I admit that the bastards now in power down here in the arsehole of England could make life difficult for Scotland, but at least Ms Sturgeon has a neat haircut, and always dresses very smartly. And talks sense.
I've actually found, online, a very nice house for sale - easily accessible to Disabled Me - not far from Thurso.
I really am tempted. The price is very reasonable, the decoration is to my taste, and there is off-street parking for the Episcopal Chariot.
I'm not being entirely facetious. My late Mother's family hailed from Scotland, before migrating to Ireland, and Ma herself spent the last 17 years of her life, quite happily, in Dumfriesshire.
My late Father's family, OTOH, was Norman, coming over with William I, so there are French connections as well. IOW, I'm not a bloody Englishman at all!
Dear UK peeps, I am so sorry. Allow me to extend condolences along with a -- can we call this a welcome? -- to the Club of Countries with Cuckoo Cult Clan Chiefs. I had so hoped for some different result, while admittedly not seeing much or knowing what to actually hope for.
If nothing else this election shows that remain / leave is not about party lines, and that the election was about Brexit.
Do you think the leave vote is primarily motivated by racism and xenophobia ?
Yes. That's basically my take from Canada. Have a right wing gov't privatize everything, reduce public services, blame immigrants for reduced quality of life, promise a wonderful future of prosperity. Based on what exactly?
Not entirely. No one really made a strong case for the benefits of being part of the EU in any of the campaigns in a way that cut through. All that leavers ever heard is that they were thick, stupid and racist. With the best will in the world, that's not going to help get people onside. Or even to a place where they're up for reconsidering.
There is, I think, a feeling that the inevitable has happened.
So, what to do now?
We can rail against the Mad Mophead until the cows come home, but the fact remains that the Grinning Gargoyle Who Needs A Decent Barber (preferably Sweeny Todd) is here to stay.
Is there anything that might be done/happen, in the next few ghastly years or so, that could consign him to the Circle of Hell to which he rightly belongs?
Is there anything that might be done/happen, in the next few ghastly years or so, that could consign him to the Circle of Hell to which he rightly belongs?
Not that I can tell at this point. He has a large majority, so no opposition in Parliament. We will be out of the EU at the end of January, so no restraining influence from them. His manifesto pledges include limiting the courts' ability to restrain him as the Supreme Court did in September, so he will be able to govern arbitrarily. He also pledged to abolish the FTPA, so he alone gets to decide the date of the next election. And to redraw constituency boundaries to make it even harder to beat him in the next election if and when he does call it.
tl;dr He's already demonstrated that he will do whatever he can get away with; he can now get away with anything, including changing the law and constitution to say he can get away with anything.
If anyone has any concrete evidence that I'm wrong in any detail of this, I would love to hear it.
Is there anything that might be done/happen, in the next few ghastly years or so, that could consign him to the Circle of Hell to which he rightly belongs?
Not that I can tell at this point. He has a large majority, so no opposition in Parliament. We will be out of the EU at the end of January, so no restraining influence from them. His manifesto pledges include limiting the courts' ability to restrain him as the Supreme Court did in September, so he will be able to govern arbitrarily. He also pledged to abolish the FTPA, so he alone gets to decide the date of the next election. And to redraw constituency boundaries to make it even harder to beat him in the next election if and when he does call it.
tl;dr He's already demonstrated that he will do whatever he can get away with; he can now get away with anything, including changing the law and constitution to say he can get away with anything.
If anyone has any concrete evidence that I'm wrong in any detail of this, I would love to hear it.
You forgot voter suppression, so he'll be able to decide who gets to vote too.
Sterling is soaring and the share markets are going up.
I'd be fascinated to know what the traders and stockbrokers know that I don't.
Utility firms - they won't be nationalised
Housebuilders (Wimpy etc) - they won't be undercut or forced to compete with mass building projects promised under labour
Internet/telecoms - see utility firms
Banks - Borris has a big enough majority not to be held hostage by the ERG. He can either use the deal that the EU are "happy enough" with in Jan or try and leverage it into a longer withdrawal period. Either way Brexit is less likely to be quite so "messy", unpredictable and disorderly as feared.
