Howdy, Stranger!

It looks like you're new here. Sign in or register to get started.

Options

Will CON MPs back a suspension move on Johnson? – politicalbetting.com

SystemSystem Posts: 11,003
edited March 2023 in General
imageWill CON MPs back a suspension move on Johnson? – politicalbetting.com

The above betting market on whether there will be an Uxbridge by-election is just about the one place at the moment where you can take a punt on Boris Johnson’s political future. He of course is the sitting MP here.

Read the full story here

«13456

Comments

  • Options
    HeathenerHeathener Posts: 5,243
    edited March 2023
    Good morning all. Thank you to Mike.

    It's an interesting saga this. Johnson isn't helping his cause among parliamentary colleagues, with whom he already had less support than in the red wall seats.

    However, suppose he is defenestrated at Uxbridge? He might stage a comeback in a safer seat? Especially after the crushing Conservative General Election defeat which is coming.

    My guess is that he's a busted flush. He wasn't suited to the job of PM anyway.
  • Options
    SandpitSandpit Posts: 49,834
    A distant second. The Man United of PB.

    Probably not a by-election, although one can probably imagine he stands down at the general election.
  • Options
    IanB2IanB2 Posts: 47,210
    edited March 2023
    The clown must go. Both for his misdeeds and as a symbol of better politics to come.
  • Options
    MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 50,095
    Heathener said:

    Good morning all. Thank you to Mike.

    It's an interesting saga this. Johnson isn't helping his cause among parliamentary colleagues, with whom he already had less support than in the red wall seats.

    However, suppose he is defenestrated at Uxbridge? He might stage a comeback in a safer seat? Especially after the crushing Conservative General Election defeat which is coming.

    My guess is that he's a busted flush. He wasn't suited to the job of PM anyway.

    He only comes back in a safer seat if he is an approved Conservative candidate. He can be quietly told he won't be.
  • Options
    Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 60,964
    Good morning, everyone.

    Let's hope the fool departs the stage sooner rather than later.

    F1: post-race ramble, for those who missed it yesterday:
    https://enormo-haddock.blogspot.com/2023/03/bahrain-post-race-ramble-2023.html
  • Options
    DecrepiterJohnLDecrepiterJohnL Posts: 24,223
    Boris out! Or has Keir Starmer saved him by employing Sue Gray?
  • Options
    ydoethurydoethur Posts: 67,095

    Boris out! Or has Keir Starmer saved him by employing Sue Gray?

    ’Johnson out’ would be better but sounds more like his motto for behaviour around women.

    I’m all in favour of him having a suspended sentence…
  • Options
    DecrepiterJohnLDecrepiterJohnL Posts: 24,223
    dixiedean said:

    I see he's nominated his Dad for a knighthood.
    This isn't the done thing at all.

    Boris has already given his brother a peerage, so what's new?
  • Options
    Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 25,299
    dixiedean said:

    I see he's nominated his Dad for a knighthood.
    This isn't the done thing at all.

    I'm surprised at that - his Dad doesn't seem to like him much.
  • Options
    ChrisChris Posts: 11,088
    dixiedean said:

    I see he's nominated his Dad for a knighthood.
    This isn't the done thing at all.

    Would we know if he nominated some of his children for honours?
  • Options
    ydoethurydoethur Posts: 67,095
    Chris said:

    dixiedean said:

    I see he's nominated his Dad for a knighthood.
    This isn't the done thing at all.

    Would we know if he nominated some of his children for honours?
    Would he know they are his children?
  • Options
    StuartinromfordStuartinromford Posts: 14,346
    dixiedean said:

    dixiedean said:

    I see he's nominated his Dad for a knighthood.
    This isn't the done thing at all.

    Boris has already given his brother a peerage, so what's new?
    He has.
    Although his brother was at least an MP and Minister, so could be argued a political appointment.
    This kind of grift is why he needs to go.
    Johnson senior was an MEP, long long ago.

    Maybe that's why Boris turned out Eurosceptic.

    Another question- when this comes to a vote, how many Conservative MPs would vote against Boris? It would only need thirtysomething and he's toast.
  • Options
    MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 50,095

    dixiedean said:

    dixiedean said:

    I see he's nominated his Dad for a knighthood.
    This isn't the done thing at all.

    Boris has already given his brother a peerage, so what's new?
    He has.
    Although his brother was at least an MP and Minister, so could be argued a political appointment.
    This kind of grift is why he needs to go.
    Johnson senior was an MEP, long long ago.

    Maybe that's why Boris turned out Eurosceptic.

    Another question- when this comes to a vote, how many Conservative MPs would vote against Boris? It would only need thirtysomething and he's toast.
    I think it is easily mustered. There were always a sizeable number of MPs who were anti-Boris, even as he was getting them an 80 seat majority as PM. True, the ranks were significantly thinned by the defectors and unselected and standing downers in 2019, but those who will vote to suspend will be into three figures.
  • Options
    ydoethurydoethur Posts: 67,095

    dixiedean said:

    dixiedean said:

    I see he's nominated his Dad for a knighthood.
    This isn't the done thing at all.

    Boris has already given his brother a peerage, so what's new?
    He has.
    Although his brother was at least an MP and Minister, so could be argued a political appointment.
    This kind of grift is why he needs to go.
    Johnson senior was an MEP, long long ago.

    Maybe that's why Boris turned out Eurosceptic.

    Another question- when this comes to a vote, how many Conservative MPs would vote against Boris? It would only need thirtysomething and he's toast.
    That is, of course, assuming the party hierarchy doesn't move against him. If Sunak whipped the vote, or even allowed a free vote but said he would vote for Johnson's suspension, the equation then becomes he needs 90% of the PCP to rebel and back him.
  • Options
    ydoethurydoethur Posts: 67,095
    Has Buttler been taking lessons from Shane Watson and Stuart Broad in how to review?
  • Options
    CarlottaVanceCarlottaVance Posts: 59,568
    dixiedean said:

    I see he's nominated his Dad for a knighthood.
    This isn't the done thing at all.

    The Times reports that the former prime minister, who left office last September, has nominated Stanley Johnson for the honour. A spokesperson for Boris Johnson said: “We don’t comment on honours.”

    The PA news agency has contacted Stanley Johnson for comment.

    The paper said that the former prime minister’s list of nominations included up to 100 names and was “considerably longer” than that of his predecessors Theresa May and David Cameron. The list is currently going through Cabinet Office vetting.

    Any honour for Stanley Johnson would raise questions for the former Conservative leader. He has previously faced accusations of cronyism in 2020, after he nominated his brother, Jo Johnson, for a peerage.


    https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/mar/05/boris-johnson-nominates-father-for-a-knighthood
  • Options
    ydoethurydoethur Posts: 67,095
    Dear me Bangladesh, that was a bit needless.
  • Options
    DavidLDavidL Posts: 51,112
    ydoethur said:

    Has Buttler been taking lessons from Shane Watson and Stuart Broad in how to review?

    Real time I thought that was out. The amount of turn young Ahmed got was remarkable. It was in line for off stump and missed leg.

    Now gifted a wicket.
  • Options
    ydoethurydoethur Posts: 67,095
    DavidL said:

    ydoethur said:

    Has Buttler been taking lessons from Shane Watson and Stuart Broad in how to review?

    Real time I thought that was out. The amount of turn young Ahmed got was remarkable. It was in line for off stump and missed leg.

    Now gifted a wicket.
    Still on course for 280 though.
  • Options
    ydoethurydoethur Posts: 67,095
    edited March 2023

    dixiedean said:

    I see he's nominated his Dad for a knighthood.
    This isn't the done thing at all.

