British Politics: the Mega-Thread

[James]

I've never understood why that would be. I can see the attraction of Brexit in the Shires because of the hated CAP, and in the port towns due to the hated CLP. Why would a northern post-industrial town near Leeds-Bradford vote that way? What did they think they would gain? Genuinely baffled.

It’s not primarily about gain (or loss), I’m surprised after this many years that this is still having to be explained.

>90% White population, ex mining community, socially conservative, not in favour of mass uncontrolled immigration, and above all an understandable hatred for the political classes because Maggie ruthlessly closed down the pits which destroyed their local economy and they’ve had very little help or support since.

A protest vote. Which led to a victory. One that is still spiritually and emotionally important to them.

And when those political classes, and the mainstream media, and the intelligentsia and liberal metropolitan elitist types tried to invalidate their vote and overturn the referendum result by any means necessary because “they knew better” (according to them), it’s not going to make these voters change their minds & it will in fact have the opposite effect.

What has also come out more generally since 2016 is how much some sections of the middle classes sneer at the working classes and despise them, think them as grubby and stupid and misled. This is not going to lead to a reconciliation over EU membership either.

Share this post with London based journalists please, perhaps then they will reduce the volume of their patronising questions and smug rhetorical statements towards people from Leave voting constituencies (particularly in the North).

 

[Robert]

It’s not primarily about gain (or loss), I’m surprised after this many years that this is still having to be explained.

>90% White population, ex mining community, socially conservative, not in favour of mass uncontrolled immigration, and above all an understandable hatred for the political classes because Maggie ruthlessly closed down the pits which destroyed their local economy and they’ve had very little help or support since.

A protest vote. Which led to a victory. One that is still spiritually and emotionally important to them.

And when those political classes, and the mainstream media, and the intelligentsia and liberal metropolitan elitist types tried to invalidate their vote and overturn the referendum result by any means necessary because “they knew better” (according to them), it’s not going to make these voters change their minds & it will in fact have the opposite effect.

What has also come out more generally since 2016 is how much some sections of the middle classes sneer at the working classes and despise them, think them as grubby and stupid and misled. This is not going to lead to a reconciliation over EU membership either.

Share this post with London based journalists please, perhaps then they will reduce the volume of their patronising questions and smug rhetorical statements towards people from Leave voting constituencies (particularly in the North).

If they still hate Thatcher, it was a bit mad to vote in droves for someone far worse in Johnson.

I don't know any London-based journos. Haven't lived there in some years. The constituency where I live is one of the Brexitiest places in the UK - but it made a degree of sense for the farming and fishing communities here to vote that way. They were betrayed by Johnson's rubbish deal, and are now going under.

I dislike this term "mainstream media" because it implies a homogenous narrative - but C4, RTE, Sky News and BBC News are all different, and The Independent, Guardian, Times, Telegraph, Observer, Mail, Express, Sun and Mirror are all different too

 

[Technics 1210]

Boris would not have been PM had it not been for the Liberals and Remainers who were hell bent on overturning Brexit.

Get Brexit Done - was enough to convince the voters and frankly reiterated the nation's take on Brexit. Plus the nation had had enough of the Liberal/Remainer games which resulted in THREE general elections within FIVE years (2015, 2017, 2019), with a potential 2nd referendum in-between.

If Liberals/Remainers accepted the democratic result gracefully then who knows May would be PM right now, but never Boris!

Liberals/Remainers are to blame for Boris.

 

[SpiritOf1903]

Nadeem Ahmed, Tory candidate in the Wakefield by-election says he regrets voting for Brexit and all his friends do too.

He says the Brexit campaign was built on lies, and resulted in a rise in assaults on people of his skin colour.

Somewhat off-message and a further embarrassment for Johnson….

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/...jofnxJiMsS6Lby0A1vBj8WQV6Nxytzpsan7bAapt1-RXI

I had a couple sociology lessons with him in college. Nice chap all told

 

[James]

I had a couple sociology lessons with him in college. Nice chap all told

Yes, and to be honest the ruthless likes of Boris, Priti and Blair (etc) in their discourse and machinations are not broadly representative. Many people who work in local politics are relatively decent and want to help their constituents.

 

[Robert]

New Statesmen ain’t too impressed….

https://www.newstatesman.com/quickf...lection-candidates-helen-hurford-nadeem-ahmed

 

[James]

Oh come on Robert, the Independent? The New Statesman?

Surely it’s important to take in opinions from a broader stroke of publications, and not just the friendly ones which readily confirm one’s own cognitive biases.

e.g. I read the Guardian and the BBC, and I also read the Telegraph and the Spectator. I subscribe to Owen Jones’ YouTube channel, and also Peter Whittle’s.

 

[Robert]

Oh come on Robert, the Independent? The New Statesman?

Surely it’s important to take in opinions from a broader stroke of publications, and not just the friendly ones which readily confirm one’s own cognitive biases.

e.g. I read the Guardian and the BBC, and I also read the Telegraph and the Spectator. I subscribe to Owen Jones’ YouTube channel, and also Peter Whittle’s.

