Politics Today

[arthur]

a more than cogent argument to say he was targeted unduly by elements who never forgave him for Brexit.

There is a fine line between loyalty and gullibility. A cogent argument? Can we hear it please?

Referred to a privileges committee by a House of Commons that Got Brexit Done. Evidence based on leaks from, among others, that well known Remaniac Dominic Cummings. Investigated by a committee with a Tory majority. Forensically questioned and exposed, not by the unmemorable non Tory members of the committee, but by those the leading lights of the Remainer Blob, Sir Bernard Jenkin and Charles Walker.

Cogent argument my arse. Are you now joining Mr Jinx and becoming a fan of Donald Trump and his attitude to taking personal responsibility?

 

[Grecian2K]

It’s a brave if not foolish man who seeks to tell anyone what the dominant view is within the broad church that is the Tory party.

I think Broadchurch is a very good parallel.
A strange, insular community peopled by unlikeable characters, each driven by their own suspicions and self-interest.
The main difference is that, whereas in the TV series it was only one small boy thrown off the edge of the cliff, today's Tory (mis)government seems determined the do the same to a whole country.
PS: Must go. Laura is about to interview old Fartage on her show. I could do with a good laugh.

 

[tavyred]

Can you explain how this Prince over the Water will become party leader? I don't think it's particularly brave or foolish to suggest that:
1. The Tories will lose the election
2. Sunak will resign to spend more time with his money
3. There will be a leadership election in which Johnson will not be a candidate as he won't be an MP
4. The new leader starts to establish themselves, and begins the long hard task of making the Conservative Party a serious political force, capable of winning elections.
5. Johnson, now in his sixties, manages to win a by-election.

Personally I think 5 is unlikely, because he will have calmed down by then and realised that leading a rump party against a government majority of over 100 is not an appealing prospect.

But even if 5 does happen, why on earth would a party that has just elected a new leader, whom the vast majority want to get behind and support, want to replace them with Johnson? This is what's already happening with Sunak, as Johnson's failed insurrection have demonstrated.

Perhaps you suggest he will bide his time and make his move in the fourth year of the new parliament, but this sounds extremely unlikely, for all sorts of reasons...

I gave no time parameter for a BJ return.
BJ gets to be leader again if manages to get on the ballot and the membership, many of whom like him greatly vote for him. If the past is anything to go by, finding a seat and him winning it is the least of his problems. I’m not au fait with the inner workings of the Tory party, but unless party HQ can somehow block him, all BJ has to do is find a local Tory constituency willing to take him on. It’s my perception at least that unlike Labour, CCHQ cannot just dismiss a candidate out of hand.
If Sunak loses the next election badly, it will be interesting to see how many of each faction of the Tory parliamentary party remains and how will that effect any candidates ability to get on the ballot.

 

[Egg]

I gave no time parameter for a BJ return.
I’m not au fait with the inner workings of the Tory party, but unless party HQ can somehow block him, all BJ has to do is find a local Tory constituency willing to take him on. It’s my perception at least that unlike Labour, CCHQ cannot just dismiss a candidate out of hand.

From what I've read, CCHQ can absolutely block Johnson from standing in a by-election. FWIW, I imagine he'd quite like this to happen so he can up the martyr rhetoric. Of course, at this point in time, there's no evidence anyone wants him, less still that he would win a by-election, so imagine Sunak et al will take a watching brief.

 

[arthur]

If Sunak loses the next election badly, it will be interesting to see how many of each faction of the Tory parliamentary party remains and how will that effect any candidates ability to get on the ballot.

I completely agree with you about this. The future of the Tory party will be to a considerable extent decided by which individuals retain their seats at the forthcoming election. Someone even more nerdy than me could no doubt produce a list of the safest through to the most vulnerable, but I think we'll just have to wait and see....

 

[tavyred]

From what I've read, CCHQ can absolutely block Johnson from standing in a by-election. FWIW, I imagine he'd quite like this to happen so he can up the martyr rhetoric. Of course, at this point in time, there's no evidence anyone wants him, less still that he would win a by-election, so imagine Sunak et al will take a watching brief.

It would certainly be interesting to know on what grounds a BJ candidature could or would be blocked, especially as he’s been selected countless times before. Every talking head I’ve seen has suggested the only way to stop him would be a rule change at the leadership election stage. Who knows what the political landscape will look like in the near future, the Tories could be wiped out next year in which case BJ could be viewed as the messiah again in certain Tory circles.

 

[Egg]

It would certainly be interesting to know on what grounds a BJ candidature could or would be blocked, especially as he’s been selected countless times before. Every talking head I’ve seen has suggested the only way to stop him would be a rule change at the leadership election stage. Who knows what the political landscape will look like in the near future, the Tories could be wiped out next year in which case BJ could be viewed as the messiah again in certain Tory circles.

The privileges committee report will be published this week. Parliament will then vote on whether to endorse its findings.

Assuming it upholds the findings of the privileges committee then, notwithstanding any punishment parliament might met out, it's not hard to envisage a scenario where CCHQ can justify not endorsing the candiature of someone who dismissed the privileges committee as 'a kangaroo court'.

 

[tavyred]

There is a fine line between loyalty and gullibility. A cogent argument? Can we hear it please?

Referred to a privileges committee by a House of Commons that Got Brexit Done. Evidence based on leaks from, among others, that well known Remaniac Dominic Cummings. Investigated by a committee with a Tory majority. Forensically questioned and exposed, not by the unmemorable non Tory members of the committee, but by those the leading lights of the Remainer Blob, Sir Bernard Jenkin and Charles Walker.

Cogent argument my arse. Are you now joining Mr Jinx and becoming a fan of Donald Trump and his attitude to taking personal responsibility?

There’s none so blind as those who refuse to see. I’ve listed many times my various suspicions on the actions and motivations of those who wanted BJ gone, it’s the very underhand nature of these events that every time I voice them I come across as a bit of conspiracy loon. At this stage I’m happy for you to believe that I am a indeed just a BJ fanboy and thus unable to discern fact from fiction, but as I trust my political instincts implicitly, rest assured I’ll be here to say I told you so when the facts (as I see them) reveal themselves.

 

[Phil Sayers]

Who knows what the political landscape will look like in the near future, the Tories could be wiped out next year in which case BJ could be viewed as the messiah again in certain Tory circles.

I don't disagree that certain Tory circles would likely welcome a second coming of the messiah following an election obliteration but surely there would be other Tory circles that blame him for the scale of the defeat? While he may be the darling of the party amongst many of the rank and file those same people may seriously underestimate how unpopular his various antics (essentially all caused by gaping character flaws) have made him among large sections of the wider electorate.

 

[angelic upstart]

There’s none so blind as those who refuse to see. I’ve listed many times my various suspicions on the actions and motivations of those who wanted BJ gone, it’s the very underhand nature of these events that every time I voice them I come across as a bit of conspiracy loon. At this stage I’m happy for you to believe that I am a indeed just a BJ fanboy and thus unable to discern fact from fiction, but as I trust my political instincts implicitly, rest assured I’ll be here to say I told you so when the facts (as I see them) reveal themselves.

If he didn't lie and do silly/naughty things all the time, it wouldn't be an issue. It really is as simple as that.