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We're (unsurprisingly) going off on tangents here
This is meant to be a thread about Rishi Sunak.
The point is that he's built his supposed reputation on being the grown up in the room after the lunacy of his predecessors and the mantra he's constantly vocalised is that there's no money for teachers/NHS pay rises, theres no money for infrastructure projects so bye, bye HS2, theres no money for anything...
Then, if all the rumours are to be believed, he's due a screaming U-turn and invoke the language of the woman who's policies he derided and announce a shedload of unfunded tax cuts, which will only benefit top earners and those inheriting large amounts of capital. So bollocks to any investment in anything, we'll just spaff all those (borrowed) billions on giving more money to people who don't need it. All of this to be funded by borrowing at a time when thats never been as expensive.
And the markets are going to react differently than when Mad Lizzie tried the same madness 12 months ago, because.....?
It sounds to me like they know they're done, so **** it, lets just give a load of (borrowed) taxpayers money to our mates before the electorate kick us out.
The tax cuts will benefit the 4% of the population who inheritance tax applies to and then maybe the top 10% of earners
Yep... that all sounds reasonable
Most voters these days accept that when necessary quantitative easing is actually a great idea.
Quantitative easing is an euphemism - it used to be known as printing money.
After over 40 years of Thatcherism and the Tory mantra "there is no such thing as government money", talk of printing money is frowned upon.
It’s not, there’s no mainstream economy based on Pure MMT
I never said it was, I said that the way govt finances work, and the way MMT describes them are aligned, and that people accept that. It's why I talk about govt finances rather than MMT. Del was the one who brought up MMT not me.
We’re (unsurprisingly) going off on tangents here
This is meant to be a thread about Rishi Sunak.
Not just about Rishi Sunak but also all those around him who are completely deluded and unhinged, such as Mad Lizzie.
So let's's get back to the entertaining hyperbole that we all know and love, and ditch all that boring stuff about the economy 💡
This is meant to be a thread about Rishi Sunak.
Binners you were quite happy to talk about the economy until you were challenged on it. What I don't understand is why despite your long history as a labour member and centre-left blairite you've suddenly become a Cameron/Osbornesque pro-austerity flag waver?
despite your long history as a labour member and centre-left blairite you’ve suddenly become a Cameron/Osbornesque pro-austerity flag waver?
I haven't. I just believe theres a middle ground between 'lets cut taxes' and 'lets fire up the printing presses'
The clue's in the word 'centre'
If you look at what Biden is doing in America, then that makes an awful lot of sense to me. Using public money to fund huge investment in infrastructure projects etc. Thats what the labour party are proposing now, isn't it?
Being against tax cuts for the rich during difficult economic times is not "pro-austerity", quite the opposite. We should be investing. In lots of things. Not getting left behind in the energy transition game at the top of that list.
What I don’t understand is why despite your long history as a labour member and centre-left blairite you’ve suddenly become a Cameron/Osbornesque pro-austerity flag waver?
Because he is loyally following the line decided for him by his Party Leader?
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/keir-starmer-labour-government-spending-b2376121.html
Starmer says he’s happy to be branded a ‘fiscal conservative’ as he refuses to commit to greater public spending
Using public money to fund huge investment in infrastructure projects etc. Thats what the labour party are proposing now, isn’t it?
Is it? Can you point me towards concrete policy commitments where they've promised to spend public money on infrastructure projects? They used to talk about spending 28bn a year on 'green stuff', but that's been put out to the long grass because 'there is no money' (or words to that effect). They supported stuff like HS2, but have now failed to commit to reversing Sunak's cancellation because 'there is no money'. Literally everything that comes from the mouths of Starmer and Reeves is qualified by 'there is no money'. So where is this middle ground that you're talking about?
Starmer says he’s happy to be branded a ‘fiscal conservative’ as he refuses to commit to greater public spending
Labour are already committed to greater public spending, billions of it. Just not everything, everywhere, all at once, from day one. There's the little matter of reality to deal with. Saying yes to everything, right here, right now is both uncredible and when it doesn't come true will perpetuate the idea that all politicians promise the earth and deliver on none of it.... see the current period of politics that the UK needs to break out of.
Does Rachel Reeves know about this?
Labour are already committed to greater public spending, billions of it.
