TQR 14,385 Posted October 2, 2022 28 minutes ago, DCI Frank Burnside said: If you listen closely you can just about hear a dead hamster flopping about on a spinning wheel. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RoverAndOut 4,746 Posted October 2, 2022 OK, so perusing the BBC website tonight and two notable stories from the Tory Party conference jump out: 1. Brexit super fan Steve Baker has apologised for ignoring Irish concerns during the Brexit negotiations and wants to include them in improving the Northern Ireland Protocol (if you're not aware, Loony Liz made him a Northern Ireland Minister in her first appointments). Apparently he hears from Unionists that the Good Friday Agreement has been broken because they've had constitutional change (the Protocol) without their consent. He then also points out that some might argue that there had been constitutional change without their consent by leaving the EU despite 56% of Northern Ireland voters voting to stay in. But he swiftly glosses over that and says its time to move on in a spirit of friendship. Sigh... https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-63111685 2. Polling guru Professor Sir John Curtice (who, unlike many of his peers, actually seems to know what he's talking about) has told a fringe event at the Conference that Labour are favourites to win the next General Election and, after 3 weeks in office, Liz Truss is now as unpopular as Boris Johnson was when he was ousted. Which is quite some achievement, I think you'd agree. He also confirmed that if voters remember their anger at the polling booth, Labour are on course for a three-figure majority, but should the bleeding be stanched, in the unlikely event of a hung parliament, the opposition parties are unlikely to prop up a Tory minority government, hence Labour being strong favourites to form the next government. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-63110539 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Grim Up North 3,725 Posted October 3, 2022 If Liz had planned to do a speech like her hero Thatcher she's rather blown it this morning. Health Warning - for those of you of a delicate political disposition the link sends you to a 30 second clip featuring Margaret Thatcher. Thatcher not for turning Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TQR 14,385 Posted October 3, 2022 If she’d really listened, she’d have called a General Election*, then swiftly yeeted herself into the shit-tainted sea. *450k signatures on that petition now. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Grim Up North 3,725 Posted October 3, 2022 1 minute ago, TQR said: *450k signatures on that petition now. Just as an observational point (I'm not political I think they're all shit and the system they work within makes them shitter). Any govt is elected by max 40% of voters - so in a population of 70 million people it should be possible to get a million people to sign a petition calling for a General Election no matter who is running the country. Particularly with the obsession with social media - probably two clicks from signing the petition. I wouldn't know I don't do social media either. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
maryportfuncity 10,645 Posted October 3, 2022 6 minutes ago, TQR said: If she’d really listened, she’d have called a General Election*, then swiftly yeeted herself into the shit-tainted sea. *450k signatures on that petition now. Just about to watch it go over 450,000 now - how fast it moves in the wake of that u-turn will likely keep us bantering hereabouts today. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DCI Frank Burnside 3,887 Posted October 3, 2022 The lady is for turning Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DCI Frank Burnside 3,887 Posted October 3, 2022 He finally copped on but even still how the fuck can Kwarteng stay now. Credibility is in absolute tatters 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
msc 18,438 Posted October 3, 2022 39 minutes ago, Grim Up North said: Just as an observational point (I'm not political I think they're all shit and the system they work within makes them shitter). Any govt is elected by max 40% of voters - so in a population of 70 million people it should be possible to get a million people to sign a petition calling for a General Election no matter who is running the country. Particularly with the obsession with social media - probably two clicks from signing the petition. I wouldn't know I don't do social media either. In theory, yes. In actuality, Brits dont tend to sign government petitions these days, here are the most signed ones not destroyed. And about 6 million people signed the 2nd ref petition, only for the government to announce they didn't see petitions as democratic, so you know, a million odd on another will do about the same. This lot will hang on till the bitter end of this parliament. If folk want rid of them, they'll just need to vote then in 2024-ish and not give them another final chance. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Grim Up North 3,725 Posted October 3, 2022 3 minutes ago, msc said: In theory, yes. In actuality, Brits dont tend to sign government petitions these days, here are the most signed ones not destroyed. And about 6 million people signed the 2nd ref petition, only for the government to announce they didn't see petitions as democratic, so you know, a million odd on another will do about the same. This lot will hang on till the bitter end of this parliament. If folk want rid of them, they'll just need to vote then in 2024-ish and not give them another final chance. Yes you're right. There are some good ones on that list that have been ignored - scrapping HS2 for example. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bibliogryphon 9,571 Posted October 3, 2022 6 minutes ago, msc said: In theory, yes. In actuality, Brits dont tend to sign government petitions these days, here are the most signed ones not destroyed. And about 6 million people signed the 2nd ref petition, only for the government to announce they didn't see petitions as democratic, so you know, a million odd on another will do about the same. This lot will hang on till the bitter end of this parliament. If folk want rid of them, they'll just need to vote then in 2024-ish and not give them another final chance. I think the U-Turn actually is the result of the only real way that this Government can be ended prematurely If enough Tory MPs rebelled and the Government couldn't get its fiscal package through and they followed through on their threat to remove the whip from any who vote against it the technical majority might vanish Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Toast 16,131 Posted October 3, 2022 2 hours ago, msc said: This lot will hang on till the bitter end of this parliament. If folk want rid of them, they'll just need to vote then in 2024-ish and not give them another final chance. How much of the country will they have sold off to their donors by then? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TQR 14,385 Posted October 3, 2022 Further proof that all of the 2019 Tory intake combined wouldn’t have enough brains to make one complete idiot. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
msc 18,438 Posted October 3, 2022 17 minutes ago, Toast said: How much of the country will they have sold off to their donors by then? Too much, regardless! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TQR 14,385 Posted October 3, 2022 An MP has called for a General Election. I’ll give you a moment to guess who… …nope, you’re wrong. 1 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bibliogryphon 9,571 Posted October 3, 2022 31 minutes ago, TQR said: An MP has called for a General Election. I’ll give you a moment to guess who… …nope, you’re wrong. This is a very selfish call She clearly doesn't want her own plans to be dismantled by a Conservative Government whereas if they are rolled back by Labour she can complain that her vision was never allowed to flourish. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lord Fellatio Nelson 6,218 Posted October 3, 2022 ......in other news. Wee Jimmy got booed when she arrived in Dunfermline today. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Charlotte's Controller 195 Posted October 3, 2022 Rumour has it that there will be a talking bobble head Barbie based on the PM. To be marketed as a reminder of what we had in the last days of the Conservative government the as yet unconfirmed phrases may include. I will deliver. We will cut taxes. I don’t have the detail on that at the moment. The chancellor is responsible for the budget. The Bank of England is responsible for interest rates. It’s Putin’s fault. Finally a long silent pause. Whilst the last one might indicate a lack of functionality it is backed up by the vacant looking expression which is said to speak volumes. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Toast 16,131 Posted October 3, 2022 13 minutes ago, Charlotte's Controller said: the last days of the Conservative government If only. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Toast 16,131 Posted October 3, 2022 This poem by Philip Larkin was prescient. This is exactly what they are planning. GOING, GOING I thought it would last my time - The sense that, beyond the town, There would always be fields and farms, Where the village louts could climb Such trees as were not cut down; I knew there'd be false alarms In the papers about old streets And split level shopping, but some Have always been left so far; And when the old part retreats As the bleak high-risers come We can always escape in the car. Things are tougher than we are, just As earth will always respond However we mess it about; Chuck filth in the sea, if you must: The tides will be clean beyond. - But what do I feel now? Doubt? Or age, simply? The crowd Is young in the M1 cafe; Their kids are screaming for more - More houses, more parking allowed, More caravan sites, more pay. On the Business Page, a score Of spectacled grins approve Some takeover bid that entails Five per cent profit (and ten Per cent more in the estuaries): move Your works to the unspoilt dales (Grey area grants)! And when You try to get near the sea In summer . . . It seems, just now, To be happening so very fast; Despite all the land left free For the first time I feel somehow That it isn't going to last, That before I snuff it, the whole Boiling will be bricked in Except for the tourist parts - First slum of Europe: a role It won't be hard to win, With a cast of crooks and tarts. And that will be England gone, The shadows, the meadows, the lanes, The guildhalls, the carved choirs. There'll be books; it will linger on In galleries; but all that remains For us will be concrete and tyres. Most things are never meant. This won't be, most likely; but greeds And garbage are too thick-strewn To be swept up now, or invent Excuses that make them all needs. I just think it will happen, soon. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Summer in Transylvania 2,173 Posted October 3, 2022 56 minutes ago, Charlotte's Controller said: Rumour has it that there will be a talking bobble head Barbie as PM. Fixed that for you. An improvement on Truss, at least. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
maryportfuncity 10,645 Posted October 3, 2022 Petition for general election is barely 10,000 short of half a million as of a few seconds back. Anyone seen one of the true biggies - like BBC - reporting it? I've seen Metro, Independent and Bloomberg on it today. https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/619781?fbclid=IwAR1O0LgirDavx780pIhx6So93_4oZEi4Nnc19MLN2EV5zFyibBDcVukSaw4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Toast 16,131 Posted October 3, 2022 52 minutes ago, maryportfuncity said: Petition for general election is barely 10,000 short of half a million as of a few seconds back. Anyone seen one of the true biggies - like BBC - reporting it? I've seen Metro, Independent and Bloomberg on it today. https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/619781?fbclid=IwAR1O0LgirDavx780pIhx6So93_4oZEi4Nnc19MLN2EV5zFyibBDcVukSaw4 Interesting that it says "Parliament will consider this for a debate". Now that means the whole House, doesn't it, not just the Government. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DCI Frank Burnside 3,887 Posted October 3, 2022 Inside Nadine Dorries brain. I'll take a guess: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites