The Westministenders Hunger Games continues. Boris still trying not to be outmanoevered.

[RedToothBrush]

Clearly Boris didn't get the memo, on when to quit the power games, even after Gove schooled him in the dark arts of the Tory Leadership....

So the Tory Smackdown rolls on whilst Corbyn STILL clings on. UKIP has now entered the race to make a challenge for who can make the biggest leadership contest shambles.

In The Blue Corner
May strikes fear into the hearts of EU citizens as she counts her bargaining chips.
Gove strikes fear into the hearts of humans, with his Martian twitch.
Loathsom strikes fear in the hearts of Britains by talking about babies brains.
Crabb strikes fear into the hearts of Torys by suggesting a plan that Corbyn might like. (and that beard doesn't help).
And Fox.
Well he just turned up.

Johnson is still waiting in the wings to stab Gove. He'd quite fancy a seat at the cabinet table too.
Osborne has gone quite again and we wait with baited breathe to see if he is the 'Charlie off Casualty' of the Tory Party (y'know whatever happens he somehow survives like a cockroach).

In The Red Corner
Corbyn apologies. So we know he's getting a bit desperate.
Will the Unions figure out something else to do other than sit with their head in hands.
Angela Eagle is still doing jellyfish impressions and hasn't found that backbone.
We STILL don't know who the fuck Owen Smith is?
Will Bliar's chicken's finally come home to roost?
The Cult of Momentum, rumbles on. We aren't quite sure who they actually vote for, but they seem to like their Dear Leader.
When will this country next have an opposition party?

Its kinda getting boring guys, we need some action now. End the Chicken Coup! The Tories are definitely out doing in the high drama stakes.

In the Purple Corner
Farage has gone! Hurrah. We hope only that he stays under that rock.
(Don't count on it. They'll wheel him out when they need publicity)
Will Leadsom be elected leader? Oh sorry, wrong party. I was getting confused for a second there.
Will they throw the cuckoo Carswell out? [:)]
Will they be able to find a less offensive leader than Farage who can unite them in their common goal of errrr..... yeah. That.
How long before one of their candidates has to apologise for something?

And I suppose I should ask, when will a50 be triggered....? And by whom?

All these questions and more.
Sense of humour compulsory. No experience necessary though

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/eu_referendum_2016_/2670552-Has-Boris-been-outmanoeuvred?pg=1 Previous thread 1

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/eu_referendum_2016_/2672388-Has-Boris-been-outmanoevered-Will-someone-please-tell-me-who-is-in-charge Previous thread 2

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/eu_referendum_2016_/a2673982-Have-Boris-and-Jeremy-been-stabbed-in-the-back-Please-can-we-have-some-leaders Previous thread 3

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/eu_referendum_2016_/2675432-Boris-outmaneovered-Et-tu-Gove-Corbyn-The-Westministenders-Hunger-Games-Continues? Previous thread 4

Juncker got elected the way TM or anyone in British politics will would elected today, as the best of a bad bunch.

Just place marking. Thanks for all these threads and informed comment - helping to keep me sane!

Thanks v much for that RedToothBrush! (not markplacing! )

Doin thank you, I totes misread that (and also have a deeply shoddy understanding of the parliament/council/commission etc structures). Too late to bother learning now I suppose .

Prob been covered earlier but similar thing with May having to share her feelings on not having kids- of zero fucking relevance and probably wouldn't have been discussed in first week for male candidates. Actually, how do Crabb and Fox feel about their respective reproductive statuses? Has there been extensive press coverage yet?

(Or placemarking, what is it again? )

Portuguese Centre Right
The UK have to respect of the four freedoms. They have to understand they will not get a better deal than the one they hve. They are stll our friends though.

Actually, how do Crabb and Fox feel about their respective reproductive statuses? Has there been extensive press coverage yet?

We need to know!

Thanks, Red.

RE: Leadsom - For me it was the way she initially framed herself in a very sexist stereotyped role rather that was the issue. SHE exploited the fact she was a mother, in order to try and appeal to women. I found it patronising and insulting. So when she continues to pander to that - herself - and makes a fool of herself in the process I think its fair comment.

Its not like I've not been rinsing Johnson over his obsession as casting himself into the role of Churchill. Its the same thing to me.

Night I note you conveniently "forget" to ask about Gove's reproductive status...

Red on Leadsom - yes!

Leadsom didn't create the sexist political world she has been forced to deal with.

