CON members’ poll sends Sunak even higher in next PM betting – politicalbetting.com

Applicant said:

Carnyx said:

Sevco FC

Yep, taht one's definitely on the green ink list.

HYUFD said:

CarlottaVance said:

Haven’t heard of this pollster:

Excl poll by @YonderConsult for @gbnews

83% believe “Boris clearly broke the government’s own rules during Covid lockdown”

44% now no longer feel any obligation to follow new rules in light of the Downing Street parties

Just 23% think Boris is the right person to be PM

https://twitter.com/tomhfh/status/1483352549478514688?s=20

Just as well the government is about to scrap Plan B and virtually all remaining Covid rules anyway then

TOPPING said:

Malmesbury said:

TOPPING said:

Interesting marketing ploy by Costa. Just received a mail saying that as I haven't used my Costa Rewards Card for 12 months they are about to remove my rewards (currently 1x free coffee).

I will now use Costa once more before the cut off date to get my free coffee and endeavour to use them as little as possible in the back to work new era we are about to enter.

Costa seem to have the worst coffee - and train and treat their staff the worst. Which is probably related.

I recall being dragged into a new branch of Costa by a boss - he had some vouchers - the coffee was undrinkable. When he asked the lady behind the counter when the machine had last been cleaned, she went - "cleaned????"

To be fair to my boss (he'd worked in a coffee shop at uni), he did show her how to run the cleaning cycle on the machine, other than getting shouty.

I always like Cafe Nero. But it will be a stretch going to meetings and being offered coffee or buying it at shops after living off Algerian Coffee Stores Water Processed Columbian Decaf beans delivered for the past two years.

And yes that is an overheard at Waitrose, first world problem, and pseuds corner comment I appreciate.

Gallowgate said:

HYUFD said:

CarlottaVance said:

Haven’t heard of this pollster:

Excl poll by @YonderConsult for @gbnews

83% believe “Boris clearly broke the government’s own rules during Covid lockdown”

44% now no longer feel any obligation to follow new rules in light of the Downing Street parties

Just 23% think Boris is the right person to be PM

https://twitter.com/tomhfh/status/1483352549478514688?s=20

Just as well the government is about to scrap Plan B and virtually all remaining Covid anyway then

Virtually all, but not the most visible one, so psychologically it will feel like not much has changed.

Politically not the best decision in my opinion, even if the science says otherwise.

Anabobazina said:

HYUFD said:

CarlottaVance said:

Haven’t heard of this pollster:

Excl poll by @YonderConsult for @gbnews

83% believe “Boris clearly broke the government’s own rules during Covid lockdown”

44% now no longer feel any obligation to follow new rules in light of the Downing Street parties

Just 23% think Boris is the right person to be PM

https://twitter.com/tomhfh/status/1483352549478514688?s=20

Just as well the government is about to scrap Plan B and virtually all remaining Covid rules anyway then

The briefing is that they won't be dropping Plan B at all – indeed every paper has carried the news that masking will stay. Now that might change, but that's what's being briefed.

TheScreamingEagles said:

HYUFD said:

eek said:

Dura_Ace said:

DougSeal said:

RochdalePioneers said:

DougSeal said:

RochdalePioneers said:

Did someone above suggest this was "blowing over"?

It truly isn't. The Tory rebels efforts even have a project name. And whilst I remember that photo of John Redwood and his rebels, remember that the embarrassing collection of assorted lunatics wazzocks and incompetents is the *Prime Minister*'s team, not the usurper(s).

Cummings is the Poker player with 17 packs-worth of aces up his sleeve.

That was me. It’s blowing over because the mere fact it’s Cummings will unify the Tory Party behind his target. Much as I would like the FLSOJ to be defenestrated it ain’t gonna happen. In two weeks this will be essentially over.

I don't expect it will happen yet. The sense of disbelief amongst some of the MPs is almost comedic - "this can't be happening" is a strong instinct even as the obvious conclusion hones into view.

They may hate Cummings. But it isn't Dom who is outing all this - its the press. He may well be the source, but MPs can hardly ignore all the newspapers being full of pictures of a drunk BJ taking a crap on the Downing Street lawn during a "work meeting" just because they don't like Cummings.

Had all of this been Dom talking with no evidence then I would absolutely agree with you. But it isn't. They likely won't go for him until after the demolition in May, but it will happen. No politician can survive this onslaught.

He’ll still be in charge at the next election. People in this country have the attention span of a gnat

When is the optimum time to have a leader change? Maybe 8-12 months before the GE. Enough time to get your mug on TV regularly but not so much that you can't blame your predecessor for everything.

May this year feels way to early. Nobody normal gives a fuck about local elections. It's all fat old white blokes staring at potholes in free newspapers.

As I've continually said no Tory PM is going to want an election prior to the new boundaries which mean you don't want an election until October / November 2023.

While 8-12 months is probably ideal I don't think that's an option. Now if Boris goes in August (full postal vote after removing Boris in May) then you have 15-17 months which although not ideal is better than leaving it to May 2024 with the added risk of events then damaging you.

Now the downside of an October 2023 election is that you are going to have to have all seats lined up ready to go by September 2023 which may give a hint to other parties that the PM is going to go to the polls early. It also means that a lot of MPs won't have much of an incumbency advantage because a lot of the constituents won't have known them before.

Major waited the full 5 years until 1992 and was re elected

Not the full five years but four years and ten months.

#Pedantry

Cookie said:

Gallowgate said:

HYUFD said:

CarlottaVance said:

Haven’t heard of this pollster:

Excl poll by @YonderConsult for @gbnews

83% believe “Boris clearly broke the government’s own rules during Covid lockdown”

44% now no longer feel any obligation to follow new rules in light of the Downing Street parties

Just 23% think Boris is the right person to be PM

https://twitter.com/tomhfh/status/1483352549478514688?s=20

Just as well the government is about to scrap Plan B and virtually all remaining Covid anyway then

Virtually all, but not the most visible one, so psychologically it will feel like not much has changed.

Politically not the best decision in my opinion, even if the science says otherwise.

Yes - so we can go to work, but we'll be hectored into wearing a facemask on the bus on the way there, and no doubt also while we move around the building. In some ways a move away from normality.
It's not going to reap any feelgood benefits or electoral benefits whatsoever.

Carnyx said:

StuartDickson said:

Carnyx said:

StuartDickson said:

Theuniondivvie said:

StuartDickson said:

The Scottish Tories back in hot water:

Lords watchdog launches inquiry into Michelle Mone over ‘VIP lane’ contract
Investigation into Tory peer relates to PPE company awarded £203m in government contracts

The commissioner confirmed that the investigation would be for “alleged involvement in procuring contracts for PPE Medpro, leading to potential breaches” of three provisions of the Lords code, which cover the requirement that peers publicly register “all relevant interests”, and prohibit them from lobbying for a company or a person in which a peer “has a financial interest”.

The commissioner also stated that Mone would be investigated under the more general provisions of the code’s paragraph 9, which includes that peers “should always act on their personal honour”; must never accept “any financial inducement as an incentive or reward for exercising parliamentary influence”; and “must not seek to profit from membership of the house by accepting or agreeing to accept payment or other incentive or reward in return for providing parliamentary advice or services.”

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/jan/17/lords-standards-commissioner-launches-inquiry-into-michelle-mone

Pretty sure Money will now be consigned to that ghastly Johnson type of Toryism with which the SCons have absolutely no connection.

Will be fascinating seeing the election material the Scottish Conservatives are shortly going to print up. They’ll use blue, but I bet the word “Conservative” is conspicuous by its absence, as will any reference to them being in power in London.

Will they continue with Ruth Davidson’s moderately successful ‘No Surrender’ strategy? Initial intelligence ( @Carnyx ) suggests not.

Certainly the
List MSP leaflet I got the other day was a total contrast to the usual text of
No to Indyref
No to Indyref
No to Indyref
No to Indyref
No to Indyref
No to Indyref
even at parish council level (if we had parish councils up here) and with 'Conservative' in the smallest possible script compatible with Electoral Commission law and the wavelength of light.

It was all about roundabouts and only the fetching Sevco FC Blue colour scheme really drove it home it wasn't the local council's LD candidate.

Union? Us advocate union and subordination to that thing in No. 10? Oh no dear me, no siree.

Perhaps our other PBScots could report back on any other sightings?

The Union seems to have become a topic the principal Unionist party seems unwilling to advocate unless pressed. Klaxons should be sounding at BritNat central office.

I'd like to hear of other sightings before we draw conclusions - but there should be enough of us PBScots over a wide enough area with eg @RochdalePioneers @Farooq @Eabhal @malcolmg and @DavidL for instance to report back to confirm if there really is a change of approach. This is of interest well beyond individual affiliation.

HYUFD said:

Gallowgate said:

HYUFD said:

Gallowgate said:

HYUFD said:

CarlottaVance said:

Haven’t heard of this pollster:

Excl poll by @YonderConsult for @gbnews

83% believe “Boris clearly broke the government’s own rules during Covid lockdown”

44% now no longer feel any obligation to follow new rules in light of the Downing Street parties

Just 23% think Boris is the right person to be PM

https://twitter.com/tomhfh/status/1483352549478514688?s=20

Just as well the government is about to scrap Plan B and virtually all remaining Covid anyway then

Virtually all, but not the most visible one, so psychologically it will feel like not much has changed.

Politically not the best decision in my opinion, even if the science says otherwise.

If a few people choose not to wear a mask on public transport or in shops hardly the end of the world as most of them and those around them will have been vaccinated with boosters anyway.

Otherwise you can hold a rave for a 1,000 people perfectly legally in your garden and from the end of the month attend a rave and booze up for a 1,000 people in a nightclub perfectly legally without even needing a vaxport by the end of the month

Right, but that has nothing to do with what I said.

It has everything to do with what you said, wearing a mask on public transport or in shops is still supported by the vast majority of voters.

