Sir Wyn's not believing Paula Vennell's bullshit is he?
Sir Wyn Nice-Oldthingbutmygodi'mbloodysharp.
He is also a credit to Wales
Lol! Love the accent. Can you tell which part? I lived in Cardiff for a while and wasn't a fan of the local brogue, but I love the sound of Pembrokeshire voices.
Sir Wyn's not believing Paula Vennell's bullshit is he?
I stopped watching. She may deserve it, but too painful for me to watch!
F*ck her. People lost their homes, livelihoods and lives because of her and her fellow Senior managers.
This may be painful for her. The pain her victims have endured has gone on for many years and STILL no restitution.
Has she said "I'm the real victim here."
Nearly.
Her argument boils down to 'well the Post Office is a bloody big organisation, as Chief Exec I cannot be expected to know everything, except the things that put me in a good light.'
Astonishingly, yes. Still out on bail, with a committal hearing due in early July.
I wouldn't expect him to be showing up for work any time soon, mind.
It’s the ol’ innocent until proven guilty thing. Were he to be found guilty and receive a custodial sentence of >1 year, he would cease to be an MP. But nothing happens while you’ve been charged and are awaiting trial.
Is Vennells claiming she didn't know the Post Office undertook its own prosecutions despite being CEO?
Yes.
"Vennells' response - that she has no recollection - doesn't seem to be accepted by those watching on. There are more than a few jeers, with one man laughing enough that breaks out into a brief coughing fit."
It's like watching a slow-motion car crash. Not sure I can watch much more.
Several Thick Of It quotes spring to mind (e.g. "Like watching a lion **** a sheep, but in a bad way."
This one.
Who was it that did your media training? Myra Hindley? It's terrible! All these hands all over the place! You were like a sweaty octopus trying to unhook a bra! It was like watching John Leslie at work!
It's like watching a slow-motion car crash. Not sure I can watch much more.
Several Thick Of It quotes spring to mind (e.g. "Like watching a lion **** a sheep, but in a bad way."
This one.
Who was it that did your media training? Myra Hindley? It's terrible! All these hands all over the place! You were like a sweaty octopus trying to unhook a bra! It was like watching John Leslie at work!
Sir Wyn's not believing Paula Vennell's bullshit is he?
I stopped watching. She may deserve it, but too painful for me to watch!
F*ck her. People lost their homes, livelihoods and lives because of her and her fellow Senior managers.
This may be painful for her. The pain her victims have endured has gone on for many years and STILL no restitution.
It's worse than most people imagine, Taz.
From the outset, the PO and its advisers have resisted every attempt to obtain justice for the SPMs, and it is still doing so. Witness for example yesterday's lamentable witness who palpably lied repeatedly about her role in the scandal. Or Ms Vennell's failure to release crucial documents until the last minute, thus hampering the work of the Inquiry and dragging it out longer than ever should have been necessary.
Sir Wyn's not believing Paula Vennell's bullshit is he?
I stopped watching. She may deserve it, but too painful for me to watch!
F*ck her. People lost their homes, livelihoods and lives because of her and her fellow Senior managers.
This may be painful for her. The pain her victims have endured has gone on for many years and STILL no restitution.
Has she said "I'm the real victim here."
Nearly.
Her argument boils down to 'well the Post Office is a bloody big organisation, as Chief Exec I cannot be expected to know everything, except the things that put me in a good light.'
Of course. How is a Chief Executive supposed to know what is being done in her name?
Sunak knows that inflation will be heading back up strongly by August 2024, when the July 2024 CPI is published. That's because of energy price base effects in the CPI (the old Energy Price Guarantee of £2,500 per average household lasted until June 2023 in the base).
Nonetheless I think that despite the inflation window, can he really dare to hold an election at this point, with his party being in deficit to over 20% in the polls?
One way or another, a decision on a July election needs to be taken now. I think he will tell them that in his view it's best to wait until late Autumn or Winter, but seek their view nonetheless. So today's meeting could be all about getting collective Cabinet buy-in to a decision to go long, in the hope that something will turn up and rely (that and an absolutely appalling out of date electoral register.) Go around the table and ask each member whether they should go now or wait, that sort of thing.
Worth noting that July 4 and June 27 are both slap in the middle of Euro 2024, which I suppose might be a pro or con.
June 27 being between the group stage and second round.
July 4 is between the second round and quarter-finals.
Scotland's historic record in major finals suggests a low probability of still being in the tournament by either date but there's always a first time for anything.
Rishi has just ruled out 27 June. But not 4 July...
Where/when did he rule out 27 June?
Just now in PMQs in response to Stephen Flynn. He said it would be in the second half of this year.
Although as noted above, July 4 is in the second half (and more realistic even if dissolution was announced today).