    I'm surprised at that - his Dad doesn't seem to like him much.
    He's met him.
    Your reminder that Starmer and Johnson's fathers had very different occupations.

    One of them made tools, and the other worked in manufacturing precision instruments.
  • Options
    DavidLDavidL Posts: 51,112
    ydoethur said:

    DavidL said:

    ydoethur said:

    Has Buttler been taking lessons from Shane Watson and Stuart Broad in how to review?

    Real time I thought that was out. The amount of turn young Ahmed got was remarkable. It was in line for off stump and missed leg.

    Now gifted a wicket.
    Still on course for 280 though.
    Maybe. That was a very good partnership. Lets see if those coming after can match it. My guess on the series to date is that they will fade a bit. Maybe 240.
  • Options
    ydoethurydoethur Posts: 67,095
    DavidL said:

    ydoethur said:

    DavidL said:

    ydoethur said:

    Has Buttler been taking lessons from Shane Watson and Stuart Broad in how to review?

    Real time I thought that was out. The amount of turn young Ahmed got was remarkable. It was in line for off stump and missed leg.

    Now gifted a wicket.
    Still on course for 280 though.
    Maybe. That was a very good partnership. Lets see if those coming after can match it. My guess on the series to date is that they will fade a bit. Maybe 240.
    If they get 350 after that I'm blaming you.
  • Options
    MikeSmithsonMikeSmithson Posts: 7,382

    dixiedean said:

    dixiedean said:

    I see he's nominated his Dad for a knighthood.
    This isn't the done thing at all.

    Boris has already given his brother a peerage, so what's new?
    He has.
    Although his brother was at least an MP and Minister, so could be argued a political appointment.
    This kind of grift is why he needs to go.
    Johnson senior was an MEP, long long ago.

    Maybe that's why Boris turned out Eurosceptic.

    Another question- when this comes to a vote, how many Conservative MPs would vote against Boris? It would only need thirtysomething and he's toast.
    I think it is easily mustered. There were always a sizeable number of MPs who were anti-Boris, even as he was getting them an 80 seat majority as PM. True, the ranks were significantly thinned by the defectors and unselected and standing downers in 2019, but those who will vote to suspend will be into three figures.
    Can we stop this crap about Johnson getting the Tories and 80 majority. He was facing Corbyn which is hardly a big deal. Arguably he should have done better.
  • Options
    StuartinromfordStuartinromford Posts: 14,346
    ydoethur said:

    dixiedean said:

    dixiedean said:

    I see he's nominated his Dad for a knighthood.
    This isn't the done thing at all.

    Boris has already given his brother a peerage, so what's new?
    He has.
    Although his brother was at least an MP and Minister, so could be argued a political appointment.
    This kind of grift is why he needs to go.
    Johnson senior was an MEP, long long ago.

    Maybe that's why Boris turned out Eurosceptic.

    Another question- when this comes to a vote, how many Conservative MPs would vote against Boris? It would only need thirtysomething and he's toast.
    That is, of course, assuming the party hierarchy doesn't move against him. If Sunak whipped the vote, or even allowed a free vote but said he would vote for Johnson's suspension, the equation then becomes he needs 90% of the PCP to rebel and back him.
    Though whipping Boris out would send the Blue Momentum wing of the party utterly batso.

    If I were a Conservative MP, fearful of both my activists and my constituents, I'd be looking for an urgent meeting far from Westminster that day. Or a note from my mum, saying I can't do voting because I have a verruca.
  • Options
    ydoethurydoethur Posts: 67,095

    ydoethur said:

    dixiedean said:

    dixiedean said:

    I see he's nominated his Dad for a knighthood.
    This isn't the done thing at all.

    Boris has already given his brother a peerage, so what's new?
    He has.
    Although his brother was at least an MP and Minister, so could be argued a political appointment.
    This kind of grift is why he needs to go.
    Johnson senior was an MEP, long long ago.

    Maybe that's why Boris turned out Eurosceptic.

    Another question- when this comes to a vote, how many Conservative MPs would vote against Boris? It would only need thirtysomething and he's toast.
    That is, of course, assuming the party hierarchy doesn't move against him. If Sunak whipped the vote, or even allowed a free vote but said he would vote for Johnson's suspension, the equation then becomes he needs 90% of the PCP to rebel and back him.
    Though whipping Boris out would send the Blue Momentum wing of the party utterly batso.

    If I were a Conservative MP, fearful of both my activists and my constituents, I'd be looking for an urgent meeting far from Westminster that day. Or a note from my mum, saying I can't do voting because I have a verruca.
    They already are. Whatever happens, that won't change.
  • Options
    DavidLDavidL Posts: 51,112
    ydoethur said:

    dixiedean said:

    dixiedean said:

    I see he's nominated his Dad for a knighthood.
    This isn't the done thing at all.

    Boris has already given his brother a peerage, so what's new?
    He has.
    Although his brother was at least an MP and Minister, so could be argued a political appointment.
    This kind of grift is why he needs to go.
    Johnson senior was an MEP, long long ago.

    Maybe that's why Boris turned out Eurosceptic.

    Another question- when this comes to a vote, how many Conservative MPs would vote against Boris? It would only need thirtysomething and he's toast.
    I think it is easily mustered. There were always a sizeable number of MPs who were anti-Boris, even as he was getting them an 80 seat majority as PM. True, the ranks were significantly thinned by the defectors and unselected and standing downers in 2019, but those who will vote to suspend will be into three figures.
    Can we stop this crap about Johnson getting the Tories and 80 majority. He was facing Corbyn which is hardly a big deal. Arguably he should have done better.
    It should be remembered though that a belief Corbyn was unelectable didn't exactly work for Theresa May, who was on paper at least in a much stronger position at the time.

    True, she didn't have Corbyn's extraordinary response to Salisbury, his convoluted position on the EU to help or such widespread evidence of his racism to play with, but she still very nearly lost.
    And he managed to significantly increase the vote of a party that had already been in office for 9 years. That is seriously unusual.
  • Options
    Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 32,842
    ...
  • Options
    ydoethurydoethur Posts: 67,095
    edited March 2023
    DavidL said:

    ydoethur said:

    dixiedean said:

    dixiedean said:

    I see he's nominated his Dad for a knighthood.
    This isn't the done thing at all.

    Boris has already given his brother a peerage, so what's new?
    He has.
    Although his brother was at least an MP and Minister, so could be argued a political appointment.
    This kind of grift is why he needs to go.
    Johnson senior was an MEP, long long ago.

    Maybe that's why Boris turned out Eurosceptic.

    Another question- when this comes to a vote, how many Conservative MPs would vote against Boris? It would only need thirtysomething and he's toast.
    I think it is easily mustered. There were always a sizeable number of MPs who were anti-Boris, even as he was getting them an 80 seat majority as PM. True, the ranks were significantly thinned by the defectors and unselected and standing downers in 2019, but those who will vote to suspend will be into three figures.
    Can we stop this crap about Johnson getting the Tories and 80 majority. He was facing Corbyn which is hardly a big deal. Arguably he should have done better.
    It should be remembered though that a belief Corbyn was unelectable didn't exactly work for Theresa May, who was on paper at least in a much stronger position at the time.

    True, she didn't have Corbyn's extraordinary response to Salisbury, his convoluted position on the EU to help or such widespread evidence of his racism to play with, but she still very nearly lost.
    And he managed to significantly increase the vote of a party that had already been in office for 9 years. That is seriously unusual.
    It was the first general election where an incumbent government which had seen its majority reduced at a previous election increased its majority since 1865, the first time ever a government of more than eight years' standing had increased its majority, and the highest voteshare for any single winning party since 1979.