Almost all other restrictions will be ended

Theuniondivvie said:

Carnyx said:

StuartDickson said:

Carnyx said:

StuartDickson said:

Theuniondivvie said:

StuartDickson said:

The Scottish Tories back in hot water:

Lords watchdog launches inquiry into Michelle Mone over ‘VIP lane’ contract
Investigation into Tory peer relates to PPE company awarded £203m in government contracts

The commissioner confirmed that the investigation would be for “alleged involvement in procuring contracts for PPE Medpro, leading to potential breaches” of three provisions of the Lords code, which cover the requirement that peers publicly register “all relevant interests”, and prohibit them from lobbying for a company or a person in which a peer “has a financial interest”.

The commissioner also stated that Mone would be investigated under the more general provisions of the code’s paragraph 9, which includes that peers “should always act on their personal honour”; must never accept “any financial inducement as an incentive or reward for exercising parliamentary influence”; and “must not seek to profit from membership of the house by accepting or agreeing to accept payment or other incentive or reward in return for providing parliamentary advice or services.”

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/jan/17/lords-standards-commissioner-launches-inquiry-into-michelle-mone

Pretty sure Money will now be consigned to that ghastly Johnson type of Toryism with which the SCons have absolutely no connection.

Will be fascinating seeing the election material the Scottish Conservatives are shortly going to print up. They’ll use blue, but I bet the word “Conservative” is conspicuous by its absence, as will any reference to them being in power in London.

Will they continue with Ruth Davidson’s moderately successful ‘No Surrender’ strategy? Initial intelligence ( @Carnyx ) suggests not.

Certainly the
List MSP leaflet I got the other day was a total contrast to the usual text of
No to Indyref
No to Indyref
No to Indyref
No to Indyref
No to Indyref
No to Indyref
even at parish council level (if we had parish councils up here) and with 'Conservative' in the smallest possible script compatible with Electoral Commission law and the wavelength of light.

It was all about roundabouts and only the fetching Sevco FC Blue colour scheme really drove it home it wasn't the local council's LD candidate.

Union? Us advocate union and subordination to that thing in No. 10? Oh no dear me, no siree.

Perhaps our other PBScots could report back on any other sightings?

The Union seems to have become a topic the principal Unionist party seems unwilling to advocate unless pressed. Klaxons should be sounding at BritNat central office.

I'd like to hear of other sightings before we draw conclusions - but there should be enough of us PBScots over a wide enough area with eg @RochdalePioneers @Farooq @Eabhal @malcolmg and @DavidL for instance to report back to confirm if there really is a change of approach. This is of interest well beyond individual affiliation.

There's a dearth of SCon literature in my bit even during non diddy elections. Perusing twitter is my usual method of seeing what fresh ideas the semi detached branch of Tory party comes up with, I'll keep my eyes open.

HYUFD said:

StuartDickson said:

HYUFD said:

StuartDickson said:

Carnyx said:

StuartDickson said:

Theuniondivvie said:

StuartDickson said:

The Scottish Tories back in hot water:

Lords watchdog launches inquiry into Michelle Mone over ‘VIP lane’ contract
Investigation into Tory peer relates to PPE company awarded £203m in government contracts

The commissioner confirmed that the investigation would be for “alleged involvement in procuring contracts for PPE Medpro, leading to potential breaches” of three provisions of the Lords code, which cover the requirement that peers publicly register “all relevant interests”, and prohibit them from lobbying for a company or a person in which a peer “has a financial interest”.

The commissioner also stated that Mone would be investigated under the more general provisions of the code’s paragraph 9, which includes that peers “should always act on their personal honour”; must never accept “any financial inducement as an incentive or reward for exercising parliamentary influence”; and “must not seek to profit from membership of the house by accepting or agreeing to accept payment or other incentive or reward in return for providing parliamentary advice or services.”

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/jan/17/lords-standards-commissioner-launches-inquiry-into-michelle-mone

Pretty sure Money will now be consigned to that ghastly Johnson type of Toryism with which the SCons have absolutely no connection.

Will be fascinating seeing the election material the Scottish Conservatives are shortly going to print up. They’ll use blue, but I bet the word “Conservative” is conspicuous by its absence, as will any reference to them being in power in London.

Will they continue with Ruth Davidson’s moderately successful ‘No Surrender’ strategy? Initial intelligence ( @Carnyx ) suggests not.

Certainly the
List MSP leaflet I got the other day was a total contrast to the usual text of
No to Indyref
No to Indyref
No to Indyref
No to Indyref
No to Indyref
No to Indyref
even at parish council level (if we had parish councils up here) and with 'Conservative' in the smallest possible script compatible with Electoral Commission law and the wavelength of light.

It was all about roundabouts and only the fetching Sevco FC Blue colour scheme really drove it home it wasn't the local council's LD candidate.

Union? Us advocate union and subordination to that thing in No. 10? Oh no dear me, no siree.

Perhaps our other PBScots could report back on any other sightings?

The Union seems to have become a topic the principal Unionist party seems unwilling to advocate unless pressed. Klaxons should be sounding at BritNat central office.

Why? The UK Tory government just will refuse indyref2 as ever.

Whether the SCons manage to finally win 1 Scottish council outright or not or keep largest party in 1 or 2 Scottish councils has very little relevance if any to the Union

If the Union is to survive then your lot need to start targeting floating voters and capturing their hearts and minds. You are very good at appealing to core Con voters HY, but you are appallingly poor at lifting your eyes and addressing the centre ground. The Unionists are currently in the process of losing Middle Scotland.

Nope. The Tories could stay in power with not a single Tory MP in Scotland UK wide and can preserve the Union too by refusing indyref2 for as long as they are in power.

It is not our problem. It might be Labour's problem if they get into power reliant on the SNP and have to give an indyref2 and look at devomax etc but it was Labour who created Holyrood anyway giving a platform for the SNP so it has always been their created problem.

We Tories do not need to win Middle Scotland, we Tories need to win Middle England to stay in power. Only Labour needs to appeal to Middle Scotland to get back into power with a clear majority or to preserve the Union in any indyref2 they grant if they don't

HYUFD said:

StuartDickson said:

HYUFD said:

StuartDickson said:

Carnyx said:

StuartDickson said:

Theuniondivvie said:

StuartDickson said:

The Scottish Tories back in hot water:

Lords watchdog launches inquiry into Michelle Mone over ‘VIP lane’ contract
Investigation into Tory peer relates to PPE company awarded £203m in government contracts

The commissioner confirmed that the investigation would be for “alleged involvement in procuring contracts for PPE Medpro, leading to potential breaches” of three provisions of the Lords code, which cover the requirement that peers publicly register “all relevant interests”, and prohibit them from lobbying for a company or a person in which a peer “has a financial interest”.

The commissioner also stated that Mone would be investigated under the more general provisions of the code’s paragraph 9, which includes that peers “should always act on their personal honour”; must never accept “any financial inducement as an incentive or reward for exercising parliamentary influence”; and “must not seek to profit from membership of the house by accepting or agreeing to accept payment or other incentive or reward in return for providing parliamentary advice or services.”

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/jan/17/lords-standards-commissioner-launches-inquiry-into-michelle-mone

Pretty sure Money will now be consigned to that ghastly Johnson type of Toryism with which the SCons have absolutely no connection.

Will be fascinating seeing the election material the Scottish Conservatives are shortly going to print up. They’ll use blue, but I bet the word “Conservative” is conspicuous by its absence, as will any reference to them being in power in London.

Will they continue with Ruth Davidson’s moderately successful ‘No Surrender’ strategy? Initial intelligence ( @Carnyx ) suggests not.

Certainly the
List MSP leaflet I got the other day was a total contrast to the usual text of
No to Indyref
No to Indyref
No to Indyref
No to Indyref
No to Indyref
No to Indyref
even at parish council level (if we had parish councils up here) and with 'Conservative' in the smallest possible script compatible with Electoral Commission law and the wavelength of light.

It was all about roundabouts and only the fetching Sevco FC Blue colour scheme really drove it home it wasn't the local council's LD candidate.

Union? Us advocate union and subordination to that thing in No. 10? Oh no dear me, no siree.

Perhaps our other PBScots could report back on any other sightings?

The Union seems to have become a topic the principal Unionist party seems unwilling to advocate unless pressed. Klaxons should be sounding at BritNat central office.

Why? The UK Tory government just will refuse indyref2 as ever.

Whether the SCons manage to finally win 1 Scottish council outright or not or keep largest party in 1 or 2 Scottish councils has very little relevance if any to the Union

If the Union is to survive then your lot need to start targeting floating voters and capturing their hearts and minds. You are very good at appealing to core Con voters HY, but you are appallingly poor at lifting your eyes and addressing the centre ground. The Unionists are currently in the process of losing Middle Scotland.

Nope. The Tories could stay in power with not a single Tory MP in Scotland UK wide and can preserve the Union too by refusing indyref2 for as long as they are in power.

It is not our problem. It might be Labour's problem if they get into power reliant on the SNP and have to give an indyref2 and look at devomax etc but it was Labour who created Holyrood anyway giving a platform for the SNP so it has always been their created problem.

We Tories do not need to win Middle Scotland, we Tories need to win Middle England to stay in power. Only Labour needs to appeal to Middle Scotland to get back into power with a clear majority or to preserve the Union in any indyref2 they grant if they don't

TheScreamingEagles said:

OnlyLivingBoy said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

TOPPING said:

Theuniondivvie said:

Onnyways, just case anyone is feeling too comfortably complacent, there’s a prog on R4 just now about a bloke who had cancer of the penis. Currently describing the sensation of having erections after surgery to remove tumours.

Thanks for that. I was listening to it as I was having my toast and marmelade and literally couldn't stomach it so had to switch it off before it got to the reveal but I was wondering what the issue was (I ducked out while they were still on holiday).

Also finished Succession S3 last night. O. M. F. G.

Absolutely excellent and thanks to those on here who encouraged me to persevere after an imo slow start.

Fuck off, honestly Brian Cox deserves every award going.

That scene with the three younger Roy kids bonding was beautiful but that ending, OMFG.

Not seen S3 yet no spoilers here please!!!

You need to binge watch it now, you won’t regret it.

Applicant said:

HYUFD said:

Anabobazina said:

HYUFD said:

CarlottaVance said:

Haven’t heard of this pollster:

Excl poll by @YonderConsult for @gbnews

83% believe “Boris clearly broke the government’s own rules during Covid lockdown”

44% now no longer feel any obligation to follow new rules in light of the Downing Street parties

Just 23% think Boris is the right person to be PM

https://twitter.com/tomhfh/status/1483352549478514688?s=20

Just as well the government is about to scrap Plan B and virtually all remaining Covid rules anyway then

The briefing is that they won't be dropping Plan B at all – indeed every paper has carried the news that masking will stay. Now that might change, but that's what's being briefed.

If there is only 1 rule left, ie masks in shops and public transport, if a refuse decide not to comply who cares given most of us have been vaccinated and boosted. It just is a courtesy to help reduce the spread of cases.

You can even have a rave for 10, 000 people completely legally by February without even needing a vaxport, so who cares if people want to have a huge boozy party in their garden or rave in their basement, it will all be completely legal!

I know I'm fighting a losing battle here, but I have to try: As long as compulsory masks - which were part of Plan B - remain in place, Plan B has not been "scrapped".

OnlyLivingBoy said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

OnlyLivingBoy said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

TOPPING said:

Theuniondivvie said:

Onnyways, just case anyone is feeling too comfortably complacent, there’s a prog on R4 just now about a bloke who had cancer of the penis. Currently describing the sensation of having erections after surgery to remove tumours.

Thanks for that. I was listening to it as I was having my toast and marmelade and literally couldn't stomach it so had to switch it off before it got to the reveal but I was wondering what the issue was (I ducked out while they were still on holiday).

Also finished Succession S3 last night. O. M. F. G.

Absolutely excellent and thanks to those on here who encouraged me to persevere after an imo slow start.

Fuck off, honestly Brian Cox deserves every award going.

That scene with the three younger Roy kids bonding was beautiful but that ending, OMFG.

Not seen S3 yet no spoilers here please!!!

You need to binge watch it now, you won’t regret it.

Yes just figuring out how to do it. Short subscription to Now TV probably the easiest route. Watched S1-2 on dvds we borrowed from friends. The best thing I've seen on TV for years, maybe ever.

eek said:

Dura_Ace said:

DougSeal said:

RochdalePioneers said:

DougSeal said:

RochdalePioneers said:

Did someone above suggest this was "blowing over"?

It truly isn't. The Tory rebels efforts even have a project name. And whilst I remember that photo of John Redwood and his rebels, remember that the embarrassing collection of assorted lunatics wazzocks and incompetents is the *Prime Minister*'s team, not the usurper(s).

Cummings is the Poker player with 17 packs-worth of aces up his sleeve.

That was me. It’s blowing over because the mere fact it’s Cummings will unify the Tory Party behind his target. Much as I would like the FLSOJ to be defenestrated it ain’t gonna happen. In two weeks this will be essentially over.

I don't expect it will happen yet. The sense of disbelief amongst some of the MPs is almost comedic - "this can't be happening" is a strong instinct even as the obvious conclusion hones into view.

They may hate Cummings. But it isn't Dom who is outing all this - its the press. He may well be the source, but MPs can hardly ignore all the newspapers being full of pictures of a drunk BJ taking a crap on the Downing Street lawn during a "work meeting" just because they don't like Cummings.

Had all of this been Dom talking with no evidence then I would absolutely agree with you. But it isn't. They likely won't go for him until after the demolition in May, but it will happen. No politician can survive this onslaught.

He’ll still be in charge at the next election. People in this country have the attention span of a gnat

When is the optimum time to have a leader change? Maybe 8-12 months before the GE. Enough time to get your mug on TV regularly but not so much that you can't blame your predecessor for everything.

May this year feels way to early. Nobody normal gives a fuck about local elections. It's all fat old white blokes staring at potholes in free newspapers.

As I've continually said no Tory PM is going to want an election prior to the new boundaries which mean you don't want an election until October / November 2023.

While 8-12 months is probably ideal I don't think that's an option. Now if Boris goes in August (full postal vote after removing Boris in May) then you have 15-17 months which although not ideal is better than leaving it to May 2024 with the added risk of events then damaging you.

Now the downside of an October 2023 election is that you are going to have to have all seats lined up ready to go by September 2023 which may give a hint to other parties that the PM is going to go to the polls early. It also means that a lot of MPs won't have much of an incumbency advantage because a lot of the constituents won't have known them before.

DayTripper said:

A fine piece of Raab logic.

"A PM who lied to Parliament would normally quit - Raab".

He hasn't quit, so he can't have lied, right? And Dover's just a seaside resort. Pass me that cocktail, I'll sort out Afghanistan later.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-60036435

LostPassword said:

eek said:

Dura_Ace said:

DougSeal said:

RochdalePioneers said:

DougSeal said:

RochdalePioneers said:

Did someone above suggest this was "blowing over"?

It truly isn't. The Tory rebels efforts even have a project name. And whilst I remember that photo of John Redwood and his rebels, remember that the embarrassing collection of assorted lunatics wazzocks and incompetents is the *Prime Minister*'s team, not the usurper(s).

Cummings is the Poker player with 17 packs-worth of aces up his sleeve.

That was me. It’s blowing over because the mere fact it’s Cummings will unify the Tory Party behind his target. Much as I would like the FLSOJ to be defenestrated it ain’t gonna happen. In two weeks this will be essentially over.

I don't expect it will happen yet. The sense of disbelief amongst some of the MPs is almost comedic - "this can't be happening" is a strong instinct even as the obvious conclusion hones into view.

They may hate Cummings. But it isn't Dom who is outing all this - its the press. He may well be the source, but MPs can hardly ignore all the newspapers being full of pictures of a drunk BJ taking a crap on the Downing Street lawn during a "work meeting" just because they don't like Cummings.

Had all of this been Dom talking with no evidence then I would absolutely agree with you. But it isn't. They likely won't go for him until after the demolition in May, but it will happen. No politician can survive this onslaught.

He’ll still be in charge at the next election. People in this country have the attention span of a gnat

When is the optimum time to have a leader change? Maybe 8-12 months before the GE. Enough time to get your mug on TV regularly but not so much that you can't blame your predecessor for everything.

May this year feels way to early. Nobody normal gives a fuck about local elections. It's all fat old white blokes staring at potholes in free newspapers.

As I've continually said no Tory PM is going to want an election prior to the new boundaries which mean you don't want an election until October / November 2023.

While 8-12 months is probably ideal I don't think that's an option. Now if Boris goes in August (full postal vote after removing Boris in May) then you have 15-17 months which although not ideal is better than leaving it to May 2024 with the added risk of events then damaging you.

Now the downside of an October 2023 election is that you are going to have to have all seats lined up ready to go by September 2023 which may give a hint to other parties that the PM is going to go to the polls early. It also means that a lot of MPs won't have much of an incumbency advantage because a lot of the constituents won't have known them before.

Do we really think a new Tory leader will go to the polls early?

I think we're almost certainly looking at a May 2024 election now, unless the FTPA is repealed and they can extend it for another six months or so.

An early election worked for Johnson, because he could tell the voters it was necessary to Get Brexit Done. It didn't work for May in part because the reason for the election was transparently her personal political advantage.

It looks like we're in a hanging on to the bitter end situation.

MattW said:

Benpointer said:

Why has Johnson forgotten to put his trousers on?

And why is he wearing a British Rail hat?

Not been British Rail since some time ago.

Network Rail, I think.

Unless its changed again.

HYUFD said:

StuartDickson said:

HYUFD said:

StuartDickson said:

Carnyx said:

StuartDickson said:

Theuniondivvie said:

StuartDickson said:

The Scottish Tories back in hot water:

Lords watchdog launches inquiry into Michelle Mone over ‘VIP lane’ contract
Investigation into Tory peer relates to PPE company awarded £203m in government contracts

The commissioner confirmed that the investigation would be for “alleged involvement in procuring contracts for PPE Medpro, leading to potential breaches” of three provisions of the Lords code, which cover the requirement that peers publicly register “all relevant interests”, and prohibit them from lobbying for a company or a person in which a peer “has a financial interest”.

The commissioner also stated that Mone would be investigated under the more general provisions of the code’s paragraph 9, which includes that peers “should always act on their personal honour”; must never accept “any financial inducement as an incentive or reward for exercising parliamentary influence”; and “must not seek to profit from membership of the house by accepting or agreeing to accept payment or other incentive or reward in return for providing parliamentary advice or services.”

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/jan/17/lords-standards-commissioner-launches-inquiry-into-michelle-mone

Pretty sure Money will now be consigned to that ghastly Johnson type of Toryism with which the SCons have absolutely no connection.

Will be fascinating seeing the election material the Scottish Conservatives are shortly going to print up. They’ll use blue, but I bet the word “Conservative” is conspicuous by its absence, as will any reference to them being in power in London.

Will they continue with Ruth Davidson’s moderately successful ‘No Surrender’ strategy? Initial intelligence ( @Carnyx ) suggests not.

Certainly the
List MSP leaflet I got the other day was a total contrast to the usual text of
No to Indyref
No to Indyref
No to Indyref
No to Indyref
No to Indyref
No to Indyref
even at parish council level (if we had parish councils up here) and with 'Conservative' in the smallest possible script compatible with Electoral Commission law and the wavelength of light.

It was all about roundabouts and only the fetching Sevco FC Blue colour scheme really drove it home it wasn't the local council's LD candidate.

Union? Us advocate union and subordination to that thing in No. 10? Oh no dear me, no siree.

Perhaps our other PBScots could report back on any other sightings?

The Union seems to have become a topic the principal Unionist party seems unwilling to advocate unless pressed. Klaxons should be sounding at BritNat central office.

Why? The UK Tory government just will refuse indyref2 as ever.

Whether the SCons manage to finally win 1 Scottish council outright or not or keep largest party in 1 or 2 Scottish councils has very little relevance if any to the Union

If the Union is to survive then your lot need to start targeting floating voters and capturing their hearts and minds. You are very good at appealing to core Con voters HY, but you are appallingly poor at lifting your eyes and addressing the centre ground. The Unionists are currently in the process of losing Middle Scotland.

Nope. The Tories could stay in power with not a single Tory MP in Scotland UK wide and can preserve the Union too by refusing indyref2 for as long as they are in power.

