A long shot prediction, but it seems to me that if there is a new PM in the near future anyone in the current government is too tarred with the brush to be a credible candidate.
Sunak's choice was between Boris loyalism or resignation. The Savile remarks were the last chance to get out. He has chosen an uneasy path between the two.
The final two will be out of Hunt, Tugendhat and a couple of other non government figures. FWIW I think it will be close between Hunt and Tugendhat. Either would enable several million people (including me) to take the Tories seriously again, though I doubt if either could beat SKS+ the centre left alliance in the next GE.
The long shot nature of this prediction is that it requires an outbreak of sanity among a majority of the Tory MPs. Here's hoping.
I think you are right on any of the current Cabinet not having a chance.
The lack of a move by Sunak is not that big a surprise when you look at his work background - Goldmans and a hedge fund. Not the sort of people who do anything without rationalising things to the nth degree rather than go with their gut (Sunak wasn't that type of hedge fund guy). I think he has been looking at the polls and thinking "I'm not sure about this". He's probably hoping now he can stay until; BJ steps down and then launch his bid. The problem with that is that BJ bears grudges and will chop him off at the knees. By then, it is too late.
I think what the current Conservative MP reaction has also shown is that anyone from the Remainer, Home Counties Tory list of candidates is unlikely to have much of a chance. This was the moment for them to at least attempt a takeover by using BJ's sins to cast him out. They have failed.
Re betting, look for the ERG / Red Wall combo for the surprise candidate. I've mentioned this several times before before but I've put money on McVey at 100/1 (straight bet, no trading involved in case anyone asks). Sacked by Boris but Cabinet experience, would have support from both ERG and Red Wall divide, anti-lockdowner so no association there and has stood before (although badly). If you don't fancy that bet, look for someone who can combine the two factions together - it's a powerful combo in the election race.
Tend to agree, someone like Mordaunt is probably a value bet and can see how she could reunite the Conservative party. Can't take McVey seriously though.
A lot of people couldn't take BJ seriously as well...but know what you mean. However, that's probably why she is 100/1.
Not sure re Mordaunt. Yes, on the pro-Brexit side but she is a southern MP with no clear roots in the North. She is a bit of a Brexiteer version of Liz Truss.
Did Keir Starmer, Ed Davey, or any of the other party leaders draw attention to that particular conspiracy theory in parliament last October, by any chance ?
No but the Labour Party Deputy Leader did say this a couple of weeks before this happened:
“We cannot get any worse than a bunch of scum, homophobic, racist, misogynistic, absolute vile… banana republic, vile, nasty, Etonian… piece of scum.”
And she apologised for saying it, IIRC. Where is Johnson's apology? Nowhere to be seen, because he is utterly without any shred of human decency, a rancid turd floating in the swimming pool of British political life.
I can't see how he can apologise now. To do so now would effectively be an admission that his words helped cause the disgraceful scenes yesterday by Corbyn the Elder and his unpleasant fellow nutjobs.
Meanwhile I see that Corbyn jnr and his erstwhile pillion companion serving Ms Abbott - a serving Labour MP - are backing Putin in his aggression towards Ukraine.
What a revolting lot they are.
Corbyn Jr made Ms Abbott into his pillion companion?
I can't see how he can apologise now. To do so now would effectively be an admission that his words helped cause the disgraceful scenes yesterday by Corbyn the Elder and his unpleasant fellow nutjobs.
Meanwhile I see that Corbyn jnr and his erstwhile pillion companion serving Ms Abbott - a serving Labour MP - are backing Putin in his aggression towards Ukraine.
What a revolting lot they are.
Corbyn Jr made Ms Abbott into his pillion companion?
Did Keir Starmer, Ed Davey, or any of the other party leaders draw attention to that particular conspiracy theory in parliament last October, by any chance ?
No but the Labour Party Deputy Leader did say this a couple of weeks before this happened:
“We cannot get any worse than a bunch of scum, homophobic, racist, misogynistic, absolute vile… banana republic, vile, nasty, Etonian… piece of scum.”
That wasn't fomenting already existing online conspiracy thinking, though as new kind of Trumpian importation into parliament ; just pointless abuse. And not only that, but she's apologised - has Johnson ?
She was threatened with the sack before apologising, she was given ample opportunity numerous times in the month after she made the comment but refused.
All Johnson did was state a fact for which SKS apologised in 2013 for the failings of the organisation he was in charge of.
A long shot prediction, but it seems to me that if there is a new PM in the near future anyone in the current government is too tarred with the brush to be a credible candidate.
Sunak's choice was between Boris loyalism or resignation. The Savile remarks were the last chance to get out. He has chosen an uneasy path between the two.
The final two will be out of Hunt, Tugendhat and a couple of other non government figures. FWIW I think it will be close between Hunt and Tugendhat. Either would enable several million people (including me) to take the Tories seriously again, though I doubt if either could beat SKS+ the centre left alliance in the next GE.
The long shot nature of this prediction is that it requires an outbreak of sanity among a majority of the Tory MPs. Here's hoping.
I think you are right on any of the current Cabinet not having a chance.
The lack of a move by Sunak is not that big a surprise when you look at his work background - Goldmans and a hedge fund. Not the sort of people who do anything without rationalising things to the nth degree rather than go with their gut (Sunak wasn't that type of hedge fund guy). I think he has been looking at the polls and thinking "I'm not sure about this". He's probably hoping now he can stay until; BJ steps down and then launch his bid. The problem with that is that BJ bears grudges and will chop him off at the knees. By then, it is too late.
I think what the current Conservative MP reaction has also shown is that anyone from the Remainer, Home Counties Tory list of candidates is unlikely to have much of a chance. This was the moment for them to at least attempt a takeover by using BJ's sins to cast him out. They have failed.
Re betting, look for the ERG / Red Wall combo for the surprise candidate. I've mentioned this several times before before but I've put money on McVey at 100/1 (straight bet, no trading involved in case anyone asks). Sacked by Boris but Cabinet experience, would have support from both ERG and Red Wall divide, anti-lockdowner so no association there and has stood before (although badly). If you don't fancy that bet, look for someone who can combine the two factions together - it's a powerful combo in the election race.
Tend to agree, someone like Mordaunt is probably a value bet and can see how she could reunite the Conservative party. Can't take McVey seriously though.
A lot of people couldn't take BJ seriously as well...but know what you mean. However, that's probably why she is 100/1.
Not sure re Mordaunt. Yes, on the pro-Brexit side but she is a southern MP with no clear roots in the North. She is a bit of a Brexiteer version of Liz Truss.
What links to the north does Boris have?
He doesn't. It's a discussion about betting on the next leader.
A long shot prediction, but it seems to me that if there is a new PM in the near future anyone in the current government is too tarred with the brush to be a credible candidate.
Sunak's choice was between Boris loyalism or resignation. The Savile remarks were the last chance to get out. He has chosen an uneasy path between the two.
The final two will be out of Hunt, Tugendhat and a couple of other non government figures. FWIW I think it will be close between Hunt and Tugendhat. Either would enable several million people (including me) to take the Tories seriously again, though I doubt if either could beat SKS+ the centre left alliance in the next GE.
The long shot nature of this prediction is that it requires an outbreak of sanity among a majority of the Tory MPs. Here's hoping.
I think you are right on any of the current Cabinet not having a chance.
The lack of a move by Sunak is not that big a surprise when you look at his work background - Goldmans and a hedge fund. Not the sort of people who do anything without rationalising things to the nth degree rather than go with their gut (Sunak wasn't that type of hedge fund guy). I think he has been looking at the polls and thinking "I'm not sure about this". He's probably hoping now he can stay until; BJ steps down and then launch his bid. The problem with that is that BJ bears grudges and will chop him off at the knees. By then, it is too late.
I think what the current Conservative MP reaction has also shown is that anyone from the Remainer, Home Counties Tory list of candidates is unlikely to have much of a chance. This was the moment for them to at least attempt a takeover by using BJ's sins to cast him out. They have failed.
Re betting, look for the ERG / Red Wall combo for the surprise candidate. I've mentioned this several times before before but I've put money on McVey at 100/1 (straight bet, no trading involved in case anyone asks). Sacked by Boris but Cabinet experience, would have support from both ERG and Red Wall divide, anti-lockdowner so no association there and has stood before (although badly). If you don't fancy that bet, look for someone who can combine the two factions together - it's a powerful combo in the election race.
Tend to agree, someone like Mordaunt is probably a value bet and can see how she could reunite the Conservative party. Can't take McVey seriously though.
A lot of people couldn't take BJ seriously as well...but know what you mean. However, that's probably why she is 100/1.
Not sure re Mordaunt. Yes, on the pro-Brexit side but she is a southern MP with no clear roots in the North. She is a bit of a Brexiteer version of Liz Truss.
What links to the north does Boris have?
He doesn't. It's a discussion about betting on the next leader.
My point being that not having links to the north didn’t do Boris any harm.
I can't see how he can apologise now. To do so now would effectively be an admission that his words helped cause the disgraceful scenes yesterday by Corbyn the Elder and his unpleasant fellow nutjobs.
Meanwhile I see that Corbyn jnr and his erstwhile pillion companion serving Ms Abbott - a serving Labour MP - are backing Putin in his aggression towards Ukraine.
What a revolting lot they are.
Corbyn Jr made Ms Abbott into his pillion companion?
I can't see how he can apologise now. To do so now would effectively be an admission that his words helped cause the disgraceful scenes yesterday by Corbyn the Elder and his unpleasant fellow nutjobs.
Meanwhile I see that Corbyn jnr and his erstwhile pillion companion serving Ms Abbott - a serving Labour MP - are backing Putin in his aggression towards Ukraine.
What a revolting lot they are.
Corbyn Jr made Ms Abbott into his pillion companion?
The mercury is threatening to burst out the top of my whataboutometer this morning.
And the King of Whatabout, Mr Ed, has barely even got into his stride as yet. But, it's early. Give the man time.
And I see the Queen of "if it's left wing, it's entirely justified" is back in action. Nothing like double standards eh Anabob, oh I'm sorry "whataboutery"
I can't see how he can apologise now. To do so now would effectively be an admission that his words helped cause the disgraceful scenes yesterday by Corbyn the Elder and his unpleasant fellow nutjobs.
Meanwhile I see that Corbyn jnr and his erstwhile pillion companion serving Ms Abbott - a serving Labour MP - are backing Putin in his aggression towards Ukraine.
What a revolting lot they are.
Corbyn Jr made Ms Abbott into his pillion companion?
Only dipping in and out today, but was interested to read that both of the proper socialists on the forum are voting Tory.
Hadn't realised that a Conservative government was the path to True Socialism.
To be honest if there are just bad options I usually don't vote but Starmer is such a spectacularly bad option that I might have to vote Conservative.
Neither option is the path to 'True Socialism' but at this point as a left winger I would only go for Starmer if I was a full on accelerationist, which I've never fully bought into. I'm sure it has merits in some circumstances
Here's what I don't understand. From the left's position it should be self-evident that a Labour government is better than a Conservative government. Even if you don't like the Labour leader or some of its perspectives aren't as clear as your own, it is *better* for the cause of the Labour movement and for Labour voters than any Conservative government.
Better to get 70% of what you want than 0%. And yet you and BJO and all the other true socialists choose the 0% option...
I have never voted for Labour at a General Election, I've always voted for a Socialist candidate, or for the Greens, on the basis that if you don't vote for what you want you will certainly never get it (clearly I've voted for what I wanted and still didn't get it, but, well).
However, I'd still recognise a centrist Labour government as superior to a Tory government, even if it's just that a centrist Labour government makes things worse more slowly than a Tory government.
I guess some people will react strangely to the major disappointment that was the Corbyn period (2015-2019). I don't think the Labour centrists ever gave Corbyn a fair go, and I can understand people being bitter about that, but Corbyn did enough wrong on his own that it's hard not to blame him for his eventual failure. Blaming the Labour centrists alone is denial.
I'd say the Labour centrists gave him a fair go after the 2017 election when he outperformed expectations. Unfortunately, Corbyn's response to Salisbury in March 2018 was the start of the terminal decline. It may have happened anyway, but that moment was one where public perception changed.
LBJ: "‘I know it’s not true, but let’s make the sonofabitch deny it.”
That's right. Where we are is:
* Virtually everyone familiar with the role of the DPP thinks the link is an obvious distraction and pretty disreputable * Joe Bloggs who hasn't followed it closely probably thinks the Johnson is unscrupulous but there's now a query about Starmer * A striking number of Tory MPs are really disgusted, possibly to the point of leaving the party
The cynical question is whether the benefit for the Tories in having a bit of mud stick on Starmer and getting some distraction from Partygate is sufficient for the downside of actual defections.
IMO Joe Bloggs won't give it much thought once the immediate debate has moved on, while some MPs will remain alienated, so it's a net negative for the Tories. Using us as a sounding board, I note that only Mexicanpete is impressed.
It is shrewd and sound reasoning like that, Nick, that makes you such a formidable Diplomacy player.
The point we are missing is that Boris was being criticised at that point for *civil service* parties in no 10.
Starmer can’t use that line now without people saying “how come you aren’t responsible for your staff at CPS”.
Nasty and crude but effective politics.
I'm pretty sure that was Boris's intention (and said as much here on the day IIRC), but given how badly it's backfired I don't think it will actually work.
A long shot prediction, but it seems to me that if there is a new PM in the near future anyone in the current government is too tarred with the brush to be a credible candidate.
Sunak's choice was between Boris loyalism or resignation. The Savile remarks were the last chance to get out. He has chosen an uneasy path between the two.
The final two will be out of Hunt, Tugendhat and a couple of other non government figures. FWIW I think it will be close between Hunt and Tugendhat. Either would enable several million people (including me) to take the Tories seriously again, though I doubt if either could beat SKS+ the centre left alliance in the next GE.
The long shot nature of this prediction is that it requires an outbreak of sanity among a majority of the Tory MPs. Here's hoping.
I think you are right on any of the current Cabinet not having a chance.
The lack of a move by Sunak is not that big a surprise when you look at his work background - Goldmans and a hedge fund. Not the sort of people who do anything without rationalising things to the nth degree rather than go with their gut (Sunak wasn't that type of hedge fund guy). I think he has been looking at the polls and thinking "I'm not sure about this". He's probably hoping now he can stay until; BJ steps down and then launch his bid. The problem with that is that BJ bears grudges and will chop him off at the knees. By then, it is too late.
I think what the current Conservative MP reaction has also shown is that anyone from the Remainer, Home Counties Tory list of candidates is unlikely to have much of a chance. This was the moment for them to at least attempt a takeover by using BJ's sins to cast him out. They have failed.
Re betting, look for the ERG / Red Wall combo for the surprise candidate. I've mentioned this several times before before but I've put money on McVey at 100/1 (straight bet, no trading involved in case anyone asks). Sacked by Boris but Cabinet experience, would have support from both ERG and Red Wall divide, anti-lockdowner so no association there and has stood before (although badly). If you don't fancy that bet, look for someone who can combine the two factions together - it's a powerful combo in the election race.
Tend to agree, someone like Mordaunt is probably a value bet and can see how she could reunite the Conservative party. Can't take McVey seriously though.
A lot of people couldn't take BJ seriously as well...but know what you mean. However, that's probably why she is 100/1.
Not sure re Mordaunt. Yes, on the pro-Brexit side but she is a southern MP with no clear roots in the North. She is a bit of a Brexiteer version of Liz Truss.
What links to the north does Boris have?
He doesn't. It's a discussion about betting on the next leader.
My point being that not having links to the north didn’t do Boris any harm.
Who was the last Tory leader with links to the North? Hague? And before him, I would suggest Macmillan, MP for Stockton on and off until 1945, Churchill, MP for first Oldham and then Manchester North West, and before that Balfour, MP for Manchester East?
There haven't exactly been lots. Before that just about the only one would have been Derby.
A long shot prediction, but it seems to me that if there is a new PM in the near future anyone in the current government is too tarred with the brush to be a credible candidate.
Sunak's choice was between Boris loyalism or resignation. The Savile remarks were the last chance to get out. He has chosen an uneasy path between the two.
The final two will be out of Hunt, Tugendhat and a couple of other non government figures. FWIW I think it will be close between Hunt and Tugendhat. Either would enable several million people (including me) to take the Tories seriously again, though I doubt if either could beat SKS+ the centre left alliance in the next GE.
The long shot nature of this prediction is that it requires an outbreak of sanity among a majority of the Tory MPs. Here's hoping.
I think you are right on any of the current Cabinet not having a chance.
The lack of a move by Sunak is not that big a surprise when you look at his work background - Goldmans and a hedge fund. Not the sort of people who do anything without rationalising things to the nth degree rather than go with their gut (Sunak wasn't that type of hedge fund guy). I think he has been looking at the polls and thinking "I'm not sure about this". He's probably hoping now he can stay until; BJ steps down and then launch his bid. The problem with that is that BJ bears grudges and will chop him off at the knees. By then, it is too late.
I think what the current Conservative MP reaction has also shown is that anyone from the Remainer, Home Counties Tory list of candidates is unlikely to have much of a chance. This was the moment for them to at least attempt a takeover by using BJ's sins to cast him out. They have failed.
Re betting, look for the ERG / Red Wall combo for the surprise candidate. I've mentioned this several times before before but I've put money on McVey at 100/1 (straight bet, no trading involved in case anyone asks). Sacked by Boris but Cabinet experience, would have support from both ERG and Red Wall divide, anti-lockdowner so no association there and has stood before (although badly). If you don't fancy that bet, look for someone who can combine the two factions together - it's a powerful combo in the election race.
Tend to agree, someone like Mordaunt is probably a value bet and can see how she could reunite the Conservative party. Can't take McVey seriously though.
A lot of people couldn't take BJ seriously as well...but know what you mean. However, that's probably why she is 100/1.
Not sure re Mordaunt. Yes, on the pro-Brexit side but she is a southern MP with no clear roots in the North. She is a bit of a Brexiteer version of Liz Truss.
What links to the north does Boris have?
He doesn't. It's a discussion about betting on the next leader.
My point being that not having links to the north didn’t do Boris any harm.
Fair point. But BJ brought something different to the table, namely he could win the Tories in areas they couldn't win otherwise (eg London). I don't think Mordaunt has that. She doesn't strike me as someone who feel particularly at ease pounding the streets of Hartlepool. Might be wrong but I haven't seen anything of it so far.
I can't see how he can apologise now. To do so now would effectively be an admission that his words helped cause the disgraceful scenes yesterday by Corbyn the Elder and his unpleasant fellow nutjobs.
Meanwhile I see that Corbyn jnr and his erstwhile pillion companion serving Ms Abbott - a serving Labour MP - are backing Putin in his aggression towards Ukraine.
What a revolting lot they are.
Corbyn Jr made Ms Abbott into his pillion companion?
Boris's dead cat worked. Week two and even the nation's premier politics site is still talking about the smear rather than any other issue that might threaten Boris's hegemony.
Yup, exactly right. Boris isn't totally stupid, he's just an arsehole.
He's not stupid at all. Possibly foolish sometimes, but he's cunning and devious.
Let me get this straight. The chief whip is accused by his own side of blackmail and delivering a racist message to a sacked minister. Rather than being suspended pending investigation, he is instead appointed Leader of the Commons? Is there any debasement of our democracy that this lot won’t stoop to?
Only dipping in and out today, but was interested to read that both of the proper socialists on the forum are voting Tory.
Hadn't realised that a Conservative government was the path to True Socialism.
To be honest if there are just bad options I usually don't vote but Starmer is such a spectacularly bad option that I might have to vote Conservative.
Neither option is the path to 'True Socialism' but at this point as a left winger I would only go for Starmer if I was a full on accelerationist, which I've never fully bought into. I'm sure it has merits in some circumstances
Here's what I don't understand. From the left's position it should be self-evident that a Labour government is better than a Conservative government. Even if you don't like the Labour leader or some of its perspectives aren't as clear as your own, it is *better* for the cause of the Labour movement and for Labour voters than any Conservative government.
Better to get 70% of what you want than 0%. And yet you and BJO and all the other true socialists choose the 0% option...
From their point of view, a Conservative government is more likely to result in a true socialist revolution, whereas a Labour government will block it.
Only dipping in and out today, but was interested to read that both of the proper socialists on the forum are voting Tory.
Hadn't realised that a Conservative government was the path to True Socialism.
To be honest if there are just bad options I usually don't vote but Starmer is such a spectacularly bad option that I might have to vote Conservative.
Neither option is the path to 'True Socialism' but at this point as a left winger I would only go for Starmer if I was a full on accelerationist, which I've never fully bought into. I'm sure it has merits in some circumstances
Here's what I don't understand. From the left's position it should be self-evident that a Labour government is better than a Conservative government. Even if you don't like the Labour leader or some of its perspectives aren't as clear as your own, it is *better* for the cause of the Labour movement and for Labour voters than any Conservative government.
Better to get 70% of what you want than 0%. And yet you and BJO and all the other true socialists choose the 0% option...
Has it occurred to you that giving people some of 'what they want' makes them less likely to sign up to a programme to take everything?
Every advance made by Labour within the existing parameters makes the overthrow of the capitalist system that much more difficult to attain.
It's no coincidence, from that point of view, that the world's first Communist government succeeded Europe's most absolutist monarchy.
That's the sort of view that Trotsky ridiculed as in the 1930s. I believe the German Communists used to argue that Hitler would make things so bad that they'd take over afterwards.
It's precisely the opposite. Achieving some moderate reforms builds confidence and creates hope. It makes it more likely that people will support further reforms, and not back down in the face of opposition.
It would appear to me that the most recent Prime Minister to have neither been LOTO or have previously held a Cabinet post was Henry Addington in 1801, having only previously been speaker. Before that point, you'd need to consult a history book on what was or wasn't a Cabinet role.
True though that is, it seems to me that the role of select committe chair has been enhanced over the last 10-20 years to the point where it's not implausible that one could become PM.
On topic. I agree with Mike. In fact it was TSE who posted a couple of weeks ago in the leadership election (which looked possible back then, lot less likely now) he wouldn’t vote for anyone in the current government. A couple of weeks ago I thought Rishi Sunak was shoe in if there was a vacancy, I now think he has next to no chance. If it’s true there is photo of Sunak at lockdown Party stood next to Boris, both with glass in hand, that finishes Sunak as candidate this time around, or do you disagree with that? How can you disagree with that, both Boris and Sunak would get same slap from police.
From outside the cabinet I also think Mark Harper is in with serious chance. In the mad Monday debate, where Boris was abysmal and enshrined his legacy as Britain’s Trump, Harper politely acknowledged Diane Abbot and asked the same question. He speaks very well.
very much on Topic, if it’s Harper v Tugendhat who wins? Harper easily wins that, as Turgendhat will appeal to those who want to move the Conservatives to centre, Harper appeal to those who want to keep it off to the right, Harper will get support of more MPs and more Party members, keep us to the right no drift to centre easily wins the next Tory leadership contest, there’s currently more votes for the platform.
What part of my analysis are you saying is wrong, and why?
A long shot prediction, but it seems to me that if there is a new PM in the near future anyone in the current government is too tarred with the brush to be a credible candidate.
Sunak's choice was between Boris loyalism or resignation. The Savile remarks were the last chance to get out. He has chosen an uneasy path between the two.
The final two will be out of Hunt, Tugendhat and a couple of other non government figures. FWIW I think it will be close between Hunt and Tugendhat. Either would enable several million people (including me) to take the Tories seriously again, though I doubt if either could beat SKS+ the centre left alliance in the next GE.
The long shot nature of this prediction is that it requires an outbreak of sanity among a majority of the Tory MPs. Here's hoping.
I think you are right on any of the current Cabinet not having a chance.
The lack of a move by Sunak is not that big a surprise when you look at his work background - Goldmans and a hedge fund. Not the sort of people who do anything without rationalising things to the nth degree rather than go with their gut (Sunak wasn't that type of hedge fund guy). I think he has been looking at the polls and thinking "I'm not sure about this". He's probably hoping now he can stay until; BJ steps down and then launch his bid. The problem with that is that BJ bears grudges and will chop him off at the knees. By then, it is too late.
I think what the current Conservative MP reaction has also shown is that anyone from the Remainer, Home Counties Tory list of candidates is unlikely to have much of a chance. This was the moment for them to at least attempt a takeover by using BJ's sins to cast him out. They have failed.
Re betting, look for the ERG / Red Wall combo for the surprise candidate. I've mentioned this several times before before but I've put money on McVey at 100/1 (straight bet, no trading involved in case anyone asks). Sacked by Boris but Cabinet experience, would have support from both ERG and Red Wall divide, anti-lockdowner so no association there and has stood before (although badly). If you don't fancy that bet, look for someone who can combine the two factions together - it's a powerful combo in the election race.
Tend to agree, someone like Mordaunt is probably a value bet and can see how she could reunite the Conservative party. Can't take McVey seriously though.
A lot of people couldn't take BJ seriously as well...but know what you mean. However, that's probably why she is 100/1.
Not sure re Mordaunt. Yes, on the pro-Brexit side but she is a southern MP with no clear roots in the North. She is a bit of a Brexiteer version of Liz Truss.
What links to the north does Boris have?
He doesn't. It's a discussion about betting on the next leader.
My point being that not having links to the north didn’t do Boris any harm.
Fair point. But BJ brought something different to the table, namely he could win the Tories in areas they couldn't win otherwise (eg London). I don't think Mordaunt has that. She doesn't strike me as someone who feel particularly at ease pounding the streets of Hartlepool. Might be wrong but I haven't seen anything of it so far.
The Tory party's problem is that none of the other options are likely to win the Red Wall seats they need at the next election.
1 thing that is keeping Bozo in place is the fact that he did it last time around and MPs hope he could do it again. Personally I don't see it and actually think Bozo will do more harm than good if he stays in place.
Kevin Schofield @KevinASchofield · 11m NEW: PM's spokesman confirms mini-reshuffle will happen this afternoon. "Small number of ministerial changes," he says.
LBJ: "‘I know it’s not true, but let’s make the sonofabitch deny it.”
That's right. Where we are is:
* Virtually everyone familiar with the role of the DPP thinks the link is an obvious distraction and pretty disreputable * Joe Bloggs who hasn't followed it closely probably thinks the Johnson is unscrupulous but there's now a query about Starmer * A striking number of Tory MPs are really disgusted, possibly to the point of leaving the party
The cynical question is whether the benefit for the Tories in having a bit of mud stick on Starmer and getting some distraction from Partygate is sufficient for the downside of actual defections.
IMO Joe Bloggs won't give it much thought once the immediate debate has moved on, while some MPs will remain alienated, so it's a net negative for the Tories. Using us as a sounding board, I note that only Mexicanpete is impressed.
It is shrewd and sound reasoning like that, Nick, that makes you such a formidable Diplomacy player.
The point we are missing is that Boris was being criticised at that point for *civil service* parties in no 10.
That's nonsense. He was being criticised for everything, including his own birthday party and a party in his own flat.
Only dipping in and out today, but was interested to read that both of the proper socialists on the forum are voting Tory.
Hadn't realised that a Conservative government was the path to True Socialism.
To be honest if there are just bad options I usually don't vote but Starmer is such a spectacularly bad option that I might have to vote Conservative.
Neither option is the path to 'True Socialism' but at this point as a left winger I would only go for Starmer if I was a full on accelerationist, which I've never fully bought into. I'm sure it has merits in some circumstances
Here's what I don't understand. From the left's position it should be self-evident that a Labour government is better than a Conservative government. Even if you don't like the Labour leader or some of its perspectives aren't as clear as your own, it is *better* for the cause of the Labour movement and for Labour voters than any Conservative government.
Better to get 70% of what you want than 0%. And yet you and BJO and all the other true socialists choose the 0% option...
Has it occurred to you that giving people some of 'what they want' makes them less likely to sign up to a programme to take everything?
Every advance made by Labour within the existing parameters makes the overthrow of the capitalist system that much more difficult to attain.
It's no coincidence, from that point of view, that the world's first Communist government succeeded Europe's most absolutist monarchy.
That's the sort of view that Trotsky ridiculed as in the 1930s. I believe the German Communists used to argue that Hitler would make things so bad that they'd take over afterwards.
It's precisely the opposite. Achieving some moderate reforms builds confidence and creates hope. It makes it more likely that people will support further reforms, and not back down in the face of opposition.
Russia, and possibly much of the rest of the world, could have had a very different future if the earlier revolutionary attempt of 1905, which included a very wide base of support from Marxists and Liberals to Social Democrats, had succeeded. One of the great tragedies of history.
The mercury is threatening to burst out the top of my whataboutometer this morning.
And the King of Whatabout, Mr Ed, has barely even got into his stride as yet. But, it's early. Give the man time.
And I see the Queen of "if it's left wing, it's entirely justified" is back in action. Nothing like double standards eh Anabob, oh I'm sorry "whataboutery"
More or less off topic, listened to the latest episode of R4’s The Gathering Storm which featured a lot of Mike Flynn. He seems to be the absolute boy for QAnonists and Trumpers. Is there any chance of him being a candidate in 2024 or will it be his endorsement that counts?
I can't see how he can apologise now. To do so now would effectively be an admission that his words helped cause the disgraceful scenes yesterday by Corbyn the Elder and his unpleasant fellow nutjobs.
Meanwhile I see that Corbyn jnr and his erstwhile pillion companion Ms Abbott - a serving Labour MP - are backing Putin in his aggression towards Ukraine.
What a revolting lot they are.
'pillion' companion? Has predictive text struck again?
I just don't understand why the MPs are not moving on Johnson. Is it because the grassroots are still behind the man?
It may be I have to revise my view on Tory ruthlessness. I was surprised to see that Iain Duncan Smith, largely thought to be a dead duck, only lost his vote by 90 to 75.
A long shot prediction, but it seems to me that if there is a new PM in the near future anyone in the current government is too tarred with the brush to be a credible candidate.
Sunak's choice was between Boris loyalism or resignation. The Savile remarks were the last chance to get out. He has chosen an uneasy path between the two.
The final two will be out of Hunt, Tugendhat and a couple of other non government figures. FWIW I think it will be close between Hunt and Tugendhat. Either would enable several million people (including me) to take the Tories seriously again, though I doubt if either could beat SKS+ the centre left alliance in the next GE.
The long shot nature of this prediction is that it requires an outbreak of sanity among a majority of the Tory MPs. Here's hoping.
I think you are right on any of the current Cabinet not having a chance.
The lack of a move by Sunak is not that big a surprise when you look at his work background - Goldmans and a hedge fund. Not the sort of people who do anything without rationalising things to the nth degree rather than go with their gut (Sunak wasn't that type of hedge fund guy). I think he has been looking at the polls and thinking "I'm not sure about this". He's probably hoping now he can stay until; BJ steps down and then launch his bid. The problem with that is that BJ bears grudges and will chop him off at the knees. By then, it is too late.
I think what the current Conservative MP reaction has also shown is that anyone from the Remainer, Home Counties Tory list of candidates is unlikely to have much of a chance. This was the moment for them to at least attempt a takeover by using BJ's sins to cast him out. They have failed.
Re betting, look for the ERG / Red Wall combo for the surprise candidate. I've mentioned this several times before before but I've put money on McVey at 100/1 (straight bet, no trading involved in case anyone asks). Sacked by Boris but Cabinet experience, would have support from both ERG and Red Wall divide, anti-lockdowner so no association there and has stood before (although badly). If you don't fancy that bet, look for someone who can combine the two factions together - it's a powerful combo in the election race.
Tend to agree, someone like Mordaunt is probably a value bet and can see how she could reunite the Conservative party. Can't take McVey seriously though.
A lot of people couldn't take BJ seriously as well...but know what you mean. However, that's probably why she is 100/1.
Not sure re Mordaunt. Yes, on the pro-Brexit side but she is a southern MP with no clear roots in the North. She is a bit of a Brexiteer version of Liz Truss.
What links to the north does Boris have?
He doesn't. It's a discussion about betting on the next leader.
My point being that not having links to the north didn’t do Boris any harm.
Fair point. But BJ brought something different to the table, namely he could win the Tories in areas they couldn't win otherwise (eg London). I don't think Mordaunt has that. She doesn't strike me as someone who feel particularly at ease pounding the streets of Hartlepool. Might be wrong but I haven't seen anything of it so far.
Isn't Mordaunt's seat more similar to a lot of red wall seats demographically though? At least more so than Tugendhat or even Sunak (even though his seat borders Durham/Teesside red wall seats). It voted Labour 1997-2010 but voted 60%+ for Brexit and now has a huge Tory majority.
Only dipping in and out today, but was interested to read that both of the proper socialists on the forum are voting Tory.
Hadn't realised that a Conservative government was the path to True Socialism.
To be honest if there are just bad options I usually don't vote but Starmer is such a spectacularly bad option that I might have to vote Conservative.
Neither option is the path to 'True Socialism' but at this point as a left winger I would only go for Starmer if I was a full on accelerationist, which I've never fully bought into. I'm sure it has merits in some circumstances
Here's what I don't understand. From the left's position it should be self-evident that a Labour government is better than a Conservative government. Even if you don't like the Labour leader or some of its perspectives aren't as clear as your own, it is *better* for the cause of the Labour movement and for Labour voters than any Conservative government.
Better to get 70% of what you want than 0%. And yet you and BJO and all the other true socialists choose the 0% option...
I have never voted for Labour at a General Election, I've always voted for a Socialist candidate, or for the Greens, on the basis that if you don't vote for what you want you will certainly never get it (clearly I've voted for what I wanted and still didn't get it, but, well).
However, I'd still recognise a centrist Labour government as superior to a Tory government, even if it's just that a centrist Labour government makes things worse more slowly than a Tory government.
I guess some people will react strangely to the major disappointment that was the Corbyn period (2015-2019). I don't think the Labour centrists ever gave Corbyn a fair go, and I can understand people being bitter about that, but Corbyn did enough wrong on his own that it's hard not to blame him for his eventual failure. Blaming the Labour centrists alone is denial.
Yes, that's a very fair summary - and I'm saying that as someone who's Jewish and still fond of Jeremy Corbyn. BigG and Jezziah are just weird in contemplating voting Tory. They should vote for the best available option and then campaign - even without short-term prospect of success - to go further. It's the normal rational left-wing position and always has been, and one endorsed by Corbyn, McDonnell and everyone else on the Parliamentary left.
The mercury is threatening to burst out the top of my whataboutometer this morning.
A stunning contender for “World’s most convoluted admission by an elderly Scotsman that he is actually having a wank”
You seem feisty if resolutely leaden footed today. Jet lagged or still kicking the arse out of World of Dildos expenses in Colombo?
Certainly quite chipper
The Sri Lankans have finally - FINALLY - realised who I am - an era-defining knapper with my own column on the Gazette - and they are suddenly throwing freebies at me
Got dinner, this eve, at supposedly the best Indian in the capital
And on Thursday I've been invited to THE BEST CRAB RESTAURANT IN THE WORLD (and the "29th best restaurant in Asia") where they are "curating" me a meal
On topic I am afraid Tugendhat's support for the Israeli settlement expansion policy makes him a big no no for me. Israel gets a lot of undeserved criticism but it also invites justified criticism for its policy of driving the Palestinians out with its aggressive settlement policy. On this one Tugendhat is very wrong.
I can't see how he can apologise now. To do so now would effectively be an admission that his words helped cause the disgraceful scenes yesterday by Corbyn the Elder and his unpleasant fellow nutjobs.
Meanwhile I see that Corbyn jnr and his erstwhile pillion companion Ms Abbott - a serving Labour MP - are backing Putin in his aggression towards Ukraine.
What a revolting lot they are.
'pillion' companion? Has predictive text struck again?
I understand that to be a reference to a purported motorcycle trip with Corbyn in their younger days. Revolutionary Eastern Europe IIRC...
Kevin Schofield @KevinASchofield · 11m NEW: PM's spokesman confirms mini-reshuffle will happen this afternoon. "Small number of ministerial changes," he says.
A long shot prediction, but it seems to me that if there is a new PM in the near future anyone in the current government is too tarred with the brush to be a credible candidate.
Sunak's choice was between Boris loyalism or resignation. The Savile remarks were the last chance to get out. He has chosen an uneasy path between the two.
The final two will be out of Hunt, Tugendhat and a couple of other non government figures. FWIW I think it will be close between Hunt and Tugendhat. Either would enable several million people (including me) to take the Tories seriously again, though I doubt if either could beat SKS+ the centre left alliance in the next GE.
The long shot nature of this prediction is that it requires an outbreak of sanity among a majority of the Tory MPs. Here's hoping.
I think you are right on any of the current Cabinet not having a chance.
The lack of a move by Sunak is not that big a surprise when you look at his work background - Goldmans and a hedge fund. Not the sort of people who do anything without rationalising things to the nth degree rather than go with their gut (Sunak wasn't that type of hedge fund guy). I think he has been looking at the polls and thinking "I'm not sure about this". He's probably hoping now he can stay until; BJ steps down and then launch his bid. The problem with that is that BJ bears grudges and will chop him off at the knees. By then, it is too late.
I think what the current Conservative MP reaction has also shown is that anyone from the Remainer, Home Counties Tory list of candidates is unlikely to have much of a chance. This was the moment for them to at least attempt a takeover by using BJ's sins to cast him out. They have failed.
Re betting, look for the ERG / Red Wall combo for the surprise candidate. I've mentioned this several times before before but I've put money on McVey at 100/1 (straight bet, no trading involved in case anyone asks). Sacked by Boris but Cabinet experience, would have support from both ERG and Red Wall divide, anti-lockdowner so no association there and has stood before (although badly). If you don't fancy that bet, look for someone who can combine the two factions together - it's a powerful combo in the election race.
Tend to agree, someone like Mordaunt is probably a value bet and can see how she could reunite the Conservative party. Can't take McVey seriously though.
A lot of people couldn't take BJ seriously as well...but know what you mean. However, that's probably why she is 100/1.
Not sure re Mordaunt. Yes, on the pro-Brexit side but she is a southern MP with no clear roots in the North. She is a bit of a Brexiteer version of Liz Truss.
What links to the north does Boris have?
He doesn't. It's a discussion about betting on the next leader.
My point being that not having links to the north didn’t do Boris any harm.
Who was the last Tory leader with links to the North? Hague? And before him, I would suggest Macmillan, MP for Stockton on and off until 1945, Churchill, MP for first Oldham and then Manchester North West, and before that Balfour, MP for Manchester East?
There haven't exactly been lots. Before that just about the only one would have been Derby.
Douglas-Home had connections to the Borders and a Perthshire seat..
More or less off topic, listened to the latest episode of R4’s The Gathering Storm which featured a lot of Mike Flynn. He seems to be the absolute boy for QAnonists and Trumpers. Is there any chance of him being a candidate in 2024 or will it be his endorsement that counts?
Gen. Flynn has fallen out of favour with the qanon lot after that other fucking nutcase Lin Wood released a recording of Flynn describing Qanon as total nonsense.
There is no way the 2024 GOP candidate is anybody but Trump.
The mercury is threatening to burst out the top of my whataboutometer this morning.
A stunning contender for “World’s most convoluted admission by an elderly Scotsman that he is actually having a wank”
You seem feisty if resolutely leaden footed today. Jet lagged or still kicking the arse out of World of Dildos expenses in Colombo?
Certainly quite chipper
The Sri Lankans have finally - FINALLY - realised who I am - an era-defining knapper with my own column on the Gazette - and they are suddenly throwing freebies at me
Got dinner, this eve, at supposedly the best Indian in the capital
And on Thursday I've been invited to THE BEST CRAB RESTAURANT IN THE WORLD (and the "29th best restaurant in Asia") where they are "curating" me a meal
Wait till the person posting this figures out that Margaret Hodge was actually the councillor for the area and in charge of this and her response to the accusations.
I'm sure they will come out and condemn Hodge strongly and this wasn't a cheap attempt to smear Corbyn.
Hodge, as a local councillor during the affected time, certainly has a case to answer.
As does Corbyn, MP for Islington North since 1983.
The point being that he seemed significantly more interested in perceived injustices happening half a world away than the ones on his own doorstep. Wouldn't you agree?
