Rishi Sunak and the Conservative Party.

[najaB]

However this is where being a couple in a stable relationship is hugely advantageous. I realise that may sound like stuffy old traditional values to some(!) but it's a fact.

Only if by "couple" you insist on a heteronormal male/female pairing. Otherwise it's impossible to argue that two pooled incomes are better than one.

 

[DustyBin]

I'm of two minds. Yes, a more flexible immigration policy would alleviate this bottleneck - isn't that something both Truss and Sunak want/ed to do ?

Also, if said businesses have more headroom to pay better wages, they should get better take up of jobs. This is good overall because it will mean more money going into the active part of the domestic economy.

Perhaps it needs a bit of both.

It probably does, at least in the short term. However, we know we have a large number of people who don't earn enough to pay income tax, and we know there's a labour shortage. There must be a solution in there somewhere, although I'm not suggesting it's as easy and straightforward to find as it may appear!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 18 Nov 2022 ==

Only if by "couple" you insist on a heteronormal male/female pairing. Otherwise it's impossible to argue that two pooled incomes are better than one.

Why? (Genuinely, I must be missing something!).

 

[najaB]

Why? (Genuinely, I must be missing something!).

You said "I realise that may sound like stuffy old traditional values to some(!)"... which I would agree with if you only mean heterosexual cis-male and cis-female. If your definition of "couple" extends to any pairing of people regardless of gender identity or sexuality then there's nothing old-fashioned or stuffy about it.

 

[DustyBin]

You said "I realise that may sound like stuffy old traditional values to some(!)"... which I would agree with if you only mean heterosexual cis-male and cis-female. If your definition of "couple" extends to any pairing of people regardless of gender identity or sexuality then there's nothing old-fashioned or stuffy about it.

Sorry it didn't register that you'd only quoted that part of my post! However yes, I fully agree. By couple I mean ANY couple (it was the principle of entering into a stable relationship that I was referring to!).

 

[najaB]

Sorry it didn't register that you'd only quoted that part of my post! However yes, I fully agree. By couple I mean ANY couple (it was the principle of entering into a stable relationship that I was referring to!).

Nothing old fashioned (in the pejorative sense) about being in a stable relationship.

 

[DustyBin]

Nothing old fashioned (in the pejorative sense) about being in a stable relationship.

It's a concept that appears lost on a good number of people though!

 

[yorksrob]

It probably does, at least in the short term. However, we know we have a large number of people who don't earn enough to pay income tax, and we know there's a labour shortage. There must be a solution in there somewhere, although I'm not suggesting it's as easy and straightforward to find as it may appear!

Indeed - it's beyond my knowledge to come up with a balance !

 

[AM9]

I presume you meant to type inequality in which case you’d be correct.

Yes I did, thanks for pointing it out.

 

[brad465]

Someone just dropped the c-bomb on Radio 2 while requesting a track, they weren't even discussing him on the air, it was just an opportunistic remark, but amusing nonetheless:

https://twitter.com/PoliticsJOE_UK/status/1593650673152712704

A caller on BBC just called Matt Hancock a c*nt

Video attached

 

[DustyBin]

Someone just dropped the c-bomb on Radio 2 while requesting a track, they weren't even discussing him on the air, it was just an opportunistic remark, but amusing nonetheless:

https://twitter.com/PoliticsJOE_UK/status/1593650673152712704

Video attached

That is so funny!

 

[Gloster]

As we don’t have a ‘Beyond Satire’ thread I will post this here. Owen Paterson, the former MP for North Shropshire, who resigned last year after the row caused by his lobbying for Randox, is taking the government to the European Court of Human Rights over the Standards Committee’s and Parliament’s finding. Paterson has previously argued that the UK should leave the ECHR.

Source: The Grauniad and BBC. Sorry, I can’t do a link.

