Liz Truss and the Conservative Party.

[DarloRich]

although if that was a definite blunder it may indicate she's susceptible to other blunders in future in more political matters.

She is susceptible to blunders.

 

[philjo]

I think she handled last nights speach following the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II exceptionally well, considering it was only her third day in office. She handled it like a Statesperson, something Boris Johnson wouldn't have done.

I disagree with the vast majority of her political views but I am rather relieved that we've once again got a Prime Minister who recognises the importance of the role, in the same way as Theresa May, Tony Blair, Margaret Thatcher and many other past Prime Ministers did.

I agree. It was also a relief that Boris wasn't doing the speech !

 

[DustyBin]

Whilst I'm not exactly enthused by her appointment, it's in all of our interests for her to succeed as PM. If she fails there will be real-world consequences for all of us. I'd be saying the same if Labour were in power; in our current situation we need to look beyond party politics.

 

[najaB]

So far, her only real action has been to fund £100bn+ to help people with a cost-of-living crisis. Whilst things may change, that's not what I'd call "right wing". We also have an extremely diverse Cabinet. Perhaps we should give her a chance?

She did, however, fund it in a right-wing manner - rather than tax the unplanned, unexpected excess profits of the energy companies she is seeking to fund it through borrowing on the commercial markets.

 

[XAM2175]

I think she handled last nights speach following the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II exceptionally well, considering it was only her third day in office. She handled it like a Statesperson, something Boris Johnson wouldn't have done.

I must say the statement Truss made yesterday about the Queen was made in the manner of a failing primary school head teacher addressing a school assembly. She is an awful public speaker and she has no ability to put emphasis on words in a sentence. it was awful.

Yes, it was so disappointingly pallid; delivered haltingly, lacking any real eloquence, and clumsy in its attempt at boosterism. It was well-handled only inasmuch as something more florid and self-aggrandising would probably have been worse.

 

[Shaw S Hunter]

My main concern about Truss is, that much like her idol Thatcher, she appears to have but a limited grasp of macro-economics. Thatcher got away with it because for the most part she was able to trust rather more knowledgable colleagues with the details of financial policies. However Truss has purged her government of just about all Sunak sympathisers and I fear that doesn't leave much talent over to do the important stuff.

Oh and her diplomatic skills are sorely lacking; we've achieved Brexit, is it really necessary to keep on picking pointless fights with our neighbours?

 

[DanNCL]

The text was fine although I wouldn't go as far as your gushing tribute. The delivery was terrible. Almost monotone and lacking emphasis.

It probably seemed a lot better to me than it actually was after three years of Boris Johnson!

 

[DarloRich]

It probably seemed a lot better to me than it actually was after three years of Boris Johnson!

fair point - his statement was read out on the TV. sigh.

 

[DerekC]

I think Truss has done pretty well so far and her chances of winning an election may be a lot better than many expect. Unfortunately her policies are potentially more right wing than Johnson's, so if she is as she claims better at delivery than him we will see changes that will make the UK more authoritarian, more xenophobic and introverted, more divided within itself, less tolerant and even further from being the model of free democratic principles that it still claims to be.

 

[nw1]

Oh and her diplomatic skills are sorely lacking; we've achieved Brexit, is it really necessary to keep on picking pointless fights with our neighbours?

It seems she wants to continue to court the hard-right, xenophobic vote because, in my view, she believes the best path to doing relatively well in the election is to forge an alliance of the blue-rinse lot, the tax-cut brigade and the anti-immigrant lot. The first two alone will probably not be sufficient, therefore a continuation of anti-foreigner rhetoric is, it seems, necessary to achieve some degree of success.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 10 Sep 2022 ==

I think Truss has done pretty well so far and her chances of winning an election may be a lot better than many expect. Unfortunately her policies are potentially more right wing than Johnson's, so if she is as she claims better at delivery than him we will see changes that will make the UK more authoritarian, more xenophobic and introverted, more divided within itself, less tolerant and even further from being the model of free democratic principles that it still claims to be.

That really is frightening, though if she does win (God help us) the anger against her and all she stands for from the "other side" will be immense.

But as I've said already I still think that the Tories as the incumbents will be blamed for the cost-of-living crisis and a majority is distinctly unlikely. I also suspect the opposition parties will make more of an effort to work together and encourage tactical voting this time. Plus, will people really want the same party in power for so long?

If there is another Tory majority, despite everything, it will say deeply worrying things about the state of the UK and demonstrate we really have drifted dramatically rightwards compared to, say, 20 years ago. People of the left and centre will seriously worry about whether they will ever get any say anymore.

 

[DynamicSpirit]

The appointment that really makes my hair stand on end is Jacob Rees-Mogg to BEIS. I don't think he is exactly a climate change denier - he just doesn't understand the problem and is pretty sure it won't affect the Rees-Mogg dynasty, so who cares. And Gournay Court is well above sea level.

That would be a concern of mine too. You don't really want someone with JRM's views on climate in charge of energy.

