So British Gas have now sent me a bill, and are charging me for two months into one when they had already noted the charge for the previous month on the previous bill.
Claiming as a result that my account is £61 in credit instead of £190.
What a bunch of lunatic scumbags.
Which police force do I call about this, because I have had the fuck enough?
Lee Anderson and Brendan Clarke Smith have resigned.
The post-election Tory leadership contest is shaping up to be properly MAGA. The backbenchers can spend the next few months laying the ground for their "we weren't right wing enough" post-mortem.
So British Gas have now sent me a bill, and are charging me for two months into one when they had already noted the charge for the previous month on the previous bill.
Claiming as a result that my account is £61 in credit instead of £190.
What a bunch of lunatic scumbags.
Which police force do I call about this, because I have had the fuck enough?
Trading Standards in your local authority?
Or are you a member of the Consumers Association by any chance?
So, how much are Fujitsu going to chuck in the pot? £500m is a nice round sum.
It was going to be £500m but they have put it through horizon and it came down to £178m. So they did it again, just to double check and now the government owe Fujitsu £233m.
So British Gas have now sent me a bill, and are charging me for two months into one when they had already noted the charge for the previous month on the previous bill.
Claiming as a result that my account is £61 in credit instead of £190.
What a bunch of lunatic scumbags.
Which police force do I call about this, because I have had the fuck enough?
Have they charged the correct standing charges and usage? Months don't really matter.
Unless RefUK votes start getting redistributed or LD/Green collapse I can't see that happening to be honest. The minor parties have too much vote share currently. Roughly 25-28% is going to LD, G and Ref combined.
Could we see a Tory sub-20% VI in a poll though? I'd say less likely than a sub-40% Labour VI (which I expect at some point - not including the Telegraph MRP) but not out of the question.
Lee Anderson and Brendan Clarke Smith have resigned.
The post-election Tory leadership contest is shaping up to be properly MAGA. The backbenchers can spend the next few months laying the ground for their "we weren't right wing enough" post-mortem.
I have no idea on this one but others probably do: If there is a Tory wipeout, what sort of configuration in terms of One nation, other sane Tories, extremes etc would be left, if they are down to their last 100/150/200 MPs. The remaining rump will of course be critical as the group who get two names to the members.
Although I'm not Baldrick, I have a cunning plan. All the opposition parties should vote in favour of the right-wing amendments tonight; combined with the Tory rebels that should be enough to get them through. Then, when the amended Bill comes up for Third Reading tomorrow, they should combine with the sensible Tories who find the amended Bill too much to stomach and vote the whole caboodle down. Job done.
So, how much are Fujitsu going to chuck in the pot? £500m is a nice round sum.
It was going to be £500m but they have put it through horizon and it came down to £178m. So they did it again, just to double check and now the government owe Fujitsu £233m.
And see the news today. PO wanting a new computer system.
"Jan 16 (Reuters) - Iran destroyed two bases of Baluchi militant group Jaish al Adl in Pakistan by launching missiles on Tuesday, Iranian state media reported."
Lee Anderson and Brendan Clarke Smith have resigned.
The post-election Tory leadership contest is shaping up to be properly MAGA. The backbenchers can spend the next few months laying the ground for their "we weren't right wing enough" post-mortem.
I have no idea on this one but others probably do: If there is a Tory wipeout, what sort of configuration in terms of One nation, other sane Tories, extremes etc would be left, if they are down to their last 100/150/200 MPs. The remaining rump will of course be critical as the group who get two names to the members.
I looked at this a few months ago. It looked like you'd actually get a fairly representative mix remaining. Some rightwingers (Braverman, Truss, Patel to name a few), some one nation and wet types. But with the loss of the Boris-adjacent red wallers and the rump being more rural and Southern facing I think overall the party would go fiscally rightwards.
So British Gas have now sent me a bill, and are charging me for two months into one when they had already noted the charge for the previous month on the previous bill.
Claiming as a result that my account is £61 in credit instead of £190.
What a bunch of lunatic scumbags.
Which police force do I call about this, because I have had the fuck enough?
Have they charged the correct standing charges and usage? Months don't really matter.
You don't understand. They've taken the credit balance at the start of December, after November's usage had been taken off, and then included November's usage again to this bill and deducted that from the credit balance in December.
It's not about the rate they're charging. They've charged me twice.
So British Gas have now sent me a bill, and are charging me for two months into one when they had already noted the charge for the previous month on the previous bill.
Claiming as a result that my account is £61 in credit instead of £190.
What a bunch of lunatic scumbags.
Which police force do I call about this, because I have had the fuck enough?
