Apologies if already mentioned but the failure to demote Andrea Leadsom stands out for me how feeble May has been in this shambles.
The only practical way May could satisfy those calling for her to “stamp her authority” would have been to sack one or more of the key ministers (Boris, Hammond, Davis) thus making for herself a powerful enemy on the back benches itching for the leadership role. It’s a mystery why she chose not to do this. Those complaining about lack of continuity in sacking Greening (who declined another role, sacking herself) don’t appear to apply the same logic to Fox or Leadsome.....
Personally, I would have said adieu to Dr Liam Fox, and moved Hammond out of the Treasury. (I would have offered him the Business role, and if he didn't want it, he could return to the backbenches.)
Boris is a difficult one: I don't think he enhances the prestige or standing of the United Kingdom, but he's a difficult man to sack. That being said, having demonstrated a willingness to fire senior people would have put Boris on notice.
I would have been tempted to promote Gove, but I think he's doing a good job in a ministry that needs an intelligent man at the helm through Brexit.
Greening, I would have kept in place. Leadsom is useless, goodbye. I would have promoted Kwasi Kwarteng into the Cabinet, perhaps taking Fox's role. People don't hate Kwasi, and he's really smart, which would be an enormous relief to both our trading partners and the civil servants at the DfIT.
If “talent” was the only consideration then I’d agree - but much as a pilot’s first responsibility is to “fly the plane” a PM’s job is to “keep the show on the road” - sacking two prominent leavers while promoting Lidington would have made that more difficult. It’s a balancing act.
The only prominent Leaver who should definitely (err) Leave is Dr Liam Fox.
How about this:
Gove (Leaver) promoted to CoE Hammond (Remainer) demoted to Business Dr Liam Fox (Leaver) to back benches Kwasi Kwarteng (Leaver) to DfIT JRM (Leaver) to Leader of the House Andrea Leadsom (Leaver) to her own house Rory Stewart (Remainer) to DfID Gavin Williamson (no idea) to DEFRA Penny Morduant (Leaver) to Defence
(And for the record, I think we should be looking beyond Leave and Remain. Rory Stewart was a Remainer and deserves a chance, for example. I care far more about competence.)
Did you know that what he was advocating was a reunified Germany as part of a 'neutral zone' as an alternative to unilateral disarmament? Adenauer regarded him as 'anathema', with good reason (https://books.google.com/books?id=LymHDAAAQBAJ).
Apologies if already mentioned but the failure to demote Andrea Leadsom stands out for me how feeble May has been in this shambles.
The only practical way May could satisfy those calling for her to “stamp her authority” would have been to sack one or more of the key ministers (Boris, Hammond, Davis) thus making for herself a powerful enemy on the back benches itching for the leadership role. It’s a mystery why she chose not to do this. Those complaining about lack of continuity in sacking Greening (who declined another role, sacking herself) don’t appear to apply the same logic to Fox or Leadsome.....
Personally, I would have said adieu to Dr Liam Fox, and moved Hammond out of the Treasury. (I would have offered him the Business role, and if he didn't want it, he could return to the backbenches.)
Boris is a difficult one: I don't think he enhances the prestige or standing of the United Kingdom, but he's a difficult man to sack. That being said, having demonstrated a willingness to fire senior people would have put Boris on notice.
I would have been tempted to promote Gove, but I think he's doing a good job in a ministry that needs an intelligent man at the helm through Brexit.
Greening, I would have kept in place. Leadsom is useless, goodbye. I would have promoted Kwasi Kwarteng into the Cabinet, perhaps taking Fox's role. People don't hate Kwasi, and he's really smart, which would be an enormous relief to both our trading partners and the civil servants at the DfIT.
If “talent” was the only consideration then I’d agree - but much as a pilot’s first responsibility is to “fly the plane” a PM’s job is to “keep the show on the road” - sacking two prominent leavers while promoting Lidington would have made that more difficult. It’s a balancing act.
I care far more about competence.
If May was in a stronger position she might well have been bolder, meanwhile her main job is 'to keep the show on the road' - nothing in this reshuffle makes that less likely. Minister didn't want new job & resigned is hardly up there with Howe or Lawson.....
Brexit isn't anywhere near the top issue for Labour voters the same way it is for Conservative voters or for many on here. That attempted wedge in the Labour support against Corbyn has been tried multiple times and failed miserably because it isn't the main issue.
The sane moiety of the Labour party also know that, despite his intimations of immortality, JC and his attendant project isn't going to be around for ever. At some point the moderates will be back in control of the party and in government to begin the work of getting us back in the EU.
Start of public fractures in labour as Corbyn confirms single market exit.
Now where are all those labour supporters who expect Corbyn to engineer a remain position
Isn't Corbyn just reaffirming what the manifesto said,
Labour wants all the benefits of being in the single market without being a member of the single market as that would mean keeping freedom of movement.
And they presumably want to stay in a customs union with the EU/EEA but not in the customs union of the EU/EEA.
I think it's called keeping everyone happy and promising the undeliverable!
Chukka walking out of the PLP tonight is the first public display of discord
Lol -Chukka has form for flouncing and not following through on action.
Chuka sees himself as the Messiah of pro European and metropolitan liberals, he will bide his time in the Wilderness until he is called to lead his party back to the fabled centre ground and his country back to the promised land of the single market!
This is probably the biggest story of the day as it shows just how frit the government is of the consequences of Brexit.
Very slowly, as the clock ticks down, the consequences are becoming starker. That’s why we’re heading for a very soft, fluffy, bouncy departure that will be all about seeking to hide away the multiple concessions the government will make to stop us falling off the cliff. It will be a lesson in negotiating with parties that hold all the cards.
Nah, Jeremy Corbyn has her boxed in. Any "betrayal" will be down to her and her party alone.
