Westminstenders: The Imperial March

[RedToothBrush]

There are many ways to enforce power indirectly using privilege. Jacob Rees Mogg knows every trick in the book and dresses it up as respectability rather than a subtle form or intimidation and deliberate exclusion.

It's not the stuff 'of the people'.

Meanwhile the newly crowned PM, is making rather a bug deal of how he is the man 'of the people', here to serve them and to deliver their will.

There's a big theme here about presenting as 'of the people' whilst simultaneously serving the interests of the elite and reestablishing its power over the people.

It's a theme that is set to run for some time, and is entrenched in Trumpism too.

This shift in power is particularly harmful to women it must be noted.

'Strong and stable' was 'weak and wobbly' and we should be mindful that in the era of reversed spin, what 'of the people' signifies.

We've long known about the authoritarianism at the heart of leaving thinking. It's only now that it's finally going to start stomping it's feet all over our freedoms and power.

The road back will be a long and hard one because we failed to spot the threat and the dangers of it.

It wasn't so much Ireland's neutrality which was the softest and most pro-allied example of this. Spain, Sweden Switzerland and Finland were very pro-Nazi in their neutrality.

Eire (as it then was) allowed Short Sunderlands to operate off Lough Erne overflying its territory, and painted navigation markers on it west coast to assist allied aircraft.

The problem was one man. Eamonn De Valera showed his true colours when he sent official condolences on the death of Hitler, having not done so for Roosevelt.

Dublin was bombed by the Germans in what was widely believed to be a warning to the Irish to stop helping the war effort.

*De Valera had recently agreed to allow the British to fly directly over Donegal to and from their airbase on Lough Erne, Co Fermanagh.

Moreover, in June 1941, just days after the bombing of Dublin, the Irish government made another secret concession, allowing the Royal Navy to station the Robert Hastie in Killybegs, Co Donegal, for air-sea rescue purposes.

It was an armed tugboat with a crew of 11. The crew wore Royal Navy uniforms at sea, but they donned civilian clothes in port.*

So, neutral but not entirely neutral. I think there were about 200,000 Irish in the British forces (have plucked that figure from the air, but think I read it somewhere). My mother's family had people in the British army, air force and navy.

What is going on with BJ and no deal?

Is it incredibly unlikely or is it very probable we will leave on a no deal at the end of October. I’ve not been following the news as well as normal but I’m sure I’ve heard both these positions coming out of government.
Is BJ serious about no deal, or is he playing chicken with the EU.

I think bloody Farage is just upset because he’s dipped in the polls as people have gone back to The Tories.

Dublin was bombed by the Germans in what was widely believed to be a warning to the Irish to stop helping the war effort

I thought it was a mistake, like then they bombed Freiburg, thinking it was Strasbourg.

Given that the cabinet can’t seem to agree about what’s happening and Boris changes like the wind, it’s anyone’s guess. So good to see the odious Farage throwing his toys out of his pram this morning.

Agreed, alsohuman.

Your threads move fast don't they? I see I've found my people. Unfortunately I've been thinking about the loss of information and history, and the similarities between the dying days of the corrupted Roman Republic and establishment of Empire have struck me repeatedly. I've also been having thoughts about Scotland. Or even the Orkneys. We're visiting soon hopefully too, assuming we can make it up there past the weather, so I'm first in line!

I have only got halfway down the thread and it has scared me!

In fact, this thread has made me so paranoid I went and dug out my passport just so I could physically see the ILR Residence Permit. After the EU residents, I suspect Commonwealth residents wil be next.

I think I have to stop reading these threads.

The big question is what we can do about it. Sadly looking at the Roman Empire I think the answer is not much. Memories fade quickly, and the corruption of the Republic through more recent times meant that it wasn't missed even as an ideal. This is exactly why running public services down slowly mattered.

The only hope I can see is that Empire was pushed back in Britain once. Surely that means it can be again, when the dust from the catastrophe that is to come has cleared a little. I've been meaning to read more on Victorian beginnings of the public sector, establishment of public law, and Gladstone for years. Perhaps that might be a better direction than not reading the threads QuckTheDuck. At least you know there are others who are concerned.

@QuckTheDuck have a listen to the Remainiacs podcast if you are able, or take a look at led by donkeys on twitter.
There is still hope x

I'll try that too Socks, thanks.

Did anyone catch Alistair Campbell on Today yesterday, or read his article in the New European ? ( sorry can't link.). Basically saying Corbyn unfit and that he wouldn't be re joining the party ( even if 'allowed' to) as they have made such a mess of opposition in this absolute crisis we now face. Very very impassioned stuff.

Speaking of which there is something very familiar with the new media management operation evident already at Number 10. Ministers all over the Today programme, ministerial visits, interviews, photo ops...

All that went very quiet under May and latter days of the Cameron administration didn't it. It became entirely normal for no one to be available for media comment. No defence, just weird silence.

Cummings has re-invented Labour's ruthlessly efficient media machine. I wouldn't be surprised to see the return of the regional press operation either.

My Irish mother has an Irish uncle who lost his life in the Blitz as a firefighter . For which he received a civilian bravery medal.
Just in case people start on the All Irish People Are Nazis idea.
The Queen's recent visit to Ireland included a formal state visit to the memorial for Irish men and women who fought in WWII. Which the Irish President also attended.

Government sources reporting to be saying hang the pound, we're not watering down the rhetoric. And also that the markets have not yet caught up.

This kind of suggests to me that they want the markets to help stop Brexit.

Is the £100 million going to be spent on project fear?

They're looking for anyone to blame but themselves - they can then campaign in a GE on basis of 'putting it all right'

It’s not just Alistair Campbell. We’re living in a completely new political environment now, I’m beginning to think there won’t be another majority government in my life time.

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jul/31/labour-total-wipeout-boris-johnson

Meh Campbell been briefing against the party already been expelled its a RL floucers corner post

Anything by the guardian lately well its been a constant drip drip of anti Corbynism and all it makes me think is Leveson 2 and taxing the 1% seems to have hit a nerve

The Queen's speech in Dublin Castle, 2011.

I felt so optimistic then.

And here we have a prime example of why we have an opposition unworthy of the name @JustAnotherPoster00. How bloody awful do they have to get before you wake up?

Alsohuman I read that article earlier. I completely agree with its analysis of the Boris strategy and the likely impact on Labour.

I agree with him that ditching Corbyn would make it worse.

I have no idea why his suggested solution of going full Remain or nitpicking at Boris' regional strategy would work? Risk, as I see it, is fully alienating Lexit and amplifying Boris strategy while appearing to make pie in the sky promises by doubling whatever he promises. There are not enough Left Remainers which is why LibDem is the more attractive Remain offer for at least 50% of Labour's target under his proposal.

If somebody who didnt have an axe to grind and came forth with some evidence of his apparent shitness I'd listen and dont get me wrong I'm aware of his faults but think people are being quite naive thinking any Labour leader who had Corbyn's manifesto wouldnt be equally getting a hard time by the state broadcaster and the neo liberal media

I give up. 🤦‍♀️

Ian Dunt
@IanDunt
The idea any left winger could support the EU is a constant source of bafflement for me.
1:27 PM · May 7, 2014·TweetDeck

www.politics.co.uk/comment-analysis/2011/11/07/comment-the-left-must-abandon-the-eu

This is what Ian Dunt used to write. Anyone know why he changed his mind?