Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Brexit

Westministenders: Theresa's Common People

986 replies

RedToothBrush · 18/05/2017 13:50

She came from Oxfordshire she had a thirst for knowledge
She studied geography at Saint Hugh's College
That's where politics
Caught her eye

She told them that her husband was loaded
The press barons said "In that case have a rum and coca-cola"
She said "Fine"
And in thirty seconds time she said

I want to look like common people
I want to do whatever common people do
I want to eat like common people
I want to sleep like common people
Like you

Well what else could Fiona and Nick do
They said "We'll see what we can do"

They took her to a supermarket
I don't know why
But they had to start it somewhere
So it started there
They said pretend you've got no money
She just laughed and said
"Oh you're so funny"
They smiled "Yeah”
Well we can't see anyone else smiling in here

Are you sure you want to live like common people
You want to see whatever common people see
You want to eat like common people
You want to sleep like common people
Like me

But she didn't understand
She just smiled and held Trump’s hand

Order that benefits get the chop
Tell them all to get a job
Promise to bring back the grammar school
Pretend you don’t think them a fool
But still you'll never get it right
'Cause when you're laid in bed at night
Watching the news talking about building the wall
All have to do is call your mates to fake it all

You'll never live like common people
You'll never do whatever common people do
You'll never fail like common people
You'll never watch your life slide out of view
Whilst you blame it all on the EU
Because that’s all you can do

Sing along with the common people
Sing along and it might just get Brexit through
Laugh along with the common people
Laugh about leaving the EU

It’s the most stupid thing that you will do
Because you think that it is cool
You’ll call them a ‘lying foreigner’
But don’t say we didn’t warn you
You’ll regret saying we are better off out
'Cause everybody hates a benefits tourist

It doesn’t matter if you can’t do the math
With all those pockets that you grease
You’ll win the vote in Bath

You will never understand
How it feels to live your life
With no meaning or control
And with nowhere left to go
You are amazed that they exist
And wish they were all white
So you tell ‘The Big Lie’

Get THE flat above THE shop
Cut your hair and get THE job
Trick some mugs and hire some fool
Pretend you are not really cruel
But still you'll never get it right
Instead you're plotting late at night
About which ‘cockroach’ will take the fall
All have to do is call your mates to fake it all
Yeah

You'll never live like common people
You'll never do what common people do
You'll never fail like common people
You'll never watch your life slide out of view
As we plan to leave the EU
Because there's nothing else left to do

But ‘moan’ about how we don’t want to leave the EU.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
30
RedToothBrush · 28/05/2017 10:20

As I speak it seems Diane Abbott is having (another) car crash interview on TV whilst Amber Rudd just got a massive burn in on her for car crash comments.

WHY is Diane Abbott being let within 40 ft of a TV studio? Seriously? Even May knows that she's not good at interviews so avoids them even though she HAS to do them. Abbott has no such excuse. No one would be bothered if she was totally AWOL.

Why? Why aren't Labour show casing others? I really have no idea why.

OP posts:
Eeeeeowwwfftz · 28/05/2017 10:23

Don't you remember the shadow cabinet coup last year (which you probably supported as a measure to get rid of Corbyn)?

AnnieKenney · 28/05/2017 10:26

I thought Bojo's original comment was very sensible and that his reaction after 7/7 was very professional as mayor.

Point of information - Bojo wasn't Mayor of London until 2008. This is what Ken Livingstone said (which made me cry when I hear it the first time):

This was a cowardly attack, which has resulted in injury and loss of life. Our thoughts are with everyone who has been injured, or lost loved ones. I want to thank the emergency services for the way they have responded.

Following the al-Qaeda attacks on September 11 in America we conducted a series of exercises in London in order to be prepared for just such an attack. One of the exercises undertaken by the government, my office and the emergency and security services was based on the possibility of multiple explosions on the transport system during the Friday rush hour.

The plan that came out of that exercise is being executed today, with remarkable efficiency and courage, and I praise those staff who are involved.

I’d like to thank Londoners for the calm way in which they have responded to this cowardly attack and echo the advice of the Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair - do everything possible to assist the police and take the advice of the police about getting home today.

I have no doubt whatsoever that this is a terrorist attack. We did hope in the first few minutes after hearing about the events on the Underground that it might simply be a maintenance tragedy.

That was not the case. I have been able to stay in touch through the very excellent communications that were established for the eventuality that I might be out of the city at the time of a terrorist attack and they have worked with remarkable effectiveness. I will be in continual contact until I am back in London.