I don’t read The Indy, always found it bland. The New Statesman is a tick left of me. I post links to stimulate debate. Rather than confirm my bias, these tend to articulate my own ideas better than I can.

Remember when I posted that I was going to vote Leave before my Damascene Conversion? That wasn’t based on any news outlet, but by listening to an Irish academic named Professor Dougan on YouTube.

I don’t consume much print media any more.

I watch C4 News, France 24, Euronews, Al Jazeera sometimes, politics.co.uk, Byline Times, RTÉ. Iain Dale to balance out JOB on LBC. Stephen Nolan on BBC Radio Ulster. Favourite journos are Fintan O’Toole and Ian Dunt.

 

[SpiritOf1903]

Yes, and to be honest the ruthless likes of Boris, Priti and Blair (etc) in their discourse and machinations are not broadly representative. Many people who work in local politics are relatively decent and want to help their constituents.

You're not from Normanton?..

 

[James]

You're not from Normanton?..

No

 

[silentkiller187]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Another big story that should be given a lot more coverage...<br><br>The Tories held their summer party last night, an event where big donors pay for access to party grandees and ministers.<br><br>Tickets cost between £20k and £12.5k. A dinner with Johnson, May and Cameron sold for £120k.</p>— Sam Bright (@WritesBright) <a href="https://twitter.com/WritesBright/status/1539166228664688643?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 21, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Markhor]

Wakefield will return to Labour. It's Tiverton and Honiton that looks to be super tight.

I still cannot get over how on earth the MP managed to click on a porn site while browsing for tractors.

 

[Robert]

Wakefield will return to Labour. It's Tiverton and Honiton that looks to be super tight.

I still cannot get over how on earth the MP managed to click on a porn site while browsing for tractors.

LDs and Tories both polling 45% in T&H....

 

[SpiritOf1903]

A watershed night except Baron Boris is charmed

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-politics-61789404

 

[Robert]

A magnificent win for Richard Ford MP in Tiverton & Honiton, overturning a 24,000 Tory majority.

Labour take back Wakefield too.

Clear signs of progressive alliance to oust the Tory in both campaigns.

 

[Markhor]

LDs and Tories both polling 45% in T&H....

LDs win with ease !

Although by elections are no indicator of GE trends - this was the bluest of blue seats.

Let's see if LDs can replicate this across the south in a GE when resources are spread more thinly, but if this massive tactical voting continues then Boris is in dire straits.

 

[Robert]

LDs win with ease !

Although by elections are no indicator of GE trends - this was the bluest of blue seats.

Let's see if LDs can replicate this across the south in a GE when resources are spread more thinly, but if this massive tactical voting continues then Boris is in dire straits.

I expect the Tories will take it back at the next GE barring a spectacular performance by Richard Foord, but there is a significant swing back to the Liberals in the SW after taking Somerset Unitary Council which will translate into seats changing from blue to yellow. St Ives will definitely go LD again.

 

[Technics 1210]

LDs shouldn’t be drinking champagne.

The majority of LD votes are protest/tactical vote against Boris, not The Conservative Party and its ideals.

Proven by the fact if Tories have an honourable leader, voters will vote Tories.

Move on.

 

[James]

The Tory deputy chief whip has resigned from government, saying he "embarrassed myself and other people" and "drank far too much last night".

In his resignation letter on Thursday Chris Pincher apologised to the prime minister "and to those concerned".

He said: "I owe it to you and the people I've caused upset to, to do this."

Mr Pincher has been Tamworth's MP since 2010 and served as a minister under former Prime Minister Theresa May.

He said in his letter that the prime minister would continue to have his "full support from the back benches", adding: "It has been the honour of my life to have served in Her Majesty's Government."

A senior Downing Street source described Chris Pincher as a loyal Conservative who recognised that he behaved badly.

The source said as things stand, he would face no further action and keep the party whip.

 

[Robert]

Ex-military intelligence chap called LBC to say that Bozzer would never pass Developed Vetting clearance. This is what military officers and even civilians working in MoD sites must pass to gain employment. It’s truly alarming that one so clearly compromised by Russian oligarch money has his finger on the nuclear triggers.

 

[Technics 1210]

John Major never passed A-levels, had no degree, but was still PM to the delight of EU apologists!

The problem is not clearance or education, if Boris was pro EU, then liberals would not have a problem.

 

[James]

if Boris was pro EU, then liberals would not have a problem.

Well he was, once upon a time. He then switched to supporting Brexit as a part of getting on his personal road to ultimately becoming the PM.

 

[Technics 1210]

Well he was, once upon a time. He then switched to supporting Brexit as a part of getting on his personal road to ultimately becoming the PM.

He was - before UK voted to leave.

He took a gamble, and it paid off. No need to resent him for it.

Liberals need to suck it up, UK has left the EU, and questioning BoJo's qualifications and clearance is the lowest of the low desperation considering past qualifications of past PMs.

Who did LDs have as a leader? Oh yes, a raging alcoholic.

 

[Robert]

Well he was, once upon a time. He then switched to supporting Brexit as a part of getting on his personal road to ultimately becoming the PM.

When he ran for London Mayor he had a liberal agenda against Livingstone’s socialist agenda.

