Thread 34 Sunak - the Circus is back in Westminster

[DuncinToffee]

Previous thread
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/4947437-thread-33-sunak-sense-and-sunakability?page=40&reply=131395455

I am reminded of Yes Minister Skeletons in the closet

Minister, what was all that in aid of?

• I have learnt some interesting facts.

• I hope it does not happen again.

• I beg your pardon? -

You cannot speak to people in the department.

• Why not? How can I advise you if I don't know what's said? I must know what is going on.

You cannot have private conversations! - You may be told things that are not true!

• You can put me right.

But they may be true! Not entirely false, but misleading, open to misinterpretation.

• You're trying to keep things from me.

• Absolutely not, Minister.

Minutes must be taken, records must be kept.
You won't be here for ever, nor will we.
In years to come If Cartwright were moved tomorrow, how could we check information? -

Cartwright won't be moved tomorrow.

• Oh, really?

• Alex Andrews from the Mail to see you.

• Ah, hang on.

I'd like you to minute this.
Everything must be minuted, you know.

It is probably a function of whatever is now written down can be subject to FOI requests, so the simple solution is not to write anything down ever.

It was a fear of some senior civil servants I discussed it with at the time Tony Blair introduced it. That in fact instead of leading to more open government it would simply lead to worse more secretive government.

That literally made me LOL as my kids would say.

I think you are right.

How on earth did he get to this position? I'm surprised he's ever managed to get a job.

It is surprising how far people get by just nodding smiling and doing and achieving nothing.

Sadly skills such as having ones own opinion and expressing it are frowned upon.

It is reported this morning that Sunak in the spring budget will reduce inheritance tax and do something on homebuying.
Clearly the people's priorities in a cost of living crisis, when a very small proportion of the population already might pay inheritance tax and home buying for many is as much a dream as being a respected functioning human is for Sunak.

So agree with this. He tries to put out a facade of being a competent PM. And fails badly.
And him, of all people, much like Johnson (Johnson a high earner but with a zillion children, Sunak a multi millionaire..) both became PM for the title, the prestige and not because they wanted to make a difference in making the lives of ordinary people better. It's all about the title.

Sunak buying votes again. It won't work, his target demographic isn't big enough.

The way my house has jumped in value (meaning my dc are now priced out of the market), I might fall into his demographic.

He can still fuck off.

Ditto. I am in that demographic. No chance.

We are too. He can fuck off to the far side of fuck, we only fit that profile because of the obscene house price inflation.

Well, exactly. I also fall into that demographic because of house price inflation and even if I had a vote in a GE it wouldn't be going to the Tories.

If he is going to do something to help buyers without increasing supply all it's going to do is keep house prices high/make them even higher. That's not going to help FTB/families who want to trade up. It's going to help old fogies like me who want to trade down and release equity. And, as far as I'm concerned, he can still get stuffed.

From Jo Maugham...

The world is burning, malnutrition has trebled, working families are struggling to pay the bills, nothing works anymore and the NHS is in permacrisis.

Rishi Sunak:

Depends on the roll of the dice though with how much social care one needs in old age, the house could soon be gone, and of course Sunak who doesn't know that elderly social care exists won't do anything about it.

in the BBC article it also says that the government has confirmed it is not planning to change the rules on selling in imperial measures after Brexit after 98.7% of respondents to a consultation favoured using metric as the main measurement unit for sales, as now, or as the only unit.

So hurray for the pint of wine

This thread on pint size wine bottles

https://x.com/DanielLambert29/status/1739930950102872132?s=20

Ok folks I am being asked about this and so like me cut to the chase, it’s absolute bollocks. Why people can’t use their brain is beyond me. Let’s take a step back and think about the supply side.

Concludes with

What actually going on is the Home Secretary has drugged his wife, the PM wants to be Hugh Grant and essential worker should be grateful for half a mince pie, as for the rest of the world…

Scrapping inheritance tax was always going to bob back up again. They have been promising to do it for years. Nevermind that that councils are failing, we haven't recruited enough teachers again, the NHS backlog continues, hospitals are falling down, patients are being treated in corridors etc - lets focus on the 4% of people that pay inheritance tax.

And I am not adverse to discussions about changing elements of the tax system - I just want it done as part of a broader discussion and package intended to benefit the whole country, not simply part of an panicky election strategy from a flailing party trying to hold on to power.

In other news this caught my eye -
Rwanda processed 43 asylum applications in the first half of 2023.
They received 8,706 applications.
Hardly an indicator of an efficient system - how much more money will we need to plough in?

Let's hope so

https://x.com/BestForBritain/status/1739977550968033702?s=20

Very late Autumn Statement. Very early Spring Budget.

A May election looks pretty likely to me. ~AA

Say what you mean Daniel -

"It’s pure bollocks based on some sad little Tory fuckwit who clearly understands Brexit has delivered fuck all so has come up with drivel to keep the brain dead Brexit type engaged."

You know when your mum said "if you can't say something nice . . ."? Words fail me.

Who is this guy? Why does he need to be so rude? What is all the swearing? Does he think he is some kind of expert on wines or some such, why should be listen to him?

I will buy pints of wine to drink in my pint glasses if I want to and his moaning won't stop me. So there.

Lalalala. I have my fingers in my ears and my head in the sand.
Take back control.

I can just see all the world's vineyards rushing to produce pint sized bottles of wine...

And focus on the blue passports.

Why not? Surely they will be rushing to serve the Little England British market.