Surely Sunak and Tugendhat don't have enough votes between them to get Tugendhat to the Final - even if Rishi lent Tom all his surplus votes (which he won't - as he can't cut it too fine and also he'll want to be clearly in the lead).
They do I would think. I would have thought by the final 4 candidates Sunak + Tugendhat combined would be just over 50% of Tory MPs
They would need well over 50% as the other two won't split equally and Sunak must retain a clear lead for momentum purposes.
So it would need to be something like:
Sunak 30 Tugendhat 25 Mordaunt 23 Truss 22
And I'm not sure that's realistic. If the right coalesce around Truss she surely gets over 25%.
And add in the factor, the second it’s clear Truss is in member ballot with Sunak she gets a pile on of support as the certain winner, many will want or maintain access to the greasy pole.
The impression I get - and I may well be completely misreading this as I am not in the party - is that everyone is fighting to be the second of the two being put forward with Sunak because they know that if they are then chances are they will win. Based on the recent head to heads that were being posted here, Sunak loses against most opposition once the membership get their turn.
Yes that is what we all now expect Richard. Sunak probably in last two, though the stop Rishi attack may have some cards yet to play, perhaps a key one from Wallace about blocking Ukraine spending - both Truss and Penny favoured to beat Sunak in member ballot, whichever one beats the other into second spot. Though the surveys of membership have been a bit all over the road actually - the one for C4 news actually has Sunak winning, but only by 2%.
HY has his own calculation that puts Tugendhat into last two thanks to loan of Sunak’s extra vote the rest of us don’t think Rishi could spare.
Hope that helps 🙂
The third hustings is in the morning, the 92 group I think, the ballot open 1.30 till 3 today, 30 votes needed to go to the next round and last place eliminated.
I think all candidates have had to sign to say they won’t withdraw if one of the last two, to confirm a membership vote.
"Why does Penny Mordaunt hate Dad’s Army? This is no laughing matter for the leadership contender"
Never been a fan myself.
My grandfather was in the Wigan Home Guard. They were nearly all miners in reserved occupations and hard as nails.
It's only sad old men who like Dad's Army
I am tempted to both flag and off topic this.
I've been here since 2005. I've read posts by Roger, Martin Day, Tim, malcolmg and TSE.
But I've never read a post I've disagreed with more.
Are you mad?
It may not be uproariously funny any more. There isn't much which retains its humour 50 years after its creation. But it is still one of the finest pieces of television ever created.
My grandfather was also in the home guard somewhere on the Lancashire Plain. He was an electrical engineer (also a reserved occupation - he worked on PLUTO) and lived in Culcheth. He probably went on exercises with your grandfather Foxy.
"Why does Penny Mordaunt hate Dad’s Army? This is no laughing matter for the leadership contender"
Never been a fan myself.
My grandfather was in the Wigan Home Guard. They were nearly all miners in reserved occupations and hard as nails.
It's only sad old men who like Dad's Army
In fairness, it has a really excellent ensemble cast that save a generally rather weak script (a hell of a high garbage to "Don't tell 'em, Pike" ratio).
Mordaunt's actual criticism was directed, anyway, at It Ain't Half Hot Mum. A show which was, and I think I'm putting it generously here out of respect to all involved, total horse sh1t.
Not surprised about Kemi and net zero. She comes across as a very tribal, hyper political politician. Obviously that might appeal to Conservatives in this campaign, but it creates blind spots and is not a great quality for a PM.
I don't think she's half as formidable as her backers think she is. She'll also undoubtedly be accused of being Gove's puppet.
The whole thing is bonkers. She is not experienced enough to take over in the middle of an economic crisis the like o which we have not seen in decades and with a war in eastern europe that could drag on for years.
She is utterly untested at high office and Tories who think she is ready need to go and take a long cold non-alcoholic drink and get a fecking grip.
LOTO after 2025?
Yeh. May well be.
But now. Nope.
Kemi is the Blue Corbyn.
You're shitting yourself about Kemi v Keir
I assure you that I am not. I can see why she appeals to some Tories though, much as Corbyn appealed to some Labourites. But like Corbyn that appeal is narrow and the lack of any leadership experience is a critical weakness.
Mordaunt is who Starmer and Labour fear most, I reckon. Followed by either Sunak or Tugendhat. After Braverman and Cosplay Thatcher, Badenoch is probably who they most would want to succeed Johnson.
I think the Labour Party would most want Braverman to win.
Champagne corks popping in Labour HQ - Braverman, Zahawi
Pleased - Truss, Hunt
Neutral - Rishi/Tugendhat
Nervous - Penny
WTF is going to happen? - Badenoch
Yep, that's a good analysis
Perhaps a bit more WTF and *actual panic* with Badenoch: how on earth would Labour, and the wider Left, deal with a young black female rightwing Tory leader? How? I can't see any attack lines, prima facie
Badenoch could be an enormous success, or a terrible failure - we simply don't know enough about her yet to be sure. I could see her leading the Conservatives to a 100 seat majority... or their worst result since 2001.
Yes I agree. It's the Hail Mary play. She really needs to run a big department. Where she can deal with the practicalities rather than just the theory of slash the State. In view of the conversation tonight I would suggest education as a good place to start. She might even learn some things.
Or perhaps not. (Wikipedia) … was also a school governor at St Thomas the Apostle College in Southwark, and the Jubilee Primary School.…
Well either way she will get knocked out before the final round and I am backing Tugendhat who actually is a Roman Catholic
You're going to convert to Catholicism at this rate!
If I wasn't Anglican I would be Roman Catholic
Are you not allowed to be both?
No, if you are Anglican you are Protestant and also can't take communion therefore in a Roman Catholic church
Although I'm an atheist, I was baptised, so I'm also nominally CofE. But if I wasn't CofE, and I had to be something, I'd be a Presbyterian. No bishops. And I prefer the aesthetic.
Having a bit of water dribbled on your head forty years ago doesn't "make" you anything. If you are an atheist, you are an atheist and good on you for it. Baptism doesn't lock you in.
If you are baptised Roman Catholic, even if you become an atheist the Vatican still count you as Roman Catholic just one who has lost their way
Surely Sunak and Tugendhat don't have enough votes between them to get Tugendhat to the Final - even if Rishi lent Tom all his surplus votes (which he won't - as he can't cut it too fine and also he'll want to be clearly in the lead).
They do I would think. I would have thought by the final 4 candidates Sunak + Tugendhat combined would be just over 50% of Tory MPs
They would need well over 50% as the other two won't split equally and Sunak must retain a clear lead for momentum purposes.
So it would need to be something like:
Sunak 30 Tugendhat 25 Mordaunt 23 Truss 22
And I'm not sure that's realistic. If the right coalesce around Truss she surely gets over 25%.
And add in the factor, the second it’s clear Truss is in member ballot with Sunak she gets a pile on of support as the certain winner, many will want or maintain access to the greasy pole.
The impression I get - and I may well be completely misreading this as I am not in the party - is that everyone is fighting to be the second of the two being put forward with Sunak because they know that if they are then chances are they will win. Based on the recent head to heads that were being posted here, Sunak loses against most opposition once the membership get their turn.
Truss, Mordaunt and Badenoch beat Sunak in the ConHome survey today but Sunak still narrowly beat Tugendhat.
Hence Sir Gavin's cunning plan will be to get a Sunak v Tugendhat final 2
Not surprised about Kemi and net zero. She comes across as a very tribal, hyper political politician. Obviously that might appeal to Conservatives in this campaign, but it creates blind spots and is not a great quality for a PM.
I don't think she's half as formidable as her backers think she is. She'll also undoubtedly be accused of being Gove's puppet.
The whole thing is bonkers. She is not experienced enough to take over in the middle of an economic crisis the like o which we have not seen in decades and with a war in eastern europe that could drag on for years.
She is utterly untested at high office and Tories who think she is ready need to go and take a long cold non-alcoholic drink and get a fecking grip.
LOTO after 2025?
Yeh. May well be.
But now. Nope.
Kemi is the Blue Corbyn.
You're shitting yourself about Kemi v Keir
I assure you that I am not. I can see why she appeals to some Tories though, much as Corbyn appealed to some Labourites. But like Corbyn that appeal is narrow and the lack of any leadership experience is a critical weakness.
Mordaunt is who Starmer and Labour fear most, I reckon. Followed by either Sunak or Tugendhat. After Braverman and Cosplay Thatcher, Badenoch is probably who they most would want to succeed Johnson.
I think the Labour Party would most want Braverman to win.
Champagne corks popping in Labour HQ - Braverman, Zahawi
Pleased - Truss, Hunt
Neutral - Rishi/Tugendhat
Nervous - Penny
WTF is going to happen? - Badenoch
Yep, that's a good analysis
Perhaps a bit more WTF and *actual panic* with Badenoch: how on earth would Labour, and the wider Left, deal with a young black female rightwing Tory leader? How? I can't see any attack lines, prima facie
Badenoch could be an enormous success, or a terrible failure - we simply don't know enough about her yet to be sure. I could see her leading the Conservatives to a 100 seat majority... or their worst result since 2001.
Yes I agree. It's the Hail Mary play. She really needs to run a big department. Where she can deal with the practicalities rather than just the theory of slash the State. In view of the conversation tonight I would suggest education as a good place to start. She might even learn some things.
