U-Turns are now permitted
Now we know: this ‘lady’ is for turning, and so is her Chancellor. The news that the 45% tax will stay was all over the papers yesterday afternoon and the front pages of the dead tree press this morning (link). .
See – posing in populist photos for the MSM å la BoJo, trying to recreate images from the photo albums of the late Margaret Thatcher in order to create a ‘narrative’ of La Liz being the second coming of the Iron Lady who was not for turning: that is one thing. Actually walking in her footsteps is quite different, especially when one has not the courage of one’s own opinion and isn’t prepared to weather the storm.
There were all sorts of lurid details in the papers, about late night ‘secret sessions’ and plans for more u-turns or no more u-turns. There even was a call for a general electionby Ms Nadine Dorries – who hadn’t got a grip on the BBC during her stint as ‘culture’ secretary – tweeting that La Truss ‘had thrown the Chancellor under the bus’ (paywalled link)
Ms Dorries, like all her colleagues on either side of the Chamber, has clearly got a severe case of twitteritis. This illness means one has stopped thinking and believes a sentence on antisocial meejah is equivalent to proper political analysis.
Given the dire quality of MPs in the current and the last parliament, a thorough replacement would be good, but that is something we’ll never see. The usual suspects, i.e. the incumbents, will be voted in again, regardless. There won’t be another ‘Portillo Moment’ but the 2019 crop might well face the chop.
So a Labour ‘government’ is looking to become fact, not least because the Westminster MSM have now tasted success in their campaign to ditch the tax cut. Why would they not try for a repeat? The next ‘target’ is the question of Universal Credit which Truss proposes not to increase:
“Downing Street is considering not increasing Universal Credit in line with inflation, but instead using a lower metric – such as the increase in average earnings – to encourage those on benefits into work. Tory rebels who forced the Prime Minister into her top tax rate about-turn, including Michael Gove, were already breaking ranks on Monday and warning against the change. The Telegraph can reveal there is also unease at the top of Government, with some Cabinet ministers understood to believe that refusing to increase benefits by inflation is a “non-starter”.” (paywalled link)
Note that a certain Mr Gove is again named as ‘one of the rebels’. I wonder if Gove, a very clever chap, has refrained from standing in this summer’s Tory leadership election with the aim of letting any BJ replacement stride into the knife-wall of economic troubles and an ensuing Labour government. Inevitably, a new Tory leader would have to be elected and he, Gove, would finally be able to become ‘the one’, the ‘saviour’. Loyalty to the Party, support for the policies the Party wants to implement? Nah – forget it.
Here’s another point: lefty ideology has so permeated the discourse in the Westminster meejah that it’s apparently become a terrible crime to even consider the option of not raising universal benefit and for No 10 to be: “preparing to question whether it is fair for people on benefits to get inflation-linked rises while scores of workers get real-terms pay cuts.” (paywalled link).
No 10 might very well ‘consider the question’ – we can already predict that they will cave in to the predictable Labour howls. I’ll just note in the margins that there’s been no howl, from Labour or the MSM, about the removal of the cap on bankers’ bonuses. I do wonder why that is … Clearly, the fate of the economy is irrelevant when it’s about getting Labour in, when it’s about vested interests defending their turf, financed by us tax payers, with tooth and claw.
One such battlefield is another plan being discussed in cabinet, “to deregulate environment protections and to review £2.4 billion in nature-friendly farming subsidies.” (link, paywalled). All the ‘nature’ NGOs have been writing a letter to warn against such deregulation. Funny, I cannot recall the RSPB for example to remonstrate against ‘farms’ of bird shredders. Also funny that building new homes or ensuring we have food security is of no importance.
It looks as if we’ve now reached the point where proper arguments for and against cannot even be debated because the ‘public opinion’ is being nudged into rejecting anything which comes from the Tory Party. Well, that’s the Party’s own fault, for using fluff instead of substance, for making politics by social meejah, SpAds and leaks.
Labour on the other hand is certain to follow in the footsteps of a certain Mr Mandelson and keep all their MPs ‘on message’ – or else. We’ll have to wait and see if the Westminster MSM, so keen for ‘regime change at the moment, will play ball. After all, where would they be without their leaking ‘sources’ and their gossipy reports based on tweets!
