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[Hiberno-Britannic Politics] Yesterday, The Troubles Seemed So Far Away
It feels like the usual "Sorry for the problems you are experiencing" default tech speak they give, just edited to make it shorter and try to sound less like a muscle memory response.
Uuuurgh please no 2015-2019 were the years of Brexit and I'm fucking sick of it. Just shut up do your fucking insanity that it's now far too late to prevent and we'll just have to fix it later but I'm tired of talking about it.
So it turns out that Good Morning Britain have been keeping a list of all the things they would have asked had they not been subject to a government boycott on appearances
You can see why they pushed out Matt Hancock as the sacrificial goat. He's seemingly happy to eat any amount of shit for the sake of his career.
The boycott sort of works right up until the point it stops, and then you have to explain why you were boycotting news shows for three quarters of a year in which public communication was of paramount importance. And the answer, which you don't want to give, is that you didn't want to be criticised and your head of communication thought it was a proper tough guy strategy that would teach someone a lesson or cow the media.
He seems genuinely incapable of thinking about what comes out of his mouth. His narcissism makes it impossible.
Scottish Tory leader and others now clearing their diaries today to give a series of "What he meant to say was ..." interviews. Sturgeon probably wearing the skin off her palms from rubbing her hands together in glee too much.
It's a great joy to me that Johnson has become an appalling millstone around the neck of a Tory party who couldn't wait to elect him as leader. And then I remember he's the PM and not just Tory leader.
He seems genuinely incapable of thinking about what comes out of his mouth. His narcissism makes it impossible.
Scottish Tory leader and others now clearing their diaries today to give a series of "What he meant to say was ..." interviews. Sturgeon probably wearing the skin off her palms from rubbing her hands together in glee too much.
Boris suggested Devolution has been a disaster. No 10 comms unit walking it back like mother fuckers
For those not from the UK (at least not at least four plus generations away) what's the context for this that makes it a clearly (from the little context given) fucking stupid thing to say?
Generally speaking, people living in the countries with devolved authority (Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland) like their governments considerably more than the Westminster government
But Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick said Mr Johnson has "always supported devolution".
"What he does feel strongly, and I would agree, is that devolution in Scotland has facilitated the rise of separatism and nationalism in the form of the SNP, and that that's trying to break apart the United Kingdom," he told BBC Breakfast.
God yeah, separatism and nationalism are the worst, and clearly lead to very poor decisions. Thank God England hasn't embraced separatism and nationalism, huh Boris?
He seems genuinely incapable of thinking about what comes out of his mouth. His narcissism makes it impossible.
Scottish Tory leader and others now clearing their diaries today to give a series of "What he meant to say was ..." interviews. Sturgeon probably wearing the skin off her palms from rubbing her hands together in glee too much.
Boris suggested Devolution has been a disaster. No 10 comms unit walking it back like mother fuckers
For those not from the UK (at least not at least four plus generations away) what's the context for this that makes it a clearly (from the little context given) fucking stupid thing to say?
Devolution is giving powers away to local or national governments, like Scotland (or counties and so forth). To say it's a disaster is to say that Scotland should not be given those powers over itself, which is the kind of stupid attitude that the SNP loves because it plays into their depiction of a distant Westminster government that neither likes nor cares about Scotland. Independence as better than rule by a government who doesn't want you to have any power is an easier thing to sell than independence over a government that gives you lots of power so what would independence really matter if you can sort out basically everything yourself anyway.
It paints Johnson as the sort of Tory who thinks Scotland should shut up and do as it's told, which is what the SNP loves to fight against.
It seems that Johnson made his bone headed comment in relation to a question about devolved powers for the north of England. Reading between the lines it's pretty clear what he probably said was "devolution has been a disaster for us". As stupid a thing as that is to say out loud in an environment where it'll be inevitably leaked it's also incredibly honest.
It speaks volumes about the attitude Westminster Tories have towards devolution or just representation for people outside of what they're willing to offer. Devolution has been a disaster for them because it's shown that localised government run by locals sorting out their own issues will always be better than a distant, uncaring, centralised elite that does nothing but funnel resources and opportunity toward London. The existence of another option, an option they don't want you to have, is something they'll always resent. Boris is just self aware enough to realise that they'll never stop neglecting and ignoring the rest of England and devolved administrations would inevitably lead to the break up of England, as surely is it's led us to the break up of the UK.
For Scotland, particularly, it's also to do with the fact that the persistent Tory line is that the SNP administration is incompetent, and this is the only line of attack they seem to be able to come up with.
This really doesn't align with the views of most people in Scotland. There's a nuanced case to be made that the SNP has particular failings in particular areas (secondary education being one, certain elements of industrial strategy, and the use of complex part-private funding arrangements being others), however they are mostly areas where the experience in England & Wales has been as bad or worse. Similarly the SNP can relatively easily point to areas of success where performance is better than the UK as a whole (e.g. poverty reduction, healthcare, access to childcare).