Evidence please. Policy commitments on actual stuff, not 'we want to spend more when we can afford it'.
have now failed to commit to reversing Sunak’s cancellation because
They have no idea what extra cost a restart will involve. They can't commit to it unless they know they can restart it. My money is on it being made into an impossible ask by the current government over the next 12 months, they seem determined to make it so. They already making a good start on it (see, Sunak can act quickly when there's stuff to sell off and plans to destroy).
They used to talk about spending 28bn a year on ‘green stuff’, but that’s been put out to the long grass
It's been reduced in the first two years of a possible Labour government, but the commitment is still there for the life of the parliament. Also, that's only part of the spend. I've linked to the NEC policy platform document in the thread that this stuff should probably go in. Have a read.
I’ll leave you to it
And binners has flounced! You can talk endlessly about Mad Lizzie on the Rishi Sunak thread but as soon as you mention Sunak's opposite number, and almost certainly the next UK PM, and he's off!
Still, he'll be back here tomorrow to once again inform us just how mad Lizzie is.
To be fair to Binners, the thread was descending into another discussion about MMT (There's a thread for that), and more Starmer bashing (There's a thread for that). This is a thread about Rishi and there was a big veer away from him for a while there.
I do wish our inhouse left wing loons would give it a rest, we get it, you've all got massive superior understanding macro economics than the rest of us or the politicians.
Meanwhile Torys get ever worse but we still cant endorse Starmer.
Conservative MP arrested on suspicion of rape.
Crispin Blunt has just outed himself as the arrested tory.
This is a thread about Rishi
I thought it was an all purpose rant-about-the-tories thread?
'Pincher, Bone and Blunt'
sounds like a music hall chorus
Crispin Blunt has just outed himself as the arrested tory.
At this stage I'd be more surprised if there were any Tory MPs who were actually reasonably "straight" (I don't mean sexual orientation, I just mean not up to their necks in fraud, corruption, bullying or sexual assault claims).
I suspect that the only other institution where you find such a high percentage of sex pests, perverts and fraudsters would be a prison.
At some point surely their selection committees have got to look at the number of mps getting into trouble and think hmmmm we might need to improve our vetting.
Is it any surprise that Crispin Blunt who is a paid director of the international centre for Palestinian justice and very recently spoke out against the war crimes committed by Israel and hamas has suddenly been dobbed in to police by the Tory whips?, he’s been very outspoken against the Tory policy of supporting Israel’s right to bomb innocent Palestinians.
I doubt that's the case.
His first police interview was 3 weeks - so, before the Hamas terror attack - and he's standing down at the next election.
"I have now been interviewed twice in connection with this incident, the first time three weeks ago, when I initially reported my concern over extortion. The second time was earlier this morning under caution following arrest"
Unless I am misunderstanding I assume that three weeks ago he was interviewed by the police because he reported an attempt to blackmail him.
There is no information concerning why he was arrested this morning. I reckon it is feasible that the police have been provided with more information, whether reliable or false, which they feel justifies an arrest.
I also reckon it is feasible that it is connected to Crispin Blunt's very recent outspoken criticism of Tory government support for the bombing of civilians and collective punishments, rather than just a coincidence.
Good gob, someone who's been advised they're not suited to sixth-form study and then spends their adult life flagging up the same old images, accusing people of being sixth-formers and dullards might benefit from a quiet word in the ear.
Everyone loves a conspiracy theory.
Unless I am misunderstanding
I think you are:
I have now been interviewed twice in connection with this incident
Seems pretty straightforward to me. Someone has been threatening to blackmail, he went to police 3 weeks ago and they followed it up by arresting him and interviewing him under caution.
Doesn't seem to be playing like a grand conspiracy unless they're clairvoyants.
Everyone loves a conspiracy theory.
No not everyone. I prefer a level of openness and honesty in politics rather smear tactics.
There is no explanation why he wasn't arrested three weeks ago. Which suggests that the police have information now which they didn't have 3 weeks.
The idea that it isn't feasible that anyone would smear a politician is strange. Crispin Blunt clearly has political enemies, including now in the Tory Party.
rather than just a coincidence.
