Snap General Election called

[Sandydragon]

Apparently the return of Cameron means the remainers have won.

UKIP faction really NOT happy right now. Might need more popcorn at this rate

[Puja]

Apparently the return of Cameron means the remainers have won.

UKIP faction really NOT happy right now. Might need more popcorn at this rate

I mean, it might not be a terrible move by Sunak. It could be a sign that he plans to pivot from placating the right wing and instead abandon populism and culture wars bullshit, let the right wing self-immolate, and just try and focus on winning enough of southern England to keep the Tories as a functional political force post-election.

May be optimistic thinking, but it could be a way forward. If he decides that he doesn't need to keep them happy anymore (and he has got a solid enough working majority that that might be doable), they don't really have much they can do. I suppose they could call a leadership vote, but they don't particularly want to win and then inherit responsibility for the election loss.

Puja

[Sandydragon]

It’s not without merit.

Firstly it removes one of the loudest right wingers from government and might make a few traditional Tory voters return to the fold. That’s a very tentative might, but a few will.

Secondly it removes a total pain in the arse and shoves her back n the back benches so collective responsibility can be restored and some party discipline imposed. From a party perspective not a bad thing.

The right wing will moan like crazy but will they risk another leadership election? Barring the total crazies who don’t have the numbers, I doubt it. It would cost them another bunch of percentage points and increase the scale of any massacre due at the next election.

The right will probably think that better to let Sunak own that defeat and then push in opposition to control the party afterwards. They can then point to the Tories not being right wing enough.

The hope that moderates have is that they don’t lose too badly and can point to a turn around in fortunes. I think that only works of Sunak manages to hold onto enough seats so the scale of any Labour victory is very small or even a hung parliament. Unfortunately some of the most right wing MPs are in the safest seats.

[Which Tyler]

Dorries must be spitting feathers that Cameron's made it to the lords ahead of her.
And he wasn't even pwomised!

Poor, poor, deluded Dorries.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Johnson had the support of about 100 or so MPs, probably a few more who might have quietly acquiesced. If that had been the stated intention the 1922 would have had a riot. But with the economy tanking the logic of not drawing out a long battle as we had numerous hustings and rounds of voting was one they could push.

As it was , Boris probably could have secure the 100 votes, and indeed claimed to have done so.

Johnson said he had about 100 MPs backing him. So it must be true.

He cut short a holiday to come back for the contest. It was the perfect opportunity to have revenge on Sunak and the Tories who'd taken him down. Only his failure to secure the necessary support would have stopped him from running.

Brady suggested that the threshold has indeed been met. But I also suspect that as chair of the 1922 they had a chat over port and the realities were made clear to Boris

Yeah, well I'd take what they say with a large glass of port.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Obviously sacking Braverman is the right thing to do in the moral sense ie getting a dangerous person away from a position of power. Right for Sunak, we shall see.

Getting rid of her and then bringing in the great remainer Cameron is obviously doubling down on pissing off the far right. Likely it will boost Reform UK's vote but take some back from the Lib Dems and Labour. The next few polls will be interesting. As will the reaction of the Tory right.

[Puja]

Andrea Jenkyns becomes the first to submit a letter of no-confidence in Sunak.

"I hope other Conservative MPs follow suit," Jenkyns says, adding that "this is our last chance to stop [Labour leader Sir Keir] Starmer... we need to stop his socialist cabal."

I really wish Starmer was as cool as Jenkyns thinks he is.

Puja

[Which Tyler]

https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1724 ... 84111.html

Somehow, it’s time for #TheWeekInTory again, even though it’s still only Monday. Four more days of this week to go, and we’re already up to 74 points.

Fuck-a-doodle-doo

Anyway, do a quick snort of glue, and then let’s get stuck in.

[Son of Mathonwy]

With the huge focus on Cameron it's not very clear from the newspapers but actually a load of junior ministers took this opportunity to resign, leaving Sunak with a much bigger reshuffle to organize. They want a full 6 months out of government so they can be free to take jobs in the event of losing their current one in a May election. I'm sure there's something I could say here involving rats and sinking ships.

Esther McVey as minister not trusted with a portfolio is funny. She can create all sorts of furious anti-woke headlines without actually being able to do anything (I hope).

[Sandydragon]

With the huge focus on Cameron it's not very clear from the newspapers but actually a load of junior ministers took this opportunity to resign, leaving Sunak with a much bigger reshuffle to organize. They want a full 6 months out of government so they can be free to take jobs in the event of losing their current one in a May election. I'm sure there's something I could say here involving rats and sinking ships.

Esther McVey as minister not trusted with a portfolio is funny. She can create all sorts of furious anti-woke headlines without actually being able to do anything (I hope).

That appointment made me chuckle. It’s could be pretty smart by Sunak. Appease the right by giving them the anti woke lead but ensure McVey can’t actually do anything.

[Sandydragon]

Andrea Jenkyns becomes the first to submit a letter of no-confidence in Sunak.