Start of public fractures in labour as Corbyn confirms single market exit.
Now where are all those labour supporters who expect Corbyn to engineer a remain position
Isn't Corbyn just reaffirming what the manifesto said,
Labour wants all the benefits of being in the single market without being a member of the single market as that would mean keeping freedom of movement.
And they presumably want to stay in a customs union with the EU/EEA but not in the customs union of the EU/EEA.
I think it's called keeping everyone happy and promising the undeliverable!
Chukka walking out of the PLP tonight is the first public display of discord
Lol -Chukka has form for flouncing and not following through on action.
Chuka sees himself as the Messiah of pro European and metropolitan liberals, he will bide his time in the Wilderness until he is called to lead his party back to the fabled centre ground and his country back to the promised land of the single market!
I thought that was David Miliband's job.
Little do they know the Tories will cut them off at the knees by advocating joining the Euro.
Reshuffles only work in achieving their objective (strengthening the PM, renewing the government, reinvigorating the delivery of policy, improving the country) if the PM has the strength to move people to the positions she wants them in, on pain of being sacked if they say no. But sacking people is dangerously difficult when there is no majority and when any increase in the number of disgruntled backbench former ministers is inherently dangerous to the parliamentary arithmetic. Thus the fact that this reshuffle has been a shambles is a direct consequence of the fact that the general election itself was a shambles.
I am increasingly torn between the fact that we have a weak and dangerously incompetent prime minister, and the fact that one of my best friends is one of her closest advisors.
Start of public fractures in labour as Corbyn confirms single market exit.
Now where are all those labour supporters who expect Corbyn to engineer a remain position
Isn't Corbyn just reaffirming what the manifesto said,
Labour wants all the benefits of being in the single market without being a member of the single market as that would mean keeping freedom of movement.
And they presumably want to stay in a customs union with the EU/EEA but not in the customs union of the EU/EEA.
I think it's called keeping everyone happy and promising the undeliverable!
Chukka walking out of the PLP tonight is the first public display of discord
Lol -Chukka has form for flouncing and not following through on action.
Chuka sees himself as the Messiah of pro European and metropolitan liberals, he will bide his time in the Wilderness until he is called to lead his party back to the fabled centre ground and his country back to the promised land of the single market!
I thought that was David Miliband's job.
Little do they know the Tories will cut them off at the knees by advocating joining the Euro.
Any of the “rising stars” Euro advocates?
I thought that was the preserve of “yesterday’s men”? (Clarke, Heseltine....)
Start of public fractures in labour as Corbyn confirms single market exit.
Now where are all those labour supporters who expect Corbyn to engineer a remain position
Isn't Corbyn just reaffirming what the manifesto said,
Labour wants all the benefits of being in the single market without being a member of the single market as that would mean keeping freedom of movement.
And they presumably want to stay in a customs union with the EU/EEA but not in the customs union of the EU/EEA.
I think it's called keeping everyone happy and promising the undeliverable!
Chukka walking out of the PLP tonight is the first public display of discord
Lol -Chukka has form for flouncing and not following through on action.
Chuka sees himself as the Messiah of pro European and metropolitan liberals, he will bide his time in the Wilderness until he is called to lead his party back to the fabled centre ground and his country back to the promised land of the single market!
I thought that was David Miliband's job.
Little do they know the Tories will cut them off at the knees by advocating joining the Euro.
Any of the “rising stars” Euro advocates?
“The statesman's task is to hear God's footsteps marching through history, and to try and catch on to His coattails as He marches past.”
I'm sure there's a statesman to be found among them somewhere.
Reshuffles only work in achieving their objective (strengthening the PM, renewing the government, reinvigorating the delivery of policy, improving the country) if the PM has the strength to move people to the positions she wants them in, on pain of being sacked if they say no. But sacking people is dangerously difficult when there is no majority and when any increase in the number of disgruntled backbench former ministers is inherently dangerous to the parliamentary arithmetic. Thus the fact that this reshuffle has been a shambles is a direct consequence of the fact that the general election itself was a shambles.
I am increasingly torn between the fact that we have a weak and dangerously incompetent prime minister, and the fact that one of my best friends is one of her closest advisors.
She would have been better off doing nothing than whatever the fuck it was that reshuffle was supposed to be.
Apologies if already mentioned but the failure to demote Andrea Leadsom stands out for me how feeble May has been in this shambles.
The only practical way May could satisfy those calling for her to “stamp her authority” would have been to sack one or more of the key ministers (Boris, Hammond, Davis) thus making for herself a powerful enemy on the back benches itching for the leadership role. It’s a mystery why she chose not to do this. Those complaining about lack of continuity in sacking Greening (who declined another role, sacking herself) don’t appear to apply the same logic to Fox or Leadsome.....
Personally, I would have said adieu to Dr Liam Fox, and moved Hammond out of the Treasury. (I would have offered him the Business role, and if he didn't want it, he could return to the backbenches.)
Boris is a difficult one: I don't think he enhances the prestige or standing of the United Kingdom, but he's a difficult man to sack. That being said, having demonstrated a willingness to fire senior people would have put Boris on notice.
I would have been tempted to promote Gove, but I think he's doing a good job in a ministry that needs an intelligent man at the helm through Brexit.
Greening, I would have kept in place. Leadsom is useless, goodbye. I would have promoted Kwasi Kwarteng into the Cabinet, perhaps taking Fox's role. People don't hate Kwasi, and he's really smart, which would be an enormous relief to both our trading partners and the civil servants at the DfIT.
If “talent” was the only consideration then I’d agree - but much as a pilot’s first responsibility is to “fly the plane” a PM’s job is to “keep the show on the road” - sacking two prominent leavers while promoting Lidington would have made that more difficult. It’s a balancing act.