Though an EUphile, he switched sides to Leave to gain support from the Eurosceptic Tory lobby.

As Lord Heseltine pointed out, he looks to see which way the mob is heading, then runs to the front and shouts “Follow me!”

He’s whatever he needs to be on a moment by moment basis in order to advance.

 

[Technics 1210]

It's time to dish out the Tin Foil hat awards; honestly, Boris on Putin's payroll is the best I have ever heard from Liberals. )

 

[James]

Johnson and Trump are metropolitan city party gent types. London and New York. Publicly they were both Liberals (and at heart probably still are) until they saw the way the current was flowing around the world and stood on Right-wing policy platforms to get elected.

There are still very occasional sticky moments for Boris when he speaks about his admiration for Europe or his “pro” stance on LGBT rights in front of Conservative Party members and is met with an awkward silence.

 

[Robert]

Johnson and Trump are metropolitan city party gent types. London and New York. Publicly they were both Liberals (and at heart probably still are) until they saw the way the current was flowing around the world and stood on Right-wing policy platforms to get elected.

There are still very occasional sticky moments for Boris when he speaks about his admiration for Europe or his “pro” stance on LGBT rights in front of Conservative Party members and is met with an awkward silence.

The right wing isn’t the opposite of liberalism. There are right wing liberals such as Elon Musk. The opposite of liberalism is authoritarianism.

I don’t think the Johnsons and Trumps fit into any political ethos. They take whatever position will advance them on a moment by moment basis. Hence Europhile Johnson becomes champion of Leave, and one-time New York liberal Trump picks up a Bible and allies with the authoritarian religious right over abortion.

 

[James]

<b>Chris Pincher suspended as Tory MP after groping allegation</b>

A former deputy chief whip alleged to have groped two men in a private members' club has been suspended as a Conservative MP.

Chris Pincher will sit as an independent after he was reported to Parliament's behaviour watchdog.

He quit his government job in a letter on Thursday, saying he had "drunk far too much" and "embarrassed myself and other people".

Former housing minister Kelly Tolhurst has been appointed as his replacement.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson was under pressure to suspend him from the party after senior Tory MPs and opposition parties said his position was untenable.

Earlier Downing Street had suggested the prime minister considered the matter closed after Mr Pincher's resignation as deputy chief whip.

But on Friday afternoon, the action was taken after a formal complaint was lodged with the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS).

A spokesperson for Chief Whip Chris Heaton-Harris said the prime minister agreed that Mr Pincher should be suspended once the complaint had been made.

A government source defended the delay in suspending Mr Pincher, saying No 10 had acted swiftly after the complaint.

Complaints against MPs are examined by independent investigators, who can make recommendations for further action.

A spokesperson for the ICGS said it could not provide any information on any complaint for reasons of confidentiality.

Witnesses told the BBC that Mr Pincher was seen "extremely drunk" at the Carlton Club, the Conservative Party members' club in St James's, central London, on Wednesday night.

The BBC has been told that the Metropolitan Police has not received any report relating to an incident at the venue.

The Sun newspaper first reported the resignation, saying he was drinking at the club when he is alleged to have assaulted two other male guests.

Several concerned Tory MPs contacted the Conservative whips' office to complain about his behaviour, the paper said.

Dozens of people were present in a small room with a bar at the private members' club including other MPs, ministers, club officials and people working in public relations, the BBC has been told.

In his resignation letter, Mr Pincher wrote to the prime minister: "Last night I drank far too much."

He added: "I think the right thing to do in the circumstances is for me to resign as deputy chief whip. I owe it to you and the people I've caused upset to, to do this."

Labour's Deputy Leader Angela Rayner said the prime minister had been "dragged kicking and screaming into taking any action at all" against Mr Pincher.

"He just can't be trusted to do the right thing. This whole scandal is yet more evidence of his appalling judgement," she said.

"It's time for Conservative MPs to show this chaotic prime minister the door before he can do any more damage."

Liberal Democrat's chief whip Wendy Chamberlain said "once again" the prime minister "had to be forced into doing the right thing".

"It should never have taken Boris Johnson this long to act and withdraw the whip," she said.

"There can be no more cover-ups or excuses. If this investigation confirms these serious allegations, Chris Pincher will surely have to resign."

As pressure on the prime minister to act mounted earlier, two senior female Tory MPs said the party's recent approach to allegations of sexual misconduct posed a risk of "serious reputational damage".

Caroline Nokes and Karen Bradley, who both chair select committees, said anyone under investigation for such allegations should not be allowed to represent the party and called for a new code of conduct for Tory MPs.

A Tory MP told the BBC they had previously raised concerns about Mr Pincher's behaviour with senior figures in No 10 and the Conservative Party.

The MP said: "Loads [of us] did when he was in the frame for chief whip and he never got it. There were concerns, none of us had proof we could use. He should have the whip suspended and a by-election."

But a No 10 spokesperson said Mr Johnson was not aware of any specific allegations against Mr Pincher before he appointed him as deputy chief whip.

Mr Pincher was first elected as MP for Tamworth in 2010 and served as a minister under former Prime Minister Theresa May.

He had served in the whips' office in Mr Johnson's government since February 2022, and was previously a minister in the Foreign Office and the Levelling Up Department.

