When did UK politicians parading around wearing uniforms emblazoned with their rank become a thing?
I'm sure we've seen this sort of thing before. It didn't end well.
Just waiting for Jacob Rees-Mogg in his "Witchfinder General" outfit now.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E16kXnmWEAI3WzC.jpg

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E10x2WcXMAAJ41U.jpg

It's Johnson & co playing at being a US President. And we know which one.

Maybe it's to help them remember who they are.

Boris likes to dress up. Here he is at an airfield, so he wears an appropriate uniform. Previously we've seen him in hospitals wearing nurses gear, at fishmarkets in fisherman's clothing (holding up a fish), at a construction site with a hardhat and matching vest, at a farm with a bull, and so forth and so on. Not even Kim Jong-Un gets around as much as BoJo! Kim only does it to prove that he's still alive, though.

Or because people kept saying "He's the PM?"

Unethical journalism and lying can’t be repeated, says unethical ex-journalist who repeatedly lies.

Yeah it seems that Laura Kuenssberg acting as No. 10 spokesperson instead of Political Editor isn't enough for Johnson and co. They won't be content until the BBC is just a propaganda arm of the Government.

The BBC's reputation has been "highly damaged" following an inquiry into the Panorama interview with Diana, Princess of Wales, Priti Patel has said.

The home secretary said Lord Dyson's probe into how Martin Bashir obtained the interview was a "really significant moment" for the BBC.

The home secretary said next year's mid-term review of the BBC's royal charter - focussing on the governance and regulation of the organisation - would be "a very significant and serious moment, at a time when the reputation of the BBC has been compromised".

The report will "go down as one of those key moments in the history of the BBC", she added.

"This is the Netflix generation," she told Marr. "How relevant is the BBC?"

The "fundamental pillars" of accountability, trust and confidence need to be addressed by the BBC, she said.

Asked about a proposal by former BBC chairman Lord Grade for a new editorial board, she said "all suggestions will have to be considered".
"This is the Netflix generation," she told Marr. "How relevant is the BBC?"

The "fundamental pillars" of accountability, trust and confidence need to be addressed by the BBC, she said.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-57217853

To which the appropriate response is, after you.

A new border scheme requiring visitors to apply for an electronic permit will make the UK safer, Home Secretary Priti Patel has said.

She also argued it will make it easier to count those coming to the UK.

Under the plan, all visitors without a visa or immigration status will have to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before coming to the UK.

Passengers required to get a permit under the new system would include those travelling to the UK for a short stay or transiting - changing planes - in the country.

People wishing to work in the UK or stay in the country for a long period of time - for example over six months - would need to obtain a visa, rather than an ETA.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-57217739

Oscar, Grammy and Nobel Prize-winners will be among those able to get visas to live and work in the UK more easily under point-based immigration reforms.

The Home Office has announced its decision to "fast track" the process for those winning coveted arts awards.

It is part of the government's bid to attract the "best and brightest" from around the world.

International stars who have won Bafta, Brit, Mobo, Tony or Golden Globe awards will also be eligible.

Previously the visa application process, known as the Global Talent route, meant artists and producers had to receive an endorsement from one of six bodies.

But from Wednesday, new post-Brexit rules allow people who hold a qualifying prize to make a simpler single visa application.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-56991724

Priti Patel suggested ministers - including herself - breaking the rules isn’t important because they’re doing “difficult jobs, actually.”

And the Home Secretary, who was found to have broken the ministerial code over accusations of bullying, said the rulebook is currently being “reviewed”.

Asked, considering her own breach of the code - and the fact that Boris Johnson is under investigation over alleged breaches of the same rules - whether the code still matters, Ms Patel told the BBC’s Andrew Marr: “Well, look, the ministerial code is there for a reason - and there's work taking place at the moment in terms of reviewing that.”

She added: “I think at this stage this isn't about breaking codes and things of that nature, we're all just getting on in government, doing very difficult jobs actually, coming out of this pandemic.

“All ministers are focused on doing their job.”

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politi...aking-24166724

She also said in the same interview

"Herd immunity by exposure wasn't our official plan and I think people will be asking serious questions about why the BBC is bothering with this very inconvenient story"

What she's saying is, 'You can't touch me, because I control the police and I make the rules'.

Liz Truss on LBC suggesting that the BBC should be stripped of its role of selecting the Eurovision entry.

Because of Martin Bashir or because we came last with null points this year ?

The song wasn't horrible, though the performance wasn't great.

Seems that no-one likes us:

https://escxtra.com/2021/05/23/telev...urovision-202/

If they're competing then Greece and Cyprus are guaranteed 12 points from each other.

The UK has burned all its bridges.


edited to add.....

Of course in the middle of a pandemic which has already killed over 150,000 in the UK (and which will likely kill another 30,000 - 100,000 over the next winter), a disastrous Brexit which has caused the UK economy to shrink and the negotiation of a series of trade deals which seem to undermine the UK's recovery, complaining about the selection of a song for Eurovision is a great use of ministerial time. :mad:

Liz, if your mob weren't such a bunch of xenophobes, maybe the UK wouldn't come last. Even the German entry with the dancing middle finger did better.

