Only the Telegraph seems to be staying loyal to Johnson – politicalbetting.com

System · November 2021

Only the Telegraph seems to be staying loyal to Johnson – politicalbetting.com

Another morning and another set of newspaper front pages with the Mail finding a new line of attack on the government highlighting a “Tory Grandee” who spent weeks in the Caribbean while the Commons was sitting.

Read the full story here

WhisperingOracle · November 2021

Yes, dire times for the Tories. I'm beginning to think they may lose at least another five per cent to the Reform Party in the near term, and then stabilise for a while in the very low 'thirties by year's end, and Christmas.

Heathener · November 2021

Johnson's miscalculation about the sleaze is breathtaking. They are STILL thinking it's just a storm in a teacup. They don't seem to realise just how bloody angry this has made people. Their people.

We've spent best part of 2 years under the cosh and his tory MPs don't seem to give a flying fig about the sweat and toil, the hardships, the sacrifices.

On a personal level there are lots of things about this which have incensed me and it's hard to single out one, but the idea that Johnson should fly by private jet from the Glasgow climate change summit in order to have dinner at the Garrick Club with his chum and Telegraph mentor Charles Moore really sticks in the throat. But there are bigger issues than that, over which Boris Johnson is trampling with his usual ebullient, arrogant, blustering, cavalier buffoonery.

This time the turning of the tide is for real.

swing_voter · November 2021

It all depends on the `picking a fight with Brussels' tactic which I sense is being readied.... not sure how long this will work for because it fuels the swivel eyed loons but not a good chunk of centre voters (who simply dont trust BJ)... I'd love to know what the Tory grandees are saying over tea and biscuits...

partypoliticalorphan · November 2021

I don't think he will fight another election. He has some unfinished business to conclude re Brexit but I could see him departing in 12/18 months.

Heathener · November 2021

p.s. I'm still fairly astonished by the Daily Express. That really is a bell-weather.

And so interesting that Liz Truss was on the front page big time at the weekend. The Express has its finger on the membership pulse ...

Place your bets accordingly?

swing_voter · November 2021

partypoliticalorphan said:
I don't think he will fight another election. He has some unfinished business to conclude re Brexit but I could see him departing in 12/18 months.

"some unfinished business re Brexit"... thats putting it mildly.

WhisperingOracle · November 2021

Heathener said:
Johnson's miscalculation about the sleaze is breathtaking. They are STILL thinking it's just a storm in a teacup. They don't seem to realise just how bloody angry this has made people. Their people.

We've spent best part of 2 years under the cosh and his tory MPs don't seem to give a flying fig about the sweat and toil, the hardships, the sacrifices.

On a personal level there are lots of things about this which have incensed me and it's hard to single out one, but the idea that Johnson should fly by private jet from the Glasgow climate change summit in order to have dinner at the Garrick Club with his chum and Telegraph mentor Charles Moore really sticks in the throat. But there are bigger issues than that, over which Boris Johnson is trampling with his usual ebullient, arrogant, blustering, cavalier buffoonery.

This time the turning of the tide is for real.

Indeed. There's something very strange and telling about the disconnection and flat-footedness of the goverment's response so far.

The Opposition would also be particularly well-advised to keep pushing this issue of the 500 million Randox contracts. Not only is there what looks like a very interesting story there, with the company awarded a second tranche of money with no competitive tender after providing faulty PPE equipment first around, and as mentioned, many people have first-hand experience of their faulty testing kits ; but to cap it all yesterday, the new line was that the crucial whatsapp messages for the handing out of the contract have now been deleted "for space-saving reasons".

It's almost as if the opposition have an embarrassment of riches of attacking options to choose from, and the governing party are living in a parallel political universe. Some of the normal rules of political gravity may not apply, in that case.

Scott_xP · November 2021

...

Toms · November 2021

To misquote Cromwell
In the name of Decency, just go!

OldKingCole · November 2021

Heathener said:
Johnson's miscalculation about the sleaze is breathtaking. They are STILL thinking it's just a storm in a teacup. They don't seem to realise just how bloody angry this has made people. Their people.

We've spent best part of 2 years under the cosh and his tory MPs don't seem to give a flying fig about the sweat and toil, the hardships, the sacrifices.

On a personal level there are lots of things about this which have incensed me and it's hard to single out one, but the idea that Johnson should fly by private jet from the Glasgow climate change summit in order to have dinner at the Garrick Club with his chum and Telegraph mentor Charles Moore really sticks in the throat. But there are bigger issues than that, over which Boris Johnson is trampling with his usual ebullient, arrogant, blustering, cavalier buffoonery.

This time the turning of the tide is for real.

Re Mr H's last paragraph. He also 'couldn't be back in London in time' to attend even part of yesterday's debate.
Whereas in fact he was back shortly after 5, and presumably, since he was on a train, someone could have shown him the debate, or at least the highlights.
Dodging just seems like cowardice, rather like his 'Heathrow' flight to Afghanistan while he was Foreign Sec.

And cowardice is something which people really, really, don't like.

Philip_Thompson · November 2021

Heathener said:
Johnson's miscalculation about the sleaze is breathtaking. They are STILL thinking it's just a storm in a teacup. They don't seem to realise just how bloody angry this has made people. Their people.

We've spent best part of 2 years under the cosh and his tory MPs don't seem to give a flying fig about the sweat and toil, the hardships, the sacrifices.

On a personal level there are lots of things about this which have incensed me and it's hard to single out one, but the idea that Johnson should fly by private jet from the Glasgow climate change summit in order to have dinner at the Garrick Club with his chum and Telegraph mentor Charles Moore really sticks in the throat. But there are bigger issues than that, over which Boris Johnson is trampling with his usual ebullient, arrogant, blustering, cavalier buffoonery.

This time the turning of the tide is for real.

Oh jeez Heathener, Boris has lost you?

It really is all over, you've been so effusive in your praise for the Tories before.

If Boris loses kinabalu, roger, Rochdale and malcolmg next then that we may as well do the last rites on his Premiership.

WhisperingOracle · November 2021

Philip_Thompson said:

Heathener said:
Johnson's miscalculation about the sleaze is breathtaking. They are STILL thinking it's just a storm in a teacup. They don't seem to realise just how bloody angry this has made people. Their people.

We've spent best part of 2 years under the cosh and his tory MPs don't seem to give a flying fig about the sweat and toil, the hardships, the sacrifices.

On a personal level there are lots of things about this which have incensed me and it's hard to single out one, but the idea that Johnson should fly by private jet from the Glasgow climate change summit in order to have dinner at the Garrick Club with his chum and Telegraph mentor Charles Moore really sticks in the throat. But there are bigger issues than that, over which Boris Johnson is trampling with his usual ebullient, arrogant, blustering, cavalier buffoonery.

This time the turning of the tide is for real.
Oh jeez Heathener, Boris has lost you?

It really is all over, you've been so effusive in your praise for the Tories before.

If Boris loses kinabalu, roger, Rochdale and malcolmg next then that we may as well do the last rites on his Premiership.

There's clearly a lot of Tory voters who are very angry.

ydoethur · November 2021

WhisperingOracle said:

Philip_Thompson said:

Heathener said:
Johnson's miscalculation about the sleaze is breathtaking. They are STILL thinking it's just a storm in a teacup. They don't seem to realise just how bloody angry this has made people. Their people.

We've spent best part of 2 years under the cosh and his tory MPs don't seem to give a flying fig about the sweat and toil, the hardships, the sacrifices.

On a personal level there are lots of things about this which have incensed me and it's hard to single out one, but the idea that Johnson should fly by private jet from the Glasgow climate change summit in order to have dinner at the Garrick Club with his chum and Telegraph mentor Charles Moore really sticks in the throat. But there are bigger issues than that, over which Boris Johnson is trampling with his usual ebullient, arrogant, blustering, cavalier buffoonery.

This time the turning of the tide is for real.
Oh jeez Heathener, Boris has lost you?

It really is all over, you've been so effusive in your praise for the Tories before.

If Boris loses kinabalu, roger, Rochdale and malcolmg next then that we may as well do the last rites on his Premiership.
There's clearly a lot of Tory voters who are very angry.

Unfortunately that isn't going to lead to change unless they cease to be Tory voters as a result.

OldKingCole · November 2021

Philip_Thompson said:

Heathener said:
Johnson's miscalculation about the sleaze is breathtaking. They are STILL thinking it's just a storm in a teacup. They don't seem to realise just how bloody angry this has made people. Their people.

We've spent best part of 2 years under the cosh and his tory MPs don't seem to give a flying fig about the sweat and toil, the hardships, the sacrifices.

On a personal level there are lots of things about this which have incensed me and it's hard to single out one, but the idea that Johnson should fly by private jet from the Glasgow climate change summit in order to have dinner at the Garrick Club with his chum and Telegraph mentor Charles Moore really sticks in the throat. But there are bigger issues than that, over which Boris Johnson is trampling with his usual ebullient, arrogant, blustering, cavalier buffoonery.

This time the turning of the tide is for real.
Oh jeez Heathener, Boris has lost you?

It really is all over, you've been so effusive in your praise for the Tories before.

If Boris loses kinabalu, roger, Rochdale and malcolmg next then that we may as well do the last rites on his Premiership.

Are you sure about Malky? Pretty sure he's 'critical' of everyone, so he might vote Tory.

Incidentally, the cold snap of the last few days seems to have ended. Not as bright, though, this morning. Much more like November!

Alistair · November 2021

As ever a fascinating American focus group from Danny Barefoot in the Virginia election.

https://twitter.com/dannybarefoot/status/1457773727156879379

I posted one of his from the presidential election which showed how terrible the "Defund the Police" slogan was. A roomful of people who completely agreed with the policy goals but voted for Trump because Defind the Police is a the world's stupidest name for the policy.

WhisperingOracle · November 2021

In the medium-term I think that may mean a gradual dripping of votes to the very helpfully-named Reform Party, but the question will then be how much of that Tory MP's are willing to take, particularly those from the Red Wall seats.

Scott_xP · November 2021

Oof. From @alexwickham’s Politico Playbook https://www.politico.eu/newsletter/london-playbook/tropical-storm-unbelievable-geoff-aoc-at-cop/?utm_source=POLITICO.EU&utm_campaign=03af800239-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2021_11_09_07_04&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_10959edeb5-03af800239-190681080 https://twitter.com/janinegibson/status/1457969602542116866/photo/1

CorrectHorseBattery · November 2021

Been prescribed medication from the doctor and seeing a counsellor so in a better position than a few days back, thanks for the kind words from you all

Philip_Thompson · November 2021

CorrectHorseBattery said:
Been prescribed medication from the doctor and seeing a counsellor so in a better position than a few days back, thanks for the kind words from you all

Hope you feel better soon.