Whips are MPs who are in charge of party discipline. and are tasked with ensuring colleagues on their side vote with the party line in Parliament and providing pastoral support.

The parliamentary behaviour watchdog investigating the complaint against Mr Pincher was set up in 2018 following a series of sexual misconduct allegations.

It was designed to investigate complaints about inappropriate behaviour, such as bullying, harassment or sexual misconduct, and its inquiries can result in sanctions for MPs.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-62014765

 

[Vatta]

Johnson is a disgrace - he is a philandering, lying coward, who has freeloaded his way through life with a belief that he is right to do as he so wishes. He has surrounded himself with hopeless and vile idiots in the cabinet.

He has invariably betrayed friends, lovers, wives, colleagues and his bosses. For a time he could not even confirm how many children he had.

He has attempted to foist his lovers expenses on the tax payers and has had donors paying his expenses. Readers of Private Eye, will know that he tried to hire his lover at the time, as his chief of staff. Whilst still married, curiously, they were caught in a compromising position by a Tory MP. Discovered in an act of... what a fella.... as it were.

A previous lover Jennifer Arcuri, had also benefited at the tax payers expense, when Johnson was Mayor of London.

In unrelated news, the totally happless, inept MP Gavin Williamson, surprisingly became Sir Gavin Williamson.

 

[Robert]

[MENTION=156343]Vatta[/MENTION] I agree. But Johnson has burned his political capital. Everyone hates him now. A decent Tory may yet emerge as leader, or the Tories will be out in two years max.

 

[Manunited18]

Even if the Tories do get ousted, I have zero confidence in starman and Labour.

 

[Robert]

Even if the Tories do get ousted, I have zero confidence in starman and Labour.

He’s waiting in the sky.
He’d like to come and meet us
But he thinks he’d blow our minds

 

[Vatta]

[MENTION=156343]Vatta[/MENTION] I agree. But Johnson has burned his political capital. Everyone hates him now. A decent Tory may yet emerge as leader, or the Tories will be out in two years max.

Totally agree. He's damaged the Tories hugely and got rid of capable people.

Even if the Tories do get ousted, I have zero confidence in starman and Labour.

At what point do you think that the likes of Johnson, Patel, Braverman, Dorries, Sunak, Truss, Gove, Zahawi, Shapps and Rees-Mogg are utter disasters who need to be booted out forthwith?

He’s waiting in the sky.
He’d like to come and meet us
But he thinks he’d blow our minds

 

[MenInG]

Boris Johnson was made aware of a formal complaint about Chris Pincher's "inappropriate behaviour" while Mr Pincher was a Foreign Office minister from 2019-20, BBC News can reveal.

It triggered a disciplinary process that confirmed the MP's misconduct.

BBC News understands the PM and the foreign secretary at the time - Dominic Raab - knew about the issue.

The complaint raises fresh questions about what the PM knew before appointing the MP deputy chief whip.

The prime minister's spokesman said Mr Johnson was aware of media reports and some allegations that were "either resolved or did not progress to a formal complaint".

He added: "It was in one way concluded in some form. These issues tend to be anonymous."

Mr Pincher apologised after the process concluded, BBC News has been told, but at the time of publication the MP had not responded to our request for comment.

The MP for Tamworth was suspended as a Conservative Party MP last week over allegations he had groped two men at a private members' club in London.

He quit as Tory deputy chief whip last Thursday, but has since said he was seeking professional medical support and had no intention of resigning as an MP.

In recent days, Mr Pincher has denied a series of new allegations of inappropriate behaviour stretching back several years.

Mr Johnson appointed Mr Pincher as deputy chief whip, which involves ensuring party discipline among Tory MPs, during a cabinet reshuffle in February this year.

Mr Pincher was appointed a Foreign Office minister in July 2019 by Mr Johnson, and stayed in the post until February 2020.

During his tenure as a Foreign Office minister, an official complaint was raised about Mr Pincher for "inappropriate behaviour".

This triggered a process, overseen by the Cabinet Office, which resulted in a report that confirmed misconduct.

Both the prime minister and Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab, the foreign secretary at the time, were made aware of the disciplinary process, the BBC has been told.

BBC

 

[Technics 1210]

Yee haa! Sunak the snake resigns as chancellor!

 

[Technics 1210]

Javid resigns from cabinet too!

 

[IMMY69]

What a mess...

The end is nigh for BJ

IMO it's now a four horse race...

Tuss
Hunt
Sunak
Gove

 

[Manunited18]

Snap General election imminent in which il be voting for neither main parties.

 

[Manunited18]

Yee haa! Sunak the snake resigns as chancellor!

Icing on the cake will be Ugly patel to resign. LOL

 

[shortbread]

Yee haa! Sunak the snake resigns as chancellor!

Fox more like, showered public money through grants, furlough schemes, unsecured business loans etc..etc... then earn the good name, and call it quits when its time to balance the books! Granted the UK has been partying in decades of QE, but boy o boy, Rishi took it to altogether another level!

Very soon we will be welcoming Prime Minister Lizz Truss! yipeeee

 

[shortbread]

Icing on the cake will be Ugly patel to resign. LOL

Patel will find a place in a Lizz Truss cabinet, albeit she cant stand Dominic Raab.

 

[Markhor]

Feels a bit like when Nigel Lawson and Geoffrey Howe tag teamed to bring down Thatcher.

However Boris will only leave No.10 if dragged kicking and screaming.

 

[topspin]

Icing on the cake will be Ugly patel to resign. LOL

She's a vile soul but she's definitely not ugly.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Feels a bit like when Nigel Lawson and Geoffrey Howe tag teamed to bring down Thatcher.

However Boris will only leave No.10 if dragged kicking and screaming.

Boris is gone. Sunak and Javid wouldn't have resigned if not given the green the light by their masters.

There is no democracy in the UK. A bunch of puppets who do the bidding of the elite. Once the elite wont them gone, they go. Only reason Boris remained earlier is they needed him to back Ukraine 100%, which he did well.

Labour will win and we will have another Tony Blair back.

 

[Markhor]

Dominic Cummings has said he heard Boris describe Chris Pincher, the deputy chief whip and alleged serial groper, as "Pincher by name, Pincher by nature."

Boris of course denies everything...

 

[KingKhanWC]

She's a vile soul but she's definitely not ugly.

She looks and talks like a robot. Scary women.

 

[Technics 1210]

The desperation of liberals knows no bound, now trusting Cummings, who was caught lying during Covid lockdown when he drove up North for a Specsavers appointment.

I can understand with they Loser Democrats (LDs) are getting excited, but regardless, it will be the Tories or Labour who will be in power.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Look at the US, does anyone in their right mind think Biden has any control of any policies in the USA?

The best way for change is for everyone to protest by NOT voting. If turnout is 10%, the whole system would need to change, politicians will need to prove they are what they say they are.

 

[Technics 1210]

She looks and talks like a robot. Scary women.

She is the one who encouraged Brits to fight for Ukraine!

Scary is not the word!

 

[shortbread]

All said and done, BoJo is thick skinned enough to retain power!

 

[IMMY69]

All said and done, BoJo is thick skinned enough to retain power!

Well if this doesn't take him down then nothing will.

 

[shortbread]

Well if this doesn't take him down then nothing will.

I can forsee his presser:

'When I spoke to him he-Pincher seemed like a jolly good chap, now we learn that was a terrible mistake. I want to tell the British public that I am deeply sorry and will ensue this does not happen again. In the meanwhile lets not forget the real issue at hand, Putin, Ukraine, Brussels, NHS funding, the Queen...... Thank you'

 

[IMMY69]

I can forsee his presser:

'When I spoke to him he-Pincher seemed like a jolly good chap, now we learn that was a terrible mistake. I want to tell the British public that I am deeply sorry and will ensue this does not happen again. In the meanwhile lets not forget the real issue at hand, Putin, Ukraine, Brussels, NHS funding, the Queen...... Thank you'

Let's not forget the next covid wave

 

[James]

The bell is tolling.

 

[Technics 1210]

Boris is not going anywhere.

He will try everything to stay in power.

For all we know, his plan was to oust Sunak and Javid.

 

[ElRaja]

the fact that boris has gone on as long as he has is testament to how apathetic the public has become to politicians, boris' premiership is looking like a slow mo car crash now, leaving the door open for, most likely, a lab-lib coalition.

 

[Technics 1210]

History lesson from some one who lived through the years of Thatcher.

Thatcher should've been ousted by her second term, but Falkand's War's saved her and she won the second term on the pretext of war. Boris, is in a similar situation with the war in Ukraine.

Thatcher should've been ousted during her third term, but the economy was booming, and she trounced Labour and SDP at the GE. Boris, can still claim asset based wealth has benefited the majority of brits, which it has.

Thatcher won her 3rd term, despite the Poll Tax, and under-hand EU deals, and while she was ousted as PM, she resigned, only for the Tories to WIN in 1992, this too when the UK was suffering from the aftermath of a recession when UK bailed from the ERM.

Tories went on to govern until 1997!

If liberals and Labour supporters think Tory values are the problem, then you are mistaken.

Boris may resign, may be pushed, but the Tory party will win the next GE.

Sunak and Javid resigning is a blessing for the UK, and Boris.

And remember, in this day and age, any negative publicity is positive publicity, because the average person knows how MSM operates.

 

[Manunited18]

Next Government will be a coalition formed by Lib -lab

 

[topspin]

Rishi will be a big loss to Boris but props to him we need eat out help out after a tough pandemic. Many people forget he did this for Pakistani owned restaurants and takeaways.

 

[Firebat]

Nadhim Zahawi appointed as Chancellor, replacing Rishi Sunak.

 

[Robert]

Snap General election imminent in which il be voting for neither main parties.

Why? Tories are behind in the polls. A GE will crown Starmer PM.

 

[Vatta]

The greased piglet running out of options.

Propped up - for now - by the desperates.

 

[Robert]

The Autumn of Discontent is here. Is a General Strike imminent?

Rail workers out.

Dockers out.

Even the barristers are coming out, which will paralyse the court system.

Teachers talking about coming out too.

