Conservative candidates and aides have looked on aghast at the missteps of Rishi Sunak’s campaign over the last fortnight.
Anger has been building over Sunak allies being parachuted into safe seats, including the party chair, Richard Holden, the lack of preparation for the snap campaign within Conservative party headquarters (CCHQ) and the avoidable row over Frank Hester’s donations.
But nothing has come close to the fury within the party over the prime minister’s decision to skip part of the D-day ceremony in France, leaving the stage clear for Keir Starmer to show leadership and patriotism, as well as for Nigel Farage.
Ultimately, the choice was the prime minister’s: to come home for an ITV interview or stay to honour veterans and the fallen. However, many candidates are apoplectic with rage at the strategists who allowed such a misstep to take place, questioning the quality at the heart of the Conservative party campaign.
“The spads and clown advisers who are making these decisions will never work on so much as a Tory councillor’s campaign again in their lifetime,” said one irate Conservative source.
As some of us said 48 hours ago, would Boris Johnson or Liz Truss have departed such a significant and poignant event early?
Hell no, they’d have been there until there wasn’t another hand to shake, and not another photo to be taken.
I would expect the head boy of a presumably conventional presumably C of E public school to have public ritual (founders day and speech day and stuff) in his DNA. Which makes it all the stranger.
Yes, anyone who’s been to a school with history would know all about the sacred days of ritual. Memorial days most definitely included.
"Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel was aware of Russia's intention to reduce gas supply to blackmail Europe to speed up the Nord Stream 2 pipeline launch but concealed the information, German media outlet Handelsblatt reported on June 6, citing classified documents it had obtained." https://kyivindependent.com/handelsblatt-merkel-russia-gas/
Perhaps the worst political decision in Europe since 1939?
What on Earth was Merkel thinking, to close all of their nuclear capacity with nothing to replace it, leaving Europe’s industrial powerhouse as Putin’s bitch? Now for the inevitable deep recession, and PMI of 40 reported last week, with the Chinese threatening their car industry hard.
If you think our politicians are bad, (they are), look at those running Germany over the past 25 years. The talent pool ran out with Kohl.
The only person ever to get excited at going to Basingstoke?
Finale to Gilbert and Sullivan's Ruddigore:
Prompted by a keen desire to evoke All the blessed calm of matrimony’s yoke, We shall toddle off tomorrow, From this scene of sin and sorrow, For to settle in the town of Basingstoke!
Conservative candidates and aides have looked on aghast at the missteps of Rishi Sunak’s campaign over the last fortnight.
Anger has been building over Sunak allies being parachuted into safe seats, including the party chair, Richard Holden, the lack of preparation for the snap campaign within Conservative party headquarters (CCHQ) and the avoidable row over Frank Hester’s donations.
But nothing has come close to the fury within the party over the prime minister’s decision to skip part of the D-day ceremony in France, leaving the stage clear for Keir Starmer to show leadership and patriotism, as well as for Nigel Farage.
Ultimately, the choice was the prime minister’s: to come home for an ITV interview or stay to honour veterans and the fallen. However, many candidates are apoplectic with rage at the strategists who allowed such a misstep to take place, questioning the quality at the heart of the Conservative party campaign.
“The spads and clown advisers who are making these decisions will never work on so much as a Tory councillor’s campaign again in their lifetime,” said one irate Conservative source.
As some of us said 48 hours ago, would Boris Johnson or Liz Truss have departed such a significant and poignant event early?
Hell no, they’d have been there until there wasn’t another hand to shake, and not another photo to be taken.
I would expect the head boy of a presumably conventional presumably C of E public school to have public ritual (founders day and speech day and stuff) in his DNA. Which makes it all the stranger.
Good morning everyone.
I’ve made the point before, and it was reiterated on the BBC earlier today. These events are scripted; everyone knows who is going to be where and when. Did Sunak depart from the script or had he, and his minders, always intended that he leave early. I think we should be told. Otherwise the suspicion must be that he’s someone who changes plans at the last moment for what he perceives to be personally advantageous reasons.
"Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel was aware of Russia's intention to reduce gas supply to blackmail Europe to speed up the Nord Stream 2 pipeline launch but concealed the information, German media outlet Handelsblatt reported on June 6, citing classified documents it had obtained." https://kyivindependent.com/handelsblatt-merkel-russia-gas/
That’s on the scale of being aware water was wet.
The whole point of Nord Stream 2 was to lock in cheap gas in Western Europe and bypass the Eastern European countries that Putin wished to bully.
It seems pretty clear to me now that Lord Cameron is/has been running the Government from the Number 10 side (accepting that we don't have a political Government at the moment), with Sunak as this flaky Manchurian candidate figure. Nobody even elected the noble Lord to a seat, let alone to the Tory Party leadership, so what's that all about?
Some chaps on here are a teensy weensy bit infatuated with @Heathener
Bang to rights. I am fairly convinced she is a superb comic creation - and I admire the handiwork. The absurd contradictions are magnificent - “I take the Saturday Telegraph” being the most recent
If she’s not a comic sockpupppet she’s a wild eccentric prone to fantasy, either way she adds to the gaiety of PB
Fact checked.
Is anything you post on pb ever correct?
I am going to get that photo analysed by experts. Fascinating
Penny Mordaunt is hectoring and constantly interrupting. Really hope she loses her seat. Ghastly woman.
Less of the misogyny please, referring to her sex as a derogatory point is beneath you. You could have said “ghastly person” but ghastly woman is so loaded with some retro sexist memories of “to the manor born” and all that.
I like how all the OnlyFans references were ok but "ghastly woman" was somehow noteworthy
I was being ever so serious. Heathener is suitably strong, apparently accomplished and confident to give it out and take it back - it would probs be more sexist to think anyone had to rein it in because she’s a she.
Yeah I don’t have a problem with you calling it out. But what is to the manor born?
Really? Penelope Kieth, Richard Bowles? Huge in the late 1970s.
Peter Bowles was in TTMB with Penelope Richard Briars was in the Good Life with Penelope
I know! Schoolboy error from me. Trying to wind up Heathener who is somehow about 70 and 17 at the same time. It’s not like To The Manor Born is an obscure TV series. It’s one from the classics of the age, and as has been said, both stands up well AND is an interesting social/historical commentary.
Funnily enough most people who know me in real life, as opposed to on here, mark me as typical GenZ in outlook and views. Which I take as a compliment.
A humourless low-IQ trans-activist dork who never has sex?
I'm more impressed by a Gen Zer who first got into politics around the time of John Smith. A rare demographic indeed
Pay better attention. ‘Most people think I’m GenZ in outlook and views’
I was born right at the end of Gen X.
Just responding to Casino Royale being silly about my youth and constantly denigrating me for ‘being a child’, which Alanbrooke did too.
The right wingers are taking over this forum: Leon, Casino Royale, Alanbrooke. Not just ‘right wingers’ but nasty ones.
I am afraid that this is not a forum that is any longer attractive for:
1. women 2. younger voters i.e. anyone under 60
Mike Smithson kept this place in check but it is sinking fast. But that’s because you older right wingers are dazed and confused right now, bewildered at the way the country has changed.
I told you over 2 years ago that Labour were going to win a landslide, to widespread ridicule.
She who laughs last … and I am.
Fair play. I was born 2/3 of the way through Gen X and feel I’m regarded as part of the feckless naive lazy youth demographic by this Govt and, by extension, the majority of posters on this board. “We want people who pay tax…no, not people like you who pay tax…proper taxpayers.”
Done right, diversity and inclusion training is about getting people to see things from others' point of view, something people are not good at on the whole.
An example from @MattW on this board is barriers on footpaths. Get colleagues to think who will be using this path? If you were in a wheelchair what would you want? You get a much better outcome for those users than with any number of regulations and policies.
My employer is serious about DEI, does it well, and I think it shows up in somewhat better outcomes for customers and a better work environment.
ROFL the last thing "Diversity" is about is diversity. It's about stifling conformity.
As I said, diversity training done right, and FWIW my employer does it well, is about dealing with a diversity that already exists. It's about understanding what other people want and feel, who are different from yourself in some way.
I should add, given DEI is about seeing things from others' point of view, those most dismissive of it are probably those least able to see things from others' point of view and need the training the most.
It seems pretty clear to me now that Lord Cameron is/has been running the Government from the Number 10 side (accepting that we don't have a political Government at the moment), with Sunak as this flaky Manchurian candidate figure. Nobody even elected the noble Lord to a seat, let alone to the Tory Party leadership, so what's that all about?
Technically your lest point is inaccurate. They did, just not recently.
Southgate the most overrated manager there's ever been.
He’s going to throw away another magnificently gifted squad
We were warned in World Cup SF v Croatia when we threw away a lead
We had confirmation in Euro 2020 final v Italy when we threw away a lead
England will win nothing with Southgate
We've won nothing with any manager except Alf Ramsey but Southgate has brought us closer than anybody. Under him we've come as close as you possibly can without doing it. A lick of paint on a goalpost. That close.
This time? Well with a Euros or a World Cup all teams (including us) are more likely to come up short than lift the trophy. The question to ask therefore is not will we win? it's are we a strong contender? The answer is yes. Of course we are.
I'm not worried about that meaningless Iceland game. It was fine. Indeed I'd have been a tad concerned if we'd have put in the sort of stonking performance that you want to be building up to in the latter stages of the tournament when it counts.
The odds of 4.5 are not generous, this is true, but stuff that - I have a good feeling about it and I'm on for £50.
Some chaps on here are a teensy weensy bit infatuated with @Heathener
Bang to rights. I am fairly convinced she is a superb comic creation - and I admire the handiwork. The absurd contradictions are magnificent - “I take the Saturday Telegraph” being the most recent
If she’s not a comic sockpupppet she’s a wild eccentric prone to fantasy, either way she adds to the gaiety of PB
Fact checked.
Is anything you post on pb ever correct?
Horrifying. Those shoes need to be polished, and put on shoe trees, and I really hope you don’t keep leather shoes under a radiator in winter months?!
Well that's probably true, but you could replace 'Southgate' with almost any manager past and present, England or not, and it'd still be true. The fact England haven't won anything since 1966 really isn't just the fault of the managers.
England just aren't good enough, and probably never will be. On good years, we're semi-finalists. On poor years we don't even qualify.
Southgate the most overrated manager there's ever been.
He’s going to throw away another magnificently gifted squad
We were warned in World Cup SF v Croatia when we threw away a lead
We had confirmation in Euro 2020 final v Italy when we threw away a lead
England will win nothing with Southgate
I despise Man City, but no Grealish even as an impact sub is madness. Southgate has said for a number of years he doesn't rate fan favourite Grealish, but perseveres with some donkeys.
Some chaps on here are a teensy weensy bit infatuated with @Heathener
Bang to rights. I am fairly convinced she is a superb comic creation - and I admire the handiwork. The absurd contradictions are magnificent - “I take the Saturday Telegraph” being the most recent
If she’s not a comic sockpupppet she’s a wild eccentric prone to fantasy, either way she adds to the gaiety of PB
Fact checked.
Is anything you post on pb ever correct?
What are Leon's boots doing in your hallway? I thought he was in Ukraine.
"Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel was aware of Russia's intention to reduce gas supply to blackmail Europe to speed up the Nord Stream 2 pipeline launch but concealed the information, German media outlet Handelsblatt reported on June 6, citing classified documents it had obtained." https://kyivindependent.com/handelsblatt-merkel-russia-gas/
Perhaps the worst political decision in Europe since 1939?
What on Earth was Merkel thinking, to close all of their nuclear capacity with nothing to replace it, leaving Europe’s industrial powerhouse as Putin’s bitch? Now for the inevitable deep recession, and PMI of 40 reported last week, with the Chinese threatening their car industry hard.
Perhaps GDR Merkel knew exactly what she was doing with that decision.