Just catching up, and am devastated to discover that yet another of my fellow socialists has, to coin a phrase, "fucked off and joined the Tories". Starmer will be perplexed (though he has asked if they could take Barnet Momentum with them).
Strange old world for us lefties at the moment. Some of us want power, and are prepared to make some compromises to get it. For others, however, it seems that the nearer they get to power the more determined they are to throw it away. I think there's more like me than like them, though.
Still under the shock of that meeting with Putin, Sarkozy proceeded to meet with the press, creating media frenzy about his "drinking." The part of Hénin's documentary summarizing that meeting is here (in French). 7/8
Kevin Schofield @KevinASchofield · 11m NEW: PM's spokesman confirms mini-reshuffle will happen this afternoon. "Small number of ministerial changes," he says.
What? Another one?
Nadine Dorries to be made minister for Diplomatic Affairs, with her own private office adjoining the Prime Minister's, inside Number 10 itself. Rees-Mogg to be made minister for Levelling Up and national cohesion.
(Thread) A quick thread on in the importance of being careful what data you share - even if you're the Queen. Today, Her Maj tweeted this lovely picture, gor bless er, etc. You might think that the contents of the red box would be official business. And you'd be right. 1/6 https://twitter.com/amateuradam/status/1490394034900197388
A long shot prediction, but it seems to me that if there is a new PM in the near future anyone in the current government is too tarred with the brush to be a credible candidate.
Sunak's choice was between Boris loyalism or resignation. The Savile remarks were the last chance to get out. He has chosen an uneasy path between the two.
The final two will be out of Hunt, Tugendhat and a couple of other non government figures. FWIW I think it will be close between Hunt and Tugendhat. Either would enable several million people (including me) to take the Tories seriously again, though I doubt if either could beat SKS+ the centre left alliance in the next GE.
The long shot nature of this prediction is that it requires an outbreak of sanity among a majority of the Tory MPs. Here's hoping.
I think you are right on any of the current Cabinet not having a chance.
The lack of a move by Sunak is not that big a surprise when you look at his work background - Goldmans and a hedge fund. Not the sort of people who do anything without rationalising things to the nth degree rather than go with their gut (Sunak wasn't that type of hedge fund guy). I think he has been looking at the polls and thinking "I'm not sure about this". He's probably hoping now he can stay until; BJ steps down and then launch his bid. The problem with that is that BJ bears grudges and will chop him off at the knees. By then, it is too late.
I think what the current Conservative MP reaction has also shown is that anyone from the Remainer, Home Counties Tory list of candidates is unlikely to have much of a chance. This was the moment for them to at least attempt a takeover by using BJ's sins to cast him out. They have failed.
Re betting, look for the ERG / Red Wall combo for the surprise candidate. I've mentioned this several times before before but I've put money on McVey at 100/1 (straight bet, no trading involved in case anyone asks). Sacked by Boris but Cabinet experience, would have support from both ERG and Red Wall divide, anti-lockdowner so no association there and has stood before (although badly). If you don't fancy that bet, look for someone who can combine the two factions together - it's a powerful combo in the election race.
Tend to agree, someone like Mordaunt is probably a value bet and can see how she could reunite the Conservative party. Can't take McVey seriously though.
A lot of people couldn't take BJ seriously as well...but know what you mean. However, that's probably why she is 100/1.
Not sure re Mordaunt. Yes, on the pro-Brexit side but she is a southern MP with no clear roots in the North. She is a bit of a Brexiteer version of Liz Truss.
What links to the north does Boris have?
He doesn't. It's a discussion about betting on the next leader.
My point being that not having links to the north didn’t do Boris any harm.
Who was the last Tory leader with links to the North? Hague? And before him, I would suggest Macmillan, MP for Stockton on and off until 1945, Churchill, MP for first Oldham and then Manchester North West, and before that Balfour, MP for Manchester East?
There haven't exactly been lots. Before that just about the only one would have been Derby.
Douglas-Home had connections to the Borders and a Perthshire seat..
Oh, you didn’t mean that north.
I meant the North of England, particularly. You keep telling us that's Scotland's different!
On that view, Bonar Law (Glasgow) could be added as a Northerner.
A long shot prediction, but it seems to me that if there is a new PM in the near future anyone in the current government is too tarred with the brush to be a credible candidate.
Sunak's choice was between Boris loyalism or resignation. The Savile remarks were the last chance to get out. He has chosen an uneasy path between the two.
The final two will be out of Hunt, Tugendhat and a couple of other non government figures. FWIW I think it will be close between Hunt and Tugendhat. Either would enable several million people (including me) to take the Tories seriously again, though I doubt if either could beat SKS+ the centre left alliance in the next GE.
The long shot nature of this prediction is that it requires an outbreak of sanity among a majority of the Tory MPs. Here's hoping.
I think you are right on any of the current Cabinet not having a chance.
The lack of a move by Sunak is not that big a surprise when you look at his work background - Goldmans and a hedge fund. Not the sort of people who do anything without rationalising things to the nth degree rather than go with their gut (Sunak wasn't that type of hedge fund guy). I think he has been looking at the polls and thinking "I'm not sure about this". He's probably hoping now he can stay until; BJ steps down and then launch his bid. The problem with that is that BJ bears grudges and will chop him off at the knees. By then, it is too late.
I think what the current Conservative MP reaction has also shown is that anyone from the Remainer, Home Counties Tory list of candidates is unlikely to have much of a chance. This was the moment for them to at least attempt a takeover by using BJ's sins to cast him out. They have failed.
Re betting, look for the ERG / Red Wall combo for the surprise candidate. I've mentioned this several times before before but I've put money on McVey at 100/1 (straight bet, no trading involved in case anyone asks). Sacked by Boris but Cabinet experience, would have support from both ERG and Red Wall divide, anti-lockdowner so no association there and has stood before (although badly). If you don't fancy that bet, look for someone who can combine the two factions together - it's a powerful combo in the election race.
Tend to agree, someone like Mordaunt is probably a value bet and can see how she could reunite the Conservative party. Can't take McVey seriously though.
A lot of people couldn't take BJ seriously as well...but know what you mean. However, that's probably why she is 100/1.
Not sure re Mordaunt. Yes, on the pro-Brexit side but she is a southern MP with no clear roots in the North. She is a bit of a Brexiteer version of Liz Truss.
What links to the north does Boris have?
Boris loves the North, after all, he went to Uni at Oxford....
Current rules: 0h59 minutes late: no refund New rules: 0h59 minutes late: no refund
Current rules: 1h59 minutes late: no refund New rules: 1h59 minutes late: 25% refund
Current rules: 2h59 minutes late: no refund New rules: 2h59 minutes late: 50% refund
Current rules: 3h00 minutes late: 100% refund New rules: 3h00 minutes late: 100% refund
How is that not a win for the consumer?
The argument is that people whose flights have been delayed won't bother to claim.
How is that even an argument? The headline said the compensation would be cut from £220 to £25, in which case they would have to claim.
The implication of the City AM article is that the current compensation is paid automatically. I don't know if that's true.
But then the headline makes no sense. In no situation would the compensation be cut from £220 to £25, because in both cases it would have to be claimed.
A long shot prediction, but it seems to me that if there is a new PM in the near future anyone in the current government is too tarred with the brush to be a credible candidate.
Sunak's choice was between Boris loyalism or resignation. The Savile remarks were the last chance to get out. He has chosen an uneasy path between the two.
The final two will be out of Hunt, Tugendhat and a couple of other non government figures. FWIW I think it will be close between Hunt and Tugendhat. Either would enable several million people (including me) to take the Tories seriously again, though I doubt if either could beat SKS+ the centre left alliance in the next GE.
The long shot nature of this prediction is that it requires an outbreak of sanity among a majority of the Tory MPs. Here's hoping.
I think you are right on any of the current Cabinet not having a chance.
The lack of a move by Sunak is not that big a surprise when you look at his work background - Goldmans and a hedge fund. Not the sort of people who do anything without rationalising things to the nth degree rather than go with their gut (Sunak wasn't that type of hedge fund guy). I think he has been looking at the polls and thinking "I'm not sure about this". He's probably hoping now he can stay until; BJ steps down and then launch his bid. The problem with that is that BJ bears grudges and will chop him off at the knees. By then, it is too late.
I think what the current Conservative MP reaction has also shown is that anyone from the Remainer, Home Counties Tory list of candidates is unlikely to have much of a chance. This was the moment for them to at least attempt a takeover by using BJ's sins to cast him out. They have failed.
Re betting, look for the ERG / Red Wall combo for the surprise candidate. I've mentioned this several times before before but I've put money on McVey at 100/1 (straight bet, no trading involved in case anyone asks). Sacked by Boris but Cabinet experience, would have support from both ERG and Red Wall divide, anti-lockdowner so no association there and has stood before (although badly). If you don't fancy that bet, look for someone who can combine the two factions together - it's a powerful combo in the election race.
Tend to agree, someone like Mordaunt is probably a value bet and can see how she could reunite the Conservative party. Can't take McVey seriously though.
A lot of people couldn't take BJ seriously as well...but know what you mean. However, that's probably why she is 100/1.
Not sure re Mordaunt. Yes, on the pro-Brexit side but she is a southern MP with no clear roots in the North. She is a bit of a Brexiteer version of Liz Truss.
What links to the north does Boris have?
He doesn't. It's a discussion about betting on the next leader.
My point being that not having links to the north didn’t do Boris any harm.
Fair point. But BJ brought something different to the table, namely he could win the Tories in areas they couldn't win otherwise (eg London). I don't think Mordaunt has that. She doesn't strike me as someone who feel particularly at ease pounding the streets of Hartlepool. Might be wrong but I haven't seen anything of it so far.
Isn't Mordaunt's seat more similar to a lot of red wall seats demographically though? At least more so than Tugendhat or even Sunak (even though his seat borders Durham/Teesside red wall seats). It voted Labour 1997-2010 but voted 60%+ for Brexit and now has a huge Tory majority.
Yes, it is, Portsmouth North, so sailors and dockers. Fair point on that. I might put a few covering quid on her.
