Rishi Sunak and the Conservative Party.

[Nicholas Lewis]

I am afraid that my fear is that they will wait to see how the local elections go, realise that they are going to be thrashed in the general election and set up about using the rest of their mandate for purely selfish actions. That would involve making things as difficult as possible for Labour by such things as questionable long-term contracts, appointing suitably Conservative-friendly people to as many posts as possible and messing with our international relationships. At the same time they will be filling the boots of themselves and cronies by similar means.

You may well say that this has never happened before, but we are now in an era of totally unprincipled politicians unlike anything in the past. They have got the power and they are going to use it…to their own personal advantage.

Indeed but reality is they have a huge majority still so can and will hide behind that until next Autumn. Sunak will be out of politics when he loses and off to US hes only interested in getting his CV improved now.

 

[SynthD]

set up about using the rest of their mandate for purely selfish actions. That would involve making things as difficult as possible for Labour by such things as questionable long-term contracts, appointing suitably Conservative-friendly people to as many posts as possible and messing with our international relationships. At the same time they will be filling the boots of themselves and cronies by similar means.

And you say that is the future? It looks awfully like the present.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

And you say that is the future? It looks awfully like the present.

They can double down from here

 

[TheSmiths82]

I am afraid that my fear is that they will wait to see how the local elections go, realise that they are going to be thrashed in the general election and set up about using the rest of their mandate for purely selfish actions. That would involve making things as difficult as possible for Labour by such things as questionable long-term contracts, appointing suitably Conservative-friendly people to as many posts as possible and messing with our international relationships. At the same time they will be filling the boots of themselves and cronies by similar means.

You may well say that this has never happened before, but we are now in an era of totally unprincipled politicians unlike anything in the past. They have got the power and they are going to use it…to their own personal advantage.

I would say they wouldn't do that because it would make it even harder for the Tory's to get re-elected in the future as Labour will make very clear what they did. However this bunch do not care about the Tory party, all of them will shaft the party and country if it means they can benefit from it. Sunak will probably just move to the USA.

 

[birchesgreen]

I would say they wouldn't do that because it would make it even harder for the Tory's to get re-elected in the future as Labour will make very clear what they did. However this bunch do not care about the Tory party, all of them will shaft the party and country if it means they can benefit from it. Sunak will probably just move to the USA.

The majority of the media will say something else.

 

[nw1]

I would say they wouldn't do that because it would make it even harder for the Tory's to get re-elected in the future as Labour will make very clear what they did. However this bunch do not care about the Tory party, all of them will shaft the party and country if it means they can benefit from it. Sunak will probably just move to the USA.

Then again Sunak will presumably stand as an MP at the next election, in the hope that they might win, however unlikely.

Presumably you'd anticipate a fairly quick byelection in his seat if/when they lose?

 

[brad465]

For the second time, a Tory MP has been found responsible for sexual misconduct while also having a surname that aptly gives it away:

Peter Bone: Tory MP facing suspension after bullying probe

Parliament's behaviour watchdog says Wellingborough MP Peter Bone should be suspended for six weeks.

www.bbc.co.uk

Parliament's behaviour watchdog has recommended Tory MP Peter Bone be suspended for six weeks for bullying and sexual misconduct.
It follows a complaint made to the body by a former member of his Westminster office, over alleged behaviour in 2012 and 2013.
The suspension will have to be voted on by the House of Commons to be approved.
It would trigger a recall petition that could potentially lead to a by-election in Mr Bone's Wellingborough seat.
The staffer made the complaint to the watchdog in October 2021, with a separate complaint to the Conservative Party made in 2017 unresolved.
Mr Bone appealed against the ruling, by Parliament's Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS), but it was dismissed by a sub-panel.
In a statement after the watchdog released its ruling, Mr Bone said the allegations were "false and untrue".
He added that the probe, by Parliament's Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS), was "flawed" and "procedurally unfair".

 

[najaB]

Parliament's behaviour watchdog has recommended Tory MP Peter Bone be suspended for six weeks for bullying and sexual misconduct.

So that's another bye-election on the way...

 

[gg1]

For the second time, a Tory MP has been found responsible for sexual misconduct while also having a surname that aptly gives it away:

Peter Bone: Tory MP facing suspension after bullying probe

Parliament's behaviour watchdog says Wellingborough MP Peter Bone should be suspended for six weeks.

www.bbc.co.uk

Just skimmed through his wikipedia page, what an odious individual he is. These are the two standout quotes which really give a good idea of his character:

"In 1995, Bone was described as Britain's "meanest boss" by the Daily Mirror when he defended paying a 17-year-old trainee at Palm Travel (West) 87p an hour, equivalent to £1.78 in 2021."