It is not our problem. It might be Labour's problem if they get into power reliant on the SNP and have to give an indyref2 and look at devomax etc but it was Labour who created Holyrood anyway giving a platform for the SNP so it has always been their created problem.

We Tories do not need to win Middle Scotland, we Tories need to win Middle England to stay in power. Only Labour needs to appeal to Middle Scotland to get back into power with a clear majority or to preserve the Union in any indyref2 they grant if they don't

Pulpstar said:

Rishi is only 41, he has the luxury of time to become Conservative leader & PM - which he might need if the trigger isn't pulled on Boris.

Applicant said:

HYUFD said:

Anabobazina said:

HYUFD said:

CarlottaVance said:

Haven’t heard of this pollster:

Excl poll by @YonderConsult for @gbnews

83% believe “Boris clearly broke the government’s own rules during Covid lockdown”

44% now no longer feel any obligation to follow new rules in light of the Downing Street parties

Just 23% think Boris is the right person to be PM

https://twitter.com/tomhfh/status/1483352549478514688?s=20

Just as well the government is about to scrap Plan B and virtually all remaining Covid rules anyway then

The briefing is that they won't be dropping Plan B at all – indeed every paper has carried the news that masking will stay. Now that might change, but that's what's being briefed.

If there is only 1 rule left, ie masks in shops and public transport, if a refuse decide not to comply who cares given most of us have been vaccinated and boosted. It just is a courtesy to help reduce the spread of cases.

You can even have a rave for 10, 000 people completely legally by February without even needing a vaxport, so who cares if people want to have a huge boozy party in their garden or rave in their basement, it will all be completely legal!

I know I'm fighting a losing battle here, but I have to try: As long as compulsory masks - which were part of Plan B - remain in place, Plan B has not been "scrapped".

Sandpit said:

geoffw said:

NickPalmer said:

Sandpit said:

CarlottaVance said:

Another RAF C-17 headed to Kyiv, a real munitions airbridge has started between the UK and Ukraine

https://twitter.com/Osinttechnical/status/1483257277192802314?s=20

Well done Britain, but what on Earth are Germany playing at here? “Staying neutral” starting to look very like supporting the Russians. European unity looking very much in danger this morning.

Why should Germany consider ex-member UK's actions as relevant to European unity? NATO unity, perhaps, but really we have no claim whatsoever to be promoting European unity.

It's nothing to do with what Germany thinks of Britain's actions. It is entirely to do with the likely disunity within the EU as its Eastern European states assess German insouciance over Russia's aggressive stance towards the Ukraine.

Not just within the EU countries, but with Europe in general. What’s the point of a major power like Germany, if they won’t stand up to Russian aggression?

Good to see the British C17s heading to Kiev.

JosiasJessop said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

MattW said:

Benpointer said:

Why has Johnson forgotten to put his trousers on?

And why is he wearing a British Rail hat?

Not been British Rail since some time ago.

Network Rail, I think.

Unless its changed again.

British Rail is back next year as Great British Railways.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_British_Railways

It's quite good that the British Rail double arrow continued in use on tickets and to denote stations all the way through the privatised era, and is now going to be the logo of GBR. 57 years and counting.

Anabobazina said:

JosiasJessop said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

MattW said:

Benpointer said:

Why has Johnson forgotten to put his trousers on?

And why is he wearing a British Rail hat?

Not been British Rail since some time ago.

Network Rail, I think.

Unless its changed again.

British Rail is back next year as Great British Railways.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_British_Railways

It's quite good that the British Rail double arrow continued in use on tickets and to denote stations all the way through the privatised era, and is now going to be the logo of GBR. 57 years and counting.

Anything is better than the ridiculous franchising system that embarrassed this nation for so many years, as a bunch of chiselling, pettifogging all-brand-no-bollocks companies rinsed the taxpayer while blaming each other for their manifold failings.

One of the few good moves by this government, bringing back a unified national system.

turbotubbs said:

Anabobazina said:

HYUFD said:

CarlottaVance said:

Haven’t heard of this pollster:

Excl poll by @YonderConsult for @gbnews

83% believe “Boris clearly broke the government’s own rules during Covid lockdown”

44% now no longer feel any obligation to follow new rules in light of the Downing Street parties

Just 23% think Boris is the right person to be PM

https://twitter.com/tomhfh/status/1483352549478514688?s=20

Just as well the government is about to scrap Plan B and virtually all remaining Covid rules anyway then

The briefing is that they won't be dropping Plan B at all – indeed every paper has carried the news that masking will stay. Now that might change, but that's what's being briefed.

I don't think that's true - the briefing seems to be ending plan B with the exception of retaining masks in some areas (transport, possibly all shops etc). Now we can argue that that is explicitly NOT ending plan B as the mask element is both the most obvious part, and for many, the most irritating element, but that is the briefing.

Personally I think I would end masks now, but of course people are free to wear them for ever if they choose.

My other worry is my employer will probably keep them in use.

Pulpstar said:

Rishi is only 41, he has the luxury of time to become Conservative leader & PM - which he might need if the trigger isn't pulled on Boris.

turbotubbs said:

Anabobazina said:

HYUFD said:

Gallowgate said:

HYUFD said:

Gallowgate said:

HYUFD said:

CarlottaVance said:

Haven’t heard of this pollster:

Excl poll by @YonderConsult for @gbnews

83% believe “Boris clearly broke the government’s own rules during Covid lockdown”

44% now no longer feel any obligation to follow new rules in light of the Downing Street parties

Just 23% think Boris is the right person to be PM

https://twitter.com/tomhfh/status/1483352549478514688?s=20

Just as well the government is about to scrap Plan B and virtually all remaining Covid anyway then

Virtually all, but not the most visible one, so psychologically it will feel like not much has changed.

Politically not the best decision in my opinion, even if the science says otherwise.

If a few people choose not to wear a mask on public transport or in shops hardly the end of the world as most of them and those around them will have been vaccinated with boosters anyway.

Otherwise you can hold a rave for a 1,000 people perfectly legally in your garden and from the end of the month attend a rave and booze up for a 1,000 people in a nightclub perfectly legally without even needing a vaxport by the end of the month

Right, but that has nothing to do with what I said.

It has everything to do with what you said, wearing a mask on public transport or in shops is still supported by the vast majority of voters.

Almost all other restrictions will be ended

Revealed preference is your friend here. If the mandate is dropped, masks will be dropped like a stone by the public, even though they will be at liberty to retain them.

Not completely true. Back before plan B Waitrose asked customers to keep wearing masks. I'd say it was around 50:50 most of the time.
It may have been different in other parts of the country and other shops.
If Waitrose hadn't said this, I still think some would carry on, but it would be less. So it kind of depends on what companies choose to do too.

HYUFD said:

Anabobazina said:

HYUFD said:

CarlottaVance said:

Haven’t heard of this pollster:

Excl poll by @YonderConsult for @gbnews

83% believe “Boris clearly broke the government’s own rules during Covid lockdown”

44% now no longer feel any obligation to follow new rules in light of the Downing Street parties

Just 23% think Boris is the right person to be PM

https://twitter.com/tomhfh/status/1483352549478514688?s=20

Just as well the government is about to scrap Plan B and virtually all remaining Covid rules anyway then

The briefing is that they won't be dropping Plan B at all – indeed every paper has carried the news that masking will stay. Now that might change, but that's what's being briefed.

If there is only 1 rule left, ie masks in shops and public transport, if a refuse decide not to comply who cares given most of us have been vaccinated and boosted. It just is a courtesy to help reduce the spread of cases.

You can even have a rave for 10, 000 people completely legally by February without even needing a vaxport, so who cares if people want to have a huge boozy party in their garden or rave in their basement, it will all be completely legal!

StuartDickson said:

HYUFD said:

StuartDickson said:

HYUFD said:

StuartDickson said:

Carnyx said:

StuartDickson said:

Theuniondivvie said:

StuartDickson said:

The Scottish Tories back in hot water:

Lords watchdog launches inquiry into Michelle Mone over ‘VIP lane’ contract
Investigation into Tory peer relates to PPE company awarded £203m in government contracts

The commissioner confirmed that the investigation would be for “alleged involvement in procuring contracts for PPE Medpro, leading to potential breaches” of three provisions of the Lords code, which cover the requirement that peers publicly register “all relevant interests”, and prohibit them from lobbying for a company or a person in which a peer “has a financial interest”.

The commissioner also stated that Mone would be investigated under the more general provisions of the code’s paragraph 9, which includes that peers “should always act on their personal honour”; must never accept “any financial inducement as an incentive or reward for exercising parliamentary influence”; and “must not seek to profit from membership of the house by accepting or agreeing to accept payment or other incentive or reward in return for providing parliamentary advice or services.”

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/jan/17/lords-standards-commissioner-launches-inquiry-into-michelle-mone

Pretty sure Money will now be consigned to that ghastly Johnson type of Toryism with which the SCons have absolutely no connection.

Will be fascinating seeing the election material the Scottish Conservatives are shortly going to print up. They’ll use blue, but I bet the word “Conservative” is conspicuous by its absence, as will any reference to them being in power in London.

Will they continue with Ruth Davidson’s moderately successful ‘No Surrender’ strategy? Initial intelligence ( @Carnyx ) suggests not.

Certainly the
List MSP leaflet I got the other day was a total contrast to the usual text of
No to Indyref
No to Indyref
No to Indyref
No to Indyref
No to Indyref
No to Indyref
even at parish council level (if we had parish councils up here) and with 'Conservative' in the smallest possible script compatible with Electoral Commission law and the wavelength of light.

It was all about roundabouts and only the fetching Sevco FC Blue colour scheme really drove it home it wasn't the local council's LD candidate.

Union? Us advocate union and subordination to that thing in No. 10? Oh no dear me, no siree.

Perhaps our other PBScots could report back on any other sightings?

The Union seems to have become a topic the principal Unionist party seems unwilling to advocate unless pressed. Klaxons should be sounding at BritNat central office.

Why? The UK Tory government just will refuse indyref2 as ever.

Whether the SCons manage to finally win 1 Scottish council outright or not or keep largest party in 1 or 2 Scottish councils has very little relevance if any to the Union

If the Union is to survive then your lot need to start targeting floating voters and capturing their hearts and minds. You are very good at appealing to core Con voters HY, but you are appallingly poor at lifting your eyes and addressing the centre ground. The Unionists are currently in the process of losing Middle Scotland.