However, some other news makes me a lot more hopeful: Liz Truss has also appointed Chris Skidmore to look into how to achieve Net Zero: Skidmore has put a lot of work into campaigning for the Tories to take the environment more seriously, so this suggests the Government are still committed to Net Zero. https://www.theguardian.com/politic...n-tory-chris-skidmore-to-lead-net-zero-review

Liz Truss has appointed the Conservative MP Chris Skidmore to lead a review of net zero, to find the most efficient and fastest ways to reach the climate target.

The former energy and climate minister has been given until the end of the year to present his findings to the prime minister.

Skidmore, who chairs the environment all-party parliamentary group, has been campaigning for his party to take the issue of net zero more seriously. He said: “I am delighted to have been invited by the PM to conduct the review. It’s essential government delivers net zero, and does so in a way that is pro-business and pro-growth. I’m looking forward to getting started.”

 

[nw1]

She did, however, fund it in a right-wing manner - rather than tax the unplanned, unexpected excess profits of the energy companies she is seeking to fund it through borrowing on the commercial markets.

Exactly. That's my problem with it.

Make the energy companies contribute towards it, rather than leaving them untouched and giving the country eye-watering debts.

 

[DustyBin]

Exactly. That's my problem with it.

Make the energy companies contribute towards it, rather than leaving them untouched and giving the country eye-watering debts.

I actually expected them to be hit with a huge windfall tax that the government would simply keep. It would be an indirect way of taxing the public after emptying the piggy bank over the last couple of years. Obviously we’d still be screwed, in the short term at least. Cynical, me?!

 

[317 forever]

Although I have been dreading her becoming PM, her message in her speech about the Queen was reasonable. I genuinely do believe she has changed since her anti-Monarch speech from 1994 that was played when she reached the top 2 MPs' vote. She does respect that we have the Royal Family and does respect everyone within the Royal Family. Most of our views aged 19 will have changed as we got older anyway.

All that was lacking was the emotion and empathy that Tony Blair showed upon the death of the "people's princess".

She is already our youngest woman PM of all-time. Mind you, if she loses the next General Election, she will be at least 3 moths younger than David Cameron was when he stood down, and the youngest ex-PM for many decades.

 

[AlterEgo]

I think she handled last nights speach following the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II exceptionally well, considering it was only her third day in office. She handled it like a Statesperson, something Boris Johnson wouldn't have done.

I disagree with the vast majority of her political views but I am rather relieved that we've once again got a Prime Minister who recognises the importance of the role, in the same way as Theresa May, Tony Blair, Margaret Thatcher and many other past Prime Ministers did.

Truss’ speech was awkward and unstatesperson-like and far poorer an effort than Johnson would have managed.

For all his myriad faults Johnson is good with language when he wants to be and his speech from the back benches in the Commons about HMQ was heartfelt and appropriate.

Truss is very weird. King Charles - whom I like but is perhaps Britain’s most awkward man - was made to look the epitome of cool and charm as he welcomed PM Truss the day after his mother’s passing.

 

[XAM2175]

Truss’ speech was awkward and unstatesperson-like and far poorer an effort than Johnson would have managed.

For all his myriad faults Johnson is good with language when he wants to be and his speech from the back benches in the Commons about HMQ was heartfelt and appropriate.

I thought that Macron's was particularly well done, too, especially for being in the man's second language.

https://twitter.com/EmmanuelMacron/status/1568181528932356099

 

[nw1]

I thought that Macron's was particularly well done, too, especially for being in the man's second language.

https://twitter.com/EmmanuelMacron/status/1568181528932356099

Definitely much better than Truss' recent comment on the French head of state, as in, Macron.

 

[Gloster]

Definitely much better than Truss' recent comment on the French head of state, as in, Macron.

Or Julia Hartley-Brewer’s childish response to Macron’s statement.

 

[birchesgreen]

Or Julia Hate-Brewer’s childish response to anything.

Corrected your post for you

 

[brad465]

Parliament is currently on course for 3 months with effectively no business happening, all while a cost of living crisis is at large. The summer and conference recesses are largely responsible, but now the Queen's passing has effectively made the 2 week sitting window part of that recess, as no business other than tributes and pledging allegiance to the new Monarch is happening. Really the conference recess needs to be scrapped, or at least significantly curtailed. Looking at the conference schedule all the main parties have had their conferences by early October, leaving around 2 weeks of the recess effectively for nothing.

 

[jon0844]

I know nothing about her, so she's starting from a clean slate as far as I'm concerned. She has another 2 years before the next election, so as long as she sorts out this mess we're in by then and doesn't make it even worse, then she'll probably get my vote in the next election. I watched her first PMQs yesterday and it was a competent and business-like performance. It was a relief not to have the grandstanding and showmanship that was Boris' take on PMQs.

I think I could sort out any mess if I just spent taxpayer money like there was no tomorrow. It's going to be like when Homer Simpson took control of sanitation...

