Westministenders: The Return of Parliamentary Sleaze?

[RedToothBrush]

Brexit is quietly going round and round in ever decreasing circles.

The story is that the European parliament will not agree to a transition period beyond 1st January 2020.

The third minister responsible for getting the Repel Bill through the Lords has quit. There are now nearly 400 amendments. It is scheduled for 6 days parliamentary time in the Commons from this coming week. With another 2 possible the following week. Rather bravely AFTER the budget. Bored with May, CVs are being submitted for the position of Chancellor.

Interest Rates are looking likely to rise next week too with the message being 'this is as good as it gets'.

Another team of MPs has gone to the EU to see if they can check up on May and her team. This is unlikely to work as Nicola Sturgeon came across a brick wall.

And then there are the many many distractions from it all.

Catalonia has declared independence, which will consume EU time and energy.

There are rumours that the first prosecution in Trump Russia will be Monday (Guess who is currently in the US. Yep, the gurning one). And there are increasing muttering about Russia over here, with Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg being called to respond to a Select Committee investigation into Fake News.

And then there's the sleaze. Jared O'Mara seems to be the first in the queue. There are rumours more will be outed in several parties. Suggestions include May's right hand man Damien Green who was previously named in 2008. And the Tory Whips have a 'sleaze list' which suggests they know whats going on, but have done nothing.

This morning we have Gove making ill advised jokes about Weinstein in this political climate. With Neil Kinnock laughing heartily in response.

Anything that happens will be political to discredit opponents not because there is a change of attitude towards the treatment of women. We know this, because of who is leading the charge on this. The skeletons are being dusted off out the cupboard rather than exposed for the first time in dramatic fashion.

Things, could take a very unexpected turn against this background.

Don't bet against it.

Theresa May is Caligula and Gavin Williamson is Incitatus
Was John Hurt, Caligula, LH? May doesn't seem bright or moral enough to qualify.

The tory party is a Hydra.

Williamson sounds perfect for them.

Gone a bit quiet about Mark Garnier hasn't it.

www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/nov/02/gavin-williamson-profile-an-ambitious-chop-your-head-off-type-of-man?CMP=share_btn_tw
Gavin Williamson profile: an ambitious 'chop-your-head-off type of man'

order-order.com/2017/11/02/full-litany-of-abuse-claims-being-covered-up-by-labour/
Full Litany of Abuse Claims Being Covered Up By Labour

Back to Labour. Back to sexual harassment

Helen Hoddinott‏*@HelenHoddinott*
The fact that Jacob Rees-Moog once labelled Gavin Williamson a "thoroughly good egg" is instantly alarming

Tory MP tweets this:

@garystreeterSWD
Feels increasingly like 92-97 parl: no majority, no money, ripping ourselves apart over EU. That lasted 5 years. Oh dear.

Robert Peston‏*@Peston*

Every Tory woman MP told me they wanted a woman chief whip (and they all rate Anne Milton) such is that role’s importance in monitoring and checking harassment. Odd that May has appointed not a woman

On the brexit reports:

@xtophercook
From asking around, I think "the reports are embarrassingly shoddy" remains underpriced. These have not had wide circulation b/c rubbish

@stephenkb
Hint: it's not because it would change negotiations. EU27 can model Brexit fine itself.

www.newstatesman.com/politics/staggers/2017/11/why-wont-government-publish-its-reports-impact-brexit …

Was John Hurt, Caligula, LH?

I didn't make the Caligula reference, but yes ... once of his most memorable roles. Plus a very gory scene (which I believe isn't in the DVDs ?).

It's very British, isn't it, to tut about professionals being ambitious. Personally I don't care much if our PM is ruthlessly ambitious (or, more accurately, doesn't hide it - do we really think that Tony Blair / Gordon Brown / David Cameron were not ruthlessly ambitious?). Top politicians need a bit of steel and determination.

On another note: they all rate Anne Milton - oh dear

"You'd better not go in there." I think were the lines! LH

The adorable Ian Dunt:

Wherever you look, the project is falling apart. The government's grip over parliament is slipping, the data on the economic impact of Brexit is being prised from its grip, questions are being raised about the legitimacy of the referendum campaign, and ministers are starting to admit that they have been misleading the public.