Nope. The Tories could stay in power with not a single Tory MP in Scotland UK wide and can preserve the Union too by refusing indyref2 for as long as they are in power.

It is not our problem. It might be Labour's problem if they get into power reliant on the SNP and have to give an indyref2 and look at devomax etc but it was Labour who created Holyrood anyway giving a platform for the SNP so it has always been their created problem.

We Tories do not need to win Middle Scotland, we Tories need to win Middle England to stay in power. Only Labour needs to appeal to Middle Scotland to get back into power with a clear majority or to preserve the Union in any indyref2 they grant if they don't

So, the Conservative Party has nothing whatsoever to do with the decline of Unionism in Scotland. That’s a pretty big claim.

It is easy to create a long list of absolutely bonkers things your party has done to create the problem.

boulay said:

HYUFD said:

StuartDickson said:

HYUFD said:

StuartDickson said:

Carnyx said:

StuartDickson said:

Theuniondivvie said:

StuartDickson said:

The Scottish Tories back in hot water:

Lords watchdog launches inquiry into Michelle Mone over ‘VIP lane’ contract
Investigation into Tory peer relates to PPE company awarded £203m in government contracts

The commissioner confirmed that the investigation would be for “alleged involvement in procuring contracts for PPE Medpro, leading to potential breaches” of three provisions of the Lords code, which cover the requirement that peers publicly register “all relevant interests”, and prohibit them from lobbying for a company or a person in which a peer “has a financial interest”.

The commissioner also stated that Mone would be investigated under the more general provisions of the code’s paragraph 9, which includes that peers “should always act on their personal honour”; must never accept “any financial inducement as an incentive or reward for exercising parliamentary influence”; and “must not seek to profit from membership of the house by accepting or agreeing to accept payment or other incentive or reward in return for providing parliamentary advice or services.”

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/jan/17/lords-standards-commissioner-launches-inquiry-into-michelle-mone

Pretty sure Money will now be consigned to that ghastly Johnson type of Toryism with which the SCons have absolutely no connection.

Will be fascinating seeing the election material the Scottish Conservatives are shortly going to print up. They’ll use blue, but I bet the word “Conservative” is conspicuous by its absence, as will any reference to them being in power in London.

Will they continue with Ruth Davidson’s moderately successful ‘No Surrender’ strategy? Initial intelligence ( @Carnyx ) suggests not.

Certainly the
List MSP leaflet I got the other day was a total contrast to the usual text of
No to Indyref
No to Indyref
No to Indyref
No to Indyref
No to Indyref
No to Indyref
even at parish council level (if we had parish councils up here) and with 'Conservative' in the smallest possible script compatible with Electoral Commission law and the wavelength of light.

It was all about roundabouts and only the fetching Sevco FC Blue colour scheme really drove it home it wasn't the local council's LD candidate.

Union? Us advocate union and subordination to that thing in No. 10? Oh no dear me, no siree.

Perhaps our other PBScots could report back on any other sightings?

The Union seems to have become a topic the principal Unionist party seems unwilling to advocate unless pressed. Klaxons should be sounding at BritNat central office.

Why? The UK Tory government just will refuse indyref2 as ever.

Whether the SCons manage to finally win 1 Scottish council outright or not or keep largest party in 1 or 2 Scottish councils has very little relevance if any to the Union

If the Union is to survive then your lot need to start targeting floating voters and capturing their hearts and minds. You are very good at appealing to core Con voters HY, but you are appallingly poor at lifting your eyes and addressing the centre ground. The Unionists are currently in the process of losing Middle Scotland.

Nope. The Tories could stay in power with not a single Tory MP in Scotland UK wide and can preserve the Union too by refusing indyref2 for as long as they are in power.

It is not our problem. It might be Labour's problem if they get into power reliant on the SNP and have to give an indyref2 and look at devomax etc but it was Labour who created Holyrood anyway giving a platform for the SNP so it has always been their created problem.

We Tories do not need to win Middle Scotland, we Tories need to win Middle England to stay in power. Only Labour needs to appeal to Middle Scotland to get back into power with a clear majority or to preserve the Union in any indyref2 they grant if they don't

Sorry HYUFD but this is absolutely mental. It gives truth to the trope that a lot of Tories only care about being in power and not what being in power is for.

I’m a Conservative and a Unionist and I want Scotland to WANT to be part of the UK - you don’t attract Scottish sympathy yet alone votes by telling them that they don’t fucking matter because we’ve got enough votes in middle England…..

If the Tories want to be in charge of a successful UK then they need to be supported by the UK as a whole to get the best out of it otherwise what’s the point of the UK for Scots and what’s the point of Scotland being part of the UK for the rest of the UK if it is ignored and treated as second class when it has so much good to contribute.

“Sorry guys we really don’t give a shit about you as we’ve got a billion votes in Surrey so we will set the rules to suit them”….. genius!

Sandpit said:

Pulpstar said:

Rishi is only 41, he has the luxury of time to become Conservative leader & PM - which he might need if the trigger isn't pulled on Boris.

For how many of us, myself included, would Rishi (born May 1980) become the first PM younger than themselves?

Cookie said:

HYUFD said:

Anabobazina said:

HYUFD said:

CarlottaVance said:

Haven’t heard of this pollster:

Excl poll by @YonderConsult for @gbnews

83% believe “Boris clearly broke the government’s own rules during Covid lockdown”

44% now no longer feel any obligation to follow new rules in light of the Downing Street parties

Just 23% think Boris is the right person to be PM

https://twitter.com/tomhfh/status/1483352549478514688?s=20

Just as well the government is about to scrap Plan B and virtually all remaining Covid rules anyway then

The briefing is that they won't be dropping Plan B at all – indeed every paper has carried the news that masking will stay. Now that might change, but that's what's being briefed.

If there is only 1 rule left, ie masks in shops and public transport, if a refuse decide not to comply who cares given most of us have been vaccinated and boosted. It just is a courtesy to help reduce the spread of cases.

You can even have a rave for 10, 000 people completely legally by February without even needing a vaxport, so who cares if people want to have a huge boozy party in their garden or rave in their basement, it will all be completely legal!

You were saying a week or two back that the Tories would bounce back (or wouldn't fall any further) because they were going to end Plan B and those supporting no more restrictions would rally to them.
But those who support no more restrictions aren't going to be coming back to the Tories if they don't rescind the most obvious and universal Plan B measure - masks.
Most people aren't that affected by whether they have to provide a vaccine passport to go to a rave of 10,000 people. But most people do have to use shops.

If your primary measure is 'is this a positive for the Conservative Party' the answer is no.

Of course, it could all be positioning so that actually delivering what was promised - the end of Plan B - seems like a wonderful new reality.

DayTripper said:

A fine piece of Raab logic.

"A PM who lied to Parliament would normally quit - Raab".

He hasn't quit, so he can't have lied, right? And Dover's just a seaside resort. Pass me that cocktail, I'll sort out Afghanistan later.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-60036435

HYUFD said:

StuartDickson said:

HYUFD said:

StuartDickson said:

HYUFD said:

StuartDickson said:

Carnyx said:

StuartDickson said:

Theuniondivvie said:

StuartDickson said:

The Scottish Tories back in hot water:

Lords watchdog launches inquiry into Michelle Mone over ‘VIP lane’ contract
Investigation into Tory peer relates to PPE company awarded £203m in government contracts

The commissioner confirmed that the investigation would be for “alleged involvement in procuring contracts for PPE Medpro, leading to potential breaches” of three provisions of the Lords code, which cover the requirement that peers publicly register “all relevant interests”, and prohibit them from lobbying for a company or a person in which a peer “has a financial interest”.

The commissioner also stated that Mone would be investigated under the more general provisions of the code’s paragraph 9, which includes that peers “should always act on their personal honour”; must never accept “any financial inducement as an incentive or reward for exercising parliamentary influence”; and “must not seek to profit from membership of the house by accepting or agreeing to accept payment or other incentive or reward in return for providing parliamentary advice or services.”

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/jan/17/lords-standards-commissioner-launches-inquiry-into-michelle-mone

Pretty sure Money will now be consigned to that ghastly Johnson type of Toryism with which the SCons have absolutely no connection.

Will be fascinating seeing the election material the Scottish Conservatives are shortly going to print up. They’ll use blue, but I bet the word “Conservative” is conspicuous by its absence, as will any reference to them being in power in London.

Will they continue with Ruth Davidson’s moderately successful ‘No Surrender’ strategy? Initial intelligence ( @Carnyx ) suggests not.

Certainly the
List MSP leaflet I got the other day was a total contrast to the usual text of
No to Indyref
No to Indyref
No to Indyref
No to Indyref
No to Indyref
No to Indyref
even at parish council level (if we had parish councils up here) and with 'Conservative' in the smallest possible script compatible with Electoral Commission law and the wavelength of light.

It was all about roundabouts and only the fetching Sevco FC Blue colour scheme really drove it home it wasn't the local council's LD candidate.

Union? Us advocate union and subordination to that thing in No. 10? Oh no dear me, no siree.

Perhaps our other PBScots could report back on any other sightings?

The Union seems to have become a topic the principal Unionist party seems unwilling to advocate unless pressed. Klaxons should be sounding at BritNat central office.

Why? The UK Tory government just will refuse indyref2 as ever.

Whether the SCons manage to finally win 1 Scottish council outright or not or keep largest party in 1 or 2 Scottish councils has very little relevance if any to the Union

If the Union is to survive then your lot need to start targeting floating voters and capturing their hearts and minds. You are very good at appealing to core Con voters HY, but you are appallingly poor at lifting your eyes and addressing the centre ground. The Unionists are currently in the process of losing Middle Scotland.

Nope. The Tories could stay in power with not a single Tory MP in Scotland UK wide and can preserve the Union too by refusing indyref2 for as long as they are in power.

It is not our problem. It might be Labour's problem if they get into power reliant on the SNP and have to give an indyref2 and look at devomax etc but it was Labour who created Holyrood anyway giving a platform for the SNP so it has always been their created problem.