 

[brad465]

As we don’t have a ‘Beyond Satire’ thread I will post this here. Owen Paterson, the former MP for North Shropshire, who resigned last year after the row caused by his lobbying for Randox, is taking the government to the European Court of Human Rights over the Standards Committee’s and Parliament’s finding. Paterson has previously argued that the UK should leave the ECHR.

Source: The Grauniad and BBC. Sorry, I can’t do a link.

Here you go, and yes there's been another irony meter being shattered:

Owen Paterson takes UK government to European court over lobbying probe

Owen Paterson, who was forced to quit as an MP after a lobbying probe, claims his right to privacy was infringed.

www.bbc.co.uk

Ex-minister Owen Paterson is taking the UK government to the European Court of Human Rights over a standards watchdog verdict that he broke lobbying rules.
He resigned from Parliament last year after he was found to have abused his role as an MP while working for two firms as a paid consultant.
The ex-Tory MP is taking legal action in Strasbourg over the investigation, which he says was unfair.
The UK government says it is aware of the court action.
Mr Paterson, a leading Eurosceptic who once campaigned for the UK to break away from the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), argues that the standards watchdog ruling "damaged his good reputation".
In a European court listing, he argues the investigation, by Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards Kathryn Stone, was unfair because it did not hear from witnesses and met in secret.
The former MP for North Shropshire also says he was only given 15 minutes to address the commissioner, was not permitted to be represented by a lawyer and had no right to appeal.

 

[jfollows]

Lucy Fisher from Times Radio (https://twitter.com/LOS_Fisher?) predicts

Expect there will be a big wave of ‘stepping down’ announcements from Tory MPs ahead of next election… Some Consevatives predict as many as 80 colleagues will bow out rather than choose to fight again

which isn't altogether surprising.
MPs have to tell Conservative HQ whether or not they intend to leave or to stand again at the next election by 5 December, so expect a large number of them to announce their plans soon.

 

[brad465]

Lucy Fisher from Times Radio (https://twitter.com/LOS_Fisher?) predicts

This could be troubling for the Government, it creates an impression that many in the Tory are resigning themselves to defeat at the next election, so jump before they're pushed, and they also don't have so much to lose rebelling against the Government, so certain votes could be much less likely to pass.

 

[Thirteen]

Lucy Fisher from Times Radio (https://twitter.com/LOS_Fisher?) predicts

which isn't altogether surprising.
MPs have to tell Conservative HQ whether or not they intend to leave or to stand again at the next election by 5 December, so expect a large number of them to announce their plans soon.

TBF a lot of MPs seems to be stepping down mostly for retirement reasons, Labour for example has Harriet Harman, both Margarets and Ben Bradshaw standing down. I would imagine the last few years have probably made MPs reflect on whether they want to stay in politics.

 

[brad465]

William Wragg standing down now too.

 

[Typhoon]

TBF a lot of MPs seems to be stepping down mostly for retirement reasons, Labour for example has Harriet Harman, both Margarets and Ben Bradshaw not standing down. I would imagine the last few years have probably made MPs reflect on whether they want to stay in politics.

Margaret Beckett will be 80 at the start of next year, Margaret Hodge not far behind. Harriet Harman's husband died earlier in the year and is in her 70s. The only one that is likely to go on to further employment is Ben Bradshaw and he can expect a few advisory positions as he limps towards retirement. He has been an MP for 25 years.

Meanwhile the Conservative Chloe Smith has announced that she will not fight the next election, she is 40. There will be others who can validly draw a pension; here in Kent, I can think of three without thinking about it. That is fair enough.

William Wragg standing down now too.

Now that is interesting, he's not yet 35 but has made an impact (Chair of a select committee as well as being a vice chair of the '22)

If the trend continues it may mean that the Conservatives may be left with an inexperienced set of MPs, alongside the talentless (every party has them, not just the Conservatives) and the outliers.

 

[Acfb]

Chloe Smith was the youngest MP when she was elected at the 2009 by election IIRC.

I am surprised at William Wragg standing down however. Sir Graham Brady will probably announce his retirement soon as well.

