Britain's next leader

[Spud]

I'd suggest that Scotland is being ignored more than London: because Scotland has the right to choose between being part of the UK outside the EU and being an independent
EU member, whereas London presumably doesn't have that choice.

[Spud]

Lots of people are being ignored. People are screaming that Brexit is a terrible idea from all parts of the UK, not just Scotland. About one voter in three in Scotland voted for Brexit. When you say Scotland wants to stay in the EU, you whitewash a third of your voters out of existence.

Please stop making Brexit a petty Scottish independence issue.

If the integrity of the UK is more important than UK membership of or independence from the EU, then perhaps the decision to trigger article 50 should have only been taken with the agreement of all four UK countries.

[Stranger]

If the integrity of the UK is more important than UK membership of or independence from the EU, then perhaps the decision to trigger article 50 should have only been taken with the agreement of all four UK countries.

Well, yes, but it isn't more important to the True Believers. A poll of Conservative party members tells us that a majority would accept the break up of the UK, significant economic damage, and even the destruction of their own party in order for Brexit to happen.

Brexit seems to have become like a bizarre religious cult amongst a significant minority, something that must happen at all costs, because.... well.... because it just must! It's the "Will of the People" (except it almost certainly isn't anymore)...

[Roses]

My sister sent me an amusing picture of Boris and Trump with long girly hair, holding hands, dressed in pretty dresses, wearing knee length white socks and children's shoes, very pretty! It made me giggle.

[Spud]

Well, yes, but it isn't more important to the True Believers. A poll of Conservative party members tells us that a majority would accept the break up of the UK, significant economic damage, and even the destruction of their own party in order for Brexit to happen.

Hello again 
They are apostate conservatives in fact, as they are supposed to also be unionists.

[jeremyp]

I'd suggest that Scotland is being ignored more than London: because Scotland has the right to choose between being part of the UK outside the EU and being an independent EU member

No it doesn't. The UK parliament would have to pass a law to make Scotland independent.

whereas London presumably doesn't have that choice.

True, but, again, if the UK Parliament passed a law, it could be independent.

[jeremyp]

If the integrity of the UK is more important than UK membership of or independence from the EU, then perhaps the decision to trigger article 50 should have only been taken with the agreement of all four UK countries.

I wish.

It would have been a somewhat artificial condition but it would have stopped Brexit.

[jeremyp]

The new leader of the House of Commons wants to go back to the 60's

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-49137619

He's not fit for purpose (to use a phrase he has banned).

[Spud]

I think Mr Rees-Mogg has every right to enforce good grammar. Our use of the English language has become slack over recent decades.

[Harrowby Hall]

The purpose of language is communication. English is an unusual language in that it is a fusion of two dissimilar ancient languages and that it is possible to communicate in structures that originate from either of these languages.

One source of English is the old German imported by the Angles, Saxons and Danes. This is characterised by meaning being transmitted by using short particles, The other source is Norman French which, originating from Latinate sources, is inflective and multisyllabic. There was a social divide between the language users - the serfs and common people using old German and the aristocracy using Norman French. One consequence of this is displayed by food names - beef, mutton and pork - eaten by the aristocrats, but the animals - oxen, sheep and pigs - were raised by the serfs.

There is a belief - largely held by people who are out of touch from reality or who are driven to demonstrate their intellectual superiority of others - that the more complex language they  use the higher their status. I suspect that Mr Rees-Mogg subscribes to this view. He is more likely to say meretricious sesquipedalianism than bullshit baffles brains.


Which, Mr Spud, do you find easier to understand?

[Spud]

I hesitate to reply to your statement, Mr Hall; or if you prefer: er...

[Roses]

I think Mr Rees-Mogg has every right to enforce good grammar. Our use of the English language has become slack over recent decades.

Rees-Mogg is an unpleasant ultra-right wing creep, language changes over time, SO WHAT? There are much more important things for the Government to concentrate on at present, like the unholy mess this country will be in if there is a no deal Brexit.

[Stranger]

I think Mr Rees-Mogg has every right to enforce good grammar. Our use of the English language has become slack over recent decades.

