Westministenders: Boris and God Knows what next. (I'm all out of ideas!)

[RedToothBrush]

Still a week until Stoke and Copeland. (Labour Hold/Con Gain unless something strange happens) QT is from Stoke next week.

A50 hits the Lords next week. Melania is being lined up to do something for the women. (God help us all).

Will UKIP survive? Will Nuttall survive? Will Labour survive? Will Trump survive? Will CNN survive? Will the Lords survive? Will Theresa May survive a class room of children?

All these questions and more

Thank you for that article, Figment. It is very interesting - I do like the suggestion that the EU side of negotiations should be played out in public to get approval from the EU Parliament!

I'm disappointed by Blair because his own personal brand is now widely regarded (by the MSM at least0 as so toxic he taints whatever he comes into contact with rather than being listened to. However, he does get headlines where Tim and Cleggy don't.

When asked what his proudest achievement was, Wilson said " Keeping the party together".

It's hard not to like Wilson ... I can remember the day he resigned (I was off school, it was breaking news in between schools programs).

I can't find it now, but I am sure that when he was asked by an aide what "the UKs full backing" meant, he instructed "everything short of actual support". Suggesting we was 5 decades ahead of the game.

Clegg leading the anti-Brexit charge is bad enough

Why ? He is the one politician who has been absolutely upfront and honest about his position from the year dot day one. Unlike the vast majority of MPs who - despite claiming to have supported Remain - are now nowhere to be found.

I'm disappointed by Blair because his own personal brand is now widely regarded (by the MSM at least0 as so toxic he taints whatever he comes into contact with rather than being listened to. However, he does get headlines where Tim and Cleggy don't.

Agreed.

I was very disappointed in Clegg because he weakly failed to produce the opposition the country deserved. The uni fees issue is case in point.

If he'd had more guts the LibDems would be in a very different position now.

But - I think he was very naive, and maybe he's just not that good a politician.

I can forgive him his faults if he stands up for Remain now.

The real problem is finding someone untainted to lead the charge.

Starmer would do but he doesn't seem inclined.

"To have abandoned British citizens to a fate they did not want would have been unforgivable"

Not to mention Gibraltar, whose concerns have been dismissed several times by people on these pages. Also, what do you think Argentina will demand in exchange for approving our new WTO membership?

Wilson got away with a lot because he was a crafty devil, which everyone knew. Sadly, I think you need to be a bit crafty or cunning in politics.

I hope Clegg, Starmer, Blair, Lammy Caroline Lucas, the whole crew join together, along with what I guess is well over 50% who want to remain in a version of the EU now.
And get back to what Blair mentioned:
Sorting out the domestic issues which are costing lives right now: NHS, social care etc.
missmoon agree on Argentina. This list is endless of domestic and international fallout.

And

I was very disappointed in Clegg because he weakly failed to produce the opposition the country deserved. The uni fees issue is case in point.

Given the subsequent horrors of majority Conservative government, it's clear the LibDems were much more of a force than they were allowed to let us know. Sadly they are a grown-up party in a sea of children.

(sings Joni Mitchell)

don't it always seem to be that you don't know what you've got till it's gone ...?

there is no 'and'

Agree completely lurking

Agreed, Gloria, Clegg was fantastically naive. I read some exceprts from his autobiography, and the quote that stuck with me was "I did not cater for the Tories' brazen ruthlessness." He was royally bum-fucked by the Bullingdon Club and then they laughed and sneered at him for not realising this was going to happen all along.

The bits I've read of Blair's speech today have been good. He was always a very convincing speaker looks daggers at Jeremy Corbyn.

I read and it and I remember that quote.

It seems impossible that anyone with his background and education could be that naive, and maybe it was just an excuse for limpness and collusion - but I don't think he's a bad person.

@EuropeElects

France: Second round of Presidential election, Ifop poll:
Macron: 62% (nc)
Le Pen: 38% (nc)

I think we have two great centre-left leaders in Tony Blair and Nick Clegg. My personal preference is for Nick Clegg but I recognise all the Tony Blair achieved.

If, as liberals, our standard for our leaders is perfection, then we lose before we even start. We will tear ourselves apart. Our leaders are human and flawed (how many of us know someone who has a blind spot on one issue but is great and generous on pretty much everything else) but yet can still be incredible people.

To achieve anything we need unity and belief in our liberal values. That doesn't mean some sort of pollyanna forgetting or forgiving of Iraq or student tuition fees, whichever policy disappointed you the more. That disappointment might be quite legitimate. But it does mean recognising that no leader will be perfect and uniting behind the strongest and best we have.

Chamberlain was probably lovely.

Churchill, in 1940, was an alcoholic 65 year old toff, with a bit of history with the South Wales colliers.

He was the right one to get us out of a spot of bother.

I don't care who leads the remain campaign, as long as some one does and we can unite behind her/him.

As the liberals and Clegg have on this point at least, been steadfast in their integrity on the remain campaign, Lammy, Creasey, Blair et al have to form an alliance with them and Sinn Fein, the Alliance party, the SDLP, and SNP, and the Green party. There are also alliances in the offing between MEPs who support the rights of UK citizens who want to stay in the EU, which can be acted on.

But it has to be done now

Agreed woman.

And Ken Clarke should be welcome to join too. I certainly don't agree with everything he has ever said, particularly during the Thatcher years, but on Brexit his integrity and judgement have been spot on.

..as long as ... we can unite behind her/him.

How many people would be able to hold their noses and unite behind Tony Blair, if it ever came to that?

How many would feel they could trust him enough?

Not enough, I think, which is why I don't find his utterances helpful.

Churchill was a Great War leader he was just an indifferent domestic politician, as he had no idea how the other half lived.

Gah - caps are iPad.

More than you think. But probably not enough.

Agree stripeymonkey Funny how perceptions change, on Ken Clarke, I liked his wife, who sadly died a few years back. He has been around the block enough times to teach the young ones a few good tricks.

I agree I don't think anyone's going to unite behind Blair, we'll have to look elsewhere for a leader, but Blair is an experienced hand to have on the team.

I would support Ken Clarke and I'm as anti Tory as they get
But he has shown integrity and common
Sense over this whole brexit shambles

During the War Churchill did all the stuff on the International stage - meanwhile Clem Attlee as Deputy PM did the domestic legislation. Things like laying the groundwork for the Welfare State, or the 1944 Education Act, for example.

I don't care who leads the remain campaign, as long as some one does and we can unite behind her/him.

Crowdfund ?

If a million people pledged a pound each, it would certainly start to square up to the Banks of this world.

(Unfortunately, typing that triggered a memory of another quote ....

“If seven maids with seven mops

Swept it for half a year,
Do you suppose,” the Walrus said,
“That they could get it clear?”
“I doubt it,” said the Carpenter,
And shed a bitter tear.

which seems more appropriate)