We need more of these titles to really address our problems - the problem is not the issues, it's the titles. They aren't inspiring. "Deputy Minister for Work and Pensions". YAWN. How about
The River Pollution Reichskommisar
The Wheelie Bin Obersturmfuhrer
The Great Mongol Khan of the Golden Horde of Litter Collection
We used to be good at it. Chancellor of the Exchequer. Paymaster General.
It all went down hill when we started having “departments” rather than ministries and we lost the bottle to have a Ministry of War.
Yes, exactly, more drama and theatre is needed
"Addressing the House, Andrea Leadsom, recently appointed Intergalactic Warlord of Heat Pump Installation"
We need more of these titles to really address our problems - the problem is not the issues, it's the titles. They aren't inspiring. "Deputy Minister for Work and Pensions". YAWN. How about
The River Pollution Reichskommisar
The Wheelie Bin Obersturmfuhrer
The Great Mongol Khan of the Golden Horde of Litter Collection
We used to be good at it. Chancellor of the Exchequer. Paymaster General.
It all went down hill when we started having “departments” rather than ministries and we lost the bottle to have a Ministry of War.
President of the Board of Trade had a decent ring to it. Any idea what happened to that? Business Secretary is a bit shit, has echoes of taking the minutes in 1980s sales meetings.
I think the incumbent still has to be President of the Lord of Trade (like the Justice Sec still has to be Lord Chancellor) but they don’t use the titles.
The campaign to bring them back starts here. Are you reading Sir Keir?
I seem to remember that Hezza revived the use of the title "President of the Board of Trade". Romantic Welshman and all that. His successor, Ian Lang I think, dropped it and went back to being the boring old SoS for Trade and Industry. Shame.
Mr Heseltine did - it was much commented on at the time, not very positively.
In other #reshuffle news a @UKLabour source tells me up to 17 frontbenchers expect to be sacked on Weds for backing @SNP on the #Gaza ceasefire vote. They say unless @Keir_Starmer uses the words “immediate ceasefire” they can’t vote with Labour and expect to be fired.
Errrr..... what?
Is Sunak about to have a bit of good luck? A divided Labour Party with a whiff of the ghost of Corbyn?
Why isn't this massive news? Sounds like 3/4 of the Labour shadow cabinet is about to quit?
Front bench != cabinet.
RCS One Hundred Blundered Actually as far as I can recall that's not been true at any time But he has a handle that's terrbily difficult to find something to rhyme With.
RCS1000 Is not one who bows and Scrapes to those who cut his name by 90 percent Unless of course they've got his prior written consent
Good grief! I've been reading it wrong all these years. Well done for putting me right in clerihew form though. Elegantly done.
We need more of these titles to really address our problems - the problem is not the issues, it's the titles. They aren't inspiring. "Deputy Minister for Work and Pensions". YAWN. How about
The River Pollution Reichskommisar
The Wheelie Bin Obersturmfuhrer
The Great Mongol Khan of the Golden Horde of Litter Collection
We need more of these titles to really address our problems - the problem is not the issues, it's the titles. They aren't inspiring. "Deputy Minister for Work and Pensions". YAWN. How about
The River Pollution Reichskommisar
The Wheelie Bin Obersturmfuhrer
The Great Mongol Khan of the Golden Horde of Litter Collection
We used to be good at it. Chancellor of the Exchequer. Paymaster General.
It all went down hill when we started having “departments” rather than ministries and we lost the bottle to have a Ministry of War.
Yes, exactly, more drama and theatre is needed
"Addressing the House, Andrea Leadsom, recently appointed Intergalactic Warlord of Heat Pump Installation"
We need more of these titles to really address our problems - the problem is not the issues, it's the titles. They aren't inspiring. "Deputy Minister for Work and Pensions". YAWN. How about
The River Pollution Reichskommisar
The Wheelie Bin Obersturmfuhrer
The Great Mongol Khan of the Golden Horde of Litter Collection
We used to be good at it. Chancellor of the Exchequer. Paymaster General.
It all went down hill when we started having “departments” rather than ministries and we lost the bottle to have a Ministry of War.
President of the Board of Trade had a decent ring to it. Any idea what happened to that? Business Secretary is a bit shit, has echoes of taking the minutes in 1980s sales meetings.
I think the incumbent still has to be President of the Lord of Trade (like the Justice Sec still has to be Lord Chancellor) but they don’t use the titles.
The campaign to bring them back starts here. Are you reading Sir Keir?
Bring back also the Groom of the King's Close Stool, why not?
Shall we commission some privateers to sort the balance of trade as well?
Excellent, and why not ? Make our new FS earn his grog.
Need to reinstall the gallows at Execution Dock, though.
Yes, but they would be environmentally responsible gallows made from recycled wood and we would insist on a gender neutral executioner.
Am confused. We've just had a Party Conference and King's Speech which veered to the Right in the wake of Uxbridge. No effect. Now it seems the balance in Cabinet is moving in the other direction. Who's the trolley here?
I don’t know, but the Tories have been riding all of us for years.
Now that I’ve had a chance to consider it, Rishi has missed another opportunity here. He should simply have fired Braverman and replaced him temporarily with her number two (Tom Tugendhat).
He could then have done a full re-shuffle after the Autumn Statement, since it is widely rumoured that Hunt will retire at the next election.
Cameron adds gravitas, but not much else, and he seems to provoke the backbenches.
Also just barely possible, that David Cameron might (emphasis on conditional) be able to have some positive influence on resolving current wars in Ukraine and Gaza.
CHANGING THE SUBJECT, what is your (very early) view of the new government of New Zealand?
Cameron was bit of a Putinist useful idiot if you read his memoirs. He says he gave Putin the idea of holding a referendum in Crimea.
The survival skills of Steve Barclay are amazing. He has just been appointed to his seventh ministerial job since 2017. This is totally a reflection on me rather than him, but I cannot remember a single thing he has said or done.
"Fire Up the Government" - as someone might have once said. I'm also tempted by the Guardian's view that if David Cameron is seen as the answer, no one has understood the question.
The role of Foreign Secretary has been progressively diluted over the years first as a result of the emphasis moving to the EU and second the more Presidential nature of politics. As an example of this, the Prime Minister-elect in New Zealand, Christopher Luxon, had wanted his first significant act to be seen shaking President Biden's hand at the APEC summit. It hasn't happended and it's being viewed as a setback
The second question therefore is what is the deal? Will we see foreign policy move back from the Cabinet Office and No.10 to the FCO? It was Conservative anger with the FCO that did much to undermine Carington in 1982. It will be interesting to see the extent to which Sunak will sub-contract for example the current crisis in Gaza and the Russia-Ukraine war to Cameron.
The problem is foreign policy butters no parsnips as another former Conservative leader and PM might have said. Apart from @TSE, I doubt many votes have been changed today though as @HYUFD has also opined, the departure of Braverman will infuriate some in the party and might push some Conservatives into the warm embrace of Mr Tice.
Whether this is Sunak's last throw of the dice I don't know but he is now a prisoner of his own taking. His Chancellor , Foreign and Home Secretaries are not for moving - the polls haven't moved at all in 2023. The Conservative poll rating in tonight's R&W poll is the same as it was in January. HIs former Home Secretary sits brooding on the back benches.
Short term, a fillip for the Conservatives - longer term, it may make little or no difference at all.
The possible difference is simply this: Sunak, barring further black swans, can't win, but today may make a difference to the manner in which he loses.
Does he want to lose as a rancorous Braverman style rabble of Reform/Lozza/Goodwin lookalikes; or does he want to lose as a decent looking bunch of Tories who could have within them the seeds of winning within 10 years.
He knows in his heart that the polls are not showing a massive Labour win because the Tories aren't sufficiently populist right wing.
I also have the sense Sunak isn't a populist at heart. He enjoyed being popular (not the same thing) with EOTHO in 2020 and anyone giving away free money is generally well received (some questions to answer about the scale of fraud in the distribution of Covid funds perhaps?). However, he's now slogged in the trenches for a year and has got the sum total of bugger all to show for it.
Perhaps trying to create a more "moderate" Government will impress the voters - it won't satisfy some (tomorrow's Mail and Express front pages will be informative) but as you say he has two options - lose badly or lose very badly.
The survival skills of Steve Barclay are amazing. He has just been appointed to his seventh ministerial job since 2017. This is totally a reflection on me rather than him, but I cannot remember a single thing he has said or done.
The survival skills of Steve Barclay are amazing. He has just been appointed to his seventh ministerial job since 2017. This is totally a reflection on me rather than him, but I cannot remember a single thing he has said or done.
He's always had 'don't do stuff' appointments. I think it's hard to argue that he's done well at that. (Actually there may be a small plus for him in that)
Am confused. We've just had a Party Conference and King's Speech which veered to the Right in the wake of Uxbridge. No effect. Now it seems the balance in Cabinet is moving in the other direction. Who's the trolley here?
I don’t know, but the Tories have been riding all of us for years.
