On topic, Rishi is about to betray Boris Johnson, this will not go down well with the members.
Rishi Sunak will give Conservative MPs a free vote on Boris Johnson’s future if the privileges committee finds that he deliberately misled parliament about Downing Street pandemic parties.
Almost a year after the investigation began, Johnson faces a marathon televised hearing on Wednesday afternoon in which he must convince seven MPs that he was not in contempt of the Commons when he denied claims about lockdown rulebreaking.
If the committee finds against Johnson, he may be suspended from the Commons. A suspension of more than ten days would automatically trigger a recall petition, allowing Johnson’s constituents to force a by-election.
The privileges committee’s verdict would have to be approved by a vote of MPs, and Johnson’s allies are already preparing to use the moment to proclaim his innocence.
Sunak is understood to have decided that he will not whip MPs to protect his predecessor, allowing them instead to make their own decisions.
He is thought to be wary of repeating Johnson’s own approach in 2021, when he tried to overturn a 30-day suspension imposed on Owen Paterson, a former cabinet minister. “There is no way that we are going to get stuck in the hell that is Owen Paterson again,” a government source said.
A lot more are probably happy to vote to save Boris than Paterson but there's also still enough who would rebel if forced to do so that it puts Rishi in a bind. A free vote and even saying he personally won't vote against Boris wouldn't mollify the Boris supporters in or out of Parliament, so may as well do it if the Committee recommends it.
Sunak, if he can force Johnson to be suspended and recalled, should do it. It's very difficult to see how he could win a by-election, which would puncture his mystique and eliminate him as a threat. And if he doesn't contest the by-election, he's out of the Commons and much less important anyway.
I suppose there is a danger his support could then coalesce around another MP, but the truth is there isn't anyone of Johnson's stature to replace him. They would be Peelites without a Peel with a vengeance. At least the 'slice off the top' of 1922 could boast Balfour, Austen Chamberlain, Birkenhead and Horne.
If the Privileges Committee suspends Johnson for more than 10 days he would surely do best to resign immediately and seek nomination in an alternative safe Tory seat. He's not coming back as PM this parliament anyway; better to bid for LOTO when Sunak loses the election and hope to beat Labour in 2028/9.
He's surprised me before, but even though he's not really old I'd be surprised if he could be bothered to work that hard when he's already achieved it once already. Just count his millions and get a job on GreatBoris news.
Work? He wouldn't actually do anything as LOTO, just be the figurehead.
But if he wanted to be PM again he would have to still expend effort.
Thinking about it we really should all get jobs with the police. I mean, if you cannot get sacked for gross misconduct while you were already on probation, and one senior officer was complaining they cannot sack people prior to criminal conviction, it's clearly the place to be if you want to be abusive or incompetent (preferably just the latter) and face no consequences.
On topic, Rishi is about to betray Boris Johnson, this will not go down well with the members.
Rishi Sunak will give Conservative MPs a free vote on Boris Johnson’s future if the privileges committee finds that he deliberately misled parliament about Downing Street pandemic parties.
Almost a year after the investigation began, Johnson faces a marathon televised hearing on Wednesday afternoon in which he must convince seven MPs that he was not in contempt of the Commons when he denied claims about lockdown rulebreaking.
If the committee finds against Johnson, he may be suspended from the Commons. A suspension of more than ten days would automatically trigger a recall petition, allowing Johnson’s constituents to force a by-election.
The privileges committee’s verdict would have to be approved by a vote of MPs, and Johnson’s allies are already preparing to use the moment to proclaim his innocence.
Sunak is understood to have decided that he will not whip MPs to protect his predecessor, allowing them instead to make their own decisions.
He is thought to be wary of repeating Johnson’s own approach in 2021, when he tried to overturn a 30-day suspension imposed on Owen Paterson, a former cabinet minister. “There is no way that we are going to get stuck in the hell that is Owen Paterson again,” a government source said.
A lot more are probably happy to vote to save Boris than Paterson but there's also still enough who would rebel if forced to do so that it puts Rishi in a bind. A free vote and even saying he personally won't vote against Boris wouldn't mollify the Boris supporters in or out of Parliament, so may as well do it if the Committee recommends it.
Sunak, if he can force Johnson to be suspended and recalled, should do it. It's very difficult to see how he could win a by-election, which would puncture his mystique and eliminate him as a threat. And if he doesn't contest the by-election, he's out of the Commons and much less important anyway.
I suppose there is a danger his support could then coalesce around another MP, but the truth is there isn't anyone of Johnson's stature to replace him. They would be Peelites without a Peel with a vengeance. At least the 'slice off the top' of 1922 could boast Balfour, Austen Chamberlain, Birkenhead and Horne.
If the Privileges Committee suspends Johnson for more than 10 days he would surely do best to resign immediately and seek nomination in an alternative safe Tory seat. He's not coming back as PM this parliament anyway; better to bid for LOTO when Sunak loses the election and hope to beat Labour in 2028/9.
He's surprised me before, but even though he's not really old I'd be surprised if he could be bothered to work that hard when he's already achieved it once already. Just count his millions and get a job on GreatBoris news.
Work? He wouldn't actually do anything as LOTO, just be the figurehead.
That worked for Churchill from 1945 to 1951 but wouldn't work now.
Teenagers go in big numbers for something that is only slightly illegal, doesn't land you in prison, highly addictive, oils the wheels of social interaction, is disapproved of the the Guardian and parents, somewhat cool, and is designed to be the alternative to the one that kills you.
latest update from SNP insider who has been extremely accurate up to now!
Rather dramatic. Starting position is generally to be sceptical of exciting claims as by their nature they do not occur very often, but we shall see. It would all be a bit boring if Humza wins and it all just peters out now.
I'm always sceptical of these kind of things (sounds all a bit QAnon to me). If they have the juice they should just give us the juice rather than vague allusions to 'crimes'.
Wanting firm details rather than saucy allusions? For the internet I would call that an unpopular opinion.
On topic, Rishi is about to betray Boris Johnson, this will not go down well with the members.
Rishi Sunak will give Conservative MPs a free vote on Boris Johnson’s future if the privileges committee finds that he deliberately misled parliament about Downing Street pandemic parties.
Almost a year after the investigation began, Johnson faces a marathon televised hearing on Wednesday afternoon in which he must convince seven MPs that he was not in contempt of the Commons when he denied claims about lockdown rulebreaking.
If the committee finds against Johnson, he may be suspended from the Commons. A suspension of more than ten days would automatically trigger a recall petition, allowing Johnson’s constituents to force a by-election.
The privileges committee’s verdict would have to be approved by a vote of MPs, and Johnson’s allies are already preparing to use the moment to proclaim his innocence.
Sunak is understood to have decided that he will not whip MPs to protect his predecessor, allowing them instead to make their own decisions.
He is thought to be wary of repeating Johnson’s own approach in 2021, when he tried to overturn a 30-day suspension imposed on Owen Paterson, a former cabinet minister. “There is no way that we are going to get stuck in the hell that is Owen Paterson again,” a government source said.
A lot more are probably happy to vote to save Boris than Paterson but there's also still enough who would rebel if forced to do so that it puts Rishi in a bind. A free vote and even saying he personally won't vote against Boris wouldn't mollify the Boris supporters in or out of Parliament, so may as well do it if the Committee recommends it.
Sunak, if he can force Johnson to be suspended and recalled, should do it. It's very difficult to see how he could win a by-election, which would puncture his mystique and eliminate him as a threat. And if he doesn't contest the by-election, he's out of the Commons and much less important anyway.
I suppose there is a danger his support could then coalesce around another MP, but the truth is there isn't anyone of Johnson's stature to replace him. They would be Peelites without a Peel with a vengeance. At least the 'slice off the top' of 1922 could boast Balfour, Austen Chamberlain, Birkenhead and Horne.
If the Privileges Committee suspends Johnson for more than 10 days he would surely do best to resign immediately and seek nomination in an alternative safe Tory seat. He's not coming back as PM this parliament anyway; better to bid for LOTO when Sunak loses the election and hope to beat Labour in 2028/9.
He's surprised me before, but even though he's not really old I'd be surprised if he could be bothered to work that hard when he's already achieved it once already. Just count his millions and get a job on GreatBoris news.
Work? He wouldn't actually do anything as LOTO, just be the figurehead.
This is an underrated prospect imo. Johnson back as LOTO. I'm happy to lay him coming back as Con leader before the GE but not after. It's unlikely but I can see it.
Teenagers go in big numbers for something that is only slightly illegal, doesn't land you in prison, highly addictive, oils the wheels of social interaction, is disapproved of the the Guardian and parents, somewhat cool, and is designed to be the alternative to the one that kills you.