Too much of a coincidence IMO. I guess it’s all part of the effort to silence or stigmatise any criticism. Something which this forum is contributing to even if its intentions are genuine. At some point in the future we’ll look back on this as a dark and sinister period in history when we all played a part in the horror. The parallels with past history are pretty terrifying.
Dear god! I love our little cabal of unhinged 6th form lefties. Seriously, you’re absolute comedy gold.
So on a thread nominally about Rishi Sunak, having run through your usual achingly tedious repertoire of bonkers economics and slagging off Starmer (boo hiss!), you’ve now come to the conclusion that a Tory MP being a bit rapey (like that’s a first) is probably a conspiracy?
Righto lads …. obviously. You’re probably on to something. Makes you think eh? It’s certainly opened my eyes…
So, who set it up then? Mossad? The CIA? MI5? Maybe it was all of them? Maybe they were all sat in a Bond Villain Lair under a volcano, stroking a big fluffy white cat, cackling like maniacs while developing their death ray? Maybe it was aliens? Maybe they’ve already got a death ray. Eek!
Absolutely ****ing hatstand, the lot of you 😂

Isn’t this exactly the kind of allegation party whips supposedly like to use as leverage to keep MPs in line? On an aside, I thought it was amusing how the BBC mention but don’t name the other Tory MP (and former whip) under arrest on suspicion of crimes including indecent assault and abuse of a position of trust.
So on a thread nominally about Rishi Sunak, having run through your usual achingly tedious repertoire of bonkers economics and slagging off Starmer (boo hiss!)
It is how a countries economy works whether you like it or not so while not bonkers is a bit tedious. And as I have said before mentioning Starmer, who is the main opposition to Sunak, and what he says or does matters in any overall discussion about current life under Sunak.
Go on, post that hilarious sign of yours for what the 100th time now.
Absolutely ****ing hatstand, the lot of you 😂
But isn't that the case with anyone who has a different political opinion to yours? My understanding is that they must be either stupid or mad, or both. That appears to be the basis of all your political critiques.
Btw I'm loving how you obviously dismiss the possibility that someone might have made false allegations concerning Crispin Blunt, or if they have that they could not possibly be politically motivated.
Just to remind you, or you possibly didn't even know, here is how in the last week Crispin Blunt has understandably pissed some Tories right off :
The International Centre of Justice for Palestinians, which Mr Blunt co-chairs, has issued a notice of intention to prosecute UK officials and says there is “clear evidence that Israel has committed war crimes”.
I know absolutely nothing about any allegations made against Blunt beyond that he has been accused of rape. But I find the idea that they can't possibly be malicious and politically motivated bizarre. Hatstand indeed.
Edit:
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/gaza-war-crimes-uk-rishi-sunak-b2429728.html
You should pop over to Twitter. There’s a receptive audience for this kind of thing. All sat in their pants in their room at their mums house, with the curtains drawn, discussing how the moon landings were faked by our lizard overlords. Do we know what David Icke thinks about it all? 😂
Do we know what David Icke thinks about it all? 😂
Well we know what you think about it all. Apparently it isn't feasible that Crispin Blunt could possibly be an innocent blackmail victim.
I generally leave it to the courts to decide that sort of stuff.
The UK would save a fortune if you were made Justice Minister binners.
It is possible he's an innocent victim of blackmail.
It's unlikely to be connected to his comments on Israel if this started prior to the Hamas attack.
So was it our lizard overlords who organised all this then?
Or was it.... you know...
*checks for listening devices*
...'them'?
It’s unlikely to be connected to.....
The likelihood is debatable, well it might be if anyone had the vaguest idea what the allegations involve, beyond accusations of rape.
But I reckon that it is feasible that the latest development might be linked to Blunt's frankly astonishing attack on his own party's leader, and the announcement of legal action against "officials" in the last week or so.
You should pop over to Twitter. There’s a receptive audience for this kind of thing. All sat in their pants in their room at their mums house, with the curtains drawn, discussing how the moon landings were faked by our lizard overlords. Do we know what David Icke thinks about it all? 😂
So was it our lizard overlords who organised all this then?
Or was it…. you know…
*checks for listening devices*
…’them’?
I thought you wanted to focus on talking about Rishi Sunak binners?
Instead of making absolutely hilarious comments about David Icke and lizards how about sticking to the rules which you demand everyone else sticks too?