We Tories do not need to win Middle Scotland, we Tories need to win Middle England to stay in power. Only Labour needs to appeal to Middle Scotland to get back into power with a clear majority or to preserve the Union in any indyref2 they grant if they don't

So, the Conservative Party has nothing whatsoever to do with the decline of Unionism in Scotland. That’s a pretty big claim.

It is easy to create a long list of absolutely bonkers things your party has done to create the problem.

Cameron arguably did by allowing indyref2014 which he only narrowly won (albeit in coalition with the LDs).

Blair certainly did by effectively ending the Union as was with devolution for every home nation bar England.

The Union as was was ended by Blair, had Major been re elected in 1997 the Union would still be very strong as one UK with no platform for the SNP at Holyrood

HYUFD said:

boulay said:

HYUFD said:

StuartDickson said:

HYUFD said:

StuartDickson said:

Carnyx said:

StuartDickson said:

Theuniondivvie said:

StuartDickson said:

The Scottish Tories back in hot water:

Lords watchdog launches inquiry into Michelle Mone over ‘VIP lane’ contract
Investigation into Tory peer relates to PPE company awarded £203m in government contracts

The commissioner confirmed that the investigation would be for “alleged involvement in procuring contracts for PPE Medpro, leading to potential breaches” of three provisions of the Lords code, which cover the requirement that peers publicly register “all relevant interests”, and prohibit them from lobbying for a company or a person in which a peer “has a financial interest”.

The commissioner also stated that Mone would be investigated under the more general provisions of the code’s paragraph 9, which includes that peers “should always act on their personal honour”; must never accept “any financial inducement as an incentive or reward for exercising parliamentary influence”; and “must not seek to profit from membership of the house by accepting or agreeing to accept payment or other incentive or reward in return for providing parliamentary advice or services.”

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/jan/17/lords-standards-commissioner-launches-inquiry-into-michelle-mone

Pretty sure Money will now be consigned to that ghastly Johnson type of Toryism with which the SCons have absolutely no connection.

Will be fascinating seeing the election material the Scottish Conservatives are shortly going to print up. They’ll use blue, but I bet the word “Conservative” is conspicuous by its absence, as will any reference to them being in power in London.

Will they continue with Ruth Davidson’s moderately successful ‘No Surrender’ strategy? Initial intelligence ( @Carnyx ) suggests not.

Certainly the
List MSP leaflet I got the other day was a total contrast to the usual text of
No to Indyref
No to Indyref
No to Indyref
No to Indyref
No to Indyref
No to Indyref
even at parish council level (if we had parish councils up here) and with 'Conservative' in the smallest possible script compatible with Electoral Commission law and the wavelength of light.

It was all about roundabouts and only the fetching Sevco FC Blue colour scheme really drove it home it wasn't the local council's LD candidate.

Union? Us advocate union and subordination to that thing in No. 10? Oh no dear me, no siree.

Perhaps our other PBScots could report back on any other sightings?

The Union seems to have become a topic the principal Unionist party seems unwilling to advocate unless pressed. Klaxons should be sounding at BritNat central office.

Why? The UK Tory government just will refuse indyref2 as ever.

Whether the SCons manage to finally win 1 Scottish council outright or not or keep largest party in 1 or 2 Scottish councils has very little relevance if any to the Union

If the Union is to survive then your lot need to start targeting floating voters and capturing their hearts and minds. You are very good at appealing to core Con voters HY, but you are appallingly poor at lifting your eyes and addressing the centre ground. The Unionists are currently in the process of losing Middle Scotland.

Nope. The Tories could stay in power with not a single Tory MP in Scotland UK wide and can preserve the Union too by refusing indyref2 for as long as they are in power.

It is not our problem. It might be Labour's problem if they get into power reliant on the SNP and have to give an indyref2 and look at devomax etc but it was Labour who created Holyrood anyway giving a platform for the SNP so it has always been their created problem.

We Tories do not need to win Middle Scotland, we Tories need to win Middle England to stay in power. Only Labour needs to appeal to Middle Scotland to get back into power with a clear majority or to preserve the Union in any indyref2 they grant if they don't

Sorry HYUFD but this is absolutely mental. It gives truth to the trope that a lot of Tories only care about being in power and not what being in power is for.

I’m a Conservative and a Unionist and I want Scotland to WANT to be part of the UK - you don’t attract Scottish sympathy yet alone votes by telling them that they don’t fucking matter because we’ve got enough votes in middle England…..

If the Tories want to be in charge of a successful UK then they need to be supported by the UK as a whole to get the best out of it otherwise what’s the point of the UK for Scots and what’s the point of Scotland being part of the UK for the rest of the UK if it is ignored and treated as second class when it has so much good to contribute.

“Sorry guys we really don’t give a shit about you as we’ve got a billion votes in Surrey so we will set the rules to suit them”….. genius!

Scotland has Holyrood now for most of its domestic policy, it no longer cares about Westminster for half its laws, so why should Westminster Tories care that much about what middle Scotland thinks given it does not even vote Tory anyway? In any case Surrey is no longer safe Tory, unlike say most of Essex or Lincolnshire.

Anabobazina said:

noneoftheabove said:

Applicant said:

HYUFD said:

Anabobazina said:

HYUFD said:

CarlottaVance said:

Haven’t heard of this pollster:

Excl poll by @YonderConsult for @gbnews

83% believe “Boris clearly broke the government’s own rules during Covid lockdown”

44% now no longer feel any obligation to follow new rules in light of the Downing Street parties

Just 23% think Boris is the right person to be PM

https://twitter.com/tomhfh/status/1483352549478514688?s=20

Just as well the government is about to scrap Plan B and virtually all remaining Covid rules anyway then

The briefing is that they won't be dropping Plan B at all – indeed every paper has carried the news that masking will stay. Now that might change, but that's what's being briefed.

If there is only 1 rule left, ie masks in shops and public transport, if a refuse decide not to comply who cares given most of us have been vaccinated and boosted. It just is a courtesy to help reduce the spread of cases.

You can even have a rave for 10, 000 people completely legally by February without even needing a vaxport, so who cares if people want to have a huge boozy party in their garden or rave in their basement, it will all be completely legal!

I know I'm fighting a losing battle here, but I have to try: As long as compulsory masks - which were part of Plan B - remain in place, Plan B has not been "scrapped".

Plan B was essentially 3 things. Vaxports, masks and advice to wfh. Advice is largely irrelevant from a legal and political point of view, companies will have done what is best for them. So if vaxports go, but masks stay, half of plan B is scrapped and half remains.

JosiasJessop said:

Anabobazina said:

JosiasJessop said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

MattW said:

Benpointer said:

Why has Johnson forgotten to put his trousers on?

And why is he wearing a British Rail hat?

Not been British Rail since some time ago.

Network Rail, I think.

Unless its changed again.

British Rail is back next year as Great British Railways.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_British_Railways

It's quite good that the British Rail double arrow continued in use on tickets and to denote stations all the way through the privatised era, and is now going to be the logo of GBR. 57 years and counting.

Anything is better than the ridiculous franchising system that embarrassed this nation for so many years, as a bunch of chiselling, pettifogging all-brand-no-bollocks companies rinsed the taxpayer while blaming each other for their manifold failings.

One of the few good moves by this government, bringing back a unified national system.

Yet this 'ridiculous franchising system' saw railways that were more popular than ever, with passenger numbers having more than doubled in 25 years (pre-pandemic), and railways that were far safer than ever before. A railway system that was expanding, rather than decreasing as it did under BR.

You know full well that that was at a massive increase in taxpayer subsidy and ticket pricing. Read Christian Wolmar. In any case, I have work to do so don't have time to argue with you on this again.

The simple truth is that the public wants one arse to kick – that of the government – and most people will celebrate the end of franchising, which was a blame game with the long-suffering travelling public caught in the permanent crossfire.

Goodbye, and good bloody riddance.

HYUFD said:

Big_G_NorthWales said:

boulay said:

HYUFD said:

StuartDickson said:

HYUFD said:

StuartDickson said:

Carnyx said:

StuartDickson said:

Theuniondivvie said:

StuartDickson said:

The Scottish Tories back in hot water:

Lords watchdog launches inquiry into Michelle Mone over ‘VIP lane’ contract
Investigation into Tory peer relates to PPE company awarded £203m in government contracts

The commissioner confirmed that the investigation would be for “alleged involvement in procuring contracts for PPE Medpro, leading to potential breaches” of three provisions of the Lords code, which cover the requirement that peers publicly register “all relevant interests”, and prohibit them from lobbying for a company or a person in which a peer “has a financial interest”.

The commissioner also stated that Mone would be investigated under the more general provisions of the code’s paragraph 9, which includes that peers “should always act on their personal honour”; must never accept “any financial inducement as an incentive or reward for exercising parliamentary influence”; and “must not seek to profit from membership of the house by accepting or agreeing to accept payment or other incentive or reward in return for providing parliamentary advice or services.”

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/jan/17/lords-standards-commissioner-launches-inquiry-into-michelle-mone

Pretty sure Money will now be consigned to that ghastly Johnson type of Toryism with which the SCons have absolutely no connection.

Will be fascinating seeing the election material the Scottish Conservatives are shortly going to print up. They’ll use blue, but I bet the word “Conservative” is conspicuous by its absence, as will any reference to them being in power in London.

Will they continue with Ruth Davidson’s moderately successful ‘No Surrender’ strategy? Initial intelligence ( @Carnyx ) suggests not.

Certainly the
List MSP leaflet I got the other day was a total contrast to the usual text of
No to Indyref
No to Indyref
No to Indyref
No to Indyref
No to Indyref
No to Indyref
even at parish council level (if we had parish councils up here) and with 'Conservative' in the smallest possible script compatible with Electoral Commission law and the wavelength of light.

It was all about roundabouts and only the fetching Sevco FC Blue colour scheme really drove it home it wasn't the local council's LD candidate.

Union? Us advocate union and subordination to that thing in No. 10? Oh no dear me, no siree.

Perhaps our other PBScots could report back on any other sightings?

The Union seems to have become a topic the principal Unionist party seems unwilling to advocate unless pressed. Klaxons should be sounding at BritNat central office.

