The On-going Never-ending Brexit Story Part Four

The whole Fox situation just gets funnier by the hour.
He's now been called out by Mark Dolan and Julia Hartley-Brewer, and started having spats with them.
Going too far even for JHB, but still getting Wootton suspended. That's some achievement.

 

You're talking about a fella who hasn't been outside of Telford for about 4 years. It might as well be on the moon, tbh

 

Heartbreaking news

BREAKING: Dan Wootton has been sacked by Mail Online. A spokesperson says his contract has been terminated.

— Paul Brand (@PaulBrandITV) September 28, 2023

 

A 16 y.o. cvnt chopped down this iconic tree

We are shocked and desperately saddened to learn that the famous Sycamore Gap tree at Hadrian's Wall has been felled overnight, in what appears to be an act of vandalism.

We know just how much this iconic tree is loved locally, nationally and by everyone who has visited.

We are… pic.twitter.com/QqLMhanzgC

— National Trust (@nationaltrust) September 28, 2023

 

GB News having a real clear out.
The cosplay priest Calvin Robinson has been given the push, and rumours abound that Darren "Crafty Wank" Grimes is due as well.
Clearly the few remaining advertisers have given them an ultimatum.

 

The one that surprises me about that group is that Scottish archaeologist and historian who seemed moderately normal before going completely off the rails.

 

Yeah, Coast was a great series. Then he went nuts.

 

It looks like they're suspending anyone who's defending Wootton and Fox.
Saw an article earlier that the producer was telling Wootton to cut Fox off and apologise, which he ignored. They then put an apology on the autocue, which he skipped.

 

BTW, just on a point about polite terminology, I think you'll find they prefer the phrase 'people who who are involuntarily celibate' rather than 'wankers' nowadays.

You're welcome

 

Best nickname ever.

1707716833942351914 is not a valid tweet id

 

Of course, what the tories need is one policy... just ONE, that is guaranteed to appeal to their core demographic to shore up support so it doesn't drop any further and, if possible, starts to rise again.

Step forward, Rishi 'seven bins' Sunak with the solution...

Scrapping winter fuel payments a ‘death sentence’ for pensioners, Sunak told
Campaigner warns against cutting back allowance amid reports PM considering making it means tested

I mean, if that's not a winner, my name's not Naughtius Maximus... AMIRITE?!

 

The only age group in which they have a majority is pensioners. Latest polling has them at 1% in under 25s.

 

7 bins has found the answer to that 'problem'.

 

Hunt says the Tories could cut the welfare budget to fund tax cuts.

Loot as much as possible before getting thrown out.

 

Looting as well, probably, (as the average tory MP will almost certainly benefit from any tax cuts), but, also, it's a lot harder to raise taxes, (even ones that have only recently been cut), so we're stuck with a problem they've created for us.

IMO that was largely why the tories privatised the railways in the run-up to the 1997 election which they were obviously going to lose, daring the incoming labour government to reverse it at huge expense and for little direct, short-term benefit for the public.

As I've pointed out said, the tories have no such qualms...

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/how-tories-kept-secret-of-15-vat-hike-1566429.html

...

Sir Geoffrey (now Lord Howe) declared: "We have absolutely no intention of doubling VAT." The allegation was depicted as one of Labour's "dirty dozen" lies in a Conservative press release.

But papers marked "secret" and circulated in numbered copies only show that proposals for a "massive" hike in VAT to 15 per cent or even 17.5 were canvassed in February 1978 by Lord Cockfield, a member of Sir Geoffrey's economic team.

On Sunday 11 June 1978, at a meeting at Sir Geoffrey's home in Fentiman Road, Lambeth, south London, agreement was reached in principle to raise VAT to 15 per cent. That was 11 months before the election that swept the Conservatives to power. Those present included Sir Keith Joseph, Nigel Lawson, Peter Rees, Lord Cockfield and Patrick Jenkin. The papers record: "It was agreed that the major changes in the tax structure should be made early on. Once VAT had been raised it could not be touched again withi n the first parliament".

The aim was to allow Sir Geoffrey to honour his repeated pledge to switch taxation from "pay-as-you-earn to pay-as-you-spend", allowing the big cuts in income tax which marked Sir Geoffrey's dramatic first budget six weeks after the Tories took office. He slashed the top rate from 83p in the pound to 60p, cut the standard rate by 3p and raised thresholds, covering much of the cost by raising VAT.​

 

So one of the key points the Tories will run on is the 15 minute city thing.