Now that I’ve had a chance to consider it, Rishi has missed another opportunity here. He should simply have fired Braverman and replaced him temporarily with her number two (Tom Tugendhat).
He could then have done a full re-shuffle after the Autumn Statement, since it is widely rumoured that Hunt will retire at the next election.
Cameron adds gravitas, but not much else, and he seems to provoke the backbenches.
Also just barely possible, that David Cameron might (emphasis on conditional) be able to have some positive influence on resolving current wars in Ukraine and Gaza.
CHANGING THE SUBJECT, what is your (very early) view of the new government of New Zealand?
NZ doesn’t have a new government yet. Chris Luxton, the PM-assumptive (someone called him PM-elect upthread, which doesn’t make sense) has to bolt something together between three parties.
I have low-ish expectations. The reality is that while Labour underperformed, National did NOT do well enough to win with headroom. So they are stuck “negotiating” with Winston Peters.
Luxton seems competent, but he’s been in politics for just three years. Apart from cleaning up Labour’s mess, I’m not sure what his new government will be “for”. Or if they can actually agree on anything.
"Fire Up the Government" - as someone might have once said. I'm also tempted by the Guardian's view that if David Cameron is seen as the answer, no one has understood the question.
The role of Foreign Secretary has been progressively diluted over the years first as a result of the emphasis moving to the EU and second the more Presidential nature of politics. As an example of this, the Prime Minister-elect in New Zealand, Christopher Luxon, had wanted his first significant act to be seen shaking President Biden's hand at the APEC summit. It hasn't happended and it's being viewed as a setback
The second question therefore is what is the deal? Will we see foreign policy move back from the Cabinet Office and No.10 to the FCO? It was Conservative anger with the FCO that did much to undermine Carington in 1982. It will be interesting to see the extent to which Sunak will sub-contract for example the current crisis in Gaza and the Russia-Ukraine war to Cameron.
The problem is foreign policy butters no parsnips as another former Conservative leader and PM might have said. Apart from @TSE, I doubt many votes have been changed today though as @HYUFD has also opined, the departure of Braverman will infuriate some in the party and might push some Conservatives into the warm embrace of Mr Tice.
Whether this is Sunak's last throw of the dice I don't know but he is now a prisoner of his own taking. His Chancellor , Foreign and Home Secretaries are not for moving - the polls haven't moved at all in 2023. The Conservative poll rating in tonight's R&W poll is the same as it was in January. HIs former Home Secretary sits brooding on the back benches.
Short term, a fillip for the Conservatives - longer term, it may make little or no difference at all.
The possible difference is simply this: Sunak, barring further black swans, can't win, but today may make a difference to the manner in which he loses.
Does he want to lose as a rancorous Braverman style rabble of Reform/Lozza/Goodwin lookalikes; or does he want to lose as a decent looking bunch of Tories who could have within them the seeds of winning within 10 years.
He knows in his heart that the polls are not showing a massive Labour win because the Tories aren't sufficiently populist right wing.
I also have the sense Sunak isn't a populist at heart. He enjoyed being popular (not the same thing) with EOTHO in 2020 and anyone giving away free money is generally well received (some questions to answer about the scale of fraud in the distribution of Covid funds perhaps?). However, he's now slogged in the trenches for a year and has got the sum total of bugger all to show for it.
Perhaps trying to create a more "moderate" Government will impress the voters - it won't satisfy some (tomorrow's Mail and Express front pages will be informative) but as you say he has two options - lose badly or lose very badly.
Er, "slogged in the trenches"? Don't you mean "resided in the chateau"? And Eat Out to Help Covid is also questionable given the increased death rate ascribed to it .
TimS said: "An eruption of the scale of Laki is unlikely. This is probably going to be a fissure eruption but no indication at the moment that it will be plinian or SO2 rich."
I agree that the odds are against a signficant global climate altering eruption. Perhaps even against a measurable effect on climate. (But ask your local volcanologist, before placing any bets.)
But I am quite serious when I say the world needs to prepare for such an eruption.
The survival skills of Steve Barclay are amazing. He has just been appointed to his seventh ministerial job since 2017. This is totally a reflection on me rather than him, but I cannot remember a single thing he has said or done.
He extended the strikes in the NHS...
I do wonder if the new SofS will attempt to get a far better relationship with the health unions especially coming into an election year. Sunak won’t want nurses and doctors on strike during an election campaign.
In other #reshuffle news a @UKLabour source tells me up to 17 frontbenchers expect to be sacked on Weds for backing @SNP on the #Gaza ceasefire vote. They say unless @Keir_Starmer uses the words “immediate ceasefire” they can’t vote with Labour and expect to be fired.
Errrr..... what?
Is Sunak about to have a bit of good luck? A divided Labour Party with a whiff of the ghost of Corbyn?
Why isn't this massive news? Sounds like 3/4 of the Labour shadow cabinet is about to quit?
Front bench != cabinet.
RCS One Hundred Blundered Actually as far as I can recall that's not been true at any time But he has a handle that's terrbily difficult to find something to rhyme With.
RCS1000 Is not one who bows and Scrapes to those who cut his name by 90 percent Unless of course they've got his prior written consent
Good grief! I've been reading it wrong all these years. Well done for putting me right in clerihew form though. Elegantly done.
Who knows, some time ago you may have been right. That's inflation for you.
Bring back George Osborne and Labour will struggle.
There is a great deal of wishful thinking going on here today.
Maybe the Tories win the next election, either through general attrition against Labour or a series of black swan events.
Cameron and Osborne are not well liked (except by TSE) and FS is a decent role for Cameron's skill set, but what do you have in mind for Gids? Minister for Austerity or Minister for Wizard Wheezes. Although they could throw another EU Referendum I suppose.
We need more of these titles to really address our problems - the problem is not the issues, it's the titles. They aren't inspiring. "Deputy Minister for Work and Pensions". YAWN. How about
The River Pollution Reichskommisar
The Wheelie Bin Obersturmfuhrer
The Great Mongol Khan of the Golden Horde of Litter Collection
We used to be good at it. Chancellor of the Exchequer. Paymaster General.
It all went down hill when we started having “departments” rather than ministries and we lost the bottle to have a Ministry of War.
Yes, exactly, more drama and theatre is needed
"Addressing the House, Andrea Leadsom, recently appointed Intergalactic Warlord of Heat Pump Installation"
We need more of these titles to really address our problems - the problem is not the issues, it's the titles. They aren't inspiring. "Deputy Minister for Work and Pensions". YAWN. How about
The River Pollution Reichskommisar
The Wheelie Bin Obersturmfuhrer
The Great Mongol Khan of the Golden Horde of Litter Collection
We used to be good at it. Chancellor of the Exchequer. Paymaster General.
It all went down hill when we started having “departments” rather than ministries and we lost the bottle to have a Ministry of War.
President of the Board of Trade had a decent ring to it. Any idea what happened to that? Business Secretary is a bit shit, has echoes of taking the minutes in 1980s sales meetings.
I think the incumbent still has to be President of the Lord of Trade (like the Justice Sec still has to be Lord Chancellor) but they don’t use the titles.
The campaign to bring them back starts here. Are you reading Sir Keir?
Bring back also the Groom of the King's Close Stool, why not?
For some political leaders I can see plenty of takers for the position. Tell me Trump couldn't get someone to do it.
It is a matter of some debate as to whether the duties involved cleaning the king's anus, but the groom is known to have been responsible for supplying a bowl, water and towels and also for monitoring the king's diet and bowel movements https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groom_of_the_Stool
If I was a King and had wrenched my back or shoulder, I'd damn well want the full service.
It's not the cold that's the main problem with that sort of eruption, it's the lack of sunlight and the effect that has on crop growth (or lack of it).
Am confused. We've just had a Party Conference and King's Speech which veered to the Right in the wake of Uxbridge. No effect. Now it seems the balance in Cabinet is moving in the other direction. Who's the trolley here?
I don’t know, but the Tories have been riding all of us for years.
Now that I’ve had a chance to consider it, Rishi has missed another opportunity here. He should simply have fired Braverman and replaced him temporarily with her number two (Tom Tugendhat).
He could then have done a full re-shuffle after the Autumn Statement, since it is widely rumoured that Hunt will retire at the next election.
Cameron adds gravitas, but not much else, and he seems to provoke the backbenches.
He has one more trick up his sleeve…
If Hunt does go shortly before the election, there is another former PM waiting in the wings to take on the daunting role of chancellor. Whose wealth of cabinet experience and economic nous will change the narrative.
Am confused. We've just had a Party Conference and King's Speech which veered to the Right in the wake of Uxbridge. No effect. Now it seems the balance in Cabinet is moving in the other direction. Who's the trolley here?
I don’t know, but the Tories have been riding all of us for years.
Now that I’ve had a chance to consider it, Rishi has missed another opportunity here. He should simply have fired Braverman and replaced him temporarily with her number two (Tom Tugendhat).
