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Good job we left the EU to not be ruled by unelected officials 🙂
Rehman Chrishti is the Mp for Gillingham, he had to apologise a couple of years back for taking donations from a developer he later granted some planning permission.
Ah, OK. The best candidate will be the one whose shady dealings I haven't learned about yet. Bunch of crooks and charlatans.
The best candidate will be the one whose shady dealings I haven’t learned about yet.
At least his fellow candidates will be trying their best to make sure you are fully informed as opposed to the normal coverup.
@willard :
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/jeremy-hunt-fox-hunting-ban-repeal-tories-leadership-countryside-a8987406.html
What's a lot more worrying is this:
https://yorkshirebylines.co.uk/politics/how-would-you-like-your-government-right-far-right-or-batshit-crazy/
What could possibly go wrong if everyone is pitching to a small, hard-right bunch of bitter pensioners? You can only hope that at least a couple of the candidates are doing a bait and switch because it's the only way to get the job. But no, they're probably all nutters.
People are rightly pointing out that the Penny Mordaunt video means we are beyond parody.
These campaign videos cannot be taken seriously....can they?!
The Day Today has increasingly felt like a blueprint for the future, not satire.
Given the rightwing dutch auction playing out in the media how long before people are begging Johnson to stay? It's either a major cockup by labour to enable this lurch rightwards with their own shift, or a masterstroke as they know any incoming PM won't have time to do half of this stuff before the next election.
All I know we're beginning to look even more like the US, where the timidity and cowardice of the Democrats have allowed libertarian fruitloops to do as they please.
What could possibly go wrong if everyone is pitching to a small, hard-right bunch of bitter pensioners?
If you want to verify yourself, flick Five Live on now. They've got Tory members phoning in to say who they've voting for and why
be afraid
be very very afraid
EDIT: However, someone has just made the following statement:
Choosing one of this lot is like choosing a portaloo on the third day of a festival 😂
All I know we’re beginning to look even more like the US, where the timidity and cowardice of the Democrats have allowed libertarian fruitloops to do as they please.
There's an element of that but also the fact that the Republicans have stacked the deck in their favour - putting their pick of judges into Supreme Court, Stripping out perfectly working organisations and restocking them with "their" staff (they did this with National Parks staff, moving older people around to force their retirement and filling the posts with folk sympathetic to Republican interests, anti-public land, climate-change deniers etc to make it easier to develop National Park resources or prevent education about climate change).
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jan/10/us-national-parks-dismantling-under-way
Same here - Tories have already tried to dismantle lots of our institutions and doing it piecemeal under the guise of privitisation or "efficiency savings", it's very difficult to fight back against that.
It's fun to blame the opposition for not doing things they're not in a position to do. But it's pretty obvious what has facilitated a slide further right in the Tory Party, and given them a longer period in office with the power to take the checks and balances away... voters supporting Boris Johnson and Brexit.
It’s fun to blame the opposition
In 2017 and 2019 the tories fought campaigns which never mentioned austerity. Quite he opposite in fact. Why was that? Now that Starmer and his idiot shadow chancellor are preaching the mantra of 'balancing the books', the new crop of tory wannabes are perfectly comfortable talking about sweeping cuts in public spending. It's not a coincidence.
Why was that?
Because they were promising sunlit uplands. No need for austerity because the good times were coming. Brexit was the answer, not the problem, at that point. Neither May nor Johnson stopped austerity though, even if they were selling their party on different priorities. Look at local government funding, and the effects of the continued spending constraints there. Got a job in the public sector? How have your pay awards been handled in that time?
Now that Starmer and his idiot shadow chancellor are preaching the mantra of ‘balancing the books
TBF to them, this is a problem faced by all Labour candidates. Lots of the voting public have been told (by the right wing press) and now believe- without having to see any evidence to the contrary that Labour = spending that cannot be afforded. It's been a necessity for labour opposition leaders to have spending plans itemised in a way that's simply not true for the Tories since for ever.
Not got a problem with labour saying 'this is how we'll pay for things', even if it is a load of bollocks. However will they come out against this new wave of austerity the tories are intent on imposing? Starmer's making a speech this morning, a perfect opportunity to set out his stall against austerity and create clear water between himself and the tory headbangers. I think we all know what will happen though.
If you're hoping that Starmer is going to become the opposition leader that he clearly isn't. I think you're going to be disappointed.
Its like choosing what STD you'd like to get.
However will they come out against this new wave of austerity the tories are intent on imposing?
I just dont see how this is in any way a realistic policy for the government to maintain
The energy price risis due in the autumn and the further inflation it will cause is going to result in riots if the government dont start properly helping people
id take anything said in these leadership campaigns with a bucket full of salt
Starmer’s making a speech this morning, a perfect opportunity to set out his stall against austerity and create clear water between himself and the tory headbangers. I think we all know what will happen though.