 

[Gloster]

Although the Lib-Dems have apparently cancelled their conference, the others are (for the moment) going ahead: they are very profitable for the parties. Meanwhile, back on planet Earth, many Ministers have not yet been appointed, with those in the jobs ‘covering’, and the Treausury is rudderless after the removal of the most senior civil servant, which may delay the energy cap bill. Negotiations are apparently taking place about The Commons returning a week early, but there are fears that the government is hoping to push through the energy bill (and possibly others) without proper scrutiny. Advanced democracy, my...

 

[birchesgreen]

Its not so easy to cancel a conference i guess, months of planning go into it. I know i've had emails about our labour conference for months.

 

[DelayRepay]

Parliament is currently on course for 3 months with effectively no business happening, all while a cost of living crisis is at large. The summer and conference recesses are largely responsible, but now the Queen's passing has effectively made the 2 week sitting window part of that recess, as no business other than tributes and pledging allegiance to the new Monarch is happening. Really the conference recess needs to be scrapped, or at least significantly curtailed. Looking at the conference schedule all the main parties have had their conferences by early October, leaving around 2 weeks of the recess effectively for nothing.

As the conferences tend to run Sunday - Wednesday, perhaps the House should sit on Thursdays and/or Fridays to deal with urgent business.

Other than media coverage, is there any practical reason why we need three weeks for conferences? Couldn't they squash them into two? I don't think it would be a big issue if they overlapped, the only impact would be on media coverage.

 

[DanNCL]

Although the Lib-Dems have apparently cancelled their conference, the others are (for the moment) going ahead: they are very profitable for the parties. Meanwhile, back on planet Earth, many Ministers have not yet been appointed, with those in the jobs ‘covering’, and the Treausury is rudderless after the removal of the most senior civil servant, which may delay the energy cap bill. Negotiations are apparently taking place about The Commons returning a week early, but there are fears that the government is hoping to push through the energy bill (and possibly others) without proper scrutiny. Advanced democracy, my...

The Lib Dem conference was cancelled as it coincided with the day of the Queen’s funeral.

 

[najaB]

Other than media coverage, is there any practical reason why we need three weeks for conferences?

Other than media coverage, is there any need for a physical conference at all?

 

[DynamicSpirit]

Other than media coverage, is there any practical reason why we need three weeks for conferences? Couldn't they squash them into two? I don't think it would be a big issue if they overlapped, the only impact would be on media coverage.

The kind of large venues that you need to book to hold party conferences in generally have to be booked months in advance - you can't rearrange them at a few days notice. I don't know the details of how the LibDems made their arrangements, but I'm going to hazard a guess that by cancelling their conference at such short notice, they're going to lose a lot of money in booking fees (To be fair, they probably didn't have a lot of choice).

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 12 Sep 2022 ==

Other than media coverage, is there any need for a physical conference at all?

Gives party members a chance to meet up and do in-person networking with other people from across the country, which will be quite important to a lot of people, as well as the chance for them to see senior party people speaking in person. So I'd say, yes, there is a need for them if you want to keep the membership engaged.

 

[DarloRich]

her message in her speech about the Queen was reasonable.

The message/text was fine. The delivery was not.

Truss is very weird. King Charles - whom I like but is perhaps Britain’s most awkward man - was made to look the epitome of cool and charm as he welcomed PM Truss the day after his mother’s passing.

Truss is weird. I would not describe Charles as awkward but perhaps repressed. I think he want to emote and open himself up more but his training/education Perhaps as King he will feel comfortable being more expressive or "authentic"

 

[nw1]

Parliament is currently on course for 3 months with effectively no business happening, all while a cost of living crisis is at large. The summer and conference recesses are largely responsible, but now the Queen's passing has effectively made the 2 week sitting window part of that recess, as no business other than tributes and pledging allegiance to the new Monarch is happening. Really the conference recess needs to be scrapped, or at least significantly curtailed. Looking at the conference schedule all the main parties have had their conferences by early October, leaving around 2 weeks of the recess effectively for nothing.

Perhaps the conferences should just be cancelled for this year.

Certainly if the Lib Dems have cancelled theirs, for fairness the others should probably be cancelled too. Otherwise, the Tories, let's say, are getting media coverage for their conference when the Lib Dems did not.

 

[DelayRepay]

The kind of large venues that you need to book to hold party conferences in generally have to be booked months in advance - you can't rearrange them at a few days notice. I don't know the details of how the LibDems made their arrangements, but I'm going to hazard a guess that by cancelling their conference at such short notice, they're going to lose a lot of money in booking fees (To be fair, they probably didn't have a lot of choice).

Sorry, I didn't mean trying to re-arrange this year's events, I know it's far too late. I meant in future do we need a three week recess, or would one or two weeks be sufficient as I cannot see any reason the conferences cannot overlap.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 12 Sep 2022 ==

Gives party members a chance to meet up and do in-person networking with other people from across the country, which will be quite important to a lot of people, as well as the chance for them to see senior party people speaking in person. So I'd say, yes, there is a need for them if you want to keep the membership engaged.

I agree they are beneficial and worth keeping. When they had to be done virtually for Covid reasons, they weren't very good.

Personally I find it interesting to watch the conferences of the parties I don't support, to get an idea what their policies are. I am probably in the minority though!