Or perhaps not. (Wikipedia) … was also a school governor at St Thomas the Apostle College in Southwark, and the Jubilee Primary School.…
Well either way she will get knocked out before the final round and I am backing Tugendhat who actually is a Roman Catholic
You're going to convert to Catholicism at this rate!
If I wasn't Anglican I would be Roman Catholic
Are you not allowed to be both?
No, if you are Anglican you are Protestant and also can't take communion therefore in a Roman Catholic church
Although I'm an atheist, I was baptised, so I'm also nominally CofE. But if I wasn't CofE, and I had to be something, I'd be a Presbyterian. No bishops. And I prefer the aesthetic.
Having a bit of water dribbled on your head forty years ago doesn't "make" you anything. If you are an atheist, you are an atheist and good on you for it. Baptism doesn't lock you in.
Not surprised about Kemi and net zero. She comes across as a very tribal, hyper political politician. Obviously that might appeal to Conservatives in this campaign, but it creates blind spots and is not a great quality for a PM.
I don't think she's half as formidable as her backers think she is. She'll also undoubtedly be accused of being Gove's puppet.
The whole thing is bonkers. She is not experienced enough to take over in the middle of an economic crisis the like o which we have not seen in decades and with a war in eastern europe that could drag on for years.
She is utterly untested at high office and Tories who think she is ready need to go and take a long cold non-alcoholic drink and get a fecking grip.
LOTO after 2025?
Yeh. May well be.
But now. Nope.
Kemi is the Blue Corbyn.
You're shitting yourself about Kemi v Keir
I assure you that I am not. I can see why she appeals to some Tories though, much as Corbyn appealed to some Labourites. But like Corbyn that appeal is narrow and the lack of any leadership experience is a critical weakness.
Mordaunt is who Starmer and Labour fear most, I reckon. Followed by either Sunak or Tugendhat. After Braverman and Cosplay Thatcher, Badenoch is probably who they most would want to succeed Johnson.
I think the Labour Party would most want Braverman to win.
Champagne corks popping in Labour HQ - Braverman, Zahawi
Pleased - Truss, Hunt
Neutral - Rishi/Tugendhat
Nervous - Penny
WTF is going to happen? - Badenoch
Yep, that's a good analysis
Perhaps a bit more WTF and *actual panic* with Badenoch: how on earth would Labour, and the wider Left, deal with a young black female rightwing Tory leader? How? I can't see any attack lines, prima facie
Badenoch could be an enormous success, or a terrible failure - we simply don't know enough about her yet to be sure. I could see her leading the Conservatives to a 100 seat majority... or their worst result since 2001.
Yes I agree. It's the Hail Mary play. She really needs to run a big department. Where she can deal with the practicalities rather than just the theory of slash the State. In view of the conversation tonight I would suggest education as a good place to start. She might even learn some things.
Or perhaps not. (Wikipedia) … was also a school governor at St Thomas the Apostle College in Southwark, and the Jubilee Primary School.…
Well either way she will get knocked out before the final round and I am backing Tugendhat who actually is a Roman Catholic
You're going to convert to Catholicism at this rate!
If I wasn't Anglican I would be Roman Catholic
Are you not allowed to be both?
No, if you are Anglican you are Protestant and also can't take communion therefore in a Roman Catholic church
Although I'm an atheist, I was baptised, so I'm also nominally CofE. But if I wasn't CofE, and I had to be something, I'd be a Presbyterian. No bishops. And I prefer the aesthetic.
Having a bit of water dribbled on your head forty years ago doesn't "make" you anything. If you are an atheist, you are an atheist and good on you for it. Baptism doesn't lock you in.
Not surprised about Kemi and net zero. She comes across as a very tribal, hyper political politician. Obviously that might appeal to Conservatives in this campaign, but it creates blind spots and is not a great quality for a PM.
I don't think she's half as formidable as her backers think she is. She'll also undoubtedly be accused of being Gove's puppet.
The whole thing is bonkers. She is not experienced enough to take over in the middle of an economic crisis the like o which we have not seen in decades and with a war in eastern europe that could drag on for years.
She is utterly untested at high office and Tories who think she is ready need to go and take a long cold non-alcoholic drink and get a fecking grip.
LOTO after 2025?
Yeh. May well be.
But now. Nope.
Kemi is the Blue Corbyn.
You're shitting yourself about Kemi v Keir
I assure you that I am not. I can see why she appeals to some Tories though, much as Corbyn appealed to some Labourites. But like Corbyn that appeal is narrow and the lack of any leadership experience is a critical weakness.
Mordaunt is who Starmer and Labour fear most, I reckon. Followed by either Sunak or Tugendhat. After Braverman and Cosplay Thatcher, Badenoch is probably who they most would want to succeed Johnson.
I think the Labour Party would most want Braverman to win.
Champagne corks popping in Labour HQ - Braverman, Zahawi
Pleased - Truss, Hunt
Neutral - Rishi/Tugendhat
Nervous - Penny
WTF is going to happen? - Badenoch
Yep, that's a good analysis
Perhaps a bit more WTF and *actual panic* with Badenoch: how on earth would Labour, and the wider Left, deal with a young black female rightwing Tory leader? How? I can't see any attack lines, prima facie
Badenoch could be an enormous success, or a terrible failure - we simply don't know enough about her yet to be sure. I could see her leading the Conservatives to a 100 seat majority... or their worst result since 2001.
Yes I agree. It's the Hail Mary play. She really needs to run a big department. Where she can deal with the practicalities rather than just the theory of slash the State. In view of the conversation tonight I would suggest education as a good place to start. She might even learn some things.
Or perhaps not. (Wikipedia) … was also a school governor at St Thomas the Apostle College in Southwark, and the Jubilee Primary School.…
Well either way she will get knocked out before the final round and I am backing Tugendhat who actually is a Roman Catholic
You're going to convert to Catholicism at this rate!
If I wasn't Anglican I would be Roman Catholic
Are you not allowed to be both?
No, if you are Anglican you are Protestant and also can't take communion therefore in a Roman Catholic church
Although I'm an atheist, I was baptised, so I'm also nominally CofE. But if I wasn't CofE, and I had to be something, I'd be a Presbyterian. No bishops. And I prefer the aesthetic.
Not surprised about Kemi and net zero. She comes across as a very tribal, hyper political politician. Obviously that might appeal to Conservatives in this campaign, but it creates blind spots and is not a great quality for a PM.
I don't think she's half as formidable as her backers think she is. She'll also undoubtedly be accused of being Gove's puppet.
The whole thing is bonkers. She is not experienced enough to take over in the middle of an economic crisis the like o which we have not seen in decades and with a war in eastern europe that could drag on for years.
She is utterly untested at high office and Tories who think she is ready need to go and take a long cold non-alcoholic drink and get a fecking grip.
LOTO after 2025?
Yeh. May well be.
But now. Nope.
Kemi is the Blue Corbyn.
You're shitting yourself about Kemi v Keir
I assure you that I am not. I can see why she appeals to some Tories though, much as Corbyn appealed to some Labourites. But like Corbyn that appeal is narrow and the lack of any leadership experience is a critical weakness.
Mordaunt is who Starmer and Labour fear most, I reckon. Followed by either Sunak or Tugendhat. After Braverman and Cosplay Thatcher, Badenoch is probably who they most would want to succeed Johnson.
I think the Labour Party would most want Braverman to win.
Champagne corks popping in Labour HQ - Braverman, Zahawi
Pleased - Truss, Hunt
Neutral - Rishi/Tugendhat
Nervous - Penny
WTF is going to happen? - Badenoch
Yep, that's a good analysis
Perhaps a bit more WTF and *actual panic* with Badenoch: how on earth would Labour, and the wider Left, deal with a young black female rightwing Tory leader? How? I can't see any attack lines, prima facie
Badenoch could be an enormous success, or a terrible failure - we simply don't know enough about her yet to be sure. I could see her leading the Conservatives to a 100 seat majority... or their worst result since 2001.
Yes I agree. It's the Hail Mary play. She really needs to run a big department. Where she can deal with the practicalities rather than just the theory of slash the State. In view of the conversation tonight I would suggest education as a good place to start. She might even learn some things.
Or perhaps not. (Wikipedia) … was also a school governor at St Thomas the Apostle College in Southwark, and the Jubilee Primary School.…
Well either way she will get knocked out before the final round and I am backing Tugendhat who actually is a Roman Catholic
You're going to convert to Catholicism at this rate!
If I wasn't Anglican I would be Roman Catholic
Are you not allowed to be both?
No, if you are Anglican you are Protestant and also can't take communion therefore in a Roman Catholic church
Although I'm an atheist, I was baptised, so I'm also nominally CofE. But if I wasn't CofE, and I had to be something, I'd be a Presbyterian. No bishops. And I prefer the aesthetic.
Having a bit of water dribbled on your head forty years ago doesn't "make" you anything. If you are an atheist, you are an atheist and good on you for it. Baptism doesn't lock you in.
Maybe it's time to criminalize apostasy again.
The only kind of apostasy that should be illegal is adopting American -ize spellings.
Not surprised about Kemi and net zero. She comes across as a very tribal, hyper political politician. Obviously that might appeal to Conservatives in this campaign, but it creates blind spots and is not a great quality for a PM.
I don't think she's half as formidable as her backers think she is. She'll also undoubtedly be accused of being Gove's puppet.
The whole thing is bonkers. She is not experienced enough to take over in the middle of an economic crisis the like o which we have not seen in decades and with a war in eastern europe that could drag on for years.
