while Wakeford wore a union jack face mask and supports right wing conservative policies. No wonder some in labour are far from impressed
In my opinion Starmer is trying to hard and is not receiving the best advice
So. You're calling today a bad day for Starmer?
• A Tory MP defecting to Labour is bad for Labour
• David Davis knifing Boris is bad for Labour
• Starmer brimming with confidence and being funny at PMQs is bad for Labour
Today at pmqs he had all the ammunition and much more to near fatally wound Boris and while he made some good jokes his self satisfied demeanour and body language were maybe not a good look
He welcomed Gary Neville into labour and made the extraordinary suggestion he could became a shadow minister which in itself is ridiculous without knowing Neville's views which ironically include being against all covid restrictions
Today he had Wakeford sit immediately behind him and extolled his defection to labour, while Wakeford wore a union jack face mask and supports right wing conservative policies. No wonder some in labour are far from impressed
In my opinion Starmer is trying to hard and is not receiving the best advice
So. You're calling today a bad day for Starmer?
• A Tory MP defecting to Labour is bad for Labour
• David Davis knifing Boris is bad for Labour
• Starmer brimming with confidence and being funny at PMQs is bad for Labour
Today at pmqs he had all the ammunition and much more to near fatally wound Boris and while he made some good jokes his self satisfied demeanour and body language were maybe not a good look
He welcomed Gary Neville into labour and made the extraordinary suggestion he could became a shadow minister which in itself is ridiculous without knowing Neville's views which ironically include being against all covid restrictions
Today he had Wakeford sit immediately behind him and extolled his defection to labour, while Wakeford wore a union jack face mask and supports right wing conservative policies. No wonder some in labour are far from impressed
In my opinion Starmer is trying to hard and is not receiving the best advice
Sir Keir is fully aware of Gary Neville's views on covid restrictions, has spoken to him at length about them, and raised the fact that they debated the matter as a positive during his, Keir's, recent appearance on the Nick Ferrari show. He said he preferred to be challenged by colleagues than have their sycophantic agreement.
As you clearly can't be bothered to check the basic contentions in your posts before publishing them, I'm not sure it's worthwhile reading the rest of your mutterings!
Neville also has quite a good track record on Labour issues, not least being shop steward.
Today at pmqs he had all the ammunition and much more to near fatally wound Boris and while he made some good jokes his self satisfied demeanour and body language were maybe not a good look
He welcomed Gary Neville into labour and made the extraordinary suggestion he could became a shadow minister which in itself is ridiculous without knowing Neville's views which ironically include being against all covid restrictions
Today he had Wakeford sit immediately behind him and extolled his defection to labour, while Wakeford wore a union jack face mask and supports right wing conservative policies. No wonder some in labour are far from impressed
In my opinion Starmer is trying to hard and is not receiving the best advice
So. You're calling today a bad day for Starmer?
No I did not say that
It is just I do not rate him, and do you disagree with the points I have made
Yes, your point about Gary Neville is third hand and wrong. Starmer was joking about Neville being in the Cabinet. You remember jokes? Read the transcript, if you doubt it.
Mind you, you've reminded me of my favourite comment on here in days, when our redoubtable Epping friend pointed out that "Gary Neville is no Winston Churchill"Who'd have thought it?
As I said earlier. Tactical mistake by Labour to do this today:
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 3m Sense amongst Tory MPs is Wakeford defection may have pushed the crisis into next week. “Think they’ll wait for Sue Gray now” one tells me.
Exactly my post pmqs comments
Not a mistake. They want Johnson to stay. The longer he stays the better it is for Labour. They want to fight him at the next election if at all possible. The sooner he goes the quicker someone else comes in and this blows over. They want this to run and run and run.
Wasn't this the same sort of reason as to when Labour won Batley and Spen i.e. it's actually good news for the Conservatives because it meant Starmer remained as leader?
Things turn. BJ probably is finished but then we said the same things about Starmer a year back. If there is one thing it generally has been wrong to do is to write off Johnson.
Today at pmqs he had all the ammunition and much more to near fatally wound Boris and while he made some good jokes his self satisfied demeanour and body language were maybe not a good look
He welcomed Gary Neville into labour and made the extraordinary suggestion he could became a shadow minister which in itself is ridiculous without knowing Neville's views which ironically include being against all covid restrictions
Today he had Wakeford sit immediately behind him and extolled his defection to labour, while Wakeford wore a union jack face mask and supports right wing conservative policies. No wonder some in labour are far from impressed
In my opinion Starmer is trying to hard and is not receiving the best advice
So. You're calling today a bad day for Starmer?
• A Tory MP defecting to Labour is bad for Labour
• David Davis knifing Boris is bad for Labour
• Starmer brimming with confidence and being funny at PMQs is bad for Labour.