    Admittedly, the circumstances were something of a perfect storm, but it was still remarkable and unusual.
  • Options
    NigelbNigelb Posts: 62,296
    DavidL said:

    ydoethur said:

    dixiedean said:

    dixiedean said:

    I see he's nominated his Dad for a knighthood.
    This isn't the done thing at all.

    Boris has already given his brother a peerage, so what's new?
    He has.
    Although his brother was at least an MP and Minister, so could be argued a political appointment.
    This kind of grift is why he needs to go.
    Johnson senior was an MEP, long long ago.

    Maybe that's why Boris turned out Eurosceptic.

    Another question- when this comes to a vote, how many Conservative MPs would vote against Boris? It would only need thirtysomething and he's toast.
    I think it is easily mustered. There were always a sizeable number of MPs who were anti-Boris, even as he was getting them an 80 seat majority as PM. True, the ranks were significantly thinned by the defectors and unselected and standing downers in 2019, but those who will vote to suspend will be into three figures.
    Can we stop this crap about Johnson getting the Tories and 80 majority. He was facing Corbyn which is hardly a big deal. Arguably he should have done better.
    It should be remembered though that a belief Corbyn was unelectable didn't exactly work for Theresa May, who was on paper at least in a much stronger position at the time.

    True, she didn't have Corbyn's extraordinary response to Salisbury, his convoluted position on the EU to help or such widespread evidence of his racism to play with, but she still very nearly lost.
    And he managed to significantly increase the vote of a party that had already been in office for 9 years. That is seriously unusual.
    While true, Mike has a point.
    The circumstances of 2019 were extremely unusual.

    There really isn't the room now to present a simplistic solution to the UK's problems in such a manner and have more than a small minority if the electorate believe you. Even less so if you're the one that fooled them last time around.
  • Options
    OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 31,903
    DavidL said:

    ydoethur said:

    dixiedean said:

    dixiedean said:

    I see he's nominated his Dad for a knighthood.
    This isn't the done thing at all.

    Boris has already given his brother a peerage, so what's new?
    He has.
    Although his brother was at least an MP and Minister, so could be argued a political appointment.
    This kind of grift is why he needs to go.
    Johnson senior was an MEP, long long ago.

    Maybe that's why Boris turned out Eurosceptic.

    Another question- when this comes to a vote, how many Conservative MPs would vote against Boris? It would only need thirtysomething and he's toast.
    I think it is easily mustered. There were always a sizeable number of MPs who were anti-Boris, even as he was getting them an 80 seat majority as PM. True, the ranks were significantly thinned by the defectors and unselected and standing downers in 2019, but those who will vote to suspend will be into three figures.
    Can we stop this crap about Johnson getting the Tories and 80 majority. He was facing Corbyn which is hardly a big deal. Arguably he should have done better.
    It should be remembered though that a belief Corbyn was unelectable didn't exactly work for Theresa May, who was on paper at least in a much stronger position at the time.

    True, she didn't have Corbyn's extraordinary response to Salisbury, his convoluted position on the EU to help or such widespread evidence of his racism to play with, but she still very nearly lost.
    And he managed to significantly increase the vote of a party that had already been in office for 9 years. That is seriously unusual.
    Macmillan did much the same in 1959.

    Yes, I know that was 8 years.
  • Options
    NigelbNigelb Posts: 62,296
    Slotkin would be my tip to be the first woman elected President, if there were such a market.
    https://www.politico.com/news/2023/03/05/democrats-elections-states-00085524
  • Options
    SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 20,572
    So Bozo nominated his brother for a peerage, his father for a knighthood and his wife for some new wallpaper.

    What a shitbag.
  • Options
    TimSTimS Posts: 9,434
    Nigelb said:

    DavidL said:

    ydoethur said:

    dixiedean said:

    dixiedean said:

    I see he's nominated his Dad for a knighthood.
    This isn't the done thing at all.

    Boris has already given his brother a peerage, so what's new?
    He has.
    Although his brother was at least an MP and Minister, so could be argued a political appointment.
    This kind of grift is why he needs to go.
    Johnson senior was an MEP, long long ago.

    Maybe that's why Boris turned out Eurosceptic.

    Another question- when this comes to a vote, how many Conservative MPs would vote against Boris? It would only need thirtysomething and he's toast.
    I think it is easily mustered. There were always a sizeable number of MPs who were anti-Boris, even as he was getting them an 80 seat majority as PM. True, the ranks were significantly thinned by the defectors and unselected and standing downers in 2019, but those who will vote to suspend will be into three figures.
    Can we stop this crap about Johnson getting the Tories and 80 majority. He was facing Corbyn which is hardly a big deal. Arguably he should have done better.
    It should be remembered though that a belief Corbyn was unelectable didn't exactly work for Theresa May, who was on paper at least in a much stronger position at the time.

    True, she didn't have Corbyn's extraordinary response to Salisbury, his convoluted position on the EU to help or such widespread evidence of his racism to play with, but she still very nearly lost.
    And he managed to significantly increase the vote of a party that had already been in office for 9 years. That is seriously unusual.
    While true, Mike has a point.
    The circumstances of 2019 were extremely unusual.

    There really isn't the room now to present a simplistic solution to the UK's problems in such a manner and have more than a small minority if the electorate believe you. Even less so if you're the one that fooled them last time around.
    I reassure myself that this must surely the case. But then I see polls showing Trump beating Biden in a 2024 election and think “hmm”. Or recall the multiple times Berlusconi ascended the Italian throne even after being convicted under corruption charges.
  • Options

    So Bozo nominated his brother for a peerage, his father for a knighthood and his wife for some new wallpaper.

    What a shitbag.

    Absolutely. What's his wife done wrong?
  • Options
    Wow it wasn’t a dream.




  • Options
    ydoethurydoethur Posts: 67,095

    So Bozo nominated his brother for a peerage, his father for a knighthood and his wife for some new wallpaper.

    What a shitbag.

    Absolutely. What's his wife done wrong?
    Which one?
  • Options
    NigelbNigelb Posts: 62,296
    TimS said:

    Nigelb said:

    DavidL said:

    ydoethur said:

    dixiedean said:

    dixiedean said:

    I see he's nominated his Dad for a knighthood.
    This isn't the done thing at all.

    Boris has already given his brother a peerage, so what's new?
    He has.
    Although his brother was at least an MP and Minister, so could be argued a political appointment.
    This kind of grift is why he needs to go.
    Johnson senior was an MEP, long long ago.

    Maybe that's why Boris turned out Eurosceptic.

    Another question- when this comes to a vote, how many Conservative MPs would vote against Boris? It would only need thirtysomething and he's toast.
    I think it is easily mustered. There were always a sizeable number of MPs who were anti-Boris, even as he was getting them an 80 seat majority as PM. True, the ranks were significantly thinned by the defectors and unselected and standing downers in 2019, but those who will vote to suspend will be into three figures.
    Can we stop this crap about Johnson getting the Tories and 80 majority. He was facing Corbyn which is hardly a big deal. Arguably he should have done better.
    It should be remembered though that a belief Corbyn was unelectable didn't exactly work for Theresa May, who was on paper at least in a much stronger position at the time.

    True, she didn't have Corbyn's extraordinary response to Salisbury, his convoluted position on the EU to help or such widespread evidence of his racism to play with, but she still very nearly lost.
    And he managed to significantly increase the vote of a party that had already been in office for 9 years. That is seriously unusual.
    While true, Mike has a point.
    The circumstances of 2019 were extremely unusual.