Calling the Scottish government incompetent is one of those things that appeals to the minority of Tory voters in Scotland (who, it has to be said, are a mixed bag anyway - you get hardcore unionists in there who may not otherwise be Tory voters but for the fact that they are the most hard-line anti-independence party), but it's an idea that otherwise doesn't pass the smell test for most people even if they don't support the SNP.
For Scotland, particularly, it's also to do with the fact that the persistent Tory line is that the SNP administration is incompetent, and this is the only line of attack they seem to be able to come up with.
This really doesn't align with the views of most people in Scotland. There's a nuanced case to be made that the SNP has particular failings in particular areas (secondary education being one, certain elements of industrial strategy, and the use of complex part-private funding arrangements being others), however they are mostly areas where the experience in England & Wales has been as bad or worse. Similarly the SNP can relatively easily point to areas of success where performance is better than the UK as a whole (e.g. poverty reduction, healthcare, access to childcare).
Calling the Scottish government incompetent is one of those things that appeals to the minority of Tory voters in Scotland (who, it has to be said, are a mixed bag anyway - you get hardcore unionists in there who may not otherwise be Tory voters but for the fact that they are the most hard-line anti-independence party), but it's an idea that otherwise doesn't pass the smell test for most people even if they don't support the SNP.
The snp is incompetent at that the Tories really care about, keeping Scotland under the heel of London, is what they probably mean..
For Scotland, particularly, it's also to do with the fact that the persistent Tory line is that the SNP administration is incompetent, and this is the only line of attack they seem to be able to come up with.
This really doesn't align with the views of most people in Scotland. There's a nuanced case to be made that the SNP has particular failings in particular areas (secondary education being one, certain elements of industrial strategy, and the use of complex part-private funding arrangements being others), however they are mostly areas where the experience in England & Wales has been as bad or worse. Similarly the SNP can relatively easily point to areas of success where performance is better than the UK as a whole (e.g. poverty reduction, healthcare, access to childcare).
Calling the Scottish government incompetent is one of those things that appeals to the minority of Tory voters in Scotland (who, it has to be said, are a mixed bag anyway - you get hardcore unionists in there who may not otherwise be Tory voters but for the fact that they are the most hard-line anti-independence party), but it's an idea that otherwise doesn't pass the smell test for most people even if they don't support the SNP.
On top of this, by calling devolution "a disaster" telegraphs the attitude of "it was a huge mistake to let those Scots decide things for themselves, they should just do as they are told." And that's traditionally been a sore point, as Tories are mostly perceived (rightfully?) to be these elitist colonial jerks who don't care about anything but enlarging their huge mansions and wallets.
And of course, devolving things does make it more difficult for Westminster, because now they have to discuss things and compromise, and do things like "get local buy-in" and making sure that their decision works for everyone. Instead of just dictating things from up high and saying "Make it so, be quick about it, and for Gods sake, be competent for a change."
Surely that’s just a stock photo filed under “rich boy at a nightclub”
The Story just gets weirder and weirder the further along it gets.
This is a Floridian "businessman" who, together with a Spanish consultant (consultancy fee: 20 million) contracted procuring PPE out to a Miami based business, on the merits of "I've worked with Chinese companies before"
At least, that seems to be the initial impression.
edit: Also, it seems the Spanish consultant is suing our Florida man, because he wasn't consultant for the second batch of PPE, and thus lost out of an additional 20 million. The Miami based courts call the deal "lucrative," a fun value judgement from a US judge who presumably read all this and chuckled at "The finest Socialism at work"
So the NEC panel let Corbyn back into the rank and file Labour party yesterday after he kind of sort of walked back his initial response to the anti-semitism enquiry like maybe half a step. Starmer hadn't restored the whip to the Parliamentary party, however, and now he says:
I hope Corbyn takes this as a hint to bugger off into retirement proper like he should have done already. And hopefully take the last vestiges of his cult with him.
Posts
So on top of covid we'll tear up all of our trade agreements with our neighbours and everything will be normal.....
How the fuck does that add up?
2020 was the year of covid, 2021 will probably be the year of brexit.
Posturing.
Thing is, Boris has a beer hand and everyone barring the brexiteers knows it.
and of course it's Hancock first in the firing line
Don't you make me take your side, you bastard
The boycott sort of works right up until the point it stops, and then you have to explain why you were boycotting news shows for three quarters of a year in which public communication was of paramount importance. And the answer, which you don't want to give, is that you didn't want to be criticised and your head of communication thought it was a proper tough guy strategy that would teach someone a lesson or cow the media.
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"Because no-one else will touch this job right now, and I don't want to."