I note that at least the MoD is already well on its way to use the tactics of that former Chancellor and PM, Mr G. Brown. He was famous for declaring some ‘new economic data’ when in fact they were nothing but a relabelling of what was there all the time anyway. Thus, we read today:
“A Royal Navy frigate was on Monday night sent to the North Sea in a show of force after a suspected Russian attack on the Nord Stream pipeline. The Ministry of Defence said it was looking to reassure partners after the pipelines in the Nord Stream network burst in an act of suspected sabotage near Swedish and Danish waters. The ministry said a Royal Navy frigate was in the area and working with the Norwegian navy. The frigate was most likely to be the Type 23 HMS Somerset, which was days ago taking part in training with Norwegian sailors in Stavanger.” (link, paywalled)
So, as far as the MoD and our MSM are concerned, ‘twere the Roooshans wot did it, but that’s by-the-by. Note that this frigate was already in the area. She wasn’t deployed suddenly from Plymouth but just got new orders to stay where she was. That’s how to make ‘news’, how to posture for posterity!
I leave you with ‘news’ that, according to one forecast by a Reading meteorology professor, we’re in for a ‘milder than usual’ winter. He ran a six-month forecast,
“[…] using data and a climate model from the European Commission’s Copernicus Climate Change Service, which is used by energy traders and businesses to make their own forecasts. The model suggested UK temperatures would be above average from November to February.” (link, paywalled)
So ‘global warming’ is good when it helps us to survive the exorbitant energy prices – how interesting! However, The Times warns, “such long-term forecasts are inherently uncertain. The Met Office issues outlooks only up to three months ahead […]” (link, paywalled). But we must believe the decades-long forecasts for ‘climate change’, must we? We must adhere to Net Zero, must we? What does Labour say? Shouldn’t we be told?
The outlook is for regime change, supported by our intrepid MSM who keep ‘speaking truth to power’ as long as that power is the Tory Party but not Whitehall. They all would profit from a look at the situation in Germany where their MSM helped to get a Red-Green government, with disastrous effects.
There’s the old saying: “be careful what you wish for – it could be granted.” When, as desired, Labour is in No 10, it’ll be too late for regrets, for buyer’s remorse and for U-turns.
I Iistened into Mark Steyn this evening for a short time, but I had to switch it off because it became clear that he didn’t know what he was talking about. He was sort of interviewing a lady who had been arrested by the police stating that they couldn’t search a home for evidence without a warrant. If there is sufficient evidence against a person and they are arrested for an offence the police have the right under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 to search the home address of that person and remove contents which are relevant to the offence being investigated. That can be done at the time of arrest, or after arrival at the police station when authority has to be sought from the rank of at least a Police Inspector. And when a radio presenter/journalist uses words like ‘copper’ rather than’ police’, you know that the subject isn’t being treated with any due seriousness. I am sorry I gave him a chance as I have done before, but it does help if one has done a bit of research beforehand. Not good enough I am afraid.
You are letting the process obscure the story, CH. They had no evidence bar an online post from a middle England vicar’s wife (far-right extremist undoubtedly) to which some anonymous idiot had objected. They even said it was Tweets, so they didn’t even know for what they were arresting her. I see nasty stuff every day that offends me but I don’t call the police as people have the right to say what they think however brainwashed and misguided and, yes, offensive, even when, as seems to pervade any discourse these days, it is to cancel and close down a case they cannot argue.
Mark may have got wrong some facts about the process, but his indignance at the absurdity and overreach of the whole episode was understandable.
Cops and robbers, copper, are common parlance. Goes way back to “it’s a fair cop” meaning that based on the circumstances and the immediate evidence you have been caught doing something you know you ought not. Unfortunately we are almost daily provided evidence that this has been reversed.
Surely all Trussedup (she is now after paying the Danegeld) needed to announce was that they were returning the tax to the 40p level that Labour was happy with for the 13 years of its tenure. It was only Brown’s sabotage as he went out of the door, that raised it to 50p, the effects of which he never had to deal with.
And then hand over to Kwasi to deliver a short primer on the Laffer Curve.
So here we are at the first race of the hurdles season.
The filly – Breskit 3, owned and trained by Whippinghall and associates of London W1, was the favourite until a couple of days ago, when she performed an about face whilst leading.
And they’re off, with Breskit in the red, white and blue leading from gelding Mr Glum and maiden Shoutey Abuse. The rest of the field is bunching up all wanting to see the track.
They’re up to the first turn, and, – oh dear Breskit 3 fell at the first hurdle. The pack, including Timed, Rorrim, Eye-eye, RedTop and all, sweep past. Jockey Harry Tinpot has remounted and Breskit 3 is walking dejectedly towards the pavilion.
The vet looks ominous, and has his stun gun and a huge syringe of something. Looks intent on administering it.