Will someone suggest that the FA should be stripped of it's role of selecting the England football team?

Boris has announced there will be a Prime Ministerial Wedding!
It's going to be on the telly apparently.

Imagine how stupid you'd have to be to accept wedding vows from a pathological liar who claims to be broke, doesn't know how many children he has, and cheated on his ex-wife in the family home while she was being treated for cancer.

He needs the money - probably worth a good half a million with deals with the magazines and the like. Everything can be paid for by “family friends”.

Well, you might accept the deal if:

a) it gave you rapid access to the centre of power, and
b) you could have a life of luxury, even if (and especially if) you get ditched.

In the name of ****, why?

So the plebs can worship their master of course.
:rolleyes:

Seems like a genius ploy by the Tories to get people to revolt against the TV license so they can privatise the BBC.

And I guess he has enough stamps on his card to get this wedding free!

Interview on Radio 4 today with the co-chair of the Tory Party.
She was completely unable to answer the question "Is it OK for a member of the Conservatives to refer to Muslim women as bank robbers and pillar boxes?"

To be fair the question is ambiguous and should probably be presented in terms of set theory. Maybe they'll cover it on More or Less.

What is ambiguous?

It just needs a yes or no answer.

Maybe it's because the PM said it that was confusing her.

Boris told the investigation: “I do know that offence has been taken at things I’ve said, that people expect a person in my position to get things right, but in journalism you need to use language freely. I am obviously sorry for any offence taken."

So a non apology.

Aye. That phrasing virtually blames the offended person for being offended.

Cummings paints the entire government as incompetent, Jonson and his colleagues as unqualified and out of their depth. All true.

He paints himself and his data scientist colleagues as shining examples of sanity and professionalism who could have done it much much better. He says “it’s a disaster that I acted too late”.

I have no doubt most of his criticisms are true, but he comes across as ranty and has a chip on his shoulder. He is discrediting himself.

He also said (paraphrasing) "It's ridiculous that I was in a position of power".

So he's reached far and wide to throw everyone under the bus, including himself. We may need more buses at this rate.

So nothing we didn’t know, so nothing that will make any difference. That Johnson such a laugh!

Midsomer used a tank once.....

Not that I'm suggesting rounding up BoJo and his cronies, sycophants and hangers-on, breaking their legs and chasing them cross-country with an armoured vehicle mind.

Yeah you wouldn’t treat an animal that way, oh hold on yes they would……

I'm especially impressed the Cummings keeps blaming 'the government' as if he wasn't part of the whole thing.

He's a genius who is near perfect. If the government had done what he said, things wouldn't be half as bad. They are to blame for not listening to him.

That's the impression I get.

Don't forget the occasion Cummings editted a blog post from the previous year in an attempt to claim he predicted a pandemic.
https://www.newstatesman.com/science...19-coronavirus


Expect similar "revision" here.

Everyone, except Gove, Raab and Sunak, the Brexiteers

Strictly speaking he wasn’t and that is one of the problems with the current arrangement and “special advisors”.

Poor Kuenssberg, struggling so hard to try and keep her mates happy, it’s like being a friend in the middle of a divorcing couple!

Didn't say anything we didn't already know really: Johnson not fit for office - errrrr, we knew that at least a decade ago; Hancock tells loadsa lies - obvious since this whole **** show started; no ****** had a real clue what's going on - well, no ****, Sherlock!

Is that it? Is this all? Over-hyped score settling of a very unconvincing type. Another example of an over-promoted, over-entitled, under-talented public schoolboy trying to look hard.

2/10. And stop trying to mark your own homework, Cummings.

I'm just going to drop this in here.

I heard some of Cummings talking about his time in office.

I hope nobody pays this obviously self-serving slimeball any attention.

His idea that he was "trying to build something around Johnson" to create good decisions. No! That is like admitting that he was trying a coup from within the government.

Look, we all know that Johnson and Hancock are ridiculous people who have no competence, but Cummings was once of the architects of this failure not some heroic insider.

**** off Cummings!

They privatised the Victorian (not Queen Victorian) train system. Now on a relatively small railway system there are multiple, incompatible rolling stock that have different parts and maintenance and can't run on all the lines. It's a nightmare. So much money was wasted that should have been spent on obsolete signalling systems.

[emoji106][emoji106]

Johnson cleared of wrongdoing re flat refurbishment: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-57280418

Because of course he was.

Because he had so much credibility prior to this?

He was "unwise"...

The useless ****** didn't know where the money to pay for it all was coming from...

"Oh, look, Carrie! The money fairies have left us a load of dosh! What luck, just when we needed it to spaff it all on the walls! Who ever would have thought it?"

And yet he hasn't broken the sodding code...

Like Hancock not knowing he was supposed to declare stuff about his sister's company...

FFS! The Code of the Woosters has more force than the ministerial code of conduct.

Hey Hancock only technically breached the ministerial code.

Which I think means he breached the ministerial code but who cares that can do anything about it?

How come ignorance of the rules/law is not a defence in any other legal or quasi-legal context in the UK?

Bertie was an honourable man.