Why? The UK Tory government just will refuse indyref2 as ever.

Whether the SCons manage to finally win 1 Scottish council outright or not or keep largest party in 1 or 2 Scottish councils has very little relevance if any to the Union

If the Union is to survive then your lot need to start targeting floating voters and capturing their hearts and minds. You are very good at appealing to core Con voters HY, but you are appallingly poor at lifting your eyes and addressing the centre ground. The Unionists are currently in the process of losing Middle Scotland.

Nope. The Tories could stay in power with not a single Tory MP in Scotland UK wide and can preserve the Union too by refusing indyref2 for as long as they are in power.

It is not our problem. It might be Labour's problem if they get into power reliant on the SNP and have to give an indyref2 and look at devomax etc but it was Labour who created Holyrood anyway giving a platform for the SNP so it has always been their created problem.

We Tories do not need to win Middle Scotland, we Tories need to win Middle England to stay in power. Only Labour needs to appeal to Middle Scotland to get back into power with a clear majority or to preserve the Union in any indyref2 they grant if they don't

Sorry HYUFD but this is absolutely mental. It gives truth to the trope that a lot of Tories only care about being in power and not what being in power is for.

I’m a Conservative and a Unionist and I want Scotland to WANT to be part of the UK - you don’t attract Scottish sympathy yet alone votes by telling them that they don’t fucking matter because we’ve got enough votes in middle England…..

If the Tories want to be in charge of a successful UK then they need to be supported by the UK as a whole to get the best out of it otherwise what’s the point of the UK for Scots and what’s the point of Scotland being part of the UK for the rest of the UK if it is ignored and treated as second class when it has so much good to contribute.

“Sorry guys we really don’t give a shit about you as we’ve got a billion votes in Surrey so we will set the rules to suit them”….. genius!

Very well put and it needs saying

@HYUFD is a shocking example of a narrow Little Englander antagonising the Scots with every idiotic announcement he makes, and yet threatens them with overbearing arrogance and ignorance

I believe with the right attitude the Scots will vote to remain in the union and it is for those of us who value the union to make a case and if necessary in a referendum in due course

I am sure we can all agree that @HYUFD is quite unique and does not speak for 'we tories'

Yes I do, it is UK Tory government policy to refuse an indyref2

noneoftheabove said:

Big_G_NorthWales said:

boulay said:

HYUFD said:

StuartDickson said:

HYUFD said:

StuartDickson said:

Carnyx said:

StuartDickson said:

Theuniondivvie said:

StuartDickson said:

The Scottish Tories back in hot water:

Lords watchdog launches inquiry into Michelle Mone over ‘VIP lane’ contract
Investigation into Tory peer relates to PPE company awarded £203m in government contracts

The commissioner confirmed that the investigation would be for “alleged involvement in procuring contracts for PPE Medpro, leading to potential breaches” of three provisions of the Lords code, which cover the requirement that peers publicly register “all relevant interests”, and prohibit them from lobbying for a company or a person in which a peer “has a financial interest”.

The commissioner also stated that Mone would be investigated under the more general provisions of the code’s paragraph 9, which includes that peers “should always act on their personal honour”; must never accept “any financial inducement as an incentive or reward for exercising parliamentary influence”; and “must not seek to profit from membership of the house by accepting or agreeing to accept payment or other incentive or reward in return for providing parliamentary advice or services.”

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/jan/17/lords-standards-commissioner-launches-inquiry-into-michelle-mone

Pretty sure Money will now be consigned to that ghastly Johnson type of Toryism with which the SCons have absolutely no connection.

Will be fascinating seeing the election material the Scottish Conservatives are shortly going to print up. They’ll use blue, but I bet the word “Conservative” is conspicuous by its absence, as will any reference to them being in power in London.

Will they continue with Ruth Davidson’s moderately successful ‘No Surrender’ strategy? Initial intelligence ( @Carnyx ) suggests not.

Certainly the
List MSP leaflet I got the other day was a total contrast to the usual text of
No to Indyref
No to Indyref
No to Indyref
No to Indyref
No to Indyref
No to Indyref
even at parish council level (if we had parish councils up here) and with 'Conservative' in the smallest possible script compatible with Electoral Commission law and the wavelength of light.

It was all about roundabouts and only the fetching Sevco FC Blue colour scheme really drove it home it wasn't the local council's LD candidate.

Union? Us advocate union and subordination to that thing in No. 10? Oh no dear me, no siree.

Perhaps our other PBScots could report back on any other sightings?

The Union seems to have become a topic the principal Unionist party seems unwilling to advocate unless pressed. Klaxons should be sounding at BritNat central office.

Why? The UK Tory government just will refuse indyref2 as ever.

Whether the SCons manage to finally win 1 Scottish council outright or not or keep largest party in 1 or 2 Scottish councils has very little relevance if any to the Union

If the Union is to survive then your lot need to start targeting floating voters and capturing their hearts and minds. You are very good at appealing to core Con voters HY, but you are appallingly poor at lifting your eyes and addressing the centre ground. The Unionists are currently in the process of losing Middle Scotland.

Nope. The Tories could stay in power with not a single Tory MP in Scotland UK wide and can preserve the Union too by refusing indyref2 for as long as they are in power.

It is not our problem. It might be Labour's problem if they get into power reliant on the SNP and have to give an indyref2 and look at devomax etc but it was Labour who created Holyrood anyway giving a platform for the SNP so it has always been their created problem.

We Tories do not need to win Middle Scotland, we Tories need to win Middle England to stay in power. Only Labour needs to appeal to Middle Scotland to get back into power with a clear majority or to preserve the Union in any indyref2 they grant if they don't

Sorry HYUFD but this is absolutely mental. It gives truth to the trope that a lot of Tories only care about being in power and not what being in power is for.

I’m a Conservative and a Unionist and I want Scotland to WANT to be part of the UK - you don’t attract Scottish sympathy yet alone votes by telling them that they don’t fucking matter because we’ve got enough votes in middle England…..

If the Tories want to be in charge of a successful UK then they need to be supported by the UK as a whole to get the best out of it otherwise what’s the point of the UK for Scots and what’s the point of Scotland being part of the UK for the rest of the UK if it is ignored and treated as second class when it has so much good to contribute.

“Sorry guys we really don’t give a shit about you as we’ve got a billion votes in Surrey so we will set the rules to suit them”….. genius!

Very well put and it needs saying

@HYUFD is a shocking example of a narrow Little Englander antagonising the Scots with every idiotic announcement he makes, and yet threatens them with overbearing arrogance and ignorance

I believe with the right attitude the Scots will vote to remain in the union and it is for those of us who value the union to make a case and if necessary in a referendum in due course

I am sure we can all agree that @HYUFD is quite unique and does not speak for 'we tories'

That is probably true of PB Tories. Across the wider Tory membership HYUFD is unique mostly in his shameless and public honesty about the cynicism that drives many Tory policies. Many members think like him but don't voice it as brutally.

HYUFD said:

Carnyx said:

HYUFD said:

boulay said:

HYUFD said:

StuartDickson said:

HYUFD said:

StuartDickson said:

Carnyx said:

StuartDickson said:

Theuniondivvie said:

StuartDickson said:

The Scottish Tories back in hot water:

Lords watchdog launches inquiry into Michelle Mone over ‘VIP lane’ contract
Investigation into Tory peer relates to PPE company awarded £203m in government contracts

The commissioner confirmed that the investigation would be for “alleged involvement in procuring contracts for PPE Medpro, leading to potential breaches” of three provisions of the Lords code, which cover the requirement that peers publicly register “all relevant interests”, and prohibit them from lobbying for a company or a person in which a peer “has a financial interest”.

The commissioner also stated that Mone would be investigated under the more general provisions of the code’s paragraph 9, which includes that peers “should always act on their personal honour”; must never accept “any financial inducement as an incentive or reward for exercising parliamentary influence”; and “must not seek to profit from membership of the house by accepting or agreeing to accept payment or other incentive or reward in return for providing parliamentary advice or services.”

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/jan/17/lords-standards-commissioner-launches-inquiry-into-michelle-mone

Pretty sure Money will now be consigned to that ghastly Johnson type of Toryism with which the SCons have absolutely no connection.

Will be fascinating seeing the election material the Scottish Conservatives are shortly going to print up. They’ll use blue, but I bet the word “Conservative” is conspicuous by its absence, as will any reference to them being in power in London.

Will they continue with Ruth Davidson’s moderately successful ‘No Surrender’ strategy? Initial intelligence ( @Carnyx ) suggests not.

Certainly the
List MSP leaflet I got the other day was a total contrast to the usual text of
No to Indyref
No to Indyref
No to Indyref
No to Indyref
No to Indyref
No to Indyref
even at parish council level (if we had parish councils up here) and with 'Conservative' in the smallest possible script compatible with Electoral Commission law and the wavelength of light.

It was all about roundabouts and only the fetching Sevco FC Blue colour scheme really drove it home it wasn't the local council's LD candidate.

Union? Us advocate union and subordination to that thing in No. 10? Oh no dear me, no siree.

Perhaps our other PBScots could report back on any other sightings?

The Union seems to have become a topic the principal Unionist party seems unwilling to advocate unless pressed. Klaxons should be sounding at BritNat central office.

Why? The UK Tory government just will refuse indyref2 as ever.

Whether the SCons manage to finally win 1 Scottish council outright or not or keep largest party in 1 or 2 Scottish councils has very little relevance if any to the Union

If the Union is to survive then your lot need to start targeting floating voters and capturing their hearts and minds. You are very good at appealing to core Con voters HY, but you are appallingly poor at lifting your eyes and addressing the centre ground. The Unionists are currently in the process of losing Middle Scotland.

Nope. The Tories could stay in power with not a single Tory MP in Scotland UK wide and can preserve the Union too by refusing indyref2 for as long as they are in power.

It is not our problem. It might be Labour's problem if they get into power reliant on the SNP and have to give an indyref2 and look at devomax etc but it was Labour who created Holyrood anyway giving a platform for the SNP so it has always been their created problem.

