Thread 39 Sunak - Government by Gaslight

[DuncinToffee]

previous thread

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5016708-thread-38-sunak-soooo-square-one-is-an-option-then?page=40&reply=133647875

Agree. There’s a poster I recognise who is always on these threads. I’ve not seen her for a while and wondered if she’d got a temporary ban as one of her responses to me was deleted a week or so back.

The latest one in aibu has moved to politics 🤔

I clocked the OP and thought nah not falling for that one.

Tories got community noted again with their newest attack on Starmer's barrister's career

Sunak did it as well during PMQs

They've got to run with something.

Away would be my suggestion 😉

Very disappointed with the Speaker at PMQs today. BBC are reporting that Diane Abbot tried 46 times to get his attention in order to be able to speak in HOC today without success.

Of all the people who should have had the opportunity to speak today, it should have been her. A spokesperson gave the lousy excuse that the Speaker 'ran out of time'. Shameful.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-68556911

How do they find these people

https://bylinetimes.com/2024/03/13/no-10s-preferred-anti-muslim-hatred-advisor-worked-with-anti-muslim-hate-groups-in-the-us/

Sources confirm that the Government’s new preferred option for the appointment is Haras Rafiq, the former CEO of controversial counter-extremism think-tank the Quillian Foundation. Quilliam received funding from pro-Trump Republican donors and worked with US-based anti-Muslim think-tanks that promoted the far-right ‘Great Replacement’ conspiracy theory.

I have to agree with you.

I'm in the camp that feels Sunak will push the election date until the last minute. I just can't see Sunak stopping being in denial. I feel like he's less likely to cave even than Johnson and Truss.

BUT I'm really, really rubbish at these things and I'll probably finish posting this and they'll be a dropdown notification on my phone saying he's called it!

Speaker can't do right for doing wrong. He would have had to break precedent to call her which he's not going to do after the Gaza debacle

Surely there must be a number of moderate Tories like Warsi who would like their party back?

One of the MPs whose name was on the order paper could - and should - have given her their slot. I would have done.

Seems like a good reason to hold an national election later in the year (rather than May) -

Yet the reasons for delay can seem equally unedifying. One Tory minister said that one justification for going later would be for younger MP colleagues, who have built up debt, to earn a few more months salary over the summer.

news.sky.com/story/the-mood-is-tense-among-tory-mps-who-think-most-things-weak-number-10-touches-get-worse-13094133

Anyone would think they were putting their own interests first.
I believe there are jobs available for those that want to work, etc blah blah.

FFS.

News from Holland where Wilders gives up his bid to become PM because he didn't receive enough support from the other parties

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-68557036

Gove today being questioned about Hester and the definition of extremism. Good questioning by Naga - and basically saying that his words would fall under an extremist view.

Just watched it. Naga was very good at pinning him down.

This new definition of extremism is confusing. Gove said it will not impact on free speech for individuals, but will be used when making decisions on government funding

Why is a new definition needed to do this? As Naga said, why aren't they already thoroughly investigating the bodies they award funding to?

It is a bit sinister. My view is the government will use this to withdraw funding from groups the Tories are ideologically opposed to.

A very good response from Diane.

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/mar/13/frank-hesters-ugly-words-about-me-are-a-reminder-all-parties-including-labour-must-stand-against-racism

The (deliberately vague) guidelines are only for the Government with decisions to be made by Secretary of State. No right of appeal. What could go wrong?

x.com/lowles_nick/status/1768184503002865935?s=46&t=Uw4lJNwxFZFnX0Xs3doHYg

Gove announcing it hiding behind Pariliamentary privilege, who would have guessed

https://x.com/Haggis_UK/status/1768184798923669678?s=20

Wilfred Frost: So you can rule out naming any specific groups in parliament, today

Michael Gove: "I mustn't preempt anything that is said in Parliament itself"

WF: It sounds like you're going to try & use parliamentary privilege to name these groups

5live discussing Gove’s legislation and mentioned that both trans activists and gender critical feminists could both be classed as ‘extremists’. Now that would throw the cat amongst the pigeons. Wonder whether our GC friends would still consider voting Tory if this were the case….like their rights being curtailed.

Heard that Gove wanted to go further but there was significant opposition to plan within the Cabinet and lawyers. Thus, despite the huge fanfare, we have guidance for Govt only. Other public bodies, like police and Higher Education, are not covered. Rushed and incomplete job 8/9

The loud sniff probably indicates there is a lie coming...

https://x.com/LBC/status/1768191411130642899?s=20

Would the unlawful proroguing of parliament not fit that definition?'
'No...'

@TomSwarbrick1 presses Michael Gove on his redefinition of 'extremism.'

He was sniffing in the Naga interview too🤔

And in the Frost interview on Sky

Presumably withdrawing funding also means removing government contracts, so Hester is stuffed?

Listening to Gove on the radio this morning, it did sound as like, well nothing is actually going to be any different, because surely one does due diligience before engaging with and individual or group anyway?