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In light of the ongoing Brexit question, it seems that figures we would not otherwise have heard of - other than for their eccentricities/affectations - have the potential to develop (or indeed have already developed) an influential presence that goes way beyond what they normally and naturally would have.
You will have guessed by now that I am thinking of Jacob Rees-Mogg, but I feel as if every time I open the Google News or MSN pages, his image appears.
Because, as for so many us, Brexit represents such a vexing issue, it really maddens me that one, otherwise peripheral, man can wield so much power. I mean, this guy (together with a handful of others) has the potential to direct our nation's future, when he represents pretty much himself, his family, and a handful of others from the British Horse Society.
Grrr.
Its a product of our dysfunctional system but Mogg doesn't really have any more power than any other backbencher - he is just a darling of the right wing press
Does he though?
I just view him as the Tory party's answer to Corbyn, he's a caricature of everything the parliamentary party doesn't want people to think they are.
You will have guessed by now that I am thinking of Jacob Rees-Mogg, but I feel as if every time I open the Google News or MSN pages, his image appears.
Try clearing your cookies and viewing it from another device, I barely see him unless he's done something particularly note/cringe worthy.
If you think I am disproportionately concerned, I am happy to hear it. I still worry, though, that because May has been trying to placate the more rightwing end of her party in order to stay in power, his views get a greater airing.
It may just be confirmation bias, but I don't think the Minister for the Nineteenth Century gets as much airtime as Fartage.
I watched a public accounts committee session on Brexit a few weeks back (I was really bored) and, to be fair to JRM, he was one of the few MPs in the room who was paying attention and actually seemed to know what was going on.
Come to think of it, that's slightly worrying.
Because of the first-past-the-post electoral system, the Conservatives with a membership of 70,000 people (and declining) can hold power because they're backed my a number of media figures
He's surprising in a way. Who could possibly have predicted how he might turn out?
This might make you feel better.
https://www.buzzfeed.com/jimwaterson/everyone-took-the-piss-out-of-jacob-rees-mogg-at-university
That coat...A wee boy with delusions of grandeur,trying to dress like big man.
He's still trying
Because of the first-past-the-post electoral system, the Conservatives with a membership of 70,000 people (and declining) can hold power because they’re backed my a number of media figures
You appear to have misunderstood the first-past-the-post electoral system. The reason the conservatives hold power is because they got more votes than any of the other parties.
Its probably also worth mentioning that if you look at the last general election and put the evil Tories votes together with the Fascist UKIP and Ultra Conservative DUP nutters, the collected ‘right wing extremist’ parties got over 50% of the votes
Boo hoo, Democracy is a real bitch sometimes isn’t it?
Its probably also worth mentioning that if you look at the last general election and put the evil Tories votes together with the Fascist UKIP and Ultra Conservative DUP nutters, the collected ‘right wing extremist’ parties got over 50% of the votes
Show us the figures.
You appear to have misunderstood the first-past-the-post electoral system. The reason the conservatives hold power is because they got more votes than any of the other parties.
You appear to have misunderstood the first-past-the-post electoral system. The reason the conservatives hold power is because they won more seats than any of the other parties. The gross number of votes is irrelevant.
They did actually get more votes though, to be fair. 13.67 million (Tory) vs 12.87 million (Labour). And as we learnt in 2016, a 3% difference between two voting options represents an overwhelming majority which is why the Tories were able to then immediately form a government.
Oh.
They did actually get more votes though, to be fair. 13.67 million (Tory) vs 12.87 million (Labour).
Going slightly off-topic for a second, I am still genuinely amazed that Clinton actually got more votes than Trump, but Trump still won due to the set-up of the US voting system.
This voting thing is a funny old beast.
Its probably also worth mentioning that if you look at the last general election and put the evil Tories votes together with the Fascist UKIP and Ultra Conservative DUP nutters, the collected ‘right wing extremist’ parties got over 50% of the votes
What a load of bolloxs
Show us the figures.
He can't because it's a lie. I know, I was surprised too.
Tory votes - 13.67m
DUP votes - 290k
UKIP votes - 594k
Total = 14,553,399 votes.
Labour votes - 12,87m
Lib Dem votes - 2.37m
Tally so far, 15,246,046, which is already more than 50%. Do you need me to add up the SNPs, Greens etc too?