"Stop councils implementing '15 minute cities' where essential amenities are always within a 15 minute walk".

What is the actual thinking behind this? What possible argument is there for people not having to travel to see a doctor, or buy groceries? It's beyond insane.

 

There's a good piece in the grauniad today about the electoral calculation they're trying to make and how difficult it's going to be to square that circle...

Tory turmoil as third of voters desert party and factions launch rival manifestoes
Exclusive poll for Observer reveals Conservatives have lost support in their southern England heartlands and the Red Wall

The coalition of voters that delivered the Tories a big majority at the last election is crumbling, according to dramatic new evidence that the party is losing support in key battlegrounds across England.

The findings, revealed in a special poll of 2019 Tory voters for the Observer, comes as Rishi Sunak faces a series of competing and contradictory demands from warring Tory factions ahead of the party’s conference in Manchester.

With the prime minister also attempting to breathe new life into his government during his first conference as leader, MPs in “red wall” seats will present him with a plea to “turbocharge” the northern economy after the HS2 fiasco, while figures on the right are to present their own manifesto this week. Liz Truss is also set to demand lower taxes and a smaller state.

It comes as exclusive polling for the Observer reveals that a third of those who voted Conservative in 2019 now intend to switch to other parties. It suggests that the Tories have lost voters in crucial areas – their southern heartlands and “red wall” seats in the Midlands.​

This is the problem. One lot wants things that are diametrically opposed to the other lot.

 

Somewhat appropriately, a car crash interview talking about speed limits.
Once again, where was this level of scrutiny of Cameron, May, Truss and especially Johnson?

#BBCBreakfast

CS: Where have blanket 20mph speed limits happened?

MH: Well, in Wales...

CS: That's not the case, because not all 30 mph zones have become 20. That's just not true.

MH: It is...the default position in Wales now is that all those 30 zones have moved to 20... pic.twitter.com/h3ysEakns1

— Martin Cooper (@mpc_1968) September 30, 2023

 

The problem the Tories have is not only that utter failures such as Truss are demanding policies, but that the party will also listen.
It's far too late for the next election, but a Tory party that fights for the centre ground will bounce back much quicker than a Tory party that goes with Truss, Braverman and Badenoch.
It's the equivalent of Labour deciding they didn't win in 2019 because Corbyn wasn't left wing enough.

 

I must admit, that's the aspect that annoys me the most. If these people had done a better job of holding these people to account we might not be IN this position.

 

7 bins was on Kuenssberg this morning and even she's gone rogue on them now. Again, bit late now they're on the way out.

 

This, by @Ncknwmn in @thetimes made me giggle. pic.twitter.com/RKITKeHPdP

— Alex Andreou (@sturdyAlex) October 1, 2023

 

We're clearly in some sort of parallel universe as Priti Patel is the Tories current voice of moderation*

💥Priti Patel unleashed

She tells @theipaper:
Don't quit ECHR - "We’re living in an era where it’s too easy to say things that make you sound popular"
Sunak is "moving so far away from some of the fundamentals that got you elected in 2019"
Higher rate tax thresholds must go up https://t.co/3vs9esDeFz

— Hugo Gye (@HugoGye) October 1, 2023

*Well, "moderation" might be pushing it. Maybe "not 100% certified crazy" would be better.

 

A very thoughtful piece from Kenan Malik about the reality of multiculturalism rather the some of the rhetoric...

Suella Braverman’s bigoted attack on multiculturalism shouldn’t blind us to its problems
To some, it’s a celebration of diversity, to others, the creation of barriers. We need to be honest about the issues facing our communities

As he says, this is the sort of analysis and consideration that Braverman should employ when she discusses this issue but she's more interested in right-wing 'dog whistle' rubbish to 'position' herself in a future tory leadership debate.

What's interesting about the Braverman rhetoric is that there's a pretence that this is all new when that's a LONG way from the truth.

I thought about that watching this with Lewis Goodall talking to Michael Heseltine who seems to fondly imagine that Thatcher would NEVER have used that sort of language.



I'm guessing his mind has gone because even MY enfeebled brain cells remembers this...



We HAVE to support the national front policies because otherwise we'll have the national front in charge... and we don't want THAT, do we

 

This is an article at the time about the Parekh Report...

https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2000/oct/11/britishidentity.race4

It's a while ago now but made many worthwhile suggestions, some of which were adopted but not all I think.