Sunak to make an announcement in Downing Street at 17.40

[Westfacing]

Beth Rigby of Sky News says they've been reliably informed it's not going to be about a General Election, so what will it be?

It's instructive to look at history and how the US declared (in law) that slaves counted as 3/5ths of a person for the purposes of divvying up seats in congress.

Maybe some people would be happy if a "muslim vote" was 3/5ths of anyone elses vote ? Especially as we have all agreed that acts of parliament outweigh reality.

I'm here all week.

The last paragraph pretty much sums up the reasons for the issues in this country, and I’m not just talking about the protests etc CoL, housing crisis etc!

Seems Reform UK lost unfairly because it's not just about the votes is it ?

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/reform-uk-accuse-rochdale-by-election-of-unfairness-that-has-implications-for-uk-democracy/ss-BB1jfBaW

I think you may be onto something and that we shoudl suggest it to Rishi, and of course Rees Smug, since the latter does so like his gerrymandering.

If you are over 60, voted for Brexit and Christian then you clearly understand fundamental British values and should get a whole vote. Not Christian 2/3rds.
Under 60 4/7ths, Muslin 3/5ths, not a Brexiter 5/3rds.

Is it worth making it cumulative, so a non christian muslim who is 40, could have 2/3 x 4/7 x3/5 of a vote?

Hmmm, I agree with what she says, in as far as it goes. Sunak does have culpability.

However, her article is as one-sided in its focus as his speech. The issues aren’t just coming from the Tories, they’re coming from multiple factions from all sides of the political spectrum.

It’s the attitude of intolerance and othering of others not like ourselves (even if only that they have a different political viewpoint) and the vitriol people feel emboldened to direct as they entrench themselves further into a sense of righteousness, that is the problem. Casting stones only at the right and ignoring the issues on the left won’t help a jot.

The tories are the ones who have been in power for the past 10+ years and things seem to have gotten worse and more corrupt, although I do appreciate the corruption at the higher level of politics in the UK has perhaps just become more transparent in thanks to the internet.

Has anyone from the government actually stated the terror threat has been raised due to Muslim extremists ? I would have thought we are as much at risk from Russian operatives ? Especially when talking about democracy ?

All this disgusting excuse of a government care is about votes.

They’ve sold their souls, if they ever had any.

Do you mean the security level posted in government buildings and military bases ?

No. That's set by the real world, not what goes on in politicians fever dreams.

It really is from the playground version of the 1984 manual isn't it?
Hate Week
except delivered by politicos (looking at you as well Starmer) who want to convince us that they are full of love.
If they want to boost cynicism about westminster and its theatre they are really going about it the right way.

I'd be interested to see what the turnout for the GE is. And the proportion of spoiled ballots.

Seems if you don't vote Tory, you can't be trusted ...

https://www.bracknellnews.co.uk/news/national/24159645.democracy-needs-society-sensible-grown-up-says-minister/

According to the Bracknell News, the action to be taken would be this:

He did not expand on what those measures might be, but it is understood that ministers are considering plans to bar hate preachers from entering the UK on the grounds they are “non-conducive to the public good”.

Am wondering how that would be policed. Would there be a box to tick for 'hate preacher'? Whatever one of those is..

By that criteria, why were Liz Truss and Lee Anderson ever let back in ?

Indeed

I think it's just desperation at this point of the electoral cycle. I thought Sunak would be better than this – didn't he say he wasn't afraid to take the right decisions when he started out as PM? And I think really, he knows these are the wrong decisions.

I thought Sunak would be better than this

I didn't. Looks like I was right. As I was about Truss, Johnson, May and "Cameron - the return"

Well that went well ...

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/rishi-sunak-labour-conservative-support-liz-truss-b2506525.html

Shock.

Somehow I don't think that Keir Starmer will be all that bothered by George Galloway's threats about Labour winning the next election.

Of course Galloway has courted the Muslim vote; his campaign leaflets are explicit in his intent with one for Muslims and one for non Muslims. I find it wryly amusing that the non Muslim one hinges on his promise to get a Primark opened in Rochdale! As if they care about nothing else, silly people.

That's not true (and btw Reform have done the same re shops).

I do think GG dabbles in 'sectarian' dog whistling too with considerable glee but he DID have other policies (most of which I did not find on the Labour , Tory or Reform leaflets):

campaigning to reopen maternity services and A and E both of which have vanished form the area
Rochdale A/FC ( a v local issue)
Regeneration of the town centre , including bringing large and popular chains back (I mean seriously Rochdale not even having a Primark was an example - and a good one) Town centre regeneration is a big national and local issue.
Working with the council more closely.

He may not have meant any of those things and really only been courting a demographic but it's not true to say he doesn't have other pledges.

Also, reading back what you posted, are you suggesting Muslims aren't interested in town centre shopping??? That's a 'non Muslim issue', according to you. Do only non Muslims go to Primark??

It's very sad you have read into my post to try and find things that aren't there. If we can use your approach, do you think non Muslims don't care about Gaza as Galloway didn't focus on this issue in his non Muslim election leaflet so that must be true? quite an offensive statement you're implying there. My point being, Galloway whole shtick is divisive politics.

No... you implied that, not me.

Then what on earth are you on about? In answer to your question, everyone likes shopping in Primark do they not! But to make it part of an election promise, it's not that big of a deal. It's just a shop.