Great to see the Covid theatre nonsense coming to an end.
End of self isolation for the positive by March, and possibly earlier too.
I was called all sorts of names when I suggested that a month or two ago. Great to see it happening soon.
Yes, because a month or two ago it would have been totally inappropriate.
My wife calls me names if I suggest turning off the heating in February, but suddenly in May she's all for it.
Nice try but I was saying that at some point next year (now this year) we should be looking to drop the measure and March is quite early this year relatively. This is coming faster than I expected. 👍
The reaction of a lot of people here was that it would never be appropriate for the legal restriction on isolation for the positive to be dropped. Not that it should only be dropped in March instead.
Nice try, but this is what you actually said:
Rip off the bandage, have the virus burn through a vaccinated population and if anyone's unvaccinated then they can claim their Darwin Award on the way out.
That's far from the only post I ever made and is not what I was referring to since self isolation wasn't even mentioned in that post or the one I was replying to.
And I stand by that comment 100%.
With this 2 year pandemic drawing to a close, remaining restrictions clearly on their way out in just a short time, you started jumping up and down and yelling like a maniac about "liberty" in order to shore up your libertarian credentials which you feared tarnished by supporting the earlier lockdowns.
You were like a fan of a football club who'd drifted away, then when the team has got to the Cup Final, leading 3-0 with 10 mins left, you come charging into the ground with your club scarf and beanie on, roaring for subs and chasing a 4th.
I thought he was a great London Mayor. Less keen on his PM abilities.
Until he cancelled the East London River Crossing....
A YouGov poll commissioned at the end of his second term...
- that 52% of Londoners believed he did a "good job" as Mayor of London - 29% believed he did a "bad job"
The East London River Crossing would have massively simplified journeys between Newham and Barking on the north bank of the Thames to Bexley and Greenwich on the south bank.
As I said earlier. Tactical mistake by Labour to do this today:
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 3m Sense amongst Tory MPs is Wakeford defection may have pushed the crisis into next week. “Think they’ll wait for Sue Gray now” one tells me.
Yes, Labour will be gutted to see this Tory crisis extended into next week. That's the LAST thing they want.
This is the thing for me. Starmer has very little agency in forcing Boris's resignation. That is the singular responsibility and pleasure of the Conservative Party.
In a bold political development, Boris Johnson has accidentally set himself on fire and fallen down a dried-up well. Join us at 6 where we will be joined by Dan Hodges to discuss whether Starmer can survive this fresh blow to his leadership.
Guido: "in 2020 Christian Wakeford co-sponsored and voted for a private members bill that would “enable the recall of Members of the House of Commons who voluntarily change their political party affiliation; and for connected purposes.” "
Keeps two jobs. Heavy expenses user. Writes one way and votes the other. Changes party to keep his MP salary. Refuses to let his constituents have their say after they no longer have the "Christian Wakeford, Conservative and Unionist Party" they voted for, despite previously supporting the principle. The man is just awful.
He must be having psychological issues to move from a party founded on one ideology to a completely different one. Perhaps feel sorry for him, must have been torment for him.
Wonder why he didn't get off at the first stop the LibDems?
I think we can safely say that the LibDems aren’t going to win in Bury.
The mystery is, if he’s such a venal and self-serving scoundrel, he wasn’t happy working for Boris?
Yes indeed. And we could ponder if the public hadn't fell out with Johnson would he have defected anyway? Hmmm, a head-scratcher.
When you see a rat flee a sinking ship the most important thing is that the ship is sinking, not that the rat is a rat.
As I said earlier. Tactical mistake by Labour to do this today:
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 3m Sense amongst Tory MPs is Wakeford defection may have pushed the crisis into next week. “Think they’ll wait for Sue Gray now” one tells me.
If Wakeford asked him, which he probably did, what's Starmo supposed to say: "Er no, not yet, can't it wait until next week?"
In any case, I think the timing's great. If the ditherers and no-marks who keep threatening letters grow a pair, they'll send in the letters. If they don't, they won't. Not much Keir or anyone else on the Opposition benches can do about that.
Today at pmqs he had all the ammunition and much more to near fatally wound Boris and while he made some good jokes his self satisfied demeanour and body language were maybe not a good look
He welcomed Gary Neville into labour and made the extraordinary suggestion he could became a shadow minister which in itself is ridiculous without knowing Neville's views which ironically include being against all covid restrictions
Today he had Wakeford sit immediately behind him and extolled his defection to labour, while Wakeford wore a union jack face mask and supports right wing conservative policies. No wonder some in labour are far from impressed
In my opinion Starmer is trying to hard and is not receiving the best advice
So. You're calling today a bad day for Starmer?