Thinking about it we really should all get jobs with the police. I mean, if you cannot get sacked for gross misconduct while you were already on probation, and one senior officer was complaining they cannot sack people prior to criminal conviction, it's clearly the place to be if you want to be abusive or incompetent (preferably just the latter) and face no consequences.
OTOH the Chief Constable of Essex has been complaining that pay for his rank and file is now so rubbish that they've been quitting to sell double glazing or work on building sites. Though I suppose most people's wages are inadequate nowadays.
Teenagers go in big numbers for something that is only slightly illegal, doesn't land you in prison, highly addictive, oils the wheels of social interaction, is disapproved of the the Guardian and parents, somewhat cool, and is designed to be the alternative to the one that kills you.
Teenagers go in big numbers for something that is only slightly illegal, doesn't land you in prison, highly addictive, oils the wheels of social interaction, is disapproved of the the Guardian and parents, somewhat cool, and is designed to be the alternative to the one that kills you.
Teenagers go in big numbers for something that is only slightly illegal, doesn't land you in prison, highly addictive, oils the wheels of social interaction, is disapproved of the the Guardian and parents, somewhat cool, and is designed to be the alternative to the one that kills you.
Can you talk me through how vaping is somewhat cool?
I feel a right dick doing it.
That's because you are (IIRC) in your 60s. The same would be true of mamy things that can feel cool if you are a teenager. I expect you would also feel a right dick skateboarding.
latest update from SNP insider who has been extremely accurate up to now!
I am wondering if "Smitty" has ever had anything to do with Scotland's finest. Any investigation by them of anything sensitive is guaranteed to take years. Just look how long they have been "investigating" the "missing" £600k where all the relevant facts have been known for a very long time and the only issue is whether a crime has actually occurred.
It all seems a little overdramatic to me but we shall see. What is surely clear is that Murrell's days as head of the SNP are over. The question is whether his involvement has so tainted this election that the new leadership will have to start again.
Teenagers go in big numbers for something that is only slightly illegal, doesn't land you in prison, highly addictive, oils the wheels of social interaction, is disapproved of the the Guardian and parents, somewhat cool, and is designed to be the alternative to the one that kills you.
Can you talk me through how vaping is somewhat cool?
I think it feels vaguely naughty without being obviously very harmful to health, and there is a HUGE variety of tastes to try and to share with friends. I don't smoke or vape, but even I feel mildly interested in the range.
Thinking about it we really should all get jobs with the police. I mean, if you cannot get sacked for gross misconduct while you were already on probation, and one senior officer was complaining they cannot sack people prior to criminal conviction, it's clearly the place to be if you want to be abusive or incompetent (preferably just the latter) and face no consequences.
I've had a rather dim view of the police ever since they tried to frame me for stealing a car and crashing in to a wall, allegedly conspiring with the ambulance service to do so. This was despite the fact that the only reason I had come to their attention was by virtue of the fact that I was a witness to the accident and called 999 to report it. After they realised their mistake, there was no apology, they just mocked me as I told them that the whole experience had made me lose faith in civilised society.
However, rather than dwelling in the trauma I have used it as a 'learning experience', you can't ultimately trust the police, all your dealings with them should be transactional and based on deep suspicion of their motivations. Your line of defence is the justice system and not any assumed trust in the police. That all said, it is better that they exist than they don't exist at all, they do quite well at sorting out big problems.
What is surely clear is that Murrell's days as head of the SNP are over. The question is whether his involvement has so tainted this election that the new leadership will have to start again.
And whether Yousless would stand in a rerun contest...
Teenagers go in big numbers for something that is only slightly illegal, doesn't land you in prison, highly addictive, oils the wheels of social interaction, is disapproved of the the Guardian and parents, somewhat cool, and is designed to be the alternative to the one that kills you.
I cannot read the whole piece, but first time I've stumbled across a piece sayint that the Ukrainian army - why by most accounts has performed pretty darn well in the last year- is still being held back by Soviet style thinking.
Teenagers go in big numbers for something that is only slightly illegal, doesn't land you in prison, highly addictive, oils the wheels of social interaction, is disapproved of the the Guardian and parents, somewhat cool, and is designed to be the alternative to the one that kills you.
Can you talk me through how vaping is somewhat cool?
I feel a right dick doing it.
That's because you are (IIRC) in your 60s. The same would be true of mamy things that can feel cool if you are a teenager. I expect you would also feel a right dick skateboarding.
I am 55 and can (just) still ollie... I can also still manual a BMX for the regulation distance (in order not to be a 'wuss') of 2 lamposts.
What is surely clear is that Murrell's days as head of the SNP are over. The question is whether his involvement has so tainted this election that the new leadership will have to start again.
And whether Yousless would stand in a rerun contest...
In fairness to Useless, he is so thick that virtually anything could have been going on around him and he would be genuinely oblivious. But without the Sturgeon divisions his campaign would make Russia's campaign in Ukraine look good.
Teenagers go in big numbers for something that is only slightly illegal, doesn't land you in prison, highly addictive, oils the wheels of social interaction, is disapproved of the the Guardian and parents, somewhat cool, and is designed to be the alternative to the one that kills you.
Teenagers go in big numbers for something that is only slightly illegal, doesn't land you in prison, highly addictive, oils the wheels of social interaction, is disapproved of the the Guardian and parents, somewhat cool, and is designed to be the alternative to the one that kills you.
Can you talk me through how vaping is somewhat cool?
Step 1. Teenagers think a lot of stupid things are cool Step 2. See above
People thought even smoking was cool for crying out loud, well beyond teenage years.
I was more interested in why Algakirk thought it was cool, since I sense like myself he is at some distance from teenagedom. I somewhat atavistically still think smoking is cool, love old photos of people dexterously juggling the slim white cylinders of death. Otoh a gaggle of folk outside pubs or workplaces in a cloud of confectionary scented steam doesn’t do it for me, I find those metal steampunk vaping devices particularly dorky (I’ve used up my annual use of the word dork quota in one hour).
Teenagers go in big numbers for something that is only slightly illegal, doesn't land you in prison, highly addictive, oils the wheels of social interaction, is disapproved of the the Guardian and parents, somewhat cool, and is designed to be the alternative to the one that kills you.
Can you talk me through how vaping is somewhat cool?
I think it feels vaguely naughty without being obviously very harmful to health, and there is a HUGE variety of tastes to try and to share with friends. I don't smoke or vape, but even I feel mildly interested in the range.
Nicotine is addictive and harmful. It is just not as harmful as the tars you get from cigarettes.
latest update from SNP insider who has been extremely accurate up to now!
It all seems a little overdramatic to me but we shall see. What is surely clear is that Murrell's days as head of the SNP are over. The question is whether his involvement has so tainted this election that the new leadership will have to start again.
It has long been noted it is a bit odd for someone to be party leader and their spouse the chief executive of that party. The appearance of or potential for conflicts there is just rather high, even if they work hard to avoid any actual conflicts. It'd be different if senior positions were held by spouses who were elected, there's some control by virtue of needing to win election.
But even though some rumblings have been found in the darker recesses of the internet it is a bit suspicious to me that so many 'mainstream' SNP people are only now suddenly finding they have a problem with Murrell.
Teenagers go in big numbers for something that is only slightly illegal, doesn't land you in prison, highly addictive, oils the wheels of social interaction, is disapproved of the the Guardian and parents, somewhat cool, and is designed to be the alternative to the one that kills you.
Can you talk me through how vaping is somewhat cool?
Step 1. Teenagers think a lot of stupid things are cool Step 2. See above
People thought even smoking was cool for crying out loud, well beyond teenage years.
I was more interested in why Algakirk thought it was cool, since I sense like myself he is at some distance from teenagedom. I somewhat atavistically still think smoking is cool, love old photos of people dexterously juggling the slim white cylinders of death. Otoh a gaggle of folk outside pubs or workplaces in a cloud of confectionary scented steam doesn’t do it for me, I find those metal steampunk vaping devices particularly dorky (I’ve used up my annual use of the word dork quota in one hour).
I find the varying stench from vaping cloying in a different way to regular smoke irritation, in some ways worse. I only give it a slight pass as several people I know stopped smoking and took up vaping, which is slightly better, and then several of those quit vaping due to cost, so it all worked out.
Teenagers go in big numbers for something that is only slightly illegal, doesn't land you in prison, highly addictive, oils the wheels of social interaction, is disapproved of the the Guardian and parents, somewhat cool, and is designed to be the alternative to the one that kills you.
Thinking about it we really should all get jobs with the police. I mean, if you cannot get sacked for gross misconduct while you were already on probation, and one senior officer was complaining they cannot sack people prior to criminal conviction, it's clearly the place to be if you want to be abusive or incompetent (preferably just the latter) and face no consequences.
OTOH the Chief Constable of Essex has been complaining that pay for his rank and file is now so rubbish that they've been quitting to sell double glazing or work on building sites. Though I suppose most people's wages are inadequate nowadays.
