Meet the new boss - same as the last boss
My reflections on the new government. I wanted to give new PM Liz Truss a chance to get settled. However, looking at recent events it is already coming clear to me that this is a train crash waiting to happen.
Whilst it is a massive relief to get rid of Billy Bunter with his 'charisma' and bon mots - could there have been anyone more psychopathic, narcissistic, lazy, unprincipled and roguish - unfortunately he has left behind a poisoned chalice.
Just as the great British public rebelled against Cameron ordering them to vote Remain and then voting for Truss instead of the MP's choice, Sunak - albeit by only a small portion of the population - conflict is already inherent in the great halls of power, with Truss ruthlessly throwing out almost all of Rishi Sunak's backers (he thought he had it in the bag, didn't he?) - and what are we left with but the Friends of Liz Truss.
It was nice to see Nadine Dorries, Dominic Raab, Grant Shapps and Priti Patel make their exit and good riddance but look what we have in their place. Therese Coffey: Ann Widdecombe resurrected. She has a PhD in Chemistry but given her performance or non-performance in the unpopular post of Dept of Works and Pensions, it is not easy to see how someone totally devoid of any charm or humour is any better than Steve Barclay, Sajid Javid or even Matt Hancock.
Suellen Braverman is already a complete nightmare. As thick as two broad planks and even nastier than Patel. ("Hold my beer!"). She has no experience of running a government department (she previously ran the AG office). The Home Office is largely Civil Service run but she is going to struggle with only two and half years experience in government. This will be a total disaster.
The new Postmaster General Michael Ellis is now the Attorney General. Remember how sycophantly he stood up for every one of Johnson's lawbreaking activities with his weaselly cajolling voice. My goodness, he is even more crooked than Braverman in this respect.
Ben Wallace and Heappey continuing in Defence and Armed Forces, reasonably decent, made a good show with Sweden and Finland's application to NATO plus support for Ukraine.
However, think about it, the majority of Tory MP's are now lumbered with a cabinet they they didn't vote for (they wanted Sunak), so all of the MP's who resigned over BoJo must now be horrified that Bojo Lives! in the shape of Liz Truss and the prime resigners are out of a job.
Kwasi Kwarteng is an unknown factor. However, like BoJo he did classics and history, but at Cambridge so it is hard to see what he will bring to the table as Chancellor of the Exchequer without a background in hard sciences, economics or maths. At least Sunak had an MBA from Stanford.
With strikes up and down the country and the economic crisis, with Truss looking to borrow her way out, I hope I am wrong but I predict we will be looking at a General Election as early as next autumn or even by next spring as it all falls apart.