• A Tory MP defecting to Labour is bad for Labour
• David Davis knifing Boris is bad for Labour
• Starmer brimming with confidence and being funny at PMQs is bad for Labour.
As I said earlier. Tactical mistake by Labour to do this today:
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 3m Sense amongst Tory MPs is Wakeford defection may have pushed the crisis into next week. “Think they’ll wait for Sue Gray now” one tells me.
Tactical mistake, but strategic good move. Drags the story out. Tories divided still. Will he won't he go? is the news for yet another week at least. I've noted before that the PM is all tactics and no strategy. Beginning to think Starmer might be the exact opposite.
Comments
And, Leon is right, we will miss such an entertainer in high office.
No-one in London wanted him back, either.
Rip off the bandage, have the virus burn through a vaccinated population and if anyone's unvaccinated then they can claim their Darwin Award on the way out.
https://vf.politicalbetting.com/discussion/comment/3721174#Comment_3721174
Today at pmqs he had all the ammunition and much more to near fatally wound Boris and while he made some good jokes his self satisfied demeanour and body language were maybe not a good look
He welcomed Gary Neville into labour and made the extraordinary suggestion he could became a shadow minister which in itself is ridiculous without knowing Neville's views which ironically include being against all covid restrictions
Today he had Wakeford sit immediately behind him and extolled his defection to labour, while Wakeford wore a union jack face mask and supports right wing conservative policies. No wonder some in labour are far from impressed
In my opinion Starmer is trying to hard and is not receiving the best advice
So it is almost certain those issues were enough to make the difference (given majority was 402).
@DPJHodges
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26m
What the DD intervention shows is how wide the anger is. It’s not just one faction of the Tory Party. Red Wallers. Spartans. Grandees. They’re all gunning for Boris.
Where’s @Eek?
minuscule uptick in inflation (making highest since headlines look true but misleading the actual story).
Is this business media 1 Eek 0?
He is a huge figure in British politics. His bombastic but upbeat personality has dominated our politics for years, he is the guy that won the Brexit referendum, then got Brexit done, then steered us through the plague - first badly, then rather well. He makes people laugh (or he used to), he dwarfs everyone else in terms of colourful character. He is a one man walking soap opera, he always gets reactions, he is infuriating, funny, strange, blonde, idiotic, forceful, mendacious, clever, stupid, brilliant, surprisingly short, priapic, knackered, vivid, pitiful, and speaks ancient Greek. He is BORIS. The whole country knows him by his first name, not true of any other politician of the day.
When he goes - and that will surely be soon - he will leave a huge psychological void. He will be replaced by relative midgets (character-wise), droning on as most politicians do. And one day after his exit even his haters might find themselves missing that blonde clown who could tell a joke.
He is an entertainer, and we will miss the entertainment.
If I were a senior Tory now I’d really accept that there’s no putting the genie back in the bottle and I’d be starting to gather the grey suits. Maybe I am misreading the situation, but this has the feelings to me of those crazy days in 1990 about it. They’re all ready to move*. They just need the spark to ignite the powder keg. And maybe that was it.
*the only unknown in this being the cabinet as I mentioned above. But it’s cause and effect, so if this really is the start of a big move against the PM the cabinet will need to shift quickly. I can imagine they are starting to prepare their “I would support you to the end of the world and back, but you won’t win this one” speeches.
https://commonsbusiness.parliament.uk/document/53490/html#_idTextAnchor003
Wonder why he didn't get off at the first stop the LibDems?
What exactly is his way back to being taken even halfway seriously, let alone running the country?
Boris backers please explain.
Listen to us two cynics!
#cancelthecut
https://twitter.com/BurySouthCLP/status/1351429061797666817?s=20
I think his MPs are ready for a frontal assault.
What matters isn't what it does month on month but what it does year on year.
And May / June's figure isn't going to be 5.4% it's going to be way higher.
Fortunately he isn't PM. Although couldn't be a lot worse.
One of our local Labour district councillors jumped ship to the Conservatives a couple of years back. She was despairing of the local CLP, thought she could get more done for her ward and for the district by being a Conservative (it's blue-rosette country), and didn't really see the ideology of the parties as a big thing - I think she said "I've always been centre-right anyway". She's now a cabinet member on the council and seems to be ok at it.
Mind you, she was quoted in the Guardian the other day saying that she thought Johnson should go...
And I stand by that comment 100%.
It is just I do not rate him, and do you disagree with the points I have made
5.4% year on year inflation is in no way minuscule.
Maybe if you're the kind of author who sells sex tips and jaunts around the world, you'll miss him.
But for most people with serious matters to deal with on a daily basis, we don't want a song and dance man in No. 10. Thanks. Especially not at the moment.