She is utterly untested at high office and Tories who think she is ready need to go and take a long cold non-alcoholic drink and get a fecking grip.
LOTO after 2025?
Yeh. May well be.
But now. Nope.
Kemi is the Blue Corbyn.
You're shitting yourself about Kemi v Keir
I assure you that I am not. I can see why she appeals to some Tories though, much as Corbyn appealed to some Labourites. But like Corbyn that appeal is narrow and the lack of any leadership experience is a critical weakness.
Mordaunt is who Starmer and Labour fear most, I reckon. Followed by either Sunak or Tugendhat. After Braverman and Cosplay Thatcher, Badenoch is probably who they most would want to succeed Johnson.
I think the Labour Party would most want Braverman to win.
Champagne corks popping in Labour HQ - Braverman, Zahawi
Pleased - Truss, Hunt
Neutral - Rishi/Tugendhat
Nervous - Penny
WTF is going to happen? - Badenoch
Yep, that's a good analysis
Perhaps a bit more WTF and *actual panic* with Badenoch: how on earth would Labour, and the wider Left, deal with a young black female rightwing Tory leader? How? I can't see any attack lines, prima facie
Badenoch could be an enormous success, or a terrible failure - we simply don't know enough about her yet to be sure. I could see her leading the Conservatives to a 100 seat majority... or their worst result since 2001.
Yes I agree. It's the Hail Mary play. She really needs to run a big department. Where she can deal with the practicalities rather than just the theory of slash the State. In view of the conversation tonight I would suggest education as a good place to start. She might even learn some things.
Or perhaps not. (Wikipedia) … was also a school governor at St Thomas the Apostle College in Southwark, and the Jubilee Primary School.…
Well either way she will get knocked out before the final round and I am backing Tugendhat who actually is a Roman Catholic
You're going to convert to Catholicism at this rate!
If I wasn't Anglican I would be Roman Catholic
Are you not allowed to be both?
No, if you are Anglican you are Protestant and also can't take communion therefore in a Roman Catholic church
Although I'm an atheist, I was baptised, so I'm also nominally CofE. But if I wasn't CofE, and I had to be something, I'd be a Presbyterian. No bishops. And I prefer the aesthetic.
Having a bit of water dribbled on your head forty years ago doesn't "make" you anything. If you are an atheist, you are an atheist and good on you for it. Baptism doesn't lock you in.
I think they still count me as one of theirs. But they can't make me believe. Not that half of them seem to believe themselves, mind.
Not surprised about Kemi and net zero. She comes across as a very tribal, hyper political politician. Obviously that might appeal to Conservatives in this campaign, but it creates blind spots and is not a great quality for a PM.
I don't think she's half as formidable as her backers think she is. She'll also undoubtedly be accused of being Gove's puppet.
The whole thing is bonkers. She is not experienced enough to take over in the middle of an economic crisis the like o which we have not seen in decades and with a war in eastern europe that could drag on for years.
She is utterly untested at high office and Tories who think she is ready need to go and take a long cold non-alcoholic drink and get a fecking grip.
LOTO after 2025?
Yeh. May well be.
But now. Nope.
Kemi is the Blue Corbyn.
You're shitting yourself about Kemi v Keir
I assure you that I am not. I can see why she appeals to some Tories though, much as Corbyn appealed to some Labourites. But like Corbyn that appeal is narrow and the lack of any leadership experience is a critical weakness.
Mordaunt is who Starmer and Labour fear most, I reckon. Followed by either Sunak or Tugendhat. After Braverman and Cosplay Thatcher, Badenoch is probably who they most would want to succeed Johnson.
I think the Labour Party would most want Braverman to win.
Champagne corks popping in Labour HQ - Braverman, Zahawi
Pleased - Truss, Hunt
Neutral - Rishi/Tugendhat
Nervous - Penny
WTF is going to happen? - Badenoch
Yep, that's a good analysis
Perhaps a bit more WTF and *actual panic* with Badenoch: how on earth would Labour, and the wider Left, deal with a young black female rightwing Tory leader? How? I can't see any attack lines, prima facie
Badenoch could be an enormous success, or a terrible failure - we simply don't know enough about her yet to be sure. I could see her leading the Conservatives to a 100 seat majority... or their worst result since 2001.
Yes I agree. It's the Hail Mary play. She really needs to run a big department. Where she can deal with the practicalities rather than just the theory of slash the State. In view of the conversation tonight I would suggest education as a good place to start. She might even learn some things.
Or perhaps not. (Wikipedia) … was also a school governor at St Thomas the Apostle College in Southwark, and the Jubilee Primary School.…
Well either way she will get knocked out before the final round and I am backing Tugendhat who actually is a Roman Catholic
You're going to convert to Catholicism at this rate!
If I wasn't Anglican I would be Roman Catholic
Are you not allowed to be both?
No, if you are Anglican you are Protestant and also can't take communion therefore in a Roman Catholic church
Although I'm an atheist, I was baptised, so I'm also nominally CofE. But if I wasn't CofE, and I had to be something, I'd be a Presbyterian. No bishops. And I prefer the aesthetic.
Having a bit of water dribbled on your head forty years ago doesn't "make" you anything. If you are an atheist, you are an atheist and good on you for it. Baptism doesn't lock you in.
Maybe it's time to criminalize apostasy again.
The only kind of apostasy that should be illegal is adopting American -ize spellings.
The only kind of apostasy that should be illegal is dissing classic sitcoms
Anyway, if Mordaunt is genuinely dissing Dad's Army, that's her done for. Sell Mordaunt. You can dance on the head of a pin over trans matters. It's not edifying but its what we've come to expect from politicians. But if you're trying to cancel Dad's Army I suggest it will go down very badly.
Anyway, if Mordaunt is genuinely dissing Dad's Army, that's her done for. Sell Mordaunt. You can dance on the head of a pin over trans matters. It's not edifying but its what we've come to expect from politicians. But if you're trying to cancel Dad's Army I suggest it will go down very badly.
Why do politicians feel the need to do this?
She urgently needs to clarify her stance on Up Pompeii.
Anyway, if Mordaunt is genuinely dissing Dad's Army, that's her done for. Sell Mordaunt. You can dance on the head of a pin over trans matters. It's not edifying but its what we've come to expect from politicians. But if you're trying to cancel Dad's Army I suggest it will go down very badly.
Why do politicians feel the need to do this?
She urgently needs to clarify her stance on Up Pompeii.
Ah, so you’re a member of the “Common Sense Group”.
Two tweets from a serving member of the UK cabinet.
"Nadine Dorries @NadineDorries You have to ask the question, ‘why is Cummings so fervently backing, Sunak?’ The answer must surely be, bcse he thinks he can control him and he wants to be back at the heart of government. That’s quite a terrifying thought."
"Nadine Dorries @NadineDorries This is dirty tricks/a stitch up/dark arts. Take your pick. Team Rishi want the candidate they know they can definitely beat in the final two and that is @Jeremy_Hunt Quote Tweet (((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 6h One rival camp tells me Gavin Willamson (who is on Team Rishi) has organised syphoning off of some votes to let Jeremy Hunt get over the threshold."
"(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges In a contest in which honesty and integrity are so pivotal, I don't see how Penny M's attempt to rewrite her position on this in such a nakedly opportunistic way is survivable."
Bizarrely, I agree with Hodges. Penny’s whole attraction is that she represents a clean break from Boris, but if she’s just going to bullshit then we may as well have an experienced bullshitter like Liz Truss.
Cummings is backing Rishi, and although they are not working together, they are likely linked by third parties.
And Rishi (and his numbers guy, Gavin Williamson) does seem keen to help Tugendhat or Hunt along. I suspect he fears Truss the most, followed by Mordaunt.
Given Gove’s involvement, it’s entirely possible Badenoch is also some kind of Manchurian candidate for Sunak.
Two tweets from a serving member of the UK cabinet.
"Nadine Dorries @NadineDorries You have to ask the question, ‘why is Cummings so fervently backing, Sunak?’ The answer must surely be, bcse he thinks he can control him and he wants to be back at the heart of government. That’s quite a terrifying thought."
"Nadine Dorries @NadineDorries This is dirty tricks/a stitch up/dark arts. Take your pick. Team Rishi want the candidate they know they can definitely beat in the final two and that is @Jeremy_Hunt Quote Tweet (((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 6h One rival camp tells me Gavin Willamson (who is on Team Rishi) has organised syphoning off of some votes to let Jeremy Hunt get over the threshold."
Not surprised about Kemi and net zero. She comes across as a very tribal, hyper political politician. Obviously that might appeal to Conservatives in this campaign, but it creates blind spots and is not a great quality for a PM.
I don't think she's half as formidable as her backers think she is. She'll also undoubtedly be accused of being Gove's puppet.
The whole thing is bonkers. She is not experienced enough to take over in the middle of an economic crisis the like o which we have not seen in decades and with a war in eastern europe that could drag on for years.
She is utterly untested at high office and Tories who think she is ready need to go and take a long cold non-alcoholic drink and get a fecking grip.
LOTO after 2025?
Yeh. May well be.
But now. Nope.
Kemi is the Blue Corbyn.
You're shitting yourself about Kemi v Keir
I assure you that I am not. I can see why she appeals to some Tories though, much as Corbyn appealed to some Labourites. But like Corbyn that appeal is narrow and the lack of any leadership experience is a critical weakness.