But at least as notable is that the above quote also rules out January 2025.
It's hard to see the rationale for July 4th.
That’s simple Rishi set a number of points that he promised to fix, inflation was one and that’s the only success he can point at now or at any point in the next six months
Sir Wyn's not believing Paula Vennell's bullshit is he?
I stopped watching. She may deserve it, but too painful for me to watch!
F*ck her. People lost their homes, livelihoods and lives because of her and her fellow Senior managers.
This may be painful for her. The pain her victims have endured has gone on for many years and STILL no restitution.
Has she said "I'm the real victim here."
Nearly.
Her argument boils down to 'well the Post Office is a bloody big organisation, as Chief Exec I cannot be expected to know everything, except the things that put me in a good light.'
Of course. How is a Chief Executive supposed to know what is being done in her name?
I don't understand how she got the job in the first place. She's clearly not the right person to run a large organisation.
The government and board were desperate to inject private sector "talent" into what was seen as a falling organisation. That most of them had no idea what they were getting into didn't seem to matter
Sir Wyn's not believing Paula Vennell's bullshit is he?
I stopped watching. She may deserve it, but too painful for me to watch!
F*ck her. People lost their homes, livelihoods and lives because of her and her fellow Senior managers.
This may be painful for her. The pain her victims have endured has gone on for many years and STILL no restitution.
It's worse than most people imagine, Taz.
From the outset, the PO and its advisers have resisted every attempt to obtain justice for the SPMs, and it is still doing so. Witness for example yesterday's lamentable witness who palpably lied repeatedly about her role in the scandal. Or Ms Vennell's failure to release crucial documents until the last minute, thus hampering the work of the Inquiry and dragging it out longer than ever should have been necessary.
Sir Wyn's not believing Paula Vennell's bullshit is he?
I stopped watching. She may deserve it, but too painful for me to watch!
F*ck her. People lost their homes, livelihoods and lives because of her and her fellow Senior managers.
This may be painful for her. The pain her victims have endured has gone on for many years and STILL no restitution.
It's worse than most people imagine, Taz.
From the outset, the PO and its advisers have resisted every attempt to obtain justice for the SPMs, and it is still doing so. Witness for example yesterday's lamentable witness who palpably lied repeatedly about her role in the scandal. Or Ms Vennell's failure to release crucial documents until the last minute, thus hampering the work of the Inquiry and dragging it out longer than ever should have been necessary.
So they have been more than wilfully obstructive. How on earth can they simply lie and claim what they now claim.
Vennells is clearly culpable but the press and media focus being on her is giving many of the others, if not a free ride, a far easier time of it.
Rishi has just ruled out 27 June. But not 4 July...
Where/when did he rule out 27 June?
Just now in PMQs in response to Stephen Flynn. He said it would be in the second half of this year.
Although as noted above, July 4 is in the second half (and more realistic even if dissolution was announced today).
But at least as notable is that the above quote also rules out January 2025.
It's hard to see the rationale for July 4th.
That’s simple Rishi set a number of points that he promised to fix, inflation was one and that’s the only success he can point at now or at any point in the next six months
Hence run now before something else bad happens.
i.e. Inflation starts going back up, which will happen in the CPI figures published in August 2024. See below.
Sky News has been interviewing some victims of the scandal. One has said that this was “an opportunity for her to show humanity” but they were not “real tears” and described it as “a mega-performance” and “lies from the start”.
Sir Wyn's not believing Paula Vennell's bullshit is he?
I stopped watching. She may deserve it, but too painful for me to watch!
F*ck her. People lost their homes, livelihoods and lives because of her and her fellow Senior managers.
This may be painful for her. The pain her victims have endured has gone on for many years and STILL no restitution.
It's worse than most people imagine, Taz.
From the outset, the PO and its advisers have resisted every attempt to obtain justice for the SPMs, and it is still doing so. Witness for example yesterday's lamentable witness who palpably lied repeatedly about her role in the scandal. Or Ms Vennell's failure to release crucial documents until the last minute, thus hampering the work of the Inquiry and dragging it out longer than ever should have been necessary.
And massive selected memory syndrome.
I was asking my wife about this as she used to have to go to employment tribunals as an HR Manager.
Her legal advisers advice was that she should never lie to a tribunal and be as truthful as possible but if she could not recall, or was confused about events, to simply say she could not remember.
Sir Wyn's not believing Paula Vennell's bullshit is he?
I stopped watching. She may deserve it, but too painful for me to watch!
F*ck her. People lost their homes, livelihoods and lives because of her and her fellow Senior managers.
This may be painful for her. The pain her victims have endured has gone on for many years and STILL no restitution.
It's worse than most people imagine, Taz.