I want to say one thing specifically to the world today. This was not a terrorist attack against the mighty and the powerful. It was not aimed at Presidents or Prime Ministers.

It was aimed at ordinary, working-class Londoners, black and white, Muslim and Christian, Hindu and Jew, young and old. It was an indiscriminate attempt to slaughter, irrespective of any considerations for age, for class, for religion, or whatever.

That isn’t an ideology, it isn’t even a perverted faith - it is just an indiscriminate attempt at mass murder and we know what the objective is. They seek to divide Londoners. They seek to turn Londoners against each other.

I said yesterday to the International Olympic Committee, that the city of London is the greatest in the world, because everybody lives side by side in harmony. Londoners will not be divided by this cowardly attack. They will stand together in solidarity alongside those who have been injured and those who have been bereaved and that is why I’m proud to be the mayor of that city.

Finally, I wish to speak directly to those who came to London today to take life.

I know that you personally do not fear giving up your own life in order to take others - that is why you are so dangerous. But I know you fear that you may fail in your long-term objective to destroy our free society and I can show you why you will fail.

In the days that follow look at our airports, look at our sea ports and look at our railway stations and, even after your cowardly attack, you will see that people from the rest of Britain, people from around the world will arrive in London to become Londoners and to fulfil their dreams and achieve their potential.

They choose to come to London, as so many have come before because they come to be free, they come to live the life they choose, they come to be able to be themselves. They flee you because you tell them how they should live.

They don’t want that and nothing you do, however many of us you kill, will stop that flight to our city where freedom is strong and where people can live in harmony with one another.

Whatever you do, however many you kill, you will fail.

whatwouldrondo · 28/05/2017 10:33

Missmoon The point I was making related to the fact that in spite of everything the Castro government like other Communist governments I mentioned (I could have added Vietnam and Laos) does have popular support in Cuba. I agree that there is an aspiration for greater entrepreneurship than has already been allowed, the main source of dissent. There is dissent, economic control, and differing levels of effective governance in all those countries. I had not read about a crackdown during Obama's relaxing of the embargo, my impression was that it represented a danger that American companies would enter its markets and clean up at the expense of Cuban heritage and culture. However there is little appetite in Cuba for the sort of change in governance and the economy that the powerful right wing Cuban exile lobby in the US seek, and which secured the embargo inflicting great economic difficulties on the island long after there was any moral economic or political validity to it..... If there is going to be change the Cubans in Cuba want it to be their change, not a return to exploitation by America........

whatwouldrondo · 28/05/2017 10:46

Annie Thank you. Yes I remember that speech, the comment about Bojo should have set off alarm bells. I think people forget, in the light of his recent conduct which has certainly sent him into political oblivion as far as most are concerned, that he was a popular Mayor. His stint as Mayor probably paved the way for Sadiq to win the election as much as Zac and his racism lost it. Sadiq could get on with selling himself, he did not need to overcome any fear of a Labour mayorality.

whatwouldrondo · 28/05/2017 10:53

Also MissMoon is it not true that there is the same sort of local democracy in Cuba as China? That at the most local level representatives / officials that run community resources are elected? In Cuba I think that has always been the case, in China it has been introduced as a mechanism to overcome the issue of corrupt local officials and landgrabbing. The Central government was failing to hold them accountable so it transferred that process to local people.

whatwouldrondo · 28/05/2017 11:07

I am still getting Conservative Facebook posts including this recent one. www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/may/27/conservatives-facebook-dark-ads-data-protection-election

RedToothBrush · 28/05/2017 11:46

55% of over 75s think Corbyn's links with the IRA make him a dangerous threat to national security; 49% of over 65s; only 20% of 18-24s
ICM Research.

Conservatives out of touch with young. Who'd of thunk.

OP posts:
Cailleach1 · 28/05/2017 13:14

Hugh Orde and Dominic Grieve urging May to maintain membership of EU law enforcement agencies and access to the Schengen database, even if it necessitates some involvement with the ECJ.

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-deal-eu-europol-terror-theresa-may-dominic-grieve-sir-hugh-orde-max-peter-ratzel-a7760006.html

Wrt the arrest warrant, I thought I heard Suzanne Evans spitting at the prospect of British citizens being arrested by foreigners. Actually where to start with how incompatible it is with the version of Brexit many head the balls people advocate.

Cailleach1 · 28/05/2017 13:15

Well, some people.