Big problems for Truss or whoever takes the poisoned chalice….

 

[Technics 1210]

Blame Brexit? Blame Putin? Blame Tories?

Move on.

 

[Robert]

HM The Queen is staying in Balmoral to receive the new PM.

Poor old dear can't travel I expect.

I hope she gets a decent PM after Bozzer and Thick Lizzie, if she can hang on until 2024 fort Starmer.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-62728328

 

[shortbread]

HM The Queen is staying in Balmoral to receive the new PM.

Poor old dear can't travel I expect.

I hope she gets a decent PM after Bozzer and Thick Lizzie, if she can hang on until 2024 fort Starmer.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-62728328

I predict PM Mick Lynch! Starmer has the charisma of a parking bollard.

 

[Robert]

I predict PM Mick Lynch! Starmer has the charisma of a parking bollard.

Doesn’t need it as people have lost faith in the Tories and Starmer has a 14 point poll lead

 

[Technics 1210]

2024 will be the year of another coalition.

LDs and Labour will never learn.

You read it here first.

 

[James]

<b>Kwasi Kwarteng: We stopped consumer spending collapse</b>

Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng has said his mini-budget was needed to stop a collapse in consumer spending, despite it sparking days of market turmoil.

He told his party's MPs that cutting taxes and limiting energy bills had protected the economy.

The plans, announced on Friday, led to a slump in the pound and the Bank of England stepping in to prevent the collapse of some pension funds.

Mr Kwarteng and Prime Minister Liz Truss defended their plans on Thursday.

In a series of BBC interviews, Ms Truss insisted "urgent action" was needed to boost the UK economy, adding that she was "prepared to do what it takes to make that happen" and that the tax cuts outlined last week were the right plan.

However, concerns among some Conservative MPs about how the plans would be viewed by voters were underlined after a Yougov poll suggested Labour had opened up a massive 33-point lead over the Tories.

Mr Kwarteng tried to bolster support among Tory MPs by sending them a message saying he was working at pace to show markets he had a "clear plan".

The chancellor said he understood their concern about the mini-budget, which promised £45bn of tax cuts funded by government borrowing.

Fears this would be unaffordable and drive up interest rates had sent markets into a panic, with government borrowing costs surging, and the pound hitting a record low on Monday.

Mr Kwarteng insisted the market volatility was "global" and being driven by the Ukraine war, Covid, and "a super strong US dollar".

He added that the government had needed to "act quickly".

"However I totally understand the need to be credible with markets," he told MPs.

"We will show markets our plan is sound, credible and will work to drive growth."

He said the government would announce reforms in "childcare, business regulations, financial services, agriculture and more" over the next six weeks.

Ms Truss also argued market turmoil was being caused by global factors, including a slump in the pound against the dollar, in a series of testy interviews with BBC local radio stations.

She insisted that "currencies are under pressure around the world".

Later, in BBC TV interviews, she said the UK was "in a very serious situation" but that was due to "the aftermath of Covid and Putin's war in Ukraine".

But the Treasury select committee, which is led by Conservative MP Mel Stride, an ally of former leadership contender Rishi Sunak, rejected that explanation.

In a letter to Mr Kwarteng on Thursday, Mr Stride said the government plans had "resulted in various significant and concerning reactions in the markets".

He said a drop in the price of government bonds following the announcement of the plans was greater than "any movement during the global financial crisis or the pandemic".

He said the financial impact of the mini-budget was larger than that of a typical Budget, but there had been no assessment by the independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) to go with it, despite the OBR saying it could produce one.

"It is hard to conclude other than that an absence of a forecast has in some part driven the lack of confidence in the markets," he said.

"Some may have formed the unfortunate impression that the government may be seeking to avoid scrutiny."

The OBR said on Thursday it had offered to provide a forecast for the mini-budget, but the chancellor had rejected that.

BBC economics editor Faisal Islam said this absence of a forecast had made the market reaction to the plans worse.

Mr Stride called on Mr Kwarteng to provide an OBR forecast "earlier" than 23 November, when the government is due to publish its medium term fiscal plan.

The OBR said on Thursday it had been asked by Mr Kwarteng to produce a first draft of its next economic forecasts by 7 October.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Mr Kwarteng rejected claims the government's plans had made people worse off by contributing to a spike in UK mortgage rates.

It is the first time Mr Kwarteng has made a public comment on his mini-budget since Sunday, when he hinted there were more tax cuts to come.

Since then the plan has faced widespread criticism, with the International Monetary Fund and former Bank of England governor Mark Carney disparaging the plan.

On Wednesday, the Bank of England was forced to intervene, pledging to buy $65bn of government bonds in a bid to calm markets.

However, there are concerns the turmoil could continue and fears it might affect the housing market.

A record number of mortgage products have been pulled since Friday, amid fears the Bank of England will have to raise interest rates much more sharply than previously expected.

Mr Kwarteng said the government's plan to limit energy bills for households and businesses would save people "thousands of pounds a year".

However, the chancellor said it was too early to say whether he would keep the previous government's promise to increase benefits next April in line with inflation.