I care far more about competence.
If May was in a stronger position she might well have been bolder, meanwhile her main job is 'to keep the show on the road' - nothing in this reshuffle makes that less likely. Minister didn't want new job & resigned is hardly up there with Howe or Lawson.....
And the rationale of a job switch (in both directions) between Education and Work & Pensions, after a year in post, was what, precisely ? Your dismissive comment hardly addresses the question of competence - though it does seem to echo May's attitude towards her ministers (in the cases where she actually has the capacity to exercise power over them).
Apologies if already mentioned but the failure to demote Andrea Leadsom stands out for me how feeble May has been in this shambles.
The only practical way May could satisfy those calling for her to “stamp her authority” would have been to sack one or more of the key ministers (Boris, Hammond, Davis) thus making for herself a powerful enemy on the back benches itching for the leadership role. It’s a mystery why she chose not to do this. Those complaining about lack of continuity in sacking Greening (who declined another role, sacking herself) don’t appear to apply the same logic to Fox or Leadsome.....
Personally, I would have said adieu to Dr Liam Fox, and moved Hammond out of the Treasury. (I would have offered him the Business role, and if he didn't want it, he could return to the backbenches.)
Boris is a difficult one: I don't think he enhances the prestige or standing of the United Kingdom, but he's a difficult man to sack. That being said, having demonstrated a willingness to fire senior people would have put Boris on notice.
I would have been tempted to promote Gove, but I think he's doing a good job in a ministry that needs an intelligent man at the helm through Brexit.
Greening, I would have kept in place. Leadsom is useless, goodbye. I would have promoted Kwasi Kwarteng into the Cabinet, perhaps taking Fox's role. People don't hate Kwasi, and he's really smart, which would be an enormous relief to both our trading partners and the civil servants at the DfIT.
If “talent” was the only consideration then I’d agree - but much as a pilot’s first responsibility is to “fly the plane” a PM’s job is to “keep the show on the road” - sacking two prominent leavers while promoting Lidington would have made that more difficult. It’s a balancing act.
I care far more about competence.
If May was in a stronger position she might well have been bolder, meanwhile her main job is 'to keep the show on the road' - nothing in this reshuffle makes that less likely. Minister didn't want new job & resigned is hardly up there with Howe or Lawson.....
And the rationale of a job switch (in both directions) between Education and Work & Pensions, after a year in post, was what, precisely ? Your dismissive comment hardly addresses the question of competence - though it does seem to echo May's attitude towards her ministers (in the cases where she actually has the capacity to exercise power over them).
You think the reshuffle makes the continuation of May’s premiership less likely?
Apologies if already mentioned but the failure to demote Andrea Leadsom stands out for me how feeble May has been in this shambles.
The only practical way May could satisfy those calling for her to “stamp her authority” would have been to sack one or more of the key ministers (Boris, Hammond, Davis) thus making for herself a powerful enemy on the back benches itching for the leadership role. It’s a mystery why she chose not to do this. Those complaining about lack of continuity in sacking Greening (who declined another role, sacking herself) don’t appear to apply the same logic to Fox or Leadsome.....
Personally, I would have said adieu to Dr Liam Fox, and moved Hammond out of the Treasury. (I would have offered him the Business role, and if he didn't want it, he could return to the backbenches.) ...
Greening, I would have kept in place. Leadsom is useless, goodbye. I would have promoted Kwasi Kwarteng into the Cabinet, perhaps taking Fox's role. People don't hate Kwasi, and he's really smart, which would be an enormous relief to both our trading partners and the civil servants at the DfIT.
If “talent” was the only consideration then I’d agree - but much as a pilot’s first responsibility is to “fly the plane” a PM’s job is to “keep the show on the road” - sacking two prominent leavers while promoting Lidington would have made that more difficult. It’s a balancing act.
I care far more about competence.
If May was in a stronger position she might well have been bolder, meanwhile her main job is 'to keep the show on the road' - nothing in this reshuffle makes that less likely. Minister didn't want new job & resigned is hardly up there with Howe or Lawson.....
And the rationale of a job switch (in both directions) between Education and Work & Pensions, after a year in post, was what, precisely ? Your dismissive comment hardly addresses the question of competence - though it does seem to echo May's attitude towards her ministers (in the cases where she actually has the capacity to exercise power over them).
You think the reshuffle makes the continuation of May’s premiership less likely?
It marginally reduces the already low competence of the government. I don't share your obsession with the continuation of May in post.
Apologies if already mentioned but the failure to demote Andrea Leadsom stands out for me how feeble May has been in this shambles.
The only practical way May could satisfy those calling for her to “stamp her authority” would have been to sack one or more of the key ministers (Boris, Hammond, Davis) thus making for herself a powerful enemy on the back benches itching for the leadership role. It’s a mystery why she chose not to do this. Those complaining about lack of continuity in sacking Greening (who declined another role, sacking herself) don’t appear to apply the same logic to Fox or Leadsome.....
Personally, I would have said adieu to Dr Liam Fox, and moved Hammond out of the Treasury. (I would have offered him the Business role, and if he didn't want it, he could return to the backbenches.) ...
Greening, I would have kept in place. Leadsom is useless, goodbye. I would have promoted Kwasi Kwarteng into the Cabinet, perhaps taking Fox's role. People don't hate Kwasi, and he's really smart, which would be an enormous relief to both our trading partners and the civil servants at the DfIT.
If “talent” was the only consideration then I’d agree - but much as a pilot’s first responsibility is to “fly the plane” a PM’s job is to “keep the show on the road” - sacking two prominent leavers while promoting Lidington would have made that more difficult. It’s a balancing act.
I care far more about competence.
