General UK politics VII -Return of the Starmer

Status
Not open for further replies.
Reading an article on the Guardian website made me wonder about the launch of Labour's pledge card. There were a lot of pundits wondering why they had launched it so early with the election not expected until the Autumn, did someone at Labour HQ have some inside knowledge?

Also loved this comment from one of the Guardian articles:
Forgetting political stance etc and just looking at the announcements- would you rather have as PM a man who chooses to stand in the pissing rain when there was no need or someone with the basic sense to stand indoors?
Click to expand...
 
Could only happen in England: pouring with rain. Jedi Imperial March blaring behind Beth Rigby. Massive lectern making Rishi look even tinier. As he got wetter and wetter, rain soaking his posh thousand quid suit, lo and behold, the cacaphony of Steve Bray's wretched ghetto blaster fills the air.

So, so, funny. :D One question: how come Sunak's hair remained set rock solid, like a Thatcher hairdo, when most people's hair would be flattened and dripping after that shower?

His lengthy election speech - including vindictive digs at Starmer - was appositely copiously rained upon by the heavens above. Even the gods were angry. His spad had to rescue his sodden notes after Sunak distracted and drenched turned and strode back indoors forgetting to take them.

<sfx Jedi march, da-da-daaa-da-da-daaa da-da-daa>

All caught on prime time TV and on record forevermore in posterity in the annals of British history.

The poor guy can barely operate a credit card or a seatbelt. He has a 'Plan' but no brolly, hat or rain mac.

So Steve Bray is saying that two people complained about his noise nuisance and the police have told him he's now banned from the vicinity. Says on Twitter /X he thinks it was Sunak and his wife who must have complained.
 
Vixen said:
The poor guy can barely operate a credit card or a seatbelt. He has a 'Plan' but no brolly, hat or rain mac.
Click to expand...

This is the part of the stage management that baffles me, even more than the fact he doesn't seem to have briefed the cabinet or the party before hand. If he is going to insist on doing this outside No 10 in the pouring rain why on earth isn't there at the very least someone with an umbrella standing beside him? Unless he was afraid that some burly security type at his shoulder would make him look even more diminutive?
Also the fact that the staff were out setting up the lectern was a clear tip off to the watching protestors that something was up and it probably didn't take a genius to figure out what it was and cue up the embarrassing music.
 
Garrison said:
This is the part of the stage management that baffles me, even more than the fact he doesn't seem to have briefed the cabinet or the party before hand. If he is going to insist on doing this outside No 10 in the pouring rain why on earth isn't there at the very least someone with an umbrella standing beside him? Unless he was afraid that some burly security type at his shoulder would make him look even more diminutive?
Also the fact that the staff were out setting up the lectern was a clear tip off to the watching protestors that something was up and it probably didn't take a genius to figure out what it was and cue up the embarrassing music.
Click to expand...

...And he'd already been to Buckingham Palace to dissolve Parliament. Seemed to have shades of a hissy-fit. Some are suggesting he was trying to avoid a VONC. Note how he said 'Either me or Starmer will be Prime Minister after the election'.

No, Rishi, you are toast and you know it.
 
Garrison said:
This is the part of the stage management that baffles me, even more than the fact he doesn't seem to have briefed the cabinet or the party before hand. If he is going to insist on doing this outside No 10 in the pouring rain why on earth isn't there at the very least someone with an umbrella standing beside him? Unless he was afraid that some burly security type at his shoulder would make him look even more diminutive?
Also the fact that the staff were out setting up the lectern was a clear tip off to the watching protestors that something was up and it probably didn't take a genius to figure out what it was and cue up the embarrassing music.
Click to expand...

It's only getting better.

https://x.com/SkyNews/status/1793359440919380470


Sky News
@SkyNews
Sky's political correspondent
@darrenmccaffrey
is removed from Rishi Sunak's campaign launch event.

https://trib.al/YKanzN3

📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube
8:13 PM · May 22, 2024
·
483.5K
Views
Click to expand...
 
