Rishi Sunak and the Conservative Party.

[brad465]

Good news that we might be getting a decent sized battery factory, albeit with almost £1bn of taxpayer money to entice the company to come here over Spain!

I wonder if this will lead into an announcement of us mining lithium in the south west, which would make sense but perhaps cause some controversy.

To be fair the rest of the West is now in a subsidy war sparked by the IRA (bill, not terrorist group) passing in the US. However I wouldn't be surprised if we have to spend more on subsidies relative to the size of our economy than other G7/G20 markets and the EU as a result of the overall position we're in.

 

[Busaholic]

Maybe they'll find him a nice safe seat to say thank you.

His nice new £5 million gaff is handily placed for both Henley and Mid Bedfordshire whose current MP will be ennobled in his Resignation Honours List, so will become vacant. Isn't democracy wonderful (for some)?!

 

[Herefordian]

His nice new £5 million gaff is handily placed for both Henley and Mid Bedfordshire whose current MP will be ennobled in his Resignation Honours List, so will become vacant. Isn't democracy wonderful (for some)?!

I agree entirely. The honours system is laughable, but that's a discussion for another topic.

 

[Tetchytyke]

I'm simply trying to be even-handed, and give criticism of politicians only where and to the extent that it's due. And also to look for the most plausible explanation of events, rather than constantly looking for the worst possible interpretation.

The most plausible explanation is the “dead cat” principle.

Even-handed would be saying all political parties do it. And they do.

 

[Thirteen]

The incident regarding the car crashing into the gates of Downing Street seems to be a rather muted affair although I saw the footage and the car drove so slowly, it probably barely chipped the paint

 

[DynamicSpirit]

Fair enough you want to bring balance. I understand and respect that.

Thanks I appreciate that. And I value debating with you (and others). It's always interesting to see what points people make and what drives different beliefs.

To prove I'm not anti Conservative, I approve of Sunak attempting to remove some Brexit obstacles.

Hehe! And by way of return, I think Keir Starmer has done a pretty good job at moderating the Labour Party and making some of their policies more realistic. I also think the LibDems are extremely good on the environment, and have some great ideas for constitutional reform. (A shame I couldn't vote for them to get those things because there's so much else I disagree with)

 

[brad465]

We're gonna need a bigger bag of popcorn:

Government to launch legal bid to stop Covid inquiry seeing Johnson WhatsApps

The government’s refusal to share Boris Johnson’s messages sets up an unprecedented legal showdown.

www.bbc.co.uk

The government is to launch a legal challenge over the Covid inquiry's demand for WhatsApp messages and documents.
Officials missed a 4pm deadline to disclose messages between Boris Johnson and his advisers during the pandemic, as well as his diaries and notebooks.
The government has refused to disclose some of the material, arguing it is not relevant to the inquiry's work.
But the inquiry's boss says deciding what is relevant should be her job.
Crossbench peer Baroness Hallett, the inquiry chairwoman, says she needs to see the messages to see if they are relevant to its remit.
The government, however, says disclosing the requested material would breach individuals' right to privacy and undermine the ability of ministers to discuss policy matters in the future.
It has said it will apply for a judicial review, where a judge would decide whether the inquiry had overreached its legal powers to demand evidence.

 

[Darandio]

So Johnson was (apparently) quite happy for it all to be handed over. Sunak, despite his promise of professionalism, integrity, and accountability doesn't.

Shambles.

 

[jon0844]

Could this be because there will be messages that harm Rishi? It seems strange that Boris seems so keen to share all, so it must be a clever way to undermine the PM.

How would we know that Boris hasn't removed other messages?

 

[brad465]

Something else that's come out today are some revelations around questions Johnson has been asked to answer for the inquiry, there are 150 in total, which includes this rather "interesting" one:

https://twitter.com/georgegrylls/status/1664326988604030976

"Please confirm whether in March 2020 (or around that period), you suggested to senior civil servants and advisors that you be injected with Covid-19 on television to demonstrate to the public that it did not pose a threat?"

 

[43096]

So Johnson was (apparently) quite happy for it all to be handed over. Sunak, despite his promise of professionalism, integrity, and accountability doesn't.

Shambles.

So the Government is taking legal action against a Government-commissioned inquiry about what documents the Government should hand over to the Government inquiry. All sounds rather like something from Yes Minister.

 

[najaB]

So the Government is taking legal action against a Government-commissioned inquiry about what documents the Government should hand over to the Government inquiry. All sounds rather like something from Yes Minister.

Nah, they would have found that storyline way too over the top and unbelievable for a comedy.

 

[nw1]

We're gonna need a bigger bag of popcorn:

Government to launch legal bid to stop Covid inquiry seeing Johnson WhatsApps

The government’s refusal to share Boris Johnson’s messages sets up an unprecedented legal showdown.

www.bbc.co.uk

So our taxpayers' money is being used to mount this politically-motivated legal challenge.

 

[jon0844]

And now Boris is going to give the messages direct. One must assume he knows there are messages more harmful for Rishi than himself.

Boris only looks out for his own interests (and I'm still unclear how anyone can be sure he will hand over everything anyway).

 

[jfollows]

It's a total mess which should have been avoided.
Rishi Sunak and his government displays the arrogance of power, having forgotten that he and his government works for us and not the other way round. I'm sure the current course of action will be seen to be extremely misguided in the fullness of time, but inside the Westminster bubble it might appear to make sense.
And Boris is looking after Boris, as always, indeed.

 

[jon0844]

It's almost like Boris and others set up this situation to attack Rishi and give the 'back Boris' brigade ammunition. He comes out, in theory, looking like he has more credibility and honesty.

