Westministenders: Election Mayhem

[RedToothBrush]

Tick tock, tick tock goes the Brexit Clock.

Don’t panic, just don’t turn up to debates because you have talks starting on the 19th June and have to perfect the 100 page document relating to at least 750 international agreements that need renegotiating before then. Anyone who turns up for their job interview for that, is just wasting time.

If only someone hadn’t called a distracting election.

This election was dubbed to be about Brexit. Yet it is remarkable that we have barely had debate over it. No one wants to admit it really. We nearly got a consensus between Barry Gardiner, Nick Clegg and David Davis over it being a political not economic decision on Question Time on Thursday 1st June, but we are not quite there yet with the admission that the economy is toast. This means the addition money the Conservatives have promised for the NHS won’t be available but we can’t have this discussion. Its properly the fault of purdah. Instead the subject rapidly got skipped over. Instead Davis said that the target May had just set for immigration to be at tens of thousands by 2022 was unrealistic.

In post-election rumour has it that Davis is about to get a promotion to the FCO, whilst Johnson gets the boot. On the other hand Gove is also rumoured for NI and May loyal Gummer gets Brexit.

Meanwhile the 1922 Committee of Tory Backbenchers are said to be plotting the downfall of at least one of May’s guard dogs, Nick Timothy following the decision about the Dementia Tax and subsequent U-Turn. Farage also mentioned Timothy in his statement over the breaking news that the CPS are pressing charges on the Conservative Candidate for South Thanet (the former MP there), his agent and a Tory Party official over election expenses. It seems almost inconceivable that Timothy can survive a traditional Tory Knifing.

This is all as May’s leadership approval ratings are in freefall as the honeymoon is firmly ends, after the public finally got to see her create an army of strawmen as answers, in a barely concealed contempt for the public’s concerns. May’s reaction to a negative reaction? Go back into hiding from media accountability and get the Mail to do her dirty work.

Elsewhere the EU have lined up to criticise Trump over his hard ball attempt to renegotiate the Paris Climate Deal. May was noticeable by her absence as she’s trying the same trick over Brexit and is desperate to keep Trump onside. What is Trump offering us in return? Apart from a Brexit Opportunity to get stiffed.

As for the polls? Despite them, it’s difficult to see the Tories not making a net seat gain. For Labour to do well it relies on widespread tactical voting, young who haven’t previously voted turning out in levels not seen since the 1970s and this being spread across the country and not concentrated in University areas. This will be tough to achieve to simply stop a Tory Landslide, never mind a hung parliament. Labour winning a majority is the stuff of pure fantasy (needs Lab to be 12points ahead of Cons). That said, if the result isn’t much different to the 2015 result, it will beg major questions over May’s leadership and her ability to read the public mood. It will say something about her refusal to engage with ‘the saboteurs’.

Expect an increased Tory Majority but not of the epic scale of 470 they originally were aiming for.

Anyone seen this ?

With Brexit, Tories managed to protect the sovereign rights of UK’s tax havens and interests of the wealthy tax avoiding individuals.

David Cameron announced his historic decision to hold a referendum, to give British people a “simple choice” of determining whether or to stay in the European Union. Within minutes Theresa Villiers, Priti Patel, Michael Gove, Iain Duncan Smith, Chris Grayling, and John Whittingdale appeared at the Vote Leave headquarters, holding a banner with a slogan “Let’s take back control”. Speaking on behalf of six Tory Brexiters, Grayling explained that their campaign intends to restore the sovereignty of the British nation.

If anything, the EU strengthened the sovereignty of the British nation by removing borders between the Irish and used to deter Scottish voters from voting “Yes” in the Scottish independence referendum. Leaving the EU, in fact, threatens the British sovereignty. The Irish of Northern Ireland won’t enjoy passport controls whenever they are entering or exiting the Republic of Ireland, whereas the Scots would like to continue to export their Scotch in Europe without high EU import taxes.

(contd)

This personality trashing (Boris on Corbyn) when the country is in crisis is peculiarly British and its revolting.

I see you don't mention the personality bashing that May and Johnson get.

Please let's not pretend this is a one way street.

If she is unwell then she should step down.

Her brief is the security of our nation. If she can't do it then someone else should.

Two strong Labour mayors with home office potential should Corbyn pull off some miracle.

Then they wouldn't be mayors anymore.

He would no doubt make a complete and utter mess of Brexit.

But he's a True BeLeaver, isn't he?

I see you don't mention the personality bashing that May and Johnson get.

They get nothing like the vilification that Corbyn gets. As for Johnson, his offensive behaviour is dismissed as lovable buffoonery instead of being the insulting behaviour it is.

I suspect Gove is being lined up not just for the front bench...
Thought so.

He made a mess of Education
And interesting funding links to new exams brought in, Pearson publishing group and the Murdoch empire.

It's falling into place nicely.

LH DC article, ha ha, thought so, too. And Rudd's dad.

Is this better than House of Cards, I've never watched it, but I did see a great performance of Julius Caeser last week, in which a weak, vain and cosseted dictator uses populism to gain power, only to be well, you know...............

Was pretty messy on stage by the end.

Vote May (or Corbyn). Get Gove. Yum.

I have to say my knee jerk reaction to DA pulling out of Woman's Hour was that it was a sickie. But on reflection I have some sympathies with the views above that there could be more to her poor performances than simple incompetence.

(Interestingly before I saw that it was DA who was the topic of conversation I though people were talking about TM. I suspect both may not be in the best of shape - nor that among high-profile politicians that they are alone. It's clearly not an easy job.)