Unsurprisingly, the GB News political editor is quoting anonymous tories ind anger of losing their seats, that they're seeing a rise in number of letters of no confidence being submitted. Apparently they're hoping to unseat Rish! before parliament is dissolved next week, thus calling off the election.
 
Gulliver Foyle said:
Especially seeing as Frosty the Noman was one of the lead negotiators under Maybot, and definitely the most incompetent out of a large and strong field for that title.
Click to expand...

Indeed that was why I posted it


Meanwhile, this would be hilarious if true. Not sure Parliament can be undissolved but still. It would be utterly insane for the rebels to do this (which makes it more likely)

It is GBbies


https://x.com/christopherhope/status/1793382405203456276

Wow! Extraordinary but true - some furious Conservative MPs are tonight working on a plot to CALL OFF the general election by replacing Rishi Sunak as leader before Parliament is dissolved next Thursday.
One rebel Tory MP tells me he believes “several” more letters of no confidence in Sunak have been submitted to 1922 chairman Sir Graham Brady.
The senior Conservative MP told me: “Today has clearly been an absolute disaster but the election is NOT irrevocable; up until the point of the Dissolution of Parliament - when the writs are moved to begin the contests, it can still be aborted.
“In other words, if enough Tory MPs, who are clearly going to lose their seats in this already utterly shambolic campaign, write to Sir Graham Brady, tomorrow , the election could still be revoked.”
Last edited
9:44 PM · May 22, 2024
·
214.9K
Views
Click to expand...
 
The Don said:
The government is crowing about the fact that UK inflation is back down to 2.3%. While this is somewhat good news, it glosses over the fact that prices are significantly higher than they were a couple of years ago.
Click to expand...

And remember too, these days the basket of goods used to calculate inflation contains very few staple goods that ordinary households buy any more. That's why we've seen food prices (even at the top of the inflationary curve) rise at much faster and higher rates than official inflation would suggest they should be.
 
Andy_Ross said:
The deputy PM is urging british citizens to stockpile 3 days worth of food and water to help build ‘national resilience’ amid fears of prolonged power cuts, cyber attacks and floods.
Click to expand...

It's probably because they've been told that the imports systems are on the point of collapsing, and with no imports, there's no food.
 
The Guardian's live text commentary has this from a political analyst, outlining five reasons Rish! chose a snap election in July:
1/ Key aides told PM inflation is now at its “election sweet spot” - 2.3% was today’s print - & warned it may rise again by autumn

2/ No fiscal space for NI cuts in Sept 1/

3/ Concern legal challenges will further delay/block flights to Rwanda taking off

4/ Mess in the English Channel with small boats during the summer months

5/ Nigel Farage hasn’t yet decided whether to front Reform UK, so snap poll may boost Tory prospects
Click to expand...
 
The Don said:
The government is crowing about the fact that UK inflation is back down to 2.3%. While this is somewhat good news, it glosses over the fact that prices are significantly higher than they were a couple of years ago.
Click to expand...

I think this is one of the reasons for the snap election, try to get the votes counted before the Sun & Mail readers get their crayons out & realise that inflation being back to where it was 18 months ago doesn't mean prices, or mortgage repayments, are.
 
Norman Alexander said:
Incorrect. It's been a complete ******* disaster since the start of Brexit, not just today. And guess who is responsible for that!
Click to expand...

It's been a disaster since Cameron & Osbourne tore up Brown's recovery plan and opted to inflict austerity instead. It's just that people, people who are listened to, only cared as the suffering climbed up the socio economic scale.
 
I'm planning my election viewing schedule -

Stay up very late the night before, sleep in for ages (and I can!), maybe try to catch a nap in the afternoon. Get in a half bottle of a good single-malt scotch and dance around as Tory wanker after Tory wanker gets the boot.

Rees-Smog, Johnson and Sunak himself would be the top trophies. Patel and Braverman too.
 
Woke up to this wonderful news this morning.

My summary of his announcement would be:

"Drowning rat, desperately trying to cling to power, while ship of state sinks."
 
I'll (hopefully!) be working the election day itself. I'll be planning to maybe keep myself up for the night and a solid portion of the next day before basically sleeping for as long as possible.

