myopic - he will be desperately fumbling for an excuse. It doesn't have to be plausible. i would put the chances of him appearing at less than 50/50
Mleh PMQ is a minor distraction. Nobody outside of political nerds pay any real attention to it. Starmer can say what he wants, it'll be forgotten tomorrow.
Johnson will wait it out until the report, depending on how that looks he'll either tough it out or be hung out to dry by his party. This musical chairs will carry on until then.
If he loses the leadership, he’ll resign his seat too, won’t he?
Perhaps its all part of the plan to emulate ‘his hero’ he’ll be back as a Labour MP
TBH, what sane business would use Alexander to promote, well, anything?
Good Will ambassador for the Daily Mail/Express? (Ok I know that is an oxymoron but oxymoron is what he does best)
myopic – he will be desperately fumbling for an excuse.
He will turn up. If anyone is having a "work meeting" and wants to get truly hammered go for a drinking game using "wait for report", "Sue Grey" as the key to drink.
Actually on reflection only if you are drinking low alcohol beer since otherwise you would be comatose about 2 minutes in.
Probably the only interesting thing for PMQ though will be looking at the tory benches. If they are half empty or even just quiet then it wont be looking good for him.
He will turn up
On reflection, I agree. I think if he doesnt turn up the media reporting will be much much worse than if he just fumbles through.
Also expect lengthy babbling sycophantic Qs from those MPs deluded enough to back him
TBH, what sane business would use Alexander to promote, well, anything?
You know the Telegraph used to pay him £250,000 just to write a column?
well i can only describe my household as having a 'carnival type atmosphere' waiting for PMQs.
a level of anticipation similar to FA cup final day, but in the eighties when it was good and we could watch the players leave the hotel for wembley and check out their suits for the pitch inspection.
I can recommend watching PMQs with LBC's James O Brien on the audio as he does a snarky commentary as it happens
Mleh PMQ is a minor distraction.
Normally I'd agree that PMQs is a sideshow but in this case it's a lot more than that. Combined with disastrous media appearances like that sky interview yesterday, PMQs is the one place where Johnson can't hide, and the voters can see his dishonesty and incompetence very clearly in one 30 second soundbite. If it wasn't for his pathetic performances at PMQs and media interviews none of this would be happening.
Its not about using Johnson to promote anything. Its about the payment for services rendered. they will do it because if not how will they be able to buy the next intake?
How many times do we think Johnson will say “playing politics” today?
I detest that accusation when it's levelled. Amongst a great deal of other things I destest about Johnson and the tory party it has to be said.
Don't understand though why Starmer doesn't come back with 'Of course I'm playing politics you idiot, this is the highest level of politics in the country!' Sometimes there's nothing so disarming as being agreed with.
Its the media interviews which have done the majority of the damage. He can ride out PMQs by just sticking to his prewritten script "independent", "wait for inquiry","Sue Grey", "Vaccines", "boosters". Starmer only gets a few questions and unless the speaker actually starts doing his job and insists he answers then he should get through it.
Its when he tried to improvise like yesterday it all went pearshaped.
IMO, Johnson's only hope now is to pray for war in the Ukraine- a new crisis that will make it too difficult to switch horses mid stream.
I did think that the Tories might try and hold off until conference or something, but I think that it's far too late for that, even if the downward poll trajectory flattens off the government has lost all credibility, and there's no wins at all available to them to recover public support, let alone belief in the government.
Last week we had questions about washing machines and such like, I'm looking forward to the deflection questions before Blackford gets his chance to jump in.
Sometimes bozo struggles with the questions he's expecting as much as he does with the hits from opposition which just exemplifies his uselessness
Well, if some of his backers are truly being steered by the Kremlin, that may actually come to fruition.
The one universal truth is that, for a man with such a disastrous record in crisis management (and with such an incompetent cabinet), is he really who we want leading the country in the face of a conflict with a superpower? (I know the answer, it's rhetorical)
I'm thinking these are the 2 most likely outcomes (based on my extensive research of looking at Twitter a bit and the news).
1) Enough letters of no-confidence are filed to trigger a VONC in the next few days, Boris survives it, maybe some of the Red Wall Tories cross the floor to try to save their bacon come 2024, knowing they'll either lose, or Johnson will get his revenge in, either way, they they won't be Tory MPs after the next election. Labour win the next election, probally forming a coalition Government, what with all the redrawing off constituencies and photo ID at the polling station stuff.