    There really isn't the room now to present a simplistic solution to the UK's problems in such a manner and have more than a small minority if the electorate believe you. Even less so if you're the one that fooled them last time around.
    I reassure myself that this must surely the case. But then I see polls showing Trump beating Biden in a 2024 election and think “hmm”. Or recall the multiple times Berlusconi ascended the Italian throne even after being convicted under corruption charges.
    I look at the polls regarding satisfaction with Brexit.
    That is thing inextricably associated with Johnson, and it's not sortable on any timeframe which covers the next couple of general elections.

    There's a significant minority of the electorate who will continue to believe it justified come what may. For the rest, it will continue obviously to hamper solutions to the UK's structural problems.
  • Options
    kjhkjh Posts: 10,566
    ydoethur said:

    dixiedean said:

    dixiedean said:

    I see he's nominated his Dad for a knighthood.
    This isn't the done thing at all.

    Boris has already given his brother a peerage, so what's new?
    He has.
    Although his brother was at least an MP and Minister, so could be argued a political appointment.
    This kind of grift is why he needs to go.
    Johnson senior was an MEP, long long ago.

    Maybe that's why Boris turned out Eurosceptic.

    Another question- when this comes to a vote, how many Conservative MPs would vote against Boris? It would only need thirtysomething and he's toast.
    I think it is easily mustered. There were always a sizeable number of MPs who were anti-Boris, even as he was getting them an 80 seat majority as PM. True, the ranks were significantly thinned by the defectors and unselected and standing downers in 2019, but those who will vote to suspend will be into three figures.
    Can we stop this crap about Johnson getting the Tories and 80 majority. He was facing Corbyn which is hardly a big deal. Arguably he should have done better.
    It should be remembered though that a belief Corbyn was unelectable didn't exactly work for Theresa May, who was on paper at least in a much stronger position at the time.

    True, she didn't have Corbyn's extraordinary response to Salisbury, his convoluted position on the EU to help or such widespread evidence of his racism to play with, but she still very nearly lost.
    I think you have to add 'Get Brexit Done' to the Corbyn factor for why Boris won in 2019.
  • Options
    NigelbNigelb Posts: 62,296
  • Options
    Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 32,842
    kjh said:

    I think you have to add 'Get Brexit Done' to the Corbyn factor for why Boris won in 2019.

    And one day it might actually be done.

    I notice Nads was going on about Brexit last week.

    Jeez, these people just need to let it go and move on !!
  • Options
    kle4kle4 Posts: 91,609
    If not whipped I think a majority of Tory MPs would vote to suspend. But not a big majority of them.

    Because of that split I think Rishi gives in.

    Depends partly on how long a suspension. Under the threshold for a petition and maybe they'll allow a suspension.
  • Options
    tlg86tlg86 Posts: 25,187

    Wow it wasn’t a dream.




    Would have been funny had that been offside.
  • Options
    MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 50,095
    edited March 2023

    dixiedean said:

    dixiedean said:

    I see he's nominated his Dad for a lol.....knighthood.
    This isn't the done thing at all.

    Boris has already given his brother a peerage, so what's new?
    He has.
    Although his brother was at least an MP and Minister, so could be argued a political appointment.
    This kind of grift is why he needs to go.
    Johnson senior was an MEP, long long ago.

    Maybe that's why Boris turned out Eurosceptic.

    Another question- when this comes to a vote, how many Conservative MPs would vote against Boris? It would only need thirtysomething and he's toast.
    I think it is easily mustered. There were always a sizeable number of MPs who were anti-Boris, even as he was getting them an 80 seat majority as PM. True, the ranks were significantly thinned by the defectors and unselected and standing downers in 2019, but those who will vote to suspend will be into three figures.
    Can we stop this crap about Johnson getting the Tories and 80 majority. He was facing Corbyn which is hardly a big deal. Arguably he should have done better.
    lol....

    Not whilst people like you were voting for Corbyn.....
  • Options
    HeathenerHeathener Posts: 5,243
    edited March 2023
    ydoethur said:

    dixiedean said:

    dixiedean said:

    I see he's nominated his Dad for a knighthood.
    This isn't the done thing at all.

    Boris has already given his brother a peerage, so what's new?
    He has.
    Although his brother was at least an MP and Minister, so could be argued a political appointment.
    This kind of grift is why he needs to go.
    Johnson senior was an MEP, long long ago.

    Maybe that's why Boris turned out Eurosceptic.

    Another question- when this comes to a vote, how many Conservative MPs would vote against Boris? It would only need thirtysomething and he's toast.
    I think it is easily mustered. There were always a sizeable number of MPs who were anti-Boris, even as he was getting them an 80 seat majority as PM. True, the ranks were significantly thinned by the defectors and unselected and standing downers in 2019, but those who will vote to suspend will be into three figures.
    Can we stop this crap about Johnson getting the Tories and 80 majority. He was facing Corbyn which is hardly a big deal. Arguably he should have done better.
    It should be remembered though that a belief Corbyn was unelectable didn't exactly work for Theresa May, who was on paper at least in a much stronger position at the time.

    True, she didn't have Corbyn's extraordinary response to Salisbury, his convoluted position on the EU to help or such widespread evidence of his racism to play with, but she still very nearly lost.
    I think he was a bit of a new unknown at the time of the 2017 election. And she was very awkward under pressure - the Maybot and all that.

    Come 2019 and the vile* nature of Corbyn's views had oozed to the surface.


    * I should temper that adjective. I quite like some of Corbyn's radicalism. However, too much of it seems to come from a rather unpleasant bitter core, a tendency to run down the UK, and a detestation of the State of Israel that blinds his entire approach to foreign policy and Jewish people.
  • Options
    HeathenerHeathener Posts: 5,243
    edited March 2023
    p.s. apologies for absence on here but I'm travelling. Not bragging about it nor posting pointless pictures from bars, beaches, or any other spot. It's lovely to get away and I'll leave it at that.
  • Options
    HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 116,935
    The majority of Conservative MPs will not vote to suspend Johnson, not least as it would see further leakage from the Tories to RefUK.

    Plus of course Sue Gray who wrote the original report on Johnson's partygate breaches now works for Starmer
  • Options
    HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 116,935
    TimS said:

    Nigelb said:

    DavidL said:

    ydoethur said:

    dixiedean said:

    dixiedean said:

    I see he's nominated his Dad for a knighthood.
    This isn't the done thing at all.

    Boris has already given his brother a peerage, so what's new?
    He has.
    Although his brother was at least an MP and Minister, so could be argued a political appointment.
    This kind of grift is why he needs to go.
    Johnson senior was an MEP, long long ago.

    Maybe that's why Boris turned out Eurosceptic.

    Another question- when this comes to a vote, how many Conservative MPs would vote against Boris? It would only need thirtysomething and he's toast.
    I think it is easily mustered. There were always a sizeable number of MPs who were anti-Boris, even as he was getting them an 80 seat majority as PM. True, the ranks were significantly thinned by the defectors and unselected and standing downers in 2019, but those who will vote to suspend will be into three figures.
    Can we stop this crap about Johnson getting the Tories and 80 majority. He was facing Corbyn which is hardly a big deal. Arguably he should have done better.
    It should be remembered though that a belief Corbyn was unelectable didn't exactly work for Theresa May, who was on paper at least in a much stronger position at the time.

    True, she didn't have Corbyn's extraordinary response to Salisbury, his convoluted position on the EU to help or such widespread evidence of his racism to play with, but she still very nearly lost.
    And he managed to significantly increase the vote of a party that had already been in office for 9 years. That is seriously unusual.
    While true, Mike has a point.
    The circumstances of 2019 were extremely unusual.