We Tories do not need to win Middle Scotland, we Tories need to win Middle England to stay in power. Only Labour needs to appeal to Middle Scotland to get back into power with a clear majority or to preserve the Union in any indyref2 they grant if they don't

Sorry HYUFD but this is absolutely mental. It gives truth to the trope that a lot of Tories only care about being in power and not what being in power is for.

I’m a Conservative and a Unionist and I want Scotland to WANT to be part of the UK - you don’t attract Scottish sympathy yet alone votes by telling them that they don’t fucking matter because we’ve got enough votes in middle England…..

If the Tories want to be in charge of a successful UK then they need to be supported by the UK as a whole to get the best out of it otherwise what’s the point of the UK for Scots and what’s the point of Scotland being part of the UK for the rest of the UK if it is ignored and treated as second class when it has so much good to contribute.

“Sorry guys we really don’t give a shit about you as we’ve got a billion votes in Surrey so we will set the rules to suit them”….. genius!

Scotland has Holyrood now for most of its domestic policy, it no longer cares about Westminster for half its laws, so why should Westminster Tories care that much about what middle Scotland thinks given it does not even vote Tory anyway? In any case Surrey is no longer safe Tory, unlike say most of Essex or Lincolnshire.

In that case, why not let Scotland go?

No, I still believe we are stronger as one UK.

However as I said before my preferred model for Scotland is Quebec. Give Scotland full devomax for virtually all domestic policy and most tax and just have Westminster for defence and foreign policy and major tax changes.

Either that or scrap the devolved parliaments and restore the Union as was, no in between

HYUFD said:

Cookie said:

HYUFD said:

Anabobazina said:

HYUFD said:

CarlottaVance said:

Haven’t heard of this pollster:

Excl poll by @YonderConsult for @gbnews

83% believe “Boris clearly broke the government’s own rules during Covid lockdown”

44% now no longer feel any obligation to follow new rules in light of the Downing Street parties

Just 23% think Boris is the right person to be PM

https://twitter.com/tomhfh/status/1483352549478514688?s=20

Just as well the government is about to scrap Plan B and virtually all remaining Covid rules anyway then

The briefing is that they won't be dropping Plan B at all – indeed every paper has carried the news that masking will stay. Now that might change, but that's what's being briefed.

If there is only 1 rule left, ie masks in shops and public transport, if a refuse decide not to comply who cares given most of us have been vaccinated and boosted. It just is a courtesy to help reduce the spread of cases.

You can even have a rave for 10, 000 people completely legally by February without even needing a vaxport, so who cares if people want to have a huge boozy party in their garden or rave in their basement, it will all be completely legal!

You were saying a week or two back that the Tories would bounce back (or wouldn't fall any further) because they were going to end Plan B and those supporting no more restrictions would rally to them.
But those who support no more restrictions aren't going to be coming back to the Tories if they don't rescind the most obvious and universal Plan B measure - masks.
Most people aren't that affected by whether they have to provide a vaccine passport to go to a rave of 10,000 people. But most people do have to use shops.

If your primary measure is 'is this a positive for the Conservative Party' the answer is no.

Of course, it could all be positioning so that actually delivering what was promised - the end of Plan B - seems like a wonderful new reality.

Even most Tory voters want to keep masks, they do not want another lockdown however

Carnyx said:

HYUFD said:

Carnyx said:

HYUFD said:

boulay said:

HYUFD said:

StuartDickson said:

HYUFD said:

StuartDickson said:

Carnyx said:

StuartDickson said:

Theuniondivvie said:

StuartDickson said:

The Scottish Tories back in hot water:

Lords watchdog launches inquiry into Michelle Mone over ‘VIP lane’ contract
Investigation into Tory peer relates to PPE company awarded £203m in government contracts

The commissioner confirmed that the investigation would be for “alleged involvement in procuring contracts for PPE Medpro, leading to potential breaches” of three provisions of the Lords code, which cover the requirement that peers publicly register “all relevant interests”, and prohibit them from lobbying for a company or a person in which a peer “has a financial interest”.

The commissioner also stated that Mone would be investigated under the more general provisions of the code’s paragraph 9, which includes that peers “should always act on their personal honour”; must never accept “any financial inducement as an incentive or reward for exercising parliamentary influence”; and “must not seek to profit from membership of the house by accepting or agreeing to accept payment or other incentive or reward in return for providing parliamentary advice or services.”

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/jan/17/lords-standards-commissioner-launches-inquiry-into-michelle-mone

Pretty sure Money will now be consigned to that ghastly Johnson type of Toryism with which the SCons have absolutely no connection.

Will be fascinating seeing the election material the Scottish Conservatives are shortly going to print up. They’ll use blue, but I bet the word “Conservative” is conspicuous by its absence, as will any reference to them being in power in London.

Will they continue with Ruth Davidson’s moderately successful ‘No Surrender’ strategy? Initial intelligence ( @Carnyx ) suggests not.

Certainly the
List MSP leaflet I got the other day was a total contrast to the usual text of
No to Indyref
No to Indyref
No to Indyref
No to Indyref
No to Indyref
No to Indyref
even at parish council level (if we had parish councils up here) and with 'Conservative' in the smallest possible script compatible with Electoral Commission law and the wavelength of light.

It was all about roundabouts and only the fetching Sevco FC Blue colour scheme really drove it home it wasn't the local council's LD candidate.

Union? Us advocate union and subordination to that thing in No. 10? Oh no dear me, no siree.

Perhaps our other PBScots could report back on any other sightings?

The Union seems to have become a topic the principal Unionist party seems unwilling to advocate unless pressed. Klaxons should be sounding at BritNat central office.

Why? The UK Tory government just will refuse indyref2 as ever.

Whether the SCons manage to finally win 1 Scottish council outright or not or keep largest party in 1 or 2 Scottish councils has very little relevance if any to the Union

If the Union is to survive then your lot need to start targeting floating voters and capturing their hearts and minds. You are very good at appealing to core Con voters HY, but you are appallingly poor at lifting your eyes and addressing the centre ground. The Unionists are currently in the process of losing Middle Scotland.

Nope. The Tories could stay in power with not a single Tory MP in Scotland UK wide and can preserve the Union too by refusing indyref2 for as long as they are in power.

It is not our problem. It might be Labour's problem if they get into power reliant on the SNP and have to give an indyref2 and look at devomax etc but it was Labour who created Holyrood anyway giving a platform for the SNP so it has always been their created problem.

We Tories do not need to win Middle Scotland, we Tories need to win Middle England to stay in power. Only Labour needs to appeal to Middle Scotland to get back into power with a clear majority or to preserve the Union in any indyref2 they grant if they don't

Sorry HYUFD but this is absolutely mental. It gives truth to the trope that a lot of Tories only care about being in power and not what being in power is for.

I’m a Conservative and a Unionist and I want Scotland to WANT to be part of the UK - you don’t attract Scottish sympathy yet alone votes by telling them that they don’t fucking matter because we’ve got enough votes in middle England…..

If the Tories want to be in charge of a successful UK then they need to be supported by the UK as a whole to get the best out of it otherwise what’s the point of the UK for Scots and what’s the point of Scotland being part of the UK for the rest of the UK if it is ignored and treated as second class when it has so much good to contribute.

“Sorry guys we really don’t give a shit about you as we’ve got a billion votes in Surrey so we will set the rules to suit them”….. genius!

Scotland has Holyrood now for most of its domestic policy, it no longer cares about Westminster for half its laws, so why should Westminster Tories care that much about what middle Scotland thinks given it does not even vote Tory anyway? In any case Surrey is no longer safe Tory, unlike say most of Essex or Lincolnshire.

In that case, why not let Scotland go?

No, I still believe we are stronger as one UK.

However as I said before my preferred model for Scotland is Quebec. Give Scotland full devomax for virtually all domestic policy and most tax and just have Westminster for defence and foreign policy and major tax changes.

Either that or scrap the devolved parliaments and restore the Union as was, no in between

Not party policy, though, either of those.

not_on_fire said:

JosiasJessop said:

Anabobazina said:

JosiasJessop said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

MattW said:

Benpointer said:

Why has Johnson forgotten to put his trousers on?

And why is he wearing a British Rail hat?

Not been British Rail since some time ago.

Network Rail, I think.

Unless its changed again.

British Rail is back next year as Great British Railways.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_British_Railways

It's quite good that the British Rail double arrow continued in use on tickets and to denote stations all the way through the privatised era, and is now going to be the logo of GBR. 57 years and counting.

Anything is better than the ridiculous franchising system that embarrassed this nation for so many years, as a bunch of chiselling, pettifogging all-brand-no-bollocks companies rinsed the taxpayer while blaming each other for their manifold failings.

One of the few good moves by this government, bringing back a unified national system.

Yet this 'ridiculous franchising system' saw railways that were more popular than ever, with passenger numbers having more than doubled in 25 years (pre-pandemic), and railways that were far safer than ever before. A railway system that was expanding, rather than decreasing as it did under BR.

Almost all entirely due to changing economic and geographic trends (increase in job opportunties in dense urban areas, increased costs of car ownership etc.) than anything to do with privatisation.

DecrepiterJohnL said:

kinabalu said:

DayTripper said:

A fine piece of Raab logic.

"A PM who lied to Parliament would normally quit - Raab".

He hasn't quit, so he can't have lied, right? And Dover's just a seaside resort. Pass me that cocktail, I'll sort out Afghanistan later.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-60036435

Has shades of Jeremy from days of yore -

Antisemitism is racism and I've been an antiracist all my life so the accusation is absurd.

It isn't though, is it? Raab is "implicitly" calling for Boris to resign.

Pro_Rata said:

@OldKingCole from.previous. Bio of the non-aligned candidate in Southend West. Somewhat ranty Back to Basics moralist ex-Tory.

https://www.southendwest.com/

To paraphrase slightly:
Boris didn't say in his manifesto that he was going to put his mistress in number 10 and breed like rabbits

Honestly, were I there though, I'd be tempted by UKIP, thinking one lone out of control MP can do less damage than one lone out-of-control PM, and that it would be a fair swap.

Politics has determined that, respect notwithstanding, Southend West ought to be an important milestone in getting Boris done. The fact it probably won't be should be a signal to all main parties that standing aside out of respect should not happen again. And I say that as someone who was initially supportive of the respect paid in this instance.