He did, however, say the prime minister was committed to reinstating the triple lock on pensions, which means they increase by whichever is highest: inflation, the average wage rise, or 2.5%.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-63079743

 

[James]

The pound has climbed after the chancellor reversed his controversial decision to scrap the top rate of tax.

Sterling gained more than 1% to $1.1284 before falling back slightly while government borrowing costs edged lower.

Tory MPs had threatened to vote against Kwasi Kwarteng's plan, saying it was unfair when living costs were so high.

The U-turn may ease market nerves, said the Institute for Fiscal Studies, but unease remains over how a remaining £43bn of tax cuts will be funded.

"The difference this makes really is trivial," said Paul Johnson, director of the IFS think tank.

The chancellor pledged to abolish the 45p rate of tax, which is paid by people who earn more than £150,000 a year.

Getting rid of the rate would have cost the Treasury around £2bn out of the £45bn worth of tax cuts Mr Kwarteng announced in his so-called "mini-budget".

"This was, if anything, possibly the smallest measure from a fiscal point of view, if not a political point of view, in the mini-budget," said Mr Johnson.

"It is about 5% of the tax cuts."

The cut to top-rate tax for high earners sparked anger among opposition and Tory MPs and spooked markets amid concerns the unfunded cuts were unaffordable.

The chancellor also declined to publish an independent assessment of his plans by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR).

Last week, the pound hit a record low and the Bank of England was forced to step in to stem soaring government borrowing costs.

Tony Danker, head of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), welcomed the U-turn saying that calming markets was an "absolute pre-condition to investment and growth".

BBC

 

[MenInG]

Former health secretary Matt Hancock has been suspended as a Conservative MP after joining the cast of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!

Mr Hancock will swap representing his constituents at Westminster for eating bugs in the jungle.

But Tory party managers have taken a dim view of the West Suffolk MP's decision to take part in a reality TV show while Parliament is sitting.

The Tory chief whip said it was "serious enough" to warrant suspension.

Simon Hart, who is in charge of Tory MP discipline, said he had taken the decision after speaking to Mr Hancock.

Andy Drummond, deputy chairman of the West Suffolk Conservative Association, said he was looking forward to seeing Mr Hancock "eating a kangaroo's penis".

The campaign group Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice called Mr Hancock's decision "sickening", and called for ITV to remove him from the programme.

The group tweeted: "Matt Hancock isn't a 'celebrity', he's the former health secretary who oversaw the UK having one of the highest death tolls in the world from Covid-19 whilst breaking his own lockdown rules."

Rishi Sunak's official spokesman said: "The PM believes that at a challenging time for the country MPs should be working hard for their constituents, whether that is in the House or in their constituency."

The spokesman said it was "unlikely" Mr Sunak would be watching the programme.

When MPs have the whip suspended, they are kicked out of the party within Parliament but remain an MP and continue to be paid.

Conservative MP Tim Loughton said Mr Hancock had been an "absolute prat" and losing the Tory whip was "the least he deserves".

"I'm completely disappointed and disgusted that he's put himself and his so-called celebrity career ahead of serving his constituents," he told Times Radio.

He added that if Mr Hancock's local Conservative association "have got any sense they might deselect him as well" - a move that would prevent him standing as a Tory candidate at the next election.

BBC

 

[James]

How bizarre!

Another strange chapter in the tale of village idiot Matt Hancock.

 

[Robert]

Probably has a grudge against the Tories after he got filmed snogging his co-worker. That felt like a stitch-up by colleagues.

 

[James]

<b>Thousands join London protest calling for general election</b>

Thousands of people have joined a "Britain is Broken" protest in central London.

A coalition of trade unions and community organisations are taking part in the demonstration, which was organised by the People's Assembly.

The group has called for a general election, action on low pay and the repeal of "anti-union" employment laws.

Protesters marched from Embankment to Trafalgar Square, where a rally is being held with various speakers.

The Metropolitan Police said: "There are currently a number of different demonstrations across London this afternoon.

"Several protests groups as expected are present in Trafalgar Square, with stewards on the ground working with police."

The force previously said extra officers would be on the streets as it expected demonstrations by environmental campaign group Just Stop Oil.

Speaking at the rally, former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the government would be "forced to listen" to protesters calling for improved pay and workers rights.

"Governments do eventually listen because of popular movements," he said.

"The people out here are very determined."

Michelle Uden, from south-east London, took her seven-year-old twin boys to the demonstration and said she wanted a change in leadership after struggling with the cost of living.

The 34-year-old cares for her husband, who has epilepsy, she said: "Enough is enough.
"If we don't stand up and fight we'll sit down and cry."

Mrs Uden said she took her children to the protest as she wanted them to see "democracy in action".

Ramona McCartney, national organiser for the People's Assembly, said: "The government is in a deep crisis and the third prime minister in a matter of months has been decided by a tiny elite.

"We want to make this the biggest demonstration possible to force them to a general election and in solidarity with every striking worker."

Laura Pidcock, national secretary of the People's Assembly, said: "We have to come together, as a movement, to organise on the streets and in our communities, and show that our voices will not be silenced and that we want fundamental changes to the way our country is run."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-63526355

 

[Robert]

<b>Thousands join London protest calling for general election</b>

Thousands of people have joined a "Britain is Broken" protest in central London.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-63526355

Curious how the Beeb covered this protest but not the big pro-EU demo of a couple of weeks ago. Strange editorial policy.

