Westminstenders: Christmas Cold, Campaigning, Canvassing and Cancelled Carols

[RedToothBrush]

It looks like a December General Election is on.

The EU have officially extended A50 until 31st January. We have to name an EU Commissioner though.

All that seems left to do is decide between the 9th and 12th December.

The difference between the two is about whether there is any possibility that the WAB can be passed before Parliament dissolves.

A pre-brexit GE is thought to favour the LDs at the expense of Labour and the Conservatives. What the Brexit Party decide to do and where they decide to stand will also be crucial.

Rutland and Melton is Alan Duncan's seat. He's stepping down so it is free but ... he's been there 27 years and, for a tory, is a reasonably sane and principled one.

Just because Alan Duncan has had a big majority there for basically the past three decades, it doesn't necessarily follow that a new tory would do as well.

And nothing says 'taking your vote for granted' like a PM running from his small majority and parachuting himself into your constituency, where he has no links or local knowledge. (it's in Leicester - wtf does Boris know about Leicester?)

This is my new wish:
Boris runs for the hills of Rutland believing it a safe seat. The people of Rutland think 'nuhuh' and don't elect him - Portillo moment times 1000 - meanwhile back in Uxbridge, Boris' fleeing means the students go home to vote and the patsy tory mp standing there squeaks in.

All I want for Christmaaaas...

Oh, is the Fatberg off to take up residence in a new sewer?

That tells you that the Tories think Uxbridge is seriously at risk. Running away is a terrible look, but it's not as bad as getting your Fatberg melted by the opposition.

Genius video but...omg EYE BLEACH WARNING!

Trouble is Rutland is one of those donkey in a blue rosette kind of places.

That's going to look terrible if it's true.

Alan Duncan wasn’t the first openly gay MP ?

Which sounds ridiculous as I’m even typing it.

Yeah sorry - WARNING - that video may contain three short clips of BoJo in a bikini- type getup

My poor eyes !!!

To be clear ridiculous you can’t live your life as you want.

.

Fucking hell. What Ireland has to put up with.

McDonald’s apologizes for ‘Sundae Bloody Sundae’ advert
Fast-food chain says dessert ad was not meant to be offensive.

www.politico.eu/article/mcdonalds-apologizes-for-sundae-bloody-sundae-advert/

If that about Johnson going to Rutland is from a No.10 source, it won't be true! It'll be another jolly, lying jape from Cummings before he fucks off. Any news on him fucking off yet?

Heard on the R2 news that hundreds of thousands (three?) had registered to vote in the last 3 days and the majority were under 34 

That should be worrying for the Conservatives if that rate of voter registration keeps up 

@tava63 - not sure what/how you can do to help. Maybe contact the SNP (if you're ok helping them not assuming that you are ) and I'm sure they'd be able to advise. You don't need to join to help with canvassing - or doing phone canvassing (which can be as simple as asking if they're going to vote and if they're prepared to say for whom - and whether they're going to need help to get to the polling station. And/or ringing around on the day to see if they've been out to vote yet). Alternatively, contact HE colleges/Unis in the areas and ask if they want anyone to help with getting students to register.

The first openly gay tory mp, wasn't he? Chris Smith might have been the first one from all parties iirc?

Running off to Rutland smacks of all that is wrong with politics.

Career politicians with no connection to a constituency and don't give a shit about those they are supposed to represent.

Remember how Johnson was going to stop the diggers?

The thing is that whilst Rutland might be blue donkey country, that type of behaviour won't go down in other places for whom localism and community is a big deal. (hello 'the north')

And that is part of what this election is being fought on in terms of cultural identity and culture wars.

'Lead balloon' is the phrase I think I'm reaching for.

Rutland is most certainly not in Leicester, nor even Leicstershire. It is in Rutland. Melton is in Liecs. The people of Rutland are very independent minded and a half-decent Lib will give BJ the fright of his life at the very least.

^Was Alan Duncan the first openly gay MP?"

No. The first out-gay MP was Steven Twigg in 1992. Before that, there were certainly Tory MPs who it was pretty obvious to one and all were queer, Norman St John Stevas and Bob Boothby to name but two, but in those days people looked the other way and pretended not to see.

Alan Duncan was the first post- Section 28 Tory MP to come out, although Matthew Parris had been an MP for longer.

I still can't get over the sheer stupidity of the opposition. It's going to be carnage...

That’s it post section 28.

According to wiki the first openly gay Male British MP was indeed Chris Smith, coming out in 1984. Sadly, he is also the first to acknowledge he is hiv positive, which he did in 2005.

Lobby Journalist Andrew Roth outed St John Stevas in the 80s, but was met with a stony silence.

That should go down well in Melton Mowbray, after Johnson upset them earlier in the year lying (again!) about the export of pork pies to Thailand.

Has BJ considered the fun I'm some people are going to have if he's standing as the member for Porkie Pies?

I have got the data sheets for the poll mentioned by pp.

Plus the Survation one that pp ‘missed’

Do I still need to do this ???

Don’t we all know they are a bit ‘misleading’ ??

Shouldn’t be an issue Mockers.

Rob Powell@robpowellnews

Boris Johnson says the govt has got an "oven ready deal" which they will "put in the microwave".

Surely, the oven ready deal should go in the oven?