Mordaunt is who Starmer and Labour fear most, I reckon. Followed by either Sunak or Tugendhat. After Braverman and Cosplay Thatcher, Badenoch is probably who they most would want to succeed Johnson.
I think the Labour Party would most want Braverman to win.
Champagne corks popping in Labour HQ - Braverman, Zahawi
Pleased - Truss, Hunt
Neutral - Rishi/Tugendhat
Nervous - Penny
WTF is going to happen? - Badenoch
Yep, that's a good analysis
Perhaps a bit more WTF and *actual panic* with Badenoch: how on earth would Labour, and the wider Left, deal with a young black female rightwing Tory leader? How? I can't see any attack lines, prima facie
Badenoch could be an enormous success, or a terrible failure - we simply don't know enough about her yet to be sure. I could see her leading the Conservatives to a 100 seat majority... or their worst result since 2001.
Yes I agree. It's the Hail Mary play. She really needs to run a big department. Where she can deal with the practicalities rather than just the theory of slash the State. In view of the conversation tonight I would suggest education as a good place to start. She might even learn some things.
Or perhaps not. (Wikipedia) … was also a school governor at St Thomas the Apostle College in Southwark, and the Jubilee Primary School.…
Well either way she will get knocked out before the final round and I am backing Tugendhat who actually is a Roman Catholic
You're going to convert to Catholicism at this rate!
If I wasn't Anglican I would be Roman Catholic
Are you not allowed to be both?
No, if you are Anglican you are Protestant and also can't take communion therefore in a Roman Catholic church
Although I'm an atheist, I was baptised, so I'm also nominally CofE. But if I wasn't CofE, and I had to be something, I'd be a Presbyterian. No bishops. And I prefer the aesthetic.
Having grown up as a Scottish atheist who occasionally got hauled into the local church I remember being appalled at all the English cathedrals seemingly stuffed full up of gaudy shite.
Anyway, if Mordaunt is genuinely dissing Dad's Army, that's her done for. Sell Mordaunt. You can dance on the head of a pin over trans matters. It's not edifying but its what we've come to expect from politicians. But if you're trying to cancel Dad's Army I suggest it will go down very badly.
Why do politicians feel the need to do this?
She urgently needs to clarify her stance on Up Pompeii.
This discussion is heading in ever-decreasing circles.
Anyway, if Mordaunt is genuinely dissing Dad's Army, that's her done for. Sell Mordaunt. You can dance on the head of a pin over trans matters. It's not edifying but its what we've come to expect from politicians. But if you're trying to cancel Dad's Army I suggest it will go down very badly.
Why do politicians feel the need to do this?
She urgently needs to clarify her stance on Up Pompeii.
This discussion is heading in ever-decreasing circles.
Come on, Farooq. And indeed Mordaunt. I dare you to diss Ever Decreasing Circles. I double dare you.
This is not a judgement about policy content, but as pure performance and for coherence of argument, @KemiBadenoch was impressive today, possibly the best performance by any candidate so far."
"A newly-appointed minister has repeated claims made against Labour's Angela Rayner that she "opened her legs" to distract Boris Johnson in the Commons. A newspaper article in April quoted Tory MPs who said the deputy leader tried to put Mr Johnson off."
"A newly-appointed minister has repeated claims made against Labour's Angela Rayner that she "opened her legs" to distract Boris Johnson in the Commons. A newspaper article in April quoted Tory MPs who said the deputy leader tried to put Mr Johnson off."
Nadine Dorries' Trump-like behaviour on Twitter is pretty offputting. British politics would be better off without her contributions IMO. I hope she isn't included in the new government.
Anyway, if Mordaunt is genuinely dissing Dad's Army, that's her done for. Sell Mordaunt. You can dance on the head of a pin over trans matters. It's not edifying but its what we've come to expect from politicians. But if you're trying to cancel Dad's Army I suggest it will go down very badly.
Why do politicians feel the need to do this?
She urgently needs to clarify her stance on Up Pompeii.
This discussion is heading in ever-decreasing circles.
Come on, Farooq. And indeed Mordaunt. I dare you to diss Ever Decreasing Circles. I double dare you.
Never seen it
Classic 80s but often overlooked 80s sitcom. A little more cerebral than some. Not wildly hilarious; enjoyable mostly for the sheer precision Richard Briers puts into his character. In all seriousness, sorry if I appear to be getting belligerent! Misplaced attempt at humour and certainly not aimed at you. If we can't disagree about sitcoms, what can we disagree about? But I do think Mordaunt's run ends here.
Dorries is heading right to the back benches. She will play no further part in government under any of the final 8. She might think she has a deal with Truss. She will be wrong.
Mogg might survive a little longer. But probably not.
Was going to post about the Rise & Fall of Reginald Perrin, but am pre-empted by Wikipedia informing me that Leonard Rossiter had a five year extramarital affair with Radio 4’s Sue McGregor in the early 80s. Didn’t think he had it in him. Or her. Good Lord.
I just had a look at Linkedin. People are venting their fury about Braverman and Badenoch. How can it be possible that they are opposed to net zero! How can they even be allowed to be candidates! ... There was similar fury about the supreme court overturning Roe v Wade. People were going around building "firewalls" around themselves, cancelling their professional contacts who, however cautiously, expressed a different view.
Linkedin used to be where you could find some sanity. Now it is just no different really to facebook. Social media has just made everyone mad. It is all tribal mob rule. Meaningful debate is completely dead.
I cannot imagine discussing politics on LinkedIn. Unless, I worked in politics.
LinkedIn in 2022 unfortunately has absolutely nothing to do with work, and almost all posts are virtue signalling politics, or karma farming "i suffered from depression or a disability or whatever but look at me now smiling having beaten adversity to become a low level drone in sector 7G, etc".
It is the most depressing place on earth, and surely evidence that 99% of humans are actually NPCs.
I've used it fairly well to keep in contact with some people I used to work with, which has the potential to help me get work in the future.
I just can't imagine using it in any other way. Why would I want to put off people who might offer me a job by getting into an argument with them about politics?
Honestly, it beats me.
The annoying thing about LinkedIn is, as far as I know, it promotes popular posts around the network and you can't tune it to only show you posts from people you know.
There was a post I saw on there the other day from a woman who was proudly announcing she was adding "sex worker" to her linkedin job history because sex work was real work, and it was about time blah blah, yadda yadda.
And all I could think was, crikey, I'm not sure I'd employ someone who put "hooker" on their CV. But her post was teeming with likes and bravery and you-go-girls.
The funny thing is, I personally don't have a problem if that was her job for ten years or more, a job's a job. But there is such a thing as a time and a place, such a thing as over sharing...
Linkedin — pretty sure I only see stuff from connections, although that includes things they have commented on or liked. Can't see where that is set though.
Cummings is backing Rishi, and although they are not working together, they are likely linked by third parties.
And Rishi (and his numbers guy, Gavin Williamson) does seem keen to help Tugendhat or Hunt along. I suspect he fears Truss the most, followed by Mordaunt.
Given Gove’s involvement, it’s entirely possible Badenoch is also some kind of Manchurian candidate for Sunak.
It's much more likely that Gove was dumped for Sunak, who accepted Cummings's control over economic policy as the cost of the Chancellor job. Course, things did not work out as planned by the superforecaster. Badenoch does not seem to be an empty vessel for median voter PR like Johnson / Sunak.
Oddly, Penny Mordaunt is favourite on Betfair to be next Prime Minister but Rishi Sunak is favourite in their market for next Conservative leader.
Next PM 2.82 Penny Mordaunt 35% 3 Rishi Sunak 33% 5.4 Liz Truss 18% 15 Kemi Badenoch 6% 30 Tom Tugendhat 42 Jeremy Hunt 110 Nadhim Zahawi 110 Suella Braverman 270 Dominic Raab
Next leader of the Conservative Party 2.94 Rishi Sunak 34% 2.96 Penny Mordaunt 33% 5.1 Liz Truss 19% 15 Kemi Badenoch 6% 32 Tom Tugendhat 44 Jeremy Hunt 95 Suella Braverman 120 Nadhim Zahawi
Was going to post about the Rise & Fall of Reginald Perrin, but am pre-empted by Wikipedia informing me that Leonard Rossiter had a five year extramarital affair with Radio 4’s Sue McGregor in the early 80s. Didn’t think he had it in him. Or her. Good Lord.
This is quite a good starting point for constructing your own list, though it only goes up to 2004 (so omits the IT crowd). https://mubi.com/lists/britain-s-best-sitcom-the-bbc-s-top-100 Only major omission I can see from that list is Chance in a Million.
Though I think it is considering 'The Likely Lads' and 'Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads' as one sitcom; it should really be two. WHTTLL is a classic and a fascinating glance of the social changes of 70s Britain.
I was very pleased to see I Didn't Know You Cared on there - also a fascinating glance at etc etc.
Anyway, if Mordaunt is genuinely dissing Dad's Army, that's her done for. Sell Mordaunt. You can dance on the head of a pin over trans matters. It's not edifying but its what we've come to expect from politicians. But if you're trying to cancel Dad's Army I suggest it will go down very badly.
Why do politicians feel the need to do this?
She urgently needs to clarify her stance on Up Pompeii.
This discussion is heading in ever-decreasing circles.
Come on, Farooq. And indeed Mordaunt. I dare you to diss Ever Decreasing Circles. I double dare you.