💡
Smoke, fire, and all that. Blunt has had the whip removed, whereas there is another sitting tory mp with sexual assault allegations being investigated, and peter bone was allowed to continue during his investigation.
If it does trigger (yet) another by-election - what is the magic number before Rishi calls an election? Or will he just brazen it out to the bitter end?
I don't think anything should take priority over discussing the dark forces at work, manipulating all our lives
You don't think... you don't think you're putting yourself in danger, do you comrade?
Are any of us safe?
I don’t think anything should take priority over discussing the dark forces at work, manipulating all our lives
You don’t think… you don’t think you’re putting yourself in danger, do you comrade?
How about you comply with the request you keep making of everyone else, and limit discussion to Rishi Sunak. It'd be awful if you appeared to be a hypocrite.

If it does trigger (yet) another by-election – what is the magic number before Rishi calls an election?
About thirty all of them losses.
Maybe at 29 and one pending he would call it a day otherwise its only going to happen if he loses the majority which whilst it should be ludicrous given their track record in this government I wouldnt completely rule out.
According to the latest poll commissioned by GB News support for Labour is now more than double that of the Tories.
https://www.gbnews.com/politics/keir-starmer-sunak-polling-labour-conservative
I am not quite sure how they have managed to do it but Tory support is falling back to the level it was when Truss was PM.
The gap between them and Labour is widening as the next general election gets ever closer.
Edit: I note that GB News calls it "a devastating poll", surely it is a really great poll for Labour and only a devastating poll for the Tories?
I can't imagine why a fair and unbiased news provided would want to describe it as devastating.
I don’t think anything should take priority over discussing the dark forces at work
Binners are you seriously suggesting that there aren't 'dark forces' at work at the moment? Given the flagrant bias and self-censorship in the media, in politics, and even on this forum, it seems pretty clear to me that there's more going on than meets the eye. Or have people just all coincidentally decided to turn off their brains and blank what is happening out of their minds? Sort of a collective hiding our heads in the sand on the biggest and most dangerous news story of the day.
Or have people just all coincidentally decided to turn off their brains and blank what is happening out of their minds?
Someone clearly has. I have always been very (too?) cynical so suspect everything and while not a conspiracy theorist it can look like it by deeply questioning things that happen along with potential reasons behind that (which are usually money when it comes down to it), things like the escalation of a case against a tory MP who is pro Palestinian whereas every tory who has been on the news over the last 3 weeks continues to spout BS about how Israel has the right to defend itself and refuses to comment on whether they think what Israel is doing is correct or justified - that includes Sunak (to keep binners happy)
So... serious question... these 'dark forces'...
Who are they exactly?
Given the presently huge number of (mainly Tory) MPs with complaints of a sexual nature against them, I find it far easier to believe that a Tory MP is a bit rapey and is partial to the old marching powder than there being some shady conspiracy to silence a frankly irrelevant backbencher for criticising the Israeli government.
I'm guessing Mossad are probably a bit busy at the moment
Who are they exactly?
Did I say they were anyone in particular? I'm not necessarily saying there's a conspiracy, just that there's some pretty dark stuff going on at the moment. Whether it's the overt suppression of critical voices and opinions, or the silencing of individuals or entire groups, to the seemingly voluntary omerta displayed in wider society about 'what's going on in Gaza' (I heard that phrase on the news earlier, which is a pretty astonishing way to describe the slaughter of thousands of civilians and the horrific humanitarian situation of the refugees). There seems to be a collective effort across our society to not talk about it or prevent people from talking about it, and that's pretty dark from where I'm standing.
There seems to be a collective effort across our society to not talk about it or prevent people from talking about it
Eh? Are you mad?! Its on the rolling news coverage 24/7. I watch channel 4 news every night and its full of horrific images of destroyed buildings, with people being pulled out of the rubble and bloodied children arriving at hospitals in Gaza. They're not talking of anything but Gaza. Baroness Warsi (who last time I looked was a Tory) was on Question Time (the flagship BBC news programme) last night absolutely eviscerating the Israeli regime for their actions/collective punishments. Perhaps she'll be stitched up for being rapey next, going off your logic?