Philip_Thompson · November 2021

WhisperingOracle said:

Philip_Thompson said:

Heathener said:
Johnson's miscalculation about the sleaze is breathtaking. They are STILL thinking it's just a storm in a teacup. They don't seem to realise just how bloody angry this has made people. Their people.

We've spent best part of 2 years under the cosh and his tory MPs don't seem to give a flying fig about the sweat and toil, the hardships, the sacrifices.

On a personal level there are lots of things about this which have incensed me and it's hard to single out one, but the idea that Johnson should fly by private jet from the Glasgow climate change summit in order to have dinner at the Garrick Club with his chum and Telegraph mentor Charles Moore really sticks in the throat. But there are bigger issues than that, over which Boris Johnson is trampling with his usual ebullient, arrogant, blustering, cavalier buffoonery.

This time the turning of the tide is for real.
Oh jeez Heathener, Boris has lost you?

It really is all over, you've been so effusive in your praise for the Tories before.

If Boris loses kinabalu, roger, Rochdale and malcolmg next then that we may as well do the last rites on his Premiership.
There's clearly a lot of Tory voters who are very angry.

Oh that's absolutely true.

But having 'the usual suspects' say why they're incensed when they're always incensed is just amusing.

Its like having Scott post an anti-Brexit Tweet - that's a real gamechanger, isn't it? 😂

Gallowgate · November 2021

Government business by whatsapp is 🤦‍♂️

Gallowgate · November 2021

Philip_Thompson said:

WhisperingOracle said:

Philip_Thompson said:

Heathener said:
Johnson's miscalculation about the sleaze is breathtaking. They are STILL thinking it's just a storm in a teacup. They don't seem to realise just how bloody angry this has made people. Their people.

We've spent best part of 2 years under the cosh and his tory MPs don't seem to give a flying fig about the sweat and toil, the hardships, the sacrifices.

On a personal level there are lots of things about this which have incensed me and it's hard to single out one, but the idea that Johnson should fly by private jet from the Glasgow climate change summit in order to have dinner at the Garrick Club with his chum and Telegraph mentor Charles Moore really sticks in the throat. But there are bigger issues than that, over which Boris Johnson is trampling with his usual ebullient, arrogant, blustering, cavalier buffoonery.

This time the turning of the tide is for real.
Oh jeez Heathener, Boris has lost you?

It really is all over, you've been so effusive in your praise for the Tories before.

If Boris loses kinabalu, roger, Rochdale and malcolmg next then that we may as well do the last rites on his Premiership.
There's clearly a lot of Tory voters who are very angry.
Oh that's absolutely true.

But having 'the usual suspects' say why they're incensed when they're always incensed is just amusing.

Its like having Scott post an anti-Brexit Tweet - that's a real gamechanger, isn't it? 😂

Its no more boring than you defaulting to your “we hold all the cards” spiel at every opportunity.

OldKingCole · November 2021

CorrectHorseBattery said:
Been prescribed medication from the doctor and seeing a counsellor so in a better position than a few days back, thanks for the kind words from you all

Best of. A good step forward.

Scott_xP · November 2021

Right so *deep breath* it appears Geoffrey Cox spent April, while Brits were still under lockdown rules, in the Caribbean, voting in parliament over Zoom, earning £100,000s representing a tax haven island *against the British state* over corruption claims?
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10179601/Former-attorney-general-Geoffrey-Cox-second-job-saw-vote-remotely-Caribbean.html

OldKingCole · November 2021

WhisperingOracle said:
In the medium-term I think that may mean a gradual dripping of votes to the very helpfully-named Reform Party, but the question will then be how much of that Tory MP's are willing to take, particularly those from the Red Wall seats.

In other words, re-runs of Hartlepool 2019?

squareroot2 · November 2021

Philip_Thompson said:

WhisperingOracle said:

Philip_Thompson said:

Heathener said:
Johnson's miscalculation about the sleaze is breathtaking. They are STILL thinking it's just a storm in a teacup. They don't seem to realise just how bloody angry this has made people. Their people.

We've spent best part of 2 years under the cosh and his tory MPs don't seem to give a flying fig about the sweat and toil, the hardships, the sacrifices.

On a personal level there are lots of things about this which have incensed me and it's hard to single out one, but the idea that Johnson should fly by private jet from the Glasgow climate change summit in order to have dinner at the Garrick Club with his chum and Telegraph mentor Charles Moore really sticks in the throat. But there are bigger issues than that, over which Boris Johnson is trampling with his usual ebullient, arrogant, blustering, cavalier buffoonery.

This time the turning of the tide is for real.
Oh jeez Heathener, Boris has lost you?

It really is all over, you've been so effusive in your praise for the Tories before.

If Boris loses kinabalu, roger, Rochdale and malcolmg next then that we may as well do the last rites on his Premiership.
There's clearly a lot of Tory voters who are very angry.
Oh that's absolutely true.

But having 'the usual suspects' say why they're incensed when they're always incensed is just amusing.

Its like having Scott post an anti-Brexit Tweet - that's a real gamechanger, isn't it? 😂

I have little or no faith in Boris, and I am not one of the usual suspects. I hope he is removed by his MP'S

Jonathan · November 2021

squareroot2 said:

Philip_Thompson said:

WhisperingOracle said:

Philip_Thompson said:

Heathener said:
Johnson's miscalculation about the sleaze is breathtaking. They are STILL thinking it's just a storm in a teacup. They don't seem to realise just how bloody angry this has made people. Their people.

We've spent best part of 2 years under the cosh and his tory MPs don't seem to give a flying fig about the sweat and toil, the hardships, the sacrifices.

On a personal level there are lots of things about this which have incensed me and it's hard to single out one, but the idea that Johnson should fly by private jet from the Glasgow climate change summit in order to have dinner at the Garrick Club with his chum and Telegraph mentor Charles Moore really sticks in the throat. But there are bigger issues than that, over which Boris Johnson is trampling with his usual ebullient, arrogant, blustering, cavalier buffoonery.

This time the turning of the tide is for real.
Oh jeez Heathener, Boris has lost you?

It really is all over, you've been so effusive in your praise for the Tories before.

If Boris loses kinabalu, roger, Rochdale and malcolmg next then that we may as well do the last rites on his Premiership.
There's clearly a lot of Tory voters who are very angry.
Oh that's absolutely true.

But having 'the usual suspects' say why they're incensed when they're always incensed is just amusing.

Its like having Scott post an anti-Brexit Tweet - that's a real gamechanger, isn't it? 😂
I have little or no faith in Boris, and I am not one of the usual suspects. I hope he is removed by his MP'S

If there were a general election tomorrow, would you vote Conservative?

squareroot2 · November 2021

Jonathan said:

squareroot2 said:

Philip_Thompson said:

WhisperingOracle said:

Philip_Thompson said:

Heathener said:
Johnson's miscalculation about the sleaze is breathtaking. They are STILL thinking it's just a storm in a teacup. They don't seem to realise just how bloody angry this has made people. Their people.

We've spent best part of 2 years under the cosh and his tory MPs don't seem to give a flying fig about the sweat and toil, the hardships, the sacrifices.

On a personal level there are lots of things about this which have incensed me and it's hard to single out one, but the idea that Johnson should fly by private jet from the Glasgow climate change summit in order to have dinner at the Garrick Club with his chum and Telegraph mentor Charles Moore really sticks in the throat. But there are bigger issues than that, over which Boris Johnson is trampling with his usual ebullient, arrogant, blustering, cavalier buffoonery.

This time the turning of the tide is for real.
Oh jeez Heathener, Boris has lost you?

It really is all over, you've been so effusive in your praise for the Tories before.

If Boris loses kinabalu, roger, Rochdale and malcolmg next then that we may as well do the last rites on his Premiership.
There's clearly a lot of Tory voters who are very angry.
Oh that's absolutely true.

But having 'the usual suspects' say why they're incensed when they're always incensed is just amusing.

Its like having Scott post an anti-Brexit Tweet - that's a real gamechanger, isn't it? 😂
I have little or no faith in Boris, and I am not one of the usual suspects. I hope he is removed by his MP'S
If there were a general election tomorrow, would you vote Conservative?

Boris leader.. abstain.. anyone else yes.

Philip_Thompson · November 2021

Gallowgate said:

Philip_Thompson said:

WhisperingOracle said:

Philip_Thompson said:

Heathener said:
Johnson's miscalculation about the sleaze is breathtaking. They are STILL thinking it's just a storm in a teacup. They don't seem to realise just how bloody angry this has made people. Their people.

We've spent best part of 2 years under the cosh and his tory MPs don't seem to give a flying fig about the sweat and toil, the hardships, the sacrifices.

On a personal level there are lots of things about this which have incensed me and it's hard to single out one, but the idea that Johnson should fly by private jet from the Glasgow climate change summit in order to have dinner at the Garrick Club with his chum and Telegraph mentor Charles Moore really sticks in the throat. But there are bigger issues than that, over which Boris Johnson is trampling with his usual ebullient, arrogant, blustering, cavalier buffoonery.

This time the turning of the tide is for real.
Oh jeez Heathener, Boris has lost you?

It really is all over, you've been so effusive in your praise for the Tories before.

If Boris loses kinabalu, roger, Rochdale and malcolmg next then that we may as well do the last rites on his Premiership.
There's clearly a lot of Tory voters who are very angry.
Oh that's absolutely true.

But having 'the usual suspects' say why they're incensed when they're always incensed is just amusing.

Its like having Scott post an anti-Brexit Tweet - that's a real gamechanger, isn't it? 😂
Its no more boring than you defaulting to your “we hold all the cards” spiel at every opportunity.

But we do hold all the cards. 🤷‍♂️

The difference is I'm not pretending that things have changed. Quite the opposite, I'm quite happy to say I was right four years ago and am still right now - that the UK just needs a backbone it lacked while May and Robbins were in charge and the EU will have no choice but to fold because they're bluffing. Which happened at the end of last year in the TCA negotiations and will happen again regarding Article 16 because they have nothing they can do.

To quote a certain PM I didn't respect "nothing has changed" - I'm not pretending it has, unlike Heathener saying why they're incensed now when they're always incensed.

OldKingCole · November 2021

squareroot2 said:

Jonathan said:

squareroot2 said:

Philip_Thompson said:

WhisperingOracle said:

Philip_Thompson said:

Heathener said:
Johnson's miscalculation about the sleaze is breathtaking. They are STILL thinking it's just a storm in a teacup. They don't seem to realise just how bloody angry this has made people. Their people.

We've spent best part of 2 years under the cosh and his tory MPs don't seem to give a flying fig about the sweat and toil, the hardships, the sacrifices.

On a personal level there are lots of things about this which have incensed me and it's hard to single out one, but the idea that Johnson should fly by private jet from the Glasgow climate change summit in order to have dinner at the Garrick Club with his chum and Telegraph mentor Charles Moore really sticks in the throat. But there are bigger issues than that, over which Boris Johnson is trampling with his usual ebullient, arrogant, blustering, cavalier buffoonery.