"In June 2018, Bone defended fellow Conservative MP Christopher Chope after he was widely criticised for blocking a Private member's bill to make it illegal to take photos of people aimed up their skirts."

 

[SuspectUsual]

Just skimmed through his wikipedia page, what an odious individual he is. These are the two standout quotes which really give a good idea of his character:

"In 1995, Bone was described as Britain's "meanest boss" by the Daily Mirror when he defended paying a 17-year-old trainee at Palm Travel (West) 87p an hour, equivalent to £1.78 in 2021."

"In June 2018, Bone defended fellow Conservative MP Christopher Chope after he was widely criticised for blocking a Private member's bill to make it illegal to take photos of people aimed up their skirts."

Wasn’t it him whose wife used to get namechecked a bit in Parliament? Vague memory of maybe Cameron referring to Mrs Bone from time to time. Although the original Mrs Bone was traded in for a 20 years younger version a few years ago, who subsequently by complete coincidence became his office manager / secretary.

 

[brad465]

Wasn’t it him whose wife used to get namechecked a bit in Parliament? Vague memory of maybe Cameron referring to Mrs Bone from time to time. Although the original Mrs Bone was traded in for a 20 years younger version a few years ago, who subsequently by complete coincidence became his office manager / secretary.

This one was the headline grabber back in the day:

 

[nw1]

I note from Wikipedia that the delightful Mr Bone has voted against abolishing blasphemy laws and reducing the abortion time limit.

And the BBC reports this: (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-67122669)

Parliament's Independent Expert Panel (IEP) found Mr Bone broke Parliament's sexual misconduct rules by indecently exposing himself to the staffer during an overseas trip.

Also from Wikipedia (though the ultimate source page no longer exists):

He is an active member of the Church of England and attends St Mary's Church in Rushden

yet (with the caveat that I am agnostic) his attitudes are decidedly anti-Christian.

Why is "Jesus He Knows Me", particularly the second verse, going round and round in my head? I can't think why.

(Borrowed link off Trump thread)

 

[Purple Train]

And the BBC reports this: (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-67122669)



Also from Wikipedia (though the ultimate source page no longer exists):

yet (with the caveat that I am agnostic) his attitudes are decidedly anti-Christian.

Indeed, I noticed that (and of course the "trading" from one Mrs Bone to another alluded to by @SteveM70). Seems like another Calvin Robinson type. (With the caveat that I am a member of the Church of England.) I wonder (or am I being a bit too much of a cynic) whether he's kept up a religious facade in order to bolster his conservative credentials? Frankly nothing would surprise me: he's that odious. His actions are certainly beyond repulsive.

 

[nw1]

Indeed, I noticed that (and of course the "trading" from one Mrs Bone to another alluded to by @SteveM70). Seems like another Calvin Robinson type. (With the caveat that I am a member of the Church of England.) I wonder (or am I being a bit too much of a cynic) whether he's kept up a religious facade in order to bolster his conservative credentials? Frankly nothing would surprise me: he's that odious. His actions are certainly beyond repulsive.

I'd never heard of Calvin Robinson until now, and having quickly looked him up, quite frankly I'm glad I hadn't.

Bone on the other hand I've known and "loved" for years.

 

[Purple Train]

I'd never heard of Calvin Robinson until now, and having quickly looked him up, quite frankly I'm glad I hadn't.

I wish I hadn't!

 

[TheSmiths82]

The majority of the media will say something else.

This is how such an awful government have managed to stay in power so long. "Vote labour and pay more taxes, they will half if you vote Tory". I am not sure how they explain that we now have the highest taxes for generations.

As demographics start to change I am hoping such media outlets will also struggle.

 

[baz962]

This is how such an awful government have managed to stay in power so long. "Vote labour and pay more taxes, they will half if you vote Tory". I am not sure how they explain that we now have the highest taxes for generations.

As demographics start to change I am hoping such media outlets will also struggle.

Depends what taxes . We have the highest personal allowance in generations and the amount of income tax was much larger under labour , until Margaret Thatchers government reduced it. The top rate of income tax was over 80% before and the basic rate over 30%. Just to add I wont be voting conservative and dont support them , this is purely for balance .

 

[SuspectUsual]

We have the highest personal allowance in generations

That’s a bit misleading. Highest in £ terms yes, but unchanged for 3 years so progressively less valuable thanks to rampant inflation

 

[TheSmiths82]

That’s a bit misleading. Highest in £ terms yes, but unchanged for 3 years so progressively less valuable thanks to rampant inflation

Doesn't inflation mean we pay more tax, especially stealth taxes like VAT and fuel duty etc.

 

[baz962]

That’s a bit misleading. Highest in £ terms yes, but unchanged for 3 years so progressively less valuable thanks to rampant inflation

Of course.