From the outset, the PO and its advisers have resisted every attempt to obtain justice for the SPMs, and it is still doing so. Witness for example yesterday's lamentable witness who palpably lied repeatedly about her role in the scandal. Or Ms Vennell's failure to release crucial documents until the last minute, thus hampering the work of the Inquiry and dragging it out longer than ever should have been necessary.
So they have been more than wilfully obstructive. How on earth can they simply lie and claim what they now claim.
Vennells is clearly culpable but the press and media focus being on her is giving many of the others, if not a free ride, a far easier time of it.
It is outrageous.
The whole gang should be rounded up and prosecuted - rough justice, but no worse than they meted out.
Rishi has just ruled out 27 June. But not 4 July...
Where/when did he rule out 27 June?
Just now in PMQs in response to Stephen Flynn. He said it would be in the second half of this year.
Although as noted above, July 4 is in the second half (and more realistic even if dissolution was announced today).
But at least as notable is that the above quote also rules out January 2025.
It's hard to see the rationale for July 4th.
That’s simple Rishi set a number of points that he promised to fix, inflation was one and that’s the only success he can point at now or at any point in the next six months
Hence run now before something else bad happens.
i.e. Inflation starts going back up, which will happen in the CPI figures published in August 2024. See below.
Yes headline inflation will fall further this time next month due to base effects. And then rise slightly thereafter.
Sir Wyn's not believing Paula Vennell's bullshit is he?
I stopped watching. She may deserve it, but too painful for me to watch!
F*ck her. People lost their homes, livelihoods and lives because of her and her fellow Senior managers.
This may be painful for her. The pain her victims have endured has gone on for many years and STILL no restitution.
It's worse than most people imagine, Taz.
From the outset, the PO and its advisers have resisted every attempt to obtain justice for the SPMs, and it is still doing so. Witness for example yesterday's lamentable witness who palpably lied repeatedly about her role in the scandal. Or Ms Vennell's failure to release crucial documents until the last minute, thus hampering the work of the Inquiry and dragging it out longer than ever should have been necessary.
And massive selected memory syndrome.
I was asking my wife about this as she used to have to go to employment tribunals as an HR Manager.
Her legal advisers advice was that she should never lie to a tribunal and be as truthful as possible but if she could not recall, or was confused about events, to simply say she could not remember.
Of course good advice but an easy cop out too.
Sure. But when you repeatedly remember that which helps you, and repeatedly can't remember that which wouldn't, it looks a bit suss.
Sunak knows that inflation will be heading back up strongly by August 2024, when the July 2024 CPI is published. That's because of energy price base effects in the CPI (the old Energy Price Guarantee of £2,500 per average household lasted until June 2023 in the base).
Nonetheless I think that despite the inflation window, can he really dare to hold an election at this point, with his party being in deficit to over 20% in the polls?
One way or another, a decision on a July election needs to be taken now. I think he will tell them that in his view it's best to wait until late Autumn or Winter, but seek their view nonetheless. So today's meeting could be all about getting collective Cabinet buy-in to a decision to go long, in the hope that something will turn up and rely (that and an absolutely appalling out of date electoral register.) Go around the table and ask each member whether they should go now or wait, that sort of thing.
OTOH, growth should be pretty good for the rest of the year, interest rates will be cut, and wage rises will be running well above inflation. None of that guarantees an improvement, but it strengthens the case for waiting. IMHO.
Sir Wyn's not believing Paula Vennell's bullshit is he?
I stopped watching. She may deserve it, but too painful for me to watch!
F*ck her. People lost their homes, livelihoods and lives because of her and her fellow Senior managers.
This may be painful for her. The pain her victims have endured has gone on for many years and STILL no restitution.
It's worse than most people imagine, Taz.
From the outset, the PO and its advisers have resisted every attempt to obtain justice for the SPMs, and it is still doing so. Witness for example yesterday's lamentable witness who palpably lied repeatedly about her role in the scandal. Or Ms Vennell's failure to release crucial documents until the last minute, thus hampering the work of the Inquiry and dragging it out longer than ever should have been necessary.
And massive selected memory syndrome.
I was asking my wife about this as she used to have to go to employment tribunals as an HR Manager.
Her legal advisers advice was that she should never lie to a tribunal and be as truthful as possible but if she could not recall, or was confused about events, to simply say she could not remember.
Of course good advice but an easy cop out too.
Sure. But when you repeatedly remember that which helps you, and repeatedly can't remember that which wouldn't, it looks a bit suss.
Yup, I agree. Hence my last sentence. It does give people the chance to just cop out and not account for their deeds too.
Sir Wyn's not believing Paula Vennell's bullshit is he?
I stopped watching. She may deserve it, but too painful for me to watch!
F*ck her. People lost their homes, livelihoods and lives because of her and her fellow Senior managers.
