To be concerned about Boris Johnson's re-shuffle?

[AlexaShutUp]

I'm no fan of either Boris Johnson or Sajid Javid, but I'm not really intending to make any political points in this thread. I'm resigned to having a right wing Tory government, but I am concerned about the shift in power that seems to have occurred, and by Johnson's apparent power grab.

Specifically, I'm concerned about the circumstances of Javid's departure from the Treasury. Javid's position was made untenable and I understand why he walked out, but surely it's much better for the country if the PM has some challenge from number 11, rather than a puppet that merely does their bidding - which I suspect Javid's successor will turn out to be.

A healthy democracy needs to have plenty of checks and balances with regard to those in power, and I'm worried that these are being eroded. Meanwhile, the power of unelected advisers like Dominic Cummings appears to be ever growing.

This is the scariest bit for me. Having an attorney general who is committed to undermining the independence of the judiciary is phenomenally dangerous. We saw how angry the pre-election government was at being forced to obey the law. The new government will do everything it can to ensure nobody can stop it - or anyone acting in its behalf - from acting illegally.

Asolutely. The judiciary fulfills a very important function in a system of government which lacks a written constitution. Neutralising (or neutering) it removes one of the few checks and balances in that system.

You wish you could forget about Labour. If you had your way this country would be in the grip of the far left right now, with Corbyn, McDonnell, and Abbott creating Venezuela-on-Thames as we speak

Make up your mind. Either I wish I could forget about Labour or I want a Labour government, it can’t be both. If you can’t see how completely irrelevant all the opposition parties are at the moment there’s frankly no hope for you.

You wish you could forget about Labour. If you had your way this country would be in the grip of the far left right now, with Corbyn, McDonnell, and Abbott creating Venezuela-on-Thames as we speak

In most of Europe, Labour would be considered a mainstream social democratic party of the centre-left. They're not the Communist Party of Great Britain Marxist-Leninist, ffs.

They're not even the SWP.

Anyone would think that a switch to a total command economy and the abolition of private property had been in Labour's manifesto the way some people carry on.

No, the loony left are only concerned about things the evil Tories do.

If you can’t see how completely irrelevant all the opposition parties are at the moment there’s frankly no hope for you.

Indeed - they’re precisely as irrelevant as your carping at Boris is.

And you did want Labour with all your heart. The reason you want us to forget about them is because their miserable failure is the ultimate rebuttal to all your arguments.

@JudyCoolibar, all my instincts make me suspect that too, but I think it's a little early to call it.

I'll need a little more evidence before I pronounce it as fact.

No, the loony left are only concerned about things the evil Tories do

Well, given that we have five years of them being in control of our lives, wouldn’t you say that’s fairly understandable?

In most of Europe, Labour would be considered a mainstream social democratic party of the centre-left.

Perhaps they should have run for election in one of those countries then? Here in Britain, the electorate rejected them as the extremists they are.

I think 'the left' is irrelevant here. Everyone knows Corbyn was awful and handed election victory to the Tories. People can be concerned about what the Tories are doing without having wished Corbyn was in power. In any case, in six weeks Labour will have a new leader.

as irrelevant as your carping at Boris is

Someone can have genuine concerns about the government. That's not 'carping' Also why do people say 'Boris' as if it's their friend.

their miserable failure is the ultimate rebuttal to all your arguments

Not really. People like slogans and “Get Brexit Done” won. We will see how much “Brexit” helps those normally Labour voting communities.

Cendrillion the point is that you cannot use data predating an unforeseen event to ascertain what people think about that unforeseen event. When you try, you embarrass yourself. Pointing out that Johnson is supported by a minority of the public is an imbecilic response to OPs argument anyway, but it's particularly so when you fail to note the date of the polls you provide as evidence.

When you try, you embarrass yourself. Pointing out that Johnson is supported by a minority of the public is an imbecilic response to OPs argument anyway, but it's particularly so when you fail to note the date of the polls you provide as evidence.

I predict the reshuffle will do no harm to the Conservatives’ poll lead; you seem to believe the opposite.

The next set of polls will prove who’s right

No I don't. You've invented that.

The polls are irrelevant until an election’s approaching. They’re utterly meaningless.

The polls are irrelevant until an election’s approaching. They’re utterly meaningless.

I seem to recall you ignored them even when the last election was approaching. How did that work out?

Polls are a very helpful tool in gauging the popularity of parties, politicians, and policies. Ignore them, and lose again.

cendrillion I think posters are trying to say that Labour are not really relevant to the debate here, which is about the PM behaving like a one man band

You’re fixated on opinion polls. I think they’re bollocks when an election’s five years away. Maybe focus on the performance of the government you voted for?

Maybe focus on the performance of the government you voted for?

Anything to avoid having to do that!

"Julian Smith was a universally acclaimed success, he didn’t put a foot wrong, he wasn’t “too well positioned to sack”. It’s a Tory thing, isn’t it? Never letting the facts get in the way."

He's a perceived threat to Johnson, therefore had to go.

IDK ask the poster who made the comment.

You made the comment I was responding to at 1.41am @Zombiefan.

Maybe focus on the performance of the government you voted for?

I’m delighted with their performance so far. How many times do I have to say it?

You’re easily satisfied then because they haven’t done much yet. Understandably as they’ve only had a majority for ten minutes. I do realise that you’d say you were delighted even if you were appalled though. Objectivity being an alien concept to you.

You’re easily satisfied then because they haven’t done much yet.

They knocked Labour back to the Stone Age, utterly humiliating that far-left cult as they so richly deserved. After that, Boris could take a holiday for five years and he’d still be my favourite PM after Thatcher.

I do realise that you’d say you were delighted even if you were appalled though. Objectivity being an alien concept to you.

Please, you’re no more objective than I am. The difference is, I was right, and you were wrong.

I thought this was a thread about the Cabinet reshuffle, not about the Labour Party, or about the cult of personality around Alexander The Byline.

Me too @everythingisginandroses (great name btw) but such is the obsession with Yes but Labour and opinion polls.