If May was in a stronger position she might well have been bolder, meanwhile her main job is 'to keep the show on the road' - nothing in this reshuffle makes that less likely. Minister didn't want new job & resigned is hardly up there with Howe or Lawson.....
And the rationale of a job switch (in both directions) between Education and Work & Pensions, after a year in post, was what, precisely ? Your dismissive comment hardly addresses the question of competence - though it does seem to echo May's attitude towards her ministers (in the cases where she actually has the capacity to exercise power over them).
You think the reshuffle makes the continuation of May’s premiership less likely?
It marginally reduces the already low competence of the government. I don't share your obsession with the continuation of May in post.
It’s not an “obsession” - simply an observation of a key motivator among all the high minded comments from people who wouldn’t have to deal with the consequences of a “bolder” approach.
Start of public fractures in labour as Corbyn confirms single market exit.
Now where are all those labour supporters who expect Corbyn to engineer a remain position
Isn't Corbyn just reaffirming what the manifesto said,
Labour wants all the benefits of being in the single market without being a member of the single market as that would mean keeping freedom of movement.
And they presumably want to stay in a customs union with the EU/EEA but not in the customs union of the EU/EEA.
I think it's called keeping everyone happy and promising the undeliverable!
Chukka walking out of the PLP tonight is the first public display of discord
Lol -Chukka has form for flouncing and not following through on action.
Chuka sees himself as the Messiah of pro European and metropolitan liberals, he will bide his time in the Wilderness until he is called to lead his party back to the fabled centre ground and his country back to the promised land of the single market!
I thought that was David Miliband's job.
Even the Sainted David realises he is yesterday's man, the recent attempt to bring him in from the cold failed. From the Crown Prince heir apparent to being usurped by his own brother at his own coronation, to be a king of another (charity) in a country, far, far away....
None of his individual 'sins' were bad: he is, after all, a paid loudmouth. But when the sins were aggregated, it's fairly clear that he was utterly unsuited for the role.
Re Toby Young - his choice but a sad victory for Internet trolling. Can no-one with past silliness ever move on? Labour much more forgiving of its own embarrassments.
Apologies if already mentioned but the failure to demote Andrea Leadsom stands out for me how feeble May has been in this shambles.
The only practical way May could satisfy those calling for her to “stamp her authority” would have been to sack one or more of the key ministers (Boris, Hammond, Davis) thus making for herself a powerful enemy on the back benches itching for the leadership role. It’s a mystery why she chose not to do this. Those complaining about lack of continuity in sacking Greening (who declined another role, sacking herself) don’t appear to apply the same logic to Fox or Leadsome.....
Personally, I would have said adieu to Dr Liam Fox, and moved Hammond out of the Treasury. (I would have offered him the Business role, and if he didn't want it, he could return to the backbenches.)
Boris is a difficult one: I don't think he enhances the prestige or standing of the United Kingdom, but he's a difficult man to sack. That being said, having demonstrated a willingness to fire senior people would have put Boris on notice.
I would have been tempted to promote Gove, but I think he's doing a good job in a ministry that needs an intelligent man at the helm through Brexit.
Greening, I would have kept in place. Leadsom is useless, goodbye. I would have promoted Kwasi Kwarteng into the Cabinet, perhaps taking Fox's role. People don't hate Kwasi, and he's really smart, which would be an enormous relief to both our trading partners and the civil servants at the DfIT.
If “talent” was the only consideration then I’d agree - but much as a pilot’s first responsibility is to “fly the plane” a PM’s job is to “keep the show on the road” - sacking two prominent leavers while promoting Lidington would have made that more difficult. It’s a balancing act.
The only prominent Leaver who should definitely (err) Leave is Dr Liam Fox.
How about this:
Gove (Leaver) promoted to CoE Hammond (Remainer) demoted to Business Dr Liam Fox (Leaver) to back benches Kwasi Kwarteng (Leaver) to DfIT JRM (Leaver) to Leader of the House Andrea Leadsom (Leaver) to her own house Rory Stewart (Remainer) to DfID Gavin Williamson (no idea) to DEFRA Penny Morduant (Leaver) to Defence
(And for the record, I think we should be looking beyond Leave and Remain. Rory Stewart was a Remainer and deserves a chance, for example. I care far more about competence.)
Re Toby Young - his choice but a sad victory for Internet trolling. Can no-one with past silliness ever move on? Labour much more forgiving of its own embarrassments.
What is concerning about the Greening situation is that it appears that someone who belives in State and indeed Comprehensive Eeducation has gone, to be replaced by someone who has advocated separete religious schools.
Re Toby Young - his choice but a sad victory for Internet trolling. Can no-one with past silliness ever move on? Labour much more forgiving of its own embarrassments.
If the role's valuable, then it should have the best possible candidate in it. If it isn't valuable, then it shouldn't exist.
I'm far from convinced that Young was a good candidate for the role, yet alone the best. What's clear from this and other events is that we have a problem with recruiting into such roles in this country - it often isn't done on merit, but on who you know.
A bigger question is whether the government has created another unnecessary enemy.
Re Toby Young - his choice but a sad victory for Internet trolling. Can no-one with past silliness ever move on? Labour much more forgiving of its own embarrassments.
Rules out a lot of people. He should have told them to get stuffed.
Labour's policy on Brexit doesn't matter much as it'll have been done before the election. Would be nice if we were positioning for afterwards, but no chance that Jezbollah has it thought through that well.
As for Toby Young, if 200k signatures is all it takes to force uncaring oaf to quit then McVile should be worried...
In other news, the US lost a heavily-publicised 'secret' payload after a rocket launch the other day.
The Northrop-Grumman Zuma payload may have re-entered the atmosphere; it is unclear what went wrong, but SpaceX claim it wasn't the rocket's fault.