    There really isn't the room now to present a simplistic solution to the UK's problems in such a manner and have more than a small minority if the electorate believe you. Even less so if you're the one that fooled them last time around.
    I reassure myself that this must surely the case. But then I see polls showing Trump beating Biden in a 2024 election and think “hmm”. Or recall the multiple times Berlusconi ascended the Italian throne even after being convicted under corruption charges.
    Trump actually beat Hillary Clinton in 2016 as Corbyn nearly beat May in 2017. It took Boris to see off Corbyn in 2019 and Biden to see off Trump in 2020.

    Berlusconi's party though is back in government in Italy again, albeit a minor coalition partner in a government led by the even harder right Brothers of Italy of Meloni
  • Options

    dixiedean said:

    dixiedean said:

    I see he's nominated his Dad for a lol.....knighthood.
    This isn't the done thing at all.

    Boris has already given his brother a peerage, so what's new?
    He has.
    Although his brother was at least an MP and Minister, so could be argued a political appointment.
    This kind of grift is why he needs to go.
    Johnson senior was an MEP, long long ago.

    Maybe that's why Boris turned out Eurosceptic.

    Another question- when this comes to a vote, how many Conservative MPs would vote against Boris? It would only need thirtysomething and he's toast.
    I think it is easily mustered. There were always a sizeable number of MPs who were anti-Boris, even as he was getting them an 80 seat majority as PM. True, the ranks were significantly thinned by the defectors and unselected and standing downers in 2019, but those who will vote to suspend will be into three figures.
    Can we stop this crap about Johnson getting the Tories and 80 majority. He was facing Corbyn which is hardly a big deal. Arguably he should have done better.
    lol....

    Not whilst people like you were voting for Corbyn.....
    Careful, mark. That could be libellous. ;)
  • Options
    HeathenerHeathener Posts: 5,243
    HYUFD said:

    The majority of Conservative MPs will not vote to suspend Johnson,

    Doesn't it only need 36 of them to vote with the Opposition?
  • Options
    kle4kle4 Posts: 91,609
    HYUFD said:

    The majority of Conservative MPs will not vote to suspend Johnson, not least as it would see further leakage from the Tories to RefUK.

    Plus of course Sue Gray who wrote the original report on Johnson's partygate breaches now works for Starmer

    And thus the justifications of the MPs will go.

    Boris apologised for the breaches she wrote about and yet they are actually arguing, in effect, that she must have made it all up somehow because she's Labour.
  • Options
    ydoethurydoethur Posts: 67,095
    Scott_xP said:

    kjh said:

    I think you have to add 'Get Brexit Done' to the Corbyn factor for why Boris won in 2019.

    And one day it might actually be done.

    I notice Nads was going on about Brexit last week.

    Jeez, these people just need to let it go and move on !!
    Is it wrong of me to have laughed out loud at that last line?
  • Options
    algarkirkalgarkirk Posts: 10,486
    The by election in Uxbridge question is tricky odds wise, and where value might lie.

    The best way of looking at it is to ask two questions: What is in the best personal interests of Boris and of course what will the Committee do.

    The routes to by elections are via (apart from Black Swan)
    Committee's actions ultimately compelling a by election
    or
    Boris resigning Uxbridge anyway.

    Boris personal interest depends on:
    Does he still have PM ambitions
    How much does he hate losing.

    If he has PM ambitions his best route is to get out of Uxbridge as soon as possible (well before the GE) and take his chance on election elsewhere.

    If he doesn't he won't care and will go with the flow.

    I think the odds are about right.
  • Options
    NigelbNigelb Posts: 62,296
    Rashid is bloody brilliant.
  • Options
    kle4kle4 Posts: 91,609
    Heathener said:

    HYUFD said:

    The majority of Conservative MPs will not vote to suspend Johnson,

    Doesn't it only need 36 of them to vote with the Opposition?
    How many have announced they are standing down and are anti Boris? As I reckon Sunak votes against suspension but hopes there are enough rebels to see it through.
  • Options
    HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 116,935

    dixiedean said:

    dixiedean said:

    I see he's nominated his Dad for a knighthood.
    This isn't the done thing at all.

    Boris has already given his brother a peerage, so what's new?
    He has.
    Although his brother was at least an MP and Minister, so could be argued a political appointment.
    This kind of grift is why he needs to go.
    Johnson senior was an MEP, long long ago.

    Maybe that's why Boris turned out Eurosceptic.

    Another question- when this comes to a vote, how many Conservative MPs would vote against Boris? It would only need thirtysomething and he's toast.
    I think it is easily mustered. There were always a sizeable number of MPs who were anti-Boris, even as he was getting them an 80 seat majority as PM. True, the ranks were significantly thinned by the defectors and unselected and standing downers in 2019, but those who will vote to suspend will be into three figures.
    Can we stop this crap about Johnson getting the Tories and 80 majority. He was facing Corbyn which is hardly a big deal. Arguably he should have done better.
    Would be ironic if both Corbyn and Johnson, the 2 main party leaders in 2019, were expelled and suspended by their parties. Corbyn is almost certain to stand as an Independent in Islington North in 2024, the risk for the Tories is Boris would go further and defect to RefUK in the hope of replacing Tice as its leader
  • Options
    HeathenerHeathener Posts: 5,243
    kle4 said:

    Heathener said:

    HYUFD said:

    The majority of Conservative MPs will not vote to suspend Johnson,

    Doesn't it only need 36 of them to vote with the Opposition?
    How many have announced they are standing down and are anti Boris? As I reckon Sunak votes against suspension but hopes there are enough rebels to see it through.
    Yes indeed.

    And although I mentioned it only needing 36 to vote with the Opposition I think it likely a larger number than that might abstain.

    If this does go to a vote it could be tight. I think Boris might lose it.
  • Options
    StuartinromfordStuartinromford Posts: 14,346
    ydoethur said:

    dixiedean said:

    dixiedean said:

    I see he's nominated his Dad for a knighthood.
    This isn't the done thing at all.

    Boris has already given his brother a peerage, so what's new?
    He has.
    Although his brother was at least an MP and Minister, so could be argued a political appointment.
    This kind of grift is why he needs to go.
    Johnson senior was an MEP, long long ago.

    Maybe that's why Boris turned out Eurosceptic.

    Another question- when this comes to a vote, how many Conservative MPs would vote against Boris? It would only need thirtysomething and he's toast.
    I think it is easily mustered. There were always a sizeable number of MPs who were anti-Boris, even as he was getting them an 80 seat majority as PM. True, the ranks were significantly thinned by the defectors and unselected and standing downers in 2019, but those who will vote to suspend will be into three figures.
    Can we stop this crap about Johnson getting the Tories and 80 majority. He was facing Corbyn which is hardly a big deal. Arguably he should have done better.
    It should be remembered though that a belief Corbyn was unelectable didn't exactly work for Theresa May, who was on paper at least in a much stronger position at the time.

    True, she didn't have Corbyn's extraordinary response to Salisbury, his convoluted position on the EU to help or such widespread evidence of his racism to play with, but she still very nearly lost.
    Though May put on 5.5 percent in 2017 compared with Dave in 2015. Poor compared with the opinion polls at the start of the campaign, but not intrinsically shabby. Albeit mostly by grabbing a large chunk of the 2015 UKIP vote The difference was that Labour put on nearly ten percent between 2015 and 2017- mostly during the campaign.

    Some of that will have been an anti-Brexit effect. But I think we have to acknowledge that the 2017 perception of Corbyn was remarkably positive; Magic Grandpa, ooh Jeremy Corbyn and all that. It took a couple more years for the grumpy commie aspect to hit the general public.