 

[Robert]

Four thousand Tory members quit the Party and join Reform UK because Truss was outsted and Sunak brought in.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/thousands-of-tories-have-quit-party-since-liz-truss-was-replaced-by-rishi-sunak/ar-AA13Qkbx?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=2dc3e435941e4d55819bf49e5cb2089e

Well, the Tories can do without these far right racists.

 

[Technics 1210]

The Tory members who joined Reform did so because they were denied a vote.

Trust liberals to spin this as racism, then again Liberalism does not believe in democracy.

 

[James]

I guess it’s the nature of our two party reality and the “first over the line” voting system that smaller breakaway parties and splinter groups are doomed to fail. Shame as some of the last few years have been crying out for an alternative credible voice in parliament.

 

[James]

<b>Sir Gavin Williamson has resigned from government after facing accusations of bullying.</b>

His departure came shortly after an ex-civil servant, who claimed Sir Gavin told them to "slit your throat", made a formal complaint against the Cabinet Office minister.

In his resignation letter that he shared on Twitter, Sir Gavin said he "refutes the characterisation of these claims", but that the allegations were "becoming a distraction for the good work this government is doing for the British people".

As a result, he had "decided to step back from government so that I can comply fully with the complaints process that is underway and clear my name of any wrongdoing".

Accusations against Sir Gavin came to light over the weekend when reports claimed he had sent abusive text messages to former chief whip Wendy Morton.

Ms Morton made a complaint to the Conservative Party about the messages, but earlier today confirmed she was reporting him to the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS), parliament's independent watchdog.

But on Monday, a further allegation surfaced, with a former Ministry of Defence official saying he had told the to "slit your throat" and, on another occasion, "jump out of the window" in what they called a sustained campaign of bullying.

An hour ago, that ex-civil servant confirmed they too would be going to the ICGS as the incidents had an "extreme impact" on their mental health.

https://news.sky.com/story/sir-gavin-williamson-resigns-after-allegations-of-bullying-12742023

 

[MenInG]

Ofcom has received 1,100 complaints about former health secretary Matt Hancock appearing on the ITV show I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here!

There has been widespread criticism of Hancock for appearing on the show while he is a serving MP.

Hancock has said he hopes to raise awareness of his dyslexia campaign while in the Australian jungle.

Ofcom will now assess all complaints before deciding whether to investigate.

The broadcast regulator received just under 2,000 complaints about the show in total.

While more than half of those were complaints about Hancock's involvement, some of the others were from viewers expressing concerns about how he was being treated by his campmates.

In a blog post on its website, Ofcom wrote: "It's worth being aware that under our rules, in principle - and taking into account freedom of expression - there's no ban on any particular person taking part in programmes.

"However, if the mere presence of a person is likely to cause offence, we would expect broadcasters to take steps to mitigate or justify that offence. How they do that editorially, is up to them."

Hancock was suspended from the Conservative parliamentary party after it emerged he was taking part in the show.

The 44-year-old was forced to resign as health secretary in June 2021 after he kissed a colleague while the government's social distancing guidelines were in place.

Many questions remain about the decisions made during the Covid crisis by Hancock and other government ministers - and whether more lives could have been saved.

An inquiry scrutinising the handling of the pandemic has been launched, which Hancock has supported and is co-operating with.

On Tuesday, campaigners including Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice flew a banner over the Australian jungle, where the I'm A Celebrity campmates are stationed, demanding Hancock be removed from the show.

Parliament's watchdog has also received dozens of complaints about his participation.

A petition set up before the series began demanding that ITV pull him from the show has over 45,000 signatures.

Hancock has given a robust defence of his decision to take part in the popular ITV programme, both before entering the jungle and when in discussions with his fellow campmates.

He said he was going into the jungle to raise awareness of dyslexia, telling the Sun that politicians must "go where the people are".

He has also said he will donate some of his fee for the programme to a hospice in his constituency of West Suffolk and dyslexia charities.

But he has faced criticism on social media for not mentioning dyslexia when asked by camp mates why he had entered the jungle, although the show is heavily edited.

During the show, he has told the other celebrities that there was "no excuse" for the actions that led to his resignation, adding: "Look, I know how people felt. That's why I resigned, right?"

But Hancock was told by his fellow campmates that his Covid rulebreak had been "a slap in the face". He later became emotional as he told campmates that what he is "really looking for is a bit of forgiveness".

Hancock also defended issues around PPE provision during the pandemic and the management of the virus in care homes, saying: "There were reasons for the decisions that were taken and ultimately those problems were caused by the virus, not the people who were trying to solve the problem."

His spokesman has told the BBC that Hancock supports and is co-operating with an independent public inquiry into the handling of the pandemic, and that producers have agreed he can communicate with his team about any urgent constituency matters that arise while he's on the show.

The complaints about I'm A Celebrity, fronted by Ant and Dec, were made between 8 and 14 November, Ofcom's latest reporting window.

ITV told the BBC it would not be commenting.