Thread 25, Sunak - Peerages, Privileges & the Covid Inquiry

[Notonthestairs]

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/4806467-thread-24-sunak-and-the-local-elections-aftermath?page=1

twitter.com/steven_swinford/status/1668683463191306248?s=46&t=Uw4lJNwxFZFnX0Xs3doHYg

Worth a quick read - Conservatives are so wet, they are trying to avoid an 'embarrassing' vote.

More time wasting from the government

Government insiders are planning crafty way to avoid a damaging Tory split on upcoming vote on privileges committee report into Boris Johnson.

They’re toying with a motion that “notes” the finding he misled parliament instead of to “accept” it.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/jun/13/partygate-report-likely-to-be-delayed-after-intervention-by-boris-johnson?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Honestly, I'd drag out publishing their findings until he next goes on holiday.

He must have another trip to the Caribbean planned soon.

Privileges committee report condemning Johnson as a liar is unanimous, I’m told.

Quite something when the 7-member court has a Conservative majority.

Sorry forgot the link!

twitter.com/kevin_maguire/status/1668708104593195010?s=46&t=Uw4lJNwxFZFnX0Xs3doHYg

I’m pretty sure virtually everyone who saw him give evidence in front of the committee (except people like Rees mogg, Dorries etc) would have been fairly convinced that a) he lied to parliament and b) he was lying to the committee when giving evidence.

Kind of hoping the committee have one more trick up their sleeve to counter Boris pissing about over the report. I’m sure he had 10 days and publication was only brought forward because his response was to resign and say he wasn’t giving a response.

Boris Johnson is preparing a line-by-like rebuttal of the Privileges Committee’s report

He and his lawyers have been working on it since he received the draft findings last week

Are these his taxpayer funded lawyers doing this? No doubt at considerable cost

Incorrigible

Boris Johnson is preparing a line-by-like rebuttal of the Privileges Committee’s report

He and his lawyers have been working on it since he received the draft findings last week

It's such a pity for the country that he didn't go about his duties as PM and MP with such diligence.

What's the betting his lawyers have been working on this whilst he's been jogging round the block in his work shoes and a bobble hat.

We seem to have money to throw around at certain projects...

EXCL: No 10 planning multimillion-pound campaign to promote Rishi Sunak’s “five priorities” funded by the taxpayer - by @rowenamason

twitter.com/pippacrerar/status/1668736237841022976?s=46&t=Uw4lJNwxFZFnX0Xs3doHYg

It's not as if that money was needed elsewhere was it.

Are these his taxpayer funded lawyers doing this? No doubt at considerable cost

”Is there any point in doing this?”

”Shh - we’re getting paid!”

Meanwhile junior doctors started their 72 hour strike but that seems to get hardly any attention.

The Johnson Dorries shenanigans have meant a lot of stories (strikes, number of teachers resigning, refusal to provide headteachers with notice about pay increases, impending rate rises etc) haven't received the coverage they deserve.

They have been talking about the Doctor's strike on lbc and I caught a bit of Wes Streeting on bbc breakfast also discussing it.
Although it appears that any kind of settlement isn't on the cards yet.

Not to mention labour lord abstaining on the fatal motion on the public order bill. Letting the government add a clause using an SI that the commons has already thrown out.

Yes I'm just reading about that now. Appalling decision, first by the Conservatives and then consolidated by Labour

I am disappointed by Labour but it seems a complicated polital move which I don't quite understand.

This thread clarifies it a bit.

twitter.com/JohnWest_JAWS/status/1668758880896299008?s=20

I doubt anyone in main media is going to write a decent article on the Lords regret & fatal motions for tomorrow,

So I am going to give it a shot.

Before we start, some things to understand.
This was NOTHING to do with the actual bill.

Ah that thread is illuminating. Thank you.

"It is a gamble.

The government will not withdraw its bill.

It therefore relies on the Tory rebels who said they would not support the bill unamended - which is how it is returned.

It relies a LOT on Tories keeping their word."
Something to watch out for 👁️

On the topic of key stories that have been drowned out -

"Before Boris Johnson’s headline grabbing resignation late last week, the main story in town would have been the sudden, worrying withdrawal of HSBC mortgage offers of residential and buy-to-let products last week. Santander did the same on Monday."

"It’s the rising gilt markets, and the higher cost of borrowing, that is forcing British banks and building societies to not just withdraw mortgages but to jack up the costs of those who have to remortgage. Rents are also soaring as nervous landlords try to keep up their own profits."

Repossessions are up 27%.

inews.co.uk/opinion/forget-boris-johnson-tory-mortgage-penalty-biggest-enemy-2410035

twitter.com/paulwaugh/status/1668876340454359041?s=46&t=Uw4lJNwxFZFnX0Xs3doHYg

We have the question of whether there will be an interest rate rise next week.

And then there is this which suggests a recession might be inevitable -

A brief thread on gilts. Apologies, it's an arcane subject. But the market in government debt, much more than the Bank of England, determines the interest rate homeowners and businesses pay. Today, the yield on 2 year money rose by 26 basis points. 1/6

threadreaderapp.com/thread/1668711895551946753.html

Repossessions up by 27% is catastrophic. Where do those families go now there is no council housing safety net?

That was my thought too.

Actually just taken a nosy at the repossession rates - they dropped over the pandemic which might account for the change since comparable period in 2022 would still be low. Therefore the rise might be delayed repossessions?
Not sure.
Still leaves people without a home.

We still don't know how much the Illegal Migration Bill will cost.

"Sorry to interrupt Scandal Week, but this really matters.

The Home Secretary tells @DianaJohnsonMP that only AFTER this legislation is introduced will the gov’t “be able to take a view” on what it might cost.

Incredible."

twitter.com/sturdyalex/status/1668924986344501249?s=46&t=Uw4lJNwxFZFnX0Xs3doHYg

I guarantee they will have some idea how much it is predicted to cost - they just don't dare tell us.

Owen is one of several people to receive gongs in Johnson’s honours list with seemingly little record of public service.
Dan Rosenfield worked as Johnson’s chief of staff in Downing Street for 13 months. Kulveer Ranger is named as having been a “special adviser to UK Government on digital strategy”, however there is no record of his name in the annual reports.

https://www.tortoisemedia.com/2023/06/14/charlotte-owen/

@Notonthestairs
Meanwhile mortgage crisis, CoL, strike action, delays in A&E etc etc.
what a waste of a Government they are.

YES.

I think I remember reading or hearing somewhere that levels of personal debt are at a historical high. This is rarely ever mentioned. I worry that the effect of bad decisions of the current government will peak when labour is in government and the electorate will blame it on labour and put another conservative government into parliament.

Lots of homeowners will still be on fixed term mortgages - a huge number will presumably move to higher rates during the next parliament. The effects of cuts on public services and council funding will be even greater then too.

Running the economy to suit (current) homeowners and landlords has to be harmful surely. Investing in property adds nothing to the economy presumably and results in first time buyers and renters having less disposable income - while such a chunk of income goes on rent - which is bad for the economy. As well as creating an increasingly bigger financial divide between homeowners and non homeowners.

Parents providing deposits for children to buy will presumably have a long term negative effect on the economy too - less disposable income in the parents' retirement , less money to pay for their care, less inheritance tax going to the treasury.

More and more people now pay for private health treatment too. Again, reducing their disposable income (at best).

Yesterday one of the R4 morning news items was the latest stats on pay rises -with no reference to the real pay equivalent and speculation on how this will affect inflation and interest rate rises. I was 😡

PMQs, Keir Starmer

"all across the country, people are worried about their bills, the price of the weekly shop, and spiralling mortgage rates. So why has the Tory Party spent most of the last week arguing about which of them gets a peerage?”