Cailleach1 · 28/05/2017 13:39

Did/does Corbyn actually have links with the IRA? More than Margaret Thatcher who was using go betweens? Links is a word it would be good to qualify. In a bit of whataboutery, what about the Loyalists who specifically targeted individual Catholics. Just at random. One case of a Protestant woman being murdered because she was mistaken for a Catholic for some reason when she left a club/bar comes to mind. I think she was tortured but have no intention of looking it up on this lovely day. One grouping having the nausea inducing name of the Shankill Butchers. Some of these Organisations, had alleged links with British forces/authorities. Does that mean all gov't's had paramilitary links?

This week has been so sad and nihilistic. I must admit it reminded me of the 33 people killed in the Dublin/Monaghan bombings and the allegations the British security forces may have aided the bombers. It may be untrue, of course. One would hope so. For all the governmental disgust at innocent people being killed by bombings, there has been no help with an inquiry.

www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/uk-urged-to-release-dublin-and-monaghan-bombing-files-1.3086727

LurkingHusband · 28/05/2017 14:48

Idly chatting yesterday, and it seems that the events of the past week have taken an interesting turn politically, with a general feeling across a spread of people I chatted with that the sight of soldiers on the streets actually underscored the message that Tory police cuts had definitely been a factor. Everyone had the same question: "The only reason we need soldiers is if there aren't enough police. And if the aren't enough police, whose fault is that ??????". So Theresas attempts to look tough might have backfired ....

Anyone seen the "23,000" thread elsewhere ? Somewhere a police federation employee is very happy with themselves.

BiglyBadgers · 28/05/2017 15:27

Thats interesting lurking. I was expecting to see a boost for the conservatives and have been surprised the polls haven't shown one after the attack. Maybe that is why, or at least part of it.

squoosh · 28/05/2017 15:55

I see Angela Merkel has said that the US is no longer a 'reliable partner'.

"The era when we could fully rely on others has passed. I have experienced this in the last few days."

Wow. That's a big statement isn't it?

whatwouldrondo · 28/05/2017 16:50

Cailleach They paid tribute on Radio 4s last words to businessman Brendon Duddy who played a secret role in initiating talks from the 70s onwards by bringing together senior members of the IRA via personal contacts with Martin McGuiness, and MI6 in his living room. He risked much, including his own life as he was subjected to a four hours long interrogation by the IRA. He was under no illusions he was on trial for his life. As I listened to the recordings of a brave but on the mainland almost unknown man without whom maybe we might not be where we are today, I thought that it rather put the fuss about Jeremy Corbyn's contacts in perspective.

Interestingly he spoke of the value of a cup of tea to reduce tensions and move discussions out of stalemate. I read today that Craig Murray, our rather colourful former man in Afghanistan has made a similar point in relation to May. This is something I have been thinking in relation to May's claims that she is a strong negotiator for a long time. Complex negotiations need flexibility, quick thinking, imagination and good interpersonal skills (think Berners) not strong and stable and anyone who has ever been involved with one would agree.

" All of which underlines a thought that has been pulling at me ever since the election started. May has continually tried to pitch this as a question of who you would wish to act as the negotiator of Brexit, either her or Jeremy Corbyn. But why would anybody believe that a woman who is not even capable to debate with her opponents would be a good negotiator?

In fact she would be an appalling negotiator. She becomes completely closed off when contradicted. She is incapable of thinking on her feet. She is undoubtedly the worst performer at Prime Minister’s Questions, either for government or opposition, since they were first broadcast. Why on earth would anybody think she would be a good negotiator? As soon as Michel Barnier made a point she was not expecting across the table, she would switch off and revert to cliché, and probably give off a great deal of hostility too.

The delusion she would negotiate well has been fed by the media employing all kinds of completely inappropriate metaphors for the Brexit negotiations. From metaphors of waging war to metaphors of playing poker, they all characterise the process as binary and aggressive.

In fact – and I speak as somebody who has undertaken very serious international negotiations, including of the UK maritime boundaries and as the Head of UK Delegation to the Sierra Leone Peace Talks – intenational negotiation is the opposite. It is a cooperative process and not a confrontational process. Almost all negotiations cover a range of points, and they work on the basis of you give a bit there, and I give a bit here. Each side has its bottom lines, subjects on which it cannot move at all or move but to a limited degree. Sometimes on a single subject two “bottom lines” can be in direct conflict. Across the whole range of thousands of subjects, you are trying to find a solution all can live with.