This time the turning of the tide is for real.
Oh jeez Heathener, Boris has lost you?

It really is all over, you've been so effusive in your praise for the Tories before.

If Boris loses kinabalu, roger, Rochdale and malcolmg next then that we may as well do the last rites on his Premiership.
There's clearly a lot of Tory voters who are very angry.
Oh that's absolutely true.

But having 'the usual suspects' say why they're incensed when they're always incensed is just amusing.

Its like having Scott post an anti-Brexit Tweet - that's a real gamechanger, isn't it? 😂
I have little or no faith in Boris, and I am not one of the usual suspects. I hope he is removed by his MP'S
If there were a general election tomorrow, would you vote Conservative?
Boris leader.. abstain.. anyone else yes.

Even if the new leader is one of Johnson's fans?

YBarddCwsc · November 2021

Scott_xP said:
Right so *deep breath* it appears Geoffrey Cox spent April, while Brits were still under lockdown rules, in the Caribbean, voting in parliament over Zoom, earning £100,000s representing a tax haven island *against the British state* over corruption claims?
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10179601/Former-attorney-general-Geoffrey-Cox-second-job-saw-vote-remotely-Caribbean.html

And so ..... it was not "consultancy" work.

He was working as a barrister.

Personally, I'd be quite happy to ban lawyers/barristers from the House of Commons -- on the grounds that there are already far too many of them -- but if you let them in, it is not clear why they should not continue to practice.

Scott_xP · November 2021

More signs the EU doesn’t intent to force U.K. breathing space to establish new facts on the ground if they move to unravel NI Protocol. https://twitter.com/mij_europe/status/1457969885020139522

squareroot2 · November 2021

OldKingCole said:

squareroot2 said:

Jonathan said:

squareroot2 said:

Philip_Thompson said:

WhisperingOracle said:

Philip_Thompson said:

Heathener said:
Johnson's miscalculation about the sleaze is breathtaking. They are STILL thinking it's just a storm in a teacup. They don't seem to realise just how bloody angry this has made people. Their people.

We've spent best part of 2 years under the cosh and his tory MPs don't seem to give a flying fig about the sweat and toil, the hardships, the sacrifices.

On a personal level there are lots of things about this which have incensed me and it's hard to single out one, but the idea that Johnson should fly by private jet from the Glasgow climate change summit in order to have dinner at the Garrick Club with his chum and Telegraph mentor Charles Moore really sticks in the throat. But there are bigger issues than that, over which Boris Johnson is trampling with his usual ebullient, arrogant, blustering, cavalier buffoonery.

This time the turning of the tide is for real.
Oh jeez Heathener, Boris has lost you?

It really is all over, you've been so effusive in your praise for the Tories before.

If Boris loses kinabalu, roger, Rochdale and malcolmg next then that we may as well do the last rites on his Premiership.
There's clearly a lot of Tory voters who are very angry.
Oh that's absolutely true.

But having 'the usual suspects' say why they're incensed when they're always incensed is just amusing.

Its like having Scott post an anti-Brexit Tweet - that's a real gamechanger, isn't it? 😂
I have little or no faith in Boris, and I am not one of the usual suspects. I hope he is removed by his MP'S
If there were a general election tomorrow, would you vote Conservative?
Boris leader.. abstain.. anyone else yes.
Even if the new leader is one of Johnson's fans?

Well.. one would have to see who it was but it would have to be someone who had a grain of honesty about them... i know its a stretch with any politician....

Scott_xP · November 2021

Labour’s @SteveReedMP has written to @michaelgove requesting clarity over whether the whips last week threatened to cut constituency funding for MPs who refused to back the Paterson vote - here’s the letter https://twitter.com/PickardJE/status/1457975727047987200/photo/1

JohnLilburne · November 2021

YBarddCwsc said:

Scott_xP said:
Right so *deep breath* it appears Geoffrey Cox spent April, while Brits were still under lockdown rules, in the Caribbean, voting in parliament over Zoom, earning £100,000s representing a tax haven island *against the British state* over corruption claims?
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10179601/Former-attorney-general-Geoffrey-Cox-second-job-saw-vote-remotely-Caribbean.html
And so ..... it was not "consultancy" work.

He was working as a barrister.

Personally, I'd be quite happy to ban lawyers/barristers from the House of Commons -- on the grounds that there are already far too many of them -- but if you let them in, it is not clear why they should not continue to practice.

It's also a British dependency so not exactly "against the British state". More one part of it against another. And everyone has the right to legal representation.

OldKingCole · November 2021

YBarddCwsc said:

Scott_xP said:
Right so *deep breath* it appears Geoffrey Cox spent April, while Brits were still under lockdown rules, in the Caribbean, voting in parliament over Zoom, earning £100,000s representing a tax haven island *against the British state* over corruption claims?
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10179601/Former-attorney-general-Geoffrey-Cox-second-job-saw-vote-remotely-Caribbean.html
And so ..... it was not "consultancy" work.

He was working as a barrister.

Personally, I'd be quite happy to ban lawyers/barristers from the House of Commons -- on the grounds that there are already far too many of them -- but if you let them in, it is not clear why they should not continue to practice.

You could, I think argue, that as nurses and doctors need to continue to practice, to retain registration and skills, that the same applies to lawyers.

Foxy · November 2021

OldKingCole said:

squareroot2 said:

Jonathan said:

squareroot2 said:

Philip_Thompson said:

WhisperingOracle said:

Philip_Thompson said:

Heathener said:
Johnson's miscalculation about the sleaze is breathtaking. They are STILL thinking it's just a storm in a teacup. They don't seem to realise just how bloody angry this has made people. Their people.

We've spent best part of 2 years under the cosh and his tory MPs don't seem to give a flying fig about the sweat and toil, the hardships, the sacrifices.

On a personal level there are lots of things about this which have incensed me and it's hard to single out one, but the idea that Johnson should fly by private jet from the Glasgow climate change summit in order to have dinner at the Garrick Club with his chum and Telegraph mentor Charles Moore really sticks in the throat. But there are bigger issues than that, over which Boris Johnson is trampling with his usual ebullient, arrogant, blustering, cavalier buffoonery.

This time the turning of the tide is for real.
Oh jeez Heathener, Boris has lost you?

It really is all over, you've been so effusive in your praise for the Tories before.

If Boris loses kinabalu, roger, Rochdale and malcolmg next then that we may as well do the last rites on his Premiership.
There's clearly a lot of Tory voters who are very angry.
Oh that's absolutely true.

But having 'the usual suspects' say why they're incensed when they're always incensed is just amusing.

Its like having Scott post an anti-Brexit Tweet - that's a real gamechanger, isn't it? 😂
I have little or no faith in Boris, and I am not one of the usual suspects. I hope he is removed by his MP'S
If there were a general election tomorrow, would you vote Conservative?
Boris leader.. abstain.. anyone else yes.
Even if the new leader is one of Johnson's fans?

The general rule of leadership changes is that the new one provides what the deposed one lacks. Think of someone who has a strong moral character, traditional family life, not tainted by recent sleaze, well groomed etc.

It looks more like Sunak than Truss of the two on overt manoeuvres, but I wouldn't discount Hunt.

OldKingCole · November 2021

From the BBC
"Housing Secretary Michael Gove has questioned why flat owners should have to pay anything for dangerous cladding to be removed from their buildings."

Popular U-turn coming?
There has certainly been something severely amiss with the requirements over cladding. Whether it's inadequate regulations or what I don't know, but it does appear innocent citizens have been at best misled and at worst, defrauded.

squareroot2 · November 2021

Foxy said:

OldKingCole said:

squareroot2 said:

Jonathan said:

squareroot2 said:

Philip_Thompson said:

WhisperingOracle said:

Philip_Thompson said:

Heathener said:
Johnson's miscalculation about the sleaze is breathtaking. They are STILL thinking it's just a storm in a teacup. They don't seem to realise just how bloody angry this has made people. Their people.

We've spent best part of 2 years under the cosh and his tory MPs don't seem to give a flying fig about the sweat and toil, the hardships, the sacrifices.

On a personal level there are lots of things about this which have incensed me and it's hard to single out one, but the idea that Johnson should fly by private jet from the Glasgow climate change summit in order to have dinner at the Garrick Club with his chum and Telegraph mentor Charles Moore really sticks in the throat. But there are bigger issues than that, over which Boris Johnson is trampling with his usual ebullient, arrogant, blustering, cavalier buffoonery.

This time the turning of the tide is for real.
Oh jeez Heathener, Boris has lost you?

It really is all over, you've been so effusive in your praise for the Tories before.

If Boris loses kinabalu, roger, Rochdale and malcolmg next then that we may as well do the last rites on his Premiership.
There's clearly a lot of Tory voters who are very angry.
Oh that's absolutely true.

But having 'the usual suspects' say why they're incensed when they're always incensed is just amusing.

Its like having Scott post an anti-Brexit Tweet - that's a real gamechanger, isn't it? 😂
I have little or no faith in Boris, and I am not one of the usual suspects. I hope he is removed by his MP'S
If there were a general election tomorrow, would you vote Conservative?
Boris leader.. abstain.. anyone else yes.
Even if the new leader is one of Johnson's fans?
The general rule of leadership changes is that the new one provides what the deposed one lacks. Think of someone who has a strong moral character, traditional family life, not tainted by recent sleaze, well groomed etc.

It looks more like Sunak than Truss of the two on overt manoeuvres, but I wouldn't discount Hunt.

tim would go nuts if it was Hunt

OldKingCole · November 2021

Foxy said:

OldKingCole said:

squareroot2 said:

Jonathan said:

squareroot2 said:

Philip_Thompson said:

WhisperingOracle said:

Philip_Thompson said:

Heathener said:
Johnson's miscalculation about the sleaze is breathtaking. They are STILL thinking it's just a storm in a teacup. They don't seem to realise just how bloody angry this has made people. Their people.

We've spent best part of 2 years under the cosh and his tory MPs don't seem to give a flying fig about the sweat and toil, the hardships, the sacrifices.

On a personal level there are lots of things about this which have incensed me and it's hard to single out one, but the idea that Johnson should fly by private jet from the Glasgow climate change summit in order to have dinner at the Garrick Club with his chum and Telegraph mentor Charles Moore really sticks in the throat. But there are bigger issues than that, over which Boris Johnson is trampling with his usual ebullient, arrogant, blustering, cavalier buffoonery.

This time the turning of the tide is for real.
Oh jeez Heathener, Boris has lost you?

It really is all over, you've been so effusive in your praise for the Tories before.

If Boris loses kinabalu, roger, Rochdale and malcolmg next then that we may as well do the last rites on his Premiership.
There's clearly a lot of Tory voters who are very angry.
Oh that's absolutely true.

