Blighty politics: for the many 🍺 quaffing parcel of rogues, not the few. TCK. McGill, Georgetown & UK law grad. News junkie. History buff. Radical Butskellite.
This ties in with the interesting perspective
@sturdyAlex
shared on the latest
@QuietRiotPod
with
@pimlicat
, which I hadn’t considered and though I remain wary, have filled me with hope that the truth lies somewhere in the middle of all our views/fears at the very least.
I know everyone is terrified but this is the far right LOSING political power in Britain. They are desperate and angry. Because they have lost control of everything that matters. And they will not be allowed to rise this way.
@JonnElledge
@penny__traitor
Sorry, John, but it’s not as simple as that. Two MPs were murdered. Politicians should be able to interact with the public without being assaulted even if it’s *just* milkshake. We should encourage less stage managed interactions. What if it was acid or something else harmful?
At no point in this article does James Forsyth mention that Rishi Sunak is his best friend or that he was best man at his wedding.
It’s less conflict of interest and more all-out-war of interests.
@reformexposed
You missed out the most high profile bigot of them all, Father Calvin Robinson (who blocked me earlier in the week when I pointed out his anti-Muslim bigotry). He didn’t take too kindly to the appointment either. :)
The three best newspaper columnists (in my view) are Charles Moore, Rod Liddle and Matthew Parris.
All write for The Spectator. Delighted to say that Matthew will keep doing so (tho he has stopped his Saturday column at The Times):
@implausibleblog
This is exactly why I hate today’s news, even if it resulted in a bigger Labour landslide than might’ve been the case until today. The xenophobic demagoguery will be ratcheted up. Even though it’s been a dull campaign so far, it hasn’t been too bad on the race-baiting front… 😒
As this historic result starts to reverberate across the country, let's just take a moment to remember all the people that said what Starmer's Labour did today could not be done.
Boris Johnson said (in December 2021) that it was “complete nonsense” he had personally authorised the Nowzad charity to evacuate animals from Aghanistan at a time when thousands of people were clamouring to get out.
Every so often I like to re-read the utterly wonderful short essay written by the late A. A. Gill just before the 2016 referendum. As last time and the time before that and the time before that, I've now got something in my eye.
#Brexit
1/2
@IanByrneMP
@CPAGUK
I hope this is eventually scrapped but you could’ve abstained. You chose to defy the rules you agreed to just weeks ago! This wasn’t the right time to challenge the party, however much you disagreed with the cabinet position. Actions must have consequences. Deserved suspension.
🚨 Set your alarms for 5pm
We’ll bring your our *first* MRP poll of the election, with YouGov
It will show:
⭐️ Projection of who will win
⭐️ Size of the majority
⭐️ Big beasts expected to lose seats
Me &
@SamCoatesSky
will bring you the detail (with more 7pm
@SkyPoliticsHub
)
@Knaxern
@fatosber
How do you know we don't understand those changes? That's not the point being made by me. I can't speak for the OP or the ones who've liked it but I doubt anyone would disagree with your point. The two aren't mutually exclusive. And why resort to personal attacks on intelligence?
@flyinglawyer73
@PhilipOConnor5
Next you’ll throw a spanner in the works and say you voted for Brexit AND the Tories in a previous life before your damascene conversion to Sadiq Khan and Labour in more recent times. 😉
Andrea Jenkyns is basically just a series of incoherent false equivalence dog whistle sound bites. Right wing social media in human form who got elected to Parliament to spew her version of legitimised hate.
#Newsnight
@willglloyd
The extremes look for traitors, those tending to the centre look for converts. They prefer performative direct action; we prefer actual governance. They’re obsessed with the perfect whilst we’re wary of it being the enemy of the good. They seek confrontation, we prefer civility.
@AlexSelbyB
I mean, who amongst us hasn’t inadvertently juxtaposed an advertisement about watch porn with an article about child sex abuse images…
😳😱
Like OMFG. I know the Grauniad has a reputation to keep but this actually takes talent.
@BellaWallerstei
At $75 million the mission cost less than half the budget spent on Hollywood’s Interstellar and Barbie blockbusters. It’s the most cost-effective and efficient space programme in the world. The social security budget on its own at federal, state and local level is $270 billion.
