Thread 24, Sunak and the local elections aftermath

[DuncinToffee]

Previous thread

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/4793978-thread-23-sunak-unicorn-kingdom?page=1

Lords are debating the Illegal Migration Bill

https://twitter.com/BestForBritain/status/1666507068491063298?s=20

Incredible exchange over the Illegal Migration Bill. Lord Coaker accuses the PM of "attempts to intimidate [the Lords] into not properly scrutinising this bill".

Lord Bellamy, for the gov't confirms they were "as surprised by the report in the Telegraph" as he was!

Lord Bellamy went on to say that he was assured by @10DowningStreet that the PM was misreported by the @Telegraph. I suspect @benrileysmith might have something to say on this?

Lord Bellamy, for the gov't confirms they were "as surprised by the report in the Telegraph" as he was!

I wonder when we can all stop tiptoeing around and start calling spades spades when we see them?

The old childcare excuse is back

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/jun/07/boris-and-carrie-johnson-hosted-friend-at-chequers-during-covid-restrictions?CMP=share_btn_tw

No doubt the Johnson can point to the many times in Downing Street briefings at that time where he said it was fine for grandparents/friends/wedding planners to stay over and call it child care if you want to.

It worked for Cummings

You doesn’t get a corporate events organiser to babysit for them while planning their wedding? Once again I’m sure we’ve all been there.

So according to the report the events planner wasn't employed as either an events planner or as a nanny.
But was there to babysit whilst Carrie Johnson did what??

I don't get it.

https://twitter.com/Steven_Swinford/status/1666549042216685569?s=20

Exclusive:

Rishi Sunak poised to wave through Boris Johnson’s resignation honours list within weeks, triggering two by-elections

Nadine Dorries & Alok Sharma expected to stand down to take peerages

Sunak said to want to ‘clear the decks’

Did he say why he was intent on creating a stronger argument for Labours reforms of the HoLs?

Sunak must think there's some benefit to himself in allowing this, since they're all but guaranteed to lose a by-election over it. Sharma only has a 4k majority, they'll never hold that.

So Stanley Johnson and Martin Dacre are made peers to make Sunaks in tray a bit lighter??

Correction - Dacre is apparently off the list.
And only a "handful" of donors.

Appalling Johnson gets to appoint his mates in to the HoL. It is so bloated and full of Tory Donors, the good ones get drowned out.

In other news... what a loss this is... Caroline Lucas standing down in next GE to concentrate on nature and climate emergencies

https://twitter.com/CarolineLucas/status/1666675402775883778

Caroline Lucas stepping down will be an enormous loss to HoC. We are losing one of the decent ones.

I have a lot of respect for Caroline Lucas, she will be missed.

Sunak is just another Johnson and is probably thinking about his own honours list.

Beth Rigby - "That free trade agreement(US/UK) that Boris Johnson promised & put in the 2019 Tory manifesto... is not on the table."

Do you think we might be at the back of the queue?

Agree, she always comes across as well informed & passionate.

I don’t think it’s even in the same room as the table.

No doubt they thought that forcing (largely elderly) opposition peers to sit till 04.25 would bully us out of raising objections to their law-breaking, authoritarian #IllegalMigrationBill and break our spirit.
It didn’t and it won’t.

twitter.com/sarahludford/status/1666653468344426496?s=46&t=Uw4lJNwxFZFnX0Xs3doHYg

I've questioned the worth of the HoL over the years but credit where it's due they seem to be more capable of examining unworkable legislation than the HoC.

BREAKING: NHS waiting list hit a new record high of 7.42 million in April - up from 7.3 in March, new official data shows. Long waiters over a year also rose by 3% - up to 371,111. April was impacted by strikes, so bad news was expected. england.nhs.uk/statistics/wp-…

twitter.com/jamesillman/status/1666729268242464770?s=46&t=Uw4lJNwxFZFnX0Xs3doHYg

Obviously they'll blame the strikes but I blame them for not engaging with the profession.
I think Consultants have a ballot at the moment. Presumably the telegraph and Mail are cobbling stories together now to suggest consultants are all a bunch of left wingers.

It’s my big issue over an elected HoL. In theory I’d like one it’s more democratic. But since 2010 when the government has been corrupt and playing HoC rules they have held them to account. They aren’t perfect but it does seem to be the one piece of accountability that the government haven’t completely broken yet.

How do we maintain that in a wholly elected 2nd chamber. I think you’d need to figure out a way of no party having an overall majority. You don’t want it to be HoC part 2.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-65764755

chronic staff shortages

Ministers say a workforce strategy for the NHS in England is due shortly.
The plan, which is meant to spell out how the government will plug staffing gaps over the next 15 years, has been repeatedly delayed, to the frustration of some in the health service.

Is that the workforce plan that Hunt was calling for in 2019?

Yes I agree an elected HoL will bring issues of its own.

I think the answer is to pare it right back. Keep honours lists small. And make sure attendance and engagement is high. If you want the job and the pageantry earn it!