  • Options
    HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 116,935
    Heathener said:

    HYUFD said:

    The majority of Conservative MPs will not vote to suspend Johnson,

    Doesn't it only need 36 of them to vote with the Opposition?
    Which would be more manageable, Johnson would at least be less likely to defect if he saw most Conservative MPs did not vote to suspend him even if the Commons overall did vote for suspension mainly due to Labour votes
  • Options
    ydoethurydoethur Posts: 67,095
    edited March 2023
    HYUFD said:

    dixiedean said:

    dixiedean said:

    I see he's nominated his Dad for a knighthood.
    This isn't the done thing at all.

    Boris has already given his brother a peerage, so what's new?
    He has.
    Although his brother was at least an MP and Minister, so could be argued a political appointment.
    This kind of grift is why he needs to go.
    Johnson senior was an MEP, long long ago.

    Maybe that's why Boris turned out Eurosceptic.

    Another question- when this comes to a vote, how many Conservative MPs would vote against Boris? It would only need thirtysomething and he's toast.
    I think it is easily mustered. There were always a sizeable number of MPs who were anti-Boris, even as he was getting them an 80 seat majority as PM. True, the ranks were significantly thinned by the defectors and unselected and standing downers in 2019, but those who will vote to suspend will be into three figures.
    Can we stop this crap about Johnson getting the Tories and 80 majority. He was facing Corbyn which is hardly a big deal. Arguably he should have done better.
    Would be ironic if both Corbyn and Johnson, the 2 main party leaders in 2019, were expelled and suspended by their parties. Corbyn is almost certain to stand as an Independent in Islington North in 2024, the risk for the Tories is Boris would go further and defect to RefUK in the hope of replacing Tice as its leader
    That is possible, but traditionally such moves don't end well. Roy Jenkins and David Owen spring to mind.

    I can't actually think of a former PM who defected to a new party and led it to success. Even Lloyd George couldn't, holding a rump of four MPs after his second defection from the Liberals. Macdonald, maybe, but his party survived with Tory help.
  • Options
    Regarding the knighthood for Stanley Johnson.

    As bad as the Ambassadorship to America for Peter Jay when his father-in-law was PM?
  • Options
    ydoethurydoethur Posts: 67,095

    Regarding the knighthood for Stanley Johnson.

    As bad as the Ambassadorship to America for Peter Jay when his father-in-law was PM?

    Callaghan also knighted Nicolae Ceaucescu in 1979.
  • Options
    HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 116,935
    ydoethur said:

    HYUFD said:

    dixiedean said:

    dixiedean said:

    I see he's nominated his Dad for a knighthood.
    This isn't the done thing at all.

    Boris has already given his brother a peerage, so what's new?
    He has.
    Although his brother was at least an MP and Minister, so could be argued a political appointment.
    This kind of grift is why he needs to go.
    Johnson senior was an MEP, long long ago.

    Maybe that's why Boris turned out Eurosceptic.

    Another question- when this comes to a vote, how many Conservative MPs would vote against Boris? It would only need thirtysomething and he's toast.
    I think it is easily mustered. There were always a sizeable number of MPs who were anti-Boris, even as he was getting them an 80 seat majority as PM. True, the ranks were significantly thinned by the defectors and unselected and standing downers in 2019, but those who will vote to suspend will be into three figures.
    Can we stop this crap about Johnson getting the Tories and 80 majority. He was facing Corbyn which is hardly a big deal. Arguably he should have done better.
    Would be ironic if both Corbyn and Johnson, the 2 main party leaders in 2019, were expelled and suspended by their parties. Corbyn is almost certain to stand as an Independent in Islington North in 2024, the risk for the Tories is Boris would go further and defect to RefUK in the hope of replacing Tice as its leader
    That is possible, but traditionally such moves don't end well. Roy Jenkins and David Owen spring to mind.

    I can't actually think of a former PM who defected to a new party and led it to success. Even Lloyd George couldn't, holding a rump of four MPs after his second defection from the Liberals. Macdonald, maybe, but his party survived with Tory help.
    No but Roy Jenkins got 25% of the vote for the SDP, splitting the Labour vote so Foot only got 27% for Labour and helping Thatcher to a landslide in 1983 under FPTP. The same happened to a slightly smaller extent in 1987
  • Options
    tlg86 said:

    Wow it wasn’t a dream.




    Would have been funny had that been offside.
    I saw the full match on Sky this morning.

    It did look offside.
  • Options
    SandpitSandpit Posts: 49,834
    kle4 said:

    HYUFD said:

    The majority of Conservative MPs will not vote to suspend Johnson, not least as it would see further leakage from the Tories to RefUK.

    Plus of course Sue Gray who wrote the original report on Johnson's partygate breaches now works for Starmer

    And thus the justifications of the MPs will go.

    Boris apologised for the breaches she wrote about and yet they are actually arguing, in effect, that she must have made it all up somehow because she's Labour.
    It does seem somewhat politically naive of Starmer, to have hired Gray before the enquiry into Johnson was complete. He’s giving the Tory MPs ammunition to get behind Johnson, when many of them might have been at best on the fence.
  • Options
    DriverDriver Posts: 4,522

    dixiedean said:

    dixiedean said:

    I see he's nominated his Dad for a knighthood.
    This isn't the done thing at all.

    Boris has already given his brother a peerage, so what's new?
    He has.
    Although his brother was at least an MP and Minister, so could be argued a political appointment.
    This kind of grift is why he needs to go.
    Johnson senior was an MEP, long long ago.

    Maybe that's why Boris turned out Eurosceptic.

    Another question- when this comes to a vote, how many Conservative MPs would vote against Boris? It would only need thirtysomething and he's toast.
    I think it is easily mustered. There were always a sizeable number of MPs who were anti-Boris, even as he was getting them an 80 seat majority as PM. True, the ranks were significantly thinned by the defectors and unselected and standing downers in 2019, but those who will vote to suspend will be into three figures.
    Can we stop this crap about Johnson getting the Tories and 80 majority. He was facing Corbyn which is hardly a big deal. Arguably he should have done better.
    How big a majority did May get against Corbyn?
  • Options
    OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 31,903
    HYUFD said:

    The majority of Conservative MPs will not vote to suspend Johnson, not least as it would see further leakage from the Tories to RefUK.

    Plus of course Sue Gray who wrote the original report on Johnson's partygate breaches now works for Starmer

    No, she DOESN’T. Not yet, and AIUI, nothing has been confirmed.
  • Options
    SandpitSandpit Posts: 49,834

    tlg86 said:

    Wow it wasn’t a dream.




    Would have been funny had that been offside.
    I saw the full match on Sky this morning.

    It did look offside.
    You were at Anfield last night? Definitely one to tell the future grandkids!
  • Options
    StuartinromfordStuartinromford Posts: 14,346
    algarkirk said:

    The by election in Uxbridge question is tricky odds wise, and where value might lie.

    The best way of looking at it is to ask two questions: What is in the best personal interests of Boris and of course what will the Committee do.

    The routes to by elections are via (apart from Black Swan)
    Committee's actions ultimately compelling a by election
    or
    Boris resigning Uxbridge anyway.

    Boris personal interest depends on:
    Does he still have PM ambitions
    How much does he hate losing.

    If he has PM ambitions his best route is to get out of Uxbridge as soon as possible (well before the GE) and take his chance on election elsewhere.

    If he doesn't he won't care and will go with the flow.

    I think the odds are about right.

    Process question.

    Let's assume that Boris still has ambitions.

    He'd like a safer seat, and he'd like the committee not to report and MPs not to vote.

    What happens if he resigns now, in a "not admitting anything, but fed up with the biased circus" sort of way?

    Does that kill the report, on the grounds that the Commons can't sanction someone who isn't an MP?

    In which case, can he suddenly reappear as a last-minute candidate somewhere ubersafe when the election comes round?

