Well she has and its SNP policy – so once again your knowledge is lacking
Clearly, do point me in the direction of this policy
the Zahawi interview with Peston is pure gold.
Zahawi lacks any plausibility or coherence, and comes across as a total POS. What a crock.
How convenient for Johnson - a "family member" has tested positive. He does not have to isolate ( so presumably not an actual contact) but he is going to follw the advice not to travel so he gets out of a q&a session
the man is an unbelievable fraud
Mogg and Gove dismissing Ross as a lightweight or "In Elgin not London" will go down well north of the border.
North of the border has never really interested the Tory party, apart from land ownership, same with across the water and Ireland. The use of dismissive terms is all part of the nationalistic BS that JRM loves
How convenient for Johnson – a “family member” has tested positive.
Could be any one of an unspecified number of ex-wives, mistresses or children...
What I'm struggling with, is how on earth BoJo's press sec / PR gurus thought yesterday was a good idea. Clearly it was a planned statement, it wasn't completely off the cuff. Did he just balls up the plan which was for a sincere apology, failing because he's an oaf who can't admit his fault?
I genuinely think if he'd just owned it, he'd be fine. As it stands, he's taking the public for mugs.
Could be any one of an unspecified number of ex-wives
I didnt think any of them were still speaking to him outside of via a lawyer.
Its clear why he cant attend though. Its not that he is hiding but he needs to concentrate on organising a final work meeting for Van-Tam.
What I’m struggling with, is how on earth BoJo’s press sec / PR gurus thought yesterday was a good idea. Clearly it was a planned statement, it wasn’t completely off the cuff.
If he had admitted it was a party and he attended knowingly then he has just admitted to a crime. a crimwe for wich others have been fined
So he had to make an apology without admitting criminal wrongdoing
Only on one condition, and Labour would never agree to it.
They're not going to vote against Labour and as I said to someone yesterday, both Party's sit on the Opposition Benches.
Labour don't need the Scottish seats, but what they do need is few/none in Tory hands.
He seems to believe he is the victim.
I said that yesterday. You could see that, far from any genuine contrition (which I doubt he's actually capable of), he had a look on his face that said 'why is everyone picking on me?'
Its patently obvious that he doesn't think he has anything to apologise for. He's 'world king' after all, and answerable to nobody
He seems to believe he is the victim.
I said that yesterday. You could see that, far from any genuine contrition (which I doubt he's actually capable of), he had a look on his face that said 'why is everyone picking on me?'
Its patently obvious that he doesn't think he has anything to apologise for. He's 'world king' after all, and answerable to nobody
Yup - he is incapable of understanding he can do wrong. same as Trump.
What I’m struggling with, is how on earth BoJo’s press sec / PR gurus thought yesterday was a good idea. Clearly it was a planned statement, it wasn’t completely off the cuff. Did he just balls up the plan which was for a sincere apology, failing because he’s an oaf who can’t admit his fault?
I genuinely think if he’d just owned it, he’d be fine. As it stands, he’s taking the public for mugs.
I've been thinking the same.
I guess it was the 'least worse' option for him. The backbenchers and party donors all but gave him an ultimatum. Apologise or we'll force a VONC. So he had to do it. But their goals aren't aligned. Johnson knows an apology is, of course, an admission of guilt, and in his position should mean an immediate resignation, but this is Johnson the super-Tory. He only cares about No1 so there's nothing in it for him to resign, so he gives a crap, sort-of, apology to buy some time to try to get his party back on-side.
I think he's a dead man walking really, but as long as there's a chance, he'll hold on, because it's more important to him to keep his job today than worry it again next election. The Tories though, seeing the polls and knowing about the troubles that lay ahead (inflation, energy crisis, labour crisis etc etc etc) will want to reverse those polls double quick to give them the best chance to survive the next GE.
It's his selfishness and blind arrogance that will sink the Tories.
the "crisis" management @ number 10 has been appalling from the start of this, even the "wait for the inquiry line" is going to backfire on them because the leakers with hold stuff back now till a few days after and torpedo them again. What you didn't tell them about this other party you attended tut tut.
Covid or Coup? Is he isolating or is he not allowed out as appearing in public will cause more damage?
He only cares about No1 so there’s nothing in it for him to resign, so he gives a crap, sort-of, apology to buy some time to try to get his party back on-side.
There was an analysis on the speech yesterday by a Linguistics Professor, she did a thread on Twitter about it (can't find it right now) but it was very carefully worded. You're right, it was a non-apology of the "well I'm sorry if you feel that way" kind implying that you're wrong for feeling that way about what he's done. However, behind it all was a very careful effort not to admit to any wrongdoing.