Never seen it
It is being repeated on BBC4 at the moment. Check iPlayer
Was going to post about the Rise & Fall of Reginald Perrin, but am pre-empted by Wikipedia informing me that Leonard Rossiter had a five year extramarital affair with Radio 4’s Sue McGregor in the early 80s. Didn’t think he had it in him. Or her. Good Lord.
This is quite a good starting point for constructing your own list, though it only goes up to 2004 (so omits the IT crowd). https://mubi.com/lists/britain-s-best-sitcom-the-bbc-s-top-100 Only major omission I can see from that list is Chance in a Million.
Though I think it is considering 'The Likely Lads' and 'Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads' as one sitcom; it should really be two. WHTTLL is a classic and a fascinating glance of the social changes of 70s Britain.
I was very pleased to see I Didn't Know You Cared on there - also a fascinating glance at etc etc.
That list is a bit odd. Vicar of Dibley at #3? I don’t think so. I also never thought Only Fools and Horses was as good as apparently we’re supposed to think.
Was going to post about the Rise & Fall of Reginald Perrin, but am pre-empted by Wikipedia informing me that Leonard Rossiter had a five year extramarital affair with Radio 4’s Sue McGregor in the early 80s. Didn’t think he had it in him. Or her. Good Lord.
This is quite a good starting point for constructing your own list, though it only goes up to 2004 (so omits the IT crowd). https://mubi.com/lists/britain-s-best-sitcom-the-bbc-s-top-100 Only major omission I can see from that list is Chance in a Million.
Though I think it is considering 'The Likely Lads' and 'Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads' as one sitcom; it should really be two. WHTTLL is a classic and a fascinating glance of the social changes of 70s Britain.
I was very pleased to see I Didn't Know You Cared on there - also a fascinating glance at etc etc.
As it doesn't contain either Auf Wiedersein Pet or A Very Peculiar Practice, it is (to say the least) incomplete.
And why is the Vicar of Dibley so high up? That should be waaaaaaaaayyyy down the list.
"Why does Penny Mordaunt hate Dad’s Army? This is no laughing matter for the leadership contender"
I ❤️ Dads Army it is the most perfect sitcom ever.
Father Ted says hello.......
The top five (in no particular order), surely, are:
Blackadder Fawltey Towers Father Ted Dad's Army Yes Minister
It's odd how all those all revolve around middle-class or upper-class people. Blackadder: kings and nobles. Fawlty Towers: a small businessman. Father Ted: priests. Dad's Army: led by a bank manager with shopkeepers and others. Yes Minister: politicians.
I'd put a thoroughly working-class but hilarious one on the list: Two Pints of Lager. If only because a friend used to refer to Mrs J and myself as Gaz and Donna...
"Why does Penny Mordaunt hate Dad’s Army? This is no laughing matter for the leadership contender"
I ❤️ Dads Army it is the most perfect sitcom ever.
Father Ted says hello.......
The top five (in no particular order), surely, are:
Blackadder Fawltey Towers Father Ted Dad's Army Yes Minister
It's odd how all those all revolve around middle-class or upper-class people. Blackadder: kings and nobles. Fawlty Towers: a small businessman. Father Ted: priests. Dad's Army: led by a bank manager with shopkeepers and others. Yes Minister: politicians.
I'd put a thoroughly working-class but hilarious one on the list: Two Pints of Lager. If only because a friend used to refer to Mrs J and myself as Gaz and Donna...
If you look at the top 10 on "Britain's Best Sitcoms" list, you have:
7 Upper and Middle Class: Black Adder, Vicar of Dibley, Dad's Army, Fawlty Towers, Yes Minister, The Good Life and One Foot in the Grave
and
3 Working Class: Only Fools and Horses, Porridge, Open All Hours
Although you could argue that Only Fools and Horses was about people wanting to be middle and upper class, that Porridge is the non working (what with them being incarcerated) class, and Open All Hours was about a shop owner - i.e. a member of the petty bourgeoisie.
I just had a look at Linkedin. People are venting their fury about Braverman and Badenoch. How can it be possible that they are opposed to net zero! How can they even be allowed to be candidates! ... There was similar fury about the supreme court overturning Roe v Wade. People were going around building "firewalls" around themselves, cancelling their professional contacts who, however cautiously, expressed a different view.
Linkedin used to be where you could find some sanity. Now it is just no different really to facebook. Social media has just made everyone mad. It is all tribal mob rule. Meaningful debate is completely dead.
I cannot imagine discussing politics on LinkedIn. Unless, I worked in politics.
LinkedIn in 2022 unfortunately has absolutely nothing to do with work, and almost all posts are virtue signalling politics, or karma farming "i suffered from depression or a disability or whatever but look at me now smiling having beaten adversity to become a low level drone in sector 7G, etc".
It is the most depressing place on earth, and surely evidence that 99% of humans are actually NPCs.
I've used it fairly well to keep in contact with some people I used to work with, which has the potential to help me get work in the future.
I just can't imagine using it in any other way. Why would I want to put off people who might offer me a job by getting into an argument with them about politics?
Honestly, it beats me.
The annoying thing about LinkedIn is, as far as I know, it promotes popular posts around the network and you can't tune it to only show you posts from people you know.
There was a post I saw on there the other day from a woman who was proudly announcing she was adding "sex worker" to her linkedin job history because sex work was real work, and it was about time blah blah, yadda yadda.
And all I could think was, crikey, I'm not sure I'd employ someone who put "hooker" on their CV. But her post was teeming with likes and bravery and you-go-girls.
The funny thing is, I personally don't have a problem if that was her job for ten years or more, a job's a job. But there is such a thing as a time and a place, such a thing as over sharing...
Linkedin — pretty sure I only see stuff from connections, although that includes things they have commented on or liked. Can't see where that is set though.
LinkedIn is about showing off. And because everyone else is doing it you feel you have to do the same to maintain your "profile", so it feeds on itself.
Like all social media it suffers from the narcissism of the "like" button - people count and compare total likes, and who liked it and didn't like it, and develop fandoms & grievances accordingly.
"Why does Penny Mordaunt hate Dad’s Army? This is no laughing matter for the leadership contender"
I pointed this out the other day.
That's a good article.
I read Ms Morduant's book. Well, more like I skimmed it, but still, I reckon that's more than most. And IIRC, the only show she actually calls out by name is It Ain't Half Hot Mum*, so the article is a little misleading.
* Which, I would note, I was not allowed to watch as a child because my parents decided it had racist stereotypes. Watching it later, I discovered it was simply bleh: it's nowhere near as funny as Dad's Army or early seasons of Hi-de-Hi.
"Why does Penny Mordaunt hate Dad’s Army? This is no laughing matter for the leadership contender"
I ❤️ Dads Army it is the most perfect sitcom ever.
Father Ted says hello.......
The top five (in no particular order), surely, are:
Blackadder Fawltey Towers Father Ted Dad's Army Yes Minister
It's odd how all those all revolve around middle-class or upper-class people. Blackadder: kings and nobles. Fawlty Towers: a small businessman. Father Ted: priests. Dad's Army: led by a bank manager with shopkeepers and others. Yes Minister: politicians.
I'd put a thoroughly working-class but hilarious one on the list: Two Pints of Lager. If only because a friend used to refer to Mrs J and myself as Gaz and Donna...
If you look at the top 10 on "Britain's Best Sitcoms" list, you have:
7 Upper and Middle Class: Black Adder, Vicar of Dibley, Dad's Army, Fawlty Towers, Yes Minister, The Good Life and One Foot in the Grave
and
3 Working Class: Only Fools and Horses, Porridge, Open All Hours
Although you could argue that Only Fools and Horses was about people wanting to be middle and upper class, that Porridge is the non working (what with them being incarcerated) class, and Open All Hours was about a shop owner - i.e. a member of the petty bourgeoisie.
What makes that so British is that everyone knows exactly what you're talking about and that's absolutely right.
Keeping Up Appearances does it all - somebody basically working class who's married up and changed her accent and now puts on an OTT show.
Was going to post about the Rise & Fall of Reginald Perrin, but am pre-empted by Wikipedia informing me that Leonard Rossiter had a five year extramarital affair with Radio 4’s Sue McGregor in the early 80s. Didn’t think he had it in him. Or her. Good Lord.
This is quite a good starting point for constructing your own list, though it only goes up to 2004 (so omits the IT crowd). https://mubi.com/lists/britain-s-best-sitcom-the-bbc-s-top-100 Only major omission I can see from that list is Chance in a Million.
Though I think it is considering 'The Likely Lads' and 'Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads' as one sitcom; it should really be two. WHTTLL is a classic and a fascinating glance of the social changes of 70s Britain.
I was very pleased to see I Didn't Know You Cared on there - also a fascinating glance at etc etc.
As it doesn't contain either Auf Wiedersein Pet or A Very Peculiar Practice, it is (to say the least) incomplete.
And why is the Vicar of Dibley so high up? That should be waaaaaaaaayyyy down the list.
Vicar of Dibley is shite.
Red Dwarf, The Office and Alan Partridge need to be in there, IMHO.
"Why does Penny Mordaunt hate Dad’s Army? This is no laughing matter for the leadership contender"
I pointed this out the other day.
That's a good article.
I read Ms Morduant's book. Well, more like I skimmed it, but still, I reckon that's more than most. And IIRC, the only show she actually calls out by name is It Ain't Half Hot Mum*, so the article is a little misleading.
* Which, I would note, I was not allowed to watch as a child because my parents decided it had racist stereotypes. Watching it later, I discovered it was simply bleh: it's nowhere near as funny as Dad's Army or early seasons of Hi-de-Hi.
