Aaaand – they’re off. Again. Not the ‘candidates for PM’ but the columnists in the Westminster MSM. Some have discovered their heart for Sunak – for the good of the Tories, you understand. Others plump for the ‘Big Dog’. This morning’s print front pages are full of ‘BJ is coming back’ (link). The Sun graces the top spot in that compilation. It’s the best advert Starmer or indeed Sunak could have bought: Johnson looks so dissolute on that page that any normal person would try to keep him as far away from government as possible.
Meanwhile, the ‘candidates’ are garnering the support they need from their colleagues. Depending on the time of publication, Sunak has either 81 votes (FT, link, paywalled), 97 (DT, paywalled link) or 98 (The Times, link paywalled). Well, that shouldn’t be a surprise, given that Sunak was the MP’s preferred candidate this summer.
And so to the ‘helpful’ advice the various Westminster editors feel entitled to give to the Tory MPs. There are some who believe that a Sunak-BJ combo would be the best thing for this country. The DM writes that “Senior Tories are trying to broker a face-to-face meeting between Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak in a bid to end the bloodletting engulfing the party” (link).
Strange – I thought that bloodletting is precisely what our MSM are most interested in, not the deep mistrust for BJ and desperation at the patent failure of La Truss. But don’t get up your hopes that this ‘deal’ might mean some Tory Big Beasts would try to persuade BJ to stand down in order to ‘heal the Party’ – oh no!
I note that all of this is only speculation, based on what some unnamed Tory ‘senior source’ has told the DM. Publishing this sort of thing is clearly meant to influence those MPs who still haven’t declared. After all, it’s important to ‘get on board’ because there will be posts to be had! The Times informs us that BJ is playing this game even though he’s still only coming back from his holidays, writing that BJ:
“[…] is prepared to offer a cabinet comeback to Rishi Sunak and Michael Gove if he wins the Tory leadership next week in an attempt to unite the party for a second term in office. Allies of the former prime minister said he was keen to reach out to Sunak, whose resignation led to his ousting from Downing Street, and potentially offer him the job of foreign secretary. He is also understood to want to make peace with Michael Gove, whom he sacked in his final hours in power, and bring him back into the cabinet.” (link, paywalled)
Apologies if reading this made you feel a bit nauseous. I myself felt slightly sick. Still, the DM is happily stirring the pot, documenting that it’s just a game for them and that they’d throw their weight behind a Starmer government when the time comes while insinuating that both Ms Braverman and Ms Badenoch are allegedly ‘moving back to Johnson’ (link). Amazing, isn’t it, how many ‘sources’ there are, leaking like sieves.
But don’t worry! Serious Westminster opinion makers know that in fact “we” must do as ‘Teh Markets’ demand – and they ‘trust Sunak’, as Andrew Neill in the DM writes:
“The Tories have a simple question to answer in the next few days: are they still a serious, grown-up party of government? Given its reckless, chaotic, cack-handed handling of the nation’s finances in recent weeks, it is by no means certain that it is. The only hope it has of convincing public opinion, at home and abroad, is by choosing Rishi Sunak as its next leader and hence our next prime minister. Any other choice would only confirm what many — from British voters to international investors — already suspect: the Tories are no longer fit to govern.” (link)
It escapes me why “we” must ‘convince public opinion abroad’. Moreover, does this mean ‘Teh Markets’ will be fine with an ‘adult’ Labour government? How interesting! Doesn’t this mean, in consequence, that said markets have recognised what we ignorant peasants have been saying all along, namely that LabCon are two cheeks of the same arse? In The Times, William Hague warns that selecting BJ yet again would leave the Tory Party in a death spiral (link, paywalled). I thought they were already at rock bottom, but what do I know …
Meanwhile, Ms ‘P4P’ is still trying to garner support. She’s clearly not going to get any nice post in a Sunak government, nor in a BJ one. At least ‘P4P’ has promised to keep Hunt as Chancellor. Moreover, ‘research has found’ that, if the general public were to vote, they’d chose either Sunak or Mordaunt (paywalled link). Oh dear – is the ‘Big Dog’ no longer ‘popular’? Then there’s a certain Ms Tominey, weighing in with a lovely scare headline for her column in the DT:
“Prepare for a revolt on the Conservative Right – On almost every issue, from immigration to free speech, the Right has been utterly neglected by the arrogant Tory mainstream” (paywalled link)
So she’s finally noticed that! It’s not as if she’s been defending said ‘conservative right’. And wasn’t she one of those most vituperative in the campaign to get rid of Cummings? Another columnist for the DT advocates for Sunak to support BJ because he could then become PM afterwards, being ‘only 42 years old now’ (paywalled link). Cloud-cuckoo land pure, innit!