But having 'the usual suspects' say why they're incensed when they're always incensed is just amusing.

Its like having Scott post an anti-Brexit Tweet - that's a real gamechanger, isn't it? 😂
I have little or no faith in Boris, and I am not one of the usual suspects. I hope he is removed by his MP'S
If there were a general election tomorrow, would you vote Conservative?
Boris leader.. abstain.. anyone else yes.
Even if the new leader is one of Johnson's fans?
The general rule of leadership changes is that the new one provides what the deposed one lacks. Think of someone who has a strong moral character, traditional family life, not tainted by recent sleaze, well groomed etc.

It looks more like Sunak than Truss of the two on overt manoeuvres, but I wouldn't discount Hunt.

Tend to agree. Although I've have my doubts about Sunak.

Although I'm extremely unlikely to vote Tory, especially as I live in the Witham constituency!

squareroot2 · November 2021

Sunak=Barber

IanB2 · November 2021

Philip_Thompson said:

WhisperingOracle said:

Philip_Thompson said:

Heathener said:
Johnson's miscalculation about the sleaze is breathtaking. They are STILL thinking it's just a storm in a teacup. They don't seem to realise just how bloody angry this has made people. Their people.

We've spent best part of 2 years under the cosh and his tory MPs don't seem to give a flying fig about the sweat and toil, the hardships, the sacrifices.

On a personal level there are lots of things about this which have incensed me and it's hard to single out one, but the idea that Johnson should fly by private jet from the Glasgow climate change summit in order to have dinner at the Garrick Club with his chum and Telegraph mentor Charles Moore really sticks in the throat. But there are bigger issues than that, over which Boris Johnson is trampling with his usual ebullient, arrogant, blustering, cavalier buffoonery.

This time the turning of the tide is for real.
Oh jeez Heathener, Boris has lost you?

It really is all over, you've been so effusive in your praise for the Tories before.

If Boris loses kinabalu, roger, Rochdale and malcolmg next then that we may as well do the last rites on his Premiership.
There's clearly a lot of Tory voters who are very angry.
Oh that's absolutely true.

But having 'the usual suspects' say why they're incensed when they're always incensed is just amusing.

Its like having Scott post an anti-Brexit Tweet - that's a real gamechanger, isn't it? 😂

So we all have to keep quiet until you come out against the clown?

Gardenwalker · November 2021

squareroot2 said:
Sunak=Barber

We wish!
Instead he is putting taxes up and has effectively cancelled “levelling up”.

He would still be my preference over Truss, though. She is just a mini-Boris.

YBarddCwsc · November 2021

OldKingCole said:

YBarddCwsc said:

Scott_xP said:
Right so *deep breath* it appears Geoffrey Cox spent April, while Brits were still under lockdown rules, in the Caribbean, voting in parliament over Zoom, earning £100,000s representing a tax haven island *against the British state* over corruption claims?
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10179601/Former-attorney-general-Geoffrey-Cox-second-job-saw-vote-remotely-Caribbean.html
And so ..... it was not "consultancy" work.

He was working as a barrister.

Personally, I'd be quite happy to ban lawyers/barristers from the House of Commons -- on the grounds that there are already far too many of them -- but if you let them in, it is not clear why they should not continue to practice.
You could, I think argue, that as nurses and doctors need to continue to practice, to retain registration and skills, that the same applies to lawyers.

Agreed.

"Consultancy" work should be banned, though I can see that it may be difficult in practice to define it in a really water-tight manner.

If an MP is doing excessive additional work outside their duties as an MP, than that is, in my opinion, a matter for the MPs' constituents. They have the option to throw him/her out at the next General.

A blanket ban on any more solicitors and barristers becoming MPs is something I could really support ... far too many of them infesting the HoC. More diversity, please.

Gardenwalker · November 2021

Scott_xP said:
More signs the EU doesn’t intent to force U.K. breathing space to establish new facts on the ground if they move to unravel NI Protocol. https://twitter.com/mij_europe/status/1457969885020139522

Interesting change of strategy from the EU.
I guess they believe attack is the best form of defence.

Scott_xP · November 2021

Gardenwalker said:
Interesting change of strategy from the EU.
I guess they believe attack is the best form of defence.

Yup.

BoZo and Frosty think the EU will fold in the face of their bluster.

I think they are about to be disabused of that notion...

Philip_Thompson · November 2021

IanB2 said:

Philip_Thompson said:

WhisperingOracle said:

Philip_Thompson said:

Heathener said:
Johnson's miscalculation about the sleaze is breathtaking. They are STILL thinking it's just a storm in a teacup. They don't seem to realise just how bloody angry this has made people. Their people.

We've spent best part of 2 years under the cosh and his tory MPs don't seem to give a flying fig about the sweat and toil, the hardships, the sacrifices.

On a personal level there are lots of things about this which have incensed me and it's hard to single out one, but the idea that Johnson should fly by private jet from the Glasgow climate change summit in order to have dinner at the Garrick Club with his chum and Telegraph mentor Charles Moore really sticks in the throat. But there are bigger issues than that, over which Boris Johnson is trampling with his usual ebullient, arrogant, blustering, cavalier buffoonery.

This time the turning of the tide is for real.
Oh jeez Heathener, Boris has lost you?

It really is all over, you've been so effusive in your praise for the Tories before.

If Boris loses kinabalu, roger, Rochdale and malcolmg next then that we may as well do the last rites on his Premiership.
There's clearly a lot of Tory voters who are very angry.
Oh that's absolutely true.

But having 'the usual suspects' say why they're incensed when they're always incensed is just amusing.

Its like having Scott post an anti-Brexit Tweet - that's a real gamechanger, isn't it? 😂
So we all have to keep quiet until you come out against the clown?

Did you miss my thread header doing so?

Gardenwalker · November 2021

YBarddCwsc said:

OldKingCole said:

YBarddCwsc said:

Scott_xP said:
Right so *deep breath* it appears Geoffrey Cox spent April, while Brits were still under lockdown rules, in the Caribbean, voting in parliament over Zoom, earning £100,000s representing a tax haven island *against the British state* over corruption claims?
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10179601/Former-attorney-general-Geoffrey-Cox-second-job-saw-vote-remotely-Caribbean.html
And so ..... it was not "consultancy" work.

He was working as a barrister.

Personally, I'd be quite happy to ban lawyers/barristers from the House of Commons -- on the grounds that there are already far too many of them -- but if you let them in, it is not clear why they should not continue to practice.
You could, I think argue, that as nurses and doctors need to continue to practice, to retain registration and skills, that the same applies to lawyers.
Agreed.

"Consultancy" work should be banned, though I can see that it may be difficult in practice to define it in a really water-tight manner.

If an MP is doing excessive additional work outside their duties as an MP, than that is, in my opinion, a matter for the MPs' constituents. They have the option to throw him/her out at the next General.

A blanket ban on any more solicitors and barristers becoming MPs is something I could really support ... far too many of them infesting the HoC. More diversity, please.

What, materially, is the difference between “consultancy” and “lawyering”? I couldn’t say myself.

The issue for Cox is less the lawyering, and more the being in a tropical island for weeks on end instead of doing his day job.

JosiasJessop · November 2021

On levelling up:

Much is written on here and elsewhere about 'levelling up'. There is a great deal of cynicism and doubt that it means anything.

Here in Cambridgeshire, it increasingly looks as though the March to Wisbech railway line will reopen - perhaps by 2028. Whilst that is after the next election, initial ?exploratory? works are already underway.

Before anyone says 'Wisbech isn't the north!'; it is a relatively poor town (it has a significant issue with child poverty), with poor transport links - the single-carriageway A47 bring the main link. If the A47 dualling is funded as well, then these transport links will be transformative for the town and its area.

This will get noticed.

Stuartinromford · November 2021

Gardenwalker said:

squareroot2 said:
Sunak=Barber
We wish!
Instead he is putting taxes up and has effectively cancelled “levelling up”.

He would still be my preference over Truss, though. She is just a mini-Boris.

Sunak is unpopular with the party members for obvious reasons. And things are going to get worse for him before they get better.

Truss offers Johnsonism without the worst personal excesses of Johnson, which might be a potent (if unhelpful) pitch.

YBarddCwsc · November 2021

Gardenwalker said:

YBarddCwsc said:

OldKingCole said:

YBarddCwsc said:

Scott_xP said:
Right so *deep breath* it appears Geoffrey Cox spent April, while Brits were still under lockdown rules, in the Caribbean, voting in parliament over Zoom, earning £100,000s representing a tax haven island *against the British state* over corruption claims?
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10179601/Former-attorney-general-Geoffrey-Cox-second-job-saw-vote-remotely-Caribbean.html
And so ..... it was not "consultancy" work.

He was working as a barrister.

Personally, I'd be quite happy to ban lawyers/barristers from the House of Commons -- on the grounds that there are already far too many of them -- but if you let them in, it is not clear why they should not continue to practice.
You could, I think argue, that as nurses and doctors need to continue to practice, to retain registration and skills, that the same applies to lawyers.
Agreed.

"Consultancy" work should be banned, though I can see that it may be difficult in practice to define it in a really water-tight manner.

If an MP is doing excessive additional work outside their duties as an MP, than that is, in my opinion, a matter for the MPs' constituents. They have the option to throw him/her out at the next General.

A blanket ban on any more solicitors and barristers becoming MPs is something I could really support ... far too many of them infesting the HoC. More diversity, please.
What, materially, is the difference between “consultancy” and “lawyering”? I couldn’t say myself.

The issue for Cox is less the lawyering, and more the being in a tropical island for weeks on end instead of doing his day job.

What, materially, is the difference between “consultancy” and “lawyering”? I couldn’t say myself.

About £1000 a day, I think.

Philip_Thompson · November 2021

Scott_xP said:

Gardenwalker said:
Interesting change of strategy from the EU.
I guess they believe attack is the best form of defence.
Yup.

BoZo and Frosty think the EU will fold in the face of their bluster.

I think they are about to be disabused of that notion...

They will, the EU are bluffing. They have nothing they can do, the UK will change the facts on the ground and that will be that, the EU are incapable of doing so.

Foxy · November 2021

YBarddCwsc said:

OldKingCole said:

YBarddCwsc said:

Scott_xP said:
Right so *deep breath* it appears Geoffrey Cox spent April, while Brits were still under lockdown rules, in the Caribbean, voting in parliament over Zoom, earning £100,000s representing a tax haven island *against the British state* over corruption claims?
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10179601/Former-attorney-general-Geoffrey-Cox-second-job-saw-vote-remotely-Caribbean.html
And so ..... it was not "consultancy" work.

He was working as a barrister.

Personally, I'd be quite happy to ban lawyers/barristers from the House of Commons -- on the grounds that there are already far too many of them -- but if you let them in, it is not clear why they should not continue to practice.
You could, I think argue, that as nurses and doctors need to continue to practice, to retain registration and skills, that the same applies to lawyers.
Agreed.