I feel that Diane Abbott gets a particularly bad press only partly because she is a woman, but because she is black. We know how racist the country has now become.

I completely agree with what Peregrina just said^

^f she is unwell then she should step down.

Her brief is the security of our nation. If she can't do it then someone else should.^

Same could be said of May

I feel that Diane Abbott gets a particularly bad press only partly because she is a woman, but because she is black. We know how racist the country has now become.

I don't agree with that. Diane Abbott is demonstrating staggering incompetence at the moment.

The Sky interview was embarrassing. She'd clearly never read the report under discussion and that is her fucking job.

Black or white, male or female, it doesn't matter. She needs to do better or she should be sacked.

Using her colour or gender as an excuse for her rank incompetence is pretty low IMO.

maybe she is ill but the fact still stands that she's an embarrassment and shouldn't be in the position she is.

I agree with Bear.

piglet the whole focus of May's campaign is vilifying Corbyn. The Conservative home page is stuffed with stories about Corbyn and the fundraising pages (full of lies) are also focussed on Corbyn. TM is PM - her BREXIT posturing is so damaging for the country. She was Home Secretary and her inflexible, confrontational stance and fixation on austerity should of course be questioned, as it is now. Brand Theresa, strong and stable - so arrogant to think it would not be questioned or that the British people don't deserve more. The manifesto is a shambles, flip flop on policy, terrorist attacks and the foreign secretary just wants to shout about Corbyn.

Keiran Pedley‏*@keiranpedley*

Big thanks to Survation for publishing 2015 past vote tab. Many dont. Like ComRes: shows 15% of Labour vote were non-voters in 2015

Its going to be big if they do vote this time. Thing is, 2016 ref result came from people who didn't vote normally. To say its unprecedented is therefore untrue. But it would be unexpected at a GE. This is probably why other pollsters are discounting it.

In the ref, initial estimates were that turnout of 18 - 25 year olds was 36.6%. It later transpired that 64% of people registered aged 18 - 25% actually voted.

I do find it noteworthy to point out that in 2015 only 43% of 18 - 25 year olds voted.

Is this why Survation and YouGov are saying different things to the other pollsters? Comres have the same figure here, but are discounting.

Using her colour or gender as an excuse for her rank incompetence is pretty low IMO.

I don't agree it's low - women and blacks have to be better at their jobs. Any number of incompetent white men get into positions of power and are at best so so, but don't come in for the same amount of vilification. Look at May's three Brexiteers - hardly people of anything other than incompetence, although BoJo could be if he could be bothered to put his mind to it.

Should Corybn pull off a miracle (please, please), personally see no chance of Abbot being Home Secretary. He knows it, she knows it...but he's not going to make that kind of change now.

If May scrapes in, there are also going to be a lot of changes in her team. Liam Fox - key Brexiter for the Government but he's in hiding as far as the Tory campaign are concerned. Should we not know now who will be negotiating for the UK?

I agree that Peregina has a point, but I also think Bear has a point.

Abbott attracts more stuff than white men who make similar mistakes get. She is incompetent. But no more or less than many other politicians. She's just more of a target for abuse.

It does play especially well with people who have views that are not so universally accepting too.

Remember, a lot of the result will come down to who the Kippers vote for.

I agree with Peregrina.

However I do not believe the country is any more racist than usual it is just that there is more "tolerance" as long as people of colour are being excluded from high profile positions.

I have nothing but huge respect for DA having been bantering back and forth with her, MP and AN on This Week for years. I know I do not have the mental strength for the amount of abuse even local councillors get hurled at them so full credit to all politicians who put their head above the parapet.

I think DA was right to pull out of WH because regardless of what she says these days she never gets a fair hearing and so neither does her message. It is the Conservatives who have resorted to personal attacks over the last 12 years following DC's bully boy public school attitude. It is truly toxic.

(People on the Left generally stick to branding all Tories generically bad which, although not true, is very different).

anotherangryvoice.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/30-things-you-should-know-about-tory.html?m=1

What Peregrina said, again. (please stand for election )
Have to wonder what damage private boarding schools has done to these men and (a few women) to behave as they do... from trump to BJ etc. Gove's just a wannabe. He's dangerous because he is so hungry.

It is the Conservatives who have resorted to personal attacks over the last 12 years following DC's bully boy public school attitude. It is truly toxic.

Absolutely - the last Tory leaflet was pure poison. As was the one in 2010 when Dr Evan Harris was standing for the seat. Dr Death was what the Tory leaflet called him. How is that not toxic?

Comparison of TM's visit of the North East with JC's in local paper -

Jeremy Corbyn vs Theresa May: North East visits put to the test
www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/many-not-few-how-jeremy-13143036#ICID=Android_ChronicleNewsApp_AppShare

Spoiler: TM was isolated and avoided meeting people, JC was in his element.

Abbott attracts more stuff than white men who make similar mistakes get. She is incompetent. But no more or less than many other politicians. She's just more of a target for abuse.
This.

I understand the point about there being many incompetent white men in politics but that isn't what we're discussing here.

If a white man had given the interviews Abbott has over recent weeks he would be, quite rightly, torn apart as well.

How can you possibly defend Abbotts interview on Sky yesterday?

She clearly had no idea about any of the details being referred to.

That has nothing to do with her gender or colour.

She's a liability.

That kind of incompetence wouldn't be accepted in any other job I can think of.

If a white man had given the interviews Abbott has over recent weeks he would be, quite rightly, torn apart as well.

Boris Johnson?

He just does the fluffy eccentric to laugh it off.