He could then have done a full re-shuffle after the Autumn Statement, since it is widely rumoured that Hunt will retire at the next election.
Cameron adds gravitas, but not much else, and he seems to provoke the backbenches.
He has one more trick up his sleeve…
If Hunt does go shortly before the election, there is another former PM waiting in the wings to take on the daunting role of chancellor. Whose wealth of cabinet experience and economic nous will change the narrative.
In the midst of becoming political tipster of the year on the back of the Truss comeback, and also while struggling to find me and the rest of my team jobs in the face of a £65m fraud on the part of the new owner of my firm, I was writing up my MA dissertation this summer and am relieved to say I passed. At one point I didn’t even think I’d finish it.
Just shy of a distinction for that element (boo!) but, by my calculations, the rest of my coursework might have just tipped me over into that territory (a distinction is 70% of available marks and I reckon I got 70.5% - we’ll see) so if you want to know anything about saints in the English Reformation and Renaissance, I’m your seal.
We need more of these titles to really address our problems - the problem is not the issues, it's the titles. They aren't inspiring. "Deputy Minister for Work and Pensions". YAWN. How about
The River Pollution Reichskommisar
The Wheelie Bin Obersturmfuhrer
The Great Mongol Khan of the Golden Horde of Litter Collection
We used to be good at it. Chancellor of the Exchequer. Paymaster General.
It all went down hill when we started having “departments” rather than ministries and we lost the bottle to have a Ministry of War.
We must preserve what inherent silliness still remains. For example, I don't want to live in a country where MPs can just resign, rather than be appointed as Crown Steward and Bailiff of the Chiltern Hundreds.
Yes, certainly. And administratively too. The Soke of Peterborough used to be something of a trope on here.
In the midst of becoming political tipster of the year on the back of the Truss comeback, and also while struggling to find me and the rest of my team jobs in the face of a £65m fraud on the part of the new owner of my firm, I was writing up my MA dissertation this summer and am relieved to say I passed. At one point I didn’t even think I’d finish it.
Just shy of a distinction for that element (boo!) but, by my calculations, the rest of my coursework might have just tipped me over into that territory (a distinction is 70% of available marks and I reckon I got 70.5% - we’ll see) so if you want to know anything about saints in the English Reformation and Renaissance, I’m your seal.
How about monks?
But more importantly - congratulations. I'm always very impressed by people doing those things while holding down full time jobs.
Am confused. We've just had a Party Conference and King's Speech which veered to the Right in the wake of Uxbridge. No effect. Now it seems the balance in Cabinet is moving in the other direction. Who's the trolley here?
I don’t know, but the Tories have been riding all of us for years.
Now that I’ve had a chance to consider it, Rishi has missed another opportunity here. He should simply have fired Braverman and replaced him temporarily with her number two (Tom Tugendhat).
He could then have done a full re-shuffle after the Autumn Statement, since it is widely rumoured that Hunt will retire at the next election.
Cameron adds gravitas, but not much else, and he seems to provoke the backbenches.
He has one more trick up his sleeve…
If Hunt does go shortly before the election, there is another former PM waiting in the wings to take on the daunting role of chancellor. Whose wealth of cabinet experience and economic nous will change the narrative.
We need more of these titles to really address our problems - the problem is not the issues, it's the titles. They aren't inspiring. "Deputy Minister for Work and Pensions". YAWN. How about
The River Pollution Reichskommisar
The Wheelie Bin Obersturmfuhrer
The Great Mongol Khan of the Golden Horde of Litter Collection
We used to be good at it. Chancellor of the Exchequer. Paymaster General.
It all went down hill when we started having “departments” rather than ministries and we lost the bottle to have a Ministry of War.
Yes, exactly, more drama and theatre is needed
"Addressing the House, Andrea Leadsom, recently appointed Intergalactic Warlord of Heat Pump Installation"
We need more of these titles to really address our problems - the problem is not the issues, it's the titles. They aren't inspiring. "Deputy Minister for Work and Pensions". YAWN. How about
The River Pollution Reichskommisar
The Wheelie Bin Obersturmfuhrer
The Great Mongol Khan of the Golden Horde of Litter Collection
We used to be good at it. Chancellor of the Exchequer. Paymaster General.
It all went down hill when we started having “departments” rather than ministries and we lost the bottle to have a Ministry of War.
President of the Board of Trade had a decent ring to it. Any idea what happened to that? Business Secretary is a bit shit, has echoes of taking the minutes in 1980s sales meetings.
I think the incumbent still has to be President of the Lord of Trade (like the Justice Sec still has to be Lord Chancellor) but they don’t use the titles.
The campaign to bring them back starts here. Are you reading Sir Keir?
Bring back also the Groom of the King's Close Stool, why not?
TimS said: "An eruption of the scale of Laki is unlikely. This is probably going to be a fissure eruption but no indication at the moment that it will be plinian or SO2 rich."
I agree that the odds are against a signficant global climate altering eruption. Perhaps even against a measurable effect on climate. (But ask your local volcanologist, before placing any bets.)
But I am quite serious when I say the world needs to prepare for such an eruption.
The world rarely prepares for anything until Mother Nature makes it an ongoing crisis...
Bring back George Osborne and Labour will struggle.
There is a great deal of wishful thinking going on here today.
Maybe the Tories win the next election, either through general attrition against Labour or a series of black swan events.
Cameron and Osborne are not well liked (except by TSE) and FS is a decent role for Cameron's skill set, but what do you have in mind for Gids? Minister for Austerity or Minister for Wizard Wheezes. Although they could throw another EU Referendum I suppose.
The problem for the Tories is having Cameron back is just showing up how effin’ awful their current stock of talent is.
Just listen to his interview this evening. He has more political skill in his fingernail than all of the cabinet.
I am left this evening wondering why we can’t just have Dave back as PM. He started this long period of Tory government, let’s have him finish it, stand on his record and (in all likelihood) go down with the ship.
TimS said: "An eruption of the scale of Laki is unlikely. This is probably going to be a fissure eruption but no indication at the moment that it will be plinian or SO2 rich."
I agree that the odds are against a signficant global climate altering eruption. Perhaps even against a measurable effect on climate. (But ask your local volcanologist, before placing any bets.)
But I am quite serious when I say the world needs to prepare for such an eruption.
I saw some photos of another eruption from Etna taken last night.
Indeed Sunak, Cameron and Hunt are about as centrist a Tory party as you are likely to get for the next decade
Well then, enjoy Opposition...
To be fair to Ed Miliband and Corbyn they all got a higher voteshare than the 29% Brown got in 2010 and Corbyn got a higher voteshare in 2017 than even Blair did in 2005
We need more of these titles to really address our problems - the problem is not the issues, it's the titles. They aren't inspiring. "Deputy Minister for Work and Pensions". YAWN. How about
The River Pollution Reichskommisar
The Wheelie Bin Obersturmfuhrer
The Great Mongol Khan of the Golden Horde of Litter Collection
Bring back George Osborne and Labour will struggle.
There is a great deal of wishful thinking going on here today.
Maybe the Tories win the next election, either through general attrition against Labour or a series of black swan events.
Cameron and Osborne are not well liked (except by TSE) and FS is a decent role for Cameron's skill set, but what do you have in mind for Gids? Minister for Austerity or Minister for Wizard Wheezes. Although they could throw another EU Referendum I suppose.
The problem for the Tories is having Cameron back is just showing up how effin’ awful their current stock of talent is.
Just listen to his interview this evening. He has more political skill in his fingernail than all of the cabinet.
I am left this evening wondering why we can’t just have Dave back as PM. He started this long period of Tory government, let’s have him finish it, stand on his record and (in all likelihood) go down with the ship.
Dave's problem is his unwavering self belief verging on arrogance.
His jobs with the Conservative Party and ITV were gimmes. He was, after the usual rite of passage handed his safe seat, and then as a lucky general won one and a half elections, the Sindy vote (courtesy of Brown and Darling) and thought himself invincible. And then came the EU Referendum and it all came tumbling around his ears.
As he leaves the New Conservatives group meeting in the Commons, attended by 20 MPs, Sky News asks Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson: “Lee, may we have a word, please?” His reply: “I’ll give you two!”
The survival skills of Steve Barclay are amazing. He has just been appointed to his seventh ministerial job since 2017. This is totally a reflection on me rather than him, but I cannot remember a single thing he has said or done.
Steve Who?
BTW I wonder if it will be Suella Who? in about 3 months. The next election is shaping up to being between two leaders who don't really do hate or populism very well. Good.
Unfortunately most of Rishi's clowns are still there. Grant Shapps wants all those with placards reading 'From the River to the Sea' or carrying the Socialist Worker where it's on it's cover arrested.
I bet they've got lawyers hanging off the lamposts offering to represent anyone brought to trial. It could make the defendants as famous as the editors of OZ
Don’t give them ideas about woke activist lawyers hanging from lampposts.