So I'm not going to judge her (or Theresa May for that matter) for the ways the try to negotiate it.

It certainly doesn't justify the misogynistic portayal of her as a silly little woman with no clue about anything.

Swedish Centre Right just rinsed us (in English) saying that the Brexiteers are all desparate to have access to the single market which was created by the EU and wouldn't have existed without it, whilst saying how bad the EU is. And then saying they have all disappeared and didn't have a plan.

Rinsing a rich male elitist for his Churchill impressions is nothing like joining in with ridiculing a woman for her attempts to deal with a sexist political climate.

I also noted the lack of allusion to Gove's fertility.

Cypriot Centre Right
Pointing out the people don't really understand what the EU does. (Meaning across Europe not just us). All that is left is the words of the Eurosceptic in the UK.

Swedish Centre Right just rinsed us (in English) saying that the Brexiteers are all desparate to have access to the single market which was created by the EU and wouldn't have existed without it, whilst saying how bad the EU is. And then saying they have all disappeared and didn't have a plan.

Can't argue with that really.

I'm definitely judging Leadsom for her nauseating "mum" discourse. It was not a defensive move against potential misogyny, it was an attempt at using gendered stereotypes to manipulate women into trusting her and liking her.

it was an attempt at using gendered stereotypes to manipulate women into trusting her and liking her.

So that's a route only open to men, then?

Why shouldn't she appeal directly to women?

We are more than half the population.

The men are making plenty of running out of the gendered discourse that paints them as strong/decisive/principled/heroic.

I read Leadsom's comments about her being a mother entirely differently. The Brexit campaign was portrayed by Remain as a betrayal of the young by the old. This narrative has continued into the analysis of the result. I think I am typical of most parents when I say that I put my children above myself in all my decisions. If Boris had made the comment re looking out for the future of his brood no-one would have accused him of playing the "fatherhood" card.

On a lighter note:

Still in search of Rainbows and Unicorns and find myself in a My Little Pony crossover event. If NS is pragmatic AppleJack and Caroline Lucas is caring and sharing Pinkypie does anyone else have nominations?

I should probably say I haven't read her actual speech. I was just speculating above

They all sound pretty much equally repellant. But then the only politician I've ever admired is Lesley Knope and she's sadly completely fictional.

I judge Leadsom on her mendacity and not her reproductive status:

Speaking in 2012, Andrea Leadsom told the House of Commons that she would like businesses with three employees or fewer to no longer have to comply with any employment regulations.

"I envisage there being absolutely no regulation whatsoever," she said.

"No minimum wage, no maternity or paternity rights, no unfair dismissal rights, no pension rights—for the smallest companies that are trying to get off the ground, in order to give them a chance."

www.politics.co.uk/news/2016/07/05/minimum-wage-maternity-pay-scrapped-plans-andrea-leadsom

The men are making plenty of running out of the gendered discourse that paints them as strong/decisive/principled/heroic.

Absolutely, and I also judge them for it! Don't get me started on Sarkozy and his constant efforts to prove the size of his genitals - bleuargh [vomit emoticon]

Corbyn to announce new shadow cabinet....

Well that's about 30 seconds air time then

To borrow an MN phrase, is she on glue?!

Although small businesses probably work like that anyway for the most part, come to think of it.

I feel intelligent enough to be appealed to on the merit of the argument rather than by the packaging it comes in.

Re: Men doing the strong thing - have you seen Osborne doing the legs apart thing?! Its ridiculous.

Talking about Bankers, Brussels and Babies to a room full of Tory MPs shows an enormous amount of misjudgement on the crowd. She didn't understand them and she seems unable to recast herself into different roles when the situation is different. A PM needs to be able to adjust to different situations and different audiences well. You need to connect with your audience. The same is true in any form of PR. From advertising to pitching your cause to the EU negotiators. Whilst the Mother thing, as much as I dislike it, might be good for the public it is not appropriate for an audience which you point out is misogynist. She shouldn't start being more masculine as a result, but she should have a better awareness of who she is talking to - rightly or wrongly.

Lord Ashcroft the pollster is currently saying that May's position on Brexit is not strong enough, in the eyes of much of the membership. Loathsom is scoring well on this, so May has some work to do still on this. He's usually spot on.

I also noted the lack of allusion to Gove's fertility

I have given you Gove stripping his pants off. What more do you want?

Second thoughts... DON'T answer that.