@lmharpin
I can’t understand how anyone would think sharing this image was a reasonable thing to do at any level, let alone the prospective candidate themself. Mind boggling lack of judgment. It always struck me as odd that she was the candidate under Starmer’s leadership but here we are…
@RobertHolland19
@jessphillips
You seem to be confusing the concept of free speech & disassociation from a person by the company they keep, in which said company literally made light of the worst form of sexual violence with a sitting MP. Truss is free to spew her conspiratorial bollocks wherever she pleases.
Shoutout to Australian hockey player, Tom Craig, who took one for the team and got arrested for buying cocaine on a street corner in the 9th arrondissement two nights ago after his country got knocked out of the Olympics quarterfinals.
They really are just like us, after all…
@ANNVYSHINSKY
In the UK in the last 10 years: philosopher AC Grayling (during Brexit), the archaeologist Neil Oliver, politician Andrew Bridgen MP & broadcaster Maajid Nawaz (all due to the covid pandemic).
@christinetrayn6
@tnewtondunn
If kids can cope with knowing that parents are made up of a man and woman, they can cope with parents of other configurations as well without losing their childhood innocence. 🤷♂️
Andrew Griffith the first Tory frontbencher to affirm rather than swear.
Keir Starmer one of several Labour frontbench who affirmed.
Bridget Phillipson used what I presume was the New Revised Standard Version — Catholic Ed.
Rishi Sunak, the Gita.
Shabana Mahmood, Quran.
Nobody on the Tory left seem capable of shunning the lurch to Faragism. Sir Max Hastings is spot on: we need Starmer to be bolder. Whilst Labour needn’t interrupt the Tories as they continually blunder, this is also a once in a generation opportunity to offer a pragmatic vision.
Sir Max Hastings, "Our country does seem in the eyes of the world increasingly ridiculous.. Americans and Europeans don't hate us, they look at us in disbelief.. The right is now running Britain, it's a terrifying sight..
"One would like to see Keir Starmer be bolder.. Anything
@HannahAlOthman
@sundersays
Thank you for going back and sharing this update. Too often it feels like the news cycle moves on and we never hear or see the aftermath.
@letitbeta
@londonette
Would you say the same thing if he supported the Rwanda policy and used his profile whilst adopting opposite viewpoints in general?
@Rehman_Chishti
The messages suggest nowt of the kind. Unbecoming post from someone who once stood to be leader of a mainstream political party! Although, given the type of PM we’ve had in recent years this shouldn’t be entirely surprising.
@sueplick
@bo66ie29
Forum and basilica. You can see part of a wall from it at base level in the basement of a hairdresser’s, discovered in 1881 at Leadenhall Market. I love taking tourists there and the salon is used to receiving visitors as punters are being served.
@AndreasKoureas_
Thank you for the alternative viewpoint backed by primary sources without the jingoism that follows those who argue the same. But, sadly, it still sounds like you're an apologist for the Raj by condoning Churchill's intemperate utterances as 'of its time' & 'heat of the moment'.
You're playing the person rather than the ball. You don't have to agree with everything one says in the marketplace of ideas to agree with a particular (set of) point(s) raised in individual articles. This is how free speech opponents shut down debate through association guilt.
@PoddyMac15
@CathyAbacus
@steiny
@RuthDavidsonMSP
You apply online and then you have to call them to book your first appointment / ID check. It took me 3 hours to get through to them. There are a lot more people applying for UC than the furlough, though.
@ToryFibs
Thank you for sharing their names with photos and descriptions. It's easy to throw numbers around but every one is a tragedy that will be felt by so many who knew and loved them. So sad what has happened and my thoughts go out to their loved ones. They must be remembered.
@Laura_Wright_84
This case (R v R) was actually heard in 1991 (not 1996) and was outlawed in legislation only in 1994. Still shocking it was that recent though! I remember when we studied this in law school and it’s one of the few cases that have stuck with me. How recently we were so backwards.
@milzeemiller
@IainDale
@lisanandy
@Jacqui_Smith1
@liverpoolphil
Statements like these aren’t helpful/equally bigoted. It’s absolutely disgraceful they’ve given in to the mob and it’s a disproportionate over reaction. It’s no platforming gone mad. But saying things like “always the victims” is just divisive, factually incorrect & shameful.
Really good point by
@pimlicat
about waiting till nominations close before delving deeper into the polls because Reform may yet strike a deal with the Tories…as Farage did with the Brexit Party (Reform’s predecessor) in 2019.
And apparently Farage has an announcement at 4pm! 👀
BONUS: Quiet Riot - Sunday School: Am I bovvered?
After a 'difficult week', Labour's lead is UP. What is going on?
Spice up your Sunday with
@SturdyAlex
&
@pimlicat
chewing over the news.
APPLE
SPOTIFY
RSS
@welshbollocks
@lmharpin
Good luck to them. They should’ve stood as Independents in this election instead of mooching off a Labour ticket, knowing full well what the manifesto said and what Starmer was like as a leader. They won’t be missed.
I could listen to these four discussing British politics all day and all night. Absolutely fantastic podcast and thrilled that it’ll continue post-election. Get out of the echo chamber, add a dollop of civility & nod your head in acknowledgement even when it’s against your party.
Six months ago
@montie
went to see Liz Truss to offer some humane advice. She told him he had “come crawling back.” On election night he enjoyed seeing the voters kick out the former Prime Minister. From latest Not Another One. Full episode here
@Nozzer29
@DomWalsh13
@make_trouble
Yes, about £20 per taxpayer. I think we’ll survive. My employer went beyond the £10 limit and offered the entire meal + non-alcoholic drinks at half-price. Suffice to say, it was very popular. Perhaps a bit too much so. But it did bring me back from furlough. And rest of my team.
@evanoconnell
@francesweetman
Agreed on both counts. Haters gonna hate. Frances, your blog post was not gauche nor were you making a sloppy comparison. I quite enjoyed the post and it led me to look up your old blog, which was fun and very interesting! Solidarity. If I lived in the NE you'd get my vote.
@IanByrneMP
You voted against a 3-line whip.
You voted against your government.
You supported an **opposition** amendment designed to fail. (“Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools”)
No amount of sophistry gets you off the hook.
@GavinBarwell
A bit rich this coming from a Conservative. The Tories literally switched leader thrice within a few months & I lost count how many times Sunak tried to reset his premiership, switching tack with each one. Keeping Braverman, then sacking her, cancelling HS2, then hiring Cameron…
@bananaintherama
@youngvulgarian
Agreed. Events & her own many political temperament failings conspired to destroy her stint as PM (like Sunak she became PM by default — never a good sign) but at least she was driven by a clear public service agenda, some of which we’ve seen in the causes she’s championed since.
@thereclaimparty
@andreajenkyns
@LozzaFox
@montie
@camillahmturner
Another quiet day in paradise for the world’s most successful political party in hist—
Fuck me. Four Tory candidates being endorsed by the One ManBaby Party & professional cunt, Laurence Fox.
Hard to keep up with all these factions. Five Families. Reform. Reclaim. What next?
@KEdge23
Given your track record you’re going to reverse this position when
@Nigel_Farage
becomes the Tory leader. 😂 Perhaps someone in Tory HQ can lay a bet on it for me!
@Samfr
I dunno Sam, some of us have been waiting for the “natural *party* of government” to descend into farce exactly as we’re witnessing. If anything, it’s going better than any of us could’ve imagined. But yes, it isn’t generally great for the country as a whole. I concede that. :)
@BEERG
Weird post. Whether we agree with them or not, people are allowed to tweet about historical events that meant a lot to them (and I say this as a Remainer).
@jhallwood
Indeed! I’ve been pleasantly surprised how fascinating others like yourself have found this and thank you for sharing your results/explanations with everyone. Stellar anorak work.
@browser_things
Heh! I love this. A rare glimpse into the private lives publicly broadcast which none of them can escape from. Especially tickled by Stephen Doughty doing his in English AND Welsh and on two different Bibles to boot.
Apart from being followed by Stephen Fry when I first joined this site in the dark ages of 2008, this DM from
@planetjedward
was probably my highlight on here. Heady times.
@YellowyHair
@reformexposed
Spot on, Jackie! It’s just intolerant guff using the guise of Christianity to provide it a veneer of respectability, but in reality it’s passing off by appealing to humans worst tendencies. Despicable behaviour.
It’s not a great look for someone who grew up in Germany to be this blasé about antisemitism.
