Thread 35 - Sunak, the squatter

[BIossomtoes]

Old thread here
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/4961707-thread-34-sunak-the-circus-is-back-in-westminster?page=40&reply=131976344

In another potential headache that the government should have seen coming a mile off, civil servants have been told they can only halt a deportation to Rwanda if a minister gives the go ahead, even if there is an ECHR injunction. Unsurprisingly the unions are not happy about this.

Historically, I’m not sure ‘I did it because I was ordered to’ has played out well as a defence.

https://amp.theguardian.com/politics/2024/jan/17/unions-condemn-rule-change-that-could-force-civil-servants-to-break-law-on-rwanda-plan

I am an ex Whitehall civil servant. There is no way the majority of civil servants will be happy with this. They are generally quite a risk averse bunch and keen on not breaking the law (unless they work for No. 10!).

I know quite a few CS and they are not happy at all.
I don't think it's possible for the govt to instruct them to ignore the law so will be interesting to see what happens
To me this is very serious- telling people to ignore the law at the instruction of government is how authoritarianism/ facism starts. Can't believe that's where this Government are going. Mind you, it's only a baby step from "breaking the law in limited and specific circumstances"

To me this is very serious- telling people to ignore the law at the instruction of government is how authoritarianism/ facism starts

Absolutely.

I wonder where all the people who insisted this wasn’t coming a year or so ago are. The government’s direction of travel has been quite clear since the public order and electoral reform bills were introduced in c. 2020.

The Lords are going to gut the bill (tonight?) but there’s no way civil servants or civil service unions are going to roll over. Apart from anything else, why would you risk breaking the law for a government who will be in power for a matter of months by the time the bill is passed.

Sunak is holding a press conference at 10, is it to celebrate his 'win'?

I’m going to be disappointed if he’s not calling an election.

Don't do it to yourself Rafa, it's the hope that kills you

They’ve got the stop the boats lecturn out.

Party is united
Plan is working
Will of the people
But Labour

Let's all cheer up as the quality of intellect on the Right of the Tories displays itself in the form of 30pLee. "I was going to vote against (last night's performance) and went into the No lobby but when I got there a bunch of Labour MPs were sniggering and pointing and laughing at me and I couldn't vote against the government that's given me so much. So I voted Yes" Lord help us, please let's get rid of these idiots.

30p Flee as he is known now

And Denise Coffey, his learned intellectual equal.

The plan is working, stick to the plan, back to square 1 with Labour, Labour have no plan.

I can’t even begin to say what I think about using people drowning in the Channel to justify the Rwanda Bill.

And if that last sentence of Stop the boats and start the flights becomes a thing then I might get on one myself.

Did he really say that?

Pretty extraordinary-

"For people under 50 today's YouGov poll is:

Lab 60%
Con 10%
Green 10%
LD 9%
Reform 5%
SNP 3%"

x.com/samfr/status/1747923991744979007?s=46&t=Uw4lJNwxFZFnX0Xs3doHYg

I think it was the last sentence of the speech. ‘It’s time we stop the boats and start the flights.’

All this focus and expense on a xenophobic project, whilst people are afraid to put their heating on during this cold snap.

I don't think anyone except the real die hard right wingers will be impressed by this.

Stupid lectern. Stupid message. It's as bad as BJ's hands face space nonsense.

They are obsessed by Rwanda aren't they? What gets me is... those making the channel crossing will know about this hold up and legal challenges and if they will risk their lives in freezing conditions to cross the Channel, already it is not a deterrent. Because who knows, those crossing now, would be shipped out if it went through. So already it is not working.

Sunak is spending a lot of time knocking Sir Keir and Labour, interspersed with 'stick to the plan' rhetoric endlesssly

"Unworkable, unaffordable and unlawful" to echo the words of Stephen Kinnock

So this was Sunak basically having a go at the unelected HoL, remind us again who is his home secretary

They think Rwanda will win them the election. They think it will help them retain the red wall. Short of awarding everyone in the UK a million pounds or an alien invasion or something, nothing will win them the election. Just call one now and stop wasting everyone's time and money ( and save my blood pressure).🤬🤬🤬

He doesn’t seem at all embarrassed that he’s just called a press conference to celebrate getting a bill through a House of Commons that has a huge Tory majority

I forgot the bit where channel 4 asked about the rule 39 thing and he said he was prepared to ignore rule 39 judgements.

Because admitting that we are happy to break international law in front of national and global media is a thing we do now in Little Britain.

He is refusing to give a date for the first flight, can't even say if it will be before the election.