    Does that work, of am I channelling Jeffrey Archer's plotting?
  • Options
    kle4kle4 Posts: 91,609
    Sandpit said:

    kle4 said:

    HYUFD said:

    The majority of Conservative MPs will not vote to suspend Johnson, not least as it would see further leakage from the Tories to RefUK.

    Plus of course Sue Gray who wrote the original report on Johnson's partygate breaches now works for Starmer

    And thus the justifications of the MPs will go.

    Boris apologised for the breaches she wrote about and yet they are actually arguing, in effect, that she must have made it all up somehow because she's Labour.
    It does seem somewhat politically naive of Starmer, to have hired Gray before the enquiry into Johnson was complete. He’s giving the Tory MPs ammunition to get behind Johnson, when many of them might have been at best on the fence.
    It was not the best timing, but if that kicks then off the fence when the facts already admitted to have not changed, then they were never truly on the fence. Its the response of people who were looking for an excuse, even if it doesn't make sense.
  • Options
    ydoethurydoethur Posts: 67,095

    algarkirk said:

    The by election in Uxbridge question is tricky odds wise, and where value might lie.

    The best way of looking at it is to ask two questions: What is in the best personal interests of Boris and of course what will the Committee do.

    The routes to by elections are via (apart from Black Swan)
    Committee's actions ultimately compelling a by election
    or
    Boris resigning Uxbridge anyway.

    Boris personal interest depends on:
    Does he still have PM ambitions
    How much does he hate losing.

    If he has PM ambitions his best route is to get out of Uxbridge as soon as possible (well before the GE) and take his chance on election elsewhere.

    If he doesn't he won't care and will go with the flow.

    I think the odds are about right.

    Process question.

    Let's assume that Boris still has ambitions.

    He'd like a safer seat, and he'd like the committee not to report and MPs not to vote.

    What happens if he resigns now, in a "not admitting anything, but fed up with the biased circus" sort of way?

    Does that kill the report, on the grounds that the Commons can't sanction someone who isn't an MP?

    In which case, can he suddenly reappear as a last-minute candidate somewhere ubersafe when the election comes round?

    Does that work, of am I channelling Jeffrey Archer's plotting?
    They can still pass a vote of censure, surely? You don't have to be an MP for that.
  • Options
    kamskikamski Posts: 4,223
    TimS said:

    Nigelb said:

    DavidL said:

    ydoethur said:

    dixiedean said:

    dixiedean said:

    I see he's nominated his Dad for a knighthood.
    This isn't the done thing at all.

    Boris has already given his brother a peerage, so what's new?
    He has.
    Although his brother was at least an MP and Minister, so could be argued a political appointment.
    This kind of grift is why he needs to go.
    Johnson senior was an MEP, long long ago.

    Maybe that's why Boris turned out Eurosceptic.

    Another question- when this comes to a vote, how many Conservative MPs would vote against Boris? It would only need thirtysomething and he's toast.
    I think it is easily mustered. There were always a sizeable number of MPs who were anti-Boris, even as he was getting them an 80 seat majority as PM. True, the ranks were significantly thinned by the defectors and unselected and standing downers in 2019, but those who will vote to suspend will be into three figures.
    Can we stop this crap about Johnson getting the Tories and 80 majority. He was facing Corbyn which is hardly a big deal. Arguably he should have done better.
    It should be remembered though that a belief Corbyn was unelectable didn't exactly work for Theresa May, who was on paper at least in a much stronger position at the time.

    True, she didn't have Corbyn's extraordinary response to Salisbury, his convoluted position on the EU to help or such widespread evidence of his racism to play with, but she still very nearly lost.
    And he managed to significantly increase the vote of a party that had already been in office for 9 years. That is seriously unusual.
    While true, Mike has a point.
    The circumstances of 2019 were extremely unusual.

    There really isn't the room now to present a simplistic solution to the UK's problems in such a manner and have more than a small minority if the electorate believe you. Even less so if you're the one that fooled them last time around.
    I reassure myself that this must surely the case. But then I see polls showing Trump beating Biden in a 2024 election and think “hmm”. Or recall the multiple times Berlusconi ascended the Italian throne even after being convicted under corruption charges.
    Berlusconi is a multi-billionaire who owns half the TV stations in Italy, with his own political party in a semi-PR electoral system.
  • Options
    SandpitSandpit Posts: 49,834
    kle4 said:

    Sandpit said:

    kle4 said:

    HYUFD said:

    The majority of Conservative MPs will not vote to suspend Johnson, not least as it would see further leakage from the Tories to RefUK.

    Plus of course Sue Gray who wrote the original report on Johnson's partygate breaches now works for Starmer

    And thus the justifications of the MPs will go.

    Boris apologised for the breaches she wrote about and yet they are actually arguing, in effect, that she must have made it all up somehow because she's Labour.
    It does seem somewhat politically naive of Starmer, to have hired Gray before the enquiry into Johnson was complete. He’s giving the Tory MPs ammunition to get behind Johnson, when many of them might have been at best on the fence.
    It was not the best timing, but if that kicks then off the fence when the facts already admitted to have not changed, then they were never truly on the fence. Its the response of people who were looking for an excuse, even if it doesn't make sense.
    There’s probably a few dozen Tory MPs who would have made a trip to Afghanistan been washing their hair on the day of any censure vote, who will now turn up to support the former PM.
  • Options
    ydoethurydoethur Posts: 67,095
    Taz said:
    Those bloody experts, always pointing out that the government are fucking clueless. How very dare they?
  • Options
    CarlottaVanceCarlottaVance Posts: 59,568
    Sandpit said:

    kle4 said:

    HYUFD said:

    The majority of Conservative MPs will not vote to suspend Johnson, not least as it would see further leakage from the Tories to RefUK.

    Plus of course Sue Gray who wrote the original report on Johnson's partygate breaches now works for Starmer

    And thus the justifications of the MPs will go.

    Boris apologised for the breaches she wrote about and yet they are actually arguing, in effect, that she must have made it all up somehow because she's Labour.
    It does seem somewhat politically naive of Starmer, to have hired Gray before the enquiry into Johnson was complete. He’s giving the Tory MPs ammunition to get behind Johnson, when many of them might have been at best on the fence.
    It's entirely possible Starmer does not have the best interests of the Conservative Party at heart.....
  • Options
    NigelbNigelb Posts: 62,296
    Sandpit said:

    kle4 said:

    HYUFD said:

    The majority of Conservative MPs will not vote to suspend Johnson, not least as it would see further leakage from the Tories to RefUK.

    Plus of course Sue Gray who wrote the original report on Johnson's partygate breaches now works for Starmer

    And thus the justifications of the MPs will go.

    Boris apologised for the breaches she wrote about and yet they are actually arguing, in effect, that she must have made it all up somehow because she's Labour.
    It does seem somewhat politically naive of Starmer, to have hired Gray before the enquiry into Johnson was complete. He’s giving the Tory MPs ammunition to get behind Johnson, when many of them might have been at best on the fence.
    The timing doesn't appear to be a matter of choice, but rather a consequence of her civil service career hitting a brick wall.
    It was either hire her then, or chance her going elsewhere.

    The immediate political optics are secondary to assembling a team able to govern. Seems like the right priority to me.
  • Options
    DecrepiterJohnLDecrepiterJohnL Posts: 24,223
    edited March 2023
    Sandpit said:

    kle4 said:

    HYUFD said:

    The majority of Conservative MPs will not vote to suspend Johnson, not least as it would see further leakage from the Tories to RefUK.

    Plus of course Sue Gray who wrote the original report on Johnson's partygate breaches now works for Starmer

    And thus the justifications of the MPs will go.