As he leaves the New Conservatives group meeting in the Commons, attended by 20 MPs, Sky News asks Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson: “Lee, may we have a word, please?” His reply: “I’ll give you two!”
Die Hard 2 fan!
Samantha Coleman: Colonel Stuart, could we have a few words please? Col. Stuart: You can have two: "fuck" and "you". Garber: [grabbing the TV Camera] No pictures, you pinko bitch!
TimS said: "An eruption of the scale of Laki is unlikely. This is probably going to be a fissure eruption but no indication at the moment that it will be plinian or SO2 rich."
I agree that the odds are against a signficant global climate altering eruption. Perhaps even against a measurable effect on climate. (But ask your local volcanologist, before placing any bets.)
But I am quite serious when I say the world needs to prepare for such an eruption.
The world rarely prepares for anything until Mother Nature makes it an ongoing crisis...
Quite difficult to prepare for though. Beyond preparing those immediately affected by the blast and pyroclastic flows you’re talking 2-3 years of cooling, and drought in some regions, cold wet summers in others accompanied by crop failures. The only real protection against that is to hoard grain.
The scale of cooling from Pinatubo was around 0.4C ie twice an El Niño/La Nina. Something on scale of Laki or Tambora would be much more serious. Tambora cooled the earth by as much as 3C. That would take us to around 1.5-2C below pre-industrial norms, for 2 crop cycles. Likely big drought in some of the major crop producing regions.
Bring back George Osborne and Labour will struggle.
There is a great deal of wishful thinking going on here today.
Maybe the Tories win the next election, either through general attrition against Labour or a series of black swan events.
Cameron and Osborne are not well liked (except by TSE) and FS is a decent role for Cameron's skill set, but what do you have in mind for Gids? Minister for Austerity or Minister for Wizard Wheezes. Although they could throw another EU Referendum I suppose.
The problem for the Tories is having Cameron back is just showing up how effin’ awful their current stock of talent is.
Just listen to his interview this evening. He has more political skill in his fingernail than all of the cabinet.
I am left this evening wondering why we can’t just have Dave back as PM. He started this long period of Tory government, let’s have him finish it, stand on his record and (in all likelihood) go down with the ship.
He should have stayed after the Referendum. The Tory government policy was to let us decide; we did so. This was not a failure of Tory policy but an action of that policy. having decided the policy that we decide Cameron should have been there to implement it, with a coherent plan for what to do.
One more point: if things go according to polling, the lack of talent matters nothing. There will be a total clear out, and new talent in 2028/9.
Bring back George Osborne and Labour will struggle.
There is a great deal of wishful thinking going on here today.
Maybe the Tories win the next election, either through general attrition against Labour or a series of black swan events.
Cameron and Osborne are not well liked (except by TSE) and FS is a decent role for Cameron's skill set, but what do you have in mind for Gids? Minister for Austerity or Minister for Wizard Wheezes. Although they could throw another EU Referendum I suppose.
The problem for the Tories is having Cameron back is just showing up how effin’ awful their current stock of talent is.
Just listen to his interview this evening. He has more political skill in his fingernail than all of the cabinet.
I am left this evening wondering why we can’t just have Dave back as PM. He started this long period of Tory government, let’s have him finish it, stand on his record and (in all likelihood) go down with the ship.
He should have stayed after the Referendum. The Tory government policy was to let us decide; we did so. This was not a failure of Tory policy but an action of that policy. having decided the policy that we decide Cameron should have been there to implement it, with a coherent plan for what to do.
One more point: if things go according to polling, the lack of talent matters nothing. There will be a total clear out, and new talent in 2028/9.
I doubt staying was realistically an option, even though people pretended he would not quit if Remain lost.
Just look at all the shit people who were Leavers got if they proposed something others did not like, accused of not truly believing in it. Christ, Sunak was a Leaver and was still labelled the remainer traitor candidate against Truss.
Following the death of Lord Brougham and Vaux on 27 August 2023 there is another hereditary peer by-election, this time elected by the whole House with the successor expected to sit as a Conservative.
Candidature statements
Annaly, L. (Conservative) Short Service Commission Royal Hussars 4 years RARO 8 years Previously member of House from 1991 Government Whip 1994 Conservative District Councillor 2007-2010 Steward for BHSA 2006-2020 Logistics Driver 2007-2023 – Delivering & demonstrating vehicles nationwide on remuneration close to minimum wage
Ashbourne, L. (Conservative) Experienced and highly regarded mining financial professional from a Naval family with considerable media experience (used to host LBC's 'Dawn Traders'). Resident in the division bell area and a party member for over three decades, I have extensive knowledge and experience in the fields of mining, finance, science, history, Ireland and Africa (inter alia). I am seeking election to be a part of the solution that finally arrests 80 years of relative British decline.
Baillieu, L. (Conservative) I am a Conservative Party member, who wishes to become a working member of the House. For 45 years I worked in banking and financial consulting in Australia (17 years), in Hong Kong (5 years), covering China, Taiwan, and the Philippines, and in Russia and Ukraine (23 years). I have wide experience of cross border negotiations in parts of the world which are now politically significant. Interests: The Commonwealth, and International Trade.
Bristol, M. (Conservative) I run a successful property technology company which I founded 8 years ago. Previously lived and worked in the Baltic States for 8 years. Also worked within the UK residential and commercial property sector. Involved with 6 wide-ranging charities in Suffolk, one of which I founded. Other interests include heritage, countryside, and international relations. Aged 44, I live in London, and am willing and able to commit fully and energetically to the House if elected.
Camoys, L. (Conservative) My 26 years' experience in investment and foreign affairs, including running my own business advising on Western engagement in China (based in Beijing from 2010-15) follows my time in the Foreign Office (Afghanistan, Iran, India and Counter Terrorism). A founder of the UK's premier film studio planned for Marlow and chairman of a Nepalese nature conservation charity, I would look to contribute on foreign affairs, finance, nature conservation and the creative economy.
Eglinton and Winton, E. (Conservative) ln the last year I have been a regular attendee at ACP meetings; renewed my Party membership, attended the Scottish Party Conference in Glasgow in April. A former Royal Navy Officer I believe in national defence, strong immigration policy, healthy and sustainable economic growth with fit for-purpose-services. I am also a keen supporter of the Union. I look forward to being an active & full-time member of the House and the Party.
From one of the many previous threads (sorry only just catching up)
"What would you do if someone shouted "Death to all Jews" right next to you at Victoria Station?
This is a serious question, but not a personal one. I've been asking myself the same, ever since I saw the vid
I hope I would have given her a ticking off and told her to shut the F up and go away. But I fear I might have been so shocked - and so used to British politeness - I would have just stood there in silent surprise, gobsmacked and mute
If there is any good to come out of this, it is that these incidents have shaken away any complacency about anti-Semitism. It exists, it is out there, it is deeply nasty, and it needs to be confronted."
I don't know what I would do in such a situation. I'd like to think that I would confront someone behaving in such a way. All I will say that seeing the reaction of Jewish friends to what has happened here has upset me. Hence this.
Regardless of one's views on Gaza, Israel, the West Bank etc, we should surely all be against the sort of anti-Jewish prejudice, verbal abuse etc seen on our streets here against our fellow citizens.
It is only a little thing but it is something. Edmund Burke's quote seems apt:
"Nobody makes a greater mistake than he who does nothing because he could do only a little.”
I certainly think the Cons chances in the next GE have gone up - even if they remain very small. Very small beats zero.
Mr Sunak likes to think of himself as a man of the right. His initial instinct was to pivot to the right and he gave it a year, culminating in the ludicrous conference speech claiming to be the 'change' candidate. It was a disaster. Con polling down to the mid-twenties and voters rushing away to both the centre AND the right.
You didn't need No 10's focus groups and polling to see that - but clearly they were telling the same story, very loudly and brutally. So we have today.
A couple of the most obviously useless Ministers have gone. James Cleverly may follow mostly the same policies as Suella but will do so without frightening the horses, without causing outrage for the hell of it. A marked improvement on his predecessor.
Cameron is a skilled and experienced politician. Appointing him Foreign Secretary is risky in more than one way but he really is their best option. They don't have a huge pool of experienced talent to draw on. Too many years of posts being wasted on the inept. He can also advise Mr Sunak on how to win British elections - advice the PM sorely needs.
So will the pivot to the centre work? The Windsor Framework aftermath suggests there are many voters who are persuadable. However, some of the foolishness of the last year will have made convincing them much harder.
At least there seems to now be a Con plan that doesn't ignore the basic numbers of how the current electorate are thinking. Amazing that Mr Sunak, of all people, was ignoring basic maths for so long!
Elibank, L. (Conservative) In my career I have worked in the Technology sector and Energy sector and I am currently working for Reading University as a fundraiser. The latter two have given me considerable insight into the challenges of addressing climate change. I am a lifelong Conservative supporter and I would hope to be a diligent, effective and collegiate member of the House.
