Britain's next leader

[Nearly Sane]

So it could go either way, then.

No, Hunt isn't in favour of proroguing

[Nearly Sane]

So Darroch has fallen on his own sword, that the dickhead Johnson held. Johnson is a disgrace.

[ippy]

So the latest polls seem to indicate a landslide for the dangerous lying incompetent racist who is possibly going to prorogue parliament.

As long as the referendum result is fully honoured, I'd even support Margaret T, if she was still around.

ippy

[jeremyp]

So Darroch has fallen on his own sword, that the dickhead Johnson held. Johnson is a disgrace.

He had no choice once those emails were leaked. He could no longer work with the Trump administration so he couldn't do his job. This is actually a disastrous episode. Whoever leaked those emails needs to go to prison.

[Gordon]

As long as the referendum result is fully honoured, I'd even support Margaret T, if she was still around.

ippy

So, ippy, did the referendum result specify that a 'no deal' exit from the EU masterminded by a bunch of right-wing incompetent lying fuckwits should be considered as being an acceptable approach to take?

In any event the referendum has been shown to be worthless as a meaningful policy imperative in that the simplistic 'Remain vs Leave' question clearly, as has been shown, bears no relationship to the actually complexities of 'leave' (even ignoring Tory incompetence): so any shouts of '17.4 million voted for it ' is just a fallacious ad pop. 

Mind you, the fat lady has yet to sing and since it seems we are about to see a particularly incompetent and lying fuckwit become PM there must be a chance that either he will mismanage affairs, or failing that some of the grown-ups in Westminster will intervene, so that Brexit is stopped.

 

[ProfessorDavey]

As long as the referendum result is fully honoured, I'd even support Margaret T, if she was still around.

What do you mean by fully honoured

Sure the only thing that was asked (and has a mandate) is to leave the EU - which is binary, we are a member or we are not a member, there is nothing 'fully' about it.

I guess you could argue that 'fully' in this context means what was promised by the leave side in the referendum debate - if that's the case leaving without a deal wouldn't be honouring the referendum result as no-one on the leave side was suggesting that is what we should do in the run up to the referendum. No-one can legitimately claim that there is a mandate for no deal.

[Harrowby Hall]

What disappoints me about this miserable affair is the spineless response from the Government.

Trump should have been told firmly that he was meddling in affairs which were none of his business. He should have been asked if his ambassador was sending confidential evaluations of the state of UK government - and if so, toid to withdraw him immediately.

Theresa May should have publicly informed him that he was totally unqualified to provide any form of advice about matters he did not understand. No doubt she is currently wondering whether her visit to Washington, shortly after Trump became president, during which they were filmed walking hand in hand, was not the most stupid decision she had ever made.

[jeremyp]

He should have been asked if his ambassador was sending confidential evaluations of the state of UK government

Of course he is. That's part of his job.

Kim Darroch absolutely had to resign, but not because he's sending critical reports of the US government back to Britain (which is his job), but because they have become public. Darroch can no longer work with the US government  which is the other part of his job. It's not his fault, it is the fault of whoever leaked a confidential communication. That person must be caught and prosecuted. They have

a) damaged diplomatic relations with an administration known for its capriciousness
b) deprived us of a good ambassador
c) wrecked a man's career
d) made it hard for Darroch's successor - or any ambassador - to send back honest appraisals of bad regimes for fear of those appraisals being leaked and ending their career.

There is nothing good about this affair whatsoever.

[Harrowby Hall]

Of course he is. That's part of his job.

And I am well aware of this. What you are missing from my comment is my implied irony. And that I think that this is an instance where the best response to a bully is to stand up to him.

You are entirely correct in stating that the person who leaked the ambassador's emails should be cought, tried and (hopefully) punished. I also think that Trump should be told - in no uncertain terms - to keep his nose out of other countries' business.

[Nearly Sane]

Of course he is. That's part of his job.

Kim Darroch absolutely had to resign, but not because he's sending critical reports of the US government back to Britain (which is his job), but because they have become public. Darroch can no longer work with the US government  which is the other part of his job. It's not his fault, it is the fault of whoever leaked a confidential communication. That person must be caught and prosecuted. They have

a) damaged diplomatic relations with an administration known for its capriciousness
b) deprived us of a good ambassador
c) wrecked a man's career
d) made it hard for Darroch's successor - or any ambassador - to send back honest appraisals of bad regimes for fear of those appraisals being leaked and ending their career.

There is nothing good about this affair whatsoever.

Don't disagree - but Johnson's prevarication in the debate is to my mind more dangerous in that in not defending Darroch for doing his job, he politicised the post to be about his own ambitions, and given he is likely to win, it undermines every diplomat we have because their PM will not have been willing to defend them for doing their job.