Trading Standards in your local authority?
Or are you a member of the Consumers Association by any chance?
I can try. I don't know whether Trading Standards have jurisdiction in this.
So British Gas have now sent me a bill, and are charging me for two months into one when they had already noted the charge for the previous month on the previous bill.
Claiming as a result that my account is £61 in credit instead of £190.
What a bunch of lunatic scumbags.
Which police force do I call about this, because I have had the fuck enough?
Have they charged the correct standing charges and usage? Months don't really matter.
You don't understand. They've taken the credit balance at the start of December, after November's usage had been taken off, and then included November's usage again to this bill and deducted that from the credit balance in December.
It's not about the rate they're charging. They've charged me twice.
So British Gas have now sent me a bill, and are charging me for two months into one when they had already noted the charge for the previous month on the previous bill.
Claiming as a result that my account is £61 in credit instead of £190.
What a bunch of lunatic scumbags.
Which police force do I call about this, because I have had the fuck enough?
Have they charged the correct standing charges and usage? Months don't really matter.
You don't understand. They've taken the credit balance at the start of December, after November's usage had been taken off, and then included November's usage again to this bill and deducted that from the credit balance in December.
It's not about the rate they're charging. They've charged me twice.
Quick check: is it "British Gas" or a privatised company?
So British Gas have now sent me a bill, and are charging me for two months into one when they had already noted the charge for the previous month on the previous bill.
Claiming as a result that my account is £61 in credit instead of £190.
What a bunch of lunatic scumbags.
Which police force do I call about this, because I have had the fuck enough?
Trading Standards in your local authority?
Or are you a member of the Consumers Association by any chance?
I can try. I don't know whether Trading Standards have jurisdiction in this.
Lee Anderson and Brendan Clarke Smith have resigned.
The post-election Tory leadership contest is shaping up to be properly MAGA. The backbenchers can spend the next few months laying the ground for their "we weren't right wing enough" post-mortem.
I have no idea on this one but others probably do: If there is a Tory wipeout, what sort of configuration in terms of One nation, other sane Tories, extremes etc would be left, if they are down to their last 100/150/200 MPs. The remaining rump will of course be critical as the group who get two names to the members.
From memory, there's not much variation, though that depends a bit on the reselections on new boundaries. (See South Hampshire, where Flick Drummond got lumbered with the doomed tailgunner gig of defending Winchester.)
If the Conservative Party ends up about 1/3 nutter MP, they can get someone on the final shortlist. That seems like a relatively easy bar, sadly.
Then, unless the blow up during the member vote (always possible), they win with the members.
Lee Anderson and Brendan Clarke Smith have resigned
I don't care. I really don't. We're back to 2018/9 again. Everybody farting around. Self-important resignation letters from unimportant people. Herding bloody cats to reduce the numbers of illegal immigrants whilst letting in 10-20 times that amount legally. Silly, silly people.
Unless RefUK votes start getting redistributed or LD/Green collapse I can't see that happening to be honest. The minor parties have too much vote share currently. Roughly 25-28% is going to LD, G and Ref combined.
Could we see a Tory sub-20% VI in a poll though? I'd say less likely than a sub-40% Labour VI (which I expect at some point - not including the Telegraph MRP) but not out of the question.
Given that 5% of polls are outliers I should say the chances of 19% are good. We have already had one 22% this year.
So British Gas have now sent me a bill, and are charging me for two months into one when they had already noted the charge for the previous month on the previous bill.
Claiming as a result that my account is £61 in credit instead of £190.
What a bunch of lunatic scumbags.
Which police force do I call about this, because I have had the fuck enough?
Have they charged the correct standing charges and usage? Months don't really matter.
You don't understand. They've taken the credit balance at the start of December, after November's usage had been taken off, and then included November's usage again to this bill and deducted that from the credit balance in December.
It's not about the rate they're charging. They've charged me twice.
So British Gas have now sent me a bill, and are charging me for two months into one when they had already noted the charge for the previous month on the previous bill.
Claiming as a result that my account is £61 in credit instead of £190.
What a bunch of lunatic scumbags.
Which police force do I call about this, because I have had the fuck enough?
Have they charged the correct standing charges and usage? Months don't really matter.
You don't understand. They've taken the credit balance at the start of December, after November's usage had been taken off, and then included November's usage again to this bill and deducted that from the credit balance in December.
It's not about the rate they're charging. They've charged me twice.
I am now convinced that the Tory Party is going to lurch to the right following on from defeat. If it’s a particularly bad defeat, it is potentially going to go full GOPUK, and probably cannibalise (or be cannibalised by) Reform. It might not even survive as the Tories.