Look the man is clearly quite tired and potentially emotional
I made a game, it has penguins in it. It's pay what you like on Gumroad.
Currently Ebaying Nothing at all but I might do in the future.
Scottish Tory leader and others now clearing their diaries today to give a series of "What he meant to say was ..." interviews. Sturgeon probably wearing the skin off her palms from rubbing her hands together in glee too much.
Choose Your Own Chat 1 Choose Your Own Chat 2 Choose Your Own Chat 3
Choose Your Own Chat 1 Choose Your Own Chat 2 Choose Your Own Chat 3
I made a game, it has penguins in it. It's pay what you like on Gumroad.
Currently Ebaying Nothing at all but I might do in the future.
Generally speaking, people living in the countries with devolved authority (Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland) like their governments considerably more than the Westminster government
This is especially true in Scotland
Seems he wants Brexit to really mean Breaxit
Devolution is giving powers away to local or national governments, like Scotland (or counties and so forth). To say it's a disaster is to say that Scotland should not be given those powers over itself, which is the kind of stupid attitude that the SNP loves because it plays into their depiction of a distant Westminster government that neither likes nor cares about Scotland. Independence as better than rule by a government who doesn't want you to have any power is an easier thing to sell than independence over a government that gives you lots of power so what would independence really matter if you can sort out basically everything yourself anyway.
It paints Johnson as the sort of Tory who thinks Scotland should shut up and do as it's told, which is what the SNP loves to fight against.
Choose Your Own Chat 1 Choose Your Own Chat 2 Choose Your Own Chat 3
It speaks volumes about the attitude Westminster Tories have towards devolution or just representation for people outside of what they're willing to offer. Devolution has been a disaster for them because it's shown that localised government run by locals sorting out their own issues will always be better than a distant, uncaring, centralised elite that does nothing but funnel resources and opportunity toward London. The existence of another option, an option they don't want you to have, is something they'll always resent. Boris is just self aware enough to realise that they'll never stop neglecting and ignoring the rest of England and devolved administrations would inevitably lead to the break up of England, as surely is it's led us to the break up of the UK.
This really doesn't align with the views of most people in Scotland. There's a nuanced case to be made that the SNP has particular failings in particular areas (secondary education being one, certain elements of industrial strategy, and the use of complex part-private funding arrangements being others), however they are mostly areas where the experience in England & Wales has been as bad or worse. Similarly the SNP can relatively easily point to areas of success where performance is better than the UK as a whole (e.g. poverty reduction, healthcare, access to childcare).
Calling the Scottish government incompetent is one of those things that appeals to the minority of Tory voters in Scotland (who, it has to be said, are a mixed bag anyway - you get hardcore unionists in there who may not otherwise be Tory voters but for the fact that they are the most hard-line anti-independence party), but it's an idea that otherwise doesn't pass the smell test for most people even if they don't support the SNP.
The snp is incompetent at that the Tories really care about, keeping Scotland under the heel of London, is what they probably mean..
Honestly I don't know what they're playing at
Do not engage the Watermelons.
On top of this, by calling devolution "a disaster" telegraphs the attitude of "it was a huge mistake to let those Scots decide things for themselves, they should just do as they are told." And that's traditionally been a sore point, as Tories are mostly perceived (rightfully?) to be these elitist colonial jerks who don't care about anything but enlarging their huge mansions and wallets.
And of course, devolving things does make it more difficult for Westminster, because now they have to discuss things and compromise, and do things like "get local buy-in" and making sure that their decision works for everyone. Instead of just dictating things from up high and saying "Make it so, be quick about it, and for Gods sake, be competent for a change."
They have been the main party of government for 13 years, and yet are at this point riding one of their highest peaks of popular support
They just aren't controversial in the way that the Tories desperately wish that they were
Surely that’s just a stock photo filed under “rich boy at a nightclub”
The Story just gets weirder and weirder the further along it gets.
This is a Floridian "businessman" who, together with a Spanish consultant (consultancy fee: 20 million) contracted procuring PPE out to a Miami based business, on the merits of "I've worked with Chinese companies before"
At least, that seems to be the initial impression.
edit: Also, it seems the Spanish consultant is suing our Florida man, because he wasn't consultant for the second batch of PPE, and thus lost out of an additional 20 million. The Miami based courts call the deal "lucrative," a fun value judgement from a US judge who presumably read all this and chuckled at "The finest Socialism at work"
Sounds like a bad cringe comedy.
Battlenet ID: MildC#11186 - If I'm in the game, send me an invite at anytime and I'll play.
Do not engage the Watermelons.
There's the headline "Florida man outsmarts Johnson". Ouch.
EDIT: If Corbyn actually says "I'm very sorry" he could probably be back into the PLP that hour, but of course he won't.
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