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Myopic - the message from downing street is don't expect to see him for a week. I'll bet my house he is not there for PMQs
Sunak would appear to have more than 2 brain cells and be reasonably competent. Of all of that shower he would probably be the best candidate for sure and the most dangerous to labour
I mean look at the competition. Not one of them I would trust to run a bath. Sunak at least might be able to find the plug and the taps
I don't think we ever really know how competent any of them are. We only know that they're good at Politics, Sunak especially, with nothing but a very expensive education, the sort of network that only Public School and an Oxford Degree can give you (he's Besties with the Political Editor of the Spectator) and a Billionaire Father-in-Law, he's managed to claw his way from a Hedge Fund Manger to MP, to Chancellor, to 2/1 Favourite to be the next PM in 6 years. He must have shown some incredible Political Talent to be handed the Tory candidacy for Richmond (a seat they've held since 1910) having never stood for public office before.
I'm not saying he's been parachuted in by Billionaire Hedge Fund owners to ensure their influence in Westminster, but... if you were a Billionaire Hedge Fund owner who wanted to ensure your influence in Westminster, this would be how you'd do it. He might be worse than Johnson, he might actually be competent, but acting in the interest of the Country might not be his goal.
Truss on the other hand followed the more usual route to becoming an MP, party member - smaller roles in the party, councillor, candidate for a no-hope constituency, and finally a safe constituency. Actually worked for her constituency, junior minister and finally Cabinet position.
Gove has back-stabbed too many people inside the Party and made too many enemies.
Hunt was a known remainer and unlike Truss he hasn't gone out of his way to prostrate himself before the cult of the Holy Brexit to atone for this cardinal sin in the eyes of the membership.
It's either Truss or some random outsider who manages to monopolise the 'anyone but Truss' vote.
That might end up being Sunak but I suspect not.
Outside bet: Oliver Dowden
Oh, I know TJ. My point was even if he could, he won't
TJ that shaking hands was another lie, the local paper made it very clear that it hadn't happened (they had no Covid patients at the time) and the hospital staff were not best pleased either.
he might actually be competent, but acting in the interest of the Country might not be his goal.
He is a tory - of course acting in the interests of the country is not his goal. The tory party are there to preserve wealth and privilege for the wealthy and privileged
Interesting BillMC
still shows a cavalier attitude to the rules !
They both work in Finance and reckon Sunak would be the best candidate though.
I work in Finance (Banking) and don't trust an awful lot on my colleagues opinions on work never mind politics.
"I have big political differences with Douglas Ross, but even I am not as derogatory about him as his own Tory colleagues are being," says Nicola Sturgeon.
First from Oxford, MBA from Stanford, and a Fulbright Scholar would suggest he’s not stupid though
It's mad really, isn't it.
Chris Grayling: Degree from Cambridge. Went on to be the possibly the crappest minister in living memory
Dominic Raab: Undergraduate degree from Oxford, Postgraduate degree from Cambridge, qualified as a solicitor. Didn't know that Dover-Calais was quite important.
First from Oxford, MBA from Stanford, and a Fulbright Scholar would suggest he’s not stupid though
Or he's very well connected. e.g. Helen Whately, Westminster school, she's an Oxford graduate etc. but makes a bunch of celery look like an intellectual colossus
There are different types of intelligence. Just because you are good at learning from books and regurgitating facts does not mean you have any nous, common sense, emotional intelligence, ability to do synthesis etc etc.
First from Oxford, MBA from Stanford, and a Fulbright Scholar would suggest he’s not stupid though
It's one of the basic flaws of our society which only values a very narrow definition of ability defined by narrow academic excellence to the almost total exclusion of anything else. You can have as many degrees as you like, but still be shull-crushingly thick in real life. Being good at exams does not mean you'll be good at managing projects, manageing people or have an ounce of emotional intelligence. Arguably it often means the opposite. Terrible self-perpetuating chumocracy epitomised by the Tories.