This may be painful for her. The pain her victims have endured has gone on for many years and STILL no restitution.
It's worse than most people imagine, Taz.
From the outset, the PO and its advisers have resisted every attempt to obtain justice for the SPMs, and it is still doing so. Witness for example yesterday's lamentable witness who palpably lied repeatedly about her role in the scandal. Or Ms Vennell's failure to release crucial documents until the last minute, thus hampering the work of the Inquiry and dragging it out longer than ever should have been necessary.
And massive selected memory syndrome.
I was asking my wife about this as she used to have to go to employment tribunals as an HR Manager.
Her legal advisers advice was that she should never lie to a tribunal and be as truthful as possible but if she could not recall, or was confused about events, to simply say she could not remember.
Of course good advice but an easy cop out too.
Sure. But when you repeatedly remember that which helps you, and repeatedly can't remember that which wouldn't, it looks a bit suss.
Sir Wyn's not believing Paula Vennell's bullshit is he?
I stopped watching. She may deserve it, but too painful for me to watch!
F*ck her. People lost their homes, livelihoods and lives because of her and her fellow Senior managers.
This may be painful for her. The pain her victims have endured has gone on for many years and STILL no restitution.
It's worse than most people imagine, Taz.
From the outset, the PO and its advisers have resisted every attempt to obtain justice for the SPMs, and it is still doing so. Witness for example yesterday's lamentable witness who palpably lied repeatedly about her role in the scandal. Or Ms Vennell's failure to release crucial documents until the last minute, thus hampering the work of the Inquiry and dragging it out longer than ever should have been necessary.
So they have been more than wilfully obstructive. How on earth can they simply lie and claim what they now claim.
Vennells is clearly culpable but the press and media focus being on her is giving many of the others, if not a free ride, a far easier time of it.
It is outrageous.
The whole gang should be rounded up and prosecuted - rough justice, but no worse than they meted out.
The prosecution seems a bit excessive just give them10 years each and make them liable so that some of the costs can be recovered via their pensions, house….
And then a few tens of thousands of hours of community service, cleaning the homes of their victims every week as home helps
Actually yep - just 50 hours of community service per week for the next 15 years feels suitable punishment
Sir Wyn's not believing Paula Vennell's bullshit is he?
I stopped watching. She may deserve it, but too painful for me to watch!
F*ck her. People lost their homes, livelihoods and lives because of her and her fellow Senior managers.
This may be painful for her. The pain her victims have endured has gone on for many years and STILL no restitution.
It's worse than most people imagine, Taz.
From the outset, the PO and its advisers have resisted every attempt to obtain justice for the SPMs, and it is still doing so. Witness for example yesterday's lamentable witness who palpably lied repeatedly about her role in the scandal. Or Ms Vennell's failure to release crucial documents until the last minute, thus hampering the work of the Inquiry and dragging it out longer than ever should have been necessary.
So they have been more than wilfully obstructive. How on earth can they simply lie and claim what they now claim.
Vennells is clearly culpable but the press and media focus being on her is giving many of the others, if not a free ride, a far easier time of it.
Been at the Met Police briefing on Grenfell investigation:
- Charging files will not go to prosecutors until 2026 - Decision on charges not until end of 2026 - Trials will not start for at least six months after that
Will be over a decade after fire before anyone is in court
This seems a spectacularly unlikely reaction, had it been true she was unaware of the PO's prosecutorial capacity and procedures at the time.
..Vennells says she personally spoke to John Scott, the Post Office’s former head of security, after the feedback from Second Sight and the mediation scheme.
“When you spoke to John Scott about this, did you say John, I’ve been in the organisation for five or six years, I didn’t know you had a team of 100 people that were investigating up and down the country sub-postmasters and sending them to prison. How come I didn’t know?” Beer asks.
Laughter can be heard in the inquiry room as Beer poses the question.
She says she spoke to him seriously about the culture at the Post Office and that the sub-postmasters were really important to us....
She wasn't in with much of a chance - most complex Bishopric in England, no Episcopal experience, and up against a former Chief Nursing Officer of England.
You are surely not suggesting they select on merit? How odd.
I'm not being drawn into a conversation around how Bishops are selected in the CofE.
It's 1.02pm, so I only have 11:58 hours available before I turn into a pumpkin at midnight, and it is not long enough time.
Perhaps they have just calculated that there would be no room for tax cuts in the autumn, so that they need to go now?
The rumours started yesterday, when people were still expecting a larger decrease in inflation, though...
I agree that sooner rather than later is better for the country, and probably also better for the Tory party - but I can't understand why they would have suddenly decided that July is the best date.
Sunak knows that inflation will be heading back up strongly by August 2024, when the July 2024 CPI is published. That's because of energy price base effects in the CPI (the old Energy Price Guarantee of £2,500 per average household lasted until June 2023 in the base).