Labour is a Democratic Socialist Party CW like SKS is not
• David Davis knifing Boris is bad for Labour
• Starmer brimming with confidence and being funny at PMQs is bad for Labour
Only from the PB Tories.
Only on PB.
(With credit to @tim)
The mystery is, if he’s such a venal and self-serving scoundrel, he wasn’t happy working for Boris?
I get that, and confess I once voted for him partly for that reason. Also, his principal opponent was Ken Livingstone, so don't read too much into it. But these are serious times. We can't really afford to have a clown for PM.
So it's bye-bye Bo-Jo. Time for a grown-up.
https://twitter.com/DAaronovitch/status/1483776856134410242?t=y-XOEsEVuzAKG0U9ds-gOA&s=19
Re this from @Burgessian (fpt)
"Funnily enough, I think that Boris's focus on Levelling-Up was a huge opportunity for the Tories to consolidate their position following the Brexit breakthrough. Whoever succeeds him needs to double-down on that, don a hard-hat, and get themselves to as many building sites in the North as possible. The success of Ben Houchen (Tees Valley Mayor) and the Hartlepool by-election are indications of how this could play out if the Tories resist the temptation to revert to type. And, let's face it, a less-than-scintillating London lawyer-type like Keir Starmer is not terribly well-placed to counter it."
I agree. I don't see Sunak or Truss as the leaders to do it, though. It's not just building sites which are needed - it's a range of measures: opportunities, education, housing, transport etc. And Sunak has just binned some of the transport proposals.
There is a fault line in the coalition the Tories built in 2019. Boris might have been able to bridge it. I don't see anyone else atm who can. And I just see complacency from Labour - "coming home" indeed, as if voters belong to a party as of right. I find something really grating about such an approach. It is fundamentally contemptuous of voters.
Meanwhile all this ghastly legislation will keep being quietly put on the statute book, voted for by all the MPs now putting the boot into Boris. And we're supposed to be pleased with them for finally doing just that - if they do. No thanks.
I expected Boris to crumble, in a silent Commons, after that awful Sky interview. He didn't, at all
And this is partly because Starmer was overly smug with his laboured jokes and scripted put-downs. Mannered. There is a lot of vanity in Starmer - look at the way he tends to his hair, so carefully - and it was visible today
Despite all that Starmer won the duel (how could he not) and the David Davis intervention plus the defection means it is, yet again, All About Boris
Starmer is mediocre, but Boris is self-destructing
Anyway, haven't you said you plan to vote Tory yourself in protest against Starmer's centrism?
He also writes hyperbollocks on a regular basis.
I’m pleased because I told my Dad is wrong that the leadership election is postponed for the war, based what I think after discussion on PB. Not often I’m right and he is wrong on Conservative politics.
Mind you he’s not actually wrong yet.
Alright, here's you a short while later, talking quite clearly about testing and enforced isolation (emphasis mine):
Its (sic) restrictions telling people to test and isolate etc that are causing more damage now than the virus itself. End the restrictions, the problem goes away.
https://vf.politicalbetting.com/discussion/comment/3721385#Comment_3721385
Furthermore I do not rate Starmer and at this moment in time if I had to vote I would either abstain or vote Lib Dem
(((Dan Hodges)))
@DPJHodges
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3m
Sense amongst Tory MPs is Wakeford defection may have pushed the crisis into next week. “Think they’ll wait for Sue Gray now” one tells me.
As you clearly can't be bothered to check the basic contentions in your posts before publishing them, I'm not sure it's worthwhile reading the rest of your mutterings!
- that 52% of Londoners believed he did a "good job" as Mayor of London
- 29% believed he did a "bad job"
Anywhere?
However, if he doesn't genuinely repent, would it be possible for Bury South CLP to deselect him in advance of the GE? That would be fun.
😁.
Mind you, you've reminded me of my favourite comment on here in days, when our redoubtable Epping friend pointed out that "Gary Neville is no Winston Churchill"Who'd have thought it?
Things turn. BJ probably is finished but then we said the same things about Starmer a year back. If there is one thing it generally has been wrong to do is to write off Johnson.
You were like a fan of a football club who'd drifted away, then when the team has got to the Cup Final, leading 3-0 with 10 mins left, you come charging into the ground with your club scarf and beanie on, roaring for subs and chasing a 4th.
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/jan/19/county-cricket-yorkshire-appoint-ottis-gibson-head-coach
In any case, I think the timing's great. If the ditherers and no-marks who keep threatening letters grow a pair, they'll send in the letters. If they don't, they won't. Not much Keir or anyone else on the Opposition benches can do about that.
Drags the story out. Tories divided still. Will he won't he go? is the news for yet another week at least.
I've noted before that the PM is all tactics and no strategy.
Beginning to think Starmer might be the exact opposite.