This is all rather intriguing, as the Zuma mission has been a secret missions almost designed to garner publicity: it was hurriedly rushed up the manifest back in November, 'taking' a rocket due for another mission, and then was stood down for odd reasons. It finally launched yesterday morning, and appears to have gone wrong.
So, a rare failure for SpaceX, a payload failure, or did everything really go well and this is all a misdirection?
Rather than make her stronger the reshuffle has weakened May. Well, what a surprise. She has almost no room for manoeuvre following the GE disaster. She really has to come to terms with that and stop pretending otherwise.
I fear the removal of Greening is a response to her standing up to the PM and making it clear that the Grammar school policy the PM espoused was silly and unpopular. I think Esther McVey has a hell of a job on her hands getting UC to work before the next election. I wish her well but it is a big ask. Grayling, Fox and the blessed mother remaining in place shows how pointless the exercise was.
All in all a shambles by a stunningly incompetent PM.
In other news, the US lost a heavily-publicised 'secret' payload after a rocket launch the other day.
The Northrop-Grumman Zuma payload may have re-entered the atmosphere; it is unclear what went wrong, but SpaceX claim it wasn't the rocket's fault.
This is all rather intriguing, as the Zuma mission has been a secret missions almost designed to garner publicity: it was hurriedly rushed up the manifest back in November, 'taking' a rocket due for another mission, and then was stood down for odd reasons. It finally launched yesterday morning, and appears to have gone wrong.
So, a rare failure for SpaceX, a payload failure, or did everything really go well and this is all a misdirection?
Labour's policy on Brexit doesn't matter much as it'll have been done before the election. Would be nice if we were positioning for afterwards, but no chance that Jezbollah has it thought through that well.
As for Toby Young, if 200k signatures is all it takes to force uncaring oaf to quit then McVile should be worried...
I see the real nasties are up early - keen for a lynching are you?
Labour's policy on Brexit doesn't matter much as it'll have been done before the election. Would be nice if we were positioning for afterwards, but no chance that Jezbollah has it thought through that well.
As for Toby Young, if 200k signatures is all it takes to force uncaring oaf to quit then McVile should be worried...
If they still had Brookside on TV, she would be the prefect villain from central casting who marries some old geezer to get her hands on his pension, then murders him and buries him beneath the patio in the back garden.
In other news, the US lost a heavily-publicised 'secret' payload after a rocket launch the other day.
The Northrop-Grumman Zuma payload may have re-entered the atmosphere; it is unclear what went wrong, but SpaceX claim it wasn't the rocket's fault.
This is all rather intriguing, as the Zuma mission has been a secret missions almost designed to garner publicity: it was hurriedly rushed up the manifest back in November, 'taking' a rocket due for another mission, and then was stood down for odd reasons. It finally launched yesterday morning, and appears to have gone wrong.
So, a rare failure for SpaceX, a payload failure, or did everything really go well and this is all a misdirection?
Mine as well. I'm not normally a conspiracy theorist, but this whole mission's just been so darned odd. In comparison, SpaceX's launch of the secretive X-37 spaceplane went so cleanly last September.
Labour's policy on Brexit doesn't matter much as it'll have been done before the election. Would be nice if we were positioning for afterwards, but no chance that Jezbollah has it thought through that well.
As for Toby Young, if 200k signatures is all it takes to force uncaring oaf to quit then McVile should be worried...
I see the real nasties are up early - keen for a lynching are you?
She was. Then she lost her seat. Now shes back in a safe seat as long as she wants it. Perhaps she's decided the disabled are people too. Perhaps not.
What is concerning about the Greening situation is that it appears that someone who belives in State and indeed Comprehensive Eeducation has gone, to be replaced by someone who has advocated separete religious schools.
It’ll be Dame Schools next as a Tory policy!
That was Greenings crime, she doesn't agree with May over more Grammar schools. Tis a pity the first ever Education Secretary from a Comprehensive has gone in such a way. Still, Angela Rayner is something to look forward to.
I don't blame her for refusing DWP with the poisoned chalice of UC. She may well be better off cultivating her constituency, it is likely to be an electoral target next time.
So the Twittermob got Toby? It is hard to have a lot of sympathy. Those who live by the sword, die by the sword.
Re Toby Young - his choice but a sad victory for Internet trolling. Can no-one with past silliness ever move on? Labour much more forgiving of its own embarrassments.
Ah, so Mr Free Speech No Nonsense Tough Debate Not Afraid To Ruffle Feathers can't take some anonymous people being mean to him* on Twitter?
* I.e. accurately quoting things he's said and written in the past.
What is concerning about the Greening situation is that it appears that someone who belives in State and indeed Comprehensive Eeducation has gone, to be replaced by someone who has advocated separete religious schools.
It’ll be Dame Schools next as a Tory policy!
That was Greenings crime, she doesn't agree with May over more Grammar schools. Tis a pity the first ever Education Secretary from a Comprehensive has gone in such a way. Still, Angela Rayner is something to look forward to.
I don't blame her for refusing DWP with the poisoned chalice of UC. She may well be better off cultivating her constituency, it is likely to be an electoral target next time.
So the Twittermob got Toby? It is hard to have a lot of sympathy. Those who live by the sword, die by the sword.
Bollocks. The Twitter mob didn't get Tony but Tony himself. These were not things said by someone in their youth but by a grown man in his late 40s at the time.
So if China bans bitcoin mining does that kill bitcoin or increase their value by reducing the supply of new coins? My guess would be the former because there is no inherent value in bitcoin to be enhanced by rarity but it is a completely weird market. My daughter discovered that she had a few hundred invested in Bitcoin through a portfolio and sold out for over £8K, roughly a 20 fold increase on her investment, but those holding on now seem to me to be moving from the brave to the foolhardy.