Although SM Williams has given the Internet a very strong meme: "Oh dear, how sad, never mind."
From memory, I found "It ain't half hot mum" to be rather unfunny as a child, although like many sitcoms it did have its memorable moments. But I think that was because I found it hard to relate to the situation in the sitcom, rather than any incipient wokeness in me.
Was going to post about the Rise & Fall of Reginald Perrin, but am pre-empted by Wikipedia informing me that Leonard Rossiter had a five year extramarital affair with Radio 4’s Sue McGregor in the early 80s. Didn’t think he had it in him. Or her. Good Lord.
This is quite a good starting point for constructing your own list, though it only goes up to 2004 (so omits the IT crowd). https://mubi.com/lists/britain-s-best-sitcom-the-bbc-s-top-100 Only major omission I can see from that list is Chance in a Million.
Though I think it is considering 'The Likely Lads' and 'Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads' as one sitcom; it should really be two. WHTTLL is a classic and a fascinating glance of the social changes of 70s Britain.
I was very pleased to see I Didn't Know You Cared on there - also a fascinating glance at etc etc.
As it doesn't contain either Auf Wiedersein Pet or A Very Peculiar Practice, it is (to say the least) incomplete.
And why is the Vicar of Dibley so high up? That should be waaaaaaaaayyyy down the list.
Vicar of Dibley is shite.
Red Dwarf, The Office and Alan Partridge need to be in there, IMHO.
My favourite two sitcoms, ones I can watch time and time again:
'Spaced' and 'Two pints of Lager'.
Both genius pieces of work, although the latter declines after the fourth or fifth series. I'd also love to see the rumoured revisiting of it, with the characters older and not much wiser...
Just to clarify today's vote: everyone with fewer than 30 votes gets eliminated, and the person with fewest votes is out even if they have more than that threshold, right?
… Uvalde residents react after the mayor and a city council member called journalists "chickenshit" for releasing security camera footage from Robb Elementary… … The mayor of Uvalde says he can't comment on whether the police acted properly because "I haven't seen the video yet" and then proceeds to praise the courage of one of the officers based on ... what he saw in the video https://twitter.com/Mike_Hixenbaugh/status/1547003518170677256
This isn’t going away as national news. There is a slim chance it might shift the politics on guns, and policing.
Cummings has made some weird pro Russia comments lately. Perhaps the Ukrainians are right to be worried about Boris Johnson being forced out.
He likes to see himself as a hyper-realist
He’s saying the Ukrainian war cannot be “won”. And let’s face it he’s right, if we define “winning” as pushing Russia back to the pre-war borders - let alone retaking Crimea
This does not mean we appease Putin tho. Is he saying that? If he is, he’s wrong. The only choice - and it’s a grim choice - is to do what we’re doing. Grind Russia down. Limit its ambitions. Cut it out of the system
"Why does Penny Mordaunt hate Dad’s Army? This is no laughing matter for the leadership contender"
I pointed this out the other day.
That's a good article.
I read Ms Morduant's book. Well, more like I skimmed it, but still, I reckon that's more than most. And IIRC, the only show she actually calls out by name is It Ain't Half Hot Mum*, so the article is a little misleading.
* Which, I would note, I was not allowed to watch as a child because my parents decided it had racist stereotypes. Watching it later, I discovered it was simply bleh: it's nowhere near as funny as Dad's Army or early seasons of Hi-de-Hi.
The article does call out It Ain't Half Hot Mum, though: "Hilariously Mordaunt describes It Ain’t Half Hot Mum as “a full-house bingo card of… casual racism, homophobia, white privilege, colonialism, transphobia, bullying, misogyny and sexual harassment”.
And her book ends there. There's no nuance or caveats. David Croft and Jimmy Perry were comedy geniuses - not bigots who wanted us all to laugh at minorities.
I think the article's conclusion is right: it's common amongst trendy politicians desperate to "display their progressive credentials — making a confident pronouncement of hate or love about some cultural artefact in the mistaken belief it will make you look hip. David Cameron’s toe-curling profession of love of The Smiths, Gordon Brown’s for the Arctic Monkeys, or Jeremy Corbyn pretending to watch Eastenders."
To be, the most serious failing is it shows Mordaunt hasn't thought deeply about this- she just accepts the orthodox shibboleths.
Was going to post about the Rise & Fall of Reginald Perrin, but am pre-empted by Wikipedia informing me that Leonard Rossiter had a five year extramarital affair with Radio 4’s Sue McGregor in the early 80s. Didn’t think he had it in him. Or her. Good Lord.
This is quite a good starting point for constructing your own list, though it only goes up to 2004 (so omits the IT crowd). https://mubi.com/lists/britain-s-best-sitcom-the-bbc-s-top-100 Only major omission I can see from that list is Chance in a Million.
Though I think it is considering 'The Likely Lads' and 'Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads' as one sitcom; it should really be two. WHTTLL is a classic and a fascinating glance of the social changes of 70s Britain.
I was very pleased to see I Didn't Know You Cared on there - also a fascinating glance at etc etc.
As it doesn't contain either Auf Wiedersein Pet or A Very Peculiar Practice, it is (to say the least) incomplete.
And why is the Vicar of Dibley so high up? That should be waaaaaaaaayyyy down the list.
Vicar of Dibley is shite.
Red Dwarf, The Office and Alan Partridge need to be in there, IMHO.
My favourite two sitcoms, ones I can watch time and time again:
'Spaced' and 'Two pints of Lager'.
Both genius pieces of work, although the latter declines after the fourth or fifth series. I'd also love to see the rumoured revisiting of it, with the characters older and not much wiser...
I agree Two pints of Lager is better than it's given credit for.
Assessments of it are probably held back by snobbery, to be fair.
Cummings has made some weird pro Russia comments lately. Perhaps the Ukrainians are right to be worried about Boris Johnson being forced out.
He likes to see himself as a hyper-realist
He’s saying the Ukrainian war cannot be “won”. And let’s face it he’s right, if we define “winning” as pushing Russia back to the pre-war borders - let alone retaking Crimea
This does not mean we appease Putin tho. Is he saying that? If he is, he’s wrong. The only choice - and it’s a grim choice - is to do what we’re doing. Grind Russia down. Limit its ambitions. Cut it out of the system
I think Cummings is wrong.
Military adventures - like the Russians in Afghanistan - quite often lead to regime change.
Was going to post about the Rise & Fall of Reginald Perrin, but am pre-empted by Wikipedia informing me that Leonard Rossiter had a five year extramarital affair with Radio 4’s Sue McGregor in the early 80s. Didn’t think he had it in him. Or her. Good Lord.
This is quite a good starting point for constructing your own list, though it only goes up to 2004 (so omits the IT crowd). https://mubi.com/lists/britain-s-best-sitcom-the-bbc-s-top-100 Only major omission I can see from that list is Chance in a Million.
Though I think it is considering 'The Likely Lads' and 'Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads' as one sitcom; it should really be two. WHTTLL is a classic and a fascinating glance of the social changes of 70s Britain.
I was very pleased to see I Didn't Know You Cared on there - also a fascinating glance at etc etc.
As it doesn't contain either Auf Wiedersein Pet or A Very Peculiar Practice, it is (to say the least) incomplete.
And why is the Vicar of Dibley so high up? That should be waaaaaaaaayyyy down the list.
Vicar of Dibley is shite.
Red Dwarf, The Office and Alan Partridge need to be in there, IMHO.
My favourite two sitcoms, ones I can watch time and time again:
'Spaced' and 'Two pints of Lager'.
Both genius pieces of work, although the latter declines after the fourth or fifth series. I'd also love to see the rumoured revisiting of it, with the characters older and not much wiser...
I agree Two pints of Lager is better than it's given credit for.
Assessments of it are probably held back by snobbery, to be fair.
Two pints was created by a young woman whilst she was at secondary school in the same area the show was set in. As a consequence it feels genuine, as if she had experienced some of the comedy she was writing.
Compare with many of the other shows mentioned, written by old hands in the industry. Croft and Perry, for instance.
Comedy dates. That’s my takeaway from this. It dates faster than milk on a hot sunny doorstep
Father Ted is maybe an exception. Blackadder (in part). Bits of Fawlty Towers
My children (12 and 14) find Blackadder II and Fawlty Towers to be very funny. (My 12 year son's favourite movie is The Life of Brian.)
But they would find The Good Life or Ever Decreasing Circles or From the Manor Born utterly tedious.
Last of the Summer Wine seemed to be extremely popular for decades for reasons I couldn't quite fathom.
Familiarity. Complete escapism
It never challenged you or broke taboos. It was never unexpectedly clever or - heaven forbid - biting. It was the same characters doing the same thing again and again. That can be pleasing, certainly consoling. For half an hour it was basically unfunny but predictably, likeably whimsical, a harmless world to inhabit
For people with shit lives that’s no small thing. I wonder if many video games play the same role now
Comedy dates. That’s my takeaway from this. It dates faster than milk on a hot sunny doorstep
Father Ted is maybe an exception. Blackadder (in part). Bits of Fawlty Towers
All filmed drama or comedy is really about two times. The time it was set, and the time it was made. That is why it often ages so poorly.
So Dad's Army is an early Seventies look at WW2 Britain, by people who largely remembered it, hence its gentle nostalgia and comedy focus on issues of social class. It just didn't mean much to a primary school age me. I preferred the silliness of the Goodies, which has aged even worse.