Or....there are now some right dodgy double glazing sellers, who bailed out of the police before their past caught up with them....
latest update from SNP insider who has been extremely accurate up to now!
It all seems a little overdramatic to me but we shall see. What is surely clear is that Murrell's days as head of the SNP are over. The question is whether his involvement has so tainted this election that the new leadership will have to start again.
It has long been noted it is a bit odd for someone to be party leader and their spouse the chief executive of that party. The appearance of or potential for conflicts there is just rather high, even if they work hard to avoid any actual conflicts. It'd be different if senior positions were held by spouses who were elected, there's some control by virtue of needing to win election.
But even though some rumblings have been found in the darker recesses of the internet it is a bit suspicious to me that so many 'mainstream' SNP people are only now suddenly finding they have a problem with Murrell.
It is not new people knowing there is a problem. It is just that the fear of retribution is now fading. With hindsight the fat crofter losing his position as head of the SNP group in Westminster was a lot more significant step towards Nicola's resignation than was appreciated at the time. It was the first concrete evidence that their control was slipping.
“I would definitely agree with that. I haven’t, I’m afraid, given any thought about how it would be done. But I am definitely on board with the idea of looking into doing it.”
Ash Regan sums up her campaign, and inadvertently describes the SNP’s approach to independence.
Teenagers go in big numbers for something that is only slightly illegal, doesn't land you in prison, highly addictive, oils the wheels of social interaction, is disapproved of the the Guardian and parents, somewhat cool, and is designed to be the alternative to the one that kills you.
Can you talk me through how vaping is somewhat cool?
I feel a right dick doing it.
That's because you are (IIRC) in your 60s. The same would be true of mamy things that can feel cool if you are a teenager. I expect you would also feel a right dick skateboarding.
I would, yes. Any activity that's unusual for a man of 62, I feel a bit silly if I do it. It covers quite a lot.
On topic, Rishi is about to betray Boris Johnson, this will not go down well with the members.
Rishi Sunak will give Conservative MPs a free vote on Boris Johnson’s future if the privileges committee finds that he deliberately misled parliament about Downing Street pandemic parties.
Almost a year after the investigation began, Johnson faces a marathon televised hearing on Wednesday afternoon in which he must convince seven MPs that he was not in contempt of the Commons when he denied claims about lockdown rulebreaking.
If the committee finds against Johnson, he may be suspended from the Commons. A suspension of more than ten days would automatically trigger a recall petition, allowing Johnson’s constituents to force a by-election.
The privileges committee’s verdict would have to be approved by a vote of MPs, and Johnson’s allies are already preparing to use the moment to proclaim his innocence.
Sunak is understood to have decided that he will not whip MPs to protect his predecessor, allowing them instead to make their own decisions.
He is thought to be wary of repeating Johnson’s own approach in 2021, when he tried to overturn a 30-day suspension imposed on Owen Paterson, a former cabinet minister. “There is no way that we are going to get stuck in the hell that is Owen Paterson again,” a government source said.
A lot more are probably happy to vote to save Boris than Paterson but there's also still enough who would rebel if forced to do so that it puts Rishi in a bind. A free vote and even saying he personally won't vote against Boris wouldn't mollify the Boris supporters in or out of Parliament, so may as well do it if the Committee recommends it.
Sunak, if he can force Johnson to be suspended and recalled, should do it. It's very difficult to see how he could win a by-election, which would puncture his mystique and eliminate him as a threat. And if he doesn't contest the by-election, he's out of the Commons and much less important anyway.
I suppose there is a danger his support could then coalesce around another MP, but the truth is there isn't anyone of Johnson's stature to replace him. They would be Peelites without a Peel with a vengeance. At least the 'slice off the top' of 1922 could boast Balfour, Austen Chamberlain, Birkenhead and Horne.
If the Privileges Committee suspends Johnson for more than 10 days he would surely do best to resign immediately and seek nomination in an alternative safe Tory seat. He's not coming back as PM this parliament anyway; better to bid for LOTO when Sunak loses the election and hope to beat Labour in 2028/9.
He's surprised me before, but even though he's not really old I'd be surprised if he could be bothered to work that hard when he's already achieved it once already. Just count his millions and get a job on GreatBoris news.
Work? He wouldn't actually do anything as LOTO, just be the figurehead.
This is an underrated prospect imo. Johnson back as LOTO. I'm happy to lay him coming back as Con leader before the GE but not after. It's unlikely but I can see it.
We really need PR to get rid of the 2 party system.
Teenagers go in big numbers for something that is only slightly illegal, doesn't land you in prison, highly addictive, oils the wheels of social interaction, is disapproved of the the Guardian and parents, somewhat cool, and is designed to be the alternative to the one that kills you.
Can you talk me through how vaping is somewhat cool?
Step 1. Teenagers think a lot of stupid things are cool Step 2. See above
People thought even smoking was cool for crying out loud, well beyond teenage years.
I was more interested in why Algakirk thought it was cool, since I sense like myself he is at some distance from teenagedom. I somewhat atavistically still think smoking is cool, love old photos of people dexterously juggling the slim white cylinders of death. Otoh a gaggle of folk outside pubs or workplaces in a cloud of confectionary scented steam doesn’t do it for me, I find those metal steampunk vaping devices particularly dorky (I’ve used up my annual use of the word dork quota in one hour).
I find the varying stench from vaping cloying in a different way to regular smoke irritation, in some ways worse. I only give it a slight pass as several people I know stopped smoking and took up vaping, which is slightly better, and then several of those quit vaping due to cost, so it all worked out.
Vaping is definitely ok in a lesser of two evils, uncool, utilitarian way. I’m currently trying to persuade my brother who looks likely to follow my dad in killing himself with fags to take it up, with not much success. I did point out to him that vaping while still having a pack of Embies on the go and wearing a nicotine patch wasn’t really the plan, plus probably not good for him.
Teenagers go in big numbers for something that is only slightly illegal, doesn't land you in prison, highly addictive, oils the wheels of social interaction, is disapproved of the the Guardian and parents, somewhat cool, and is designed to be the alternative to the one that kills you.
Can you talk me through how vaping is somewhat cool?
Step 1. Teenagers think a lot of stupid things are cool Step 2. See above
People thought even smoking was cool for crying out loud, well beyond teenage years.
I was more interested in why Algakirk thought it was cool, since I sense like myself he is at some distance from teenagedom. I somewhat atavistically still think smoking is cool, love old photos of people dexterously juggling the slim white cylinders of death. Otoh a gaggle of folk outside pubs or workplaces in a cloud of confectionary scented steam doesn’t do it for me, I find those metal steampunk vaping devices particularly dorky (I’ve used up my annual use of the word dork quota in one hour).
Yes. It brings particular memories. I gave up smoking at age 21. But the 60s and 70s have special smoking memories, and under age drinking. Remember how in cinemas you could see the light from the projector all the way through the air because it was full of smoke.
Tube trains full of smoke. Coffee bars, cafes, on top in buses.
On topic, Rishi is about to betray Boris Johnson, this will not go down well with the members.
Rishi Sunak will give Conservative MPs a free vote on Boris Johnson’s future if the privileges committee finds that he deliberately misled parliament about Downing Street pandemic parties.
Almost a year after the investigation began, Johnson faces a marathon televised hearing on Wednesday afternoon in which he must convince seven MPs that he was not in contempt of the Commons when he denied claims about lockdown rulebreaking.
If the committee finds against Johnson, he may be suspended from the Commons. A suspension of more than ten days would automatically trigger a recall petition, allowing Johnson’s constituents to force a by-election.
The privileges committee’s verdict would have to be approved by a vote of MPs, and Johnson’s allies are already preparing to use the moment to proclaim his innocence.
Sunak is understood to have decided that he will not whip MPs to protect his predecessor, allowing them instead to make their own decisions.
He is thought to be wary of repeating Johnson’s own approach in 2021, when he tried to overturn a 30-day suspension imposed on Owen Paterson, a former cabinet minister. “There is no way that we are going to get stuck in the hell that is Owen Paterson again,” a government source said.
A lot more are probably happy to vote to save Boris than Paterson but there's also still enough who would rebel if forced to do so that it puts Rishi in a bind. A free vote and even saying he personally won't vote against Boris wouldn't mollify the Boris supporters in or out of Parliament, so may as well do it if the Committee recommends it.
Sunak, if he can force Johnson to be suspended and recalled, should do it. It's very difficult to see how he could win a by-election, which would puncture his mystique and eliminate him as a threat. And if he doesn't contest the by-election, he's out of the Commons and much less important anyway.
I suppose there is a danger his support could then coalesce around another MP, but the truth is there isn't anyone of Johnson's stature to replace him. They would be Peelites without a Peel with a vengeance. At least the 'slice off the top' of 1922 could boast Balfour, Austen Chamberlain, Birkenhead and Horne.