"I hope other Conservative MPs follow suit," Jenkyns says, adding that "this is our last chance to stop [Labour leader Sir Keir] Starmer... we need to stop his socialist cabal."

I really wish Starmer was as cool as Jenkyns thinks he is.

Puja

In Jenkins’ view, I’m a radical socialist. You lot are off the scale…

[Which Tyler]

With the huge focus on Cameron it's not very clear from the newspapers but actually a load of junior ministers took this opportunity to resign, leaving Sunak with a much bigger reshuffle to organize.

Yeah, Russ mentions that - barring Boris' 55 in a day, this is the biggest mass-resignation in British history.
Barely gets a mention anywhere else.

[Son of Mathonwy]

With the huge focus on Cameron it's not very clear from the newspapers but actually a load of junior ministers took this opportunity to resign, leaving Sunak with a much bigger reshuffle to organize.

Yeah, Russ mentions that - barring Boris' 55 in a day, this is the biggest mass-resignation in British history.
Barely gets a mention anywhere else.

Yeah I'm surprised the Guardian haven't made a point of this, as further evidence of a crumbling regime.

[Son of Mathonwy]

With the huge focus on Cameron it's not very clear from the newspapers but actually a load of junior ministers took this opportunity to resign, leaving Sunak with a much bigger reshuffle to organize. They want a full 6 months out of government so they can be free to take jobs in the event of losing their current one in a May election. I'm sure there's something I could say here involving rats and sinking ships.

Esther McVey as minister not trusted with a portfolio is funny. She can create all sorts of furious anti-woke headlines without actually being able to do anything (I hope).

That appointment made me chuckle. It’s could be pretty smart by Sunak. Appease the right by giving them the anti woke lead but ensure McVey can’t actually do anything.

Yeah, it might be enough to keep them from boiling over. The thing is we're so close to mandatory end of term that if there's too much trouble Sunak can threaten to call the GE (and actually mean it).

He can keep the social far-right vaguely under control while getting on with his economic far-right policies, with Badenoch to back him up.

[Which Tyler]

Rwanda scheme unlawful
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/li ... ics-latest

Insert Fry is shocked gif here

[Which Tyler]

[Sandydragon]

Rwanda scheme unlawful
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/li ... ics-latest

Insert Fry is shocked gif here

I think we could all see that coming. Will the Tories have withdrawal from ECHR on their manifesto?

[morepork]

Are there any politicians in power anywhere in the world that aren't complete incompetent fuck trumpets? I'm loving the cream of the business crop failing utterly to competently run a public service.

Minister for Common Sense?? Is that an actual thing that has happened?

[Puja]

Are there any politicians in power anywhere in the world that aren't complete incompetent fuck trumpets? I'm loving the cream of the business crop failing utterly to competently run a public service.

Minister for Common Sense?? Is that an actual thing that has happened?

They're currently denying it. She's a "minister without portfolio" at present.

Puja

[Which Tyler]

And here's the Deputy Chairman of "The party of Law and Order"

[morepork]

That cafe extra is exhibiting Trump-Level delusions of being hard.What a fucking cartoon character.

[Puja]

And here's the Deputy Chairman of "The party of Law and Order"

Quite apart from the sheer inhumanity of it, I'm baffled that he doesn't even appear to understand what policy has been shot down today. "Send them straight back today"? Lee, sweetie, you do understand that this was never about "sending them back" but about foisting them off on a third party?

Puja

[Sandydragon]

It was also a massive white elephant. A few hundred asylum seekers at most would be sent to Rwanda, when the number awaiting a decision on whether or not they can remain is nearer 100k. Better to put the energy into processing claims properly and allowing asylum seekers to apply outside of the UK than this distraction politics rubbish.

[Puja]

It was also a massive white elephant. A few hundred asylum seekers at most would be sent to Rwanda, when the number awaiting a decision on whether or not they can remain is nearer 100k. Better to put the energy into processing claims properly and allowing asylum seekers to apply outside of the UK than this distraction politics rubbish.

I believe the logic was that it was "a deterrent", because desperate people who are willing to take a cheap dinghy across the English channel are well known for checking the Telegraph for the latest immigration policy before making decisions about their family's future.

Puja

[Son of Mathonwy]

It was also a massive white elephant. A few hundred asylum seekers at most would be sent to Rwanda, when the number awaiting a decision on whether or not they can remain is nearer 100k. Better to put the energy into processing claims properly and allowing asylum seekers to apply outside of the UK than this distraction politics rubbish.

I believe the logic was that it was "a deterrent", because desperate people who are willing to take a cheap dinghy across the English channel are well known for checking the Telegraph for the latest immigration policy before making decisions about their family's future.

Puja

It's made possible by the total inability of this government to place themselves in someone else's shoes (sometimes known as empathy). They just think 'shit, I'd be terrified to be deported to Rwanda' hence they assume it will stop people (who may be in a slightly different life position than the average Tory cabinet minister) from getting on boats.

. . . and the inability to admit that leaving the EU and it's reciprocal arrangement to return migrants to the first EU state they entered might just be a factor in the massive rise in boat numbers over the last few years.