Backup plan is to nap in the late morning the day after.

I'm excited though, and the extra money will be good.
 
GlennB said:
I'm planning my election viewing schedule -

Stay up very late the night before, sleep in for ages (and I can!), maybe try to catch a nap in the afternoon. Get in a half bottle of a good single-malt scotch and dance around as Tory wanker after Tory wanker gets the boot.

Rees-Smog, Johnson and Sunak himself would be the top trophies. Patel and Braverman too.
Click to expand...

Truss and Kwazi, bonus.
 
Pixel42 said:
Because it's a party political statement. Only government business can be done inside No 10, apparently, hence the podium outside it for all such party announcements.
Click to expand...

I would have thought announcing the election date was government business.
 
Tory Map Claire Coutinhoe says that the price of electricity, gas and other fuels fell by 27% in the year to April - the largest fall on record.
There are brighter days ahead if we stick with the plan.

No sign of my gas and electric bill dropping by 27% though.
 
Last edited:
How shall we announce the election?

How about a speech in the rain while someone blasts the the Labour 1997 landslide theme over the top?
Then forcibly eject Sky News out of the launch event but make sure they film it.
 
jimbob said:
No, which is why the lectern had no government crest
Click to expand...

Well, I'd have thought that simply announcing the fact that parliament was being dissolved and an election was coming was government business, but then he couldn't have had the part about how wonderful he was, and how you should vote the Tories back in.
 
GlennB said:
I'm planning my election viewing schedule -

Stay up very late the night before, sleep in for ages (and I can!), maybe try to catch a nap in the afternoon. Get in a half bottle of a good single-malt scotch and dance around as Tory wanker after Tory wanker gets the boot.

Rees-Smog, Johnson and Sunak himself would be the top trophies. Patel and Braverman too.
Click to expand...

I wish I shared your optimism. :o:o

I fear a night of disappointment as swings to Labour are much smaller than expected and the Conservatives somehow manage to be the largest single party (though without a majority).
 
Andy_Ross said:
I would have thought announcing the election date was government business.
Click to expand...

Elections, concessions, resignations etc are always announced from that silly podium, so apparently not.

Why they didn't erect a weather covering, or at least give the guy an umbrella, I have no idea.
 
Which is why I hope that story about the 1922 committee letters is true.

It would be utterly stupid but the MPs probably think they have nothing to lose.

But they couldn't get a new PM even if they did remove Sunak as party leader.

And Sunak would remain PM unless he lost a VONC, which is not an internal Parliamentary Tory party vote.

ETA: Which I think would mean Parliament would still end up being dissolved but the Tory party would have no leader.
 
Last edited:
Andy_Ross said:
Tory Map Claire Coutinhoe says that the price of electricity, gas and other fuels fell by 27% in the year to April - the largest fall on record.
There are brighter days ahead if we stick with the plan.

No sign of my gas and electric bill dropping by 27% though.
Click to expand...

Was she refering to wholesale prices? If so it's great news because it means the energy companies profits will once again be obscene rather than just jaw dropping!
 
jimbob said:
Which is why I hope that story about the 1922 committee letters is true.

It would be utterly stupid but the MPs probably think they have nothing to lose.

But they couldn't get a new PM even if they did remove Sunak as party leader.

And Sunak would remain PM unless he lost a VONC, which is not an internal Parliamentary Tory party vote.

ETA: Which I think would mean Parliament would still end up being dissolved but the Tory party would have no leader.
Click to expand...
They've got a leader now?
:eye-poppi
 
Rish! has basically admitted that any potential Rwanda flights won't depart before the election. So much for that potentially being a lifesaver.
 
The Don said:
I wish I shared your optimism. :o:o

I fear a night of disappointment as swings to Labour are much smaller than expected and the Conservatives somehow manage to be the largest single party (though without a majority).
Click to expand...

Indeed; a combination of polling not being completely accurate, and a lot people who would have voted Labour staying home because they think they don't need to vote for a foregone conclusion.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Back
Top Bottom