This thread exists to discuss British politics.
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Recent political stuff:
- The vote to see if Britain should adopt Alternative Voting has failed.
- Lib Dems lose lots of councils and councillors, whilst Labour make the majority of the gains in England.
- The Scottish National Party do really well in the elections.
A link to the BBC politics page containing relevant information.
Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 3rd 2023 at 11:15:30 AM
![[up]](https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/smiles/arrow_up.png "[up]"){kind=icon}
Well, she is the least incompetent leader who would be stupid enough to take the job. Everyone competent knows perfectly well that it is impossible to deliver the Brexit promised and will keep wisely in the background.
Figure of Hourai
I think the only competent Tory MP is the one that used to be a medical doctor.
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Either that or it has to be someone with nothing left to lose #KenClarkeforPM
Which one? There are several Tory MPs who used to be doctors: Liam Fox, Dan Poulter, and Sarah Wollaston are the ones that immediately come to mind. Also, Tania Mathias, but she lost her seat in the recent election to Vince Cable. I'm assuming you're referring to either Poulter or Wollaston, who have both opposed the way Jeremy Hunt has been handling the junior doctors and the NHS in general (although neither of them support doctors' striking).
edited 7th Apr '18 11:16:16 AM by Wyldchyld
If my post doesn't mention a giant flying sperm whale with oversized teeth and lionfish fins for flippers, it just isn't worth reading.
A procrastination in of itself
I feel Ken Clark somehow became PM I think he might strait up cancel Brexit, remember he voted against article 50 in the Commons.
“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
Pronounced YAK-you-luss
Liam Fox isn't competent in any useful way - he was booted out of his first Cabinet post for doing nothing but engaging in blatant corruption, and seems to have used his new Brexit responsibilities to do exactly the same.
edited 23rd Sep '17 12:03:07 PM by Iaculus
What's precedent ever done for us?
So it seems like the Uber thing has brought out the usual "something I like could never do wrong" people.
"Yup. That tasted purple."
Not around here, though. ![[lol]](https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/lol2v12_4863.png "[lol]"){kind=small}
We're a little more familiar about just how much they shaft their drivers and endanger their customers. <_<
@Silasw: Which might be the only way to save the party.
Seriously, why the bloody hell are the DUPes on board with this shitshow? Northern Ireland absolutely doesn't want a Brexit. Does the party simply not care about what their constituents elected them for?
If you have to ask, the answer is probably no
Remember, NI elections are all about turning out your base and little else. It's miles better than the Troubles, but disappointingly stagnant beyond that.
On that point has power sharing been restored? It's slipped off my radar and I haven't heard anything for awhile. Looking at the BBC there appears to be a spat between the DUP and the Conservatives, as the Treasury is saying the £1B is dependent on power sharing being restored whereas the DUP are claiming that there is no such requirement.
The courts have also ruled that the £1 billion deal has to be voted on by parliament. The government doesn't have the right to offer the DUP that money just to stay in power. As far as I know, the government has refused to set a date for the parliamentary vote to actually happen. Without that vote, the DUP gets nothing.
And there's a legal challenge under way regarding whether or not the money breaks the legal neutrality required by the Good Friday agreement. That case is scheduled to be heard at the end of October.
So, on at least two legal grounds, that £1 billion is not currently available to the DUP for now anyway.
edited 24th Sep '17 5:55:00 AM by Wyldchyld
If my post doesn't mention a giant flying sperm whale with oversized teeth and lionfish fins for flippers, it just isn't worth reading.
A procrastination in of itself
The Uber thing is causing a bit split amongst the London Bartending community, a lot of people are trying to justify defending it even though they know it's crap.
For me, it's like if someone told me my iPhone was going up in price because Apple stopped making them in Chienase child labour factories, sure it kinda sucks for me to have to pay more, but can I really justify being angry when the end to such unethical practices is clearly a net gain for humanity?
“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
double-post.
edited 7th Apr '18 11:17:50 AM by Wyldchyld
If my post doesn't mention a giant flying sperm whale with oversized teeth and lionfish fins for flippers, it just isn't worth reading.
