Thread 38 Sunak: Soooo, square one is an option then?

[AdamRyan]

Thanks to @cornettoninja For the epic title!

I am happy to say it was a car crash for Labour because it was and I feel sorry for the people of Rochdale to be stuck for now with Galloway.

I certainly hope and expect that Labour will learn from this.

And I am pleased to see that Reform lost

Agree on all points. A sensible way to appraise the whole mess.

Thanks

Just watching some footage of Navalny's funeral, brave people in Moscow.

Yep, i initially thought i was watching something from eastern europe, not Moscow, these people are incredibly brave.

There are so many police there. The people attending are braver than I would be.

Thsi is an interesting story . I must say I haven't noticed our PM being a keen patron of the Arts...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-68440104

Sunak statement 5:40pm outside Downing Street - what's that then?!

x.com/christopherhope/status/1763602659775291448?s=46&t=OQceTVeJFCezh-RIZ7x1dw

Oh, how interesting!

Peston

At just before 6 this evening the PM will be making a statement on camera. But DON’T PANIC. Not a general election. It is about “protecting democracy”.

What was that thing that someone linked about something having a strict midnight embargo last night? (Iirc)

He's going to ban protests is he? It certainly sounds like it would translate into Tory from "protect democracy"...

@tobee I thought that was the Rwanda costings. Was it not @Notonthestairs who posted?

Oh, he is going to ban the protests isn't he? Emergency powers in London or something?

BTW, mark the 18th March in your diaries. If there is to be a GE on 2nd May. that's when it would be announced (I think!).

The embargo was mentioned by Lizzie Dearden in her tweet.

Looks indeed like it referred to Rwanda going by the timings

He has read our plans

😂

How would that square with protecting democracy? Unless it is about taking us out of the ECHR?

I am a bit scared. This doesn't feel good.

Edit: sorry. think I am mixing up two separate issues!

But not Labour’s because they don’t have any.

I think he wants to top trump Starmer by making a statement about Galloway, and blaming Labour.

He can't just ban protests from the steps of Downing Street can he? I can't get there quickly enough to protest.

Panic?

I'd run naked down the streets and shout through letterboxes!

(Quote from P'tang Yang Kipperbang for those interested)

Great reference @Piggywaspushed ! Maybe there's such a thing as a happy panic? 🤔

Thanks for the replies re the embargo.

The funny thing is we all know the real threat to democracy, other than the Tories themselves, is Russia. Yet we all know it's not a real speech about protecting democracy so no one even bothered to suggest anything to do with Russia . What a flop we'd be with our Trident!

I caught sight of him talking on (I think bbc. It was very quick and muted) about how he’s going to achieve net zero and it’s all fully costed. Is his special Friday night ‘look-at-me’ dance about that I wonder?

(either that or it was a fever dream. Been that kind of week in the Cornetto house)