‘Tis cloud-cuckoo land all the way down for BJ and his supporters. I’ve mentioned the Privileges committee yesterday already. Yesterday evening the DT reported:
“Boris Johnson will face Commons scrutiny on partygate up to three times a week from next month as the Privileges Committee investigating him picks up the pace of its inquiry. The seven-strong committee of MPs will begin to hear oral evidence from witnesses in their attempt to decide whether Mr Johnson misled Parliament. It could ultimately recommend that he is suspended from the House of Commons, which in turn could trigger a recall petition and by-election in his constituency of Uxbridge and South Ruislip.” (paywalled link)
This was happily picked up by The Times which went one better in their report this morning, headlined “No 10 staff ready to give party testimonies ‘against Boris Johnson’” (link, paywalled). Scrolling down a bit we read:
“The committee is likely to hold public sessions three times a week. Johnson will be called to give evidence, as well as being given the opportunity to respond to the testimony of other witnesses. One well-placed source said: “November will see maybe 40 hours of oral evidence. Partygate will be front and centre again.” (link, paywalled)
How utterly divorced from reality must all those Tory MPs be who are still supporting BJ! Is someone like JRM unaware that, no matter the outcome of those hearings, this means that a PM – if BJ ‘gets the vote’ – would have to spend hours testifying and preparing to testify instead of governing this country through the dire situation we’re in? Do the likes of JRM think that it won’t matter because all those nice mandarins will run the country for him anyway? Never mind though – yon Pres of the Ukraine is supporting BJ. He knows which side his bread is buttered, and it’s not ours, the paying plebs.
Our fantastic Westminster MSM have prepared us nicely for a weekend of more bloodsport watching, devised by their columnists and commentators and fuelled by ‘senior sources’. Funny how these sources are always ‘senior’. Well, it fills their pages. I wonder if this is a mild variation of fear porn because surely we’ll be told next that we need to be afraid of whoever wins this backstabbing and horse-trading competition.
Have a lovely weekend anyway!
Whoever the Cons elect we may be sure the Climate Change Scam will continue but at least more comment against it is appearing:
https://clintel.org/there-is-no-climate-emergency-a-message-to-the-people/
Hopefully more will awaken to the government lies on this and other matters of which we are all aware…
If UKIP had been real. All this could not have happened. I suppose it could and should change. But given the leadership and courtier make up Why bother, the tory party is doing it better.
Given todays position, another badly set up, and in the long term , also doomed, party ‘ the Reform Party’, another personal aggrandisement party, will probably ‘ if Nigel behaves,’,upset the apple cart 2024.
When will aspiring baby politicians realise that FPTP may look good to them but are ridiculous and over complicated in the eyes of all the rest..We are familiar and indulgent , but please, let’s get on with the game. Tice used that as a distraction in an interview last night . He forced the interviewer to ask a different question.
However beggars can’t be choosers, If anything happens quickly, we may not have till 24. And I would insist on an ironclad guarantees against weaseling out, as with 2019, This time proper Brexit. No snide little Civil servant or MP agreements, No tiny bad deals, No agreements beteen institutions. ( Leave that to proper policemen not conspiring and invisible regulators.::– American ideas are rarely good. )
Again. “Markets are gambling as a last resort for a result that the players accept in order to get on with it “. Which is why VAR is just silly and annoyed for everyone except Americans. And If you annoy them with obvious extraneous stuff. it just gets worse.
I apologise for what seem to be misconnected ramblings. But they’re not disconnected and often just appear that way because we have been schooled to only accept perfection. Like the law, Policing, Food, Timetables, even Individuals. Like reasoning. Anti-biotics were discovered by something not being perfect. I believe expierenced Nurses or old wise grannies or old wise women. And so it goes down history. Perfection often looks like perfection, but not always is it. I am not getting this right, but, often the target looks perfect but ain’t. Ask a Magician. Sometimes you’re looking at the wrong thing. Politics, Public figures, Judges (or Majistrates), are seriously wrong . Often.( In my experience ( 6 X ). Once the witnesses ran away. Once,The day after the law changed at the end of the war, riding a bike without lights. Twice, Judges Ignorance . Once, late presentation of government demand. Once. Cruise control ran into one of our employees car and the judge blamed her) . So. I am perhaps a little disillusioned. That’s enough.