That isn't what he's doing. The article quotes a professor of linguistics as saying: Mr Rees-Mogg's style guide does not necessarily relate to grammatical rules or other language rules, but seems more aimed "at preserving his antique vibe".

As for the use of imperial units... I'm actually lost for words.

Rees-Mogg seems more like a needy teenager trying to bolster his image than a serious politician. This is a government of fools, ideologues, and incompetents, brought to power by an extremist 0.2% of the electorate; this country is totally fucked unless we can get rid of them...

[torridon]

Hear hear

[Spud]

I've listened to one or two of his shows on LBC. Even if he is wrong about Brexit etc, he is a friendly person and that is the one thing I look for in anyone.

[jeremyp]

I think Mr Rees-Mogg has every right to enforce good grammar. Our use of the English language has become slack over recent decades.

Who said anything about grammar?

Non titles males are "esquire" - really? what century are we in? What about non titled females, don't they get something to put after their names?

Double spaces after a fullstops. That's an anachronism from the typewriter age.

No comma after "and" - nobody has ever put a comma after "and". What was he on?

Imperial measurements - let's go back to Merrie England when a pound was a point and everybody poor died of TB.

[jeremyp]

I hesitate to reply to your statement, Mr Hall; or if you prefer: er...

Mr Hall Esquire to you.

[Spud]

Who said anything about grammar?

Non titles males are "esquire" - really? what century are we in? What about non titled females, don't they get something to put after their names?

Double spaces after a fullstops. That's an anachronism from the typewriter age.

No comma after "and" - nobody has ever put a comma after "and". What was he on?

Imperial measurements - let's go back to Merrie England when a pound was a point and everybody poor died of TB.

A comma after 'and' is quite a common mistake. I (somehow) went to a grammar school, and having been thoroughly drilled in the importance of correct English, I find it distressing when people can't make the effort to learn the same. For example, one lady I sometimes work with announces over the PA, "please may you finalize your purchases and make your way to the checkout, as this store is now closed"!

[jeremyp]

A comma after 'and' is quite a common mistake.

No it isn't.

I (somehow) went to a grammar school, and having been thoroughly drilled in the importance of correct English, I find it distressing when people can't make the effort to learn the same. For example, one lady I sometimes work with announces over the PA, "please may you finalize your purchases and make your way to the checkout"!

But most of Rees-Mogg's rules have nothing to do with grammar and more to do with evoking a bygone age when gentlemen were men, everybody else were oiks and women knew their place.

[Roses]

No it isn't.
But most of Rees-Mogg's rules have nothing to do with grammar and more to do with evoking a bygone age when gentlemen were men, everybody else were oiks and women knew their place.

I would soon put him in his place, that is for sure. 

[SteveH]

No it isn't.
But most of Rees-Mogg's rules have nothing to do with grammar and more to do with evoking a bygone age when gentlemen were men, everybody else were oiks and women knew their place.

A comma after "and" is not necessarily a mistake - and, what's more, Ree-Smug should know that.

[Robbie]

Quite, StevenH.

Also, Jeremy, if you use 'Esquire' (Esq), you don't put 'Mr'.  He would either be Mr Harrowby Hall or Harrowby Hall, Esq.

[ProfessorDavey]

I'd suggest that Scotland is being ignored more than London: because Scotland has the right to choose between being part of the UK outside the EU and being an independent
EU member, whereas London presumably doesn't have that choice.

Surely that means that London (or rather Londoners) is being ignored more than Scotland (or the people in Scotland) given that they aren't likely to be offered that choice.

[ProfessorDavey]

   


I'm thinking of both.
Both countries - Northern Ireland and Scotland -voted to remain.

So did London ... and St Albans.

Why are you only concerned with the views of 'countries' not the views of people. Why are the views of the people of London or St Albans less relevant than the view of people in Scotland or Northern Ireland.

[SusanDoris]

Mr Hall Esquire to you.

No, no, no, that's all wrong - it should be A B Hall, Esq. That is initials plus surname, comma,

But even when I was at Secretarial College back in 1954 the dapper and excellent English teacher told us that Esq. was obsolete! His always well reasoned statements about how and why a person should be addressed in a letter and the format of a letter should be such and such I took with me to the various jobs I had.