If the Privileges Committee suspends Johnson for more than 10 days he would surely do best to resign immediately and seek nomination in an alternative safe Tory seat. He's not coming back as PM this parliament anyway; better to bid for LOTO when Sunak loses the election and hope to beat Labour in 2028/9.
He's surprised me before, but even though he's not really old I'd be surprised if he could be bothered to work that hard when he's already achieved it once already. Just count his millions and get a job on GreatBoris news.
Work? He wouldn't actually do anything as LOTO, just be the figurehead.
This is an underrated prospect imo. Johnson back as LOTO. I'm happy to lay him coming back as Con leader before the GE but not after. It's unlikely but I can see it.
We really need PR to get rid of the 2 party system.
Yep. However I'm being told you're a troll in a factory somewhere so we'd best not be chatting about it.
Our news folks almost never mention, during the US celebration of St. Patrick's Day, that St. Patrick was English, and that his first visit to Ireland was not entirely voluntary.
Which is too bad, because it's an interesting story.
St. Patrick was from what we today call "England" but he was NOT English, rather he was British Celt.
He wasn't regaling his Irish "hosts" with "Knees Up Mother" or even "Beowulf".
St Patrick was not English - or from what we today call England. He was from Wales. Born in Banwen near Neath. Arguably the most famous Welshman of all time.
He's no Ryan Giggs or Mark Drakeford.
The only Welshman who could challenge him today would be Gareth Bale. But Padrig has been around for longer ..,and will continue to be famous for as long as there is a United States of America.
My understanding is that our best guess is that St. Patrick was born somewhere in modern day Cumbria.
That *was* Welsh at the time - hence the Cymru- name.
Well, sort of. Clearly it wasn't English. I was merely raising a polite eyebrow at the South Wales syggestion (I've since checked Wikipedia, which suggests several locations in Cumbria, as I understood, though also notes the modern South Wales theory - today is the first time I'd heard of that.) But calling fourth-century Cumbria Wales is stretching it almost as much as calling it England. Wales certainly wasn't a thing back then either. (Though yes, Cumbria and Cymru come from the same root.) I think it is probably most correct to say he was 'British'.
Not stretching it, surely. 4th c Cumberland was Welsh in the same sense that modern boundary Wales was then - though we have to use the English adjective for want of anything clearer in common speech in English (Brythonic is too specialised, 'British' is dangerously ambiguous). Actually, I find it a useful reminder that Cornwall, Cymru (modern borders) and Cumberland are all 'Welsh" in that sense - or Cymraeg.
On topic, Rishi is about to betray Boris Johnson, this will not go down well with the members.
Rishi Sunak will give Conservative MPs a free vote on Boris Johnson’s future if the privileges committee finds that he deliberately misled parliament about Downing Street pandemic parties.
Almost a year after the investigation began, Johnson faces a marathon televised hearing on Wednesday afternoon in which he must convince seven MPs that he was not in contempt of the Commons when he denied claims about lockdown rulebreaking.
If the committee finds against Johnson, he may be suspended from the Commons. A suspension of more than ten days would automatically trigger a recall petition, allowing Johnson’s constituents to force a by-election.
The privileges committee’s verdict would have to be approved by a vote of MPs, and Johnson’s allies are already preparing to use the moment to proclaim his innocence.
Sunak is understood to have decided that he will not whip MPs to protect his predecessor, allowing them instead to make their own decisions.
He is thought to be wary of repeating Johnson’s own approach in 2021, when he tried to overturn a 30-day suspension imposed on Owen Paterson, a former cabinet minister. “There is no way that we are going to get stuck in the hell that is Owen Paterson again,” a government source said.
A lot more are probably happy to vote to save Boris than Paterson but there's also still enough who would rebel if forced to do so that it puts Rishi in a bind. A free vote and even saying he personally won't vote against Boris wouldn't mollify the Boris supporters in or out of Parliament, so may as well do it if the Committee recommends it.
Sunak, if he can force Johnson to be suspended and recalled, should do it. It's very difficult to see how he could win a by-election, which would puncture his mystique and eliminate him as a threat. And if he doesn't contest the by-election, he's out of the Commons and much less important anyway.
I suppose there is a danger his support could then coalesce around another MP, but the truth is there isn't anyone of Johnson's stature to replace him. They would be Peelites without a Peel with a vengeance. At least the 'slice off the top' of 1922 could boast Balfour, Austen Chamberlain, Birkenhead and Horne.
If the Privileges Committee suspends Johnson for more than 10 days he would surely do best to resign immediately and seek nomination in an alternative safe Tory seat. He's not coming back as PM this parliament anyway; better to bid for LOTO when Sunak loses the election and hope to beat Labour in 2028/9.
He's surprised me before, but even though he's not really old I'd be surprised if he could be bothered to work that hard when he's already achieved it once already. Just count his millions and get a job on GreatBoris news.
Work? He wouldn't actually do anything as LOTO, just be the figurehead.
This is an underrated prospect imo. Johnson back as LOTO. I'm happy to lay him coming back as Con leader before the GE but not after. It's unlikely but I can see it.
We really need PR to get rid of the 2 party system.
Yep. However I'm being told you're a troll in a factory somewhere so we'd best not be chatting about it.
I wouldnt listen to every silly rumour you hear on here.
Teenagers go in big numbers for something that is only slightly illegal, doesn't land you in prison, highly addictive, oils the wheels of social interaction, is disapproved of the the Guardian and parents, somewhat cool, and is designed to be the alternative to the one that kills you.
Can you talk me through how vaping is somewhat cool?
Step 1. Teenagers think a lot of stupid things are cool Step 2. See above
People thought even smoking was cool for crying out loud, well beyond teenage years.
I was more interested in why Algakirk thought it was cool, since I sense like myself he is at some distance from teenagedom. I somewhat atavistically still think smoking is cool, love old photos of people dexterously juggling the slim white cylinders of death. Otoh a gaggle of folk outside pubs or workplaces in a cloud of confectionary scented steam doesn’t do it for me, I find those metal steampunk vaping devices particularly dorky (I’ve used up my annual use of the word dork quota in one hour).
Yes. It brings particular memories. I gave up smoking at age 21. But the 60s and 70s have special smoking memories, and under age drinking. Remember how in cinemas you could see the light from the projector all the way through the air because it was full of smoke.
Tube trains full of smoke. Coffee bars, cafes, on top in buses.
Your clothes always smelling of smoke after you had been to the pub.
"It also shows that China is sitting on more data than it has previously released or shared globally."
File under "NS,S...."
Or they’ve had the time to fabricate it
I think unlikely Chinese authorities are fabricating evidence of reckless, and as it turned out catastrophic, disregard of food safety. Particularly when they have strenuously denied any such thing, despite the panicky closure of those markets following the outbreak.
It does seem to be a reanalysis in the West of data released by China some time back that the Chinese had said didn't show infected animals. On the face of it, it doesn't appear to be the Chinese pushing the story.
Very difficult to find out the truth though when both China and various conspiracy theorists are pushing their own agendas. I think we will never know, short of regime change in China to a much more open regime.
Golly, that means it’ll move to a SLab-Scon stitch up from..er..a Slab-SCon stitch up. Seismic.
SNP loss.
Seismic.
Party fighting among themselves like rats in a sack is unpopular with the public, as pretty much every political party has demonstrated at some point in the past few years.
Ha, saw that and thought exactly the same! A bunch of dorks, but I guess dangerous dorks.
Billy Bragg seems to have pinned his rainbow colours to the mast, to the point that Bindel is now demanding public apologies and threatening him with legal action if it’s not forthcoming.. These free speech folk can be awfully touchy.
Not so much rainbow as baby pink and baby blue….be he’s doing a sterling job telling women what’s what…..
I have a lot of sympathy for Billy Bragg. There he is, playing to rapt audiences in Australia and yet he has a lot on his mind. Somewhere on the other side of the world, some bloody-minded bints have decided to organise themselves without his say so. What were they thinking?
Bragg is deeply disturbed by The Lesbian Project, set up by Julie Bindel and Kathleen Stock with the great Martina Navratilova as a patron . This new organisation wants to advocate for the well-being of lesbians in the UK.
latest update from SNP insider who has been extremely accurate up to now!
I was accused of hyperbole by everyone's favourite Sweden based xenophobe for quoting Frazer's 'this is like watching men committing suicide.'
Regardless of whether these rather vague allegations you keep posting are true or not (we'll see) I'm thinking I actually missed on the side of downplaying it.
Yes for sure and it still looks like at 72K members they are over counting by 20K ( members left but kept on books) and yet they issued 78K votes and expect people to just believe it when Murrell says Humza won. Unfortunately some people who received stray voting papers were not the tame sheeple. Betting now is Murrell to be gone by Monday and likely he is already hunkered down in one of their foreign houses.