"Consultancy" work should be banned, though I can see that it may be difficult in practice to define it in a really water-tight manner.

If an MP is doing excessive additional work outside their duties as an MP, than that is, in my opinion, a matter for the MPs' constituents. They have the option to throw him/her out at the next General.

A blanket ban on any more solicitors and barristers becoming MPs is something I could really support ... far too many of them infesting the HoC. More diversity, please.

Letting voters decide really requires constituencies with multi member STV. Any system of FPTP with 75% safe seats or list PR means that parties, not voters, decides who represents.

WhisperingOracle · November 2021

Stuartinromford said:

Gardenwalker said:

squareroot2 said:
Sunak=Barber
We wish!
Instead he is putting taxes up and has effectively cancelled “levelling up”.

He would still be my preference over Truss, though. She is just a mini-Boris.
Sunak is unpopular with the party members for obvious reasons. And things are going to get worse for him before they get better.

Truss offers Johnsonism without the worst personal excesses of Johnson, which might be a potent (if unhelpful) pitch.

Yes, and also Johnsonism with an apparent northern working-class voice - although her background is in fact very middle-class, much the same in that respect as Sunak's.

Scott_xP · November 2021

Gardenwalker said:
The issue for Cox is less the lawyering, and more the being in a tropical island for weeks on end instead of doing his day job.

He was recorded as arriving in the territory on April 26, when the Commons was debating global anti-corruption sanctions

Cox did not respond to a request from The Times for comment
https://twitter.com/thetimes/status/1457978989687939076

If you wanted to get really angry with fuller quotes from Raab’s defence in @TimesRadio of Geoffrey Cox doing his job as MP from 4,000 miles away… https://twitter.com/MattChorley/status/1457981188790964225/photo/1

squareroot2 · November 2021

JosiasJessop said:
On levelling up:

Much is written on here and elsewhere about 'levelling up'. There is a great deal of cynicism and doubt that it means anything.

Here in Cambridgeshire, it increasingly looks as though the March to Wisbech railway line will reopen - perhaps by 2028. Whilst that is after the next election, initial ?exploratory? works are already underway.

Before anyone says 'Wisbech isn't the north!'; it is a relatively poor town (it has a significant issue with child poverty), with poor transport links - the single-carriageway A47 bring the main link. If the A47 dualling is funded as well, then these transport links will be transformative for the town and its area.

This will get noticed.

Was there recently several Polish shops and looked pretty run down but some lovely old buildings there. We didn't stay long. In its heyday I suspect it would have been lovely..

Gardenwalker · November 2021

YBarddCwsc said:

Gardenwalker said:

YBarddCwsc said:

OldKingCole said:

YBarddCwsc said:

Scott_xP said:
Right so *deep breath* it appears Geoffrey Cox spent April, while Brits were still under lockdown rules, in the Caribbean, voting in parliament over Zoom, earning £100,000s representing a tax haven island *against the British state* over corruption claims?
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10179601/Former-attorney-general-Geoffrey-Cox-second-job-saw-vote-remotely-Caribbean.html
And so ..... it was not "consultancy" work.

He was working as a barrister.

Personally, I'd be quite happy to ban lawyers/barristers from the House of Commons -- on the grounds that there are already far too many of them -- but if you let them in, it is not clear why they should not continue to practice.
You could, I think argue, that as nurses and doctors need to continue to practice, to retain registration and skills, that the same applies to lawyers.
Agreed.

"Consultancy" work should be banned, though I can see that it may be difficult in practice to define it in a really water-tight manner.

If an MP is doing excessive additional work outside their duties as an MP, than that is, in my opinion, a matter for the MPs' constituents. They have the option to throw him/her out at the next General.

A blanket ban on any more solicitors and barristers becoming MPs is something I could really support ... far too many of them infesting the HoC. More diversity, please.
What, materially, is the difference between “consultancy” and “lawyering”? I couldn’t say myself.

The issue for Cox is less the lawyering, and more the being in a tropical island for weeks on end instead of doing his day job.
What, materially, is the difference between “consultancy” and “lawyering”? I couldn’t say myself.

About £1000 a day, I think.

By the way, what’s your view on the proposed changes to the Welsh curriculum.

Wales really looks like a failed state. Crap education, crap infrastructure, crap economy.

RochdalePioneers · November 2021

Philip_Thompson said:

WhisperingOracle said:

Philip_Thompson said:

Heathener said:
Johnson's miscalculation about the sleaze is breathtaking. They are STILL thinking it's just a storm in a teacup. They don't seem to realise just how bloody angry this has made people. Their people.

We've spent best part of 2 years under the cosh and his tory MPs don't seem to give a flying fig about the sweat and toil, the hardships, the sacrifices.

On a personal level there are lots of things about this which have incensed me and it's hard to single out one, but the idea that Johnson should fly by private jet from the Glasgow climate change summit in order to have dinner at the Garrick Club with his chum and Telegraph mentor Charles Moore really sticks in the throat. But there are bigger issues than that, over which Boris Johnson is trampling with his usual ebullient, arrogant, blustering, cavalier buffoonery.

This time the turning of the tide is for real.
Oh jeez Heathener, Boris has lost you?

It really is all over, you've been so effusive in your praise for the Tories before.

If Boris loses kinabalu, roger, Rochdale and malcolmg next then that we may as well do the last rites on his Premiership.
There's clearly a lot of Tory voters who are very angry.
Oh that's absolutely true.

But having 'the usual suspects' say why they're incensed when they're always incensed is just amusing.

Its like having Scott post an anti-Brexit Tweet - that's a real gamechanger, isn't it? 😂

And thats fine. Its just that in attacking us / the Daily Express et al you are providing tacit support to Geoffrey Cox. Who trousered your money. To sit all expenses paid in the Caribbean. Trousering even more money. To defend a British colony who have been trousering yet more money.

Its an odd hill to defend, even for you.

YBarddCwsc · November 2021

Foxy said:

YBarddCwsc said:

OldKingCole said:

YBarddCwsc said:

Scott_xP said:
Right so *deep breath* it appears Geoffrey Cox spent April, while Brits were still under lockdown rules, in the Caribbean, voting in parliament over Zoom, earning £100,000s representing a tax haven island *against the British state* over corruption claims?
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10179601/Former-attorney-general-Geoffrey-Cox-second-job-saw-vote-remotely-Caribbean.html
And so ..... it was not "consultancy" work.

He was working as a barrister.

Personally, I'd be quite happy to ban lawyers/barristers from the House of Commons -- on the grounds that there are already far too many of them -- but if you let them in, it is not clear why they should not continue to practice.
You could, I think argue, that as nurses and doctors need to continue to practice, to retain registration and skills, that the same applies to lawyers.
Agreed.

"Consultancy" work should be banned, though I can see that it may be difficult in practice to define it in a really water-tight manner.

If an MP is doing excessive additional work outside their duties as an MP, than that is, in my opinion, a matter for the MPs' constituents. They have the option to throw him/her out at the next General.

A blanket ban on any more solicitors and barristers becoming MPs is something I could really support ... far too many of them infesting the HoC. More diversity, please.
Letting voters decide really requires constituencies with multi member STV. Any system of FPTP with 75% safe seats or list PR means that parties, not voters, decides who represents.

Agreed. I am for the voters, not the parties.

Morris_Dancer · November 2021

Good morning, everyone.

Mr. Walker, if only the EU were so proactive at implementing the trusted trader scheme they're meant to be doing.

Morris_Dancer · November 2021

F1: bad news: the sprint race bullshit returns to contaminate the excellent Brazilian Grand Prix.

JosiasJessop · November 2021

squareroot2 said:

JosiasJessop said:
On levelling up:

Much is written on here and elsewhere about 'levelling up'. There is a great deal of cynicism and doubt that it means anything.

Here in Cambridgeshire, it increasingly looks as though the March to Wisbech railway line will reopen - perhaps by 2028. Whilst that is after the next election, initial ?exploratory? works are already underway.

Before anyone says 'Wisbech isn't the north!'; it is a relatively poor town (it has a significant issue with child poverty), with poor transport links - the single-carriageway A47 bring the main link. If the A47 dualling is funded as well, then these transport links will be transformative for the town and its area.

This will get noticed.
Was there recently several Polish shops and looked pretty run down but some lovely old buildings there. We didn't stay long.

There are some superb Georgian buildings, especially along the waterfront. But much of it is rather rundown. There is, in particular, a children's playground on a scrap of grass, very unkempt, with (from memory) just one set of swings beside some pallisade fencing.

Wisbech could be a gem. But it is very much in the middle of the sticks, with poor connectivity.

Although personally, I think they should rebuild the Wisbech and Upwell Tramway. Bring back Tpby!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wisbech_and_Upwell_Tramway

Mexicanpete · November 2021

YBarddCwsc said:

Foxy said:

YBarddCwsc said:

OldKingCole said:

YBarddCwsc said:

Scott_xP said:
Right so *deep breath* it appears Geoffrey Cox spent April, while Brits were still under lockdown rules, in the Caribbean, voting in parliament over Zoom, earning £100,000s representing a tax haven island *against the British state* over corruption claims?
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10179601/Former-attorney-general-Geoffrey-Cox-second-job-saw-vote-remotely-Caribbean.html
And so ..... it was not "consultancy" work.

He was working as a barrister.

Personally, I'd be quite happy to ban lawyers/barristers from the House of Commons -- on the grounds that there are already far too many of them -- but if you let them in, it is not clear why they should not continue to practice.
You could, I think argue, that as nurses and doctors need to continue to practice, to retain registration and skills, that the same applies to lawyers.
Agreed.

"Consultancy" work should be banned, though I can see that it may be difficult in practice to define it in a really water-tight manner.

If an MP is doing excessive additional work outside their duties as an MP, than that is, in my opinion, a matter for the MPs' constituents. They have the option to throw him/her out at the next General.

A blanket ban on any more solicitors and barristers becoming MPs is something I could really support ... far too many of them infesting the HoC. More diversity, please.
Letting voters decide really requires constituencies with multi member STV. Any system of FPTP with 75% safe seats or list PR means that parties, not voters, decides who represents.
Agreed. I am for the voters, not the parties.

Can't argue with that, but within the realms of a fairly elected sovereign parliament. But, no government by plebiscite thank you very much.

As an aside little Alun is doing OK for himself. £60k of hard- worked bonuses each year. Nice work if you can get it

RochdalePioneers · November 2021

Gardenwalker said:

Scott_xP said:
More signs the EU doesn’t intent to force U.K. breathing space to establish new facts on the ground if they move to unravel NI Protocol. https://twitter.com/mij_europe/status/1457969885020139522
Interesting change of strategy from the EU.
I guess they believe attack is the best form of defence.