Labour's policy on Brexit doesn't matter much as it'll have been done before the election. Would be nice if we were positioning for afterwards, but no chance that Jezbollah has it thought through that well.
As for Toby Young, if 200k signatures is all it takes to force uncaring oaf to quit then McVile should be worried...
If they still had Brookside on TV, she would be the prefect villain from central casting who marries some old geezer to get her hands on his pension, then murders him and buries him beneath the patio in the back garden.
People should really take a look at themselves before posting horrid tripe like this.
So if China bans bitcoin mining does that kill bitcoin or increase their value by reducing the supply of new coins? My guess would be the former because there is no inherent value in bitcoin to be enhanced by rarity but it is a completely weird market. My daughter discovered that she had a few hundred invested in Bitcoin through a portfolio and sold out for over £8K, roughly a 20 fold increase on her investment, but those holding on now seem to me to be moving from the brave to the foolhardy.
The Bitcoin algorithm keeps the supply of new bitcoins constant regardless of the number of miners.
A reduction in minimum power of the network would necessarily see the price drop however due to the implicit link between hash rate and price ( bitcoin can't be worth more than a multiple.of the power necessary to hash otherwise it becomes profitable to attack the network.)
What is concerning about the Greening situation is that it appears that someone who belives in State and indeed Comprehensive Eeducation has gone, to be replaced by someone who has advocated separete religious schools.
It’ll be Dame Schools next as a Tory policy!
That was Greenings crime, she doesn't agree with May over more Grammar schools. Tis a pity the first ever Education Secretary from a Comprehensive has gone in such a way. Still, Angela Rayner is something to look forward to.
I don't blame her for refusing DWP with the poisoned chalice of UC. She may well be better off cultivating her constituency, it is likely to be an electoral target next time.
So the Twittermob got Toby? It is hard to have a lot of sympathy. Those who live by the sword, die by the sword.
Bollocks. The Twitter mob didn't get Tony but Tony himself. These were not things said by someone in their youth but by a grown man in his late 40s at the time.
+1
I fail to see why Young was suited for this role. Can any of his supporters say why he was a good candidate, yet alone the best?
Next: Sean Thomas for governmental adviser on women's issues ...
Toby Young is a prat who is not nearly as witty or funny or clever as he thinks he is but taking days of twitterstorm only to have him quit as the caravan moved on to the reshuffle shambles seems the worst possible outcome for the government once again.
This government so needs a manager like Osborne was for Cameron or Mandelson was latterly for Brown. The idea that Green could fulfil that role was pretty laughable but is there anyone who thinks that Lidington is up to that job? Without some central grip we are condemned to more of the same, drift on the currents of world affairs without a paddle and with the odd capsize.
In other news, the US lost a heavily-publicised 'secret' payload after a rocket launch the other day.
The Northrop-Grumman Zuma payload may have re-entered the atmosphere; it is unclear what went wrong, but SpaceX claim it wasn't the rocket's fault.
This is all rather intriguing, as the Zuma mission has been a secret missions almost designed to garner publicity: it was hurriedly rushed up the manifest back in November, 'taking' a rocket due for another mission, and then was stood down for odd reasons. It finally launched yesterday morning, and appears to have gone wrong.
So, a rare failure for SpaceX, a payload failure, or did everything really go well and this is all a misdirection?
Mine as well. I'm not normally a conspiracy theorist, but this whole mission's just been so darned odd. In comparison, SpaceX's launch of the secretive X-37 spaceplane went so cleanly last September.
Seems mildly unlikely, particularly as it should eventually be spottable by amateurs if still in orbit. This looks more likely, and explains the apparently conflicting accounts: Northrop Grumman provided its own payload adapter for this mission. And if that payload adapter failed, it would have left the satellite still attached to the upper portion of the rocket. That’s certainly a mission failure, but it wouldn’t necessarily be the fault of the Falcon 9...
In other news, the US lost a heavily-publicised 'secret' payload after a rocket launch the other day.
The Northrop-Grumman Zuma payload may have re-entered the atmosphere; it is unclear what went wrong, but SpaceX claim it wasn't the rocket's fault.
This is all rather intriguing, as the Zuma mission has been a secret missions almost designed to garner publicity: it was hurriedly rushed up the manifest back in November, 'taking' a rocket due for another mission, and then was stood down for odd reasons. It finally launched yesterday morning, and appears to have gone wrong.
So, a rare failure for SpaceX, a payload failure, or did everything really go well and this is all a misdirection?
Mine as well. I'm not normally a conspiracy theorist, but this whole mission's just been so darned odd. In comparison, SpaceX's launch of the secretive X-37 spaceplane went so cleanly last September.
Seems mildly unlikely, particularly as it should eventually be spottable by amateurs if still in orbit. This looks more likely, and explains the apparently conflicting accounts: Northrop Grumman provided its own payload adapter for this mission. And if that payload adapter failed, it would have left the satellite still attached to the upper portion of the rocket. That’s certainly a mission failure, but it wouldn’t necessarily be the fault of the Falcon 9...
Possibly. But the whole thing's intriguing given the urgent nature of the cancelled first launch. It's been alleged that the payload was really expensive, so if it is an unplanned 'failure' of he sort mentioned (as opposed to misdirection) then the US government and NG are going to be hurting.
It hasn't been a stellar example of how to run a 'black' project...
So, some sneering MP who is never likely to reach cabinet shouts his/her mouth off and everyone else is piling in calling it a disaster, its just another day of MP's and commentators whining about xyz and frankly I just don't care anymore. Opposition is even worse than the Govt. God help the UK and N I.
Re Toby Young - his choice but a sad victory for Internet trolling. Can no-one with past silliness ever move on? Labour much more forgiving of its own embarrassments.