So empathy with your opposite number is a key requirement in a skilled negotiator, and everything I have ever seen about Theresa May marks her out as perhaps having less emotional intelligence than anybody I have ever observed. Bonhommie is also important. Genuine friendship can be a vital factor in reaching agreement, and it can happen in unexpected ways. But May has never been able to strike up friendships outside of a social circle limited to a very particular segment of English society, excluding the vast majority of the English, let alone Scots and heaven forfend continentals. The best negotiators have affability, or at least the ability to switch it on. It is a vital tool.

That is not to say occasionally you do not have to speak and stare hard to make plain that one of your bottom lines is real. But that is by no means the norm. And you need the intelligence and sharpness to carry it off, which May does not. That is one of the many differences between May and Thatcher.

Frankly, if I had the choice between sending in Jeremy Corbyn, with his politeness and reasonableness, or Theresa May, into a negotiation I would not hesitate for a second in choosing Corbyn. I am quite sure there is not another diplomat in the World who would make a different choice. May’s flakiness and intolerance of disagreement represent a disaster waiting to happen."

www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2017/05/the-art-of-negotiation/

whatwouldrondo · 28/05/2017 16:51

Sorry forgot to include the link to the Brendan Duddy obituary www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/may/15/brendan-duddy-obituary

LurkingHusband · 28/05/2017 16:54

I was expecting to see a boost for the conservatives and have been surprised the polls haven't shown one after the attack. Maybe that is why, or at least part of it.

I don't think there's a great level of sophistication in UK political thinking at the moment. But it's illuminating that all of a sudden we aren't hearing about soldiers on the streets anymore.

In fact, I have a feeling, that as soon as is decently possible, the powers that be will be desperate to not talk about security too much, but will want to redirect the agenda onto other things. (Whether the MSM will be complicit will depend on what the public want to hear).

The problem for May - and the Tories - is the more people focus on any risk from terrorists, the more they will ask wtf the government have been doing for the past years to stop it. And whatever the answer, it's an open goal for the opposition:

a) we have been taken totally by surprise by these events
(so you're incompetent)
b) we have been dealing with these problems for years
(and still not addressed them. You're incompetent).

there is probably an added nervousness in Tory HQ (in Mordor) as the point-person for domestic security is the Home Secretary. Who, until June last year, was Theresa May.

Following debates elsewhere, let's hope that the security services don't take their eye off the ball now, and let a neo-nazi terrorist slip through the net whilst (some of) the public are preoccupied with "Muslim" terrorists.

LurkingHusband · 28/05/2017 16:58

It's a testament to the drop in quality of our politicians (or is it just they are exposed to more scrutiny ?) that the only people I can think of as skilled international negotiators are Lords Carrington and Owen. And to my shame, without Wiki-ing (goes off to Wiki) I'm not too sure if Lord C is still with us (turns out he is).

(whistles: Henry Kissinger, how I'm missing ya, you're the stateman of my dreams ... )

LurkingHusband · 28/05/2017 17:00

Can anyone else picture Theresa May thumping the lectern with her shoe ? (And does anyone else wonder if she would get that reference ?)

BluePeppers · 28/05/2017 17:17

What I have noticed is more and more criticism directed towards May herself. This didn't use to be the case.
It's like the tide is turning now from all angles. The question will be on how much it will turn before the election.

Peregrina · 28/05/2017 17:20

And does anyone else wonder if she would get that reference ?
I am pretty sure the answer is no, because she is not a student of history. She seems woefully ignorant of even the highest profile of events.

BigChocFrenzy · 28/05/2017 17:32

Thanks, Annie for the correct info Flowers
It was the Guardian in that article who misled me about Bojo being mayor then

BigChocFrenzy · 28/05/2017 17:34

A very apt btl comment under a Times article by poster Paul Hendy:

"Mrs May has a second rate mind fumbling around in an emotionally stunted personality"

BigChocFrenzy · 28/05/2017 17:37

Ashcroft is predicting a Tory majority of 142

Fieldwork 22-26 May
Survey size 40,000 - he's the only one who can afford to do this.
His methodology seems different to the normal pollsters

http://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2017/05/lord-ashcroft-my-election-models-probabilities-currently-suggest-a-potential-conservative-majority-of-142.htmll_

BigChocFrenzy · 28/05/2017 17:43

The public still seem to have accepted the idea that May would be a better negotiator.

From latest COMRES:
who is best to lead Britain’s negotiations over Brexit ?
May: 48%
Corbyn: 18%

Swipe left for the next trending thread