Cummings has made some weird pro Russia comments lately. Perhaps the Ukrainians are right to be worried about Boris Johnson being forced out.
He likes to see himself as a hyper-realist
He’s saying the Ukrainian war cannot be “won”. And let’s face it he’s right, if we define “winning” as pushing Russia back to the pre-war borders - let alone retaking Crimea
This does not mean we appease Putin tho. Is he saying that? If he is, he’s wrong. The only choice - and it’s a grim choice - is to do what we’re doing. Grind Russia down. Limit its ambitions. Cut it out of the system
I think Cummings is wrong.
Military adventures - like the Russians in Afghanistan - quite often lead to regime change.
This isn’t quite Afghanistan tho. Ukraine was “part” of Russia for centuries and many speak Russian
I expect Russia to squat on the eastern bits for a long time
Cummings has made some weird pro Russia comments lately. Perhaps the Ukrainians are right to be worried about Boris Johnson being forced out.
He likes to see himself as a hyper-realist
He’s saying the Ukrainian war cannot be “won”. And let’s face it he’s right, if we define “winning” as pushing Russia back to the pre-war borders - let alone retaking Crimea
This does not mean we appease Putin tho. Is he saying that? If he is, he’s wrong. The only choice - and it’s a grim choice - is to do what we’re doing. Grind Russia down. Limit its ambitions. Cut it out of the system
I think Cummings is wrong.
Military adventures - like the Russians in Afghanistan - quite often lead to regime change.
This isn’t quite Afghanistan tho. Ukraine was “part” of Russia for centuries and many speak Russian
I expect Russia to squat on the eastern bits for a long time
Even the ones who speak Russian now hate the Russians.
Don't forget that Zelensky is a native Russian speaker.
Comedy dates. That’s my takeaway from this. It dates faster than milk on a hot sunny doorstep
Father Ted is maybe an exception. Blackadder (in part). Bits of Fawlty Towers
All filmed drama or comedy is really about two times. The time it was set, and the time it was made. That is why it often ages so poorly.
So Dad's Army is an early Seventies look at WW2 Britain, by people who largely remembered it, hence its gentle nostalgia and comedy focus on issues of social class. It just didn't mean much to a primary school age me. I preferred the silliness of the Goodies, which has aged even worse.
The more interesting question is why some comedy DOESN’T date
It’s rare but it happens. Wodehouse is a prime example. He can make you laugh out loud with the written word - itself impressive - and he can do it with words written 90 years ago. Wow
And he’s writing about a world completely vanished, too
It’s something to do with supremely intelligent use of words, and verbal timing
Comedy dates. That’s my takeaway from this. It dates faster than milk on a hot sunny doorstep
Father Ted is maybe an exception. Blackadder (in part). Bits of Fawlty Towers
My children (12 and 14) find Blackadder II and Fawlty Towers to be very funny. (My 12 year son's favourite movie is The Life of Brian.)
But they would find The Good Life or Ever Decreasing Circles or From the Manor Born utterly tedious.
Last of the Summer Wine seemed to be extremely popular for decades for reasons I couldn't quite fathom.
It was/is slow and gentle. Which becomes very appealing sometimes.
The lack of pace is what strikes me about old TV comedy. In something like Not Going Out, you are never more than about four seconds from a laugh line. In The Good Life, there are acres of screentime where nothing funny happens. Or The Two Ronnies. Hilarious moments, but the bits between really drag.
(I've seen the suggestion that that's why Jeeves and Wooster still works. The voice of Bertie is amusing enough that even the dull routine business can be made funny.)
Back to It 'Aint Half Hot Mum, some of the gags aren't as funny now as they seemed at the time. And that is a bit of a negative mark. Compare the evolution of Klinger in M*A*S*H and the lack thereof of Gloria in IAHHM.
Just to clarify today's vote: everyone with fewer than 30 votes gets eliminated, and the person with fewest votes is out even if they have more than that threshold, right?
I think it's like this...
(1) The bottom candidate, no matter how many votes they got, is eliminated. in addition (2) Candidates who weren't bottom but who got fewer than 30 votes are eliminated.
Cummings has made some weird pro Russia comments lately. Perhaps the Ukrainians are right to be worried about Boris Johnson being forced out.
He likes to see himself as a hyper-realist
He’s saying the Ukrainian war cannot be “won”. And let’s face it he’s right, if we define “winning” as pushing Russia back to the pre-war borders - let alone retaking Crimea
This does not mean we appease Putin tho. Is he saying that? If he is, he’s wrong. The only choice - and it’s a grim choice - is to do what we’re doing. Grind Russia down. Limit its ambitions. Cut it out of the system
I think Cummings is wrong.
Military adventures - like the Russians in Afghanistan - quite often lead to regime change.
This isn’t quite Afghanistan tho. Ukraine was “part” of Russia for centuries and many speak Russian
I expect Russia to squat on the eastern bits for a long time
Even the ones who speak Russian now hate the Russians.
Don't forget that Zelensky is a native Russian speaker.
Sure. But I just don’t see a mechanism that pushes Russia out of Donbas etc
And if Putin falls - unlikely at the moment - he will probably be replaced by another Russian nationalist. Not a westernised liberal happy to cede territory
"Why does Penny Mordaunt hate Dad’s Army? This is no laughing matter for the leadership contender"
I pointed this out the other day.
That's a good article.
I read Ms Morduant's book. Well, more like I skimmed it, but still, I reckon that's more than most. And IIRC, the only show she actually calls out by name is It Ain't Half Hot Mum*, so the article is a little misleading.
* Which, I would note, I was not allowed to watch as a child because my parents decided it had racist stereotypes. Watching it later, I discovered it was simply bleh: it's nowhere near as funny as Dad's Army or early seasons of Hi-de-Hi.
The article does call out It Ain't Half Hot Mum, though: "Hilariously Mordaunt describes It Ain’t Half Hot Mum as “a full-house bingo card of… casual racism, homophobia, white privilege, colonialism, transphobia, bullying, misogyny and sexual harassment”.
And her book ends there. There's no nuance or caveats. David Croft and Jimmy Perry were comedy geniuses - not bigots who wanted us all to laugh at minorities.
I think the article's conclusion is right: it's common amongst trendy politicians desperate to "display their progressive credentials — making a confident pronouncement of hate or love about some cultural artefact in the mistaken belief it will make you look hip. David Cameron’s toe-curling profession of love of The Smiths, Gordon Brown’s for the Arctic Monkeys, or Jeremy Corbyn pretending to watch Eastenders."
To be, the most serious failing is it shows Mordaunt hasn't thought deeply about this- she just accepts the orthodox shibboleths.
I think the opposite, that she has thought deeply about LBGT issues, perhaps not least because her twin brother is gay. She was Equalities Minister too for some time under May.
Her interview with Pink News in which she says "Trans-women are women" is here. She is really just trying to find a way forward on some difficult issues. In particular to take the bureaucracy away from the GRC process.
"(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges In a contest in which honesty and integrity are so pivotal, I don't see how Penny M's attempt to rewrite her position on this in such a nakedly opportunistic way is survivable."
Comments
HY has his own calculation that puts Tugendhat into last two thanks to loan of Sunak’s extra vote the rest of us don’t think Rishi could spare.
Hope that helps 🙂
The third hustings is in the morning, the 92 group I think, the ballot open 1.30 till 3 today, 30 votes needed to go to the next round and last place eliminated.
I think all candidates have had to sign to say they won’t withdraw if one of the last two, to confirm a membership vote.
And that’s me done for today 🥱
I've been here since 2005. I've read posts by Roger, Martin Day, Tim, malcolmg and TSE.
But I've never read a post I've disagreed with more.
Are you mad?
It may not be uproariously funny any more. There isn't much which retains its humour 50 years after its creation. But it is still one of the finest pieces of television ever created.
My grandfather was also in the home guard somewhere on the Lancashire Plain. He was an electrical engineer (also a reserved occupation - he worked on PLUTO) and lived in Culcheth. He probably went on exercises with your grandfather Foxy.
Mordaunt's actual criticism was directed, anyway, at It Ain't Half Hot Mum. A show which was, and I think I'm putting it generously here out of respect to all involved, total horse sh1t.
I don’t agree with you Farooq!
Yours etc,
Sir Norfolk Passmore
Aged 45 3/4.
You can dance on the head of a pin over trans matters. It's not edifying but its what we've come to expect from politicians. But if you're trying to cancel Dad's Army I suggest it will go down very badly.
Why do politicians feel the need to do this?
"Nadine Dorries
@NadineDorries
You have to ask the question, ‘why is Cummings so fervently backing, Sunak?’
The answer must surely be, bcse he thinks he can control him and he wants to be back at the heart of government. That’s quite a terrifying thought."
"Nadine Dorries
@NadineDorries
This is dirty tricks/a stitch up/dark arts. Take your pick. Team Rishi want the candidate they know they can definitely beat in the final two and that is
@Jeremy_Hunt
Quote Tweet
(((Dan Hodges)))
@DPJHodges
· 6h
One rival camp tells me Gavin Willamson (who is on Team Rishi) has organised syphoning off of some votes to let Jeremy Hunt get over the threshold."
https://twitter.com/NadineDorries/status/1546254618044366849
https://twitter.com/NadineDorries/status/1546904679191281666
Penny’s whole attraction is that she represents a clean break from Boris, but if she’s just going to bullshit then we may as well have an experienced bullshitter like Liz Truss.