TG Spokes…….. Not disconnected or misconnected ramblings, are you sure about that? You seem to have a bee in your bonnet about UKIP for some reason, a party that has no MP’s, has never been a party of government, and has no influence whatsoever. Depending upon which day of the week it is, it is either about the NEC, its committees, or its leader or lack of one whatever the case may be. I don’t know what point you are making about UKIP in general, but of course the Conservatives are doing better as they have 357 MP’s more than UKIP. However, the situation could have been a whole lot different had Nigel Farage remained at the helm, the party had exercised more control of the numpties who said silly things over the years, and the extremist element had been kept well away from the party, the party had actually nurtured the likes of Douglas Carswell and Mark Reckless with the aim of enticing a few more defectors from other parties into its fold. However, the Conservatives employed people to dig the dirt on UKIP which worked because some people within the party provided the ammunition for them, and finally the mainstream media and TV and Radio Presenters were always looking at angles to discredit the party and labelling it racist, which it wasn’t anything of the sort.
Colin. I wrote all bout this some years ago. .But ,I blame the NEC for its actions and poor advice and non acceptance of responsibility or /and refusal to change, I blame most past leaders for actuallu saying what they y’re told to say,, and saying it. instead of thinking. Lack of foresight and recognition of factors…..
Seriously , I am desperate for a proper UKIP . Or any other Right party. So are you . so is almost everybody.. .So is the whole country.. What is holding them back. There is only one thing . UKIP as the obvious protest party is offering nothind. Nil..
I’ve seen this time and again, many times. The incumbent will not let go. He prefers the last gasp. You rescue his company, build up cash and hand it back and he buys a Lamborginy… And thinks I’ll go back again., He thinks I did it for him.. They do not think. UKIP is no different. They probably believe that their brilliance will be recognised
I agree with everything you say. Colin. And while i get he chance, correct my second para…FPTP is the only democratic way. All other schemes are pure self interest of the second rate
The Reform UK Party does not convince me in the least that they seek to put the knife into the heart of the Tory Party and replace it. Brexit Party Mk2 I fear, marching the troops up the hill and marching them down again just when they are in a position to do real damage to the Tory Party. UKIP have offered to talk to both Heritage Party and Reform UK but no joy so far. Still, David Kurten has my full trust, as does UKIP but Tice Is a dark horse IMHO.
Tice isn’t a dark horse he just doesn’t listen and thinks he is the all important one. He doesn’t have what it takes to be a party leader especially one that has ambitions to go to the very top. Sooner or later, he will be deposed and replaced by somebody who is more able.
https://www.therealanthonyfaucimovie.com/trailer
There is still a few days to watch this for free. Only email required as the phone link is for the U.S.only. If you have not had time to read the book it’s a real eye opener. Nearly two hours but it goes quickly.
So the choice is a wandering Oligark looking for something to do, or a bumbling twit (CH™) looking for another lover.
The two, would be described in many companies as ‘seagulls’. Each for different reasons.
If you are not familiar, this is Oxford Dict defn:-
They fly in; cause mayhem; grab / scoff anything they like the look of; pooh everywhere and fly away again. Prime example, Carney with more passports than Jason Bourne.
Is that the best that the elected leaders (mps) of the country can do? Is there anyone who has run a company in the 650 mps? Degrees in polyticks, law and economics need not apply
Even if your Indian parents were living in East Africa, you were born in (the two weeks they visited) Britain, education in Nigeria and America, and any other seagulls, need not apply either.
Meanwhile the ‘nit picking words’ lawyer Queer Starmer is apparently the opposition.
What is it about that party that makes them electable – Abbotpotimoose, or the current shouty woman at Queer’s side. And who else?
Off topic, I see the nice Lady in top office in Italy is in the msm parlance ‘all together now’ *far right*. (Means far right of Marx and Engels? And / Or far right of msm desires).
Biscotte……..you are right he (Johnson) is a bumbling twit, but I haven’t patented those words as a personal trademark, so please feel free to use them at your own discretion. Why is he coming back from the Carribean anyway. Another holiday, when he should be in the House of Commons doing what he is supposedly paid to do like being a Member of Parliament for Uxbridge.