Nonetheless I think that despite the inflation window, can he really dare to hold an election at this point, with his party being in deficit to over 20% in the polls?
One way or another, a decision on a July election needs to be taken now. I think he will tell them that in his view it's best to wait until late Autumn or Winter, but seek their view nonetheless. So today's meeting could be all about getting collective Cabinet buy-in to a decision to go long, in the hope that something will turn up and rely (that and an absolutely appalling out of date electoral register.) Go around the table and ask each member whether they should go now or wait, that sort of thing.
OTOH, growth should be pretty good for the rest of the year, interest rates will be cut, and wage rises will be running well above inflation. None of that guarantees an improvement, but it strengthens the case for waiting. IMHO.
Could be true but who will care? 'Pretty good growth' for this Govt equals a disaster under most others. It just won't feed through in time to influence voters. The 'feel-good factor' is going to be very hard to conjure up once we are into October. Even more difficult in November. Totally impossible in January.
She's up for three days - hard to see this going on that long?
Yes, because even the most minor witnesses usually get a whole day, and I expect the other lawyers will probably spend the final day asking their questions.
From twitter - not me but it’s a better explanation than anything else
Watching Paula Vennels at Post Office inquiry. Scandal didn’t start on her watch. She could have fixed it. Says as CEO I didn’t know, but stacks of evidence disproves it. Fixing it would have affected profitability. That would have affected her bonus. Cover up for financial gain
I don't understand how she got the job in the first place. She's clearly not the right person to run a large organisation.
Her response to a problem was to bury it as deeply as possible, and not know very much. She is quite good at awarding large salaries and bonuses to Proper People.
These are the ideal characteristics for the leaders of major organisations. According to the leadership of large organisation.
On the Harold Wilson in 1970 point does anyone remember an online bit of alternative history that Anthony Wells wrote called “If Gordon Banks Had Played”.
It theorised that if he had played England would have won and the resulting euphoria would have seen Harold Wilson re-elected. Heath was deposed and Enoch Powell elected as leader and eventually Prime Minister. Britain then goes down a kind of Putinist route with a full out war in Northern Ireland. It was rather far fetched but it was brilliantly told as a collection of fake bees stories, memoir extracts, government reports etc.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 20m If Rishi Sunak doesn’t call an election today it will be up there with Callaghan in ‘78, Brown ‘07 and Chelsea ‘24 for bottle jobs…
Perhaps they have just calculated that there would be no room for tax cuts in the autumn, so that they need to go now?
The rumours started yesterday, when people were still expecting a larger decrease in inflation, though...
I agree that sooner rather than later is better for the country, and probably also better for the Tory party - but I can't understand why they would have suddenly decided that July is the best date.
If the July inflation figure is on the rise July 4th avoids that. If there are no Rwanda flights due to Nor'Irn they can still be promised as imminent.
That said Sunak needs his two year anniversary legacy, and better still the history books recording Rishi Sunak, PM from 2022 to 2025.
This seems a spectacularly unlikely reaction, had it been true she was unaware of the PO's prosecutorial capacity and procedures at the time.
..Vennells says she personally spoke to John Scott, the Post Office’s former head of security, after the feedback from Second Sight and the mediation scheme.
“When you spoke to John Scott about this, did you say John, I’ve been in the organisation for five or six years, I didn’t know you had a team of 100 people that were investigating up and down the country sub-postmasters and sending them to prison. How come I didn’t know?” Beer asks.
Laughter can be heard in the inquiry room as Beer poses the question.
She says she spoke to him seriously about the culture at the Post Office and that the sub-postmasters were really important to us....
The met should interrupt the inquiry and arrest her and a few others for perjury.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 20m If Rishi Sunak doesn’t call an election today it will be up there with Callaghan in ‘78, Brown ‘07 and Chelsea ‘24 for bottle jobs…
Neither, however, was a good option. The best that Callaghan could hope for was a hung Parliament, and the best that Brown could hope for was a very small majority.
She wasn't in with much of a chance - most complex Bishopric in England, no Episcopal experience, and up against a former Chief Nursing Officer of England.
You are surely not suggesting they select on merit? How odd.
I'm not being drawn into a conversation around how Bishops are selected in the CofE.
It's 1.02pm, so I only have 11:58 hours available before I turn into a pumpkin at midnight, and it is not long enough time.
She wasn't in with much of a chance - most complex Bishopric in England, no Episcopal experience, and up against a former Chief Nursing Officer of England.
You are surely not suggesting they select on merit? How odd.
I'm not being drawn into a conversation around how Bishops are selected in the CofE.
It's 1.02pm, so I only have 11:58 hours available before I turn into a pumpkin at midnight, and it is not long enough time.