Isn't it a rather a defeat for internet trolling, of which Young was something of an exponent ?
And yes, it's perfectly possible to move on. The problem with Young is that he carried on with the silliness alongside his more grownup activities - and that some of his expressed views (on disability, for example) directly contradict legislated priorities.
What is concerning about the Greening situation is that it appears that someone who belives in State and indeed Comprehensive Eeducation has gone, to be replaced by someone who has advocated separete religious schools.
It’ll be Dame Schools next as a Tory policy!
That was Greenings crime, she doesn't agree with May over more Grammar schools. Tis a pity the first ever Education Secretary from a Comprehensive has gone in such a way. Still, Angela Rayner is something to look forward to.
I don't blame her for refusing DWP with the poisoned chalice of UC. She may well be better off cultivating her constituency, it is likely to be an electoral target next time.
So the Twittermob got Toby? It is hard to have a lot of sympathy. Those who live by the sword, die by the sword.
Bollocks. The Twitter mob didn't get Tony but Tony himself. These were not things said by someone in their youth but by a grown man in his late 40s at the time.
+1
I fail to see why Young was suited for this role. Can any of his supporters say why he was a good candidate, yet alone the best?
Next: Sean Thomas for governmental adviser on women's issues ...
Exactly. There is only role for which there is any competition that Toby Young qualifies for. His worse enemy.
Labour's policy on Brexit doesn't matter much as it'll have been done before the election. Would be nice if we were positioning for afterwards, but no chance that Jezbollah has it thought through that well.
As for Toby Young, if 200k signatures is all it takes to force uncaring oaf to quit then McVile should be worried...
So you're a McDonnellite lyncher ? I prefer the Jess Phillips line: While disagreeing with McVey's politics, she described McDonnell's comments as "utterly despicable", and added "I cannot imagine why he refuses to apologise"
What is concerning about the Greening situation is that it appears that someone who belives in State and indeed Comprehensive Eeducation has gone, to be replaced by someone who has advocated separete religious schools.
It’ll be Dame Schools next as a Tory policy!
That was Greenings crime, she doesn't agree with May over more Grammar schools. Tis a pity the first ever Education Secretary from a Comprehensive has gone in such a way. Still, Angela Rayner is something to look forward to.
I don't blame her for refusing DWP with the poisoned chalice of UC. She may well be better off cultivating her constituency, it is likely to be an electoral target next time.
So the Twittermob got Toby? It is hard to have a lot of sympathy. Those who live by the sword, die by the sword.
Bollocks. The Twitter mob didn't get Tony but Tony himself. These were not things said by someone in their youth but by a grown man in his late 40s at the time.
Toby certainly gave the Twittermob enough material to work with, and much of it fairly recent.
I think it was the Mail on Sunday frontpage that was the final nail though. A period of dignified silence is called for, bit knowing Toby's record is unlikely.
Labour's policy on Brexit doesn't matter much as it'll have been done before the election. Would be nice if we were positioning for afterwards, but no chance that Jezbollah has it thought through that well.
As for Toby Young, if 200k signatures is all it takes to force uncaring oaf to quit then McVile should be worried...
So you're a McDonnellite lyncher ? I prefer the Jess Phillips line: While disagreeing with McVey's politics, she described McDonnell's comments as "utterly despicable", and added "I cannot imagine why he refuses to apologise"
Yeah. Jess Phillips is bang on the money.
John McDonnell seems to come from the never apologise school of politics.
Labour's policy on Brexit doesn't matter much as it'll have been done before the election. Would be nice if we were positioning for afterwards, but no chance that Jezbollah has it thought through that well.
As for Toby Young, if 200k signatures is all it takes to force uncaring oaf to quit then McVile should be worried...
I see the real nasties are up early - keen for a lynching are you?
Damien wasn't a wanker. He was a liar, which was why he had to go. Toby's case is quite different. It was his inability to lie about wanking over poor people wot got him.
I can see why a newspaper columnists who has controversial opinions for money on a regular basis is worried that people got a bit cross about a newspaper columnists who has controversial opinions for money on a regular basis.
None of his individual 'sins' were bad: he is, after all, a paid loudmouth. But when the sins were aggregated, it's fairly clear that he was utterly unsuited for the role.
Being a paid loud mouth is now a valid occupation?
Start of public fractures in labour as Corbyn confirms single market exit.
Now where are all those labour supporters who expect Corbyn to engineer a remain position
Isn't Corbyn just reaffirming what the manifesto said,
Labour wants all the benefits of being in the single market without being a member of the single market as that would mean keeping freedom of movement.
And they presumably want to stay in a customs union with the EU/EEA but not in the customs union of the EU/EEA.
I think it's called keeping everyone happy and promising the undeliverable!
Chukka walking out of the PLP tonight is the first public display of discord
Lol -Chukka has form for flouncing and not following through on action.
Chuka sees himself as the Messiah of pro European and metropolitan liberals, he will bide his time in the Wilderness until he is called to lead his party back to the fabled centre ground and his country back to the promised land of the single market!
I thought that was David Miliband's job.
Little do they know the Tories will cut them off at the knees by advocating joining the Euro.
Dream on, there is more chance of the Tories advocating a Marxist economy now
None of his individual 'sins' were bad: he is, after all, a paid loudmouth. But when the sins were aggregated, it's fairly clear that he was utterly unsuited for the role.
Being a paid loud mouth is now a valid occupation?
Yes, apparently being twat for money absolves you of the twatishness apparently.
I can see why a newspaper columnists who has controversial opinions for money on a regular basis is worried that people got a bit cross about a newspaper columnists who has controversial opinions for money on a regular basis.