Kevin Schofield @KevinASchofield · 11m NEW: PM's spokesman confirms mini-reshuffle will happen this afternoon. "Small number of ministerial changes," he says.
‘We’re only removing their bollocks not their spines’
Did Keir Starmer, Ed Davey, or any of the other party leaders draw attention to that particular conspiracy theory in parliament last October, by any chance ?
No but the Labour Party Deputy Leader did say this a couple of weeks before this happened:
“We cannot get any worse than a bunch of scum, homophobic, racist, misogynistic, absolute vile… banana republic, vile, nasty, Etonian… piece of scum.”
And she apologised for saying it, IIRC. Where is Johnson's apology? Nowhere to be seen, because he is utterly without any shred of human decency, a rancid turd floating in the swimming pool of British political life.
Fairs fair - Give him another 3 weeks - it took her a month!
So if he apologises sooner than that Rayner will be utterly without any shred of human decency, a rancid turd floating in the swimming pool of British political life?
So much for the moral high ground and improving discourse in public life!
Kevin Schofield @KevinASchofield · 11m NEW: PM's spokesman confirms mini-reshuffle will happen this afternoon. "Small number of ministerial changes," he says.
What? Another one?
Nadine Dorries to be made minister for Diplomatic Affairs, with her own private office adjoining the Prime Minister's inside Number 10 itself. Rees-Mogg to be made minister for Levelling Up and community outreach.
Well, JRM does have form for levelling, though it looks more like down to me...
Current rules: 0h59 minutes late: no refund New rules: 0h59 minutes late: no refund
Current rules: 1h59 minutes late: no refund New rules: 1h59 minutes late: 25% refund
Current rules: 2h59 minutes late: no refund New rules: 2h59 minutes late: 50% refund
Current rules: 3h00 minutes late: 100% refund New rules: 3h00 minutes late: 100% refund
How is that not a win for the consumer?
The argument is that people whose flights have been delayed won't bother to claim.
How is that even an argument? The headline said the compensation would be cut from £220 to £25, in which case they would have to claim.
The implication of the City AM article is that the current compensation is paid automatically. I don't know if that's true.
But then the headline makes no sense. In no situation would the compensation be cut from £220 to £25, because in both cases it would have to be claimed.
Is the current compensation a flat rate rather than being limited to the ticket cost?
Did Keir Starmer, Ed Davey, or any of the other party leaders draw attention to that particular conspiracy theory in parliament last October, by any chance ?
No but the Labour Party Deputy Leader did say this a couple of weeks before this happened:
“We cannot get any worse than a bunch of scum, homophobic, racist, misogynistic, absolute vile… banana republic, vile, nasty, Etonian… piece of scum.”
And she apologised for saying it, IIRC. Where is Johnson's apology? Nowhere to be seen, because he is utterly without any shred of human decency, a rancid turd floating in the swimming pool of British political life.
Fairs fair - Give him another 3 weeks - it took her a month!
So if he apologises sooner than that Rayner will be utterly without any shred of human decency, a rancid turd floating in the swimming pool of British political life?
So much for the moral high ground and improving discourse in public life!
No, because Rayner didn't use an internet conspiracy meme within parliament, against a specific individual and to protect herself from an allegation of lying, which then caused a specific problem straight outside.
Current rules: 0h59 minutes late: no refund New rules: 0h59 minutes late: no refund
Current rules: 1h59 minutes late: no refund New rules: 1h59 minutes late: 25% refund
Current rules: 2h59 minutes late: no refund New rules: 2h59 minutes late: 50% refund
Current rules: 3h00 minutes late: 100% refund New rules: 3h00 minutes late: 100% refund
How is that not a win for the consumer?
The argument is that people whose flights have been delayed won't bother to claim.
How is that even an argument? The headline said the compensation would be cut from £220 to £25, in which case they would have to claim.
The implication of the City AM article is that the current compensation is paid automatically. I don't know if that's true.
But then the headline makes no sense. In no situation would the compensation be cut from £220 to £25, because in both cases it would have to be claimed.
Is the current compensation a flat rate rather than being limited to the ticket cost?
Currently it’s a full refund but only after 3 hours.
Current rules: 0h59 minutes late: no refund New rules: 0h59 minutes late: no refund
Current rules: 1h59 minutes late: no refund New rules: 1h59 minutes late: 25% refund
Current rules: 2h59 minutes late: no refund New rules: 2h59 minutes late: 50% refund
Current rules: 3h00 minutes late: 100% refund New rules: 3h00 minutes late: 100% refund
How is that not a win for the consumer?
The argument is that people whose flights have been delayed won't bother to claim.
How is that even an argument? The headline said the compensation would be cut from £220 to £25, in which case they would have to claim.
The implication of the City AM article is that the current compensation is paid automatically. I don't know if that's true.
But then the headline makes no sense. In no situation would the compensation be cut from £220 to £25, because in both cases it would have to be claimed.
Is the current compensation a flat rate rather than being limited to the ticket cost?
Yes, there is a very high minimum, so you get £250 refund on a £10 ticket.
Which, unsurprisingly, the airlines add to their fares, with something of an over-estimate for how often they have to pay out.
Did Keir Starmer, Ed Davey, or any of the other party leaders draw attention to that particular conspiracy theory in parliament last October, by any chance ?
No but the Labour Party Deputy Leader did say this a couple of weeks before this happened:
“We cannot get any worse than a bunch of scum, homophobic, racist, misogynistic, absolute vile… banana republic, vile, nasty, Etonian… piece of scum.”
And she apologised for saying it, IIRC. Where is Johnson's apology? Nowhere to be seen, because he is utterly without any shred of human decency, a rancid turd floating in the swimming pool of British political life.
Fairs fair - Give him another 3 weeks - it took her a month!
So if he apologises sooner than that Rayner will be utterly without any shred of human decency, a rancid turd floating in the swimming pool of British political life?
So much for the moral high ground and improving discourse in public life!
No, because Rayner didn't use an internet conspiracy meme in parliament, to protect herself from an allegation of lying, which then caused a specific problem straight outside.
More or less off topic, listened to the latest episode of R4’s The Gathering Storm which featured a lot of Mike Flynn. He seems to be the absolute boy for QAnonists and Trumpers. Is there any chance of him being a candidate in 2024 or will it be his endorsement that counts?
Gen. Flynn has fallen out of favour with the qanon lot after that other fucking nutcase Lin Wood released a recording of Flynn describing Qanon as total nonsense.
There is no way the 2024 GOP candidate is anybody but Trump.
Where does calling a group of MPs "worse than Nazis" come in the "failed to prosecute Savile" to "vile Tory scum" scale?
"David Lammy says comparing ERG to Nazis ‘not strong enough’
David Lammy has said comparing the hard-Brexit European Research Group of Tory MPs to Nazis and proponents of South African apartheid was “not strong enough”, and suggested that the Brexit debate had allowed proponents of hard right views to flourish.
The Labour MP, who is a vocal campaigner for a second EU referendum, was asked on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show whether a comparison he previously made to the election of Adolf Hitler’s party in Germany and to South African white supremacists was appropriate.
“I would say that that wasn’t strong enough. In 1938 there were allies who hatched a plan for Hitler to annex part of Czechoslovakia, and Churchill said no, and he stood alone,” he said.
Did Keir Starmer, Ed Davey, or any of the other party leaders draw attention to that particular conspiracy theory in parliament last October, by any chance ?
No but the Labour Party Deputy Leader did say this a couple of weeks before this happened:
“We cannot get any worse than a bunch of scum, homophobic, racist, misogynistic, absolute vile… banana republic, vile, nasty, Etonian… piece of scum.”
And she apologised for saying it, IIRC. Where is Johnson's apology? Nowhere to be seen, because he is utterly without any shred of human decency, a rancid turd floating in the swimming pool of British political life.
Fairs fair - Give him another 3 weeks - it took her a month!
So if he apologises sooner than that Rayner will be utterly without any shred of human decency, a rancid turd floating in the swimming pool of British political life?
So much for the moral high ground and improving discourse in public life!
No, because Rayner didn't use an internet conspiracy meme in parliament, to protect herself from an allegation of lying, which then caused a specific problem straight outside.
Did Keir Starmer, Ed Davey, or any of the other party leaders draw attention to that particular conspiracy theory in parliament last October, by any chance ?
No but the Labour Party Deputy Leader did say this a couple of weeks before this happened:
“We cannot get any worse than a bunch of scum, homophobic, racist, misogynistic, absolute vile… banana republic, vile, nasty, Etonian… piece of scum.”
And she apologised for saying it, IIRC. Where is Johnson's apology? Nowhere to be seen, because he is utterly without any shred of human decency, a rancid turd floating in the swimming pool of British political life.
Fairs fair - Give him another 3 weeks - it took her a month!
So if he apologises sooner than that Rayner will be utterly without any shred of human decency, a rancid turd floating in the swimming pool of British political life?
So much for the moral high ground and improving discourse in public life!
I'm an anonymous naebody on the Internet, not the Prime Minister. Improving discourse in public life isn't my responsibility.
Where does calling a group of MPs "worse than Nazis" come in the "failed to prosecute Savile" to "vile Tory scum" scale?
"David Lammy says comparing ERG to Nazis ‘not strong enough’
David Lammy has said comparing the hard-Brexit European Research Group of Tory MPs to Nazis and proponents of South African apartheid was “not strong enough”, and suggested that the Brexit debate had allowed proponents of hard right views to flourish.
The Labour MP, who is a vocal campaigner for a second EU referendum, was asked on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show whether a comparison he previously made to the election of Adolf Hitler’s party in Germany and to South African white supremacists was appropriate.
“I would say that that wasn’t strong enough. In 1938 there were allies who hatched a plan for Hitler to annex part of Czechoslovakia, and Churchill said no, and he stood alone,” he said.
And what of various Tories accusing Corbyn of being a genocidal Stalinist or Russian agent, etc. We could go on here for hours.
The point is of a step-change in both responding to internet conspiracy thinking, and bringing it straight into parliament in a moment of crisis, as a last-ditch defence tactic. As mentioned many times here now, the only person that is redolent of is Trump.
Just catching up, and am devastated to discover that yet another of my fellow socialists has, to coin a phrase, "fucked off and joined the Tories". Starmer will be perplexed (though he has asked if they could take Barnet Momentum with them).