Is Brexit finished? Not even remotely. Labour is still officially supportive of it, there has been comparatively little change in public opinion, MPs remain herd-like in their support of it, and most of the political class backs it. But it is wounded and vulnerable. Those who remain fatalistic in their acceptance of it are clearly mistaken. It can be stopped.

As ever, the greatest weapon in the Remain armoury is the ineptitude of their opponents

www.politics.co.uk/blogs/2017/11/02/chaos-in-government-could-brexit-fall-apart

there has been comparatively little change in public opinion,

I'd argue that depends on the questions asked. If all the people who are grumbling about prices rising, things becoming unavailable (including prescription medicines) and cost of holidays realised they were paying for Brexit, I suspect there would be a considerable shift.

@MichaelRosen
Chief Whip: I’ve got stuff on you.
Fallon: I resign
Chief Whip: I’ll have your job then. Sorted.
#HonourableMen

George Eaton‏*@georgeeaton*
Female Tory MP on Gavin Williamson in the tea room: "a self-serving cunt".

Female Tory MP on Gavin Williamson in the tea room: "a self-serving cunt".

Hardly a "distinguishing mark" though ?

In other news: bears in poor arboreal toilet hygiene shocker;

Eurosluggard‏*@eurosluggard*

One good thing about Gavin Williamson’s promotion: he’s apparently a sworn political enemy of Boris-the-not-so-lovable-buffoon.

Kevin Schofield‏*@PolhomeEditor*
Tory MP: "Gavin Williamson is an oily, greasy ingratiator who is now in a job where his severe limitations will be on display."

"Every Tory woman MP told me they wanted a woman chief whip (and they all rate Anne Milton) such is that role’s importance in monitoring and checking harassment"

Of course May wouldn't appoint a Chief Whip who would "monitor and check harassment"
The Tory leadership wish to weaponise the whips' information on the guilty parties

Knowledge is power
Knowledge of powerful people committing shameful acts is great power

"sworn enemy" of Boris

Who is a "sworn friend" of Boris ?
Apart from the odious Nadine Dorries ..... damn few

Meanwhile in America this just happened

@J_amesp
Mercer’s been told something is coming and is trying protect a financial legacy.

@carolecadwalla
Re-cap for the Brits: Robert Mercer donation under investigation by @ElectoralCommUK. Another (via Breitbart) revealed by

@carolecadwalla
BIG deal because another investigation into impermissible donation from Mercer’s Cambridge Analytica still ongoing
www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/feb/26/robert-mercer-breitbart-war-on-media-steve-bannon-donald-trump-nigel-farage?CMP=share_btn_tw …

Female Tory MP on Gavin Williamson in the tea room: "a self-serving cunt".

Isn't this in the job description for Tory MPs??

It's been ages since we had a laugh at a thick Brexiteer

www.lbc.co.uk/radio/presenters/james-obrien/caller-tries-to-tell-james-brexit-will-be-good-for/

Ian Lucas MP‏ @IanCLucas
Tories failed to eliminate deficit by 2015 as they promised #PMQs Tory promise, Tory failure.

Gavin Barwell‏ @GavinBarwell
Create huge mess then complain about how long it's taking your successors to clean it up...

Michael Crick‏*@MichaelLCrick*

Doesn't this tweet, & others, breach the Code for Special Advisers which says you "must not take public part in political controversy"?

www.gov.uk/government/publications/special-advisers-code-of-conduct
Special advisers: code of conduct
14. Special advisers must not take public part in political controversy, through any form of statement whether in speeches or letters to the press, or in books, social media, articles or leaflets. They must observe discretion and express comment with moderation, avoiding personal attacks, and would not normally speak in public for their Minister or the Department.

Oh.

Dear.

Whoops.

I was under the impression that they were nearly there until they decided we all had to pay for their infighting. It's like setting yourself a target to clean up the mess in the bathroom of your new house and just when it's almost there taking a giant shit in the bathtub and blaming the previous homeowners.