Watching from afar, it does appear that not even making a public announcement as to the number of party members entitled to vote, makes it easy for people to suggest something going on behind the scenes.
Labour and the Tories both use ERS to conduct their internal elections, which looks more impartial.
Using the ERS is basic sanity, given the personality types involved in political parties.
Just the ability to say - “Shut up and go complain to the experts over there” would be worth it
Some musings of Andrew Tate from jail in Romania if you fancy a good laugh.
Enemies of truth lied about me in an attempt to destroy my good name But look, I am more famous than ever before and absolutely nobody believes them I have a greater influence that will allow me to lead men to power and faith I suffer in jail But I also prepare God is Great
To quote the commentator on the video “look at what you’re protecting. Actual f*****g Nazis”
The nature of free speech is that the government doesn’t get to choose who exercises it. If the ‘Nazis’ aren’t breaking the law they get to march up and down and make their silly salutes
Golly, that means it’ll move to a SLab-Scon stitch up from..er..a Slab-SCon stitch up. Seismic.
SNP loss.
Seismic.
Party fighting among themselves like rats in a sack is unpopular with the public, as pretty much every political party has demonstrated at some point in the past few years.
Fighting? You ain't seen nothing yet....whoever wins the leadership vote.
Assuming always the contest doesn't get injuncted. Which will break out MAD.
Teenagers go in big numbers for something that is only slightly illegal, doesn't land you in prison, highly addictive, oils the wheels of social interaction, is disapproved of the the Guardian and parents, somewhat cool, and is designed to be the alternative to the one that kills you.
Can you talk me through how vaping is somewhat cool?
Step 1. Teenagers think a lot of stupid things are cool Step 2. See above
People thought even smoking was cool for crying out loud, well beyond teenage years.
I was more interested in why Algakirk thought it was cool, since I sense like myself he is at some distance from teenagedom. I somewhat atavistically still think smoking is cool, love old photos of people dexterously juggling the slim white cylinders of death. Otoh a gaggle of folk outside pubs or workplaces in a cloud of confectionary scented steam doesn’t do it for me, I find those metal steampunk vaping devices particularly dorky (I’ve used up my annual use of the word dork quota in one hour).
I find the varying stench from vaping cloying in a different way to regular smoke irritation, in some ways worse. I only give it a slight pass as several people I know stopped smoking and took up vaping, which is slightly better, and then several of those quit vaping due to cost, so it all worked out.
Vaping is definitely ok in a lesser of two evils, uncool, utilitarian way. I’m currently trying to persuade my brother who looks likely to follow my dad in killing himself with fags to take it up, with not much success. I did point out to him that vaping while still having a pack of Embies on the go and wearing a nicotine patch wasn’t really the plan, plus probably not good for him.
It's so hard if you're a 'lifer' and 'cutting down' is a recipe for always thinking about it. Kind of the worst of both worlds. No advice, since I haven't managed to quit, but I hope your brother finds the key.
What is surely clear is that Murrell's days as head of the SNP are over. The question is whether his involvement has so tainted this election that the new leadership will have to start again.
And whether Yousless would stand in a rerun contest...
Indeed, is it all 5d chess by the SNP to void the contest, and get some other candidate to stand?
Some musings of Andrew Tate from jail in Romania if you fancy a good laugh.
Enemies of truth lied about me in an attempt to destroy my good name But look, I am more famous than ever before and absolutely nobody believes them I have a greater influence that will allow me to lead men to power and faith I suffer in jail But I also prepare God is Great
Golly, that means it’ll move to a SLab-Scon stitch up from..er..a Slab-SCon stitch up. Seismic.
SNP loss.
Seismic.
Comparing second seat on the slate in a normal election with a first and only seat in a by electiopn with a differentd and smaller turnout that favours the Tories' postal voting ...
Teenagers go in big numbers for something that is only slightly illegal, doesn't land you in prison, highly addictive, oils the wheels of social interaction, is disapproved of the the Guardian and parents, somewhat cool, and is designed to be the alternative to the one that kills you.
Can you talk me through how vaping is somewhat cool?
Step 1. Teenagers think a lot of stupid things are cool Step 2. See above
People thought even smoking was cool for crying out loud, well beyond teenage years.
I was more interested in why Algakirk thought it was cool, since I sense like myself he is at some distance from teenagedom. I somewhat atavistically still think smoking is cool, love old photos of people dexterously juggling the slim white cylinders of death. Otoh a gaggle of folk outside pubs or workplaces in a cloud of confectionary scented steam doesn’t do it for me, I find those metal steampunk vaping devices particularly dorky (I’ve used up my annual use of the word dork quota in one hour).
Yes. It brings particular memories. I gave up smoking at age 21. But the 60s and 70s have special smoking memories, and under age drinking. Remember how in cinemas you could see the light from the projector all the way through the air because it was full of smoke.
Tube trains full of smoke. Coffee bars, cafes, on top in buses.
Your clothes always smelling of smoke after you had been to the pub.
Russia could do with tighter rules on smoking, what with all their accidental fires at munitions dumps, military bases etc.
Teenagers go in big numbers for something that is only slightly illegal, doesn't land you in prison, highly addictive, oils the wheels of social interaction, is disapproved of the the Guardian and parents, somewhat cool, and is designed to be the alternative to the one that kills you.
Thinking about it we really should all get jobs with the police. I mean, if you cannot get sacked for gross misconduct while you were already on probation, and one senior officer was complaining they cannot sack people prior to criminal conviction, it's clearly the place to be if you want to be abusive or incompetent (preferably just the latter) and face no consequences.
If you have keep face eating leopards, publicly announce that face eating doesn’t get punished…..
There was a scheme for graduate direct entry at a moderately senior rank a while back.
The ranks and file police complained that the people recruited didn’t understand police culture.
Some musings of Andrew Tate from jail in Romania if you fancy a good laugh.
Enemies of truth lied about me in an attempt to destroy my good name But look, I am more famous than ever before and absolutely nobody believes them I have a greater influence that will allow me to lead men to power and faith I suffer in jail But I also prepare God is Great
Golly, that means it’ll move to a SLab-Scon stitch up from..er..a Slab-SCon stitch up. Seismic.
SNP loss.
Seismic.
Party fighting among themselves like rats in a sack is unpopular with the public, as pretty much every political party has demonstrated at some point in the past few years.
Fighting? You ain't seen nothing yet....whoever wins the leadership vote.
Assuming always the contest doesn't get injuncted. Which will break out MAD.
One does get the impression, watching from afar, that it could all get much worse in the next few weeks.
Ha, saw that and thought exactly the same! A bunch of dorks, but I guess dangerous dorks.
Billy Bragg seems to have pinned his rainbow colours to the mast, to the point that Bindel is now demanding public apologies and threatening him with legal action if it’s not forthcoming.. These free speech folk can be awfully touchy.
Not so much rainbow as baby pink and baby blue….be he’s doing a sterling job telling women what’s what…..
I have a lot of sympathy for Billy Bragg. There he is, playing to rapt audiences in Australia and yet he has a lot on his mind. Somewhere on the other side of the world, some bloody-minded bints have decided to organise themselves without his say so. What were they thinking?
Bragg is deeply disturbed by The Lesbian Project, set up by Julie Bindel and Kathleen Stock with the great Martina Navratilova as a patron . This new organisation wants to advocate for the well-being of lesbians in the UK.
You’d think the ‘decent’ GCs might be more concerned about the Nazi blokes with the ‘Kill Paedo Freaks’ banner. Have any of them made outright condemnations of these types who seem to follow them around like a bad smell rather than bleating nothing to do with us, guv?
Teenagers go in big numbers for something that is only slightly illegal, doesn't land you in prison, highly addictive, oils the wheels of social interaction, is disapproved of the the Guardian and parents, somewhat cool, and is designed to be the alternative to the one that kills you.
Can you talk me through how vaping is somewhat cool?
Step 1. Teenagers think a lot of stupid things are cool Step 2. See above
People thought even smoking was cool for crying out loud, well beyond teenage years.
I was more interested in why Algakirk thought it was cool, since I sense like myself he is at some distance from teenagedom. I somewhat atavistically still think smoking is cool, love old photos of people dexterously juggling the slim white cylinders of death. Otoh a gaggle of folk outside pubs or workplaces in a cloud of confectionary scented steam doesn’t do it for me, I find those metal steampunk vaping devices particularly dorky (I’ve used up my annual use of the word dork quota in one hour).
Yes. It brings particular memories. I gave up smoking at age 21. But the 60s and 70s have special smoking memories, and under age drinking. Remember how in cinemas you could see the light from the projector all the way through the air because it was full of smoke.