Yeah, we're going to get a return to the Gordon Brown days of "sensible frugal policies" except this time with the added fun of "making Brexit work".
Which is kind of like making square wheels on a car work. Yes, it can be done but it's still a spectacularly shit idea.
Although I'm willing to bet that the Lib Dem version will involve paying for it all by adding a penny to income tax. That's been their policy since as far back as I can remember...
If you’re hoping that Starmer is going to become the opposition leader that he clearly isn’t.
I'm really not. I have no illusions he's going to do or say anything that could be described as left wing or progressive. But it should be very easy for him to be anti-austerity and differentiate himself from the tory nutters as a centrist. He could even claim the one-nation tory ground and still be anti-austerity. But he won't will he?
Its like choosing what STD you’d like to get.
It's more like your Racist Nan choosing your next STD for you.
The energy price risis due in the autumn and the further inflation it will cause is going to result in riots if the government dont start properly helping people
This is my line of thought.
But I reckon it will as usual be a drip feed just enough to generate press.
Look at local government funding, and the effects of the continued spending constraints there. Got a job in the public sector? How have your pay awards been handled in that time?
I think even though they're related there is a massive difference between central government spending and local government.
Local governments are funded by taxation - which puts them in a difficult place.
I'm very interested to see what Labour offer up this week.
The public going on and on about taxation/ tax bills and value for money on the radio. The debate will never change unless this is truly undone.
Its like choosing what STD you’d like to get.
Maybe you should phone up 5live and get this soundbite in??? 😉
Steve Baker is criticising Rishi and saying we need tax cuts because people can't afford to buy food. The people who can't afford food are not paying much tax.
Some of the candidates are saying they'll cut taxes and subsidise food and fuel. One of the drivers of inflation is the low value of the pound, in turn driven by the level of our budget deficit.
I'm sure the Tory destruction of education is deliberately intended to allow them to claim that they'll do things that are economically impossible and get away with it.
Is it too late to join the conservative party?
Personally I'd like to vote for whoever manages to shoehorn a Spitfire, a Beefeater, The Queen (I'm standing and saluting as I type) AND a Bulldog into one single shot in their promo vid.
If two or more candidates manage that, the result will go to a tie, with the addition of either a nice cup of tea and a biscuit, or the 1966 world cup in to the shot being the deciding factor.
Sunak is likely to be the clear favourite amongst Tory MPs and the Public, but if he ends up in the final 2 with Mordaunt I reckon She'll just have to align herself with the ghost of Maggie (who for her very many faults would never have done the sort of shit they're doing now) and she'll get it.
Frankly, it doesn't matter, the die is cast, and they're stuck in a corner, they simply cannot do what needs to be done to fix the cost-of-living crisis, it's so alien to Tory dogma to see it as a corporate greed crisis.
If Labour can't win the next election, we don't deserve to survive as a developed Country.
That Mordaunt video is amazing. The thing is, if those two are the front runners... they are people you would employ in your local business, or chair the cricket club renovation committee, so both stand a good chance of being accepted by members. Don't bet against Sunak. Although he is sort of standing against his own record... "what we need is a change from me". Still baffles me that Johnson flew past the members so easily. Oh, yes, Brexit... silly me.
What's most depressing is that we can be pretty sure that any further lurch to the right by the Tories will be matched by Labour as they chase the same subsection of the electorate.
Well, lots of subsections. There are those that are really turned of by this latest form of the Tory party, but would never normally vote Labour. The LibDems are chasing them as well. Plus there's the "Brexit trumps all else" past Labour, now Tory, via UKIP voters... and they really can't be ignored. That's FPTP the post for you.
as they chase the same subsection of the electorate
The slight problem being that it's the batshit mental subsection. The ones who'd happily watch immigrants drown and poor people starve while Spitfires fly above and Land of Hope & Glory plays in the background.
Oh, yes, Brexit… silly me
Boris attached himself to Brexit and managed to glorify both. It's amazing how much traction Brexit ended up with in the Tory party, bearing in mind that Cameron only proposed the Referendum expecting to win it as a way to shut up the UKIP minority.
That Mordaunt video is amazing.
No 1966 football team shots.
No bulldogs.
Cup of tea was done with drones, not sure if I can award points for that.
Could have used a land rover.
Rest of it was textbook.
No 1966 football team shots.
Are you sure?
What’s most depressing is that we can be pretty sure that any further lurch to the right by the Tories will be matched by Labour as they chase the same subsection of the electorate.
Eventually reality will catch up with these suited loons. I fear it will be a long time.
That Mordaunt video is amazing.
The original or the remix? Four people got removed from the remix.
One because they complained publicly, one because including murderers is a slightly unusual option, one because cops shouldnt be used in political adverts in that way and finally a scientist either because she complained privately or the campaign team realised asking permission probably is a good idea.
it's not starmer who's sent the tories further right it's Farrage.