I sometimes wonder what planet you lot live on, because its certainly not one I recognise
The news is no more than bland commentary about how many dead and how many bombs have been dropped. There's very little actual objective analysis about why this is happening, whether its right or wrong, or what can be done about it. Seems to me the general view being encouraged is one of 'oh look, there's stuff going on in the middle east again, best leave them to it, nowt to do with us'.
That's not how either the BBC or Channel4 news have been covering it.
Channel4 news coverage in particular has been both horrific and insightful. Shocking and nuanced. Painful and wide ranging.
If you mean that no single simple glib and impossible answer has been pushed in the news, then you're correct.
There are more news outlets doing a terrible job with reporting than there are good ones doing proper journalism hence the absolute terrible mess that the establishment has basically been allowed to get away with for the last - God knows how long - in just about every part of our lives.
I mean you can't spend all your life squealing in every Tory thread about the state of things and not notice our media is mostly pro-establishment/markets.
Let's not rock the boat lads we don't want too much change you know or what will fake lefties of the Guardian complain about. Fixing stuff? Nah.
a frankly irrelevant backbencher for criticising the Israeli government.
He isn't an relevant backbencher and he is not in the news for "criticizing the Israeli government".
Firstly he is a former Select Committee member and government minister, and secondly he has made the headlines for criticizing the UK government.
Specifically he has singled out the UK prime minister and leader of his own party by claiming that Rishi Sunak has put Britain in "legal peril".
He also co-chairs an organisation that "has issued a notice of intention to prosecute UK officials".
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/gaza-war-crimes-uk-rishi-sunak-b2429728.html
I find it far easier to believe that a Tory MP is a bit rapey
Why, because rape is common among elderly gay Tory politicians?
Gay men in the public eye have, relative to heterosexual men, a tendency to be the subject of threats and blackmail. When they are politicians it is reasonable to assume that threat increases, and even more so when they have made enemies within their own party.
I have absolutely no idea what the allegations are beyond the claim of rape nor obviously what has motivated an accuser.
But I do know that dismissing as implausible the possibility that Blunt might be the victim of malicious politically motivated allegations is absurd.
mean you can’t spend all your life squealing in every Tory thread about the state of things and not notice our media is mostly pro-establishment/markets.
The last big change in the media landscape was instigated by Murdoch... he took on the "establishment" and won.
A change for the better?
The media is a mess in the UK, and journalism has been scaled back and neutered. That doesn't mean that the likes of Channel4 are failing as regards this story. It's the hardest watch every evening, and interviews, questions and gives air time to a huge range of voices discussing what is happening, and why.. and what should happen, and how (the most difficult part).
I have absolutely no idea what the allegations are beyond the claim of rape nor obviously what has motivated an accuser.
But happy to hang conspiracy theories off it based on knowing so little? Relying on a timeline like something out of a Christopher Nolan film?
That are specifically working to discredit or silence a backbench MP that up until 48hrs ago literally no one had ever heard off?
He is a fairly active one so surprised you havent heard of him before.
Whilst a true tory in many ways he does have some areas where he is a loud and vocal critic (he does seem to believe in consistent individual liberty rather than the pick and mix most of the tories do).
He is also pro trans rights and seems to have a particular dislike for the culture war imported from the US.
He was also the first to point out Truss was a bit crap in public.
Whilst the current conspiracy theory certainly is rubbish, aside from anything else the timelines dont add up, I expect unlike in some other cases the tory whips would have made zero effort to help him out.
Blunt was the only tory amongst the 95 MPs who have signed the Protecting Civilians in Gaza and Israel EDM
Dread to think what fate awaits the other 94, at the hands of the shadowy behind the scenes cabal (ah how many of these dodgy tropes do I need to trot out?), or maybe non-tories are imune?
But happy to hang conspiracy theories off it based on knowing so little?
No, not at all. That is just a false conclusion which you have come to. Unlike binners it is not a case of what I find 'easy to believe' but what I find plausible and feasible.
Like everyone else I have practically no information concerning the allegations, all I can do is speculate what is plausible. Which includes possibility that he could be the victim of malicious politically motivated allegations, as well as that he might be a predatory rapist.
We do not even know if the two police interviews are actually connected. All we know is that 3 weeks ago Blunt went to the police apparently claiming to be a victim of blackmail, and that this week he was interviewed after being arrested for rape.