“I have big political differences with Douglas Ross, but even I am not as derogatory about him as his own Tory colleagues are being,” says Nicola Sturgeon.
Sums up the different culture between Westminster and Holyrood.
Chris Grayling: Degree from Cambridge. Went on to be the possibly the crappest minister in living memory
Dominic Raab: Undergraduate degree from Oxford, Postgraduate degree from Cambridge, qualified as a solicitor. Didn’t know that Dover-Calais was quite important.
My lad scraps like hell to get a place at Oxbridge just as we finally realise they are all as thick as shit!
That's probably because your lad took the front door route i.e. getting in on merit. The back door route is not for plebs like us.
I emailed my MP to find out what his stance was on this. I still haven't had a reply. I'll be amazed if I ever get one. He doesn't bother engaging with his constituents
Slight distraction ...
BBC New: MI5 warning over 'Chinese agent' in Parliament
"Mr Gardiner began getting donations from Ms Lee's law firm, Christine Lee & Co, at the end of 2014.
According to the register of MPs' interests, between then and 2020, he received over £420,000 in donations, mostly covering the costs of employing parliamentary researchers."
It looks like someone is winding up someone in this country.
I emailed my MP to find out what his stance was on this.
I might email mine, should be interesting as he's Douglas Ross 🤣
A deafening silence from mine ..... Gove. Hardly a surprise
Chris Grayling: Degree from Cambridge. Went on to be the possibly the crappest minister in living memoryDominic Raab: Undergraduate degree from Oxford, Postgraduate degree from Cambridge, qualified as a solicitor. Didn’t know that Dover-Calais was quite important.
You forgot the key qualification to be a Minister. Must be madly pro-Brexit.
Which automatically weeds out all the intelligent ones in favour of the thick nationalist ****s.
Slight distraction
Yes, astonishing(!) that this was released today…. Hmm what was in the news yesterday?? It enabled Pritti to look solemn on the news channels today.
She has had contacts with all political parties at Westminster allegedly
Yup my Tory MP stopped replying ages ago
He really is a spineless little ****
Re Sunak, his media appearances have been uniformly awful. Just pure cringe and comes across as a robotic dweeb with a tony Blair voice that sounds odd and inability to buy suits that fit properly.
I remember him being a bit more assured media wise pre 2019 election but anyway, get gone Rishi
I don't see either him or truss out performing starmer even with a supine media in their favour. Hunt's the only contender id be worried about, only cos hes reasonably intelligent and not as immediately repellent as the any of the cabinet
Ah yes Jeremy cHunt (silent H) - the person who led the acceleration of the dismantling of the NHS pre-Covid. Once he lost the leadership fight with Johnson he tried to pretend he's a nice guy and then used Covid as an opportunity to have a pop at the Govt. He's just another self-serving smunt.
Hunt is awful - slimy get. He deliberately got into fights with NHS staff for column inches and never looked like he actually knew what happens in healthcare
He is very repellent utterly oleaginous
Mad Nad is on channel 4 news backing the PM. Apparently he’s very upset at ‘the perception’ of what’s gone on
Bless
Just watched Dorries on C4, apologies if it's your town but I think the whole area she represents should be nuked immediately. Any human that votes for this woman is a harm to others.
Just thought I’d post to agree with you.
In a shocking development, Somehow i’Ve managed to post on an internet message board from an area that Rishi had no WiFi or cellular data coverage in to tweet his support of Boris yesterday. He should switch his service provider!
I actually feel embarrassed for her after watching that & im not naturally predispos d to sympathy for politicians.
Police to consider investigation if No 10 party probe points to criminal offences
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-59984382
Saves them a bit of paperwork/ investigation I suppose?
BillMC
Full MemberTJ that shaking hands was another lie, the local paper made it very clear that it hadn’t happened (they had no Covid patients at the time) and the hospital staff were not best pleased either.
If you ever wanted a single event to define Johnson before the current fiasco, this was it.
Goes on an unnecessary photo op to a hospital at a time when it's a pretty bad idea, doesn't follow the recommended social distancing, masking or hygiene advice of his own government in the run-up to it, then afterwards claims to have shaken hands with covid patients, which would have been absolutely insane and irresponsible and would have been a risk to him, the staff he was meeting with, other patients, and colleagues. Directly undermines all of his government's own advice for no apparent reason...
And then it turns out to be an absolute lie and that they knew in advance that there were no covid patients in the hospital.
It's that sheer "lying just for the **** of it", no advantage to be gained whatsoever, caused nothing but harm... I mean, it's weird enough that some people just don't understand the difference between truth and lies or that lying is bad and that you should try and tell the truth... But to be faced with a choice of telling the truth which actually paints you well, or telling a random lie that's absolutely counterproductive... Why would anyone do that unless they just love lies?
But to be faced with a choice of telling the truth which actually paints you well, or telling a random lie that’s absolutely counterproductive… Why would anyone do that unless they just love lies?
The only truth which matters to him is what he wants the truth to be at that very moment. There is zero thought given to any fallout or consequences. He can literally stand there promising unicorns one day and the next deny that there was ever any mention of unicorns without showing a shred of remorse or self-awareness.
It's the same level as a kid standing there with chocolate all round their mouth swearing blind that they never touched the chocolate. It's Walter Mitty levels of delusion.
He was ( at a guess) trying to show that covid was nothing to be scared about? following Trumps lead
cold war steve already already nailed it
https://twitter.com/IamHappyToast/status/1469674243529003011
Torygraph piling in is funny
Im guessing this is a leak from the Sue Grey report
This was recently posted on Arsebook by the daughter of one of BloHard's dimmest cabinet ministers
so the key worker nurses and doctors doing tiktok dances in the halls and eating in the canteens together during breaks...how is that different to the key worker civil servants getting some down time amongst long shifts when they're already working together?
They spent 18hour days securing us
vaccines
tests
Furlough
Business Grants
new hospitals
accomodation for the homeless
Repatriation
They did so much and had a drink in the garden during work to decompress.
No different to those having picnics in overcrowded parks. In fact not as bad, they were at work whilst many were being paid not to.
Not seeing loves ones dying in hospital is just grieving upset people deflecting their emotions toward boris. He wasn't doing it in an ICU ward, where there are STILL very strict visiting rules for end of life.
He's being stitched up by an extremely manipulative opposition and a handful of rebels in his own party. those shouting for him to resign now will quickly come to regret this
Rules were broken, but not in any kind of way that harmed anyone by people who were risking a lot to do an impossible task. Let's stop being so predictably angry at anything our twisted media portray and think for ourselves for once.
Posting this partly because a reminder of the game made me smile…
https://twitter.com/haveigotnews/status/1481599734695575553?s=20
doomanic
Not seeing loves ones dying in hospital is just grieving upset people deflecting their emotions toward boris.
Good luck justifying this or the other points you make.
Boris was just doing his best eh? The nasty opposition are just being nasty eh?
I know, it's delusion of the highest order.
^^Bugger, sorry, I didn't realise you were quoting someone.😁
Sorry! I though you had been drinking or something.lol
Johnson was (and still is doing) his best.
It's just his best is really, really, really ****ing shite.
Actually Newsthump seem to have given up on satire and are just reporting the news instead.
More of the hard Brexit cheerleader MPs are turning on him now.
https://twitter.com/ABridgen/status/1481744603162329091?s=20
@poopscoop I guessed that. The forum ****ed up the quote almost as badly as Blohard has ****ed up the country.
This was recently posted on Arsebook by the daughter of one of BloHard’s dimmest cabinet ministers
Which one? Its a rather tight field with most just above able to walk and breath at the same time.
He wasn’t doing it in an ICU ward, where there are STILL very strict visiting rules for end of life.
I like this line. Well thats okay then so long as they didnt decide to randomly gatecrash an ICU ward with some wine and gin its okay. I wonder where else is high on their list of party locations? Morgues and cemeteries perhaps? Are they are a goth?
Im guessing Dories daughter
That Bridgen has crayoned his letter to 1922 commiittee, is surely a sign that its end of days
The notion that a lot of those people may not have been dying in hospital if we had a more responsible government is clearly lost on that pampered offspring.
And good old Nadders has been wheeled out to make excuses for de Pfeffel, quite possibly after a couple of lunchtime glasses of sauvingnon:
**Warning - Daily Heil Link below**
"...a very formidable serval servant, Sue Grey"
Dorries herself is sadly typical of Johnson's front bench, strong on loyalty but not over-blessed with brains or integrity. Given that the mewling Victorian Pencil managed to throw the leader of the Scottish Tories under a bus yesterday and that Andrew Bridgen (Himself an intellectual vacuum) has accused Johnson of presiding over a "moral vacuum" at the heart of government.
Ideally, the whole Conservative Party will collapse into civil war between the various factions and will **** off into history, but that's a little too much to hope for.
There will always be a party that appeals to baser human emotions so there will always be Tory party or party that represents the same values.
doomanic
Full Member
@poopscoop I guessed that. The forum * up the quote almost as badly as Blohard has * up the country.
I definitely need to play better attention when I read too. 😁
Jesus! When Andrew Bridgen is lucid enough to get his felt tips out and scrawl a letter, the game really is up.
Is it just me or is everybody else reminded of a ventriloquists dummy when his huge bulbous head appears on screen.
https://twitter.com/bbcnewsnight/status/1481766468975054862?s=21
I reckon Boris is now stockpiling arms, Waco style for when they come to drag him out
So the Sun's reticence to put these parties on the front page isn't just because it would become clear their Deputy Editors was at some of them - it turns out one of the parties was thrown for him.
Its interesting as these new party revelations come out of the woodwork. The first ones revealed was the ones held last Christmas and the leaked mock press conference exercise dwelled on the consequences they feared of the fallout if party becoming public knowledge. Having dwelled on that.... they kept having parties.
So the Sun’s reticence to put these parties on the front page
That and according to private eye and somewhat admitted to by the Sun they had a rather excitable christmas party in 2020.
Having dwelled on that…. they kept having parties.
Well they had got away with it plenty of times so why stop?
Maybe he's in the flat steaming to paper off the walls and packing.
I'm not a fan of the Royalty but that photo of QE2 alone at her husband's funeral, captures the disconnect between the Govt setting the rules and the public following them. I hope it haunts them for the rest of their days.
Having dwelled on that…. they kept having parties.
Imagine how much work they might have been able to do if they weren't partying the whole time!
I actually can't decide which I want more - in certain cases (like Chris Grayling) it would have been far cheaper for the country to pay him a Minister's salary and have him do absolutely nothing cos everything he did do failed spectacularly and expensively. In that case I'd be quite happy for him to be sitting in a garden drinking cos it'd keep him away from ****ing things up even more. Genuinely difficult call that!
I’m not a fan of the Royalty but that photo of QE2 alone at her husband’s funeral, captures the disconnect between the Govt
I think it's pretty powerful image especially for the folks that think of themselves as Monarchy supporting Tory voting Conservatives.
There are underlying issues within the Tory party in ss much as they can't get positive press due to partygate -
Economic news today
Omicron possibly retreating
Scotland, Wales rolling back
restrictions
Kier having a beer
They are mightily pissed that Boris is running defence on the above (questionable) good news.
Labours polling and nervous redwall MPs don't help.
It would appear that the Tory party sixth sense for a leader cull has also disappeared. Hopefully they will keep Boris in post.
They broke lockdown rules on multiple occasions. They had no moral awareness or care.
And now they are happy to sit silently and make a publicly funded investigation (if it is of any value by the time it is published) work hard to find out basic facts such as when gatherings happened and who attended - which surely are in some kind of security log for No.10?
I like that the hardcore tories all profess to be staunch unionists, but have blundered themselves to a place where a tory prime minister isn't welcome at a Scottish tory conference. Not to mention that his mere existence is the gift that keeps on giving for the SNP.
which surely are in some kind of security log for <span class="skimlinks-unlinked">No.10</span>?
Which rolls back around to uncomfortable questions for the Met again? I mean apparently some-one went out with a suitcase to smuggle booze back for a party, and these cops didn't notice? didn't think to stop and question? I don't think it's just Johnson that should be brushing up their CV to be honest.
Anyone else hear Damien Hinds squirm his way through a R4 interview this morning around 8:15?
It was awful....avoiding the questions, lots of ummmming & aaahing. I can't imagine he was very comfortable doing it!
I'm not fan of the royal family, but jeez that pic of Liz sitting on her own at her Husband's funeral - following the rules - while de Pfeffel & his mates partied away....
So many questions - how on earth did they get away with it at the time! The Police were sending drones over the Peak District to catch people walking and these arseholes were doing whatever they wanted.
The Police were sending drones over the Peak District to catch people walking and these arseholes were doing whatever they wanted.
Same police guard the Houses of Parliament despite the obvious clouds of white powder drifting around inside and haven't done anything.
Irony is that this Government implemented laws requiring myself and my colleagues to submit to random drug testing but weren't willing to do the same.
So, this enquiry then...
Do we think it will be fair and transparent, or will it be a whitewash/cover up ..?
Civil servants will be found to have "fallen short" and will be moved on. "No evidence" the PM knew anything about anything. Nothing to pass on to the police... what happens in vegas stays in vegas.
what happens in vegas stays in vegas.
I wish that what happens in vegans stays in vegans. Plant based paaaarp is offensive
💨💨💨💨
Seems clear they're going to try to brazen this out. Johnson has gone to ground and tory MPs are being sent out to defend the indefensible. The guy on question time last night was astonishingly bad. Even Isabel Oakeshot was calling for him to resign. There are leaks already that the enquiry will let him off the hook. It's all good, the more they resist the inevitable the more damage they do to themselves.
So, this enquiry then…
Do we think it will be fair and transparent, or will it be a whitewash/cover up ..?
I learned yesterday that Gray once gave advice on using personal email addresses for work business that costs the government thousands, and has form for guiding and encouraging colleagues and ministers how not to leave a paper trail.
There are leaks already that the enquiry will let him off the hook. It’s all good, the more they resist the inevitable the more damage they do to themselves.
Agreed I initially thought there is no way they can find in his favour , but I suspect they might try it and there will be a lot more damage done (as it is the public know he is taking the piss this will just add insult to injury)
Its already being leaked she will find some minor issues but the underlings will get most of the blame.
Even by his standards it would be a major screwup to chose someone who would actually do the job properly.
I have to admit I'm enjoying checking the news apps ever few hours waiting for the other shoe to drop.
I fancy, Boris is bunkered down, praying for time to let this blow over a little, but equally knowing whoever is behind all the leaks is still holding a few more things back.
I give it a day or so before it's leaked that during this 'isolation' period he's actually taking lots of meeting, begging for some support.
Hmmm
my understanding is she can only make a call on matters of fact and cannot recommend any action - Johnson is the one who decides what is done with the information she finds
Isn't she just writing an advisory report, but has no remit to apportion blame or set sanctions?
The ultimate arbiter of apportioning blame and any subsequent sanctions or punishments is good 'ol fat lad himself, marking his own homework again.
Given how hard-faced he's been so far (his face'd stand cloggin' as my gran used to say), I think we can all guess which way that will go
Move along now. Nothing to see here....
Johnson is the one who decides what is done with the information she finds
Ah excellent. We can therefore be sure that, as with the Priti Patel bullying case where it was found she had bullied her staff, Johnson decided that nothing should be done anyway.
Its not just about Johnson.
Does anyone really expect a civil servant to honestly carry out an investigation that has a very good chance of uncovering illegal behaviour from a large number of senior colleagues?