Falmouth, V. (Conservative) I have a passion creating activity, in manufacturing, the voluntary sector and the first English tea plantation. VP Cornwall Community Foundation, President of Young People Cornwall and Trustee National Maritime Museum Cornwall. Proprietor of a group of companies employing some 650 people delivering B2B labelling solutions including wristbands (HM Queen’s Lying in State), electromagnetic coils for the automotive industry among others. Major emphasis on bringing suppliers back to the UK with focus on exports.
Hamilton of Dalzell, L. (Conservative) Chartered Accountant, managed finance teams for Deutsche Post/DHL. Developed family estate in Shropshire into a thriving diversified business encompassing retail, hospitality, commercial property and a significant regenerative arable and livestock farming enterprise. Creating environmental improvements and wetlands. Passionate about the rural community, a Deputy Lieutenant and involved with local voluntary organisations. Dedicated Conservative Party member, serving as President of the South Shropshire association, campaigning for MPs and councillors and a contributor to Conservative Home.
Hazlerigg, L. (Conservative) Successful entrepreneur who founded the Noisily Festival of Music and Arts and Floan, a POS finance business. Previous experience in renewables, passionate for sustainability; and driven by a desire to make palliative care a right. I feel that with my direct experience, I would be able to offer fresh and practical insight to these areas which need help to grow and flourish. 36, London-based, Frequent attendee at the ACP and driven to make a difference.
Mountgarret, V. (Conservative) The honour and the privilege of this position is not underestimated. I have time to commit to the House as evidenced by multiple and numerous attendances at the Wednesday meetings. I bring domestic and international business experience to the table, I am well travelled. My downtime is often spent with my four children, two of whom I raised as a sole custodian.
Napier and Ettrick, L. (Conservative) My life experience as someone who has succeeded in business despite significant challenges due to severe hearing impairments since my birth, would enable me to make a distinctive and valuable contribution to the House. However, I believe this difference will bring a much needed balance to the House, especially at a time when society is continuously becoming more divisive and complex. I am 60. I live near Cambridge but I commute to London. Diligent attendee.
TimS said: "An eruption of the scale of Laki is unlikely. This is probably going to be a fissure eruption but no indication at the moment that it will be plinian or SO2 rich."
I agree that the odds are against a signficant global climate altering eruption. Perhaps even against a measurable effect on climate. (But ask your local volcanologist, before placing any bets.)
But I am quite serious when I say the world needs to prepare for such an eruption.
What sort of preparation can be made for such an event? I am sure everyone has Massive Meteorite, Global Attack By Aliens, Unknown Plague That Kills Everyone, Global Harvest Fail, Volcano Abolishes Summer Worldwide, 1000 Nuclear Missiles Used Worldwide etc on their Risk Register scoring 100% for impact, but that doesn't mean there is anything you can do.
Rossmore, L. (Conservative) Age 40, live in London and run my own business. • Visited Ukraine in May, to film long-form interviews with Zelensky’s Economic Advisor, the best firearms instructor in the country, and a potential future president. • Set up a scholarship at Cambridge in August, and enlisted the Chief Mars Landing Engineer at SpaceX and the founder of the London Institute for Mathematical Sciences as mentors. • Teach music like a language online to 40,000 students.
Windlesham, L. (Conservative) I am honoured to announce my candidacy for the forthcoming by-election. With extensive experience in financial services, I am an accomplished professional who is passionately interested in climate change and the transition to Net Zero. If elected, I would play an active role in scrutinising and revising legislation, as well as promoting honesty, transparency, accountability and effective governance. I humbly request your support in allowing me to be of service to our great nation.
My daughter has insisted I install an APP called 'been'.
You put in the countries where you have - err - been.
Apparently I've been to 16% of the world. 33 countries.
Who can beat that? Leon obvs.
(We have defined 'been' as staying at least one night (i.e. not just passing through).)
My son’s got the same app. 44 countries. Need to clock up some Caribbean islands to boost the total. I have a friend on over 100 and trying to get everywhere but he’s having to visit some pretty crap places now.
I'm in a state of deep depression tonight that my fantasy of personally dragging Nick Gibb out of the DfE and having him whipped through the streets of London by crowds of angry parents is forever stilled.
Sigh.
(On that subject, Keegan is an unselfaware twat. Teachers and children are not sad at his departure. They were literally cheering and high-fiving at the news.)
Bring back George Osborne and Labour will struggle.
There is a great deal of wishful thinking going on here today.
Maybe the Tories win the next election, either through general attrition against Labour or a series of black swan events.
Cameron and Osborne are not well liked (except by TSE) and FS is a decent role for Cameron's skill set, but what do you have in mind for Gids? Minister for Austerity or Minister for Wizard Wheezes. Although they could throw another EU Referendum I suppose.
The problem for the Tories is having Cameron back is just showing up how effin’ awful their current stock of talent is.
Just listen to his interview this evening. He has more political skill in his fingernail than all of the cabinet.
I am left this evening wondering why we can’t just have Dave back as PM. He started this long period of Tory government, let’s have him finish it, stand on his record and (in all likelihood) go down with the ship.
He should have stayed after the Referendum. The Tory government policy was to let us decide; we did so. This was not a failure of Tory policy but an action of that policy. having decided the policy that we decide Cameron should have been there to implement it, with a coherent plan for what to do.
One more point: if things go according to polling, the lack of talent matters nothing. There will be a total clear out, and new talent in 2028/9.
I doubt staying was realistically an option, even though people pretended he would not quit if Remain lost.
Just look at all the shit people who were Leavers got if they proposed something others did not like, accused of not truly believing in it. Christ, Sunak was a Leaver and was still labelled the remainer traitor candidate against Truss.
Otoh Cameron was probably the last Tory pm with anything close to a track record of holding the Conservative Party coalition together plus an ability to compromise with other parties; even the FLSOJ needed bogeyman Corbyn to get where he did.
With a bit of application and hard work Dave might have made a better fist of negotiating a workable Brexit than any of his successors. I realise the hard work and application may have been a problem.
In the midst of becoming political tipster of the year on the back of the Truss comeback, and also while struggling to find me and the rest of my team jobs in the face of a £65m fraud on the part of the new owner of my firm, I was writing up my MA dissertation this summer and am relieved to say I passed. At one point I didn’t even think I’d finish it.
Just shy of a distinction for that element (boo!) but, by my calculations, the rest of my coursework might have just tipped me over into that territory (a distinction is 70% of available marks and I reckon I got 70.5% - we’ll see) so if you want to know anything about saints in the English Reformation and Renaissance, I’m your seal.
Truthfully, not a subject that's ever held my interest, but many congratulations anyway. Fingers crossed for the Dist.
I have this evening written to the Prime Minister to inform him of my decision to leave government. This was a decision I made several weeks ago and informed the Chief Whip at the time. This is a personal decision I have reached that is right for me, my family and constituents.
We need more of these titles to really address our problems - the problem is not the issues, it's the titles. They aren't inspiring. "Deputy Minister for Work and Pensions". YAWN. How about
The River Pollution Reichskommisar
The Wheelie Bin Obersturmfuhrer
The Great Mongol Khan of the Golden Horde of Litter Collection
I certainly think the Cons chances in the next GE have gone up - even if they remain very small. Very small beats zero.
Mr Sunak likes to think of himself as a man of the right. His initial instinct was to pivot to the right and he gave it a year, culminating in the ludicrous conference speech claiming to be the 'change' candidate. It was a disaster. Con polling down to the mid-twenties and voters rushing away to both the centre AND the right.
You didn't need No 10's focus groups and polling to see that - but clearly they were telling the same story, very loudly and brutally. So we have today.
A couple of the most obviously useless Ministers have gone. James Cleverly may follow mostly the same policies as Suella but will do so without frightening the horses, without causing outrage for the hell of it. A marked improvement on his predecessor.
Cameron is a skilled and experienced politician. Appointing him Foreign Secretary is risky in more than one way but he really is their best option. They don't have a huge pool of experienced talent to draw on. Too many years of posts being wasted on the inept. He can also advise Mr Sunak on how to win British elections - advice the PM sorely needs.
So will the pivot to the centre work? The Windsor Framework aftermath suggests there are many voters who are persuadable. However, some of the foolishness of the last year will have made convincing them much harder.
At least there seems to now be a Con plan that doesn't ignore the basic numbers of how the current electorate are thinking. Amazing that Mr Sunak, of all people, was ignoring basic maths for so long!
With the loss of Suella, who gets the dubious honour of Chief Nutter In The Cabinet?
McVey, possibly, but her job is designed to talk a lot but not actually do anything.
"Also, this now opens the door for the rerun of Osborne.
"He will want a safe seat, if such a thing exists and then into leader of the opposition slot.
"You heard it here first.
"Nothing happens by accident for these guys. It is all long planned."
How is Osborne going to win a Tory members vote to become Leader of the Opposition even if the Tories lose but he holds a safe seat?
Only half of the past six Tory leadership elections have gone to the membership.