I am now convinced that the Tory Party is going to lurch to the right following on from defeat. If it’s a particularly bad defeat, it is potentially going to go full GOPUK, and probably cannibalise (or be cannibalised by) Reform. It might not even survive as the Tories.
We could be in line for a huge realignment.
That's why I think Keir will get a decade. The Tories seem to have spent a decade watching Labour lose and have decided they want at it.
I am now convinced that the Tory Party is going to lurch to the right following on from defeat. If it’s a particularly bad defeat, it is potentially going to go full GOPUK, and probably cannibalise (or be cannibalised by) Reform. It might not even survive as the Tories.
We could be in line for a huge realignment.
At the membership level its already happened. Bound to follow through to the Commons over the next few years, especially once they start soul searching after a damn good thrashing.
So British Gas have now sent me a bill, and are charging me for two months into one when they had already noted the charge for the previous month on the previous bill.
Claiming as a result that my account is £61 in credit instead of £190.
What a bunch of lunatic scumbags.
Which police force do I call about this, because I have had the fuck enough?
I am now convinced that the Tory Party is going to lurch to the right following on from defeat. If it’s a particularly bad defeat, it is potentially going to go full GOPUK, and probably cannibalise (or be cannibalised by) Reform. It might not even survive as the Tories.
We could be in line for a huge realignment.
That's why I think Keir will get a decade. The Tories seem to have spent a decade watching Labour lose and have decided they want at it.
Doubt it. The Tories are sabotaging the state too thoroughly, and are already blaming SKS. Like the Germans on the retreat to the Siegfriedstellung aka Hindenburg Line. Was shit for the folk living in the area, mind. Destruction of town halls, destruction of transport infrastructure, damage of water supply and drainage, removal of all cash and assets ...
Lee Anderson and Brendan Clarke Smith have resigned.
The post-election Tory leadership contest is shaping up to be properly MAGA. The backbenchers can spend the next few months laying the ground for their "we weren't right wing enough" post-mortem.
I have no idea on this one but others probably do: If there is a Tory wipeout, what sort of configuration in terms of One nation, other sane Tories, extremes etc would be left, if they are down to their last 100/150/200 MPs. The remaining rump will of course be critical as the group who get two names to the members.
Not sure, but I think Sir Christopher Chope would be one of the cockroaches to survive, which is not a good sign.
I am now convinced that the Tory Party is going to lurch to the right following on from defeat. If it’s a particularly bad defeat, it is potentially going to go full GOPUK, and probably cannibalise (or be cannibalised by) Reform. It might not even survive as the Tories.
We could be in line for a huge realignment.
That's why I think Keir will get a decade. The Tories seem to have spent a decade watching Labour lose and have decided they want at it.
Doubt it. The Tories are sabotaging the state too thoroughly, and are already blaming SKS. Like the Germans on the retreat to the Siegfriedstellung aka Hindenburg Line. Was shit for the folk living in the area, mind. Destruction of town halls, destruction of transport infrastructure, damage of water supply and drainage, removal of all cash and assets ...
Would that not be classed as Treason? HMG v the Conservative Party?
Lee Anderson and Brendan Clarke Smith have resigned.
The post-election Tory leadership contest is shaping up to be properly MAGA. The backbenchers can spend the next few months laying the ground for their "we weren't right wing enough" post-mortem.
I have no idea on this one but others probably do: If there is a Tory wipeout, what sort of configuration in terms of One nation, other sane Tories, extremes etc would be left, if they are down to their last 100/150/200 MPs. The remaining rump will of course be critical as the group who get two names to the members.
Not sure, but pretty sure Sir Christopher Chope would be one of the cockroaches to survive, which is not a good sign.
Lee Anderson and Brendan Clarke Smith have resigned
I don't care. I really don't. We're back to 2018/9 again. Everybody farting around. Self-important resignation letters from unimportant people. Herding bloody cats to reduce the numbers of illegal immigrants whilst letting in 10-20 times that amount legally. Silly, silly people.
It is possibly the most stupid reason to self destruct a government. Voting for an ammendment that won't pass, for a policy that won't work even if it gets past Lords and courts.
Stupid self indulgence that makes me nostalgic for the Brexit parliament where there was at least a real issue at stake.
Beth Rigby @BethRigby · 2m As for those on govt payroll minded to vote for rebel amendments, this from a govt figure: “The Chief Whip has made clear that any member of the payroll that doesn’t support the Government this evening will have made their position untenable”
I think Starmer has all but made Tory MPs position untenable already Party whips don't have a lot of leverage.