Dear UK peeps, I am so sorry. Allow me to extend condolences along with a -- can we call this a welcome? -- to the Club of Countries with Cuckoo Cult Clan Chiefs. I had so hoped for some different result, while admittedly not seeing much or knowing what to actually hope for.
(Oh, that's good, @Ohher.) May I add my condolences as well?
I was so hoping that The Man Without a Hairbrush would at least lose his seat...
Just discovered that neither of my stepchildren (48 and 44) bothered to vote.
Having debated politics with you on here before now I’m not surprised - who did you vote for ( as if I couldn’t guess) ?
I see the election result hasn't blunted your innate charm.
The stepchildren (I had no part in their upbringing) don't read a newspaper, won't watch news or anything remotely to do with current affairs on the TV. I know for a fact that, as of last Sunday, the elder of the two had no idea of the name of the leaders of any of the parties other than Mr Johnson; the younger has never voted because "It doesn't really interest me, politics has nothing to do with me or my work or my family.".
None of your business who I voted for - but it didn't wear a blue rosette.
In my very safe Labour constituency, we returned our MP with a small reduction in his majority. In the next door marginal constituency, the sitting Labour MP bucked the trend by being re-elected with an increased majority.
I don't think I understood a single word of that. Perhaps someone will interpret for me?
Don't go any further on that site if you value your sanity.
I noted the PM’s inspired selection of the 12th day of the 12th month, and which is also the 12th day of Advent, for this overdue political event. (...) “The No 12 signifies perfection re: 12 Disciples,12 Tribes of Israel, 144,000 made up of 12×12 in scripture. But for us as a Nation God is Releasing a PERFECT FOUNDATIONAL GOVERNMENT!
Gay superpowers are generally under-utilised, you’d think there’d be more gay supervillains blackmailing the UN with the threat of a dirty weekend - 10 million euro by Friday to a numbered Swiss bank account or I fuck Derek and flood Heidelberg.
Gay superpowers are generally under-utilised, you’d think there’d be more gay supervillains blackmailing the UN with the threat of a dirty weekend - 10 million euro by Friday to a numbered Swiss bank account or I fuck Derek and flood Heidelberg.
I was thinking more of gay superheroes relieving droughts or quenching bushfires with vigorous frotting while cheering crowds looked on.
Sober isn't an adjective that would be described to many people right now. Faced with the horrors of five years of destruction of the nation, getting arse-faced is a perfectly reasonable response. Though, that does have hazards of posting something incoherent or on the wrong thread.
This was the last vote there will be on brexit. It will not be an issue in 2024. If Johnson does not pull his finger out on domestic issues, he will lose all his working class seats in the midlands and the north. However, Labour will still need a moderate leader with sensible policies.
Soooo I finally checked my own constituency. Voted tactically for Labour and won, with over half as much again over the Tory runner-up.
That's not all. I checked my tactical vote swap partner's constituency. They voted Lib Dem for me there. And won against the Tory by nearly double.
Fat lot of good it did either of us. People shouldn't have to be data scientists to figure out how to vote FFS. All the opposition parties mimsily protecting their fussy little differences, and this is the outcome.
However, Labour will still need a moderate leader with sensible policies.
As far as I was concerned, we'd hit the sweet spot. A democratic socialist whose spending plans would put us at a European average.
But apparently, the right-wing press now have to pick the Labour party leader, so that was that.
I was always struck by the fact that although Corbyn and McDonnell had been in Parliament for many many years, no Labour leader ever trusted them enough to give them any sort of job. This was nothing to do with the right wing press.
However, Labour will still need a moderate leader with sensible policies.
As far as I was concerned, we'd hit the sweet spot. A democratic socialist whose spending plans would put us at a European average.
But apparently, the right-wing press now have to pick the Labour party leader, so that was that.
I was always struck by the fact that although Corbyn and McDonnell had been in Parliament for many many years, no Labour leader ever trusted them enough to give them any sort of job. This was nothing to do with the right wing press.
Really? You're surprised that Kinnock and Blair didn't want anyone left wing in their shadow cabinets? Also, what makes you think either were looking to take the ministerial career path? Besides, the chances that either would be able to go 6 months before resigning in disgust over some awful crap the leadership were doing is minimal and the leaders knew that.
There is a good argument that the UK deserves judgement. Actually - understanding this properly - I would tend to agree. The problem is, the current "judgement" will reward precisely those it shouldn't and punish those who have already been harmed.
So, I have seen comments about "the majority voted for a second referendum". I have seen posts that the number of votes per seat shows the unfairness of the voting system. I have seen comments that Johnson now needs to fulfil his promises. There will be claims that the election was unfair or even illegal.
It is all irrelevant. Johnson has power - which is all he ever needed. He has shown that scrutiny is not part of his plan. He will fix the system to keep the Tories in power. That was obvious before the election.
On day 1 there have been comments saying that we need to move to a Health Insurance system. Welcome to the new world.
My post election fb feed goes like this:
SNP voters: Hahahaha! We’re off! Also, do move to Scotland.
Tory voters: Some twee cartoon of piglet & pooh holding hands and a plea that we can still be friends.
Labour voters: Oh shit. Anyway, here’s how to support your local food bank.
This was the last vote there will be on brexit. It will not be an issue in 2024. If Johnson does not pull his finger out on domestic issues, he will lose all his working class seats in the midlands and the north. However, Labour will still need a moderate leader with sensible policies.
This was the last vote there will be on brexit. It will not be an issue in 2024.
On that you are wrong. In 2015 Parliament voted for at least 20 years of having EU membership dominate our political debate, 2024 won't even be half way through that.
Brexit won't be done in a mere 5 years. We might have a deal, but there'll be people saying it was the wrong deal. More likely, Johnson gets his dream of no deal, and there will be people saying he should have fought for a deal. Either way, the illusion of the Leave campaign will be become obviously illusionary; while the UK continues to negotiate trade deals with all our major trade partners our industry and business struggles under the burden of tariffs, people have their blue passports but struggle to travel abroad with the costs and bureaucracy involved, etc.
Some will be on our doorsteps claiming the problem is that the government failed to get the right Brexit. Others, that we just need 5 more years to get Brexit done (but, they won't tell you that they'll need 5 more years beyond that). Others that Brexit was a great mistake and we need to go back and rejoin the EU. And, that will be the same in 2029, 2034 ...
However, Labour will still need a moderate leader with sensible policies.
As far as I was concerned, we'd hit the sweet spot. A democratic socialist whose spending plans would put us at a European average.
But apparently, the right-wing press now have to pick the Labour party leader, so that was that.
I was always struck by the fact that although Corbyn and McDonnell had been in Parliament for many many years, no Labour leader ever trusted them enough to give them any sort of job. This was nothing to do with the right wing press.
Really? You're surprised that Kinnock and Blair didn't want anyone left wing in their shadow cabinets? Also, what makes you think either were looking to take the ministerial career path? Besides, the chances that either would be able to go 6 months before resigning in disgust over some awful crap the leadership were doing is minimal and the leaders knew that.
IIRC, while Kinnock had no electoral success, Blair won 3 elections, the first very convincingly. That must count for something. The analogy here was Labor's failure under Evatt and then Calwell, but eventual success under Whitlam. Another model was Hawke's success, and later that of Rudd. The lesson seems that it is moderate Labor leaders who win.
My goodness. This is going to be a huge amount of fun if the racist and bigoted Christian community swings behind Johnson as a harbringer of the Second Coming.
I hate Christianity sometimes. At best it is a beautiful idea. At worst it is Nazi-supporting bullshit.
Really? You're surprised that Kinnock and Blair didn't want anyone left wing in their shadow cabinets? Also, what makes you think either were looking to take the ministerial career path? Besides, the chances that either would be able to go 6 months before resigning in disgust over some awful crap the leadership were doing is minimal and the leaders knew that.
Maybe not "Shaddow" but you wouldn't call Prescott left wing?
Or Chris Mullin?
Claire Short?
Surely Michael Meacher can be described as "left wing"?
John Reid, Alan Milburn, Kim Howells all cut their teeth as in Communist/International Socialist parties didn't they?
Many, like Jack Straw, started out on the left and went to the right. Prescott was willing to shut up and soldier for New Labour in a way that Corbyn and McDonnell never were. Notice also that Prescott was never given responsibility for anything substantial, and Meacher was confined to Environment. They were fig leaves to appease the left of the party.
My post election fb feed goes like this:
SNP voters: Hahahaha! We’re off! Also, do move to Scotland.
Tory voters: Some twee cartoon of piglet & pooh holding hands and a plea that we can still be friends.
Labour voters: Oh shit. Anyway, here’s how to support your local food bank.
Comments
I admit that the bastards now in power down here in the arsehole of England could make life difficult for Scotland, but at least Ms Sturgeon has a neat haircut, and always dresses very smartly. And talks sense.
I've actually found, online, a very nice house for sale - easily accessible to Disabled Me - not far from Thurso.
I really am tempted. The price is very reasonable, the decoration is to my taste, and there is off-street parking for the Episcopal Chariot.
I'm not being entirely facetious. My late Mother's family hailed from Scotland, before migrating to Ireland, and Ma herself spent the last 17 years of her life, quite happily, in Dumfriesshire.
My late Father's family, OTOH, was Norman, coming over with William I, so there are French connections as well. IOW, I'm not a bloody Englishman at all!
Much appreciated, @Ohher 🙂!
Not entirely. No one really made a strong case for the benefits of being part of the EU in any of the campaigns in a way that cut through. All that leavers ever heard is that they were thick, stupid and racist. With the best will in the world, that's not going to help get people onside. Or even to a place where they're up for reconsidering.
So, what to do now?
We can rail against the Mad Mophead until the cows come home, but the fact remains that the Grinning Gargoyle Who Needs A Decent Barber (preferably Sweeny Todd) is here to stay.
Is there anything that might be done/happen, in the next few ghastly years or so, that could consign him to the Circle of Hell to which he rightly belongs?
https://youtu.be/X_G-FBSf1UI
Having debated politics with you on here before now I’m not surprised - who did you vote for ( as if I couldn’t guess) ?
Not that I can tell at this point. He has a large majority, so no opposition in Parliament. We will be out of the EU at the end of January, so no restraining influence from them. His manifesto pledges include limiting the courts' ability to restrain him as the Supreme Court did in September, so he will be able to govern arbitrarily. He also pledged to abolish the FTPA, so he alone gets to decide the date of the next election. And to redraw constituency boundaries to make it even harder to beat him in the next election if and when he does call it.
tl;dr He's already demonstrated that he will do whatever he can get away with; he can now get away with anything, including changing the law and constitution to say he can get away with anything.
If anyone has any concrete evidence that I'm wrong in any detail of this, I would love to hear it.
You forgot voter suppression, so he'll be able to decide who gets to vote too.
I'd be fascinated to know what the traders and stockbrokers know that I don't.
Thank you! That made me laugh out loud! Humour is required at a moment such as this.
And I mean this most passionately....
FUCK.
Utility firms - they won't be nationalised
Housebuilders (Wimpy etc) - they won't be undercut or forced to compete with mass building projects promised under labour
Internet/telecoms - see utility firms
Banks - Borris has a big enough majority not to be held hostage by the ERG. He can either use the deal that the EU are "happy enough" with in Jan or try and leverage it into a longer withdrawal period. Either way Brexit is less likely to be quite so "messy", unpredictable and disorderly as feared.
I'd say the biggest thing is clarity.
I was so hoping that The Man Without a Hairbrush would at least lose his seat...
The stepchildren (I had no part in their upbringing) don't read a newspaper, won't watch news or anything remotely to do with current affairs on the TV. I know for a fact that, as of last Sunday, the elder of the two had no idea of the name of the leaders of any of the parties other than Mr Johnson; the younger has never voted because "It doesn't really interest me, politics has nothing to do with me or my work or my family.".
None of your business who I voted for - but it didn't wear a blue rosette.
Don't go any further on that site if you value your sanity.
FWIW I have several people in my timeline who periodically post things like that.
I look forward to their rapid re-calibration when the predicted revival doesn't happen.
I was thinking more of gay superheroes relieving droughts or quenching bushfires with vigorous frotting while cheering crowds looked on.
Me too. It was clear that people voted against the party and not her
That's not all. I checked my tactical vote swap partner's constituency. They voted Lib Dem for me there. And won against the Tory by nearly double.
Fat lot of good it did either of us. People shouldn't have to be data scientists to figure out how to vote FFS. All the opposition parties mimsily protecting their fussy little differences, and this is the outcome.
But apparently, the right-wing press now have to pick the Labour party leader, so that was that.
I was always struck by the fact that although Corbyn and McDonnell had been in Parliament for many many years, no Labour leader ever trusted them enough to give them any sort of job. This was nothing to do with the right wing press.
Talk about a roll of multi-flavoured Fruit Loops! This man takes the prize.
I have had my suspicions about the aura of dark magic surrounding Bojo the Clown for a while now. I am not surprised to learn he has been anointed.
Really? You're surprised that Kinnock and Blair didn't want anyone left wing in their shadow cabinets? Also, what makes you think either were looking to take the ministerial career path? Besides, the chances that either would be able to go 6 months before resigning in disgust over some awful crap the leadership were doing is minimal and the leaders knew that.
So, I have seen comments about "the majority voted for a second referendum". I have seen posts that the number of votes per seat shows the unfairness of the voting system. I have seen comments that Johnson now needs to fulfil his promises. There will be claims that the election was unfair or even illegal.
It is all irrelevant. Johnson has power - which is all he ever needed. He has shown that scrutiny is not part of his plan. He will fix the system to keep the Tories in power. That was obvious before the election.
On day 1 there have been comments saying that we need to move to a Health Insurance system. Welcome to the new world.
You heard it here first.
SNP voters: Hahahaha! We’re off! Also, do move to Scotland.
Tory voters: Some twee cartoon of piglet & pooh holding hands and a plea that we can still be friends.
Labour voters: Oh shit. Anyway, here’s how to support your local food bank.
Yeah, because Labour voters abandoned the party for the centre.
Brexit won't be done in a mere 5 years. We might have a deal, but there'll be people saying it was the wrong deal. More likely, Johnson gets his dream of no deal, and there will be people saying he should have fought for a deal. Either way, the illusion of the Leave campaign will be become obviously illusionary; while the UK continues to negotiate trade deals with all our major trade partners our industry and business struggles under the burden of tariffs, people have their blue passports but struggle to travel abroad with the costs and bureaucracy involved, etc.
Some will be on our doorsteps claiming the problem is that the government failed to get the right Brexit. Others, that we just need 5 more years to get Brexit done (but, they won't tell you that they'll need 5 more years beyond that). Others that Brexit was a great mistake and we need to go back and rejoin the EU. And, that will be the same in 2029, 2034 ...
IIRC, while Kinnock had no electoral success, Blair won 3 elections, the first very convincingly. That must count for something. The analogy here was Labor's failure under Evatt and then Calwell, but eventual success under Whitlam. Another model was Hawke's success, and later that of Rudd. The lesson seems that it is moderate Labor leaders who win.
I hate Christianity sometimes. At best it is a beautiful idea. At worst it is Nazi-supporting bullshit.
Maybe not "Shaddow" but you wouldn't call Prescott left wing?
Or Chris Mullin?
Claire Short?
Surely Michael Meacher can be described as "left wing"?
John Reid, Alan Milburn, Kim Howells all cut their teeth as in Communist/International Socialist parties didn't they?
Yup