[Tubby Isaacs]

Johnson isn't really doing the third way, he's doing nationalism and spaffing. See how that goes.

[Crabcakes]

Out of interest: how would those figures Crabs quoted translate into seats?

Put it this way: it’s going to save printers a shitload of red ink

[Boiler]

[Tubby Isaacs]

[Boiler]

...and in the spirit of the times we find ourselves in:

"So?"

[davidjay]

Never mind shooting someone in Times Square without losing a single vote, this lot could charge them for the bullets and get away with it.

[Tubby Isaacs]

I'm old enough to remember a Tory MP accepting a cheque he later returned for asking a question was bad,

[davidjay]

We keep saying it, but what the absolute fuck do they have to before they get called out?

[satnav]

I think the Tories are being called out but because they have got an 80 seat majority they can easily ride out any scandals. When John Major was Prime Minister he had a slim majority for most of his premiership so it was much harder to deal with the various scandals he encountered.

The Tories will only start to worry about sleaze when an election is on the horizon.

[Crabcakes]

Well, it looks like Johnson has come up with the worst possible solution to the Tories doing unnaturally well in the polls - he’s fucked it on the India variant, got PHE to hide the data (and not even release school spread data), and it could potentially mean a third wave on par with the last one because he refuses to give out bad news.

I mean, I want them to be viewed in a more realistic light. But not like this.

[Crabcakes]

I mean, this is SERIOUSLY bad. And they’re hiding school data.

[Youngian]

Worrying data reports released in the dead hours of last night. Null point for trying to pull a fast one.

[davidjay]

Again we have to face facts - there could be bodies piling up in the streets and the roadmap still wouldn't be altered. Profit, then popularity, then people.

[Andy McDandy]

I think the Tories are being called out but because they have got an 80 seat majority they can easily ride out any scandals. When John Major was Prime Minister he had a slim majority for most of his premiership so it was much harder to deal with the various scandals he encountered.

The Tories will only start to worry about sleaze when an election is on the horizon.

Also, the media - notoriously Kelvin McKenzie with his "bucket of shit" remarks - had decided it was time for Major to go. Thus every foot out of place got added to the sleaze pile. True, you had a rejuvenated Labour party hitting the airwaves and headlines with a constant presence and clear vision, but they only got that time and space because people decided they were worth listening to.

Tired and past it Tory party.
Energetic Labour party.
Time for a change.

Now, say what you like about the current government, but one thing they're not is tired. May was, but not the current lot. Inept, cruel, corrupt, directionless for sure. But they've got energy. And with news being more about entertainment than it was in 1995, they're providing the copy.

[Tubby Isaacs]

I dunno. Johnson got a lot more popular when he stopped pissing about. Lots of that new popularity was the vaccine of course but I don't think all of it was. Johnson being able to "do serious" (or at least pass questions on to Chris Whitty to do serious) would have addressed doubts about him.

I don't think he takes any sort of political hit from pushing the roadmap dates back.

[Andy McDandy]

It's him and his gang against the system. Any setbacks are evidence of the pervasive power of the blob, lefty lawyers, up themselves judges, and all round clever bastards. It chimes with their base. Conversely, any successes are double cause for celebration - the success in itself, and getting one over on "them".

[davidjay]

It's him and his gang against the system. Any setbacks are evidence of the pervasive power of the blob, lefty lawyers, up themselves judges, and all round clever bastards. It chimes with their base. Conversely, any successes are double cause for celebration - the success in itself, and getting one over on "them".

And we have to get over the idea that this is a long-standing Tory government, when it isn't. They're Conservatives in name only - any idea of the old values went out of the window in December 2019. A more accurate name would be the English Independence Party.

[Tubby Isaacs]

It's the Spaff Party. I don't know if the "culture war" stuff is bringing in that many extra voters. Ben Houchen didn't romp home because he's going to guard statues.

[Youngian]

Conservatives in name only - any idea of the old values went out of the window in December 2019. A more accurate name would be the English Independence Party.

Not really as the British state is still very central to their imperial preference Brexit delusions. Scots Indy will lead to Australia and New Zealand removing the Union Jack from their flag as it no longer exists. This ‘betrayal’ will cause deep gammon hurt.

[davidjay]

Conservatives in name only - any idea of the old values went out of the window in December 2019. A more accurate name would be the English Independence Party.

Not really as the British state is still very central to their imperial preference Brexit delusions. Scots Indy will lead to Australia and New Zealand removing the Union Jack from their flag as it no longer exists. This ‘betrayal’ will cause deep gammon hurt.

I don't think it is. Scotland is full of ungrateful Jockos who'd be bankrupt without us, the white Commonwealth is our distant cousin who our parents looked after when their mum was ill fifty years ago so they still owe us.