I am now convinced that the Tory Party is going to lurch to the right following on from defeat. If it’s a particularly bad defeat, it is potentially going to go full GOPUK, and probably cannibalise (or be cannibalised by) Reform. It might not even survive as the Tories.
We could be in line for a huge realignment.
At the membership level its already happened. Bound to follow through to the Commons over the next few years, especially once they start soul searching after a damn good thrashing.
This outsider is of the view that the Membership is substantially responsible for the current lamentable situation. Shouldn't the MPs do something about this?
Perhaps membership should be limited to those with an IQ above 80.
So British Gas have now sent me a bill, and are charging me for two months into one when they had already noted the charge for the previous month on the previous bill.
Claiming as a result that my account is £61 in credit instead of £190.
What a bunch of lunatic scumbags.
Which police force do I call about this, because I have had the fuck enough?
Have they charged the correct standing charges and usage? Months don't really matter.
You don't understand. They've taken the credit balance at the start of December, after November's usage had been taken off, and then included November's usage again to this bill and deducted that from the credit balance in December.
It's not about the rate they're charging. They've charged me twice.
One estimated reading, one actual reading?
Both are actual readings.
Although they played that game on the account at my father's place, issuing estimated readings (totally wrong, to the tune of £600 in their favour) even when they had twice had the correct readings.
So British Gas have now sent me a bill, and are charging me for two months into one when they had already noted the charge for the previous month on the previous bill.
Claiming as a result that my account is £61 in credit instead of £190.
What a bunch of lunatic scumbags.
Which police force do I call about this, because I have had the fuck enough?
I remember the days when you could burst through the shop door in New Street Ledbury and shout at people. The same went for the MEB.
You could shout at your MP. Oh wait its Amanda Milling. I doubt she'd understand.
So British Gas have now sent me a bill, and are charging me for two months into one when they had already noted the charge for the previous month on the previous bill.
Claiming as a result that my account is £61 in credit instead of £190.
What a bunch of lunatic scumbags.
Which police force do I call about this, because I have had the fuck enough?
I remember the days when you could burst through the shop door in New Street Ledbury and shout at people. The same went for the MEB.
It's tempting to drive to Windsor and do something similar.
But I'm in such a state of rage right now somebody might get seriously hurt, and I wouldn't really want that. They're stupid, but not I think malicious.
Lee Anderson and Brendan Clarke Smith have resigned
Just rejoice at that news.
We can rejoice when these nutty extremist Tories aren’t trying to make our entire national government sing to their tune, but (those few of them that will be left) are sat at the back of the opposition benches and either derided or ignored. Not long to wait, now.
Meanwhile, from today’s BIS SC hearing on the Post Office scandal, welcome news that Fujitsu accepts that it will have to cough up some £££, and shocking news that there is a subpostmaster who was imprisoned who has only just made contact with the campaign, following the TV drama.
I am now convinced that the Tory Party is going to lurch to the right following on from defeat. If it’s a particularly bad defeat, it is potentially going to go full GOPUK, and probably cannibalise (or be cannibalised by) Reform. It might not even survive as the Tories.
We could be in line for a huge realignment.
That's why I think Keir will get a decade. The Tories seem to have spent a decade watching Labour lose and have decided they want at it.
Doubt it. The Tories are sabotaging the state too thoroughly, and are already blaming SKS. Like the Germans on the retreat to the Siegfriedstellung aka Hindenburg Line. Was shit for the folk living in the area, mind. Destruction of town halls, destruction of transport infrastructure, damage of water supply and drainage, removal of all cash and assets ...
Would that not be classed as Treason? HMG v the Conservative Party?
Johnson has been scratching his arse today. Ants in his pants or time for a tilt at the top again. First things first, a seat in Parliament is required.
Johnson has been scratching his arse today. Ants in his pants or time for a tilt at the top again. First things first, a seat in Parliament is required.
Even if it were possible, that would only be short term damage limitation, with the risk that it has the opposite effect in the LibDem target seats. As a strategic move to reposition and reconfigure the party for the longer-term, it would be an absolute blind alley (just as it proved, the last time).
Johnson has been scratching his arse today. Ants in his pants or time for a tilt at the top again. First things first, a seat in Parliament is required.
So British Gas have now sent me a bill, and are charging me for two months into one when they had already noted the charge for the previous month on the previous bill.
Claiming as a result that my account is £61 in credit instead of £190.
What a bunch of lunatic scumbags.
Which police force do I call about this, because I have had the fuck enough?
Johnson has been scratching his arse today. Ants in his pants or time for a tilt at the top again. First things first, a seat in Parliament is required.