Meanwhile, to adulation of the crowd here, Mr Glum wins at 50 to 1 at commencement of betting but improved to evens at the start gate. What a fine racer. What a stud!
Oh, and here comes the maverick StevieBoy of whom great things were expected. But, three minutes behind the field, dragging a dozen or so people I’ve never seen before – all shouting, something about the crowd wouldn’t like it (?). He did look finished, even before he started, oh well that’s the end of his racing for the foreseeable.
Oh well, onto the next big race. Meanwhile, according to the handicappers, Breskit 3 will get double weight penalties as the racing will be on a Wednesday.
See you all shortly, and good luck punters
Such is the migration of power to unelected bodies, that all establishment parties have signed up to, that it really doesn’t matter who is in power Sooner or later, all establishment parties will arrive at the same destination – that is the nature of the beast.
Biscotte……….I think you and Harryagain/Harold Armitage should get together and write some comedy scripts and present them to the BBC. They would be very foolish to turn them down bearing in mind the garbage they presently produce courtesy of the unfunny and untalented comedy writers they employ at the moment. You never know you could be the ‘new’ Little and Large Show. Your hilarious comments on here in response to Harryagain are wasted on this site.
CH- If that’s some sort of backhanded compliment, then thanks Col.
With a demanding job, a little odd, but on topic thought helps get a not-so-serious perspective on life. Serious is daily, with psoriasis a barometer.
And I cannot be bothered with trolls. One in particular, living with Marley, doesn’t even realise he is a figure of fun – or maybe an mp in training. Nothing a good hiding round the back of the bike sheds would not put right – today . . . and every day.
Happy to hear of different ideas and proposals that one can discuss or if they can provide other info . . .
Oh look. A red kite being harassed by rooks. Calm returns.
We have entered a time where those who would have been regarded as our friends are now our enemy, particularly those who are toeing the globalist line. On the other hand maybe our “enemy” will turn out to be our friend:
https://www.naturalnews.com/2022-10-03-putin-exposes-the-truth-about-evil-satanic-western-leaders-who-pillage-the-world.html
We need to choose our friends carefully, taking into account their actions rather than their claims.
I watched the speech on iEarlGrey, but have since been unable to find a transcript to study in slower time. Your link has an embedded link to a transcript but of course it won’t work. It would never do to let people see for themselves; they need telling what he said and what he meant.
Whilst the MSM obsesses about regime change and the Government concentrates on U-turns the small boats keep coming and nothing is done. Our descent to Third World status continues. While we worry whether to eat or heat and the cost of living crisis we are still paying out millions to support the hotel dwellers, but we don’t mind do we?
Is it any wonder we are becoming the illegal immigrant dump of Europe when we offer such excellent all-found accomodation, as advertised around the world by the people smugglers. No other country offers such a good deal?
https://youtu.be/uCfcoMoMhV4
Ken You keep telling us that everything would be worse under Labour but the Tories are pulling out every stop to dispel that notion. In fact, one could be forgiven for thinking the Tories are in scorched earth mode before being kicked out of office in 18 months time. At least they will have served the interests of their WEF chums well if not the suckers that voted for them.
Indeed Ken; a good indication that government is driven by globalist policy rather than anything which might benefit our own people. When I contrast that with the time and cost involved with obtaining a visitor visa for my wife it makes me really angry. Obtaining residence for her adds more time, cost and difficulty yet the scroats coming in illegally, likely wishing us harm, are welcomed by government and paid for by us taxpayers.
Mark Steyn was on terrific form last night, and he mocked that mercilessly.
POS……I’ll give Mark Steyn another try again in Farage’ absence. I cannot look at Lawrence Fox any longer as his presenting skills are not up to much, and the topics he covers are tedious which is surprising considering he is/was an actor. He ain’t a spot on Nigel Farage that’s a fact, but who decides who replaces who at GB News when someone takes a holiday. Whoever it is, is not doing a good job, and it serves as a reminder that Reform UK would be ill advised to join forces with Reclaim as they seem to be doing in an obscure way.
What I neglected to say to above is that Reform UK under Tice’ stewardship is going nowhere as it is, but having two bland and boring figures at the top table would be too much. However, if Nigel Farage were to take over the leadership of Reform UK and democratise the party, I would be tempted to return to its fold. I wish Heritage Party and UKIP would form some sort of loose coalition, but I guess with UKIP’s previous baggage I would say that is probably unlikely. Something has to happen prior to the next general election so that the centre right parties are singing from the same hymn sheet as it were, and have one overall leader calling the shots. Here’s hoping…..