The relevant episode of "Yes Prime Minister" provides all the details one might require.
Sir Wyn's not believing Paula Vennell's bullshit is he?
I stopped watching. She may deserve it, but too painful for me to watch!
F*ck her. People lost their homes, livelihoods and lives because of her and her fellow Senior managers.
This may be painful for her. The pain her victims have endured has gone on for many years and STILL no restitution.
It's worse than most people imagine, Taz.
From the outset, the PO and its advisers have resisted every attempt to obtain justice for the SPMs, and it is still doing so. Witness for example yesterday's lamentable witness who palpably lied repeatedly about her role in the scandal. Or Ms Vennell's failure to release crucial documents until the last minute, thus hampering the work of the Inquiry and dragging it out longer than ever should have been necessary.
So they have been more than wilfully obstructive. How on earth can they simply lie and claim what they now claim.
Vennells is clearly culpable but the press and media focus being on her is giving many of the others, if not a free ride, a far easier time of it.
It is outrageous.
The whole gang should be rounded up and prosecuted - rough justice, but no worse than they meted out.
The prosecution seems a bit excessive just give them10 years each and make them liable so that some of the costs can be recovered via their pensions, house….
And then a few tens of thousands of hours of community service, cleaning the homes of their victims every week as home helps
Actually yep - just 50 hours of community service per week for the next 15 years feels suitable punishment
I propose a Bill of Attainder in the Commons.
“That the management of the Post Office between date X and date Y, be a declared a Criminal and Corrupt Organisation. Membership of this organisation shall incur a minimum penalty of life in prison.
Appeals shall be heard by a judicial committee consisting of those post office employees to whom the recent pardons were applied. After a waiting period of a decade.”
On the Harold Wilson in 1970 point does anyone remember an online bit of alternative history that Anthony Wells wrote called “If Gordon Banks Had Played”.
It theorised that if he had played England would have won and the resulting euphoria would have seen Harold Wilson re-elected. Heath was deposed and Enoch Powell elected as leader and eventually Prime Minister. Britain then goes down a kind of Putinist route with a full out war in Northern Ireland. It was rather far fetched but it was brilliantly told as a collection of fake bees stories, memoir extracts, government reports etc.
On the Harold Wilson in 1970 point does anyone remember an online bit of alternative history that Anthony Wells wrote called “If Gordon Banks Had Played”.
It theorised that if he had played England would have won and the resulting euphoria would have seen Harold Wilson re-elected. Heath was deposed and Enoch Powell elected as leader and eventually Prime Minister. Britain then goes down a kind of Putinist route with a full out war in Northern Ireland. It was rather far fetched but it was brilliantly told as a collection of fake bees stories, memoir extracts, government reports etc.
On the Harold Wilson in 1970 point does anyone remember an online bit of alternative history that Anthony Wells wrote called “If Gordon Banks Had Played”.
It theorised that if he had played England would have won and the resulting euphoria would have seen Harold Wilson re-elected. Heath was deposed and Enoch Powell elected as leader and eventually Prime Minister. Britain then goes down a kind of Putinist route with a full out war in Northern Ireland. It was rather far fetched but it was brilliantly told as a collection of fake bees stories, memoir extracts, government reports etc.
Perhaps they have just calculated that there would be no room for tax cuts in the autumn, so that they need to go now?
The rumours started yesterday, when people were still expecting a larger decrease in inflation, though...
I agree that sooner rather than later is better for the country, and probably also better for the Tory party - but I can't understand why they would have suddenly decided that July is the best date.
Pesto, so usual caveats, but...
There is only one reason why I take gossip of an earlier election - 4 July or even late September- more seriously than I have taken previous rumours, which is that the Treasury is now clear that there is zero fiscal room for £10bn in tax cuts to be announced at a Chancellor event in the autumn - which was supposed to be the benign precursor to a November election (today’s worse-than expected-borrowing figures are only some of the data which has emptied the kitty)? So if there is no actual giveaway in September, why not hold the election earlier? For more on this, listen to tomorrow’s Rest is Money podcast conversation with brilliant @TorstenBell
I predict parliament will dissolve May 30th or June 4th for a July 11th election. He'll recall them from Whitsun to wash up.
There's the Whitsun recess from 23rd of May until 4th of June, so it would have to be the latter, surely? Recall without some sort of national emergency just look desperate.
(Which makes July 11th the most likely July date to my mind, but it'd make things very awkward in NI. Not that Sunak gives a fuck about that, of course...)
On the Harold Wilson in 1970 point does anyone remember an online bit of alternative history that Anthony Wells wrote called “If Gordon Banks Had Played”.