And the ones that haven't have mainly been to directly elect the PM and when they haven't gone to the membership a large majority of Tory MPs have backed the winning candidate. I can't see any circumstances where Osborne gets over 50% of Tory MPs to make him Leader of the Opposition by coronation and the ERG agree too and pull out their candidate
I have this evening written to the Prime Minister to inform him of my decision to leave government. This was a decision I made several weeks ago and informed the Chief Whip at the time. This is a personal decision I have reached that is right for me, my family and constituents.
About this time last year I stood in the lava field of Laki. The biggest in the world I believe
I saw the place where the lava met the ocean
About a quarter of Iceland’s population died. If we get another Laki we are fucked
I was hoping you were on a flight out there to give us a "from our own correspondent" feed ;-)
Sadly not. Tho I am going somewhere interesting
Iceland is so fabulous and they now have a brilliant volcano museum next to Laki. You are left in no doubt of the devastation wrought - and also that this will certainly happen again, some time soon
I note this reappointment comes barely a month after his "Change from previous consensus" speech at conference. Now objectively I don't think that was a terrible idea for a speech, but he obviously didn't mean a word of it as the appointment of DC - again in isolation not a terrible move clearly shows A PM with no conviction
About this time last year I stood in the lava field of Laki. The biggest in the world I believe
I saw the place where the lava met the ocean
About a quarter of Iceland’s population died. If we get another Laki we are fucked
I was hoping you were on a flight out there to give us a "from our own correspondent" feed ;-)
Sadly not. Tho I am going somewhere interesting
Iceland is so fabulous and they now have a brilliant volcano museum next to Laki. You are left in no doubt of the devastation wrought - and also that this will certainly happen again, some time soon
Hopefully not now
Indeed, we have been for a couple of weeks a while back - fascinating place. Amazing scenery and geology. Very good looking people. Terrible food though.
About this time last year I stood in the lava field of Laki. The biggest in the world I believe
I saw the place where the lava met the ocean
About a quarter of Iceland’s population died. If we get another Laki we are fucked
I was hoping you were on a flight out there to give us a "from our own correspondent" feed ;-)
Sadly not. Tho I am going somewhere interesting
Iceland is so fabulous and they now have a brilliant volcano museum next to Laki. You are left in no doubt of the devastation wrought - and also that this will certainly happen again, some time soon
Hopefully not now
Indeed, we have been for a couple of weeks a while back - fascinating place. Amazing scenery and geology. Very good looking people. Terrible food though.
When were you there? I first went in the 1980s and yes the food was hideous. Now it is much much better. Lots of fantastic fish, delicious lamb. Its really improved
I note this reappointment comes barely a month after his "Change from previous consensus" speech at conference. Now objectively I don't think that was a terrible idea for a speech, but he obviously didn't mean a word of it as the appointment of DC - again in isolation not a terrible move clearly shows A PM with no conviction
Bring back George Osborne and Labour will struggle.
There is a great deal of wishful thinking going on here today.
Maybe the Tories win the next election, either through general attrition against Labour or a series of black swan events.
Cameron and Osborne are not well liked (except by TSE) and FS is a decent role for Cameron's skill set, but what do you have in mind for Gids? Minister for Austerity or Minister for Wizard Wheezes. Although they could throw another EU Referendum I suppose.
The problem for the Tories is having Cameron back is just showing up how effin’ awful their current stock of talent is.
Just listen to his interview this evening. He has more political skill in his fingernail than all of the cabinet.
I am left this evening wondering why we can’t just have Dave back as PM. He started this long period of Tory government, let’s have him finish it, stand on his record and (in all likelihood) go down with the ship.
He should have stayed after the Referendum. The Tory government policy was to let us decide; we did so. This was not a failure of Tory policy but an action of that policy. having decided the policy that we decide Cameron should have been there to implement it, with a coherent plan for what to do.
One more point: if things go according to polling, the lack of talent matters nothing. There will be a total clear out, and new talent in 2028/9.
I doubt staying was realistically an option, even though people pretended he would not quit if Remain lost.
Just look at all the shit people who were Leavers got if they proposed something others did not like, accused of not truly believing in it. Christ, Sunak was a Leaver and was still labelled the remainer traitor candidate against Truss.
Otoh Cameron was probably the last Tory pm with anything close to a track record of holding the Conservative Party coalition together plus an ability to compromise with other parties; even the FLSOJ needed bogeyman Corbyn to get where he did.
With a bit of application and hard work Dave might have made a better fist of negotiating a workable Brexit than any of his successors. I realise the hard work and application may have been a problem.
The tragedy of Brexit is that Cameron didn't campaign for Leave. Politically I think all of the possible outcomes would have been a lot better from that point onwards.
If Leave had still won then there would have been no need for a change of PM. Cameron's personal political position would have been massively strengthened, and we would have avoided much of went wrong with May's Premiership.
If Remain had won - perhaps because Johnson's Remain essay had come out on top - then whether Cameron resigned or not, the government for the following years wouldn't have had to negotiate Brexit.
This is why I've argued consistently that a government should never hold a referendum that proposes a change that it is not in favour of implementing. The government losing a referendum is then the status quo option where nothing needs to be done, and if the government wins the referendum they get to do what they want to do, with the confirmation of the electorate's approval.
Brexit was such a mess because the policy of the government at the time of the referendum was not to leave the EU, and so a government to implement Brexit did not exist at the time of the referendum.
My daughter has insisted I install an APP called 'been'.
You put in the countries where you have - err - been.
Apparently I've been to 16% of the world. 33 countries.
Who can beat that? Leon obvs.
(We have defined 'been' as staying at least one night (i.e. not just passing through).)
An acquaintance of mine visited every capital city in Europe. An easy task, you might think.
Except he wanted to drink a pint of Guinness in each one. Some were easy - say, Dublin or London. Others were more difficult, especially in eastern Europe. One (and annoyingly I cannot remember which) required a little subterfuge.
As his quest became known, he'd be greeted by people with a pint of Guinness ready for him. The order he visited was random, picked out of a hat.
Brexit was such a mess because the policy of the government at the time of the referendum was not to leave the EU, and so a government to implement Brexit did not exist at the time of the referendum.
Brexit was always going to be a mess.
BoZo assembled a Government explicitly to "get Brexit done" with a huge majority, and the result is a shitshow.
Reform leader Richard Tice on GB news says Sunak today has showed he doesn't care about the redwall or cutting immigration and some Tory members are coming over to his party
Brexit was such a mess because the policy of the government at the time of the referendum was not to leave the EU, and so a government to implement Brexit did not exist at the time of the referendum.
Brexit was always going to be a mess.
BoZo assembled a Government explicitly to "get Brexit done" with a huge majority, and the result is a shitshow.
One could say that Cameron's renegotiation was always going to be a shitshow, but you campaigned enthusiastically for it.
I'm tempted to think that today's announcements may be rather like many Budgets. Most measures are met with general acclaim on the day itself, but within a few days the whole thing begins to unravel, and acrimony sets in as it begins to dawn on people what it all means. The praise Sunak has received today may not last long.
My daughter has insisted I install an APP called 'been'.
You put in the countries where you have - err - been.
Apparently I've been to 16% of the world. 33 countries.
Who can beat that? Leon obvs.
(We have defined 'been' as staying at least one night (i.e. not just passing through).)
An acquaintance of mine visited every capital city in Europe. An easy task, you might think.
Except he wanted to drink a pint of Guinness in each one. Some were easy - say, Dublin or London. Others were more difficult, especially in eastern Europe. One (and annoyingly I cannot remember which) required a little subterfuge.
As his quest became known, he'd be greeted by people with a pint of Guinness ready for him. The order he visited was random, picked out of a hat.
I’ve done 91 countries on “been”. My ambition is to hit at least 100 before I keel over. Should do it now with ease (ins’allah)
The main gaps are central and west Africa, Central Asia and Central America, and lots of lots of islands (esp in the Caribbean and Polynesia)
Now I’m going to Colombia in March I can knock off a few there
About this time last year I stood in the lava field of Laki. The biggest in the world I believe
I saw the place where the lava met the ocean
About a quarter of Iceland’s population died. If we get another Laki we are fucked
I was hoping you were on a flight out there to give us a "from our own correspondent" feed ;-)
Sadly not. Tho I am going somewhere interesting
Iceland is so fabulous and they now have a brilliant volcano museum next to Laki. You are left in no doubt of the devastation wrought - and also that this will certainly happen again, some time soon
Hopefully not now
Indeed, we have been for a couple of weeks a while back - fascinating place. Amazing scenery and geology. Very good looking people. Terrible food though.
When were you there? I first went in the 1980s and yes the food was hideous. Now it is much much better. Lots of fantastic fish, delicious lamb. Its really improved
Alcohol is still insanely pricey however
It was the late 90s tbf. We had some truly memorable (but not in a good way) food. Couldn't manage the fermented shark (wow that stinks) but I remember some lamb and yogurt salad that tasted like vomit, some cured lamb that was a big mistake, a diner en route to Akureyri that only offered chicken legs and those chicken legs had clearly been in their warming cabinet for several days.