Penny Mordaunt is hectoring and constantly interrupting. Really hope she loses her seat. Ghastly woman.
Less of the misogyny please, referring to her sex as a derogatory point is beneath you. You could have said “ghastly person” but ghastly woman is so loaded with some retro sexist memories of “to the manor born” and all that.
I like how all the OnlyFans references were ok but "ghastly woman" was somehow noteworthy
I was being ever so serious. Heathener is suitably strong, apparently accomplished and confident to give it out and take it back - it would probs be more sexist to think anyone had to rein it in because she’s a she.
Yeah I don’t have a problem with you calling it out. But what is to the manor born?
Really? Penelope Kieth, Richard Bowles? Huge in the late 1970s.
Peter Bowles was in TTMB with Penelope Richard Briars was in the Good Life with Penelope
I know! Schoolboy error from me. Trying to wind up Heathener who is somehow about 70 and 17 at the same time. It’s not like To The Manor Born is an obscure TV series. It’s one from the classics of the age, and as has been said, both stands up well AND is an interesting social/historical commentary.
Funnily enough most people who know me in real life, as opposed to on here, mark me as typical GenZ in outlook and views. Which I take as a compliment.
A humourless low-IQ trans-activist dork who never has sex?
I'm more impressed by a Gen Zer who first got into politics around the time of John Smith. A rare demographic indeed
Pay better attention. ‘Most people think I’m GenZ in outlook and views’
I was born right at the end of Gen X.
Just responding to Casino Royale being silly about my youth and constantly denigrating me for ‘being a child’, which Alanbrooke did too.
The right wingers are taking over this forum: Leon, Casino Royale, Alanbrooke. Not just ‘right wingers’ but nasty ones.
I am afraid that this is not a forum that is any longer attractive for:
1. women 2. younger voters i.e. anyone under 60
Mike Smithson kept this place in check but it is sinking fast. But that’s because you older right wingers are dazed and confused right now, bewildered at the way the country has changed.
I told you over 2 years ago that Labour were going to win a landslide, to widespread ridicule.
She who laughs last … and I am.
Solidarity as a fellow younger poster, I haven’t been around here that long and have certainly seen fewer elections than most but I find your contributions great and overall there’s a lot of good eggs on here that keep me coming back, even though others are a bit spammy and sometimes just attack people arbitrarily.
Comments
NEW THREAD
Prompted by a keen desire to evoke
All the blessed calm of matrimony’s yoke,
We shall toddle off tomorrow,
From this scene of sin and sorrow,
For to settle in the town of Basingstoke!
I’ve made the point before, and it was reiterated on the BBC earlier today. These events are scripted; everyone knows who is going to be where and when. Did Sunak depart from the script or had he, and his minders, always intended that he leave early.
I think we should be told. Otherwise the suspicion must be that he’s someone who changes plans at the last moment for what he perceives to be personally advantageous reasons.
The whole point of Nord Stream 2 was to lock in cheap gas in Western Europe and bypass the Eastern European countries that Putin wished to bully.
I should add, given DEI is about seeing things from others' point of view, those most dismissive of it are probably those least able to see things from others' point of view and need the training the most.
This time? Well with a Euros or a World Cup all teams (including us) are more likely to come up short than lift the trophy. The question to ask therefore is not will we win? it's are we a strong contender? The answer is yes. Of course we are.
I'm not worried about that meaningless Iceland game. It was fine. Indeed I'd have been a tad concerned if we'd have put in the sort of stonking performance that you want to be building up to in the latter stages of the tournament when it counts.
The odds of 4.5 are not generous, this is true, but stuff that - I have a good feeling about it and I'm on for £50.
England just aren't good enough, and probably never will be.
On good years, we're semi-finalists.
On poor years we don't even qualify.
Nothing really has changed there.
Edit - just seen kinabalu above. We agree!
I think that’s missing one.
England 543 and Wales 32
Scotland and NI is not my area.
Has this been done?
Conservatives miss out Rotherham.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c877068x382o