Seems reasonable. We have (or had) a credible military threat to deter the Russians. The UK is set on a trade war. Aside from the reality that trade wars end with chunks out of both sides and status quo ante, the EU also know that as the larger party they will be able to smash the UK into the ground in such a war.

The problem on the UK side is that they don't understand trade. Or diplomacy. Or stuff. And they are cheered on by "just Trigger A16, we hold all the cards" frothers so think it can work. The EU are going to detail exactly what such a trade war will do to us. And at the end of it? Crawling back to the negotiating table trying to reset things back to where they are now.

I'm not sure how food shortages and higher prices helps save Boris. you can't feed sovrinty to your kids for dinner.

Gardenwalker · November 2021

JosiasJessop said:

squareroot2 said:

JosiasJessop said:
On levelling up:

Much is written on here and elsewhere about 'levelling up'. There is a great deal of cynicism and doubt that it means anything.

Here in Cambridgeshire, it increasingly looks as though the March to Wisbech railway line will reopen - perhaps by 2028. Whilst that is after the next election, initial ?exploratory? works are already underway.

Before anyone says 'Wisbech isn't the north!'; it is a relatively poor town (it has a significant issue with child poverty), with poor transport links - the single-carriageway A47 bring the main link. If the A47 dualling is funded as well, then these transport links will be transformative for the town and its area.

This will get noticed.
Was there recently several Polish shops and looked pretty run down but some lovely old buildings there. We didn't stay long.
There are some superb Georgian buildings, especially along the waterfront. But much of it is rather rundown. There is, in particular, a children's playground on a scrap of grass, very unkempt, with (from memory) just one set of swings beside some pallisade fencing.

Wisbech could be a gem. But it is very much in the middle of the sticks, with poor connectivity.

Although personally, I think they should rebuild the Wisbech and Upwell Tramway. Bring back Tpby!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wisbech_and_Upwell_Tramway

The future for places like Wisbech is as commuter dormitories for the local “metro”, which would be Cambridge in this case.

I see there is an occasionally 30 minute connection by train…

Philip_Thompson · November 2021

RochdalePioneers said:

Philip_Thompson said:

WhisperingOracle said:

Philip_Thompson said:

Heathener said:
Johnson's miscalculation about the sleaze is breathtaking. They are STILL thinking it's just a storm in a teacup. They don't seem to realise just how bloody angry this has made people. Their people.

We've spent best part of 2 years under the cosh and his tory MPs don't seem to give a flying fig about the sweat and toil, the hardships, the sacrifices.

On a personal level there are lots of things about this which have incensed me and it's hard to single out one, but the idea that Johnson should fly by private jet from the Glasgow climate change summit in order to have dinner at the Garrick Club with his chum and Telegraph mentor Charles Moore really sticks in the throat. But there are bigger issues than that, over which Boris Johnson is trampling with his usual ebullient, arrogant, blustering, cavalier buffoonery.

This time the turning of the tide is for real.
Oh jeez Heathener, Boris has lost you?

It really is all over, you've been so effusive in your praise for the Tories before.

If Boris loses kinabalu, roger, Rochdale and malcolmg next then that we may as well do the last rites on his Premiership.
There's clearly a lot of Tory voters who are very angry.
Oh that's absolutely true.

But having 'the usual suspects' say why they're incensed when they're always incensed is just amusing.

Its like having Scott post an anti-Brexit Tweet - that's a real gamechanger, isn't it? 😂
And thats fine. Its just that in attacking us / the Daily Express et al you are providing tacit support to Geoffrey Cox. Who trousered your money. To sit all expenses paid in the Caribbean. Trousering even more money. To defend a British colony who have been trousering yet more money.

Its an odd hill to defend, even for you.

I'm not defending Cox, or other lawyer MPs who've been trousering money on the side of being an MP, whether they be a backbencher like Cox, or the Leader of the Opposition.

IanB2 · November 2021

Philip_Thompson said:

IanB2 said:

Philip_Thompson said:

WhisperingOracle said:

Philip_Thompson said:

Heathener said:
Johnson's miscalculation about the sleaze is breathtaking. They are STILL thinking it's just a storm in a teacup. They don't seem to realise just how bloody angry this has made people. Their people.

We've spent best part of 2 years under the cosh and his tory MPs don't seem to give a flying fig about the sweat and toil, the hardships, the sacrifices.

On a personal level there are lots of things about this which have incensed me and it's hard to single out one, but the idea that Johnson should fly by private jet from the Glasgow climate change summit in order to have dinner at the Garrick Club with his chum and Telegraph mentor Charles Moore really sticks in the throat. But there are bigger issues than that, over which Boris Johnson is trampling with his usual ebullient, arrogant, blustering, cavalier buffoonery.

This time the turning of the tide is for real.
Oh jeez Heathener, Boris has lost you?

It really is all over, you've been so effusive in your praise for the Tories before.

If Boris loses kinabalu, roger, Rochdale and malcolmg next then that we may as well do the last rites on his Premiership.
There's clearly a lot of Tory voters who are very angry.
Oh that's absolutely true.

But having 'the usual suspects' say why they're incensed when they're always incensed is just amusing.

Its like having Scott post an anti-Brexit Tweet - that's a real gamechanger, isn't it? 😂
So we all have to keep quiet until you come out against the clown?
Did you miss my thread header doing so?

Then we're all good to go!

If the same ordinance had applied during Corbyn's leadership, we'd have had years of very short threads

Taz · November 2021

Scott_xP said:

Gardenwalker said:
The issue for Cox is less the lawyering, and more the being in a tropical island for weeks on end instead of doing his day job.
He was recorded as arriving in the territory on April 26, when the Commons was debating global anti-corruption sanctions

Cox did not respond to a request from The Times for comment
https://twitter.com/thetimes/status/1457978989687939076

If you wanted to get really angry with fuller quotes from Raab’s defence in @TimesRadio of Geoffrey Cox doing his job as MP from 4,000 miles away… https://twitter.com/MattChorley/status/1457981188790964225/photo/1

When Stuart Bell was looking after his Middlesbrough constituents from the comfort of his Paris home the Tories were less keen on this sort of arrangement. Odd that.

Fenman · November 2021

OldKingCole said:

YBarddCwsc said:

Scott_xP said:
Right so *deep breath* it appears Geoffrey Cox spent April, while Brits were still under lockdown rules, in the Caribbean, voting in parliament over Zoom, earning £100,000s representing a tax haven island *against the British state* over corruption claims?
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10179601/Former-attorney-general-Geoffrey-Cox-second-job-saw-vote-remotely-Caribbean.html
And so ..... it was not "consultancy" work.

He was working as a barrister.

Personally, I'd be quite happy to ban lawyers/barristers from the House of Commons -- on the grounds that there are already far too many of them -- but if you let them in, it is not clear why they should not continue to practice.
You could, I think argue, that as nurses and doctors need to continue to practice, to retain registration and skills, that the same applies to lawyers.

The situation is completely different. MPs get to make the law. That should be enough to enable them to keep up to date.

JosiasJessop · November 2021

Gardenwalker said:

JosiasJessop said:

squareroot2 said:

JosiasJessop said:
On levelling up:

Much is written on here and elsewhere about 'levelling up'. There is a great deal of cynicism and doubt that it means anything.

Here in Cambridgeshire, it increasingly looks as though the March to Wisbech railway line will reopen - perhaps by 2028. Whilst that is after the next election, initial ?exploratory? works are already underway.

Before anyone says 'Wisbech isn't the north!'; it is a relatively poor town (it has a significant issue with child poverty), with poor transport links - the single-carriageway A47 bring the main link. If the A47 dualling is funded as well, then these transport links will be transformative for the town and its area.

This will get noticed.
Was there recently several Polish shops and looked pretty run down but some lovely old buildings there. We didn't stay long.
There are some superb Georgian buildings, especially along the waterfront. But much of it is rather rundown. There is, in particular, a children's playground on a scrap of grass, very unkempt, with (from memory) just one set of swings beside some pallisade fencing.

Wisbech could be a gem. But it is very much in the middle of the sticks, with poor connectivity.

Although personally, I think they should rebuild the Wisbech and Upwell Tramway. Bring back Tpby!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wisbech_and_Upwell_Tramway
The future for places like Wisbech is as commuter dormitories for the local “metro”, which would be Cambridge in this case.

I see there is an occasionally 30 minute connection by train…

They point is to rebuild the rail link for passengers - the freight line has been unused for years. But yes, it looks as though the main connection will be with Cambridge.

AIUI it's actually a major job, as there are level crossings that need replacing by bridges.

CarlottaVance · November 2021

To dissuade UKG from triggering Article 16, EU is drawing up a package of short/medium term retaliatory measures which cd be put to @DavidGHFrost by @MarosSefcovic on Fri. As one senior official says: "In order to avoid escalation, you have to demonstrate escalation dominance" 1/

https://twitter.com/mij_europe/status/1457969885020139522?s=21

YBarddCwsc · November 2021

Gardenwalker said:

YBarddCwsc said:

Gardenwalker said:

YBarddCwsc said:

OldKingCole said:

YBarddCwsc said:

Scott_xP said:
Right so *deep breath* it appears Geoffrey Cox spent April, while Brits were still under lockdown rules, in the Caribbean, voting in parliament over Zoom, earning £100,000s representing a tax haven island *against the British state* over corruption claims?
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10179601/Former-attorney-general-Geoffrey-Cox-second-job-saw-vote-remotely-Caribbean.html
And so ..... it was not "consultancy" work.

He was working as a barrister.

Personally, I'd be quite happy to ban lawyers/barristers from the House of Commons -- on the grounds that there are already far too many of them -- but if you let them in, it is not clear why they should not continue to practice.
You could, I think argue, that as nurses and doctors need to continue to practice, to retain registration and skills, that the same applies to lawyers.
Agreed.

"Consultancy" work should be banned, though I can see that it may be difficult in practice to define it in a really water-tight manner.

If an MP is doing excessive additional work outside their duties as an MP, than that is, in my opinion, a matter for the MPs' constituents. They have the option to throw him/her out at the next General.

A blanket ban on any more solicitors and barristers becoming MPs is something I could really support ... far too many of them infesting the HoC. More diversity, please.
What, materially, is the difference between “consultancy” and “lawyering”? I couldn’t say myself.

The issue for Cox is less the lawyering, and more the being in a tropical island for weeks on end instead of doing his day job.
What, materially, is the difference between “consultancy” and “lawyering”? I couldn’t say myself.

About £1000 a day, I think.
By the way, what’s your view on the proposed changes to the Welsh curriculum.

Wales really looks like a failed state. Crap education, crap infrastructure, crap economy.

On this, your diagnosis is all too accurate. It is what happens in one-party states.