Tube trains full of smoke. Coffee bars, cafes, on top in buses.
Your clothes always smelling of smoke after you had been to the pub.
I've never smoked but both my parents did in the house. It was only after I left home that I realised my clothes at school must have reeked every day. Never noticed at the time of course.
To quote the commentator on the video “look at what you’re protecting. Actual f*****g Nazis”
The nature of free speech is that the government doesn’t get to choose who exercises it. If the ‘Nazis’ aren’t breaking the law they get to march up and down and make their silly salutes
I definitely in favour of Nazis being able to parade around in public.
It means we know exactly where the fuckers are.
Preferably less than 500 yards away. And no cross wind.
To quote the commentator on the video “look at what you’re protecting. Actual f*****g Nazis”
The nature of free speech is that the government doesn’t get to choose who exercises it. If the ‘Nazis’ aren’t breaking the law they get to march up and down and make their silly salutes
Sure, I have no problems Nazis marching, as long as they are not inciting violence, just find the black shorts hilarious, and a little bit homoerotic.
Teenagers go in big numbers for something that is only slightly illegal, doesn't land you in prison, highly addictive, oils the wheels of social interaction, is disapproved of the the Guardian and parents, somewhat cool, and is designed to be the alternative to the one that kills you.
Can you talk me through how vaping is somewhat cool?
Step 1. Teenagers think a lot of stupid things are cool Step 2. See above
People thought even smoking was cool for crying out loud, well beyond teenage years.
I was more interested in why Algakirk thought it was cool, since I sense like myself he is at some distance from teenagedom. I somewhat atavistically still think smoking is cool, love old photos of people dexterously juggling the slim white cylinders of death. Otoh a gaggle of folk outside pubs or workplaces in a cloud of confectionary scented steam doesn’t do it for me, I find those metal steampunk vaping devices particularly dorky (I’ve used up my annual use of the word dork quota in one hour).
I find the varying stench from vaping cloying in a different way to regular smoke irritation, in some ways worse. I only give it a slight pass as several people I know stopped smoking and took up vaping, which is slightly better, and then several of those quit vaping due to cost, so it all worked out.
Vaping is definitely ok in a lesser of two evils, uncool, utilitarian way. I’m currently trying to persuade my brother who looks likely to follow my dad in killing himself with fags to take it up, with not much success. I did point out to him that vaping while still having a pack of Embies on the go and wearing a nicotine patch wasn’t really the plan, plus probably not good for him.
It's so hard if you're a 'lifer' and 'cutting down' is a recipe for always thinking about it. Kind of the worst of both worlds. No advice, since I haven't managed to quit, but I hope your brother finds the key.
Thanks, but I’m not hopeful. He has 30 years of mental illness to add to the mix 🙁
Golly, that means it’ll move to a SLab-Scon stitch up from..er..a Slab-SCon stitch up. Seismic.
SNP loss.
Seismic.
Comparing second seat on the slate in a normal election with a first and only seat in a by electiopn with a differentd and smaller turnout that favours the Tories' postal voting ...
Still. SNP loss.
A phrase we can expect to hear much more of in coming months...
Some musings of Andrew Tate from jail in Romania if you fancy a good laugh.
Enemies of truth lied about me in an attempt to destroy my good name But look, I am more famous than ever before and absolutely nobody believes them I have a greater influence that will allow me to lead men to power and faith I suffer in jail But I also prepare God is Great
On topic, Rishi is about to betray Boris Johnson, this will not go down well with the members.
Rishi Sunak will give Conservative MPs a free vote on Boris Johnson’s future if the privileges committee finds that he deliberately misled parliament about Downing Street pandemic parties.
Almost a year after the investigation began, Johnson faces a marathon televised hearing on Wednesday afternoon in which he must convince seven MPs that he was not in contempt of the Commons when he denied claims about lockdown rulebreaking.
If the committee finds against Johnson, he may be suspended from the Commons. A suspension of more than ten days would automatically trigger a recall petition, allowing Johnson’s constituents to force a by-election.
The privileges committee’s verdict would have to be approved by a vote of MPs, and Johnson’s allies are already preparing to use the moment to proclaim his innocence.
Sunak is understood to have decided that he will not whip MPs to protect his predecessor, allowing them instead to make their own decisions.
He is thought to be wary of repeating Johnson’s own approach in 2021, when he tried to overturn a 30-day suspension imposed on Owen Paterson, a former cabinet minister. “There is no way that we are going to get stuck in the hell that is Owen Paterson again,” a government source said.
A lot more are probably happy to vote to save Boris than Paterson but there's also still enough who would rebel if forced to do so that it puts Rishi in a bind. A free vote and even saying he personally won't vote against Boris wouldn't mollify the Boris supporters in or out of Parliament, so may as well do it if the Committee recommends it.
Sunak, if he can force Johnson to be suspended and recalled, should do it. It's very difficult to see how he could win a by-election, which would puncture his mystique and eliminate him as a threat. And if he doesn't contest the by-election, he's out of the Commons and much less important anyway.
I suppose there is a danger his support could then coalesce around another MP, but the truth is there isn't anyone of Johnson's stature to replace him. They would be Peelites without a Peel with a vengeance. At least the 'slice off the top' of 1922 could boast Balfour, Austen Chamberlain, Birkenhead and Horne.
If the Privileges Committee suspends Johnson for more than 10 days he would surely do best to resign immediately and seek nomination in an alternative safe Tory seat. He's not coming back as PM this parliament anyway; better to bid for LOTO when Sunak loses the election and hope to beat Labour in 2028/9.
He's surprised me before, but even though he's not really old I'd be surprised if he could be bothered to work that hard when he's already achieved it once already. Just count his millions and get a job on GreatBoris news.
Work? He wouldn't actually do anything as LOTO, just be the figurehead.
This is an underrated prospect imo. Johnson back as LOTO. I'm happy to lay him coming back as Con leader before the GE but not after. It's unlikely but I can see it.
We really need PR to get rid of the 2 party system.
Yep. However I'm being told you're a troll in a factory somewhere so we'd best not be chatting about it.
Surely the first step, for Russia, will be *getting* a two party system?
latest update from SNP insider who has been extremely accurate up to now!
I was accused of hyperbole by everyone's favourite Sweden based xenophobe for quoting Frazer's 'this is like watching men committing suicide.'
Regardless of whether these rather vague allegations you keep posting are true or not (we'll see) I'm thinking I actually missed on the side of downplaying it.
Yes for sure and it still looks like at 72K members they are over counting by 20K ( members left but kept on books) and yet they issued 78K votes and expect people to just believe it when Murrell says Humza won. Unfortunately some people who received stray voting papers were not the tame sheeple. Betting now is Murrell to be gone by Monday and likely he is already hunkered down in one of their foreign houses.
Watching from afar, it does appear that not even making a public announcement as to the number of party members entitled to vote, makes it easy for people to suggest something going on behind the scenes.
Labour and the Tories both use ERS to conduct their internal elections, which looks more impartial.
Using the ERS is basic sanity, given the personality types involved in political parties.
Just the ability to say - “Shut up and go complain to the experts over there” would be worth it
I don’t ever recall people complaining about the integrity of a party election before. People complain about the rules being the rules, or the eligibility criteria, but not the actual counting of the votes. That’s what happens when you have an independent organisation counting the votes.
Just spoke to a senior member of the SNP's NEC. They say they have the numbers for a vote of no confidence in Peter Murrell. They're calling on him to resign TODAY.
Even banking gone woke, bringing race and nationality into everything. First it was the schools, then the venison, now the banks. I can't keep up with it all.
Some musings of Andrew Tate from jail in Romania if you fancy a good laugh.
Enemies of truth lied about me in an attempt to destroy my good name But look, I am more famous than ever before and absolutely nobody believes them I have a greater influence that will allow me to lead men to power and faith I suffer in jail But I also prepare God is Great
On topic, Rishi is about to betray Boris Johnson, this will not go down well with the members.
Rishi Sunak will give Conservative MPs a free vote on Boris Johnson’s future if the privileges committee finds that he deliberately misled parliament about Downing Street pandemic parties.
Almost a year after the investigation began, Johnson faces a marathon televised hearing on Wednesday afternoon in which he must convince seven MPs that he was not in contempt of the Commons when he denied claims about lockdown rulebreaking.
If the committee finds against Johnson, he may be suspended from the Commons. A suspension of more than ten days would automatically trigger a recall petition, allowing Johnson’s constituents to force a by-election.
The privileges committee’s verdict would have to be approved by a vote of MPs, and Johnson’s allies are already preparing to use the moment to proclaim his innocence.
Sunak is understood to have decided that he will not whip MPs to protect his predecessor, allowing them instead to make their own decisions.
He is thought to be wary of repeating Johnson’s own approach in 2021, when he tried to overturn a 30-day suspension imposed on Owen Paterson, a former cabinet minister. “There is no way that we are going to get stuck in the hell that is Owen Paterson again,” a government source said.
A lot more are probably happy to vote to save Boris than Paterson but there's also still enough who would rebel if forced to do so that it puts Rishi in a bind. A free vote and even saying he personally won't vote against Boris wouldn't mollify the Boris supporters in or out of Parliament, so may as well do it if the Committee recommends it.
Sunak, if he can force Johnson to be suspended and recalled, should do it. It's very difficult to see how he could win a by-election, which would puncture his mystique and eliminate him as a threat. And if he doesn't contest the by-election, he's out of the Commons and much less important anyway.
I suppose there is a danger his support could then coalesce around another MP, but the truth is there isn't anyone of Johnson's stature to replace him. They would be Peelites without a Peel with a vengeance. At least the 'slice off the top' of 1922 could boast Balfour, Austen Chamberlain, Birkenhead and Horne.
If the Privileges Committee suspends Johnson for more than 10 days he would surely do best to resign immediately and seek nomination in an alternative safe Tory seat. He's not coming back as PM this parliament anyway; better to bid for LOTO when Sunak loses the election and hope to beat Labour in 2028/9.
He's surprised me before, but even though he's not really old I'd be surprised if he could be bothered to work that hard when he's already achieved it once already. Just count his millions and get a job on GreatBoris news.
Work? He wouldn't actually do anything as LOTO, just be the figurehead.
This is an underrated prospect imo. Johnson back as LOTO. I'm happy to lay him coming back as Con leader before the GE but not after. It's unlikely but I can see it.
We really need PR to get rid of the 2 party system.
Yep. However I'm being told you're a troll in a factory somewhere so we'd best not be chatting about it.
I wouldnt listen to every silly rumour you hear on here.
I cannot read the whole piece, but first time I've stumbled across a piece sayint that the Ukrainian army - why by most accounts has performed pretty darn well in the last year- is still being held back by Soviet style thinking.
I cannot imagine it is easy to change a military culture, when it is so damn hard to change even an office culture.
Zaluzhny is relatively young at 49 to be a head of the armed forces. Much has been made of the fact that he a post-Soviet soldier who never served in the Soviet army. And is thought to want to move the mindset westwards. I presume the problems are likely further down the chain.
Others on here will know much more about running organisations than me but it feels a bit paradoxical to have a leader who supposedly wants to encourage more autonomy but those lower down are used to being ordered exactly what to do.
Given the lack of men, tanks, and ammunition, exactly what does this warmongering Russian propose they use to march on Constantinople, and deal with NATO’s army when they arrive?
Given the lack of men, tanks, and ammunition, exactly what does this warmongering Russian propose they use to march on Constantinople, and deal with NATO’s army when they arrive?
More interestingly, he is giving ammunition to China to take back Vladivostok and other parts of formerly-China Russia...
latest update from SNP insider who has been extremely accurate up to now!
I was accused of hyperbole by everyone's favourite Sweden based xenophobe for quoting Frazer's 'this is like watching men committing suicide.'
Regardless of whether these rather vague allegations you keep posting are true or not (we'll see) I'm thinking I actually missed on the side of downplaying it.
Yes for sure and it still looks like at 72K members they are over counting by 20K ( members left but kept on books) and yet they issued 78K votes and expect people to just believe it when Murrell says Humza won. Unfortunately some people who received stray voting papers were not the tame sheeple. Betting now is Murrell to be gone by Monday and likely he is already hunkered down in one of their foreign houses.
Watching from afar, it does appear that not even making a public announcement as to the number of party members entitled to vote, makes it easy for people to suggest something going on behind the scenes.
Labour and the Tories both use ERS to conduct their internal elections, which looks more impartial.
Using the ERS is basic sanity, given the personality types involved in political parties.
Just the ability to say - “Shut up and go complain to the experts over there” would be worth it
I don’t ever recall people complaining about the integrity of a party election before. People complain about the rules being the rules, or the eligibility criteria, but not the actual counting of the votes. That’s what happens when you have an independent organisation counting the votes.
Wasnt there threats of court action in one of the labour contests?
Even banking gone woke, bringing race and nationality into everything. First it was the schools, then the venison, now the banks. I can't keep up with it all.
latest update from SNP insider who has been extremely accurate up to now!
I was accused of hyperbole by everyone's favourite Sweden based xenophobe for quoting Frazer's 'this is like watching men committing suicide.'
Regardless of whether these rather vague allegations you keep posting are true or not (we'll see) I'm thinking I actually missed on the side of downplaying it.
Yes for sure and it still looks like at 72K members they are over counting by 20K ( members left but kept on books) and yet they issued 78K votes and expect people to just believe it when Murrell says Humza won. Unfortunately some people who received stray voting papers were not the tame sheeple. Betting now is Murrell to be gone by Monday and likely he is already hunkered down in one of their foreign houses.
Watching from afar, it does appear that not even making a public announcement as to the number of party members entitled to vote, makes it easy for people to suggest something going on behind the scenes.
Labour and the Tories both use ERS to conduct their internal elections, which looks more impartial.
Using the ERS is basic sanity, given the personality types involved in political parties.
Just the ability to say - “Shut up and go complain to the experts over there” would be worth it
I don’t ever recall people complaining about the integrity of a party election before. People complain about the rules being the rules, or the eligibility criteria, but not the actual counting of the votes. That’s what happens when you have an independent organisation counting the votes.
Wasnt there threats of court action in one of the labour contests?
From memory, Corbyn went to court to be allowed to stand in the election, after he had received a vote of no confidence from Labour MPs. The rules didn’t state that the leader couldn’t stand, but that was how it was interpreted.
Given the lack of men, tanks, and ammunition, exactly what does this warmongering Russian propose they use to march on Constantinople, and deal with NATO’s army when they arrive?
Nukes . It's their default threat and solves everything.
Given the lack of men, tanks, and ammunition, exactly what does this warmongering Russian propose they use to march on Constantinople, and deal with NATO’s army when they arrive?
An army that can't take Bakhmut is going to take Constantinople? Right.
@ScotNational NEW: The SNP internal body has asked Peter Murrell to confirm his exit date as chief executive by the end of the day - or face a no confidence motion
Well, yes it could...
@CllrSMcCabe That sounds like constructive dismissal to me. He may sue and as we know he has deep pockets...
Even banking gone woke, bringing race and nationality into everything. First it was the schools, then the venison, now the banks. I can't keep up with it all.
Ha, saw that and thought exactly the same! A bunch of dorks, but I guess dangerous dorks.
Billy Bragg seems to have pinned his rainbow colours to the mast, to the point that Bindel is now demanding public apologies and threatening him with legal action if it’s not forthcoming.. These free speech folk can be awfully touchy.
Not so much rainbow as baby pink and baby blue….be he’s doing a sterling job telling women what’s what…..
I have a lot of sympathy for Billy Bragg. There he is, playing to rapt audiences in Australia and yet he has a lot on his mind. Somewhere on the other side of the world, some bloody-minded bints have decided to organise themselves without his say so. What were they thinking?
Bragg is deeply disturbed by The Lesbian Project, set up by Julie Bindel and Kathleen Stock with the great Martina Navratilova as a patron . This new organisation wants to advocate for the well-being of lesbians in the UK.
You’d think the ‘decent’ GCs might be more concerned about the Nazi blokes with the ‘Kill Paedo Freaks’ banner. Have any of them made outright condemnations of these types who seem to follow them around like a bad smell rather than bleating nothing to do with us, guv?
Given the lack of men, tanks, and ammunition, exactly what does this warmongering Russian propose they use to march on Constantinople, and deal with NATO’s army when they arrive?
An army that can't take Bakhmut is going to take Constantinople? Right.
Given the lack of men, tanks, and ammunition, exactly what does this warmongering Russian propose they use to march on Constantinople, and deal with NATO’s army when they arrive?
More interestingly, he is giving ammunition to China to take back Vladivostok and other parts of formerly-China Russia...
I know that war is anything but funny, but I’d laugh like a drain if Winnie The Pooh started making noises on the Russia/China border.
Given the lack of men, tanks, and ammunition, exactly what does this warmongering Russian propose they use to march on Constantinople, and deal with NATO’s army when they arrive?
An army that can't take Bakhmut is going to take Constantinople? Right.
The Russians shall not have Constantinople!
Alexander II got to the gates and they would have had it anyway if they hadn't Rexited from Sykes-Picot.
Even banking gone woke, bringing race and nationality into everything. First it was the schools, then the venison, now the banks. I can't keep up with it all.
Surely should be People of Colour Rock by now?
I prefer People and other AIs of Colour, Stones of all Shapes and Genders Bank
Ha, saw that and thought exactly the same! A bunch of dorks, but I guess dangerous dorks.
Billy Bragg seems to have pinned his rainbow colours to the mast, to the point that Bindel is now demanding public apologies and threatening him with legal action if it’s not forthcoming.. These free speech folk can be awfully touchy.
Not so much rainbow as baby pink and baby blue….be he’s doing a sterling job telling women what’s what…..
I have a lot of sympathy for Billy Bragg. There he is, playing to rapt audiences in Australia and yet he has a lot on his mind. Somewhere on the other side of the world, some bloody-minded bints have decided to organise themselves without his say so. What were they thinking?
Bragg is deeply disturbed by The Lesbian Project, set up by Julie Bindel and Kathleen Stock with the great Martina Navratilova as a patron . This new organisation wants to advocate for the well-being of lesbians in the UK.
You’d think the ‘decent’ GCs might be more concerned about the Nazi blokes with the ‘Kill Paedo Freaks’ banner. Have any of them made outright condemnations of these types who seem to follow them around like a bad smell rather than bleating nothing to do with us, guv?
‘Not obsessed’
Not obsessed with scampering after my posts.
You’ll be telling me next that blokes shouldn’t be commenting on this issue at all.
Teenagers go in big numbers for something that is only slightly illegal, doesn't land you in prison, highly addictive, oils the wheels of social interaction, is disapproved of the the Guardian and parents, somewhat cool, and is designed to be the alternative to the one that kills you.
Can you talk me through how vaping is somewhat cool?
Step 1. Teenagers think a lot of stupid things are cool Step 2. See above
People thought even smoking was cool for crying out loud, well beyond teenage years.
I was more interested in why Algakirk thought it was cool, since I sense like myself he is at some distance from teenagedom. I somewhat atavistically still think smoking is cool, love old photos of people dexterously juggling the slim white cylinders of death. Otoh a gaggle of folk outside pubs or workplaces in a cloud of confectionary scented steam doesn’t do it for me, I find those metal steampunk vaping devices particularly dorky (I’ve used up my annual use of the word dork quota in one hour).
I find the varying stench from vaping cloying in a different way to regular smoke irritation, in some ways worse. I only give it a slight pass as several people I know stopped smoking and took up vaping, which is slightly better, and then several of those quit vaping due to cost, so it all worked out.
Vaping is definitely ok in a lesser of two evils, uncool, utilitarian way. I’m currently trying to persuade my brother who looks likely to follow my dad in killing himself with fags to take it up, with not much success. I did point out to him that vaping while still having a pack of Embies on the go and wearing a nicotine patch wasn’t really the plan, plus probably not good for him.
It's so hard if you're a 'lifer' and 'cutting down' is a recipe for always thinking about it. Kind of the worst of both worlds. No advice, since I haven't managed to quit, but I hope your brother finds the key.
Thanks, but I’m not hopeful. He has 30 years of mental illness to add to the mix 🙁
Ah far more to grapple with than the fags then. Still, you never know and it would be a great thing for him to pull off. Bit like It's a Wonderful Life, every time a lifer succeeds in quitting the fags (other than by the darkly obvious method) an angel up above rings a little bell.
Given the lack of men, tanks, and ammunition, exactly what does this warmongering Russian propose they use to march on Constantinople, and deal with NATO’s army when they arrive?
More interestingly, he is giving ammunition to China to take back Vladivostok and other parts of formerly-China Russia...
I know that war is anything but funny, but I’d laugh like a drain if Winnie The Pooh started making noises on the Russia/China border.
Then it really would have to be down to nukes saving everything east of the Urals.
The war games will be being played out in Beijing, just in case. Filed under "Easier than Taiwan"...
Comments
Step 2. See above
People thought even smoking was cool for crying out loud, well beyond teenage years.
It all seems a little overdramatic to me but we shall see. What is surely clear is that Murrell's days as head of the SNP are over. The question is whether his involvement has so tainted this election that the new leadership will have to start again.
However, rather than dwelling in the trauma I have used it as a 'learning experience', you can't ultimately trust the police, all your dealings with them should be transactional and based on deep suspicion of their motivations. Your line of defence is the justice system and not any assumed trust in the police. That all said, it is better that they exist than they don't exist at all, they do quite well at sorting out big problems.
Bloody weirdos.
https://www.economist.com/by-invitation/2023/03/17/ukraines-army-must-shed-its-soviet-legacy-says-a-military-expert
“This is essentially two Soviet militaries fighting one another”, lamented the official. https://economist.com/by-invitation/2023/03/17/ukraines-army-must-shed-its-soviet-legacy-says-a-military-expert This is precisely what we have heard from senior Western military officials with close involvement in advising Ukraine—certainly not armchair generals.
https://twitter.com/shashj/status/1636813547098238976?cxt=HHwWgMCz5fbPkLctAAAA
I cannot imagine it is easy to change a military culture, when it is so damn hard to change even an office culture.
I somewhat atavistically still think smoking is cool, love old photos of people dexterously juggling the slim white cylinders of death. Otoh a gaggle of folk outside pubs or workplaces in a cloud of confectionary scented steam doesn’t do it for me, I find those metal steampunk vaping devices particularly dorky (I’ve used up my annual use of the word dork quota in one hour).
But even though some rumblings have been found in the darker recesses of the internet it is a bit suspicious to me that so many 'mainstream' SNP people are only now suddenly finding they have a problem with Murrell.
https://twitter.com/alexmassie/status/1637029947721105411?s=20
Ash Regan sums up her campaign, and inadvertently describes the SNP’s approach to independence.
https://twitter.com/staylorish/status/1636839987571245056?s=20
https://news.stv.tv/east-central/scottish-tories-become-largest-party-at-stirling-council-after-dunblane-and-bridge-of-allan-by-election-win
I’m currently trying to persuade my brother who looks likely to follow my dad in killing himself with fags to take it up, with not much success. I did point out to him that vaping while still having a pack of Embies on the go and wearing a nicotine patch wasn’t really the plan, plus probably not good for him.
Tube trains full of smoke. Coffee bars, cafes, on top in buses.
https://twitter.com/JamesAHogg2/status/1636652646030344194?cxt=HHwWhIC8taC6x7YtAAAA
Seismic.
https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2023/03/covid-origins-research-raccoon-dogs-wuhan-market-lab-leak/673390/?utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share
Very difficult to find out the truth though when both China and various conspiracy theorists are pushing their own agendas. I think we will never know, short of regime change in China to a much more open regime.
I am looking forward to the forced bonhomie that occurs after a tough contest though.
I have a lot of sympathy for Billy Bragg. There he is, playing to rapt audiences in Australia and yet he has a lot on his mind. Somewhere on the other side of the world, some bloody-minded bints have decided to organise themselves without his say so. What were they thinking?
Bragg is deeply disturbed by The Lesbian Project, set up by Julie Bindel and Kathleen Stock with the great Martina Navratilova as a patron . This new organisation wants to advocate for the well-being of lesbians in the UK.
How disgusting is that?
https://suzannemoore.substack.com/p/poor-billy-bragg-not-in-charge-of
Just the ability to say - “Shut up and go complain to the experts over there” would be worth it
Enemies of truth lied about me in an attempt to destroy my good name But look, I am more famous than ever before and absolutely nobody believes them I have a greater influence that will allow me to lead men to power and faith I suffer in jail But I also prepare God is Great
https://twitter.com/Cobratate/status/1632484874346024963?s=20
The nature of free speech is that the government doesn’t get to choose who exercises it. If the ‘Nazis’ aren’t breaking the law they get to march up and down and make their silly salutes
Assuming always the contest doesn't get injuncted. Which will break out MAD.
There was a scheme for graduate direct entry at a moderately senior rank a while back.
The ranks and file police complained that the people recruited didn’t understand police culture.
It means we know exactly where the fuckers are.
Preferably less than 500 yards away. And no cross wind.
A phrase we can expect to hear much more of in coming months...
https://twitter.com/andrewlearmonth/status/1637018409471713280?s=20
https://twitter.com/ukraine_world/status/1637034184228192257
Others on here will know much more about running organisations than me but it feels a bit paradoxical to have a leader who supposedly wants to encourage more autonomy but those lower down are used to being ordered exactly what to do.
@ScotNational
NEW: The SNP internal body has asked Peter Murrell to confirm his exit date as chief executive by the end of the day - or face a no confidence motion
Well, yes it could...
@CllrSMcCabe
That sounds like constructive dismissal to me. He may sue and as we know he has deep pockets...
5m
BlackRock says it has no interest in acquiring Credit Suisse or any of its assets, denying a FT report trib.al/NEPftB1
You’ll be telling me next that blokes shouldn’t be commenting on this issue at all.
The war games will be being played out in Beijing, just in case. Filed under "Easier than Taiwan"...