Let's Get Political!

[Nemo]

In the same way they'd been pushing for a 2nd referendum for years before Jo Swinson ditched it for straight revoke? Or the way they firmly opposed tuition fees? Lib Dems just as capable of indecision, bollocks and all the rest as either of the other two parties

Politics nerd hat on, Lib Dem policy is made by members at conference rather than the leadership per se. But your point generally is right, albeit revoke and remain is based on the fairly unlikely scenario of a Lib Dem majority.

[pauld]

Politics nerd hat on, Lib Dem policy is made by members at conference rather than the leadership per se. But your point generally is right, albeit revoke and remain is based on the fairly unlikely scenario of a Lib Dem majority.

TBF horlock's original point that Labour are all over the shop is also equally valid. Meanwhile, for those who heard the London Fire Brigade getting torn a new one on Radio 4's Today programme this morning, this tweet is rather salient:

"Housing minister at the time Gavin Barwell ignored 7 fire safety warnings from the residents of Grenfell. Boris Johnson as London mayor closed down firestations. Gavin was awarded life peerage & Johnson is now PM. The brave firefighters were awarded blame."

https://twitter.com/BenJolly9/status/1189120944981323777

I used to dismiss the complaints of BBC bias as whinging tbh but more and more over recent months it has started to sound like a government mouthpiece. The coverage of the Brexit shenannigans in parliament and the courts has been really poor. Worrying if we are about to go into an election

[horlock07]

John Curtice nearly always seems to be on the ball (and a friend of mine used to work with him and he is apparently a jolly decent bloke!) he has some intereesting thoughts here...

https://www.lbc.co.uk/radio/presenters/shelagh-fogarty/professor-john-curtice-makes-surprising-prediction/

I suppose the long and short is that whilst Corbyn can do a deal with another party get into no. 10 although he might have to concede on Brexit, Johnson likely cannot to do a deal to deliver Brexit as he has burnt way too many bridges.

[horlock07]

I don't think there is a cat in hells chance of any of the amendments regarding the franchise being allowed as they go way beyond the content of the subject bill, however, on a wider level this rater sums it up!

https://newsthump.com/2019/10/29/government-will-pull-election-bill-if-vote-is-given-to-people-who-wont-vote-for-them/

Actually edit that, its not satire https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/top-stories/tobias-ellwood-on-sky-news-1-6347721?

[Ardiles]

That's interesting.  Given that the Tories are going to need an outright majority (or close to one) to push Brexit through, it makes you wonder whether Farage would be best advised to stand the Brexit Party down and allow the entire Leave vote to coalesce around the Tories.  Logically speaking, that would make most sense if his objective was for Brexit to happen.

I suspect, however, that what he is more concerned with is being able to continue heading up a protest group and to continue making money from the associated media opportunities this gives him (like his daily LBC radio show).  So maybe facilitating Brexit and allowing the Tories to take the 'credit' isn't top of his agenda.

[Pax Romana]

That's interesting.  Given that the Tories are going to need an outright majority (or close to one) to push Brexit through, it makes you wonder whether Farage would be best advised to stand the Brexit Party down and allow the entire Leave vote to coalesce around the Tories.  Logically speaking, that would make most sense if his objective was for Brexit to happen.

I suspect, however, that what he is more concerned with is being able to continue heading up a protest group and to continue making money from the associated media opportunities this gives him (like his daily LBC radio show).  So maybe facilitating Brexit and allowing the Tories to take the 'credit' isn't top of his agenda.

Well put.  I think you may well be right.  Farage stays relevant whilst Brexit is nearly there but not quite.

To maintain that position, is he prepared to split the Leave vote and risk a majority Remain parliament elected on an unambiguous manifesto of a second referendum? 

Indeed does he even regard it as being undesirable?  A second referendum would put him back on every front page.

I guess we will find out fairly soon what his priorities really are. 

[Flashheart]

I think there's also voter apathy to be taken into consideration. Those that are pro-leave and/or conservative-leaning tend to be the ones shouting the loudest about not having their votes respected etc. How many will not bother?

[Audrey]

I’ve emailed Boris. Chances of a reply?

[horlock07]

I’ve emailed Boris. Chances of a reply?

Did you attach a picture suggesting you were a young blonde IT specialist, if so quite high I suspect.

[Pax Romana]

I assume you mean blonde female IT specialist?

Or are you suggesting that Boris really is a man of all of the people?

[pauld]

I’ve emailed Boris. Chances of a reply?

Of course you'll get a reply. All MPs employ staff to deal with their correspondence, the Prime Minister has plenty. Will you get a reply from Johnson personally? No, of course not. Will the reply answer your question? No, of course not. Even if it did, would the reply answer your question truthfully? You can do it from here ....

[pauld]

Well put.  I think you may well be right.  Farage stays relevant whilst Brexit is nearly there but not quite.

To maintain that position, is he prepared to split the Leave vote and risk a majority Remain parliament elected on an unambiguous manifesto of a second referendum? 

Indeed does he even regard it as being undesirable?  A second referendum would put him back on every front page.

I guess we will find out fairly soon what his priorities really are. 

His priorities are (in order) Nigel Farage, Nigel Farage and Farage, Nigel. Saw a rumour on twitter yesterday that he's been offered a peerage, presumably as part of a pay-off for an election deal, if not a formal pact, of some kind.

[Arriba]

I'm hoping for as many Brexit party candidates as possible. The more Tory votes they can steal the better. Unfortunately this GE will be dominated by brexit. Ridiculous as it is, it will sway people's voting preferences in many cases.


Having been watching pmq's again today I don't know why they don't just abolish it. The Prime minister doesn't answer questions.   

[horlock07]

I'm hoping for as many Brexit party candidates as possible. The more Tory votes they can steal the better. Unfortunately this GE will be dominated by brexit. Ridiculous as it is, it will sway people's voting preferences in many cases.

Rather sums the whole charade up.... https://twitter.com/jessphillips/status/1189324027111849985

[Arriba]

Yep. I like Jess Phillips.
 She asked a question today too which wasn't answered. Just the usual 'everything will be great under us' retort from Boris.