Westminstenders: The Mask is Slipping

[RedToothBrush]

This week has seen the department of the Chancellor who launched a 50p piece, the serious contemplation of a tin pot bridge, the rebirth of eugenics as a subject for cabinet, the announcement of the end of the BBC as we know it, the cabinet chanting after the PM in a way Orwell would be proud of, suppression of a report into trade deals which dares to mention the effect of distance and geography, worrying signs of an ever growing rift with Europe over negotiations for a deal, an appointment which starts to make our membership of the ECHR look very dodgy and there have been rather a lot of floods which so far seemed to have escaped the attention of those in London busy in their own swamp.

It's becoming apparent very quickly just how Trump like our new government are and how they want the UK to emulate the very worst aspects of America.

We are falling fast and its not looking like it will be pretty.

All we need is a major global issue to test our national resilience and the incompetence will truly be laid bare for us all to see... But not necessarily speak of. Such us the way it works.

Brexit Britain is not a nice looking prospect.

Priti Patel does not like the claims that MI5 is withholding information.

You know, it's funny. I might have been in two minds about the claims. The moment I saw that story, I know they are true.

She really is appallingly dim isn't she ?

She will now face the dilemma if not knowing what she doesn't know. Which was a big number before she became home secretary.

Priti Pottymouth's dealings with Netanyahu prove she is a security risk. She can thcweam and thcweam all she likes, she aint getting that stuff.

V.Rare that a home sec is not a privvy councillor. Might be rumblings if Johnson tries to get her that.

V.Rare that a home sec is not a privvy councillor. Might be rumblings if Johnson tries to get her that.

This may be where the soft edges of the unwritten constitution lie ? If both PM and Home Secretary can't be trusted with high security information (possibly about each other ) then the security services must have someone to turn to. Now we know her madge is a waste of space, maybe it's selected PC members ? Ones who do have the appropriate clearance ?

Worth noting that MI5 and MI6 also have different reporting lines, so presumably are unofficially tasked with keeping an eye on each other ?

Regarding Johnsons absence ... Hitler was surprisingly shy once he took power.

I wonder if our security services, (as part of their fight on the scourge counter-terrorism ) make it their business to discreetly keep an up to date plan of "Operation Splat" - assassinating a rouge minister up to PM ? I'd really hope they do, in a way.

Fans of "Edge of Darkness," Greatest TV Drama Ever, will recall the phrase, 'He drinks at Chelsea Barracks,' the code for the state executioner.

The spooks will have great confidence in Ben Wallace, who may yet turn out to be the 'real' real PM.

Re the vanishing Johnson
Parliament was in recess last week so there were no compulsory appearance.
Labour are not going to jump up and down and make a noise as they are in transition
Libdems have basically ceased to exist
NI parties are still blinking in the daylight at Stormont
SNP are watching and waiting

its a bit of a phoney war at the moment where less is more
which suits lazy git PM perfectly

Of course an absentee Prime Minister cuts both ways. If Johnson swerves a lot of appearances then something must fill the vacuum (seems we can't escape Priti Patel right now ). Which is a chance for some lucky minister to build up a public profile very quickly and - who knows ? - maybe rival the blond one.

SOP in this case is to set ministers competing and ill defined tasks such that they happily take each other out in a bid to please the Fuhrer. Obviously ministers that are good at this need to be marked as future threats and lined up for a booby-trapped project.

Any news on HS2 yet ? Or that bridge ?

MI6 would be reporting to Raab, as Foreign Sec, so I don't know if they'd have much more confidence in him than BJ

MI6 would be reporting to Raab, as Foreign Sec, so I don't know if they'd have much more confidence in him than BJ

So "The Adventures of Priti" (complete with OJ style chase back from Israel) would be published by MI6 under (but not necessarily seen by) Raab.

Meanwhile "Raabs adventures in Euroland" would be published under MI5, but not necessarily seen by Priti.

(As a disrespectful aside, why do I remember schooldays and Pritt Stick ?)

In the US, the FBI report to the Justice Secretary, not POTUS.

Which is a chance for some lucky minister to build up a public profile very quickly and - who knows ? - maybe rival the blond one.

Well, he's seen off the Saj now...

Which is a chance for some lucky minister to build up a public profile very quickly and - who knows ? - maybe rival the blond one.