The only things we enjoyed were skyr and smoked salmon really. But yes we must go back, I am sure the food will have improved.
My daughter has insisted I install an APP called 'been'.
You put in the countries where you have - err - been.
Apparently I've been to 16% of the world. 33 countries.
Who can beat that? Leon obvs.
(We have defined 'been' as staying at least one night (i.e. not just passing through).)
An acquaintance of mine visited every capital city in Europe. An easy task, you might think.
Except he wanted to drink a pint of Guinness in each one. Some were easy - say, Dublin or London. Others were more difficult, especially in eastern Europe. One (and annoyingly I cannot remember which) required a little subterfuge.
As his quest became known, he'd be greeted by people with a pint of Guinness ready for him. The order he visited was random, picked out of a hat.
I’ve done 91 countries on “been”. My ambition is to hit at least 100 before I keel over. Should do it now with ease (ins’allah)
The main gaps are central and west Africa, Central Asia and Central America, and lots of lots of islands (esp in the Caribbean and Polynesia)
Now I’m going to Colombia in March I can knock off a few there
I'm sure you will, but will you be visiting any countries?
What is the average height - 5"9? Yet 5"7 is notably short and no-one says that 5"11 is tall. Hmmm
I think the issue is his head and hands are quite large so he looks a little odd - awkward maybe. But you are right of course, he's not particularly short and even so it's not an issue.
I'm tempted to think that today's announcements may be rather like many Budgets. Most measures are met with general acclaim on the day itself, but within a few days the whole thing begins to unravel, and acrimony sets in as it begins to dawn on people what it all means. The praise Sunak has received today may not last long.
I agree. I think it’s all going to unravel
David Duke of Brexit has a dodgy past. It will haunt him. Meanwhile the right wing will want revenge for Sweller B
Reform leader Richard Tice on GB news says Sunak today has showed he doesn't care about the redwall or cutting immigration and some Tory members are coming over to his party
He needs the constituency parties to come over to him. With nothing on the ground the Cons will struggle to drop in the latest Ox PPE sent to them by CCHQ.
Im constantly amazed the constituency parties dont do more to make their views respected.
We need more of these titles to really address our problems - the problem is not the issues, it's the titles. They aren't inspiring. "Deputy Minister for Work and Pensions". YAWN. How about
The River Pollution Reichskommisar
The Wheelie Bin Obersturmfuhrer
The Great Mongol Khan of the Golden Horde of Litter Collection
Comments
The survival skills of Steve Barclay are amazing. He has just been appointed to his seventh ministerial job since 2017. This is totally a reflection on me rather than him, but I cannot remember a single thing he has said or done.
Perhaps trying to create a more "moderate" Government will impress the voters - it won't satisfy some (tomorrow's Mail and Express front pages will be informative) but as you say he has two options - lose badly or lose very badly.
And gave Suella forty whacks.
When he saw what he had done,
He gave old Coffey forty-one.
Chris Luxton, the PM-assumptive (someone called him PM-elect upthread, which doesn’t make sense) has to bolt something together between three parties.
I have low-ish expectations.
The reality is that while Labour underperformed, National did NOT do well enough to win with headroom. So they are stuck “negotiating” with Winston Peters.
Luxton seems competent, but he’s been in politics for just three years. Apart from cleaning up Labour’s mess, I’m not sure what his new government will be “for”. Or if they can actually agree on anything.
Not that I differ, otherwise.
I agree that the odds are against a signficant global climate altering eruption. Perhaps even against a measurable effect on climate. (But ask your local volcanologist, before placing any bets.)
But I am quite serious when I say the world needs to prepare for such an eruption.
More lunacy from government.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2023/11/13/southern-england-prepared-solar-farm-expansion/
Maybe the Tories win the next election, either through general attrition against Labour or a series of black swan events.
Cameron and Osborne are not well liked (except by TSE) and FS is a decent role for Cameron's skill set, but what do you have in mind for Gids? Minister for Austerity or Minister for Wizard Wheezes. Although they could throw another EU Referendum I suppose.
Elsewhere in former prime minister news, Tony Blair has let it be known that he is available if needed...
(...to help in an effort to end the growing crisis in Israel and Palestine, obvs.)
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2023/nov/13/suella-braverman-rishi-sunak-cabinet-reshuffle-conservatives-uk-politics-latest#top-of-blog
Just shy of a distinction for that element (boo!) but, by my calculations, the rest of my coursework might have just tipped me over into that territory (a distinction is 70% of available marks and I reckon I got 70.5% - we’ll see) so if you want to know anything about saints in the English Reformation and Renaissance, I’m your seal.
And administratively too. The Soke of Peterborough used to be something of a trope on here.
But more importantly - congratulations. I'm always very impressed by people doing those things while holding down full time jobs.
To prop up his crumbling blue wall
So he's sacked Mrs B
And brought back DC
But it means the square root of fuck all
https://en.vedur.is/about-imo/news/a-seismic-swarm-started-north-of-grindavik-last-night
Just listen to his interview this evening. He has more political skill in his fingernail than all of the cabinet.
I am left this evening wondering why we can’t just have Dave back as PM. He started this long period of Tory government, let’s have him finish it, stand on his record and (in all likelihood) go down with the ship.
His jobs with the Conservative Party and ITV were gimmes. He was, after the usual rite of passage handed his safe seat, and then as a lucky general won one and a half elections, the Sindy vote (courtesy of Brown and Darling) and thought himself invincible. And then came the EU Referendum and it all came tumbling around his ears.
I doubt he learned any humility.
As he leaves the New Conservatives group meeting in the Commons, attended by 20 MPs, Sky News asks Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson: “Lee, may we have a word, please?” His reply: “I’ll give you two!”
You put in the countries where you have - err - been.
Apparently I've been to 16% of the world. 33 countries.
Who can beat that? Leon obvs.
(We have defined 'been' as staying at least one night (i.e. not just passing through).)
BTW I wonder if it will be Suella Who? in about 3 months. The next election is shaping up to being between two leaders who don't really do hate or populism very well. Good.
It gives us all this weather diversity, then shows off with fucking rainbows
Samantha Coleman: Colonel Stuart, could we have a few words please?
Col. Stuart: You can have two: "fuck" and "you".
Garber: [grabbing the TV Camera] No pictures, you pinko bitch!
Picture from that Icelandic Met Office site.
The scale of cooling from Pinatubo was around 0.4C ie twice an El Niño/La Nina. Something on scale of Laki or Tambora would be much more serious. Tambora cooled the earth by as much as 3C. That would take us to around 1.5-2C below pre-industrial norms, for 2 crop cycles. Likely big drought in some of the major crop producing regions.
One more point: if things go according to polling, the lack of talent matters nothing. There will be a total clear out, and new talent in 2028/9.
Just look at all the shit people who were Leavers got if they proposed something others did not like, accused of not truly believing in it. Christ, Sunak was a Leaver and was still labelled the remainer traitor candidate against Truss.
https://twitter.com/NadineDorries/status/1724031131975066103
"Also, this now opens the door for the rerun of Osborne.
"He will want a safe seat, if such a thing exists and then into leader of the opposition slot.
"You heard it here first.
"Nothing happens by accident for these guys. It is all long planned."
Candidature statements
Annaly, L. (Conservative)
Short Service Commission Royal Hussars 4 years
RARO 8 years
Previously member of House from 1991
Government Whip 1994
Conservative District Councillor 2007-2010
Steward for BHSA 2006-2020
Logistics Driver 2007-2023 – Delivering & demonstrating vehicles nationwide on remuneration close to minimum wage
Ashbourne, L. (Conservative)
Experienced and highly regarded mining financial professional from a Naval family with considerable media experience (used to host LBC's 'Dawn Traders'). Resident in the division bell area and a party member for over three decades, I have extensive knowledge and experience in the fields of mining, finance, science, history, Ireland and Africa (inter alia). I am seeking election to be a part of the solution that finally arrests 80 years of relative British decline.
Baillieu, L. (Conservative)
I am a Conservative Party member, who wishes to become a working member of the House. For 45 years I worked in banking and financial consulting in Australia (17 years), in Hong Kong (5 years), covering China, Taiwan, and the Philippines, and in Russia and Ukraine (23 years). I have wide experience of cross border negotiations in parts of the world which are now politically significant. Interests: The Commonwealth, and International Trade.
Bristol, M. (Conservative)
I run a successful property technology company which I founded 8 years ago. Previously lived and worked in the Baltic States for 8 years. Also worked within the UK residential and commercial property sector. Involved with 6 wide-ranging charities in Suffolk, one of which I founded. Other interests include heritage, countryside, and international relations. Aged 44, I live in London, and am willing and able to commit fully and energetically to the House if elected.