 

[brad465]

I suspect the younger MPs standing down not only think they'll lose their seats but also believe their chances of a good post-Parliament career are stronger if they stand down rather than get voted out specifically. If any of the 2019 red wall intake do this that would further reinforce this argument.

 

[Thirteen]

Margaret Beckett will be 80 at the start of next year, Margaret Hodge not far behind. Harriet Harman's husband died earlier in the year and is in her 70s. The only one that is likely to go on to further employment is Ben Bradshaw and he can expect a few advisory positions as he limps towards retirement. He has been an MP for 25 years.

Meanwhile the Conservative Chloe Smith has announced that she will not fight the next election, she is 40. There will be others who can validly draw a pension; here in Kent, I can think of three without thinking about it. That is fair enough.


Now that is interesting, he's not yet 35 but has made an impact (Chair of a select committee as well as being a vice chair of the '22)

If the trend continues it may mean that the Conservatives may be left with an inexperienced set of MPs, alongside the talentless (every party has them, not just the Conservatives) and the outliers.

In the case of Chloe Smith, I suspect her cancer diagnosis and getting the all clear probably meant her priority changed, being a MP is stressful even if you're not in Government and if you're young enough to go into a different career path then it's fine to do so.

I do wonder why MPs stay that long. Dennis Skinner was 87 when he lost his seat although you have to wonder if he wants to stand again given he'll be 92 but IIRC his health isn't great so the Labour Party probably will put a younger candidate anyway.

Hancock is one I fully expect to quit politics. Raab is 50/50 but I suspect he's losing his seat either way.

 

[WizCastro197]

Chloe Smith was the youngest MP when she was elected at the 2009 by election IIRC.

I'm more surprised at William Wragg standing down TBH as while I know his majority is only ~10%, I thought he might have some personal vote in Hazel Grove which has been drifting away from the Lib Dems at parliamentary level since 1997 even though they hold virtually every councillor there again.

In the case of Chloe Smith, I suspect her cancer diagnosis and getting the all clear probably meant her priority changed, being a MP is stressful even if you're not in Government and if you're young enough to go into a different career path then it's fine to do so.

I do wonder why MPs stay that long. Dennis Skinner was 87 when he lost his seat although you have to wonder if he wants to stand again given he'll be 92 but IIRC his health isn't great so the Labour Party probably will put a younger candidate anyway.

Hancock is one I fully expect to quit politics. Raab is 50/50 but I suspect he's losing his seat either way.

Doubt Raab will quit, as you said he'll lose his seat to Lib Dems but he is probably well stuck in it (deputy prime minister etc) to just leave. He does seem like one of those who'd just stay, not because they have a passion for their community but more a thirst for power.

No doubt Hancock will be deselected.

 

[Acfb]

In the case of Chloe Smith, I suspect her cancer diagnosis and getting the all clear probably meant her priority changed, being a MP is stressful even if you're not in Government and if you're young enough to go into a different career path then it's fine to do so.

I do wonder why MPs stay that long. Dennis Skinner was 87 when he lost his seat although you have to wonder if he wants to stand again given he'll be 92 but IIRC his health isn't great so the Labour Party probably will put a younger candidate anyway.

Hancock is one I fully expect to quit politics. Raab is 50/50 but I suspect he's losing his seat either way.

There aren't many examples of Labour MPs standing for the same seats they lost in 2019 at the next election although Labour is rerunning 2015/17/19 candidates who have yet to be elected as MPs. Stoke Central, Leigh and Bury North are the only ones I definitely know of and also some recent Labour MPs such as Emma Reynolds and Heidi Alexander are standing for different marginal seats (Swindon S and Wycombe).

Off the top of my head, Barry Sheerman is the only Labour MP over 80 that I can think of and he is standing down.

Michael Crick has all the information on Labour MP selections at the twitter handle tomorrowsmps.

