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.

He’s doing a Trump. It won’t be the first ‘cabinet shuffle’, he will continue to oust anyone who disagrees with him
That's been going on way longer than Trump. Thatcher never put up with anyone who didn't do what she said. Also Thatcher spent ages getting advice from unelected advisors like Hayek. It's really not new.

Shame Northern Ireland had to be thrown under the bus, not that Tory Brexiteers give a shit.

Also Thatcher spent ages getting advice from unelected advisors like Hayek. It's really not new.

No, it isn't new for politicians to have unelected advisers, that's perfectly true. However, the likes of Thatcher and Blair at least had their own agendas, whether you agreed with them or not. What worries me in our current situation is that Boris's only real agenda is to be PM. He is interested in power for its own sake, and not for what it will enable him to achieve. He is not really interested in the business of government at all, which leaves the likes of Dominic Cummings pulling all of the strings.

Thanks @lonelyplanetmum.

I got as far as 'weirdos and misfits with odd skills' then decided to read it tonight when I have a few hours to myself!

Interesting to read in the raw rather than with a journalist's own views added on..

Johnson is PMINO - prime minister in name only.

Cummings is pulling the strings, and all the while there is a question mark about his links to Russia, that is a cause for alarm. (Ditto Arron Banks). The cabinet is now a mixture of inexperienced yes-men and -women, and Hard Brexit ideologues.

Johnson is little more than a lazy boy who doesn't do his home work, but gets by by being brilliant occasionally and making people laugh. His bridges, buses and bicycles obsessions are a great distraction from the way the government is bungling Brexit, the modern equivalent of bread and circuses.

I really fear for what is happening to this country.

However, the likes of Thatcher and Blair at least had their own agendas, whether you agreed with them or not. What worries me in our current situation is that Boris's only real agenda is to be PM
It really isn't any different. Thatcher's sole agenda was the retention of power for M Thatcher. Anything else was secondary - that's why Blair admired her so much, she was a genius politician.

Johnson is little more than a lazy boy who doesn't do his home work, but gets by by being brilliant occasionally and making people laugh.

Sadly, that sums him up quite well. And unfortunately, that creates a vacuum which the likes of Cummings are only too happy to fill.

YANBU

I really fear for what is happening to this country.

Same.

I just love the fact that we have some hard Brexiteers who are immigrants or children of immigrants, but want to make sure the doors are firmly slammed shut for everyone else. Their families have done well here, but lets make sure nobody else can. Not just people like Braverman, but also Raab.

Suella Braverman is a strange one. She studied for a Masters in European law in France and yet is a very hard Brexiteer. Not the usual profile.

Braverman was on the Erasmus programme which makes it even worse. Talk about pulling the ladder up after you.

@cologne4711 That's an overly simplistic analysis. Suella Braverman's parents came from Kenya and Mauritius, neither of which is in the EU. Raab'd Dad came here in the wake of the Munich agreement.

They aren't advocating zero immigration in future so suggesting they are saying "pull up the ladder" isn't really true is it?

YANBU

I really fear for what is happening to this country.

I think it's really worrying. Especially how the new attorney general wants to reduce the powers of the courts. Have been watching the BBC series the Rise of the Nazis and that's a start reminder of how important certain institutions are and how quickly totalitarianism can escalate.

Tbh I find it hard to get my head around how some people must think that Boris Johnson has genuinely got the interests of the British people at heart and that that's the reason he is where he is.

I also wonder about Dominic Cummings. Different from Alistair Campbell when you take into account all the years DC spent in Russia, and his very odd behaviour, like all this 'PJ hands' nonsense this week. Comes across as quite a strange bloke.

And of course, why is the government still surprising this report into Russian interference in our election.

It's far more worrying to me than Coronavirus! I think our whole democracy is the most threatened it has ever been in my lifetime

*STARK reminder that should say

surpressing the report! damn you autocorrect

Here's our new flag. Presumably the new anthem is "England uber alles" ?

I remember the wasted Blair years when he was paralysed in trench warfare with Brown. Boris has been entirely sensible making sure he has he right man in the treasury so he can push forward with his agenda rather than wasting this great chance to create a better country.

As for the Judges, well they have politicised themselves and its right their should be some changes to reign them back in.

Obviously people who dont like Boris will complain every-time he overcomes an obstacle. Just like the no-Brexit purgatory, they might accept Boris as PM but they would prefer he was hamstrung in government and unable to do anything. Fortunately he isn't having any of it.

How, exactly, have they politicised themselves? Please give specific examples, with explanations as to why they weren't simply applying the law.

I agree with the OP. Just wait for legislation ensuring the PM can do whatever he wants. nobody voted for Cummings fgs.

Zombiefan, I would want any government/prime minister to have checks and balances, to be challenged and held to account. Not to the extent where they can't function but one person who gets rid of anyone who blocks him is a scary prospect even if I agreed with everything he said.

As for the Judges, well they have politicised themselves and its right their should be some changes to reign them back in.

Not so. What they did do is called the Government to account for illegally shutting down parliament. That protects all of us.

If next time, parliament can be closed with no consequences, that will literally be the end of democracy. Why can't people see this

I'm not a fan of dictatorships, Zombie, not even benign ones.

Democracy requires a plurality of voices, and proper checks and balances to prevent individuals from becoming too powerful. I'm concerned that these are being eroded. The PM has surrounded himself with stooges who will do his bidding, and his Attorney General has publicly stated that she wants to limit the power of our courts. This should ring serious alarm bells for anyone who has studied a bit of history.

Sadly, the situation is not helped by the woeful lack of a competent opposition party at the moment. Boris can do whatever the hell he likes, and nobody will hold him to account for it.

Regardless of political leanings, we should all be concerned about a leader who wants to silence any disagreement or challenge.

Regardless of political leanings, we should all be concerned about a leader who wants to silence any disagreement or challenge.

Not really. I voted Conservative and am delighted that the Prime Minister has the power to run the government and the country as he sees fit. That’s the power a landslide majority gives you.

Obviously those who voted for other parties would prefer Boris to be bogged down and frustrated, but guess what? He has an electoral mandate, and you don’t.

Does that include closing Parliament?

Why exactly would a government with a majority of 80 need to close Parliament?