Turns out ‘comics’ who used to be funny are actually just a couple of racist jerks. 🙄
Thousands of people who have never been out the house to see anything saying they’re cancelling their imaginary tickets for Reg Hunter’s performances. 😂😂😂
Alex Phillips on
#Newsnight
says we need “nuance” to understand the socio-economic context of the riots.
To paraphrase the great Jim Hacker: “Nuance, Alex? What a lot of new words we're learning!”
@fifisyms
@PGroenhuysen
You’re a dying breed in the modern Tory party, it’d seem. And we’re all the poorer for it. Sensible conservatism isn’t sexy anymore. Wish there were more like you and you get your party back but I suspect the decline is irreversible. It’s commendable you’re still there though. :)
@RLong_Bailey
You were within your rights to vote the way you did & the party was within its right to react the way it did. Everyone knew the amendment was designed to fail & yet you still defied a 3-line whip. The govt's committed to dealing w/ child poverty & yet you chose to virtue signal.
It’s so bizarre for a head of school to act this way on social media, regularly mouthing off without due diligence and then feigning ignorance when challenged, even though clear cut evidence is presented. Each to their own but she makes a rod for her own back. Every. Time. 🥲
@ProudlyPastoral
Well so far you haven’t given me any reason to think it is fake. So are you saying that same couple from the first video is in this one? Ok I will have a look. Thanks for sending this. And the pilot is the same too?
A timely reminder of this wonderfully articulated thread (about the pernicious effects of hate speech) as Rod Liddle returns to Question Time -- the acceptable forum for publicly-funded xenophobia, Islamophobia and racism.
It’s tempting to ignore it. But the stuff that people like Rod Liddle write, most recently about Scots, matters. It matters because it is hate speech, given respectability by its appearance in the Spectator and given retractability by being implied as “humour”. THREAD
@mincontro
@katierosman
@laurenweberWSJ
All of these personal experiences are so helpful to those of us who assume hard graft like this only affects the lesser mortals amongst us. And it reinforces the underrated quality of Twitter (I think) to make succinct and persuasive arguments in explaining complex topics/points.
@LeeDavidEvansUK
On hereditary peers, I wholly disagree. It’s a total anachronism in the 21st century to retain them. If they have particular expertise, they should be retained as life peers.
However, I’m with you on the arbitrary age cut-off. The lack of participation mechanism is sufficient.
Exactly. Whether you agree with or like his strategy this campaign, there’s absolutely no doubt that the only reason the Lib Dems have received any coverage at all is because of the stunts. Whether it’s had cut through accruing votes, seats & long-term supporters is less clear.
@Fantomas236
@AdamWagner1
@MilsomChr
@Freedland
@davidallengreen
Gloat all you want, but I think you'll find it's all of us who stand to lose if we don't adhere to our international obligations and that this will turn out to be pyrrhic victory for Brexiteers who seek to win a battle (no deal Brexit), only to lose the war (global politicking).
@AgniC5
@ilex_rubra
@WineandHair
I disagree, Agni! Upper caste hegemony is perpetuated when they only do this for ceremony for their own caste, serve food & drinks to lower castes in different cutlery, & don’t allow lower caste or menstruating women from attending temples. This is just a fun cultural adaptation.
@joedunnn
@jack125esc
@aliciakearns
Thanks for taking the time to provide this response. I don't think it's helpful when MPs just object with condescension ("perhaps wait more than a week") & appeals to tradition (compelling as that may be). It's important to discuss trade-offs & hear both sides of the argument.
At $75 million the mission cost less than half the budget spent on Hollywood’s Interstellar and Barbie blockbusters. It’s the most cost-effective and efficient space programme in the world. The social security budget on its own at federal, state and local level is $270 billion.
India has become the first country to land on the moon’s South Pole. Meanwhile 84% of Indians live on less than $6.85 per day. Can’t help but feel the funds would have been better spent elsewhere…
@mo3ov
@StnlssStlRt
@ellegist
What’s sick is your dismissive reaction to the correct and appropriate usage of rape (a sexual act without consent) in this instance. But thank you for bringing notice to your misogyny🚩. Your timeline is instructive to how you actually view (& probably treat) women.
@rv_southern
Aye, for sure! I’ve not studied the period in detail but I have knack for remembering dates and that one didn’t ring a bell at all. It’s certainly inspired me to add yet another thing to the list of ‘spare time’ rabbit holes to go down. I’m sorry it’s had a personal impact! 😒