Johnson forced Theresa May’s hand on EU, claim Tories as cabinet truce unravels
In claims that infuriated Downing Street, supporters of Johnson were claiming that he had successfully stopped Theresa May backing the so-called “Norway option”, under which Britain would continue to have access to the EU’s single market in return for payment and adherence to its rules and regulations.
They also claimed that he had stopped the prime minister from adopting a far longer transitional period of up to five years, and accused Philip Hammond of attempting to push May into adopting a four-year transition period. Treasury attempts to impose such a measure had been frustrated with Johnson’s help, his supporters claimed.
Allies of the chancellor were adamant that Hammond had been pushing no such plan, pointing out that he had been publicly advocating a transition period of two or three years at the most.
The infighting signals the near-breakdown of the Tory truce over Brexit just a week before the party conference in Manchester – and is another sign that May is struggling to maintain discipline in the wake of her disastrous election result. In a new twist, the Sunday Times claimed that Hammond had texted Johnson after the Tories lost their majority, suggesting he would back the foreign secretary should he decide to run. A source close to the chancellor told the paper: “I’m not going to quibble with that.” Another said they “did not recognise” the account.
Senior Tories are now concerned that Johnson could leave the cabinet at any moment, though May has so far declined to dismiss her foreign secretary. Some think Johnson is attempting to become a “Brexit martyr” by earning the sack.
edited 7th Apr '18 11:18:17 AM by Wyldchyld
If my post doesn't mention a giant flying sperm whale with oversized teeth and lionfish fins for flippers, it just isn't worth reading.
Figure of Hourai
As usual, there are people in the PLP who'd rather debate motions on Brexit despite having no power right now to do anything about it... and therefore best to just let the Tories take the flak for everything rather than offer the right-wing press a target. Of course they should ignore the party's own procedures to choose debate subjects to force through something that's just going to have a divisive, meaningless argument.
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Remember when Boris was just considered a harmless eccentric?
Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
#wiffwaff
"Yup. That tasted purple."
Pronounced YAK-you-luss
Given that that hasn't been true for at least twenty-seven years, I'd be surprised to see all that many tropers who've been around long enough to remember that.
I seem to remember a lot of Brits (not many here mind you) treating him like that during his term of Mayor of London.
edited 24th Sep '17 7:11:15 PM by Rationalinsanity
Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
A procrastination in of itself
Sure, and a lot of people acted the same way about Trump in the US.
I know younge people who might want Boris as PM for a joke, the man terrifies me.
“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
Oh, bother.
I think it was fair to treat him as 'less than serious' when he was Mayor of London. As a position, it is somewhat of a private fiefdom. You get the opportunity to build your profile, but it many ways it is an administrative / figurehead role. Most things which fall under the Mayor's purview are already well managed (~ish - TFL) or fall into the boroughs which provides plausible deniability. So far the two holders of the office has used it mostly to fulfil private agendas (I'm not counting Khan yet - wait and see). Livingstone used it to rail against New Labour and introduce the congestion charge. Johnson used it to build up an international / ministerial portfolio whilst approving any phallic looking building that crossed his desk.
I do think however that those in the media et al should have held Johnson's feet to the fire a bit more with regards to Brexit. I am fairly convinced he made quite a few statements as mayor praising immigration and the EU - given that London (and the businesses there within) is pro EU. Why were these statements not used against him when asked why he was backing Leave? What changed his mind?
edited 25th Sep '17 1:11:52 PM by singularityshot
"From digging, this appears to be a Tory distortion that the Tory press is pursuing."
Oh, you don't say.
I wish Boris just decided to stick with Have I Got News For You.
A procrastination in of itself
The press were pro-Brexit so didn't have an interest in holding Boris to account, he was on there side now so who cared about his previous statements.
Plus he was so open about his reasons, he'd joined the leave campaign so as to oust Cameron and become PM, it was so out in the open that one almost couldn't call him on it.
“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran