Thread 33 Sunak : Sense and Sunakability

[DuncinToffee]

After 10 dyas on the rollercoaster, we now look forward to 5 more pledges and a mini budget

Previous thread
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/4939564-thread-32-sunak-sunak-v-suella-the-final-countdown?page=40&reply=130888910

itsgettingweird

Ok. Maybe we weren't aiming for tough, just condescending.

He just looked like a twat throwing his dummy out of the pram.

It's beyond embarrassing having this continually.

Have I understood that Sunak has thrown his toys out of his gilded pram because the Greek Prime Minister had the audacity to do a TV interview where said Greek Prime Minister was Prime Ministerial. A feat that Sunak has yet to manage?

I was out most of yesterday and didn't hear much news except the headline about Sunak and the Greek PM. What was sunak's reason for ditching the appointment?

I'm guessing two reasons here - the official BBC one and the real crap PM one?

Mark Harper on Sky this morning

Why is Rishi Sunak snubbing the Greek Prime Minister?

Mark Harper: "The Prime Minister has made our position on the Elgin Marbles very clear, they're part of the British Museum's collection & we think they should remain there.. "

This is awful. He snubbed a visiting world leader in a fit of pique? Step aside Sunak and let the grownups take the reins! FFS!

The thing is that the Greek government's position hasn't changed in years either.

So all they would have done is repeat previous PMs formula - restate position, then move on to migration and security issues etc. Braverman was in Greece learning about their migration plans 3 weeks ago! They are an ally supposedly.

Nobody was expecting Sunak to change their mind or resolve the issues yesterday!

Sunak is either a petty twat unable to see beyond the end of his nose OR they were looking to cook up a story which costs them nothing but which makes Sunak look like he's standing up for (foreign) statutes or something!

Keir Starmer met with the Greek PM yesterday, the spin is probably that he has given the marbles back already

Not sure if this makes it better or worse......

Marbles latest: Govt sources say Downing Street believed they had assurances from the Greek government they wouldn't raise the subject during the visit to the UK

Instead the PM told @bbclaurak current situation is like cutting the Mona Lisa in half

(Henry Zeffman BBC)

Poor Rishi, triggered by mention of stones.

Headline Rishi Loses Marbles . Hmm. Can't be risked.

No big loss for the Greek PM. It’s not like Rishi’s going to be PM for long anyway and he’s met the next PM.

Actually, on that note…

Have we discussed Simon Case telling Rishi to allow Labour to begin having access talks with the civil service and Rishi refusing.

Thing is the people who know how to work the system make it hard for the genuine claimants. Uk under whatever political party cannot afford to support 2 million claimants

2 million claimants?

And what are 'genuine' claimants?

Yes, claimants of what, exactly?

Statutory maternity pay? Statutory sick pay? How about state pensions, child benefit and industrial injuries?

Pensions are now classed as benefits. 🤷‍♀️

Gov.uk says that's 12.5 million people, and rising. I hope they're all genuine.

@annabelindajane 2 million claimants of what exactly?

2 million would be approximately 2.9% of the current total population - it is not beyond the wit of man to understand that this might be a reasonable number of people in need of support of some kind. The breakdown of working age people not in work is complex, however, and the number is larger - but it includes students, carers, people who are too ill and people who are retired.

And this is why flinging around statements like 'we can't afford 2 million claimants ' doesn't get you taken seriously here. Do better.

I can quite believe we have 2 million carers, eligible for the pittance that is carer's allowance, saving the country ££ billions every year.

A genuine claimant is one that is alive. You can tell the fake ones quite easily.

See eg

https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/1732431/japanese-families-claim-dead-parents-pensions

Sunaks Network North plan - not fully costed (figures seemingly plucked from air), reliant on infrastructure which hasn't been approved or announced, projects which lacked business cases or delivery timeframes, failure to liaise with relevant bodies. And on.

Infrastructure planning done on the bag of a fag packet.

What a waste of our time and money.

www.ft.com/content/4a276e17-b526-4f13-9654-9497489cb93e

Gove's having an interesting day btw giving evidence to the covid inquiry. He's just apologised for a sweary WhatsApp to 'Dom'. I think the inquiry KC nearly laughed at the performative insincerity; but pushed on to question him about the measures in March 2020.

Gove says Boris Johnson 'found these decisions difficult' because they meant restricting freedoms including freedom of association.

Yeah we know, Michael. He didn't bother with them himself, remember?

I can already hear him on PMQs tomorrow:

“The party opposite wants to give away our assets”

That's odd, I am sure it is the Tories who have sold our trains to the German, Italian and Spanish governments so that they can run an awful service and make their taxpayers money from us.