I am now convinced that the Tory Party is going to lurch to the right following on from defeat. If it’s a particularly bad defeat, it is potentially going to go full GOPUK, and probably cannibalise (or be cannibalised by) Reform. It might not even survive as the Tories.
We could be in line for a huge realignment.
At the membership level its already happened. Bound to follow through to the Commons over the next few years, especially once they start soul searching after a damn good thrashing.
This outsider is of the view that the Membership is substantially responsible for the current lamentable situation. Shouldn't the MPs do something about this?
Perhaps membership should be limited to those with an IQ above 80.
Johnson has been scratching his arse today. Ants in his pants or time for a tilt at the top again. First things first, a seat in Parliament is required.
I am now convinced that the Tory Party is going to lurch to the right following on from defeat. If it’s a particularly bad defeat, it is potentially going to go full GOPUK, and probably cannibalise (or be cannibalised by) Reform. It might not even survive as the Tories.
We could be in line for a huge realignment.
At the membership level its already happened. Bound to follow through to the Commons over the next few years, especially once they start soul searching after a damn good thrashing.
This outsider is of the view that the Membership is substantially responsible for the current lamentable situation. Shouldn't the MPs do something about this?
Perhaps membership should be limited to those with an IQ above 80.
And aged below 80.
Doesn't that restrict you to the membership of Cambridge University Conservatives?
It seems to me that the most obvious political solution for the Conservative party is to move to the 'far right', defining itself as being against the progressive consensus and coming up with some radical solutions to political problems. It seems to me that this is where they will probably go out of necessity and the likelihood of success depends on their ability to outperform others acting in this space like 'reform' and 'reclaim'. A lot would depend on finding the right leader, if they can find someone young and who looks like the future then they are in with a shot; but they still have to be accountable to their aging voter base who act as an obstacle as well as an asset.
It seems to me that the most obvious political solution for the Conservative party is to move to the 'far right', defining itself as being against the progressive consensus and coming up with some radical solutions to political problems. It seems to me that this is where they will probably go out of necessity and the likelihood of success depends on their ability to outperform others acting in this space like 'reform' and 'reclaim'. A lot would depend on finding the right leader, if they can find someone young and who looks like the future then they are in with a shot; but they still have to be accountable to their aging voter base who act as an obstacle as well as an asset.
Such a plan would be popular with much of the parliamentary party and membership. Though would likely see a stack of centre-left Tories quit the party for the LibDems. And voters? May shore up some vote leakage to RefUK. But be *catastrophic* for middle England. Another bonanza for the LDs.
The Scorpion and the Frog. The Party just can't help itself.
This is a new version of the story, where a scorpion starts to cross the river and another smaller scorpion jumps on its back….
I love James Arbuthnot but even his comments don't help.
It will be heard as a snide dig and an insult by CWF, the ERG and the Common Sense Group who will view, in turn, One Nation Conservative as europhile, Wet and quasi-socialist. And its not even true as Ken Clarke and Matthew Parris support the objectives of Rwanda.
Only comments that help are unifying ones around country, monarchy, conservation, sound money, sound values and sound government.
It seems to me that the most obvious political solution for the Conservative party is to move to the 'far right', defining itself as being against the progressive consensus and coming up with some radical solutions to political problems. It seems to me that this is where they will probably go out of necessity and the likelihood of success depends on their ability to outperform others acting in this space like 'reform' and 'reclaim'. A lot would depend on finding the right leader, if they can find someone young and who looks like the future then they are in with a shot; but they still have to be accountable to their aging voter base who act as an obstacle as well as an asset.
i would caveat that slightly in that what they shoudl do is be confident conservatives - Better to get flak and fight back on the grounds of being uncaring and right wing than be seen and accused (with a lot of merit) of being incompetent left wingers - If you go left wing (as the tories have ) with massive tax collections and borrowing you at least need to get public services working . Sunak has nothing going for him , the tories need to rid him to have more chance. Nobody is pro Sunak , never has been , he sort of won the leadership by default . Doing slightly better in Leicester due to his heritage is not much compensation for losing millions of tory voters who see him as a ineffectual yes man
It seems to me that the most obvious political solution for the Conservative party is to move to the 'far right', defining itself as being against the progressive consensus and coming up with some radical solutions to political problems. It seems to me that this is where they will probably go out of necessity and the likelihood of success depends on their ability to outperform others acting in this space like 'reform' and 'reclaim'. A lot would depend on finding the right leader, if they can find someone young and who looks like the future then they are in with a shot; but they still have to be accountable to their aging voter base who act as an obstacle as well as an asset.
