UK General Election 2017

[ProfessorDavey]

May going on the warpath about the EU - will probably work well with the Brexit faithful.   I suppose EU will say that they were flabbergasted about how little she knew about the EU, and well, anything really.    The main thing for her is for the Tories to win.

While I agree this will be red meat to the mouthy frothing brexit minority, I'm not sure it plays well more generally.

Firstly there will be alarm bells ringing in the minds of a load of people (remain and leave) over actually what deals we might get in reality (rather than in the fantasy mind of the brexit crew). Plus it doesn't ring true to the strong and stable leadership mantra - May is looking neither strong nor stable right now.

[Nearly Sane]

Why is she campaigning from outside Downing St?

[Rhiannon]

http://newsthump.com/2017/05/02/vladimir-putin-to-ask-eu-for-tips-on-leaking-during-election-campaigns/

[wigginhall]

While I agree this will be red meat to the mouthy frothing brexit minority, I'm not sure it plays well more generally.

Firstly there will be alarm bells ringing in the minds of a load of people (remain and leave) over actually what deals we might get in reality (rather than in the fantasy mind of the brexit crew). Plus it doesn't ring true to the strong and stable leadership mantra - May is looking neither strong nor stable right now.

Good points,  She is certainly looking quite weird now.   Reminds me of the old idea that you exaggerate the opposite of what you are feeling - weak and wobbly.   

I think she will use Brexit to win the election, and then switch tactics.   I can't believe she will be chief negotiator.  She is too dim, and not knowledgeable enough.  But who is?

[wigginhall]

Why is she campaigning from outside Downing St?

Droit du seigneur.

[Rhiannon]

She never wanted Brexit, did she, and it shows. Her heart isn't in it.

[Nearly Sane]

Droit du seigneur.

ex seigneur as of today

[wigginhall]

She never wanted Brexit, did she, and it shows. Her heart isn't in it.

Heart - hmm, not an organ I associate with her.

[wigginhall]

If Labour were half-way competent, they could give her a run for her money.  Alas, and alack.    We are fucked.

[Rhiannon]

Heart - hmm, not an organ I associate with her.

Come on, she's a vicar's daughter.

[Rhiannon]

If Labour were half-way competent, they could give her a run for her money.  Alas, and alack.    We are fucked.

Yeah, for all Diane Abbot made me laugh it really isn't funny. And that follows on from Dawn Butler's Costa gaffe.

[wigginhall]

What's that old Slipknot track - all hope is gone.

The state of the nation - violation!
A broken promise is as good as a lie
The hell is humongous, the devil's among us
And we will burn because we won't unite!

[Gordon]

Seems like Mother Theresa might be losing the plot (not that she had much of one anyway).

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-39787353

[Walt Zingmatilder]

She still cannot stand at the Downing Street lectern without doing the Coco the Clown routine with her hair.

[wigginhall]

She still cannot stand at the Downing Street lectern without doing the Coco the Clown routine with her hair.

It's when she starts gurning, that we start to shriek and reach for the bottle.   You mean we're going to see this for 5 years? 

[Nearly Sane]

Much as I have little time for May, is her appearance important?

[wigginhall]

Much as I have little time for May, is her appearance important?

I pick up false persona in her gurning.    I suppose yes, in that sense, appearance is important to me, although not stuff like clothes.

[Nearly Sane]

I pick up false persona in her gurning.    I suppose yes, in that sense, appearance is important to me, although not stuff like clothes.

it was more that following on from Vlad's comment about her hair.

[Nearly Sane]

Seems like Mother Theresa might be losing the plot (not that she had much of one anyway).

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-39787353

While this is fake news, it will play well amongst some. Deliberate and lying attempt to woo UKIP voters.  Wasn't the last time we saw this the Zinoviev letter?

[ProfessorDavey]

While this is fake news, it will play well amongst some. Deliberate and lying attempt to woo UKIP voters.  Wasn't the last time we saw this the Zinoviev letter?

She seems to want to have her cake and eat it (again).

May claims the key issue for this election is leadership in the brexit negotiations. Fair enough. But then she thinks it only appropriate for one side of those negotiations to input into that debate. If it is reasonable for May to set out her stall as to how the brexit negotiations should go then surely it is just as reasonable for the other side of the negotiating table to be able to do the same. Not to allow that, or somehow to claim this is unreasonable interference in the election, is frankly nonsense. If she wants to talk about the impact of brexit on the UK and the election, so should others. Only by having a two sided debate can UK voters assess whether May's claims are legitimate or fantasy.

[jakswan]

May ...she thinks it only appropriate for one side of those negotiations to input into that debate.

On what basis?

[Nearly Sane]

Alex Massie, trenchant as ever, as the Spectator's token sane person.


https://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2017/05/the-conservative-party-is-treating-the-electorate-like-mugs/

[ProfessorDavey]

On what basis?

On the basis that she considers it inappropriate and interfering in our election if the EU negotiating side comment on the process. She was very clear about that yesterday.

She were prefer that she can give her side of the story only.

[wigginhall]

It sounds as if she is eliding EU negotiators commenting on Brexit, and giving advice about the election.   I'm not aware that anyone of them have done the latter, but then it won't matter to the Mail and the Express, and many Leave voters.   May is posing as Britannia defeating the alien hordes, or something, and presumably it will hoover up UKIP votes and others.   In a funny way, it's a rather dull election so far, so maybe some bright young Tory spads have suggested gingering it up.   

[ProfessorDavey]

It sounds as if she is eliding EU negotiators commenting on Brexit, and giving advice about the election.   I'm not aware that anyone of them have done the latter, but then it won't matter to the Mail and the Express, and many Leave voters.   May is posing as Britannia defeating the alien hordes, or something, and presumably it will hoover up UKIP votes and others.   In a funny way, it's a rather dull election so far, so maybe some bright young Tory spads have suggested gingering it up.

I think that's pretty well spot on.

I think it is perfectly reasonable (indeed essential) for those on the EU side of the negotiating table to comment on, correct, and provide their view on the nature of the negotiation approach. To suggest this isn't appropriate, as May did yesterday, is quite frankly unacceptable. Given that the discussions are taking place between the UK government and the EU, no-one other than the EU negotiators is in a position to point out inaccuracies or errors in May's interpretation of the process. The opposition in the UK can't do it as they aren't involved. And as the snap election is all about the brexit negotiations, we as voters need both sides and honest appraisal, not just Tory Pollyanna-ish spin.