Strange old world for us lefties at the moment. Some of us want power, and are prepared to make some compromises to get it. For others, however, it seems that the nearer they get to power the more determined they are to throw it away. I think there's more like me than like them, though.
I'd go with slightly disappointed rather than devastated.
Where does calling a group of MPs "worse than Nazis" come in the "failed to prosecute Savile" to "vile Tory scum" scale?
"David Lammy says comparing ERG to Nazis ‘not strong enough’
David Lammy has said comparing the hard-Brexit European Research Group of Tory MPs to Nazis and proponents of South African apartheid was “not strong enough”, and suggested that the Brexit debate had allowed proponents of hard right views to flourish.
The Labour MP, who is a vocal campaigner for a second EU referendum, was asked on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show whether a comparison he previously made to the election of Adolf Hitler’s party in Germany and to South African white supremacists was appropriate.
“I would say that that wasn’t strong enough. In 1938 there were allies who hatched a plan for Hitler to annex part of Czechoslovakia, and Churchill said no, and he stood alone,” he said.
And what of various Tories accusing Corbyn of being a genocidal Stalinist, etc. We could go on here for hours.
The point is a fundamental change of both responding to internet conspiracy thinking, and bringing it straight into parliament as a last-ditch defence tactic. As mentioned many times now, the only person that is redolent of, is Trump.
Who exactly accused Corbyn of genocide?
Edit - And I'm certain that "worse than the Nazis" is a more terrible slur than "failed to prosecute Savile"
Did Keir Starmer, Ed Davey, or any of the other party leaders draw attention to that particular conspiracy theory in parliament last October, by any chance ?
No but the Labour Party Deputy Leader did say this a couple of weeks before this happened:
“We cannot get any worse than a bunch of scum, homophobic, racist, misogynistic, absolute vile… banana republic, vile, nasty, Etonian… piece of scum.”
And she apologised for saying it, IIRC. Where is Johnson's apology? Nowhere to be seen, because he is utterly without any shred of human decency, a rancid turd floating in the swimming pool of British political life.
Fairs fair - Give him another 3 weeks - it took her a month!
So if he apologises sooner than that Rayner will be utterly without any shred of human decency, a rancid turd floating in the swimming pool of British political life?
So much for the moral high ground and improving discourse in public life!
No, because Rayner didn't use an internet conspiracy meme in parliament, to protect herself from an allegation of lying, which then caused a specific problem straight outside.
Also, she was factually correct.
Increasingly looks like an astute piece of observation by Ms Rayner, even if she was half cut at the bar.
Kevin Schofield @KevinASchofield · 11m NEW: PM's spokesman confirms mini-reshuffle will happen this afternoon. "Small number of ministerial changes," he says.
What? Another one?
Nadine Dorries to be made minister for Diplomatic Affairs, with her own private office adjoining the Prime Minister's inside Number 10 itself. Rees-Mogg to be made minister for Levelling Up and community outreach.
Well, JRM does have form for levelling, though it looks more like down to me...
Say what you like about JRM, and I do, at least he treats his shoes (or more likely his manservant does) properly, polish and shoe stretchers all the way. BJ’s Church’s otoh look like they belong to an overweight bloke who kicks them off still laced every night then crushes his pudgy feet back into them in the morning, again still laced.
JRM’s socks are suspiciously unwrinkled, I think he may be a suspender wearer.
Current rules: 0h59 minutes late: no refund New rules: 0h59 minutes late: no refund
Current rules: 1h59 minutes late: no refund New rules: 1h59 minutes late: 25% refund
Current rules: 2h59 minutes late: no refund New rules: 2h59 minutes late: 50% refund
Current rules: 3h00 minutes late: 100% refund New rules: 3h00 minutes late: 100% refund
How is that not a win for the consumer?
The argument is that people whose flights have been delayed won't bother to claim.
How is that even an argument? The headline said the compensation would be cut from £220 to £25, in which case they would have to claim.
The implication of the City AM article is that the current compensation is paid automatically. I don't know if that's true.
But then the headline makes no sense. In no situation would the compensation be cut from £220 to £25, because in both cases it would have to be claimed.
Is the current compensation a flat rate rather than being limited to the ticket cost?
Currently it’s a full refund but only after 3 hours.
Hmm. I can see where the £220 figure comes from - it's the €250 in the table here, which doesn't appear to be capped at the flight cost.
So overall this looks like a redistribution of compensation from cheap flights delayed over 3 hours to all flights delayed between 1 and 3 hours.
So Javid wants to get the NHS waiting list time below a year by March 2025? I remember it being 18 weeks in the bad old days of the Labour government.
I'm finalising my proposed contract to go PAYE. For the first time ever I am not just taking private health insurance, I am writing it in blood into the contract.
Did Keir Starmer, Ed Davey, or any of the other party leaders draw attention to that particular conspiracy theory in parliament last October, by any chance ?
No but the Labour Party Deputy Leader did say this a couple of weeks before this happened:
“We cannot get any worse than a bunch of scum, homophobic, racist, misogynistic, absolute vile… banana republic, vile, nasty, Etonian… piece of scum.”
And she apologised for saying it, IIRC. Where is Johnson's apology? Nowhere to be seen, because he is utterly without any shred of human decency, a rancid turd floating in the swimming pool of British political life.
Fairs fair - Give him another 3 weeks - it took her a month!
So if he apologises sooner than that Rayner will be utterly without any shred of human decency, a rancid turd floating in the swimming pool of British political life?
So much for the moral high ground and improving discourse in public life!
which then caused a specific problem straight outside.
So if Johnson hadn’t made the comment the demo wouldn’t have happened? Have you watched the footage?
Where does calling a group of MPs "worse than Nazis" come in the "failed to prosecute Savile" to "vile Tory scum" scale?
"David Lammy says comparing ERG to Nazis ‘not strong enough’
David Lammy has said comparing the hard-Brexit European Research Group of Tory MPs to Nazis and proponents of South African apartheid was “not strong enough”, and suggested that the Brexit debate had allowed proponents of hard right views to flourish.
The Labour MP, who is a vocal campaigner for a second EU referendum, was asked on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show whether a comparison he previously made to the election of Adolf Hitler’s party in Germany and to South African white supremacists was appropriate.
“I would say that that wasn’t strong enough. In 1938 there were allies who hatched a plan for Hitler to annex part of Czechoslovakia, and Churchill said no, and he stood alone,” he said.
Did Keir Starmer, Ed Davey, or any of the other party leaders draw attention to that particular conspiracy theory in parliament last October, by any chance ?
No but the Labour Party Deputy Leader did say this a couple of weeks before this happened:
“We cannot get any worse than a bunch of scum, homophobic, racist, misogynistic, absolute vile… banana republic, vile, nasty, Etonian… piece of scum.”
And she apologised for saying it, IIRC. Where is Johnson's apology? Nowhere to be seen, because he is utterly without any shred of human decency, a rancid turd floating in the swimming pool of British political life.
Fairs fair - Give him another 3 weeks - it took her a month!
So if he apologises sooner than that Rayner will be utterly without any shred of human decency, a rancid turd floating in the swimming pool of British political life?
So much for the moral high ground and improving discourse in public life!
which then caused a specific problem straight outside.
So if Johnson hadn’t made the comment the demo wouldn’t have happened? Have you watched the footage?
The demo would have happened, the specific Savile-related abuse not.
So Javid wants to get the NHS waiting list time below a year by March 2025? I remember it being 18 weeks in the bad old days of the Labour government.
I'm finalising my proposed contract to go PAYE. For the first time ever I am not just taking private health insurance, I am writing it in blood into the contract.
Where does calling a group of MPs "worse than Nazis" come in the "failed to prosecute Savile" to "vile Tory scum" scale?
"David Lammy says comparing ERG to Nazis ‘not strong enough’
David Lammy has said comparing the hard-Brexit European Research Group of Tory MPs to Nazis and proponents of South African apartheid was “not strong enough”, and suggested that the Brexit debate had allowed proponents of hard right views to flourish.
The Labour MP, who is a vocal campaigner for a second EU referendum, was asked on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show whether a comparison he previously made to the election of Adolf Hitler’s party in Germany and to South African white supremacists was appropriate.
“I would say that that wasn’t strong enough. In 1938 there were allies who hatched a plan for Hitler to annex part of Czechoslovakia, and Churchill said no, and he stood alone,” he said.
Did Keir Starmer, Ed Davey, or any of the other party leaders draw attention to that particular conspiracy theory in parliament last October, by any chance ?
No but the Labour Party Deputy Leader did say this a couple of weeks before this happened:
“We cannot get any worse than a bunch of scum, homophobic, racist, misogynistic, absolute vile… banana republic, vile, nasty, Etonian… piece of scum.”
And she apologised for saying it, IIRC. Where is Johnson's apology? Nowhere to be seen, because he is utterly without any shred of human decency, a rancid turd floating in the swimming pool of British political life.
Fairs fair - Give him another 3 weeks - it took her a month!
So if he apologises sooner than that Rayner will be utterly without any shred of human decency, a rancid turd floating in the swimming pool of British political life?
So much for the moral high ground and improving discourse in public life!
No, because Rayner didn't use an internet conspiracy meme in parliament, to protect herself from an allegation of lying, which then caused a specific problem straight outside.
Also, she was factually correct.
Increasingly looks like an astute piece of observation by Ms Rayner, even if she was half cut at the bar.
It is this sort of double standards - or as what @Anabobazina also refers to it as 'whataboutery' when pointed out - that causes the problems we have in public life. You reap what you sow.
Where does calling a group of MPs "worse than Nazis" come in the "failed to prosecute Savile" to "vile Tory scum" scale?
"David Lammy says comparing ERG to Nazis ‘not strong enough’
David Lammy has said comparing the hard-Brexit European Research Group of Tory MPs to Nazis and proponents of South African apartheid was “not strong enough”, and suggested that the Brexit debate had allowed proponents of hard right views to flourish.
The Labour MP, who is a vocal campaigner for a second EU referendum, was asked on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show whether a comparison he previously made to the election of Adolf Hitler’s party in Germany and to South African white supremacists was appropriate.