Camoys, L. (Conservative)
My 26 years' experience in investment and foreign affairs, including running my own business advising on Western engagement in China (based in Beijing from 2010-15) follows my time in the Foreign Office (Afghanistan, Iran, India and Counter Terrorism). A founder of the UK's premier film studio planned for Marlow and chairman of a Nepalese nature conservation charity, I would look to contribute on foreign affairs, finance, nature conservation and the creative economy.
Eglinton and Winton, E. (Conservative)
ln the last year I have been a regular attendee at ACP meetings; renewed my Party membership, attended the Scottish Party Conference in Glasgow in April. A former Royal Navy Officer I believe in national defence, strong immigration policy, healthy and sustainable economic growth with fit for-purpose-services. I am also a keen supporter of the Union. I look forward to being an active & full-time member of the House and the Party.
"What would you do if someone shouted "Death to all Jews" right next to you at Victoria Station?
This is a serious question, but not a personal one. I've been asking myself the same, ever since I saw the vid
I hope I would have given her a ticking off and told her to shut the F up and go away. But I fear I might have been so shocked - and so used to British politeness - I would have just stood there in silent surprise, gobsmacked and mute
If there is any good to come out of this, it is that these incidents have shaken away any complacency about anti-Semitism. It exists, it is out there, it is deeply nasty, and it needs to be confronted."
I don't know what I would do in such a situation. I'd like to think that I would confront someone behaving in such a way. All I will say that seeing the reaction of Jewish friends to what has happened here has upset me. Hence this.
https://chng.it/TXRTGk5Xqp
Regardless of one's views on Gaza, Israel, the West Bank etc, we should surely all be against the sort of anti-Jewish prejudice, verbal abuse etc seen on our streets here against our fellow citizens.
It is only a little thing but it is something. Edmund Burke's quote seems apt:
"Nobody makes a greater mistake than he who does nothing because he could do only a little.”
Mr Sunak likes to think of himself as a man of the right. His initial instinct was to pivot to the right and he gave it a year, culminating in the ludicrous conference speech claiming to be the 'change' candidate. It was a disaster. Con polling down to the mid-twenties and voters rushing away to both the centre AND the right.
You didn't need No 10's focus groups and polling to see that - but clearly they were telling the same story, very loudly and brutally. So we have today.
A couple of the most obviously useless Ministers have gone. James Cleverly may follow mostly the same policies as Suella but will do so without frightening the horses, without causing outrage for the hell of it. A marked improvement on his predecessor.
Cameron is a skilled and experienced politician. Appointing him Foreign Secretary is risky in more than one way but he really is their best option. They don't have a huge pool of experienced talent to draw on. Too many years of posts being wasted on the inept. He can also advise Mr Sunak on how to win British elections - advice the PM sorely needs.
So will the pivot to the centre work? The Windsor Framework aftermath suggests there are many voters who are persuadable. However, some of the foolishness of the last year will have made convincing them much harder.
At least there seems to now be a Con plan that doesn't ignore the basic numbers of how the current electorate are thinking. Amazing that Mr Sunak, of all people, was ignoring basic maths for so long!
In my career I have worked in the Technology sector and Energy sector and I am currently working for Reading University as a fundraiser. The latter two have given me considerable insight into the challenges of addressing climate change. I am a lifelong Conservative supporter and I would hope to be a diligent, effective and collegiate member of the House.
Falmouth, V. (Conservative)
I have a passion creating activity, in manufacturing, the voluntary sector and the first English
tea plantation. VP Cornwall Community Foundation, President of Young People Cornwall
and Trustee National Maritime Museum Cornwall. Proprietor of a group of companies
employing some 650 people delivering B2B labelling solutions including wristbands (HM
Queen’s Lying in State), electromagnetic coils for the automotive industry among others.
Major emphasis on bringing suppliers back to the UK with focus on exports.
Hamilton of Dalzell, L. (Conservative)
Chartered Accountant, managed finance teams for Deutsche Post/DHL. Developed family estate in Shropshire into a thriving diversified business encompassing retail, hospitality, commercial property and a significant regenerative arable and livestock farming enterprise.
Creating environmental improvements and wetlands. Passionate about the rural community, a Deputy Lieutenant and involved with local voluntary organisations.
Dedicated Conservative Party member, serving as President of the South Shropshire association, campaigning for MPs and councillors and a contributor to Conservative Home.
Hazlerigg, L. (Conservative)
Successful entrepreneur who founded the Noisily Festival of Music and Arts and Floan, a POS finance business. Previous experience in renewables, passionate for sustainability; and driven by a desire to make palliative care a right. I feel that with my direct experience, I would be able to offer fresh and practical insight to these areas which need help to grow and flourish. 36, London-based, Frequent attendee at the ACP and driven to make a difference.
Mountgarret, V. (Conservative)
The honour and the privilege of this position is not underestimated. I have time to commit to the House as evidenced by multiple and numerous attendances at the Wednesday meetings. I bring domestic and international business experience to the table, I am well travelled. My downtime is often spent with my four children, two of whom I raised as a sole custodian.
Napier and Ettrick, L. (Conservative)
My life experience as someone who has succeeded in business despite significant challenges due to severe hearing impairments since my birth, would enable me to make a distinctive and valuable contribution to the House. However, I believe this difference will bring a much needed balance to the House, especially at a time when society is continuously becoming more divisive and complex. I am 60. I live near Cambridge but I commute to London.
Diligent attendee.
Rossmore, L. (Conservative)
Age 40, live in London and run my own business.
• Visited Ukraine in May, to film long-form interviews with Zelensky’s Economic Advisor, the best firearms instructor in the country, and a potential future president.
• Set up a scholarship at Cambridge in August, and enlisted the Chief Mars Landing Engineer at SpaceX and the founder of the London Institute for Mathematical Sciences as mentors.
• Teach music like a language online to 40,000 students.
Windlesham, L. (Conservative)
I am honoured to announce my candidacy for the forthcoming by-election. With extensive experience in financial services, I am an accomplished professional who is passionately interested in climate change and the transition to Net Zero. If elected, I would play an active role in scrutinising and revising legislation, as well as promoting honesty, transparency, accountability and effective governance.
I humbly request your support in allowing me to be of service to our great nation.
Sigh.
(On that subject, Keegan is an unselfaware twat. Teachers and children are not sad at his departure. They were literally cheering and high-fiving at the news.)
With a bit of application and hard work Dave might have made a better fist of negotiating a workable Brexit than any of his successors. I realise the hard work and application may have been a problem.
I have this evening written to the Prime Minister to inform him of my decision to leave government. This was a decision I made several weeks ago and informed the Chief Whip at the time. This is a personal decision I have reached that is right for me, my family and constituents.
No, me neither...
Were we expecting a School trip today?
McVey, possibly, but her job is designed to talk a lot but not actually do anything.
I saw the place where the lava met the ocean
About a quarter of Iceland’s population died. If we get another Laki we are fucked
None better than his Macron one though.
https://x.com/jeremy_starship/status/1724145152610943478?s=61&t=s0ae0IFncdLS1Dc7J0P_TQ
Iceland is so fabulous and they now have a brilliant volcano museum next to Laki. You are left in no doubt of the devastation wrought - and also that this will certainly happen again, some time soon
Hopefully not now
...
Now objectively I don't think that was a terrible idea for a speech, but he obviously didn't mean a word of it as the appointment of DC - again in isolation not a terrible move clearly shows
A PM with no conviction
Alcohol is still insanely pricey however
If Leave had still won then there would have been no need for a change of PM. Cameron's personal political position would have been massively strengthened, and we would have avoided much of went wrong with May's Premiership.
If Remain had won - perhaps because Johnson's Remain essay had come out on top - then whether Cameron resigned or not, the government for the following years wouldn't have had to negotiate Brexit.
This is why I've argued consistently that a government should never hold a referendum that proposes a change that it is not in favour of implementing. The government losing a referendum is then the status quo option where nothing needs to be done, and if the government wins the referendum they get to do what they want to do, with the confirmation of the electorate's approval.
Brexit was such a mess because the policy of the government at the time of the referendum was not to leave the EU, and so a government to implement Brexit did not exist at the time of the referendum.
Except he wanted to drink a pint of Guinness in each one. Some were easy - say, Dublin or London. Others were more difficult, especially in eastern Europe. One (and annoyingly I cannot remember which) required a little subterfuge.
As his quest became known, he'd be greeted by people with a pint of Guinness ready for him. The order he visited was random, picked out of a hat.
BoZo assembled a Government explicitly to "get Brexit done" with a huge majority, and the result is a shitshow.
The main gaps are central and west Africa, Central Asia and Central America, and lots of lots of islands (esp in the Caribbean and Polynesia)
Now I’m going to Colombia in March I can knock off
a few there
The only things we enjoyed were skyr and smoked salmon really. But yes we must go back, I am sure the food will have improved.
David Duke of Brexit has a dodgy past. It will haunt him. Meanwhile the right wing will want revenge for Sweller B
Im constantly amazed the constituency parties dont do more to make their views respected.