Westministenders: A New Approach? No chance.

[RedToothBrush]

Next week we will have a new PM. He will be called Boris Johnson unless something very odd has happened.

His first 72 hours will be 'interesting' especially if today's events are anything to go by.

His Cabinet is sure to be a horror show. It was noticable who abstained today - they don't think they will be in a Johnson Cabinet and clearly don't want to be.

To move forward Johnson must be able to survive a rebellion and a Queen's speech before now and 31st October.

And be able to unit his party in order to find a way forward.

And whilst parliament has voted to block proroguing parliament, it could still be dissolved if there is a vote of no confidence.

And what happens if Johnson loses a vote? Will he manage to become PM? Will there be a GE.

All the signs are that next week is going to be a hell of a ride.

Enjoy your weekend.

The Italian ID is 16€ (15£), lasts for 10 years, is issued and renewed in a matter of minutes (if you live in Italy, if you depend on consular service it’s 7 months!!) and as it’s recognised throughout Europe is a valid travel document even for planes and border checks. A family of 4 that doesn’t travel to exotic places can spend 60£ in 10 years instead of 400+ (without counting that kids’ passport might last only 3 years)
It always baffled me that I could just grab the ballot paper or any bill from a housemate and pretend to be someone else...

Who was asking? In Italy for instance it’s mandatory to have polling stations in public hospitals, I suspect at least when they have more than a certain size...I did it myself, a team stays in the makeshift polling room, another few (in teams so they supervise each other) go from ward to ward to give the possibility to vote, it’s not maybe the most private situation but you can easily have thousands of people in the wards of big hospitals....

I don’t know if that law still stands, but in Italy voting was both a right and an obligation. Every voter had a polling record card with so many spaces, if you missed more than a certain number (only of parliament elections, referenda didn’t count) then you could not apply to particular job positions for instance in the army, civil service etc. The assumption being that you’re supposed to respect AND exercise (?) your civic rights and duties, if you don’t then you’re not really fit for a position in a civic sphere...
I’ll go and research if that’s still the case. I bet salvini would be more than happy to convert the traditional voting process into a count of Likes on FB...

It’s funny how customs and habits perfectly acceptable for one country can be perceived as totally insufferable by others, but...ie...if those guys from windrush that had problems with papers were in a country that requires ID cards, they’d be sorted. In my experience ID cards for immigrants on a visa or particular condition state “nationality X, residence Y, visa z from date bla bla”. The council has a copy of everybody’s ID records, they don’t discriminate. I have one of those myself, I feel reassured, when it expired I was called to ask if I wanted to renew it, done...

I've not had a drink since July 1st but I've cracked open the gin tonight to help me with the twin pains of hideous tooth nerve pain and Brexit.

Don’t worry, Trump thinks everything will be smoother out now...The Latest: Trump lauds Johnson as 'different kind of guy' - ABC News
apple.news/ASiytLRMLTD2VSBGshYUVQw

I feel SOOOOO reassured now!
(I don’t like gin, but I’ve got limoncello somewhere in a cupboard)

The UK system is a shambles.
It cannot decide who is an immigrant
It cannot decide who is coming in or out
and nothing proposed for or against Brexit will sort that

.

My mother has managed to make me go tonight. For some reason, Rory Stewart and Phil Hammond are the sneaky ones that can't be trusted (who talk tripe) and Boris has macho charisma and persuasive charm.

Dear god...is it too late for me to put myself up for adoption?!

I can't be arsed to argue though. She's not a well woman, so upsetting her isn't worth it. I'll ignore and move on (despairing!).

What does everyone think about the 1922 finagling the rules to prevent an incoming PM from being VoNVd for the first year of office?
They’ve backed down from tampering with procedural rules twice but I’m concerned they might be emboldened by Bercow’s actions.

Boris has macho charisma and persuasive charm.

He's not the Messiah. Someone will be disappointed ... very quickly.

Thoughts with at you at this difficult time, it can't be easy realising your mum has sex thoughts about Boris Johnson.

He seems the polar opposite of macho to me. A puddingy wimp of a man who would feign a pulled hamstring rather than sprint after some Artful Dodger who'd nicked his mother's wallet.

It isn't easy knowing she has sex thoughts full stop, to be honest (her last 'confession' was Kevin McCloud!). But Boris fucking Johnson?!

And yes, DGR, she is deluded and will be disappointed.

@SleightOfMind, how do they intend on changing the rules to allow for that then? Surely it's not actually in their power to prevent it happening?

I can understand Kevin McCloud when he is talking italian, but Boris? Do you think a dementia test is in order?

Oh God, we're all doomed.

Maybe so, @countrygirl99!

I feel very poorly now. 😂

Ew.
That has made my ovaries shrivel....

Oh, actually, Sleight, it must mean can't be VoNC'd by their own party (like TM last December), not by Parliament in general (I'm a bit dim tonight / in shock!). The 1922 will change rules to whatever suits them at the time, I think. So it could soon change again!

The Italian ID is 16€ (15£), lasts for 10 years, is issued and renewed in a matter of minutes (if you live in Italy, if you depend on consular service it’s 7 months!!) and as it’s recognised throughout Europe is a valid travel document even for planes and border checks.

I'm not against ID cards at all, but they are known to be much easier to counterfeit than passports.

And I think some pro-ID card Brits tend to ascribe almost magic powers to them which they don't have in practice. In France for eg you don't need to change your ID card when you move, so it's useless as a register of where people live - my DD has moved twice since hers was issued.

As for Boris, my mum - who I consider quite a good gauge of "middle England" public opinion - absolutely detests him.