And what we need at the next election is to make sure Labour win where they can, Libdems and Sco Nats win where labour can't.
(And as for saying the right is advancing - on power not public opinion particularly - in the US because the dems aren't left enough...? Blimey. Run that by me again...)
johnx2
it’s not starmer who’s sent the tories further right it’s Farrage.
And what we need at the next election is to make sure Labour win where they can, Libdems and Sco Nats win where labour can’t.
(And as for saying the right is advancing – on power not public opinion particularly – in the US because the dems aren’t left enough…? Blimey. Run that by me again…)
^ ^ ^ ^
Are you sure?
Reasonably. Maybe I'm watching a different video to you. Let me know where it is so I can score the video properly!
I was somewhat confused on the addition of the Mediterranean Shipping Company container ship, seeing as they're owned by a Geneva based company. Minus points for featuring something based in nasty horrible europe the place where the bad people are. Unless that's what the aircraft carrier in the next shot has gone off to put a stop to?
The original or the remix?
I don't know. Having Jo Cox in the version I saw seemed particularly odd.
it’s not starmer who’s sent the tories further right it’s Farrage.
Okay so we've found the source of the problem - what is Starmer doing to push back against this sort of thing?
Retreat back towards policies that are welcome in the cities, but not the towns of England, gifting the Conservatives the seats they need to carry on building on the advantage the FPTP system gives them via boundary changes and voter disfranchisement, and removing checks, balances and rights of individuals and communities that might stand in the way of their get rich(er) quick schemes for themselves and their backers?
Having Jo Cox in the version I saw seemed particularly odd.
Put there cynically to drive outrage clicks.
Promising the inherent contradiction of ‘reformed’ public services, which we all know just means privatised, and tax cuts for those that don’t really need it. All with a side helping of the rabid, racist anti-everything culture war, lots of flags and the desire to turn the country into a 1950’s theme park
I think that’s about 100 years to modern for JRM
After reading about the Uber dodgy dealings (to be polite) then I have no confidence in any of then doing any better than Boris. They maybe better at hiding their lies and help for donors but that will be all
Shall we all cut our losses now and leave the same spirit-crushingly tiresome and tedious 5 people to furiously agree with each other in their Corbynite circle jerk?
You know, why be so ill-mannered?
Starmer could keep himself out of these threads by not looking over the Tories shoulders and dealing right-wing amplification.
P.S Don't you want Starmer to be your next PM then? - VONC - LOSE - G.E - Maybe Starmer? about a 5% chance but enough to be shoe-horned in here.
Next you'll be policing the Starmer thread.
If someone had told me that Penny Mordaunt video was a parody i would have believed it.
Its like a Mr Chumley Warner sketch by Harry Enfield.
Actually that's not quite right, those sketches generally had some sort of satirical message, that video was just vacuous flag shagging nonsense.
Is the premix version up somewhere? I still don’t know who’s been edited out.
I’m sure Instagram Liz will be currently in the process of producing something with even more flags, Spitfires and aircraft carriers
I think Mordaunt has dun robbed her funder... she got not just Thatcher but also Churchill's statue in the promo vid, AND she had not only a Spitfire but the whole BoB memorial flight with Hurricane and Lanc.
What's Liz got left? Beer and bulldogs? Bendy bananas?
pre-edit, I think:
Jonnie Peacock, who wasn't asked.
The internationally famous girlfriend murdering Oscar Pistorius, chatting to Peacock.
A rozzer, who can't be in a political video.
Jo Cox, with massively inappropriate voiceover.
Having Jo Cox in the version I saw seemed particularly odd.
IIRC* the voiceover at that point was saying something about respecting folks with different viewpoints? I can see why they'd not choose a living Labour MP. Not only would it give credence to the current opposition, they might complain.
* I'm not watching it again.
Is the premix version up somewhere? I still don’t know who’s been edited out.
Wasn't it Johnnie Peacock? I'm sure I saw something.
Oscar Pistorius. Y'know, the murderer. 🙂
What’s Liz got left? Beer and bulldogs? Bendy bananas?
Simple.
Truss flying a spitfire
Truss kissing churchills statue
Truss trying to replicate Thatcher standing in a tank
Truss trying to replicate Thatcher in lots of other poses.
You know, why be so ill-mannered?
If I had put all my hopes behind Starmer I would as well. I am surprised they have gone for sulking rather than dribbling out childish memes though.
Fill yer boots:
Liz is going to deliver, deliver, deliver. Like shitting deliveroo.
She's negotiated trade deals with Australia and Japan, don't you know. Shortly, she'll be opening up new pork markets or inventing a new cheese or some bollocks like that.
Massive fail on the bulldog front.
Well, that was dull.
Fill yer boots:
Says all that the camera person seems to have decided they couldnt handle that speech sober. At least thats why I assume the angle randomly wanders around.
