The car's on fire and there's no driver at the wheel - The Tory leadership elections

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I guess you can only wait so long

imago, Sunday, 23 June 2019 10:18 (five years ago) link

how is it still so close

That's exactly what I thought.

Orpheus Knutt (Tom D.), Sunday, 23 June 2019 10:22 (five years ago) link

lol the union’s gonna die

turn me on and press my teabag (bizarro gazzara), Sunday, 23 June 2019 10:22 (five years ago) link

"ts: boris johnson vs wings over scotland" is how i break it down to an extent

mark s, Sunday, 23 June 2019 10:24 (five years ago) link

i'm sure that the technology already exists to solve the Scottish backstop problem

Rory end to the lowenbrow (Noodle Vague), Sunday, 23 June 2019 10:25 (five years ago) link

late show: a warning from history

gove is gove (bad not good), morley is morley (good not bad)*, the greer sisters are differentially problematic (germaine is terrible, bonnie is mildly blairite) -- and no one has yet mentioned the brexit beatle >:|

*has he ever made a single political noise of any kind?

mark s, Sunday, 23 June 2019 10:36 (five years ago) link

lol the union’s not gonna die

Orpheus Knutt (Tom D.), Sunday, 23 June 2019 10:45 (five years ago) link

I am a bit interested in her, in that I never picked up her being so full of bile and froth when she was reviewing things on TV. I don't know if I was just a poor judge of character or if she's been somehow radicalised since then.

― Alba, Saturday, 22 June 2019 Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

That was a long time ago she was on TV reviewing things.

― Orpheus Knutt (Tom D.), Saturday, 22 June 2019 Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

also she was bad

― mark s, Saturday, 22 June 2019 Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Poor woman and two-year-old murdered by partner in Essex. Neighbour shouted at police: "You KNEW this was going to happen & did nothing."

— Allison Pearson (@allisonpearson) June 6, 2011

xyzzzz__, Sunday, 23 June 2019 10:46 (five years ago) link

i am crossed out there because as always i am correct

mark s, Sunday, 23 June 2019 10:49 (five years ago) link

Right, it just adds nothing extra. Its not as if the guy wouldn't be racist if he hadn't met Bannon. Or as if the UK is a wonderful place for migrants and its now under threat because of it.

Are we really flogging the argument that because things are bad they can't get meaningfully worse?

One Nation Tories are in the minority these days but I'd guess the supposedly liberal Cameron contingent is reasonably prominent. For those people it's about the optics - it's not about the logical consistency of going "well this amount of hostile environment was OK but Steve Bannon is beyond the pale" - although they will do that. But being associated with a straight-up fascist like Bannon is a terrible look for a party that needs the votes of the socially liberal to win.

Looking like you're a cog in a supranational far right conspiracy isn't exactly a great look either but most voters won't think like that anyway.

Matt DC, Sunday, 23 June 2019 11:11 (five years ago) link

Are we really flogging the argument that because things are bad they can't get meaningfully worse?

I don't think Carole writes up something on Bannon praising Johnson means things getting worse but sure go ahead and 'flog' this one.

xyzzzz__, Sunday, 23 June 2019 11:19 (five years ago) link

I don't think there are any significant number of One Nation Tories at all in terms of there being a clique who would put social policies over economic ones or who aren't fully committed to that ol' free market or have any record of campaigning for a better model of wealth redistribution. Maybe that is judging what makes a one-tory by the old definition or whatever, but makes one these days is not very clearly defined or even complete bullshit as far as I can see.

calzino, Sunday, 23 June 2019 11:34 (five years ago) link

* what makes one*

calzino, Sunday, 23 June 2019 11:34 (five years ago) link

*fucking typing*

calzino, Sunday, 23 June 2019 11:35 (five years ago) link

Did you watch the video? He isn't just praising him, he's claiming he advised him.

Tracer's read that Bannon might be exaggerating his own importance seems pretty credible to me. But even if he was just praising him it would still be newsworthy because it would suggest that Bannon *was* expecting things to get materially worse for a lot of people, and that our most likely next PM might have done something to give him that idea. Even if it isn't of itself hugely significant in the grand scale of things that doesn't make it a non-story or something to be shrugged off.

(xxxpost)

Matt DC, Sunday, 23 June 2019 11:39 (five years ago) link

It’s a side note. It doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be covered but framing it as proving Johnson is Bannon’s ‘protege’ does nothing for the credibility of journalists meant to be holding Johnson and his backers up to scrutiny. You only have to look at the front pages of the Telegraph, Mail, Sun, etc, to know there is a coordinated effort by the rich and influential to make Johnson PM. Elevating the importance of a gin-addled old wretch, based on nothing more than his own bragging, to a pivotal cog in the machine just obfuscates what’s actually happening imo.

ShariVari, Sunday, 23 June 2019 11:52 (five years ago) link

The bigger question is why on earth Johnson would need to take advice from Bannon. Because as out of touch as Boris is its not like he doesn't know how to play the media or knows less about the UK than a man who thinks Yaxley-Lennon represents the backbone of this country. It isn't worth the risk.

The only reason I can think of for his involvement is that its a condition of campaign funding and even then I'm sceptical because its not like Johnson couldn't easily get the money from somewhere else.

Matt DC, Sunday, 23 June 2019 11:54 (five years ago) link

broader web of connections with Trump and his people and Farage/Banks i think, and sure Bannon is the loose cannon gobshite amongst that crowd but

Rory end to the lowenbrow (Noodle Vague), Sunday, 23 June 2019 11:57 (five years ago) link

Matt - I didn't watch it at first, just read the piece and massively eyerolled at the thing.

Now I have and I need more than a few texts exchanged/ "advice" - we all knew there is more than nothing but if this is to become substantial I need more meat on the bones of this "advice" business.

xyzzzz__, Sunday, 23 June 2019 12:02 (five years ago) link

to be clear i think this is only really relevant to the extent it might indicate a determined play for No Deal by Johnson as PM

Rory end to the lowenbrow (Noodle Vague), Sunday, 23 June 2019 12:04 (five years ago) link

Maybe Boris isn't as smart as people think he is. Shockah!

Orpheus Knutt (Tom D.), Sunday, 23 June 2019 12:04 (five years ago) link

cadwalladr has a v unhelpful* tendency to hype everything as bad largely bcz ultimately routing back to a vast putin-devised and -run machine, which
(a) overlooks (in fact lol "erases") the more urgently present role of homegrown media and (as SV says) "the rich and the influential", and
(b) allows nitwits to then sketch in their own idiotic connections (putin = stalin = MR seamas milne = chairman alph etc)

*unhelpful not least bcz it gets such breathless traction from ppl who actually aren't themselves terrible on the badness of our media (like peter jukes)

mark s, Sunday, 23 June 2019 12:06 (five years ago) link

It might also indicate that Boris has bitten off more than he chew in his quest for Number 10 and started playing with forces over which he has minimal control - as opposed the ones where he does like a largely supine British press. I definitely wouldn't rule out stupidity here.

Matt DC, Sunday, 23 June 2019 12:07 (five years ago) link

One nation Tory strongholds - the isle of sodor , Brensham, Kembleford; and the last one living might well be uncle Quentin.

American Fear of Pranksterism (Ed), Sunday, 23 June 2019 12:38 (five years ago) link

You only have to look at the front pages of the Telegraph, Mail, Sun, etc, to know there is a coordinated effort by the rich and influential to make Johnson PM.

I don't disagree with this, but Boris has been runaway fav from day one, the RW press want to back a winner early, and right now the alternative is Hunt. Its difficult to see why they would be any different, its backing the strongest horse. What will they get from Boris that they won't get from Hunt?

anvil, Sunday, 23 June 2019 13:01 (five years ago) link

chaotically unexpected copy

mark s, Sunday, 23 June 2019 13:06 (five years ago) link

hunt only delivers "ludicrously unexpected copy"

mark s, Sunday, 23 June 2019 13:06 (five years ago) link

carrie symonds, according to the times tonight, 'appears to be a carefree blonde, but is a formidable campaigner'

lefal junglist platton (wtev), Sunday, 23 June 2019 20:28 (five years ago) link

same

turn me on and press my teabag (bizarro gazzara), Sunday, 23 June 2019 20:43 (five years ago) link

probably missing a subclause around wine stains, idk, xp

lefal junglist platton (wtev), Sunday, 23 June 2019 20:50 (five years ago) link

teabag pressing tho....

lefal junglist platton (wtev), Sunday, 23 June 2019 20:54 (five years ago) link

Hold on, isn’t this entirely spontaneous and non planned photograph Stasi interference into people’s private lives? https://t.co/LrVMffuQ7r

— Owen Jones🌹 (@OwenJones84) June 24, 2019

Uptown VONC (Le Bateau Ivre), Monday, 24 June 2019 12:32 (five years ago) link

*scrutinises pixels*

I’m told by the Boris Johnson campaign that the picture is genuinely from Sunday.

Here - just to pass the time - is what Johnson’s hair looked like on Saturday so everyone can compare and contrast

Still hoping copyright of Sunday photo released.... pic.twitter.com/4aimcLHuHG

— Sam Coates Sky (@SamCoatesSky) June 24, 2019

turn me on and press my teabag (bizarro gazzara), Monday, 24 June 2019 12:42 (five years ago) link

maybe 'scrutonises' would be more apt tbh

turn me on and press my teabag (bizarro gazzara), Monday, 24 June 2019 12:42 (five years ago) link

Hope he can grow the economy as quick

— Steptoe (@Steptoesyard) June 24, 2019

Uptown VONC (Le Bateau Ivre), Monday, 24 June 2019 13:30 (five years ago) link

I've been sitting on this straight fire hot take for awhile now but.. is Boris' vaunted "charisma" just a wee bit OVERSTATED

Lil' Brexit (Tracer Hand), Monday, 24 June 2019 21:42 (five years ago) link

Yeah but consider the kind of people that vaunt it

Rory end to the lowenbrow (Noodle Vague), Monday, 24 June 2019 21:43 (five years ago) link

he's over

mark s, Monday, 24 June 2019 21:45 (five years ago) link

he's mr lover lover

Rory end to the lowenbrow (Noodle Vague), Monday, 24 June 2019 21:48 (five years ago) link

There are no charismatic Tories.

nashwan, Monday, 24 June 2019 21:50 (five years ago) link

(xp) In the kingdom of the blind...

Orpheus Knutt (Tom D.), Monday, 24 June 2019 21:51 (five years ago) link

Everyone died because of Tory cuts

nashwan, Monday, 24 June 2019 21:52 (five years ago) link

What do you do to switch off? Boris: “I like to paint. I make things. I make models. I make models of buses. I don’t mean buses, I get old wooden crates and I paint them. And I paint the passengers enjoying themselves, on the low carbon bus. You really want to know this?”
WTF?

— Tom Newton Dunn (@tnewtondunn) June 25, 2019

Alba, Tuesday, 25 June 2019 10:21 (five years ago) link

what could possibly go wrong

Tonight I was meant to be debating Boris Johnson on Sky, answering questions about our plans for Britain. Sadly, Boris has pulled out – which I don't believe is fair on you, the public. So from 8pm I will be answering as many of your questions as poss - tweet me using #BoJoNoShow

— Jeremy Hunt (@Jeremy_Hunt) June 25, 2019

big beautiful wario (bizarro gazzara), Tuesday, 25 June 2019 11:36 (five years ago) link

he wins the snappy hash tag competition anyway

koogs, Tuesday, 25 June 2019 11:49 (five years ago) link

#BoJoHoShow

Rory end to the lowenbrow (Noodle Vague), Tuesday, 25 June 2019 11:50 (five years ago) link

#blowjobs4votes

Ned Trifle X, Tuesday, 25 June 2019 11:53 (five years ago) link

You only have to look at the front pages of the Telegraph, Mail, Sun, etc, to know there is a coordinated effort by the rich and influential to make Johnson PM.

Mail seems to not like him much. Although will presumably swing behind him for the sake of The Nation's Unity once he's in No.10.

Ned Trifle X, Tuesday, 25 June 2019 11:55 (five years ago) link


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