Cummings is backing Rishi, and although they are not working together, they are likely linked by third parties.
And Rishi (and his numbers guy, Gavin Williamson) does seem keen to help Tugendhat or Hunt along. I suspect he fears Truss the most, followed by Mordaunt.
Given Gove’s involvement, it’s entirely possible Badenoch is also some kind of Manchurian candidate for Sunak.
@Peston
This is not a judgement about policy content, but as pure performance and for coherence of argument,
@KemiBadenoch was impressive today, possibly the best performance by any candidate so far."
https://twitter.com/Peston/status/1546934097603428352
2022: Oceans of Woke
"A newly-appointed minister has repeated claims made against Labour's Angela Rayner that she "opened her legs" to distract Boris Johnson in the Commons. A newspaper article in April quoted Tory MPs who said the deputy leader tried to put Mr Johnson off."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-62113335
And Lia Nici's and your point being exactly?
In all seriousness, sorry if I appear to be getting belligerent! Misplaced attempt at humour and certainly not aimed at you. If we can't disagree about sitcoms, what can we disagree about?
But I do think Mordaunt's run ends here.
Mogg might survive a little longer. But probably not.
Next PM
2.82 Penny Mordaunt 35%
3 Rishi Sunak 33%
5.4 Liz Truss 18%
15 Kemi Badenoch 6%
30 Tom Tugendhat
42 Jeremy Hunt
110 Nadhim Zahawi
110 Suella Braverman
270 Dominic Raab
Next leader of the Conservative Party
2.94 Rishi Sunak 34%
2.96 Penny Mordaunt 33%
5.1 Liz Truss 19%
15 Kemi Badenoch 6%
32 Tom Tugendhat
44 Jeremy Hunt
95 Suella Braverman
120 Nadhim Zahawi
https://mubi.com/lists/britain-s-best-sitcom-the-bbc-s-top-100
Only major omission I can see from that list is Chance in a Million.
Though I think it is considering 'The Likely Lads' and 'Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads' as one sitcom; it should really be two. WHTTLL is a classic and a fascinating glance of the social changes of 70s Britain.
I was very pleased to see I Didn't Know You Cared on there - also a fascinating glance at etc etc.
https://www.thenational.scot/news/20270406.jeremy-hunt-meet-moderate-wants-bring-back-fox-hunting/
I don’t think so. I also never thought Only Fools and Horses was as good as apparently we’re supposed to think.
@henrymance
One Tory MP’s view of the leadership contest: “A circular firing squad composed of people without any weapons training.”"
https://twitter.com/henrymance/status/1546770401451204608
I’m not sure she’s particularly great value at current odds.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUGaO9EPnZE
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/boris-johnson-has-not-ruled-out-making-comeback-vtrjqwczf
And why is the Vicar of Dibley so high up? That should be waaaaaaaaayyyy down the list.
Blackadder
Fawltey Towers
Father Ted
Dad's Army
Yes Minister
https://youtu.be/5-ManI1H9vA
I'd put a thoroughly working-class but hilarious one on the list: Two Pints of Lager. If only because a friend used to refer to Mrs J and myself as Gaz and Donna...
7 Upper and Middle Class:
Black Adder, Vicar of Dibley, Dad's Army, Fawlty Towers, Yes Minister, The Good Life and One Foot in the Grave
and
3 Working Class:
Only Fools and Horses, Porridge, Open All Hours
Although you could argue that Only Fools and Horses was about people wanting to be middle and upper class, that Porridge is the non working (what with them being incarcerated) class, and Open All Hours was about a shop owner - i.e. a member of the petty bourgeoisie.
Blackadder
Red Dwarf
Peep Show
The Conservative PartyThe Detectorists
That's a good article.
Like all social media it suffers from the narcissism of the "like" button - people count and compare total likes, and who liked it and didn't like it, and develop fandoms & grievances accordingly.
* Which, I would note, I was not allowed to watch as a child because my parents decided it had racist stereotypes. Watching it later, I discovered it was simply bleh: it's nowhere near as funny as Dad's Army or early seasons of Hi-de-Hi.
Keeping Up Appearances does it all - somebody basically working class who's married up and changed her accent and now puts on an OTT show.
https://twitter.com/StratcomCentre/status/1546894656306380806
Red Dwarf, The Office and Alan Partridge need to be in there, IMHO.
"Oh dear, how sad, never mind."
https://tenor.com/view/oh-dear-how-sad-never-mind-battery-sergeant-major-williams-gif-11845032
From memory, I found "It ain't half hot mum" to be rather unfunny as a child, although like many sitcoms it did have its memorable moments. But I think that was because I found it hard to relate to the situation in the sitcom, rather than any incipient wokeness in me.
Father Ted is maybe an exception. Blackadder (in part). Bits of Fawlty Towers
It was very laddish though, and of it's time. Wouldn't fly now.
https://twitter.com/chron/status/1546981730355142657
Within three minutes of Ramos' arrival, eight officers are seen in the halls outside the classroom where the attack is taking place.
'Spaced' and 'Two pints of Lager'.
Both genius pieces of work, although the latter declines after the fourth or fifth series. I'd also love to see the rumoured revisiting of it, with the characters older and not much wiser...
Just to clarify today's vote: everyone with fewer than 30 votes gets eliminated, and the person with fewest votes is out even if they have more than that threshold, right?
Perhaps the Ukrainians are right to be worried about Boris Johnson being forced out.
… The mayor of Uvalde says he can't comment on whether the police acted properly because "I haven't seen the video yet" and then proceeds to praise the courage of one of the officers based on ... what he saw in the video
https://twitter.com/Mike_Hixenbaugh/status/1547003518170677256
This isn’t going away as national news.
There is a slim chance it might shift the politics on guns, and policing.
He’s saying the Ukrainian war cannot be “won”. And let’s face it he’s right, if we define “winning” as pushing Russia back to the pre-war borders - let alone retaking Crimea
This does not mean we appease Putin tho. Is he saying that? If he is, he’s wrong. The only choice - and it’s a grim choice - is to do what we’re doing. Grind Russia down. Limit its ambitions. Cut it out of the system
And her book ends there. There's no nuance or caveats. David Croft and Jimmy Perry were comedy geniuses - not bigots who wanted us all to laugh at minorities.
I think the article's conclusion is right: it's common amongst trendy politicians desperate to "display their progressive credentials — making a confident pronouncement of hate or love about some cultural artefact in the mistaken belief it will make you look hip. David Cameron’s toe-curling profession of love of The Smiths, Gordon Brown’s for the Arctic Monkeys, or Jeremy Corbyn pretending to watch Eastenders."
To be, the most serious failing is it shows Mordaunt hasn't thought deeply about this- she just accepts the orthodox shibboleths.
But they would find The Good Life or Ever Decreasing Circles or From the Manor Born utterly tedious.
Assessments of it are probably held back by snobbery, to be fair.
https://twitter.com/RALee85/status/1546991699246858242
First time Ukraine has hit anything there, I think.
I bought her cheaply so I'm not going to kill my whole position for the sake of £30 quid extra, particularly since I don't know what will happen next.
Military adventures - like the Russians in Afghanistan - quite often lead to regime change.
Compare with many of the other shows mentioned, written by old hands in the industry. Croft and Perry, for instance.
It never challenged you or broke taboos. It was never unexpectedly clever or - heaven forbid - biting. It was the same characters doing the same thing again and again. That can be pleasing, certainly consoling. For half an hour it was basically unfunny but predictably, likeably whimsical, a harmless world to inhabit
For people with shit lives that’s no small thing. I wonder if many video games play the same role now
So Dad's Army is an early Seventies look at WW2 Britain, by people who largely remembered it, hence its gentle nostalgia and comedy focus on issues of social class. It just didn't mean much to a primary school age me. I preferred the silliness of the Goodies, which has aged even worse.
I expect Russia to squat on the eastern bits for a long time
Don't forget that Zelensky is a native Russian speaker.
It’s rare but it happens. Wodehouse is a prime example. He can make you laugh out loud with the written word - itself impressive - and he can do it with words written 90 years ago. Wow
And he’s writing about a world completely vanished, too
It’s something to do with supremely intelligent use of words, and verbal timing
The lack of pace is what strikes me about old TV comedy. In something like Not Going Out, you are never more than about four seconds from a laugh line. In The Good Life, there are acres of screentime where nothing funny happens. Or The Two Ronnies. Hilarious moments, but the bits between really drag.
(I've seen the suggestion that that's why Jeeves and Wooster still works. The voice of Bertie is amusing enough that even the dull routine business can be made funny.)
Back to It 'Aint Half Hot Mum, some of the gags aren't as funny now as they seemed at the time. And that is a bit of a negative mark. Compare the evolution of Klinger in M*A*S*H and the lack thereof of Gloria in IAHHM.
(1) The bottom candidate, no matter how many votes they got, is eliminated.
in addition
(2) Candidates who weren't bottom but who got fewer than 30 votes are eliminated.
And if Putin falls - unlikely at the moment - he will probably be replaced by another Russian nationalist. Not a westernised liberal happy to cede territory
Her interview with Pink News in which she says "Trans-women are women" is here. She is really just trying to find a way forward on some difficult issues. In particular to take the bureaucracy away from the GRC process.
https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2018/07/02/penny-mordaunt-interview-gender-recognition-act/comments/
https://twitter.com/fairplaywomen/status/1546975857453010945