The evidence so far is that this isn't going to happen. Let's assume that 'far right' means something consistent with multi party democracy, capacity to lose etc, so we aren't talking about Trump or totalitarians or authoritarians; nor are we talking about the populism which suggests simple answers to complex problems.
Within those constraints, what are the big ideas swirling around in radical conservative circles, costed (so not Trussism), thought out, deliverable, which are so different from the generality of the Overton Window. If they were around, would we not be talking about them?
The Scorpion and the Frog. The Party just can't help itself.
And that's why the Conservatives are set to lose this year and are on track to lose in 2028.
To many of them, saying is more important than doing. Winning the vote more important than enacting things in the real world. Office more important than power.
It's a temptation to all political people and parties. Heck, the Lib Dems have been re-enacting being a real political party for a century or so. And Kinnock's 1985 conference speech remains all that needs to be said about that attitude.
But it's nature's way of telling us a party needs a break. A term or three to realise that opposition may allow you to speak, write and dream to your heart's content. But it also means that you don't get to make a single word of it happen.
It seems to me that the most obvious political solution for the Conservative party is to move to the 'far right', defining itself as being against the progressive consensus and coming up with some radical solutions to political problems. It seems to me that this is where they will probably go out of necessity and the likelihood of success depends on their ability to outperform others acting in this space like 'reform' and 'reclaim'. A lot would depend on finding the right leader, if they can find someone young and who looks like the future then they are in with a shot; but they still have to be accountable to their aging voter base who act as an obstacle as well as an asset.
The odious Honest Bob Jenrick fits the frame. He is as mad as Suella and is the right hue for the bigots and xenophobes they are trying to attract. They could even use the 1964 Smethwick General Election slogan to attract attention.
Surely to goodness as a nation we are way better educated to fall for hanging, flogging and hanging and flogging foreigners.
The Scorpion and the Frog. The Party just can't help itself.
And that's why the Conservatives are set to lose this year and are on track to lose in 2028.
To many of them, saying is more important than doing. Winning the vote more important than enacting things in the real world. Office more important than power.
It's a temptation to all political people and parties. Heck, the Lib Dems have been re-enacting being a real political party for a century or so. And Kinnock's 1985 conference speech remains all that needs to be said about that attitude.
But it's nature's way of telling us a party needs a break. A term or three to realise that opposition may allow you to speak, write and dream to your heart's content. But it also means that you don't get to make a single word of it happen.
Lee Anderson and Brendan Clarke Smith have resigned
Just rejoice at that news.
We can rejoice when these nutty extremist Tories aren’t trying to make our entire national government sing to their tune, but (those few of them that will be left) are sat at the back of the opposition benches and either derided or ignored. Not long to wait, now.
…snip…
But the truly terrifying thing is that there is a small but not negligible chance that enough black swans happen (Starmer being discredited through some sort of dark web sting; UKR turning really ugly and Russia threatening us directly; US-Iran war etc) that this bunch of crooks sneak back in at the GE and we have five more years of this nonsense .
The next GE is not a done deal, and let’s not count our chickens until they are well and truly roosting post election.
It seems to me that the most obvious political solution for the Conservative party is to move to the 'far right', defining itself as being against the progressive consensus and coming up with some radical solutions to political problems. It seems to me that this is where they will probably go out of necessity and the likelihood of success depends on their ability to outperform others acting in this space like 'reform' and 'reclaim'. A lot would depend on finding the right leader, if they can find someone young and who looks like the future then they are in with a shot; but they still have to be accountable to their aging voter base who act as an obstacle as well as an asset.
The evidence so far is that this isn't going to happen. Let's assume that 'far right' means something consistent with multi party democracy, capacity to lose etc, so we aren't talking about Trump or totalitarians or authoritarians; nor are we talking about the populism which suggests simple answers to complex problems.
Within those constraints, what are the big ideas swirling around in radical conservative circles, costed (so not Trussism), thought out, deliverable, which are so different from the generality of the Overton Window. If they were around, would we not be talking about them?
The era we live in is quite chaotic, the overton window can shift and 'unthinkable' ideas come in to play, similar to how the statism of the Johnson era contrasted with decades of neoliberalism. The Rwanda idea is fairly mainstream in Europe after Britain being an outlier for a while.
If you think that things have to change then unthinkable solutions come in to play. It is like in Germany where politicians claiming 'we can do this' in 2015 (bringing in millions of refugees) are replaced in 2024 by politicians promising to deport millions of refugees.
What I can say for sure is politicians are so entrenched in ideology that they have become out of touch with real life outside the demands of their activist base. IE Councils devoting resources to being a 'Borough of sanctuary' for asylum seekers, providing immigrants with housing etc, when they themselves have massive waiting lists and people at their wits end with no housing, teenage single mothers being housed 200 miles away from family etc. Things like this get corrected in the fullness of time.