“I would say that that wasn’t strong enough. In 1938 there were allies who hatched a plan for Hitler to annex part of Czechoslovakia, and Churchill said no, and he stood alone,” he said.
And what of various Tories accusing Corbyn of being a genocidal Stalinist, etc. We could go on here for hours.
The point is a fundamental change of both responding to internet conspiracy thinking, and bringing it straight into parliament as a last-ditch defence tactic. As mentioned many times now, the only person that is redolent of, is Trump.
Who exactly accused Corbyn of genocide?
Edit - And I'm certain that "worse than the Nazis" is a more terrible slur than "failed to prosecute Savile"
A pretty much the same example found immediately, for instance..
"The prime minister accused the Labour leader of victimising the country’s richest with a “relish and vindictiveness” not seen since the Soviet leader persecuted landowners in the 1930s."
So Javid wants to get the NHS waiting list time below a year by March 2025? I remember it being 18 weeks in the bad old days of the Labour government.
I'm finalising my proposed contract to go PAYE. For the first time ever I am not just taking private health insurance, I am writing it in blood into the contract.
If the government want to get waiting lists down quickly, they should reverse the BIK treatment of employer-provided health insurance.
That, and fast-track visas for healthcare professionals, to let those who haven’t had any real time off for two years catch a break.
Meanwhile I see that Corbyn jnr and his erstwhile pillion companion Ms Abbott - a serving Labour MP - are backing Putin in his aggression towards Ukraine.
What a revolting lot they are.
It is perfectly reasonable to believe that the boundaries of the Ukraine SSR within the USSR are not sensible boundaries for an independent Ukrainian state.
Ukraine, as currently configured, is like Yugoslavia, or the Austro-Hungarian empire. *
Things will fall apart. They can fall apart slowly or quickly. Slow will cause more damage than quick.
Did Keir Starmer, Ed Davey, or any of the other party leaders draw attention to that particular conspiracy theory in parliament last October, by any chance ?
No but the Labour Party Deputy Leader did say this a couple of weeks before this happened:
“We cannot get any worse than a bunch of scum, homophobic, racist, misogynistic, absolute vile… banana republic, vile, nasty, Etonian… piece of scum.”
And she apologised for saying it, IIRC. Where is Johnson's apology? Nowhere to be seen, because he is utterly without any shred of human decency, a rancid turd floating in the swimming pool of British political life.
Fairs fair - Give him another 3 weeks - it took her a month!
So if he apologises sooner than that Rayner will be utterly without any shred of human decency, a rancid turd floating in the swimming pool of British political life?
So much for the moral high ground and improving discourse in public life!
which then caused a specific problem straight outside.
So if Johnson hadn’t made the comment the demo wouldn’t have happened? Have you watched the footage?
The demo would have happened, the specific Savile-related abuse not.
Given what the same people did to Gove, you seem to be arguing that "you protected (a named paedophile)" is qualitatively - not merely quantitatively - worse than "you protected paedophiles".
And that's ignoring the "B followed A, therefore A caused B" assumption.
Kevin Schofield @KevinASchofield · 11m NEW: PM's spokesman confirms mini-reshuffle will happen this afternoon. "Small number of ministerial changes," he says.
What? Another one?
Nadine Dorries to be made minister for Diplomatic Affairs, with her own private office adjoining the Prime Minister's, inside Number 10 itself. Rees-Mogg to be made minister for Levelling Up and national cohesion.
Meanwhile I see that Corbyn jnr and his erstwhile pillion companion Ms Abbott - a serving Labour MP - are backing Putin in his aggression towards Ukraine.
What a revolting lot they are.
It is perfectly reasonable to believe that the boundaries of the Ukraine SSR within the USSR are not sensible boundaries for an independent Ukrainian state.
Ukraine, as currently configured, is like Yugoslavia, or the Austro-Hungarian empire.
Things will fall apart. They can fall apart slowly or quickly. Slow will cause more damage than quick.
That may be true, but it is a decision for the Ukranian people - not for a strong man and his 100,000 troops.
Comments
That is not the way I thought of it...
All Johnson did was state a fact for which SKS apologised in 2013 for the failings of the organisation he was in charge of.
So I give you Nus Ghani - who has been sanctioned by China and is also female and Muslim.
It would solve quite a few of Boris's other problems - like the inquiry into her complaint which was last seen in some very long grass.
What's not to love?!
There haven't exactly been lots. Before that just about the only one would have been Derby.
It's precisely the opposite. Achieving some moderate reforms builds confidence and creates hope. It makes it more likely that people will support further reforms, and not back down in the face of opposition.
For a complete muppet, he does surprisingly well.
Presumably the other muppets are even more muppetty.
From outside the cabinet I also think Mark Harper is in with serious chance. In the mad Monday debate, where Boris was abysmal and enshrined his legacy as Britain’s Trump, Harper politely acknowledged Diane Abbot and asked the same question. He speaks very well.
very much on Topic, if it’s Harper v Tugendhat who wins? Harper easily wins that, as Turgendhat will appeal to those who want to move the Conservatives to centre, Harper appeal to those who want to keep it off to the right, Harper will get support of more MPs and more Party members, keep us to the right no drift to centre easily wins the next Tory leadership contest, there’s currently more votes for the platform.
What part of my analysis are you saying is wrong, and why?
1 thing that is keeping Bozo in place is the fact that he did it last time around and MPs hope he could do it again. Personally I don't see it and actually think Bozo will do more harm than good if he stays in place.
Sense (2) or (3), I would imagine...
Kevin Schofield
@KevinASchofield
·
11m
NEW: PM's spokesman confirms mini-reshuffle will happen this afternoon. "Small number of ministerial changes," he says.
Has predictive text struck again?
https://mobile.twitter.com/GuidoFawkes/status/1491026861874302978
'Mogg heads for No. 10.'
FUCKING HELL NO.
It may be I have to revise my view on Tory ruthlessness. I was surprised to see that Iain Duncan Smith, largely thought to be a dead duck, only lost his vote by 90 to 75.
The Sri Lankans have finally - FINALLY - realised who I am - an era-defining knapper with my own column on the Gazette - and they are suddenly throwing freebies at me
Got dinner, this eve, at supposedly the best Indian in the capital
And on Thursday I've been invited to THE BEST CRAB RESTAURANT IN THE WORLD (and the "29th best restaurant in Asia") where they are "curating" me a meal
https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/ministry-of-crab-sri-lanka-cmb/index.html
I have never had a meal "curated" before. Hmm
Anyway, yeah, good vibes all round
Oh, you didn’t mean that north.
There is no way the 2024 GOP candidate is anybody but Trump.
As does Corbyn, MP for Islington North since 1983.
The point being that he seemed significantly more interested in perceived injustices happening half a world away than the ones on his own doorstep. Wouldn't you agree?
Strange old world for us lefties at the moment. Some of us want power, and are prepared to make some compromises to get it. For others, however, it seems that the nearer they get to power the more determined they are to throw it away. I think there's more like me than like them, though.
Still under the shock of that meeting with Putin, Sarkozy proceeded to meet with the press, creating media frenzy about his "drinking." The part of Hénin's documentary summarizing that meeting is here (in French). 7/8
https://twitter.com/rallaf/status/1490699623689768963?s=20&t=k83p23d4dhC24zmfW-TldQ
(Thread)
A quick thread on in the importance of being careful what data you share - even if you're the Queen. Today, Her Maj tweeted this lovely picture, gor bless er, etc. You might think that the contents of the red box would be official business. And you'd be right. 1/6
https://twitter.com/amateuradam/status/1490394034900197388
On that view, Bonar Law (Glasgow) could be added as a Northerner.
So if he apologises sooner than that Rayner will be utterly without any shred of human decency, a rancid turd floating in the swimming pool of British political life?
So much for the moral high ground and improving discourse in public life!
Which, unsurprisingly, the airlines add to their fares, with something of an over-estimate for how often they have to pay out.
"David Lammy says comparing ERG to Nazis ‘not strong enough’
David Lammy has said comparing the hard-Brexit European Research Group of Tory MPs to Nazis and proponents of South African apartheid was “not strong enough”, and suggested that the Brexit debate had allowed proponents of hard right views to flourish.
The Labour MP, who is a vocal campaigner for a second EU referendum, was asked on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show whether a comparison he previously made to the election of Adolf Hitler’s party in Germany and to South African white supremacists was appropriate.
“I would say that that wasn’t strong enough. In 1938 there were allies who hatched a plan for Hitler to annex part of Czechoslovakia, and Churchill said no, and he stood alone,” he said.
Asked if it was fair to make such a comment about elected politicians, he said: “I don’t care how elected they were: so was the far right in Germany.”"
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/apr/14/comparing-erg-to-nazis-not-strong-enough-says-david-lammy
The point is of a step-change in both responding to internet conspiracy thinking, and bringing it straight into parliament in a moment of crisis, as a last-ditch defence tactic. As mentioned many times here now, the only person that is redolent of is Trump.
Owls is weirdly obsessed with Starmer.
Jezziah is demonstrably crackers.
Can't please all of the people, all of the time.
Edit - And I'm certain that "worse than the Nazis" is a more terrible slur than "failed to prosecute Savile"
JRM’s socks are suspiciously unwrinkled, I think he may be a suspender wearer.
So overall this looks like a redistribution of compensation from cheap flights delayed over 3 hours to all flights delayed between 1 and 3 hours.
I'm finalising my proposed contract to go PAYE. For the first time ever I am not just taking private health insurance, I am writing it in blood into the contract.
Lammy is, irrespective of what people say, a smart man. He's not dumb by any means. He knows what he is saying and doing.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/general-election-boris-johnson-jeremy-corbyn-joseph-stalin-billionaires-conservatives-a9186896.html
"The prime minister accused the Labour leader of victimising the country’s richest with a “relish and vindictiveness” not seen since the Soviet leader persecuted landowners in the 1930s."
That, and fast-track visas for healthcare professionals, to let those who haven’t had any real time off for two years catch a break.
Ukraine, as currently configured, is like Yugoslavia, or the Austro-Hungarian empire. *
Things will fall apart. They can fall apart slowly or quickly. Slow will cause more damage than quick.
(* Or the UK)
And that's ignoring the "B followed A, therefore A caused B" assumption.