Let us recollect: (i) the Senedd Cymru is the only UK Parliament without any requirement for lobbyists to be registered. What Owen Paterson did is not against regulations .... if he was in the Senedd;

(ii) the Senedd is the only Parliament in which there will be no investigation of the Government's actions over COVID. Remember, Drakeford has proportionately killed almost as many people as Johnson during COVID (despite @TheScreamingEagles gushing over him like a pimply adolescent).

The problems of Wales are impossible to fix, as long as there is no credible opposition.

Llafur can't presently be replaced because the alternative -- the Welsh Tories -- are actually worse.

RochdalePioneers · November 2021

Philip_Thompson said:

RochdalePioneers said:

Philip_Thompson said:

WhisperingOracle said:

Philip_Thompson said:

Heathener said:
Johnson's miscalculation about the sleaze is breathtaking. They are STILL thinking it's just a storm in a teacup. They don't seem to realise just how bloody angry this has made people. Their people.

We've spent best part of 2 years under the cosh and his tory MPs don't seem to give a flying fig about the sweat and toil, the hardships, the sacrifices.

On a personal level there are lots of things about this which have incensed me and it's hard to single out one, but the idea that Johnson should fly by private jet from the Glasgow climate change summit in order to have dinner at the Garrick Club with his chum and Telegraph mentor Charles Moore really sticks in the throat. But there are bigger issues than that, over which Boris Johnson is trampling with his usual ebullient, arrogant, blustering, cavalier buffoonery.

This time the turning of the tide is for real.
Oh jeez Heathener, Boris has lost you?

It really is all over, you've been so effusive in your praise for the Tories before.

If Boris loses kinabalu, roger, Rochdale and malcolmg next then that we may as well do the last rites on his Premiership.
There's clearly a lot of Tory voters who are very angry.
Oh that's absolutely true.

But having 'the usual suspects' say why they're incensed when they're always incensed is just amusing.

Its like having Scott post an anti-Brexit Tweet - that's a real gamechanger, isn't it? 😂
And thats fine. Its just that in attacking us / the Daily Express et al you are providing tacit support to Geoffrey Cox. Who trousered your money. To sit all expenses paid in the Caribbean. Trousering even more money. To defend a British colony who have been trousering yet more money.

Its an odd hill to defend, even for you.
I'm not defending Cox, or other lawyer MPs who've been trousering money on the side of being an MP, whether they be a backbencher like Cox, or the Leader of the Opposition.

No? Sounds like it.

Philip_Thompson · November 2021

Trigger warning for the sensitive souls offended by such, a Guido Fakwes link: https://order-order.com/2021/11/08/starmer-has-billed-113975-in-second-job-fees-since-becoming-an-mp-in-2015/

It seems Keir Starmer has billed £113,975 in second job fees since becoming an MP in 2015 - of which £25,934.18 were in the past twelve months alone while Leader of the Opposition.

Ed Davey has trousered £78,000 a year on the side and Ian Blackford £38,797 in a year.

Not just Tories, it seems.

swing_voter · November 2021

squareroot2 said:

JosiasJessop said:
On levelling up:

Much is written on here and elsewhere about 'levelling up'. There is a great deal of cynicism and doubt that it means anything.

Here in Cambridgeshire, it increasingly looks as though the March to Wisbech railway line will reopen - perhaps by 2028. Whilst that is after the next election, initial ?exploratory? works are already underway.

Before anyone says 'Wisbech isn't the north!'; it is a relatively poor town (it has a significant issue with child poverty), with poor transport links - the single-carriageway A47 bring the main link. If the A47 dualling is funded as well, then these transport links will be transformative for the town and its area.

This will get noticed.
Was there recently several Polish shops and looked pretty run down but some lovely old buildings there. We didn't stay long. In its heyday I suspect it would have been lovely..

There are stacks of `poor towns' down south - Redruth, Swindon, Gloucester (a city I know), Weston Super Mare etc to name a few.... expectations are fairly high and so far, some highly publicised dollops of cash but no clear strategy (or MOE) which leaves me very cynical about this will ever work.

CarlottaVance · November 2021

Grateful to @GuidoFawkes for the following; Last year for 106 hours work outside Parliament Starmer earned £25,935; hourly rate £247. Lib Dem leader Ed Davey £78K for 120 hours; hourly rate £650. SNP'S Ian Blackford £38,967 for 32 hours; Hourly rate £1,217. Where's that trough.

https://twitter.com/kelvmackenzie/status/1457764778089357325?s=21

Who knew crofting paid so well?

IshmaelZ · November 2021

Fenman said:

OldKingCole said:

YBarddCwsc said:

Scott_xP said:
Right so *deep breath* it appears Geoffrey Cox spent April, while Brits were still under lockdown rules, in the Caribbean, voting in parliament over Zoom, earning £100,000s representing a tax haven island *against the British state* over corruption claims?
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10179601/Former-attorney-general-Geoffrey-Cox-second-job-saw-vote-remotely-Caribbean.html
And so ..... it was not "consultancy" work.

He was working as a barrister.

Personally, I'd be quite happy to ban lawyers/barristers from the House of Commons -- on the grounds that there are already far too many of them -- but if you let them in, it is not clear why they should not continue to practice.
You could, I think argue, that as nurses and doctors need to continue to practice, to retain registration and skills, that the same applies to lawyers.
The situation is completely different. MPs get to make the law. That should be enough to enable them to keep up to date.

A truly nonsense point.

RochdalePioneers · November 2021

Taz said:

Scott_xP said:

Gardenwalker said:
The issue for Cox is less the lawyering, and more the being in a tropical island for weeks on end instead of doing his day job.
He was recorded as arriving in the territory on April 26, when the Commons was debating global anti-corruption sanctions

Cox did not respond to a request from The Times for comment
https://twitter.com/thetimes/status/1457978989687939076

If you wanted to get really angry with fuller quotes from Raab’s defence in @TimesRadio of Geoffrey Cox doing his job as MP from 4,000 miles away… https://twitter.com/MattChorley/status/1457981188790964225/photo/1
When Stuart Bell was looking after his Middlesbrough constituents from the comfort of his Paris home the Tories were less keen on this sort of arrangement. Odd that.

Its the same thing with Teesside PCC Steve Turner. Local Tories tore into Labour's Barry Coppinger for egregious crimes like communicating with the Chief Constable on WhatsApp. made him wholly unfit for office.

Now that we have their PCC having failed to declare a police caution and now being investigated on far more serious charges? Absolute radio silence. Its as if they apply different standards to themselves than they do to everyone else. And it isn't going unnoticed - the Northern Echo has been harrying the gobby local Tories who endlessly fed them lines about Coppinger for the same about Turner's far worse issues. And turning their refusal into front page stories.

Hypocricy and incompetence and double standards. Never positive attributes in politics.

RochdalePioneers · November 2021

CarlottaVance said:
Grateful to @GuidoFawkes for the following; Last year for 106 hours work outside Parliament Starmer earned £25,935; hourly rate £247. Lib Dem leader Ed Davey £78K for 120 hours; hourly rate £650. SNP'S Ian Blackford £38,967 for 32 hours; Hourly rate £1,217. Where's that trough.

https://twitter.com/kelvmackenzie/status/1457764778089357325?s=21

Who knew crofting paid so well?

I assume mostly media work for all of them. A lot of MPs do columns etc on all sides.

The question is whether desperate defend the indefensible Boris rampers think this will sufficiently distract from Paterson. Or Randox. Or Cox. Or Johnson himself which is of course the whole point in the exercise.

squareroot2 · November 2021

RochdalePioneers said:

Taz said:

Scott_xP said:

Gardenwalker said:
The issue for Cox is less the lawyering, and more the being in a tropical island for weeks on end instead of doing his day job.
He was recorded as arriving in the territory on April 26, when the Commons was debating global anti-corruption sanctions

Cox did not respond to a request from The Times for comment
https://twitter.com/thetimes/status/1457978989687939076

If you wanted to get really angry with fuller quotes from Raab’s defence in @TimesRadio of Geoffrey Cox doing his job as MP from 4,000 miles away… https://twitter.com/MattChorley/status/1457981188790964225/photo/1
When Stuart Bell was looking after his Middlesbrough constituents from the comfort of his Paris home the Tories were less keen on this sort of arrangement. Odd that.
Its the same thing with Teesside PCC Steve Turner. Local Tories tore into Labour's Barry Coppinger for egregious crimes like communicating with the Chief Constable on WhatsApp. made him wholly unfit for office.

Now that we have their PCC having failed to declare a police caution and now being investigated on far more serious charges? Absolute radio silence. Its as if they apply different standards to themselves than they do to everyone else. And it isn't going unnoticed - the Northern Echo has been harrying the gobby local Tories who endlessly fed them lines about Coppinger for the same about Turner's far worse issues. And turning their refusal into front page stories.

Hypocricy and incompetence and double standards. Never positive attributes in politics.

Never trust any politician. They will always let you down.

YBarddCwsc · November 2021

Philip_Thompson said:
Trigger warning for the sensitive souls offended by such, a Guido Fakwes link: https://order-order.com/2021/11/08/starmer-has-billed-113975-in-second-job-fees-since-becoming-an-mp-in-2015/

It seems Keir Starmer has billed £113,975 in second job fees since becoming an MP in 2015 - of which £25,934.18 were in the past twelve months alone while Leader of the Opposition.

Ed Davey has trousered £78,000 a year on the side and Ian Blackford £38,797 in a year.

Not just Tories, it seems.

That is the problem with "sleaze". Everybody in politics gets hurt.

TheScreamingEagles · November 2021

Congratulations to @Morris_Dancer on his new job at the University of Austin classics department.

New course announcement: "Cancel Culture, Censorship, and the Fall of Rome."

https://twitter.com/uaustinclassics/status/1457865584134213634

TheScreamingEagles · November 2021

When Boris Johnson becomes a perceived net negative the Tory party will display unto him all the loyalty and fidelity Boris Johnson has shown to his wives.

Morris_Dancer · November 2021

Mr. Eagles, to be fair, Tiberius and Sejanus were very keen on cancellation (through the medium of forced suicide).

YBarddCwsc · November 2021

RochdalePioneers said:

CarlottaVance said:
Grateful to @GuidoFawkes for the following; Last year for 106 hours work outside Parliament Starmer earned £25,935; hourly rate £247. Lib Dem leader Ed Davey £78K for 120 hours; hourly rate £650. SNP'S Ian Blackford £38,967 for 32 hours; Hourly rate £1,217. Where's that trough.

https://twitter.com/kelvmackenzie/status/1457764778089357325?s=21

Who knew crofting paid so well?
I assume mostly media work for all of them. A lot of MPs do columns etc on all sides.