So British Gas have now sent me a bill, and are charging me for two months into one when they had already noted the charge for the previous month on the previous bill.
Claiming as a result that my account is £61 in credit instead of £190.
What a bunch of lunatic scumbags.
Which police force do I call about this, because I have had the fuck enough?
Just be thankful they're not prosecuting you for false accounting.
It seems to me that the most obvious political solution for the Conservative party is to move to the 'far right', defining itself as being against the progressive consensus and coming up with some radical solutions to political problems. It seems to me that this is where they will probably go out of necessity and the likelihood of success depends on their ability to outperform others acting in this space like 'reform' and 'reclaim'. A lot would depend on finding the right leader, if they can find someone young and who looks like the future then they are in with a shot; but they still have to be accountable to their aging voter base who act as an obstacle as well as an asset.
The evidence so far is that this isn't going to happen. Let's assume that 'far right' means something consistent with multi party democracy, capacity to lose etc, so we aren't talking about Trump or totalitarians or authoritarians; nor are we talking about the populism which suggests simple answers to complex problems.
Within those constraints, what are the big ideas swirling around in radical conservative circles, costed (so not Trussism), thought out, deliverable, which are so different from the generality of the Overton Window. If they were around, would we not be talking about them?
The era we live in is quite chaotic, the overton window can shift and 'unthinkable' ideas come in to play, similar to how the statism of the Johnson era contrasted with decades of neoliberalism. The Rwanda idea is fairly mainstream in Europe after Britain being an outlier for a while.
If you think that things have to change then unthinkable solutions come in to play. It is like in Germany where politicians claiming 'we can do this' in 2015 (bringing in millions of refugees) are replaced in 2024 by politicians promising to deport millions of refugees.
What I can say for sure is politicians are so entrenched in ideology that they have become out of touch with real life outside the demands of their activist base. IE Councils devoting resources to being a 'Borough of sanctuary' for asylum seekers, providing immigrants with housing etc, when they themselves have massive waiting lists and people at their wits end with no housing, teenage single mothers being housed 200 miles away from family etc. Things like this get corrected in the fullness of time.
Whilst I get what you mean and largely agree that the bit in bold is councils stretching beyond what residents are likely to put up with for long, I’d suggest it actually shows a decent grasp of the real world, just that it’s the real world beyond these shores/Europe.
Even if I were a Tory, I would find the logic of Anderson, Jenrick, Braverman and all their mates utterly bizarre. They seem to think that if:
a) we get some flights off to Rwanda, then that will lead to: b) the boats being stopped; and that will lead to: c) the Tories winning the 2024 GE as voters express their gratitude.
By my reckoning, even if a) happened (unlikely), then that's unlikely to lead to b) happening. But let's suspend disbelief and imagine they're triumphant and both a) and b) happen this year. Do they seriously believe that this is the main issue above all that would lead to c), and voters would just ignore every other grievance they have about the government?
It seems to me that the most obvious political solution for the Conservative party is to move to the 'far right', defining itself as being against the progressive consensus and coming up with some radical solutions to political problems. It seems to me that this is where they will probably go out of necessity and the likelihood of success depends on their ability to outperform others acting in this space like 'reform' and 'reclaim'. A lot would depend on finding the right leader, if they can find someone young and who looks like the future then they are in with a shot; but they still have to be accountable to their aging voter base who act as an obstacle as well as an asset.
The odious Honest Bob Jenrick fits the frame. He is as mad as Suella and is the right hue for the bigots and xenophobes they are trying to attract. They could even use the 1964 Smethwick General Election slogan to attract attention.
Surely to goodness as a nation we are way better educated to fall for hanging, flogging and hanging and flogging foreigners.
I used to think like this - but then had a bad shock in 2016 when I found out that a considerable part of the population are positive towards hanging and flogging and dislike foreigners (during my brief time as a failed remain campaigner). It is basically elite politicians that save us from our worst instincts.
What struck me about the evidence given by the Fujitsu and Post Office CEOs is - apart from its content - how appallingly badly briefed and prepared they were.
Nick Read in particular is just useless: how can a CEO not know that a confidentiality clause in a settlement agreement = a Non-Disclosure Agreement?
To call these people third-rate is to compliment them.
Comments
It's actually getting to the point where betting big odds on Labour is an attractive alternative to leaving your money on deposit.
Lee Anderson and Brendan Clarke Smith have resigned
Claiming as a result that my account is £61 in credit instead of £190.
What a bunch of lunatic scumbags.
Which police force do I call about this, because I have had the fuck enough?
Or are you a member of the Consumers Association by any chance?
As a matter of interest, what do we know of the various parties battlechests? How ready for an election are they, money-wise?
Could we see a Tory sub-20% VI in a poll though? I'd say less likely than a sub-40% Labour VI (which I expect at some point - not including the Telegraph MRP) but not out of the question.
https://twitter.com/idreesali114/status/1747310552274153617
It's not about the rate they're charging. They've charged me twice.
If the Conservative Party ends up about 1/3 nutter MP, they can get someone on the final shortlist. That seems like a relatively easy bar, sadly.
Then, unless the blow up during the member vote (always possible), they win with the members.
We could be in line for a huge realignment.
Stupid self indulgence that makes me nostalgic for the Brexit parliament where there was at least a real issue at stake.
Perhaps membership should be limited to those with an IQ above 80.
Although they played that game on the account at my father's place, issuing estimated readings (totally wrong, to the tune of £600 in their favour) even when they had twice had the correct readings.
You could shout at your MP. Oh wait its Amanda Milling. I doubt she'd understand.
But I'm in such a state of rage right now somebody might get seriously hurt, and I wouldn't really want that. They're stupid, but not I think malicious.
@JasonGroves1
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11m
60 Tory rebels on Rwanda include 10 former Cabinet ministers
Meanwhile, from today’s BIS SC hearing on the Post Office scandal, welcome news that Fujitsu accepts that it will have to cough up some £££, and shocking news that there is a subpostmaster who was imprisoned who has only just made contact with the campaign, following the TV drama.
Border Collies are smart.
The Scorpion and the Frog. The Party just can't help itself.
Are you sure that's entirely wise?
New Hampshire Primary - ARG
Haley 40
Trump 40
DeSantis 4
Ramaswamy 4
https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/polls/
It will be heard as a snide dig and an insult by CWF, the ERG and the Common Sense Group who will view, in turn, One Nation Conservative as europhile, Wet and quasi-socialist. And its not even true as Ken Clarke and Matthew Parris support the objectives of Rwanda.
Only comments that help are unifying ones around country, monarchy, conservation, sound money, sound values and sound government.
Nobody is pro Sunak , never has been , he sort of won the leadership by default . Doing slightly better in Leicester due to his heritage is not much compensation for losing millions of tory voters who see him as a ineffectual yes man
Within those constraints, what are the big ideas swirling around in radical conservative circles, costed (so not Trussism), thought out, deliverable, which are so different from the generality of the Overton Window. If they were around, would we not be talking about them?
To many of them, saying is more important than doing. Winning the vote more important than enacting things in the real world. Office more important than power.
It's a temptation to all political people and parties. Heck, the Lib Dems have been re-enacting being a real political party for a century or so. And Kinnock's 1985 conference speech remains all that needs to be said about that attitude.
But it's nature's way of telling us a party needs a break. A term or three to realise that opposition may allow you to speak, write and dream to your heart's content. But it also means that you don't get to make a single word of it happen.
Surely to goodness as a nation we are way better educated to fall for hanging, flogging and hanging and flogging foreigners.
Are we more, or less, informed? More, or less, prone to hopecasting?
We'll never know.
The next GE is not a done deal, and let’s not count our chickens until they are well and truly roosting post election.
If you think that things have to change then unthinkable solutions come in to play. It is like in Germany where politicians claiming 'we can do this' in 2015 (bringing in millions of refugees) are replaced in 2024 by politicians promising to deport millions of refugees.
What I can say for sure is politicians are so entrenched in ideology that they have become out of touch with real life outside the demands of their activist base. IE Councils devoting resources to being a 'Borough of sanctuary' for asylum seekers, providing immigrants with housing etc, when they themselves have massive waiting lists and people at their wits end with no housing, teenage single mothers being housed 200 miles away from family etc. Things like this get corrected in the fullness of time.
a) we get some flights off to Rwanda, then that will lead to:
b) the boats being stopped; and that will lead to:
c) the Tories winning the 2024 GE as voters express their gratitude.
By my reckoning, even if a) happened (unlikely), then that's unlikely to lead to b) happening. But let's suspend disbelief and imagine they're triumphant and both a) and b) happen this year. Do they seriously believe that this is the main issue above all that would lead to c), and voters would just ignore every other grievance they have about the government?
I find the whole thing completely baffling.
Nick Read in particular is just useless: how can a CEO not know that a confidentiality clause in a settlement agreement = a Non-Disclosure Agreement?
To call these people third-rate is to compliment them.