    Boris apologised for the breaches she wrote about and yet they are actually arguing, in effect, that she must have made it all up somehow because she's Labour.
    It does seem somewhat politically naive of Starmer, to have hired Gray before the enquiry into Johnson was complete. He’s giving the Tory MPs ammunition to get behind Johnson, when many of them might have been at best on the fence.
    So if Starmer has saved Johnson by hiring Gray, is he very clever or very stupid?

    ETA scooped by Carlotta Vance.
  • Options
    BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 31,543
    ydoethur said:

    algarkirk said:

    The by election in Uxbridge question is tricky odds wise, and where value might lie.

    The best way of looking at it is to ask two questions: What is in the best personal interests of Boris and of course what will the Committee do.

    The routes to by elections are via (apart from Black Swan)
    Committee's actions ultimately compelling a by election
    or
    Boris resigning Uxbridge anyway.

    Boris personal interest depends on:
    Does he still have PM ambitions
    How much does he hate losing.

    If he has PM ambitions his best route is to get out of Uxbridge as soon as possible (well before the GE) and take his chance on election elsewhere.

    If he doesn't he won't care and will go with the flow.

    I think the odds are about right.

    Process question.

    Let's assume that Boris still has ambitions.

    He'd like a safer seat, and he'd like the committee not to report and MPs not to vote.

    What happens if he resigns now, in a "not admitting anything, but fed up with the biased circus" sort of way?

    Does that kill the report, on the grounds that the Commons can't sanction someone who isn't an MP?

    In which case, can he suddenly reappear as a last-minute candidate somewhere ubersafe when the election comes round?

    Does that work, of am I channelling Jeffrey Archer's plotting?
    They can still pass a vote of censure, surely? You don't have to be an MP for that.
    I assume that wouldn't stop Johnson standing in another safer seat in future though.
  • Options
    StuartinromfordStuartinromford Posts: 14,346

    I don’t think anyone doubts Boris was a good campaigner. Memes, jokes and bonhomie contrasted sharply with May, and Corbyn, and he did seem to have a plan to end the neverending Brexit battle.

    The real question is why, having now been “found out” in office, so many think he could pull off the same trick again.

    Spoiler: he couldn’t, and he’d most likely take down the whole Tory party with him.

    I go back to what I said ages ago, when Boris was still net popular.

    Boris is a seductor who can get anything from anyone on first encounter.

    But at some point, everyone who deals with him realises he's both a seductor and a sh1t. They regret their dealings with him and hate him forever more.
  • Options
    HYUFD said:

    The majority of Conservative MPs will not vote to suspend Johnson, not least as it would see further leakage from the Tories to RefUK.

    Plus of course Sue Gray who wrote the original report on Johnson's partygate breaches now works for Starmer

    It doesn't need a majority of mps

    Sue Gray does not work for Starmer yet, and suggesting her report is classic Johnson obfuscation
  • Options
    CD13CD13 Posts: 6,351
    i saw the 7 - 0 and assumed it was the women playing. A bit of a coincidence when I saw it was at Anfield too. Perhaps United did send the women?
  • Options
    ydoethur said:

    Scott_xP said:

    kjh said:

    I think you have to add 'Get Brexit Done' to the Corbyn factor for why Boris won in 2019.

    And one day it might actually be done.

    I notice Nads was going on about Brexit last week.

    Jeez, these people just need to let it go and move on !!
    Is it wrong of me to have laughed out loud at that last line?
    ydoethur said:

    Scott_xP said:

    kjh said:

    I think you have to add 'Get Brexit Done' to the Corbyn factor for why Boris won in 2019.

    And one day it might actually be done.

    I notice Nads was going on about Brexit last week.

    Jeez, these people just need to let it go and move on !!
    Is it wrong of me to have laughed out loud at that last line?
    Absolutely no self awareness @Scott_xP
  • Options
    DecrepiterJohnLDecrepiterJohnL Posts: 24,223

    Regarding the knighthood for Stanley Johnson.

    As bad as the Ambassadorship to America for Peter Jay when his father-in-law was PM?

    CCHQ took its time digging that up.
  • Options
    NigelbNigelb Posts: 62,296
    Butler persisting with Ahmed.
    Tactically dubious, given the number of overs remaining to Woakes and Rashid, but good management showing faith in the new kid.
  • Options
    Sandpit said:

    tlg86 said:

    Wow it wasn’t a dream.




    Would have been funny had that been offside.
    I saw the full match on Sky this morning.

    It did look offside.
    You were at Anfield last night? Definitely one to tell the future grandkids!
    In the last 18 months I’ve seen Liverpool thrash Manchester United 5 nil and 7 nil home and away. (Also a 4 nil home victory in that period too.)

    Klopp is my God.
  • Options
    TOPPINGTOPPING Posts: 41,189
    Boris isn't going to RefUK. He is a big fish and wants to swim in the big sea not a muddy puddle.
  • Options
    TOPPINGTOPPING Posts: 41,189
    Meanwhile in the land of the free I see that Djokovic has been refused entry as he hasn't been vaccinated. Against Covid, presumably.
  • Options
    HYUFD said:

    Heathener said:

    HYUFD said:

    The majority of Conservative MPs will not vote to suspend Johnson,

    Doesn't it only need 36 of them to vote with the Opposition?
    Which would be more manageable, Johnson would at least be less likely to defect if he saw most Conservative MPs did not vote to suspend him even if the Commons overall did vote for suspension mainly due to Labour votes
    Johnson is not going to join a lost cause with 8% of the vote if that
  • Options
    NigelbNigelb Posts: 62,296

    HYUFD said:

    The majority of Conservative MPs will not vote to suspend Johnson, not least as it would see further leakage from the Tories to RefUK.

    Plus of course Sue Gray who wrote the original report on Johnson's partygate breaches now works for Starmer

    It doesn't need a majority of mps

    Sue Gray does not work for Starmer yet, and suggesting her report is classic Johnson obfuscation
    All the Tories pre-empting the ACOBA report, and spinning that she's already been hired, doesn't exactly scream good faith commentary.
  • Options
    SandpitSandpit Posts: 49,834

    Sandpit said:

    tlg86 said:

    Wow it wasn’t a dream.




    Would have been funny had that been offside.
    I saw the full match on Sky this morning.

    It did look offside.
    You were at Anfield last night? Definitely one to tell the future grandkids!
    In the last 18 months I’ve seen Liverpool thrash Manchester United 5 nil and 7 nil home and away. (Also a 4 nil home victory in that period too.)

    Klopp is my God.
    Klopp is God, and Salah is Jesus.
  • Options
    DriverDriver Posts: 4,522
    Nigelb said:

    Butler persisting with Ahmed.
    Tactically dubious, given the number of overs remaining to Woakes and Rashid, but good management showing faith in the new kid.

    I'm guessing he didn't want to take him off after the way his last over ended - and it worked out fine.
  • Options
    BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 31,543
    CD13 said:

    i saw the 7 - 0 and assumed it was the women playing. A bit of a coincidence when I saw it was at Anfield too. Perhaps United did send the women?

    Man U Women would have done better tbf
  • Options
    SandpitSandpit Posts: 49,834
    TOPPING said:

    Meanwhile in the land of the free I see that Djokovic has been refused entry as he hasn't been vaccinated. Against Covid, presumably.

    Yep, the US appears to be the last Western country that still has C19 vaccine requirements.
  • Options
    NigelbNigelb Posts: 62,296
    Driver said:

    Nigelb said:

    Butler persisting with Ahmed.
    Tactically dubious, given the number of overs remaining to Woakes and Rashid, but good management showing faith in the new kid.

    I'm guessing he didn't want to take him off after the way his last over ended - and it worked out fine.
    Reintroducing Woakes even better.
    I applaud Buttler prioritising strategy over tactics.
This discussion has been closed.