Thought you just had to do LFT if close contact?
As crazylegs says up there ^^^^^ The Tory party really is a sack of rats. They will bite, claw, and infight their way to the top of the sack, using each other only to further their own goals and ambition to be king rat.
The three rules of being a Tory MP is:
1: Look after No1.
2: Look after those who look after No1.
3: Remain in power.
King Rat has now backed himself into a corner and is surprised that the other rats are behaving like rats.
Thought you just had to do LFT if close contact?
But he hasn’t got any LFTs because you can’t get any LFTs. I wonder if that was the plan all along. Oh, damn………
Interesting Rees Mogg calling Ross a lightweight. Ross is a lightweight. However he does appear to have some backbone and morals so clearly unfit for the modern tory party.
Thought you just had to do LFT if close contact?
It is probably to err on the side of caution if you are going to go and hang around a vaccination clinic.
Then again its probably best not to waste everyones time by turning up for a photoshoot at all.
Questions guys:
Is there a cheap way to join the Tory party?🤢
Is there a limit to how long you need to have been a member method you can vote in a leadership election?
Cheers.
There is no cheap way. You have to sell your soul.
tjagain Full Member
In Scotland we had the chief medical officer resign for visiting a holiday home ( needed a good push tho) we have an MP facing criminal prosecution for traveling on a train after a positive test – she clearly panicked and did a stupid thing
It would appear that she managed to be in that panic for about two days, including while she was speaking in parliament. From Wikipedia:
On 1 October 2020, Ferrier made a public statement apologising for serious breaches of COVID-19 regulations. On 26 September, she first noted symptoms of COVID-19 and took a test. On the same day as taking the test, she visited a gym, beauty salon and a gift shop.[14][15] While waiting for the results, having COVID-19 symptoms, Ferrier took a train from Scotland to London, on 28 September, and spoke in a parliamentary debate that evening.[16] The same evening, she received a positive test result, but returned to Scotland the next morning, again by train, having told her party whip that a family member was unwell.[16] Following her public statement, Ferrier was suspended from the SNP, and referred herself to the police and the Parliamentary standards authorities.[17]
She's had the SNP whip withdrawn but continues to be an MP, the assumption being that she's trying to hold on until the next general election at which point she'd qualify for the MP's pension. Apparently her constituency office has been unstaffed for a very long time now, oddly it appears that nobody's willing to work for her. Her constituents won't be able to recall her and kick her out unless she is finally convicted when she goes to trial in August.
In conclusion, I wouldn't really recommend using Margaret Ferrier as an example of honourable behaviour when caught breaking Covid regulations.
You can join the Scottish Tories for a nominal donation. 3 months membership before you can vote.
ChrisL - the point merely being she is being prosecuted - so the scottish legal system is working whereas in London the Met will not even investigate politicians
Anyone else noticed Johnsons face getting all puffy looking? he looks to me like has has been hitting the bottle hard these last couple of months. Beginning to actually look like an alcoholic
If the prick resigns today when would they choose the next scumbag?
VAnyone else noticed Johnsons face getting all puffy looking? he looks to me like has has been hitting the bottle hard these last couple of months. Beginning to actually look like an alcoholic
I put that down to him having covid- those 10 days he dissapeared over xmas and uploaded a few prerecorded vids where he looked horrendous- but was worried itd make him look even weaker infront of his covid denying backbenchers
dantsw13
Free Member
You can join the Scottish Tories for a nominal donation. 3 months membership before you can vote.
Thanks mate.
If the prick resigns today when would they choose the next scumbag?
It'll be a couple of weeks at the earliest, months more likely.
If he resigns, and he'd have to be forced I think, it can start straight away, but if they force a VONC is takes longer and, he could, win that. If he does he can't be touched for a year.
Rumour (Twitter) has it that there are already enough letters to force a VONC, but that only takes 15% of Tory MPs, they need 50% in the actual vote for him to go, and as above, if he doesn't lose that (as in the case of Theresa May) he's safe for a whole year.
Assuming his loses the Vote of No Confidence, then he'll probably stay on as PM until the next one is appointed. The Tories vote twice a week in a knockout contest until there are only two candidates left, this caused all sorts of drama last time, because the non-Brexity Tories tried everything to stop Boris getting into the last two. It'll likely be Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak
Truss is 'pragmatic' when it comes to her Political beliefs, she grew up in a Guardian reading, middle-class Leftie family, became a Lib Dem in Uni, joined the Tories under CMD and was a remainer, then switched to the right and a hard-nosed Hard Brexiteer under Johnson, or perhaps she'll just do, or say anything to get ahead, so she's a real Tory.