 

[SuspectUsual]

Doesn't inflation mean we pay more tax, especially stealth taxes like VAT and fuel duty etc.

Indeed, but specifically to the value of the personal allowance its wage inflation. Wages go up - but generally by less than inflation - which creates the double whammy that more of your earnings become taxable, and the buying power of what's left is less because prices are going up faster

 

[TheSmiths82]

Indeed, but specifically to the value of the personal allowance its wage inflation. Wages go up - but generally by less than inflation - which creates the double whammy that more of your earnings become taxable, and the buying power of what's left is less because prices are going up faster

Which is possibly what people are meaning when they say we are now paying more tax than ever before. I think it was Andrew Marr that mentioned this, and as I respect him I made the mistake of not researching his comment myself and just blindly quoting it I fell for the same trap I accuse others of doing.

 

[najaB]

This is how such an awful government have managed to stay in power so long. "Vote labour and pay more taxes, they will half if you vote Tory". I am not sure how they explain that we now have the highest taxes for generations.

I wouldn't mind the high tax rate if I could see what we were getting in return for it. Instead we have schools literally falling down and rubbish in the streets.

 

[TheSmiths82]

I wouldn't mind the high tax rate if I could see what we were getting in return for it. Instead we have schools literally falling down and rubbish in the streets.

All those private helicopters cost a lot of money Fake PPE and spreadsheets are also expensive.

 

[JamesT]

Which is possibly what people are meaning when they say we are now paying more tax than ever before. I think it was Andrew Marr that mentioned this, and as I respect him I made the mistake of not researching his comment myself and just blindly quoting it I fell for the same trap I accuse others of doing.

The tax burden being the highest ever post-war is usually in terms of GDP (i.e. the total output of the economy).
Individual income tax is lower than it has been in the past, though as others have noted fiscal drag is starting to make it rise again, but it will be the overall effect of other taxes in combination.

 

[baz962]

Well it's voting day tomorrow for me in mid Beds. Keeping an eye on the polls and apparently the conservatives are now favourites. I'm not happy about it.

 

[Gloster]

It is possible that a lot of people who voted Conservative at the last election will not do so this time, but the party may still come through the middle and retain both seats: even retaining one will be hailed by their supporters in the press as a magnificent victory. The question is whether enough Conservatives will switch to previously second-placed Labour or whether they will go to their more natural second home of the Liberal-Democrats, who were third (a very distant third in Tamworth) at the last election. Even allowing for the peculiar circumstances surrounding the resignations, particularly in Mid-Bedfordshire, and the Conservative candidate in Tamworth’s recently publicised comments about the jobless, it is a very big hill for either opposition party to climb.

A look at the various predictions suggests that…nobody has a clue. My feeling is that Labour might take Tamworth, but I don’t have a clue either.

 

[nw1]

Well it's voting day tomorrow for me in mid Beds. Keeping an eye on the polls and apparently the conservatives are now favourites. I'm not happy about it.

I suppose that's Middle England for you (no offence intended!). Wedded to the Conservatives the same way the Deep South of the USA is wedded to the Republicans.

More hopeful about Tamworth as it incorporates a sizeable town and I suspect Pincher is regarded as worse than Dorries.

It's a shame we don't have a byelection in Reading West, I seem to recall its MP was in the same kind of category as Dorries and the ex-Selby MP. That would be an easy Labour win, their last chance to take it before it's replaced by a rural seat incorporating a bit of west Reading which will absolutely go Conservative (Gerimander-on-the-Wold and Reading Far West).

 

[ainsworth74]

I think the Tories are going to win Mid-Beds simply because there's no one obvious party for the anti-Tory vote to coalesce around so I'm fairly certain that the Tories will come through with say 35% and the Lib Dems and Labour will get around 30% each. So a wholly dissatisfactory result but that's the nature of the FPTP beast that we're lumbered with. I think Tamworth is probably more likely to fall by virtue of Labour seeming to be the only party in town but it's a stonking majority to overturn (on the order of the Selby majority that they did) so would still take something special.

I suspect in some respects what might be more instructive is the swing against the Tories. Lets say that the Tories narrow hold both seats. On it's face that's a good result for them and a fairly bad one for the Labour and the Lib Dems. But if there's a 15% swing against the Tories in both those constituencies that paints a fairly apocalyptic picture as there's a lot of seats that are currently Tory where the swing required for them to be flipped by other party is nowhere near 15%.

 

[baz962]

Well I'm having breakfast and then off to vote in mid Beds. Labour and another party actually knocked and spoke to me ( others may have tried when no one home) . Just this morning a letter from Lib Dems came through the door. I'm sure she's pretty local and the envelope is actually hand written in biro with my name on it. I'm pretty impressed but not sure the lib Dems can win here . I absolutely have to vote but still struggling between lib and labour. Pfft