You know, why be so ill-mannered?
He despises any criticism of Saint Starmer.
Well, that was dull.
You're not wrong.
Wow, watching those vids i feel like I've been trepanned and had pint of stupid poured in to my head
She’s negotiated trade deals with Australia and Japan, don’t you know
Don’t forget Texas. She negotiated a trade deal with Texas too, favouring a one-state-at-a-time approach which will take decades.
Rumours that this means the long-awaited return of the Texan bar have so far proved unfounded, but retro chocolate could yet swing it for Liz
Yeah - they are pretty frightening.
I think they are missing the plot with the cost of living crisis and fiddling whilst Rome burns as they go thru the spectacle of anointing another leader.
I suppose the don't get it as they have so much disposable income or just claim more expenses.
Grief I could murder a TEXAN, where do I vote.
I think they are missing the plot with the cost of living crisis and fiddling whilst Rome burns as they go thru the spectacle of anointing another leader.
Remember who they are looking to win the votes of. The cost of living crisis isn't hitting us all in the same way. The well off retired folk that mostly make up those who have a vote in the leadership election aren't struggling, the party keeps looking after them. And looking past this leadership contest towards the next election... that constituency are really motivated to vote. They are the base. Not the workers or low income retirees worried about eating or heating this winter. Heating or second winter city break perhaps. This is also why every candidate will go in hard on Brexit benefits (without identifying any real ones), whatever they might have said in the past. Keep the old and well off on side.
Don’t forget Texas. She negotiated a trade deal with Texas too
I must have missed that - was it announced on the same day as the whole failing-to-remember-the-names-of-the-breakaway-states-in-the-Donbas-region-and-get-ridiculed-by-Russian-foreign-minister thing?
The well off retired folk
Target market. Enjoys patriotic music, Churchill biographies, and telling people that Thatcher got it all right.
Isn't the voice over on the mordaunt video this guy 
The cost of living crisis isn’t hitting us all in the same way
Always worth having this one in the front of your head.
The cost of living crisis isn’t hitting us all in the same way
How hard it’s hitting you is inversely proportional to the likelihood of you voting Tory in the first place, hence their failure to even acknowledge it, never mind address it
Isn’t the voice over on the mordaunt video this guy
John Hurt? I doubt it, he's dead.
How hard it’s hitting you is inversely proportional to the likelihood of you voting Tory in the first place
Not quite true... Brexit and Johnson reduced that cause/effect pattern for many people... whether that's for good or just for now... who knows.
Just picking... I agree mostly.
And there lies the challenge ahead for whoever wins this... how to keep the people on side that their policies hurt but who might still vote for them... with the silver bullet that is continuously asking to be credited with delivering Brexit, and claiming that all the "good" that gives us will be undone if their party doesn't stay in government. But that's for another day... this leadership campaign is all about the old and comfortable off voting for who will keep the larger world at bay and their metaphorical village green spit and span.
Spectator reporting patel is expected to declare today.
During World at One in R4 earlier a comment that ree-smug is considering standing.
* me rigid.
I hope he does. He's up for going in hard on the other candidates... as a bystander that's what I want to see... no cosy friendly competition... let's see them openly fight while the country is watching more closely. He'll reveal just how nasty he is, while also damaging others. I'd rather this happened while in opposition, because of any knock on damage on our country's reputation... but it needs to happen at some point... if it's now, so be it.
She negotiated a trade deal with Texas too
Stiltons for Stetsons.
With regards to Jo Cox, I'd give Mordaunt the benefit of the doubt here. She helped set up development grants in memory and has spoken on the subject many times since. But Spitfire, Hurricane AND a Lancaster. Irony is dead. I was expecting Jerusalem next.
Bystanders is the right word Kelvin.
Sorry to hammer the 'Logan's Run' analogy but that is exactly what's happening. Less than a tenth of one percent of the population, made up of mostly pensioners and disproportionately white and male are getting to decide who will best ptrotect their pensions and how they are going to force those of working age to believe.
Brexit is the 'Domed City', built to entrap its citizens as much as it is designed to keep people out.
Jonnie Peacock, who wasn’t asked.
The internationally famous girlfriend murdering Oscar Pistorius, chatting to Peacock.
A rozzer, who can’t be in a political video.
Jo Cox, with massively inappropriate voiceover.
WTF did I just watch?!
"Choose them because you trust their motives"
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
I was expecting Jerusalem next.
It's I vow to thee, my Country isn't it? Much more properly Nationalistic.
nickc
John Hurt? I doubt it, he’s dead.
I blame the Alien(s)
Well if you are trying to out-Nationalist I'd have raised my game to Jerusalem.
I will not cease from mental fight,
Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand
Till we have built Jerusalem
In England's green and pleasant land.
I vow to thee is for amateurs.