CH- ta mon brave, the original is more or less worn out nowerdays (ha!).
Here is a real question.
Who will Lord Frost work for, if anybody?
Ex PM Johnson gave him two posts. Twice Frosty started to make progress in post, only to find himself out of the door – seen to be successful.
Third time lucky? Somehow I don’t think so.
His employment or not, to me, will be an indicator of the worth of any new PM.
Meanwhile:-
Ritchie Soonack 4/11 (been odds-on improving, for whole day).
A B Johnson 11/4, Penny Mordunt 33/1, Aaron Bell 200/1
Job Done – the ollygarck wins.
Even if Johnson does return as the country’s prime minister on Friday next week, I shall refrain from coming on here and calling him a bumbling twit, halfwit, buffoon and everything else in between, because it has all been said before and there’s nothing more to add. I just find it comical that he announces that he is coming back to Britain from the Carribean as if it is the resurrection and second coming, and that we should all be grateful. Have a holiday by all means but do this during the many parliamentary recesses. If I was a member of the Conservative Party and living in Uxbridge, I would be working overtime to explore the possibilities of deselecting him as the MP, but obviously nobody cares.
The Conservative Party Association officers of Uxbridge like so many other Conservative constituencies with liberal left MPs may have lost their bottle or their minds. They too are hugely irresponsible people I fear and can hardly call themselves Conservatives.
In any other age the entire Labour front bench et al would be caricatures, you almost could not invent them, but they are real, God help us!
Angela – ‘Tory scum’ – Rainer
Rupa – ‘superficially black’ – Huq
Ed – Climate Change Act – Miliband
Lisa – small in mind and body – Nandy
Fat – doing very nicely for himself – Lammy
Jonathan – never knowingly off cliche – Ashworth
Anneliese – through a hedge backwards – Dodds
Laura – ‘I could never be friends with a Tory’ – Pidcock
Emily – contempt for white van man and English flag – Thornberry
Thangam – self described northern European socialist – Debbonaire
and all the chippy victim-obsessed diversity hires.
I can’t wait.
But TBH with the engineered disaster facing the people of the world I guess it will matter little.
Last night, a black cab driver said he did not want Boris again, but would enjoy the media meltdown if he did come back. We debated whether the pleasure of watching an establishement melt down outweighed the awfulness of yet more Mr and Mrs Johnson. We agreed that BBC, Guardian, Sky apoplexy would be wonderful, but their attempt to get him out again, as they surely might, would be unbearably ground hog day. We agreed that the country is doomed (from immigration, class division, culture wars – long list) and so may as well have a little entertainment as the ship sinks. In other words, the Titanic mind set is all that is left for us. So, let the orchesta play on. There are no life boat places for most of us.
At least the lights were on when the Titanic went down – here, they’re already planning for ‘lights out’. As for an orchestra playing … nah, that’s uncool and orchestra players are not diverse enough anyway.
Perhaps the NHS will save us all. They’ve got our money anyway.
Life boat places? I ‘ve been told that the Royal Lifeboats is now providing a taxi service for the new arrivals.
I pray that GOD, in his mercy, saves this Nation and punishes those who seek to betray her.
Looks like the bulk of the tory party in Parliament is determined to put Sunak in No 10. No matter who stands, whether the membership vote for him or not and despite any regard to election prospects. Makes you wonder why all these MPs share a vision of the UK represented by Sunak.
I guess I speak for many – Totally Agree.
The spectacle of all this is nauseating. With Labour waiting in the wings to come in for the final kill.
And “en coulisse” ! :
the following video is doing the rounds showing what to expect if the switch to Central Bank Digital Currency occurs God forbid.
Very good vid. Mary. Tells it how it is.
Is it too much to hope that the blood-letting is terminal for this wretched party?
What is it with some Conservative politicians that they cannot tell anybody who they are personally backing in the latest election leadership election. Its as if it is some sort of secret and that the public who put them in the House of Commons don’t have a right to know. Do they think that if the sh*t hits the fan on a third occasion, that by telling the electorate who they are backing this time round might affect their future parliamentary career. Has it not escaped their attention that the majority of them in all probability are going to be looking for a new job in the real world after the next general election. In my opinion we need to be rid of these people as soon as possible, and that includes Starmer and his Titanic crew as well. A total clear out is what we require, a clean slate and a new beginning.