I used to rather like Spiked-Online, and it is still ocassionally interesting. Its journey from Communism to alt.right rabbit hole is a strange one though.
None of his individual 'sins' were bad: he is, after all, a paid loudmouth. But when the sins were aggregated, it's fairly clear that he was utterly unsuited for the role.
Being a paid loud mouth is now a valid occupation?
Comments
How about this:
Gove (Leaver) promoted to CoE
Hammond (Remainer) demoted to Business
Dr Liam Fox (Leaver) to back benches
Kwasi Kwarteng (Leaver) to DfIT
JRM (Leaver) to Leader of the House
Andrea Leadsom (Leaver) to her own house
Rory Stewart (Remainer) to DfID
Gavin Williamson (no idea) to DEFRA
Penny Morduant (Leaver) to Defence
(And for the record, I think we should be looking beyond Leave and Remain. Rory Stewart was a Remainer and deserves a chance, for example. I care far more about competence.)
Did you know that what he was advocating was a reunified Germany as part of a 'neutral zone' as an alternative to unilateral disarmament? Adenauer regarded him as 'anathema', with good reason (https://books.google.com/books?id=LymHDAAAQBAJ).
I am increasingly torn between the fact that we have a weak and dangerously incompetent prime minister, and the fact that one of my best friends is one of her closest advisors.
Far more important is how the ministers (both new and old) perform and how it affects the dynamic of Government in the future.
I thought that was the preserve of “yesterday’s men”? (Clarke, Heseltine....)
I'm sure there's a statesman to be found among them somewhere.
The continuation in post of such luminaries as Leadsom, Fox, Grayling, Johnson et al doesn't inspire massive confidence on that score.
Your dismissive comment hardly addresses the question of competence - though it does seem to echo May's attitude towards her ministers (in the cases where she actually has the capacity to exercise power over them).
https://twitter.com/bbcnickrobinson/status/950614791193841664
I don't share your obsession with the continuation of May in post.
None of his individual 'sins' were bad: he is, after all, a paid loudmouth. But when the sins were aggregated, it's fairly clear that he was utterly unsuited for the role.
I wonder if BoZo will ever do the same...
It’ll be Dame Schools next as a Tory policy!
I'm far from convinced that Young was a good candidate for the role, yet alone the best. What's clear from this and other events is that we have a problem with recruiting into such roles in this country - it often isn't done on merit, but on who you know.
A bigger question is whether the government has created another unnecessary enemy.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/politics/5297410/andrea-leadsom-sparks-cabinet-row-over-unacceptable-toby-young/amp/?__twitter_impression=true
As for Toby Young, if 200k signatures is all it takes to force uncaring oaf to quit then McVile should be worried...
The Northrop-Grumman Zuma payload may have re-entered the atmosphere; it is unclear what went wrong, but SpaceX claim it wasn't the rocket's fault.
This is all rather intriguing, as the Zuma mission has been a secret missions almost designed to garner publicity: it was hurriedly rushed up the manifest back in November, 'taking' a rocket due for another mission, and then was stood down for odd reasons. It finally launched yesterday morning, and appears to have gone wrong.
So, a rare failure for SpaceX, a payload failure, or did everything really go well and this is all a misdirection?
https://www.theverge.com/2018/1/9/16866806/spacex-zuma-mission-failure-northrop-grumman-classified-falcon-9-rocket
I fear the removal of Greening is a response to her standing up to the PM and making it clear that the Grammar school policy the PM espoused was silly and unpopular. I think Esther McVey has a hell of a job on her hands getting UC to work before the next election. I wish her well but it is a big ask. Grayling, Fox and the blessed mother remaining in place shows how pointless the exercise was.
All in all a shambles by a stunningly incompetent PM.
I don't blame her for refusing DWP with the poisoned chalice of UC. She may well be better off cultivating her constituency, it is likely to be an electoral target next time.
So the Twittermob got Toby? It is hard to have a lot of sympathy. Those who live by the sword, die by the sword.
* I.e. accurately quoting things he's said and written in the past.
A reduction in minimum power of the network would necessarily see the price drop however due to the implicit link between hash rate and price ( bitcoin can't be worth more than a multiple.of the power necessary to hash otherwise it becomes profitable to attack the network.)
I fail to see why Young was suited for this role. Can any of his supporters say why he was a good candidate, yet alone the best?
Next: Sean Thomas for governmental adviser on women's issues ...
This government so needs a manager like Osborne was for Cameron or Mandelson was latterly for Brown. The idea that Green could fulfil that role was pretty laughable but is there anyone who thinks that Lidington is up to that job? Without some central grip we are condemned to more of the same, drift on the currents of world affairs without a paddle and with the odd capsize.
This looks more likely, and explains the apparently conflicting accounts:
Northrop Grumman provided its own payload adapter for this mission. And if that payload adapter failed, it would have left the satellite still attached to the upper portion of the rocket. That’s certainly a mission failure, but it wouldn’t necessarily be the fault of the Falcon 9...
It hasn't been a stellar example of how to run a 'black' project...
And yes, it's perfectly possible to move on. The problem with Young is that he carried on with the silliness alongside his more grownup activities - and that some of his expressed views (on disability, for example) directly contradict legislated priorities.
I prefer the Jess Phillips line:
While disagreeing with McVey's politics, she described McDonnell's comments as "utterly despicable", and added "I cannot imagine why he refuses to apologise"
I think it was the Mail on Sunday frontpage that was the final nail though. A period of dignified silence is called for, bit knowing Toby's record is unlikely.
This is quite a depressing morning for those naturally inclined to support the government.
John McDonnell seems to come from the never apologise school of politics.
Damien wasn't a wanker. He was a liar, which was why he had to go. Toby's case is quite different. It was his inability to lie about wanking over poor people wot got him.