[jeremyp]

Don't disagree - but Johnson's prevarication in the debate is to my mind more dangerous in that in not defending Darroch for doing his job, he politicised the post to be about his own ambitions, and given he is likely to win, it undermines every diplomat we have because their PM will not have been willing to defend them for doing their job.

I'll be honest: I haven't been keeping up with what the two candidates have been saying. The whole thing just makes me want to cry, so I'm not really up with what Boris has said about this incident. If he has been critical of Darroch, then you are absolutely right. No ambassador will ever tell the truth to Boris as PM, they'll tell him what he wants to hear.

[Nearly Sane]

I'll be honest: I haven't been keeping up with what the two candidates have been saying. The whole thing just makes me want to cry, so I'm not really up with what Boris has said about this incident. If he has been critical of Darroch, then you are absolutely right. No ambassador will ever tell the truth to Boris as PM, they'll tell him what he wants to hear.

He wasn't so much critical non supportive. He left his idiot supporter, Ross Thomson, to say ' I don't think you defend diplomats when it's against the national interest' which automatically undermines all our diplomats.

[jeremyp]

He wasn't so much critical non supportive. He left his idiot supporter, Ross Thomson, to say ' I don't think you defend diplomats when it's against the national interest' which automatically undermines all our diplomats.

Yep, that'll do it.

Boris is unfit to lead a country. We can only hope, if he wins, the government collapses at the first opportunity.

[Nearly Sane]

Yep, that'll do it.

Boris is unfit to lead a country. We can only hope, if he wins, the government collapses at the first opportunity.

He has one principle which is 'I Love Me'.

[Gordon]

Since our next glorious leader will no doubt trigger a ministerial merry-go-round, with familiar faces heading off into the sunset - an entertaining look at one: the utterly useless Grayling.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/jul/18/exit-failing-grayling-the-3bn-master-of-disaster-bows-out

[Aruntraveller]

This also from The Guardian highlights the problem we have with Trump and Boris (and some others).

Basically it boils down to if you feel no shame then it is impossible to shame you.

https://tinyurl.com/Liarsandguff

[jeremyp]

Boris hasn't even taken power but he's already had a defeat and a rebellion.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/jul/18/tory-rebels-send-stark-warning-to-boris-johnson-over-no-deal-brexit

[ProfessorDavey]

Boris hasn't even taken power but he's already had a defeat and a rebellion.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/jul/18/tory-rebels-send-stark-warning-to-boris-johnson-over-no-deal-brexit

It is going to be an extremely bumpy ride for Boris, possibly even not being able to gain the confidence of the house.

He is also likely to see a by-election loss (of a current Tory seat) within a week or so of taking office.

[ippy]

I've no idea whether Boris'll make a good or bad job of P M, the only bonus I can see to having him as P M is it seems to be pissing off the remoaners, (remoaners the ones that lost the democratic referendum).

ippy

[Alan Burns]

At last we have a leader who is committed to honouring the choice made by the people of this country.

[Nearly Sane]

At last we have a leader who is committed to honouring the choice made by the people of this country.

That he's a lying racist incompetent narcissist is obviously fine by you because it's just like the god you worship. Johnson is less of a thug, his vague involvement in planning to assault someone is nothing on the genocidal loon you love.

[jeremyp]

I've no idea whether Boris'll make a good or bad job of P M, the only bonus I can see to having him as P M is it seems to be pissing off the remoaners, (remoaners the ones that lost the democratic referendum).

I find it interesting that, even though the Brexiteers won the referendum, they are the ones resorting to snide insults.

Instead of whinging at us, why don't you do something to sort out the calamitous mess your leaders have created?

[jeremyp]

At last we have a leader who is committed to honouring the choice made by the people of this country.

The choice made by the people who voted in a referendum one day three years ago.

You don't know what the will of the people is today.

[Gordon]

At last we have a leader who is committed to honouring the choice made by the people of this country.

People in some bits of the country, Alan, and by a minority in my nation. That the Tory party inflicts on us a lying and incompetent fuckwit as PM is something that they will regret in due course, and hopefully the UK electorate will punish the Tory party in due course.

I suspect too that the enthusiasm and confidence some have in this clown will be misplaced and it wouldn't be in the least surprised that all the wee Brexit enthusiasts, who are this evening rubbing thier hands in glee, might well end up not getting that which they crave - I hope so.

On the bright side, and if Brexit does happen, his selection will be a positive one for those of us who wish to extricate Scotland from this mess.

[ekim]

Well I am sure Mr Putin will be pleased.  He'll have at least three comedy shows to watch.