 

[jfollows]

I always come back to (https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/prime-minister-rishi-sunaks-statement-25-october-2022):

I will unite our country, not with words, but with action.

I will work day in and day out to deliver for you.

This government will have integrity, professionalism and accountability at every level.

(Rishi Sunak, 25 October 2022)
Really?

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

It's almost like Boris and others set up this situation to attack Rishi and give the 'back Boris' brigade ammunition. He comes out, in theory, looking like he has more credibility and honesty.

Maybe but the bottom line is its the Tories blowing themselves up which is fabulous.

 

[birchesgreen]

I wish they'd all just go away and have their civil war so we can have some adults in place to run the country.

 

[jon0844]

Maybe but the bottom line is its the Tories blowing themselves up which is fabulous.

Oh it's certainly entertaining.

 

[yorksrob]

I wish they'd all just go away and have their civil war so we can have some adults in place to run the country.

But surely, someone's got to drivel on about "markets" all the time !?

 

[GusB]

This is a tragic bit of news:

Nadine Dorries: Former minister stands down as Tory MP

The ex-culture secretary and close ally of Boris Johnson says she is standing down "with immediate effect".

www.bbc.co.uk

Former Conservative minister Nadine Dorries has announced she is standing down as an MP.

The former culture secretary and close ally of Boris Johnson said she was standing down "with immediate effect" and it was "time for another to take the reins".

It means there will be a by-election in her Mid Bedfordshire constituency, where she has a majority of 24,664.

Ms Dorries had already said she would not stand at the next general election.

It comes ahead of the publication of Mr Johnson's resignation honours list, which is expected later.

I will be gutted to see her go from the commons.

 

[Darandio]

And my esteemed mayor Ben Houchen has apparently been nominated for a peerage on Johnson's resignation honours list. Corruption pays.

 

[Typhoon]

Interesting sections from the same story (#2902):

Asked about the reports earlier on Friday, she told TalkTV: "The last thing I would want to do is cause a by-election in my constituency."
"I don't believe I will be going into the House of Lords any time soon," she said, adding that she had not been contacted by anybody in No 10 about the honours list.

which follows an earlier story :

Boris Johnson’s resignation honours list could be published as soon as Friday, according to reports that also suggest two Tory MPs have been struck from it to avoid potentially damaging by-elections.

An opposition party urged Rishi Sunak to put the list “through the shredder” following reports the Prime Minister has accepted his predecessor’s recommendations for peerages.

But the Times reported that the long-awaited list has been trimmed, with casualties including former culture secretary Nadine Dorries and Sir Alok Sharma, president of the Cop26 climate summit in Glasgow.

The pair were expected to stand down to take peerages, which would have left Mr Sunak facing two early electoral battles in their seats.

from https://www.itv.com/news/2023-06-08/two-tory-mps-reportedly-cut-from-johnsons-honours-list
'Hell hath no fury like a woman denied a place in the Lords'

Meanwhile in other news, The Express report:

Jacob Rees-Mogg has been included in Boris Johnson's resignation honours list, which was released in full this evening.
The former Brexit minister was awarded the honour for political and public service.

Conservative MPs Michael Fabricant and Conor Burns also recieved knighthoods, while Andrea Jenkyns and Priti Patel received Damehoods.

Now that is having a laugh.
https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/1779220/boris-johnson-honours-list-brexit-jacob-rees-mogg

 

[Thirteen]

I assume Alok Sharma was omitted because he already has a knighthood.

The By-Election is surely going to be a safe seat for the Tories?

 

[Typhoon]

I assume Alok Sharma was omitted because he already has a knighthood.

... and had a majority of just 4,117 a the last election.

 

[SuspectUsual]

Its utterly sickening. Carrie Johnson's advisor is on that list "for political and public service", which is going some for an adviser to a private citizen in a non-political role. But that pales into insignificance compared to the likes of Houchen, an absolute nothing of a man

 

[JonathanH]

The By-Election is surely going to be a safe seat for the Tories?

No chance. As the sitting party, they are not in a position to win a by-election at the moment. Question is which opposition party is going to try with canvassing.

 

[Busaholic]

I assume Alok Sharma was omitted because he already has a knighthood.

The By-Election is surely going to be a safe seat for the Tories?

Where's Martin Bell when you need him? If anti-Tories would only coalesce behind a candidate, it'd be possible the Tory successor to Dorries could be defeated. Even without that, there's a chance the Cons could be run close, most likely by the LibDem; Labour and Green supporters must then think hard about voting LibDem for strategic reasons. At least Johnson won't be able to switch to the seat now.

 

[nw1]

No chance. As the sitting party, they are not in a position to win a by-election at the moment. Question is which opposition party is going to try with canvassing.

Even true-blue Mid-Bedfordshire?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 9 Jun 2023 ==

... and had a majority of just 4,117 a the last election.

A shame there isn't one there, that would be a dead-cert Labour gain.

Mind you Reading West is disappearing at the next election, so long term it might not make much difference.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 9 Jun 2023 ==

Where's Martin Bell when you need him? If anti-Tories would only coalesce behind a candidate, it'd be possible the Tory successor to Dorries could be defeated. Even without that, there's a chance the Cons could be run close, most likely by the LibDem; Labour and Green supporters must then think hard about voting LibDem for strategic reasons. At least Johnson won't be able to switch to the seat now.

He could always resign Uxbridge and stand, I guess. That would have the positive side effect of an Uxbridge by election, of course, which would surely be a Labour gain.

He's still got Reigate and Henley to choose from, of course.