Well, he's seen off the Saj now...

Indeed. And the level of churn required to cope with the inevitable creeping paranoia that comes with power (especially ill-gotten power) eventually undermines the most determined dictator.

Johnson's office has stated they have Full Confidence in Patel. If she was a football manager that would mean sacking/forced resignation within the week.

Johnson's office has stated they have Full Confidence in Patel.

Mandy Rice Davies applies.

Wow, that's good news
When is she being sacked leaving to spend more time with her coven- family ?

It's hilarious and depressing in turn that our Home Secretary is so thick, she could be tricked into having to tell the world how she's not thick. Her civil servants must be pissing themselves laughing.

"... and the award for minister most likely to have a sign saying "KICK ME" on their back goes to ..."

So now they need a replacement HS who's thick and bent enough to work for Johnson/Cummings but not so thick and bent that no one will want to co-operate with them. Another reshuffle or are there plenty more bent thicko's in the wings?

My nagging worry is that Pottymouth would be replaced by McVile, who is at a loose end these days.

So now they need a replacement HS who's thick and bent enough to work for Johnson/Cummings but not so thick and bent that no one will want to co-operate with them.

I don't think there's any reason for Priti to go anywhere really. Plenty of examples of pisspoor ministers remaining in places for ages. If they are smart enough to let their department do the heavy lifting.

I think the problem facing Boris and chums at the moment is the fact they are having to fight their wars on many fronts. Which a casual glance at the careers of Hitler and Napoleon would have warned against. They are trying to ram Brexit through, whilst at the same time refactor the very departments that have to implement that whilst also trying to nobble the judiciary and deal with "events Dear boy".

I seriously think this government are trying to recreate the Danelaw.

Think how long Grayling stayed in govt, being moved to 12 different jobs to waste a total of 2.7 billion quid before finally stepping down.

She'll probably be moved to somewhere less dangerous / demanding

• wouldn't the Home Sec be responsible for quarantines, bringing in troops, new related laws etc ? - but still with salary, perks and a platform to spew poison

There are a large number of poisonous fuckwits on govt benches to replace her as Home Sec
Never has a major party sunk so low

Johnson will not change any posts until he knows who will be sitting on the benches opposite from April.

If COVID-19 hits significant numbers in the UK, I dread to think how big a disaster this govt could turn that crisis into.

• dealing with that and Brexit / new trade deals with the world simultaneously would overtax the most brilliant & organised govt anywhere, never mind the worst UK govt in modern history

I think the problem facing Boris and chums at the moment is the fact they are having to fight their wars on many fronts

Definitely too much to cope with for someone of Johnson's limited capabilites/lazy disposition and Cumming's antagonistic personality. They've started a lot of wars/fires that have serious repercussions for getting the other stuff 'done'. Did they expect the CS and judiciary to just sit still and wait to be decapitated?

On Patel though - of course there's the Grayling example of pertinacious piss poor performance but at least the rest of his dept seemed comfy with him. Within a few weeks Patel is already so loathed and conducting her hate campaign in public, doesn't seem sustainable. Good for a few days of news distraction maybe.

If COVID-19 hits significant numbers in the UK

It won't

I dread to think how big a disaster this govt could turn that crisis into.

I don't think any government has needed an excuse to manufacture disaster. It's almost an essential part of the role.

It is genuninely rare to have a minister who is actively loathed by the civil servants. John Patten springs to mind.

He made an expensive mistake when he falsely accused the NUT of being affiliated to the Labour Party, an easily checkable fact even in the days before Google. NUT sued and won a tidy sum.

On Patel though - of course there's the Grayling example of pertinacious piss poor performance but at least the rest of his dept seemed comfy with him. Within a few weeks Patel is already so loathed and conducting her hate campaign in public, doesn't seem sustainable. Good for a few days of news distraction maybe.

She's already been left hung out to dry once (you really think a minister who had their departments respect would have been allowed to blather on about "counter terrorism" to the howls of derision from the world ?). We know the Home Office is a brutal place - to all. I'm of an age to recall when they abandoned Jacqui Smith to her own brain cell. C'était magnifique. Mais ce n'était pas juste

I do think that the UK's current foul weather is actually protecting us all from Covid.
Most of the country are self isolating in the warm and dry as far as possible
and nobody can afford to go out for buffet suppers either