 

[WizCastro197]

There aren't many examples of Labour MPs standing for the same seats they lost in 2019 at the next election although Labour is rerunning 2015/17/19 candidates who have yet to be elected as MPs. Stoke Central, Leigh and Bury North are the only ones I definitely know of and also some recent Labour MPs such as Emma Reynolds and Heidi Alexander are standing for different marginal seats (Swindon S and Wycombe).

Off the top of my head, Barry Sheerman is the only Labour MP over 80 that I can think of and he is standing down.

Michael Crick has all the information on Labour MP selections at the twitter handle tomorrowsmps.

Will Christian Wakeford stand as candidate for Bury South or does he face deselection for a alternative more loyal to Labour?

 

[Thirteen]

Doubt Raab will quit, as you said he'll lose his seat to Lib Dems but he is probably well stuck in it (deputy prime minister etc) to just leave. He does seem like one of those who'd just stay, not because they have a passion for their community but more a thirst for power.

I get the impression his constituents don't think much of him either.

Corbyn is one MP I imagine will be going until he literally drops dead.

 

[Gloster]

Will Christian Wakeford stand as candidate for Bury South or does he face deselection for a alternative more loyal to Labour?

He has apparently been confirmed as the candidate, although I don’t think that all the local party members were happy. However, you have to reward defectors, otherwise most of them won’t defect as their principles won’t let them.

 

[WizCastro197]

He has apparently been confirmed as the candidate, although I don’t think that all the local party members were happy. However, you have to reward defectors, otherwise most of them won’t defect as their principles won’t let them.

Alright. I presumed he wouldn't be permitted to stand as he only really crossed the floor just for a protest against Bojos Government, I am unsure if he agrees with any of their policies. Bury South is a marginal seat anyway for Conservatives so Wakeford's victory is practically guaranteed.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 22 Nov 2022 ==

I get the impression his constituents don't think much of him either.

Corbyn is one MP I imagine will be going until he literally drops dead.

Isn't he suspended from the Labour Party so could face deselection or could stand as independent. I am unsure if he'd win in that case as I am sure most people just cross the box for the party not really the person themselves.

 

[Acfb]

Alright. I presumed he wouldn't be permitted to stand as he only really crossed the floor just for a protest against Bojos Government, I am unsure if he agrees with any of their policies. Bury South is a marginal seat anyway for Conservatives so Wakeford's victory is practically guaranteed.

I can't see any more defectors now TBH as Labour has pretty much selected all their candidates for marginal seats with <8000 majorities unless someone like e.g. Tobias Ellwood suddenly defects very quickly before the Bournemouth East selection is complete.

 

[Thirteen]

Isn't he suspended from the Labour Party so could face deselection or could stand as independent. I am unsure if he'd win in that case as I am sure most people just cross the box for the party not really the person themselves.

I fully expect Corbyn to stand as an independent but I agree that winning is not guaranteed but then again he's been the MP there for nearly 40 years so I don't think it's impossible for him to win.

 

[takno]

Doubt Raab will quit, as you said he'll lose his seat to Lib Dems but he is probably well stuck in it (deputy prime minister etc) to just leave. He does seem like one of those who'd just stay, not because they have a passion for their community but more a thirst for power.

No doubt Hancock will be deselected.

Hancock has the whip suspended and is unlikely to get it back by the deadline, so he won't be eligible for selection anyway. Same with Corbyn in all likelihood

 

[Gloster]

Isn't he suspended from the Labour Party so could face deselection or could stand as independent. I am unsure if he'd win in that case as I am sure most people just cross the box for the party not really the person themselves.

I think Corbyn is still a member of the Labour Party (his membership was only ever suspended and that was soon ended), but he has not been given back the Labour whip, so he sits as an independent.

Raab is a potential embarrassment and has a seat that a better candidate might hold. I can see him being offered a nice little job or two if he will step down: Chairman of the Tomato Throwers Association (£110,000 p.a. for fifteen hours a month) or the Crete Beach Tourist Examination Committee (£20,000 pcm (30 hours a week, May-September only)).