It theorised that if he had played England would have won and the resulting euphoria would have seen Harold Wilson re-elected. Heath was deposed and Enoch Powell elected as leader and eventually Prime Minister. Britain then goes down a kind of Putinist route with a full out war in Northern Ireland. It was rather far fetched but it was brilliantly told as a collection of fake bees stories, memoir extracts, government reports etc.
Nice story but 1) had Banks played Brazil would have propbaly still won the world cup, 2) had England won the world cup, Heath would have still won the election (does football really influence voting behaviour to any significant event?) 3) Had Heath stood down in as LOTO in late 1971, Powell would not have become Tory leader.
Sir Wyn's not believing Paula Vennell's bullshit is he?
I stopped watching. She may deserve it, but too painful for me to watch!
F*ck her. People lost their homes, livelihoods and lives because of her and her fellow Senior managers.
This may be painful for her. The pain her victims have endured has gone on for many years and STILL no restitution.
Has she said "I'm the real victim here."
Nearly.
Her argument boils down to 'well the Post Office is a bloody big organisation, as Chief Exec I cannot be expected to know everything, except the things that put me in a good light.'
Of course. How is a Chief Executive supposed to know what is being done in her name?
Older PBers will recall we once had a Prime Minister who did not know illicit parties took place in his home office every week.
I don't understand how she got the job in the first place. She's clearly not the right person to run a large organisation.
Her response to a problem was to bury it as deeply as possible, and not know very much. She is quite good at awarding large salaries and bonuses to Proper People.
These are the ideal characteristics for the leaders of major organisations. According to the leadership of large organisation.
I am of course biased, having spent my entire career and much of my spare time in the public sector, but what so often struck me about the senior arrivals from the private sector is that they had the mindset that the world is really simple and you just had to find the right nail and have the determination to hit it hard enough with the hammer you were already carrying. They didn't seem to have much concept of consequences or of conflicting stakeholders and almost blamed those of us there already for having either deliberately made things complicated or for pretending that things were when they weren't, or for just being numpties unable or unwilling to use a hammer. Many of them didn't last that long and moved on, taking their broken hammer with them
On the Harold Wilson in 1970 point does anyone remember an online bit of alternative history that Anthony Wells wrote called “If Gordon Banks Had Played”.
It theorised that if he had played England would have won and the resulting euphoria would have seen Harold Wilson re-elected. Heath was deposed and Enoch Powell elected as leader and eventually Prime Minister. Britain then goes down a kind of Putinist route with a full out war in Northern Ireland. It was rather far fetched but it was brilliantly told as a collection of fake bees stories, memoir extracts, government reports etc.
Nice story but 1) had Banks played Brazil would have propbaly still won the world cup, 2) had England won the world cup, Heath would have still won the election (does football really influence voting behaviour to any significant event?) 3) Had Heath stood down in as LOTO in late 1971, Powell would not have become Tory leader.
Agreed although football is probably just as likely to affect voting intentions as a set of inflation figures is.
I predict parliament will dissolve May 30th or June 4th for a July 11th election. He'll recall them from Whitsun to wash up.
There's the Whitsun recess from 23rd of May until 4th of June, so it would have to be the latter, surely? Recall without some sort of national emergency just look desperate.
(Which makes July 11th the most likely July date to my mind, but it'd make things very awkward in NI. Not that Sunak gives a fuck about that, of course...)
Why would it be awkward in Northern Ireland? The usual stuff will happen on the Twelfth as happens every year.
Comments
Her argument boils down to 'well the Post Office is a bloody big organisation, as Chief Exec I cannot be expected to know everything, except the things that put me in a good light.'
BBC blog
Who was it that did your media training? Myra Hindley? It's terrible! All these hands all over the place! You were like a sweaty octopus trying to unhook a bra! It was like watching John Leslie at work!
[Sorry, too slow!]
From the outset, the PO and its advisers have resisted every attempt to obtain justice for the SPMs, and it is still doing so. Witness for example yesterday's lamentable witness who palpably lied repeatedly about her role in the scandal. Or Ms Vennell's failure to release crucial documents until the last minute, thus hampering the work of the Inquiry and dragging it out longer than ever should have been necessary.
Nonetheless I think that despite the inflation window, can he really dare to hold an election at this point, with his party being in deficit to over 20% in the polls?
One way or another, a decision on a July election needs to be taken now. I think he will tell them that in his view it's best to wait until late Autumn or Winter, but seek their view nonetheless. So today's meeting could be all about getting collective Cabinet buy-in to a decision to go long, in the hope that something will turn up and rely (that and an absolutely appalling out of date electoral register.) Go around the table and ask each member whether they should go now or wait, that sort of thing.
Whereas the evidence shows that she should have known back in 2008.
"I should have known" is a regular mantra.
June 27 being between the group stage and second round.
July 4 is between the second round and quarter-finals.
