Big Dog - Going, going, not quite gone. Thread 14.

[Notonthestairs]

Will it be Continuity Truss or "Socialist" Sunak in charge?

Meanwhile, Truss is not going to get any hard questions until party conference time starts so that must be a relief for her.
The energy crisis continues though and serious chances seem to be being missed- why aren’t we talking about joining in with the EU?

BBC News: EU clubs together on energy and invites UK

the current TrussTax solution is to buy now at high high prices and pay later, presumably keeping electricity bills higher than now for years to come, and locking us all into paying this off for years.

I hadn't seen Starmers, but I agree, it's spot on.

Today, I understand why we say the Queen is dead, long live the king. With the government in no fit state to govern,the above tweet is stark visual evidence, it feels as though there is no one at the wheel.
I guess this is where we now look for some continuity in King Charles iii. He has big shoes to fill at a time when he must be feeling bereft.
I don't envy him.

I absolutely agree borntobequiet I do hope Starmer can cut through more in these times where we need informed technical policy solutions- like on the energy market price fixes, suspension of green levies on climate change, the return of fracking, NHS record waiting times, and so on.

We know Liz Truss’ ‘solution’ package is still going to be unaffordable for so many people in the short term and it will cost us all dearly in the long term, while still massively profiting the energy companies. So people will be looking for someone who is trustworthy, on top of their brief and on their side, instead.

So glad that the Queen didn’t die while Boris Johnson was in post. The thought of his gurning face making the official Downing Street response is nauseating.
I’ve no time for Truss, but she carried it off well.

I bet he was so pissed off, though.

We were talking about this last night, he must be furious he resigned just 3 days too early.
He'd have loved to be immortalised as the PM announcing the Queens death or whatever they do.

Yep Truss did a good job, bet she didn't predict that one.

Ms Truss speaks very precisely , but it does sound like a Head girl being told to address the school.
She's had a baptism of fire this week though.
An historic week.

Johnson's speech was obviously one he'd "prepared earlier". It was too long, he's not pm. It's another in a long list of things he dreamt up he'd be using when, in his eyes, he would have left office in 10 years time. On his own terms. To public acclamation, cheers and sobs. Flying in fighter jets, farewell tours etc etc

Deluded.

Theresa May did well today , a lovely tribute.
A few funny stories ( I wonder if the cheese one was picked on purpose! ) ...

Starmer really pulled it out of the bag in the Commons today. His gravitas is precisely what we need now.

They can't really ignore Nicola Sturgeon now

An alarming thread about the NHS

The NHS is in great peril

The cost of living crisis will exacerbate this and needs action quickly, but we must not forget that the NHS needs urgent attention too

I'm not sure people know quite how bad it is, so here's a 🧵on NHS Key Performance Indicators

Please share widely.

twitter.com/Kit_Yates_Maths/status/1568164166195634176?t=WFpVARUd0aHRtSd4oZQNYw&s=19

Liz Truss' spokesman says its geological survey on the safety of fracking, due yesterday, will now not be published until after the mourning period.

The Conservative manifesto promised the ban wouldn't be lifted unless there was 'categorical' evidence it was safe.

So fracking is being given the go-ahead in the UK, despite the fact it breaks the Conservative manifesto and despite the fact we're not even allowed to see the evidence on its safety until weeks after the decision is announced

twitter.com/AdamBienkov/status/1568185471905271809?t=X5x_QWT9Wis2ms4OZRSEAQ&s=19

My DH (scientist) says that fracking is safe in principle but nobody can say it's safe in practise. The reason for this is that the companies who do fracking are extremely secretive about the coctail of chemicals they use and the legal framework supports them in that. It's impossible for scientists like DH to properly assess the risk while being kept in the dark about the details of what's being used. He therefore opposes fracking.

I agree.

But I think it helps that when he makes good statements he's responded to the same way. I don't agree with Truss' politics but she can't deny she's clear and argues her point and sticks to her beliefs.

When ever he made a statement in PMQs to Johnson he was ridiculed and made out to be a fool. Johnson used bully boy tactics. And I felt let down by him because - as he's proved over the death of HM the queen - he can deliver good speeches.

That's what worries me. I don't trust the companies that will do the fracking. I think they will put profit first. I don't trust the government to regulate this.

@Fladdermus My geologist relations agree with your DH's opinion that in principle fracking is safe but they wouldn't like to guarantee it without more info.

Must admit I was a bit distracted by thinking he could have combed his sodding hair for once.

The secrecy surrounding fracking makes it more worrying.
A case of find the donor or government seen as doing something?

There is also this thread
“An inconvenient fact – like it or not, the UK has not discovered any good shale for onshore gas production."
twitter.com/davidrvetter/status/1567794714463584260?t=izcdPTis6Tijo1GycIb8Ag&s=19

That thread is concerning @DuncinToffee.

"So fracking is being given the go-ahead in the UK, despite the fact it breaks the Conservative manifesto and despite the fact we're not even allowed to see the evidence on its safety until weeks after the decision is announced"

This all fits with descriptions of Truss' methodology in previous roles. Ignore and suppress any data which doesn't fit with her views.

I thought the speeches in Parliament were good. Theresa May managed to reflect something of the Queen's personality which was lovely to listen to.

Johnson obviously has well honed oratory skills however, I haven't forgiven him dragging the Queen in to an unlawful prorogation of Parliament. Misleading the Queen wasn't the action of a patriot.

King Charles looks absolutely exhausted bless him.

That was a lovely address to the nation. It felt good to hear from him and get a sense of the continuity that the Monarchy provides.

The tributes to the Queen and Camilla were lovely. I love it that he wears his heart on his sleeve.

I was pleased that he appears able to echo his mothers talent in making a formal speech personable and humble. It was a credit.