The two incidents might not be connected at all, even though it might be reasonable to assume that they are.
Although rapists don't generally go to the police to report that they are being blackmailed.
When did that last happen?
Blunt was the only tory amongst the 95 MPs who have signed the Protecting Civilians in Gaza and Israel EDM
And you seriously believe that makes the case that malicious politically motivated allegations is implausible?
^^^eh? Er, I believe what?
TBH I have no idea. The ridicule in your second paragraph suggests that you are ridiculing the suggestion that Blunt might have been politically targeted:
Dread to think what fate awaits the other 94, at the hands of the shadowy behind the scenes cabal (ah how many of these dodgy tropes do I need to trot out?), or maybe non-tories are imune?
Pointing out that Blunt was "the only tory amongst 95 MPs" simply emphasises why he might have made more political enemies in the last couple of weeks.
How about the usual suspects take their own advice and set up a different thread to discuss the whole "dark forces" theory, rather than ****ing up yet another thread for everyone else?
How about the "usual suspects" stop throwing hissy fits when they don't like what others have to say.
Blimey! This thread has gone 'Full Corbyn'.
No, not that one. The other one...

Congratulations comrades, you've truly surpassed yourselves and taken even your usual paranoid, nonsensical, lefty, conspiracy-peddling tinfoil-hattery to the next level. Well done to all involved 😂
the usual suspects
Surely there is only one usual suspect who has mentioned dark forces, Mossad, conspiracies, and has posted his usual, and very predictable, tinfoil pictures?
It would be mean to make him feel unwelcomed, he loves this thread as much Hodges loved WW2.
Anyway there is no reason why you can't carry on ranting about the Tories, which is what this thread is designed for.
What's Mad Lizzie up to these days?
Rishi Sunak tweeted yesterday "We've achieved a lot in the year since I became PM".
Unfortunately for him apparently only 16% of voters agree :
https://twitter.com/YouGov/status/1717560829246074983
Bizarrely twice as many Liberal Democrat voters believe that Rishi Sunak has achieved "a great deal" than Tory voters.
Bizarrely twice as many Liberal Democrat voters believe that Rishi Sunak has achieved “a great deal” than Tory voters.
Depends on what that "great deal" is really.
They have definitely done a great deal to help trash our countries reputation given the chance to recover from Truss and a decent amount of damage to the tories as well.
Nothing good I can think of but on the negatives I think its verging on a great deal.
He has steadied the ship after the sea-sickness inducing wrecking work of Liz Truss.
It might not seem like much but we are at least no longer going headlong for the rocks, just drifting gently but Inevitably in their general direction.
Credit where credit is due.
That will explain the resounding 5% of Liberal Democrat voters who believe that he has achieved "a great deal".
Credit where credit is due.
It would have taken a spectacular kind of incompetence to have done as bad as Truss (or Johnson)
the state of the country where the PM deservers credit for not having catastrophically shit the bed, helping plunge many 1000s into poverty....
Soooo
https://twitter.com/ElectionMapsUK/status/1717995400303456696?s=20
MegaLOLs if this were true, it'd see Tories with <50 seats and Labour with a 400+ majority
Conducted by people polling for Geebeebies so probably BS, but I wonder if this will be Johnson's first topic, Will the clown use his new platform to hound it Sunak? he's petty enough to do it.
It might well be a poorly conducted poll but it isn't massively different to the latest YouGov poll which puts Labour's share of the vote at double that of the Tories.
https://yougov.co.uk/politics/articles/47707-voting-intention-con-24-lab-48-24-25-oct-2023
Voting Intention: Con 24%, Lab 48% (24-25 Oct 2023)
^^^^ This poll not actually that far out from yougov's latest either!
https://twitter.com/ElectionMapsUK/status/1717696785026531435?s=20
Sunak should seize the opportunity to resurrect PR-STV for Westminster elections in the King’s Speech. The Conservative Party really deserve more seats than that on their vote share. 🤣
another 20pt deficit in the r&w poll today
its ok though, Biden & the G7 heads aren't showing for his AI summit but they got someone a bit more ...... trumpy
https://twitter.com/KevinASchofield/status/1719060805499457589?t=05HgImflmia2AiXYnw3KBg&s=19