He can’t because it’s a lie. I know, I was surprised too.
You're no fun.
Facts are a real bitch aren't they? Especially when you get caught out!
He can’t because it’s a lie.
What must it be like to have such low self esteem that you feel the need to knowingly write lies on a public forum in order to try and make a point. And then keep getting caught out.
I think I'd want to do myself in.
I'd say the man who has wielded the singularly most disproportionate amount of power... and I hate to say it..... is Nigel Farage.
Washed up and irrelevant though he is now, he achieved everything he set out to achieve, and more.
He is the main reason, the catalyst, for why we're in this whole sorry mess now. He got Dave so rattled that he thought he had no option but to offer a referendum. He then won said referendum, albeit by using outright lies and blatant racism and fear-mongering, and his heirs and acolytes now dictate the countries political destiny.
All of this despite never having been elected to parliament despite god knows how many attempts, leading a party that was little more than a racist rabble, and being viewed as something of a joke.
His policies, written off as the lunatic fantasies of an obscure fringe party of nutters and racists is now government policy. All of it!
Probably the most effective politician of his generation
Its tragic!
I’d say the man who has wielded the singularly most disproportionate amount of power… and I hate to say it….. is Nigel Farage.
Washed up and irrelevant though he is now, he achieved everything he set out to achieve, and more.
...
Probably the most effective politician of his generation
I hate to say it, but I agree with you.
I'd say it's the ones you DON'T hear so much about that are more sinister.
Newspaper editors, for a start.
Newspaper editors, for a start.
It's not just newspapers. Farage is repeatedly given a platform for his toxic view by the BBC. 32 appearances on question time for a start.
He can’t because it’s a lie. I know, I was surprised too.
Wind your neck in you whinging drama queen - I simply pulled the 2015 figures (when that was the case) rather than 2017 by accident.
I’m man enough to say when I made a mistake, are you? Or is everything wrong a Lie to your delicate little flower like personality.
Tories still polling 43:38 against Labour in the latest headline polls,
I think I’d want to do myself in.
Good to see the lefties are up to their usual standard of debate and tolerance. As usual, if Me, Jamba or Chewy said that we’d be gett8ng a ban, but the mods are happy to apply different standards when the abuse goes in a certain direction...
Trying to remember the last time I saw Reese-Mogg or Farage on telly or any online news, although I get all my online news via Flipboard and I never read newspapers, or watch things like Questiontime. But then, I’m ambivalent towards the opinion of any political figure these days.
Wind your neck in you whinging drama queen – I simply pulled the 2015 figures (when that was the case) rather than 2017 by accident.
By accident? Ok.
It was significant enough for you to go "boo hoo democracy" so I would've thought you would have been more careful. I'll look at the 2015 figures tomorrow when I'm quite not so tired. Though what that will prove when it's been superseded I'm not sure; democracy by definition is a rolling process, it doesn't just stop.
I’m man enough to say when I made a mistake, are you?
Demonstrably. Where have I not?
Good to see the lefties are up to their usual standard of debate and tolerance. As usual, if Me, Jamba or Chewy said that we’d be gett8ng a ban,
Oh look, another lie.
I’m man enough to say when I made a mistake
How very Amber Rudd of you.
And the title of thread winner goes to..
El-bent, bravo! 🙂
How very Amber Rudd of you.
In fairness, that is quality!
I have voted Conservative ( voted all 3 Conservative candidates, yes I did.) to kick out Lib Dem / Labour in the North East due to the latter's failure to support local businesses.
For years Lib Dem/Labour council has been in charged but the decline is obvious, now try to walk around Newcastle City centre to play spot the empty shops.
See what has happened to Eldon Garden in the city centre ... 85% empty shops !!! A city centre location! Wow!
https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/the-place-decline-readers-react-14597746
Talk about bureaucratic self entitlement in power for too long eh ... The council now wants to regenerate this and regenerate that but all the while they are just trying to justify their own roles.
’d say the man who has wielded the singularly most disproportionate amount of power… and I hate to say it….. is Nigel Farage
Probably the most effective politician of his generation
Totally agree. He wasn't an MP and only had one elected MP in his party yet he completely played everyone and they fell for it and the effects are still there now. Just think if he had actually stood for something good and managed to do the same, he would have been a political hero.