Well, we know that is not true in the case of Ed Davey. He does consultancy work.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/sleaze-owen-paterson-ed-davey-consultant-b1953482.html

Scott_xP · November 2021

Every Tory MP reading about their second job in todays press knows they have Boris Johnson's Paterson plan, to thank for the renewed scrutiny.
https://twitter.com/robertshrimsley/status/1457988513681575937

One thing that will distress Johnson about reports of some Tory MPs' vast outside earnings will be envy that he cannot, yet, rival those sums because being prime minister is such a chore.
https://twitter.com/rafaelbehr/status/1457986351870185474

Big_G_NorthWales · November 2021

Good morning

If the last few days has not been a wake up call to Boris and the conservative party then it most definitely should be

Boris avoiding yesterday was pure cowardice and it does feel like the start of the end days for him

Obviously this is an enormous gift to his opponents, as was on display yesteday in the HOC and very much on here this morning

Starmer put the ball in the back of the net though he could hardly miss, but as I said yesterday it is now upto the red wall conservative mps to take control and put Boris on final notice to get his act together or send in the the 55 letters

The two December by elections will be interesting, not least to see if Labour are making any progress or the move towards the Greens continues, though the Lib Dems do not seem to be benefiting as much as maybe should be expected

Gardenwalker · November 2021

JosiasJessop said:

Gardenwalker said:

JosiasJessop said:

squareroot2 said:

JosiasJessop said:
On levelling up:

Much is written on here and elsewhere about 'levelling up'. There is a great deal of cynicism and doubt that it means anything.

Here in Cambridgeshire, it increasingly looks as though the March to Wisbech railway line will reopen - perhaps by 2028. Whilst that is after the next election, initial ?exploratory? works are already underway.

Before anyone says 'Wisbech isn't the north!'; it is a relatively poor town (it has a significant issue with child poverty), with poor transport links - the single-carriageway A47 bring the main link. If the A47 dualling is funded as well, then these transport links will be transformative for the town and its area.

This will get noticed.
Was there recently several Polish shops and looked pretty run down but some lovely old buildings there. We didn't stay long.
There are some superb Georgian buildings, especially along the waterfront. But much of it is rather rundown. There is, in particular, a children's playground on a scrap of grass, very unkempt, with (from memory) just one set of swings beside some pallisade fencing.

Wisbech could be a gem. But it is very much in the middle of the sticks, with poor connectivity.

Although personally, I think they should rebuild the Wisbech and Upwell Tramway. Bring back Tpby!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wisbech_and_Upwell_Tramway
The future for places like Wisbech is as commuter dormitories for the local “metro”, which would be Cambridge in this case.

I see there is an occasionally 30 minute connection by train…
They point is to rebuild the rail link for passengers - the freight line has been unused for years. But yes, it looks as though the main connection will be with Cambridge.

AIUI it's actually a major job, as there are level crossings that need replacing by bridges.

A combination of Treasury “orthodoxy”, gross centralisation, and a soviet-style planning regime acts as a massive sandbag on U.K. productivity.

It should be possible to get into Cambridge within 30 odd minutes from Wisbech, Peterborough, Bedford, Bury and even Luton.

Cambridge is one of the innovation hubs of Europe, with house prices to match, surrounded by vast acres of deprivation.

CarlottaVance · November 2021

RochdalePioneers said:

CarlottaVance said:
Grateful to @GuidoFawkes for the following; Last year for 106 hours work outside Parliament Starmer earned £25,935; hourly rate £247. Lib Dem leader Ed Davey £78K for 120 hours; hourly rate £650. SNP'S Ian Blackford £38,967 for 32 hours; Hourly rate £1,217. Where's that trough.

https://twitter.com/kelvmackenzie/status/1457764778089357325?s=21

Who knew crofting paid so well?
I assume mostly media work for all of them. A lot of MPs do columns etc on all sides.

The question is whether desperate defend the indefensible Boris rampers think this will sufficiently distract from Paterson. Or Randox. Or Cox. Or Johnson himself which is of course the whole point in the exercise.

The question is there are a lot of glass houses out there where people are throwing stones.

Sir Ed was on R4 yesterday explaining his additional income - from a charity that supports the disability his son suffers from.

MaxPB · November 2021

TheScreamingEagles said:
When Boris Johnson becomes a perceived net negative the Tory party will display unto him all the loyalty and fidelity Boris Johnson has shown to his wives.

Let's hope. They let May linger on for far too long.

HYUFD · November 2021

The Telegraph was also loyal to Thatcher in 1990 and IDS in 2003 too as the Tory house journal.

However as long as the Conservatives at least stay level in most polls Boris should be OK. If Labour start to pull consistently ahead than more Tory MPs will start to look towards Sunak instead.

It was Labour getting a clear poll lead post poll tax that did for Thatcher and IDS also tended to see Labour ahead

Scott_xP · November 2021

Expectation at Westminster that the North Shropshire by-election to be triggered shortly for 16th December. Wrap up warm canvassers. 🗳️❄️
https://twitter.com/adamfleming/status/1457989029471965185

OldKingCole · November 2021

Scott_xP said:

Gardenwalker said:
The issue for Cox is less the lawyering, and more the being in a tropical island for weeks on end instead of doing his day job.
He was recorded as arriving in the territory on April 26, when the Commons was debating global anti-corruption sanctions

Cox did not respond to a request from The Times for comment
https://twitter.com/thetimes/status/1457978989687939076

If you wanted to get really angry with fuller quotes from Raab’s defence in @TimesRadio of Geoffrey Cox doing his job as MP from 4,000 miles away… https://twitter.com/MattChorley/status/1457981188790964225/photo/1

To be fair, if everything's being done remotely he could even hold surgeries by Zoom etc. from wherever.

TheScreamingEagles · November 2021

Morris_Dancer said:
Mr. Eagles, to be fair, Tiberius and Sejanus were very keen on cancellation (through the medium of forced suicide).

Was Incitatus the first victim of the cancel culture?

Big_G_NorthWales · November 2021

CarlottaVance said:
Grateful to @GuidoFawkes for the following; Last year for 106 hours work outside Parliament Starmer earned £25,935; hourly rate £247. Lib Dem leader Ed Davey £78K for 120 hours; hourly rate £650. SNP'S Ian Blackford £38,967 for 32 hours; Hourly rate £1,217. Where's that trough.

https://twitter.com/kelvmackenzie/status/1457764778089357325?s=21

Who knew crofting paid so well?

Of course this has opened the Pandora box

The BBC were having a go at Ed Davy yesterday and I believe Starmer was also confronted on his additional earnings

eek · November 2021

Foxy said:

YBarddCwsc said:

OldKingCole said:

YBarddCwsc said:

Scott_xP said:
Right so *deep breath* it appears Geoffrey Cox spent April, while Brits were still under lockdown rules, in the Caribbean, voting in parliament over Zoom, earning £100,000s representing a tax haven island *against the British state* over corruption claims?
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10179601/Former-attorney-general-Geoffrey-Cox-second-job-saw-vote-remotely-Caribbean.html
And so ..... it was not "consultancy" work.

He was working as a barrister.

Personally, I'd be quite happy to ban lawyers/barristers from the House of Commons -- on the grounds that there are already far too many of them -- but if you let them in, it is not clear why they should not continue to practice.
You could, I think argue, that as nurses and doctors need to continue to practice, to retain registration and skills, that the same applies to lawyers.
Agreed.

"Consultancy" work should be banned, though I can see that it may be difficult in practice to define it in a really water-tight manner.

If an MP is doing excessive additional work outside their duties as an MP, than that is, in my opinion, a matter for the MPs' constituents. They have the option to throw him/her out at the next General.

A blanket ban on any more solicitors and barristers becoming MPs is something I could really support ... far too many of them infesting the HoC. More diversity, please.
Letting voters decide really requires constituencies with multi member STV. Any system of FPTP with 75% safe seats or list PR means that parties, not voters, decides who represents.

Sadly while a multi member constituency would result in a more diverse system it would cost both main parties some seats (it's safe to say the LDs would get a seat in any constituency with 5+ seat as voters switched from their least worse possible winner to their preferred option) and reduce the power the party holds over it's MPs.

It's a shame though as it would probably encourage investment and planning on a slightly more regional area and not have each constituency / town for itself.

squareroot2 · November 2021

I did say that a shower of shit would also descend upon Labour. .. and it has.. KJH and others accused me of being cynical. If cynical is being right. I am fine with that.

Morris_Dancer · November 2021

Mr. Eagles, Remus, perhaps.

HYUFD · November 2021

Stuartinromford said:

Gardenwalker said:

squareroot2 said:
Sunak=Barber
We wish!
Instead he is putting taxes up and has effectively cancelled “levelling up”.

He would still be my preference over Truss, though. She is just a mini-Boris.
Sunak is unpopular with the party members for obvious reasons. And things are going to get worse for him before they get better.

Truss offers Johnsonism without the worst personal excesses of Johnson, which might be a potent (if unhelpful) pitch.

He isn't, Sunak still led the last Conservative Home next Tory leader survey.
https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2021/08/sunak-leads-our-first-next-tory-leader-survey-in-two-years.html

Truss is also even more unpopular than Boris, with a rating of -24% as a potential good PM with the public in yesterdays' Mori, even worse than Boris' -21% and below Starmer's -16%.

By contrast Sunak is more popular than all of them, with a rating of -9% on whether he would make a good PM

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/boris-johnson-loses-poll-lead-ipsos-mori-sleaze-scandal-b964945.html

Stuartinromford · November 2021

RochdalePioneers said:

Gardenwalker said:

Scott_xP said:
More signs the EU doesn’t intent to force U.K. breathing space to establish new facts on the ground if they move to unravel NI Protocol. https://twitter.com/mij_europe/status/1457969885020139522
Interesting change of strategy from the EU.
I guess they believe attack is the best form of defence.
Seems reasonable. We have (or had) a credible military threat to deter the Russians. The UK is set on a trade war. Aside from the reality that trade wars end with chunks out of both sides and status quo ante, the EU also know that as the larger party they will be able to smash the UK into the ground in such a war.

The problem on the UK side is that they don't understand trade. Or diplomacy. Or stuff. And they are cheered on by "just Trigger A16, we hold all the cards" frothers so think it can work. The EU are going to detail exactly what such a trade war will do to us. And at the end of it? Crawling back to the negotiating table trying to reset things back to where they are now.

I'm not sure how food shortages and higher prices helps save Boris. you can't feed sovrinty to your kids for dinner.

Two possibilities I can think of.

One is that a trade war, especially one the EU wins, could well change "rejoin in 20 years" to "never rejoin". It will be ugly. But it will secure the VL legacy.

The other is that the UK is assuming that it can win by breaking Queensbury Rules when the EU will be hamstrung by having to stick to them. You see in in schools where the small, gobby kid taunts the big kid and then runs to teacher when the big kid responds.

Except there is no teacher to run to in this case.

Only the Telegraph seems to be staying loyal to Johnson – politicalbetting.com

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