Backbenchers either hold fire until they're sure they've got the numbers, or surprise surprise the Sue Gray report explicitly says that Johnson was warned the Party was probably illegal and either didn't respond, or shrugged it off. The letters come flooding in, Johnson loses, Sunak and Truss end up as the final two, Truss will likely win as she's selling herself as Johnson 2.0, maybe she calls an early election to cement her position, it will depend how the polls react to Johnson going.
I can't wait to see how wrong I am.
Well, 12 Pork Pie Plotters have handed letters into the 1922... Some obviously bottled it.
Christian Wakeford, Tory MP, red waller, has just defected to Labour!
Woop!!
maybe some of the Red Wall Tories cross the floor to try to save their bacon come 2024,
good prediction
Christian Wakeford, the Tory MP for Bury South is defecting to the Labour party, Sebastian Payne of the Financial Times has tweeted.
Bah - scooped by a poop!
I just saw that! I recall this happening before and there being clamouring for a byelection, but I believe that isn't actually necessary?
OH MY GOD !!
For once I beat you tj. Lol
Amazing stuff eh mate? PMQ going to be a must watch.
Rumours of more defections.
Let's hope for a few more during the January transfer window.
tjagain
Full Member
Bah – scooped by a poop!
I was typing like a madman to get in first for a change.lol
Good timing just before PMQs!!
WOWWEE WEE WAH!!!!
but I believe that isn’t actually necessary?
No because you elect the MP and not the party. Its actually unusual for the MP to call a byelection.
History being made!
Wakeford has issued a statement.
SKY reading it.
It's bloody damning for Boris and the tories.
His letter nails it.
For so many that voted Conservative, it will echo their own thoughts right now.
I find it quite funny that the Bury MP has moved from Tory to Labour. The people who voted for him must be livid. He'll be pelted with black puddings the next time he's out in his constituency.
The writing's on the wall for the "red wall" MPs. He must know that he's going to lose the next election or he'll be replaced by Labour HQ. Jumping ship now just temporarily bloodies Johnson's nose. If enough of them move it'll be more interesting
Both back benches packed.
good prediction
Lucky guess, but I'll take it!
I don't blame him, well from a purely practical point of view, obviously he's had to 'change his mind' on a number of key policies to see him more aligned with Labour... Or more likely he won his seat by a wafer thin margin and stood a poor chance of re-election before this fiasco and little to no chance after it, he's no doubt made a deal to keep the red rosette for next election.
I find it quite funny that the Bury MP has moved from Tory to Labour.
My MP. I didn't vote for him BTW. What happens now? Will he stay my MP?
Yes. Labour won't deselect him as he's aligned to their cause of ousting the Tories. (For now)
It's a huge PR disaster for the Govt but small fry compared to the last 2 years
I find it quite funny that the Bury MP has moved from Tory to Labour. The people who voted for him must be livid. He’ll be pelted with black puddings the next time he’s out in his constituency.
The writing’s on the wall for the “red wall” MPs. He must know that he’s going to lose the next election or he’ll be replaced by Labour HQ. Jumping ship now just temporarily bloodies Johnson’s nose. If enough of them move it’ll be more interesting
I'm sure the life long Tory voters in Bury will hate him for it, but, if you believe the press Bury went from Red to Blue either because of Corbyn or to 'Save Brexit', Corbyn's gone and we've left the EU, whether we think it's 'done' or not, if he didn't secure at least a promise of standing for Labour next time, he's mad.
Starmer on form! Exuding confidence.
Liking it.
"bring your own boos" 😂
One down, 79 to go.....
But as an aside, will photo ID hinder the Tory vote too? Lots of older folk may not have passports or driving licenses - my dad renewed his license just to have the ID, so presumably there's no pic on a bus pass
I’m sure the life long Tory voters in Bury will hate him for it, but, if you believe the press Bury went from Red to Blue either because of Corbyn or to ‘Save Brexit’, Corbyn’s gone and we’ve left the EU, whether we think it’s ‘done’ or not, if he didn’t secure at least a promise of standing for Labour next time, he’s mad.
The previous MP (Ivan Lewis) stood as an independent, after a falling out with the Corbyn regime, and split the vote. If that hadn't happened Wakeford wouldn't have won.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000612
Starmer is openly mocking him Its hilarious
Q "Should a Prime Minister who lies to Parliament resign"
A "I thank the people of the UK for getting vaccinated"
How many questions will be answered with reference to the vaccines?
Don't mention the Queen!
Interesting rule. 21st Century Britain.
Starmer finishes on cost of living crisis, perfect.
Tories making positive noises on the benches for Boris, I'm glad. Let the infighting continue, let them go down with the sinking ship.👍
