Mailwatch(ed) Forum

Let's face it - if the whole thing was dropped like a hot potato right now most people would have forgotten about it this time next week. That should explain the utter lack of real political substance behind it all.

Those 40 new hospitals won’t build themselves

Collapsed hospital operator NMC Health misled markets over £3.2bn of debt, says watchdog
https://www.theguardian.com/business/20 ... SApp_Other

When the Transport Secretary was promoting the policy of repairing more potholes he just happened to be pictured driving a JCB. Given that the owner of JCB is a major Tory Party donor I wonder how many contracts the company has acquired?

JCB had a stand at the annual Labour conference this year. They may see which way the wind is blowing.

I’m assuming the Rwanda push has a few reasons behind it:

1. Sunak is desperate for a win. Or at least to be seen to be trying.
2. Braverman was pushing for it because she’s genuinely a repugnant bigot not so much hauling the drawbridge up after herself as yeeting it into space
3. The current lot are so bereft of ideas, any divisive news-friendly issue where they know the client press will back them is worth pursuing, especially as they know the moment they’re out of office it’ll be canned and they can whine “Labour are soft on immigrants” for the entirety of the next few parliaments.

That's yer intractable problem, right there. Performative government.

* There is no need to bang on about immigration - nobody would otherwise notice it.
* There is no need to respond to Braverman and the headbangers - nobody would otherwise listen to them beyond the narrow constituency of the mail/sun/express Axis of Apoplexy.
* Dish out a few quid for the utilities bills, reclaimed from the suppliers.
* Be positive about ULEZ - we love your kids too.

It strikes me that everyone is sick of battling, so just demonstrate some empathy in the pre-cum period of a GE. It's not that difficult.

At times the Tories do come across like the official opposition rather than the government, they are constantly looking out to blame other people for the facts that their policies are not working. The public get very upset about the idea of immigrants being put up in 4 star hotels even though they are only being put into these hotels because the government is taking so long to process immigration claims. Speeding up the processing of asylum applications would save the country a fortune yet the government are worried that this would look like they are being soft on asylum seekers.

And there’s another thing; some of these hotels may have been 4 star years ago, but now!

As Alan Partridge would say, "And another!" No great surprise this time. Labour could win this seat with efficient tactical voting.

The gravy train really is coming off the rails

I don't know if it's true or if they'd take any notice anyway but I did read that the reason so many are announcing that they're quitting recently is that some six month notice period for taking outside jobs would run out in the middle of next May, which is when an election is likely.

The reason is that they can't take work which relates to their previous position for six months after leaving, so 'consultancies', lobbying etc. This way they effectivelty serve that time on salary.

davidjay wrote: ↑Sun Nov 19, 2023 3:35 pm I don't know if it's true or if they'd take any notice anyway but I did read that the reason so many are announcing that they're quitting recently is that some six month notice period for taking outside jobs would run out in the middle of next May, which is when an election is likely.

That's a ministers thing, not an MP thing, as far as I know.

Yeah it’s more about their perceived hopes of election.

The problem for Kippers infiltrating the Tories.

Looks like they've lost the youth vote.

That’s weird, it almost reads as if they don’t understand the fundamental ethos of what being a Tory, and what the party policies actually are

Conservative ideals popular with the younger generation? Well, who doesn't want financial security, low taxes, and great public services? Thing is, the young people have watched for 13 years as the ideal has been replaced by cronyism, corruption, and pulling up the drawbridge behind them.

The only young people they appeal to any more are the school bullies.

And another.

James Duddridge provided one of the funniest political interviews I've ever seen. When Bozo was obviiously fucked, James came out to say he was going nowhere and was about to announce tax cuts.

12k majority so winnable. 2019 he was the only “right” wing candidate, don’t know if it was one of the pact constituencies, but given the location I would have thought “stop the boats” would be a common refrain