Scotland's historic record in major finals suggests a low probability of still being in the tournament by either date but there's always a first time for anything.
Has Rev Mrs Vennells walked out?
Hence run now before something else bad happens.
Vennells is clearly culpable but the press and media focus being on her is giving many of the others, if not a free ride, a far easier time of it.
It is outrageous.
Her legal advisers advice was that she should never lie to a tribunal and be as truthful as possible but if she could not recall, or was confused about events, to simply say she could not remember.
Of course good advice but an easy cop out too.
July the betting favourite still.
@MartinSLewis
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35m
Wow the rumours a general election will be announced today seem to be getting stronger and stronger.
And then a few tens of thousands of hours of community service, cleaning the homes of their victims every week as home helps
Actually yep - just 50 hours of community service per week for the next 15 years feels suitable punishment
Some say insanity is doing the same thing, repeatedly, and expecting different result.
I say that @Cyclefree should create a template for headers on scandals and corruption and save on keyboard wear.
..Vennells says she personally spoke to John Scott, the Post Office’s former head of security, after the feedback from Second Sight and the mediation scheme.
“When you spoke to John Scott about this, did you say John, I’ve been in the organisation for five or six years, I didn’t know you had a team of 100 people that were investigating up and down the country sub-postmasters and sending them to prison. How come I didn’t know?” Beer asks.
Laughter can be heard in the inquiry room as Beer poses the question.
She says she spoke to him seriously about the culture at the Post Office and that the sub-postmasters were really important to us....
It's 1.02pm, so I only have 11:58 hours available before I turn into a pumpkin at midnight, and it is not long enough time.
On second thoughts...
I agree that sooner rather than later is better for the country, and probably also better for the Tory party - but I can't understand why they would have suddenly decided that July is the best date.
Watching Paula Vennels at Post Office inquiry. Scandal didn’t start on her watch. She could have fixed it. Says as CEO I didn’t know, but stacks of evidence disproves it. Fixing it would have affected profitability. That would have affected her bonus. Cover up for financial gain
These are the ideal characteristics for the leaders of major organisations. According to the leadership of large organisation.
It theorised that if he had played England would have won and the resulting euphoria would have seen Harold Wilson re-elected. Heath was deposed and Enoch Powell elected as leader and eventually Prime Minister. Britain then goes down a kind of Putinist route with a full out war in Northern Ireland. It was rather far fetched but it was brilliantly told as a collection of fake bees stories, memoir extracts, government reports etc.
@DPJHodges
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20m
If Rishi Sunak doesn’t call an election today it will be up there with Callaghan in ‘78, Brown ‘07 and Chelsea ‘24 for bottle jobs…
That said Sunak needs his two year anniversary legacy, and better still the history books recording Rishi Sunak, PM from 2022 to 2025.
Remind me what organisation she ran again?
(She wouldn't, would she?)
#pedanticbetting.com
"2nd half of 2024"
January 2025 nailed on
“That the management of the Post Office between date X and date Y, be a declared a Criminal and Corrupt Organisation. Membership of this organisation shall incur a minimum penalty of life in prison.
Appeals shall be heard by a judicial committee consisting of those post office employees to whom the recent pardons were applied. After a waiting period of a decade.”
Wilson OTOH, made the mistake of going too early.
There is only one reason why I take gossip of an earlier election - 4 July or even late September- more seriously than I have taken previous rumours, which is that the Treasury is now clear that there is zero fiscal room for £10bn in tax cuts to be announced at a Chancellor event in the autumn - which was supposed to be the benign precursor to a November election (today’s worse-than expected-borrowing figures are only some of the data which has emptied the kitty)? So if there is no actual giveaway in September, why not hold the election earlier? For more on this, listen to tomorrow’s Rest is Money podcast conversation with brilliant @TorstenBell
https://twitter.com/Peston/status/1793251625286471994
Maybe Sunak has concluded that the game is up, that there's no Cunning Plan to save him, that Things Can Only Get A Lot Worse.
Doesn't make sense. Far better to wait til the last moment and pray for a black swan or the boats to stop coming coz Rwanda
As I have said before, turkeys don't vote for Christmas to be brought forward, this seems to be exactly that
(Which makes July 11th the most likely July date to my mind, but it'd make things very awkward in NI. Not that Sunak gives a fuck about that, of course...)
He says Rishi needs time for the excellent economic news to filter through. "We don't need the uncertainty of a General Election".
JOURNALESE COMMITTEE EMERGENCY RULING: Election speculation can now be described as "febrile". Please amend earlier descriptions of it as "mounting".
Treasury source dismisses rumours about Jeremy Hunt.
“It’s nonsense, he’s 100% not resigning”.
Source adds: “he’s 100% standing”, making the rumour about an election feel more solid!