Sunak is another odd one. He's a 2nd gen immigrant to the UK, but expensively educated and is married to a billionaire. Whilst Truss appeals to the 'little Britain' Tories, Sunak appeals to the greed is good, free market economy Tories. Low taxes (especially for the Rich) and low public spending.
I think Sunak will appeal to MPs and Donors and will find it easy to get into the final two, but Truss is far more palatable to the Party members.
I put that down to him having covid
There are lots of rumours about his fondness for alcohol.
Sadly he seems to have looked at Churchill as a role model but somehow lost all the positives and just doubled down on all Churchills faults.
I think Sunak will appeal to MPs and Donors and will find it easy to get into the final two, but Truss is far more palatable to the Party members.
Do the tories have to go on a different tack if they choose Sunak? They can't stick with all this populist nudge-nudge-wink-wink racism that seemingly appealed to the Brexit voting morons / 'Red Belt' northern seats. I can't see a brown billionaire having the same appeal!
On that basis, I quite like the idea of Sunak bringing us away from this populist ideology. He's probably a more dangerous man, though.
If the prick resigns today when would they choose the next scumbag?
No way will he go of his own accord. They'll have to drag him away from his Lulu Lytle wallpaper, kicking and screaming
The Torys will let him carry the can for the election losses in May, then he's toast.
There was an interesting comment made by a Tory MP when asked who's likely to succeed him, he immediately snapped back 'well it'll be none of the present frontrunners', which I thought was interesting, but not surprising. Boris was inevitable, May was a coronation but prior to that the Torys have not elected a frontrunner and have gone for someone leftfield. Nobody had even heard of David Cameron, remember.
I put a bet on Truss (3/1 - joint favourite with Sunak) a while back but looking at the odds Oliver Dowden was 4th favourite (15/1) and I thought that that was just the kind of weird and perverse thing the Torys would do
There are lots of rumours about his fondness for alcohol.
There was an amazing exchange on Have I Got News For You a couple of years ago. Possibly with Miles Jupp.
Jupp: So the question we all want to know about Boris Johnson. <pause>. Is he an alcoholic?
Baroness Warsi: Erm... <looks panicked> .....he......the.... <agonisingly long silence> ....I don't really know him very well. I wouldn't know about that.
I put a bet on Truss (3/1 – joint favourite with Sunak) a while back but looking at the odds Oliver Dowden was 4th favourite (15/1) and I thought that that was just the kind of weird and perverse thing the Torys would do
Might be a late charge down the far-right from Gove or (God forbid) JRM.
JRM might be good for Britain, like the Royal Family bring in tourists. Make the whole world think we're weird toffs who call their children with a whistle.
No way will he go of his own accord.
I'm not so sure, He's often said that he doesn't enjoy the role as much as he thought he would. He's drowning in debt and can make way more money outside of politics, and the constant onslaught will stop. Even if he doesn't quit, I'm not sure he'll need much of a push.
What are the odds on Jeremy Hunt?
Edit - They are shortening...He is the only logical choice to unite the party
He’s often said that he doesn’t enjoy the role as much as he thought he would.
Presumably when he thought the role would involve a load of free dinners with dignitaries, a few all-expenses business junkets, some handshakes and some opinion pieces about what a wonderful leader he is...
Rumour (Twitter) has it that there are already enough letters to force a VONC,
That's huge news if true, where are you hearing that?
Presumably...he thought the role would involve
Pretty much, I certainly don't think his plans involved any like the hard graft that COVID required certainly, as we can all see from the utter shit show that he's presided over. Every single assistant or advisor who's ever spoken about it has said time and again that Johnson isn't and never has been a "details" man, he doesn't enjoy the work of policy making or weighing alternatives, deciding campaigns or having to make critical decisions. I can't imagine for a second his dreams of World King ever involved this.
What are the odds on Jeremy Hunt?
Present odds for the runners and riders:
Rishi Sunak - 3/1
Liz Truss - 4/1
Michael Gove - 7/1
Jeremy Hunt - 9/1
Oliver Dowden - 15/1
Priti Patel - 15/1
Sajid Javid - 15/1
Odds for Boris being gone before the end of the year are 1.5/1
Odds on Boris not being leader by the next election are 1.4/1
What are the odds on Jeremy Hunt?
All depends on whether Brexit is behind us or not (spoiler, it’s not). If there is a leadership election next year, I’d bet good money on him. This year? No chance… to much “real Brexit” noise for MPs and the membership… Truss knows this, it’s why she’s working so damn hard to cleanse herself of any public signs of reasonableness towards our neighbouring countries.
