[Andy McDandy]

John Crace joins the pile on. Not that I'm complaining - he's been calling this stuff out for ages.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/20 ... -pointless

One sometimes wonders what it will take for the penny to drop for Tory ministers and MPs. Was Paterson really too stupid not to realise that Boris would dump him if the shit looked like hitting the fan? Boris didn’t even have the courtesy to tell him he was no longer backing him. Owen found out from a journalist when he was in the supermarket. He then did the most gracious and sensible thing he had ever done as a Tory MP. He resigned. Johnson didn’t care one way or the other. Other people only existed as extensions of his narcissism.

Did Kwarteng not wonder if he had been shafted and made to look untrustworthy for no good reason? Did the Tories who had voted with the government not realise their credibility had been trashed for good? That they had made it clear they had no principles that couldn’t be bought off?

The past 24 hours had been peak Boris. Ur Boris. He had done what he always does. There isn’t a friend, wife, family member or colleague whom Bertie Booster doesn’t betray in the end. Or even in the beginning.

[Malcolm Armsteen]

The Mail really is going for Johnson.
Greig has instructed Tory Boy Andrew Pierce to insert the first of no doubt 23 knives:

A political fiasco that started over claret and pheasant at the Garrick... and ended in humiliation: ANDREW PIERCE on the inside story of 24 hours that humbled Boris Johnson

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/arti ... hnson.html

[kreuzberger]

I noticed that, too. The mention of "claret and pheasant" is clearly not accidental. It's calibrated to wind up the paups like there is no tomorrow.

[Cyclist]

I'm not sure about the use of the word "humbled". The inhabitants of the world Johnson's from have no concept of the word.

It's lfrom the same closed book as "meek", ethical", "integrity" and the like.

[Youngian]

Humbled my arse, he’s going to be puffed up and shouting. If Johnson has blown it (not enough polling evidence to show that yet), he has no Tory grandees to guide him and a cabinet of talentless sychophants. Daily Mail has a Remainer editor sticking the boot in and Murdoch doesn’t carry losers. Perhaps Steve Baker and Carrie’s wisdom will see him through.

[Andy McDandy]

If he's ousted from Downing Street, how long do you give him and Carrie?

Days or weeks?

[Youngian]

I doubt Carrie fancies Christine Hamilton’s media career.

[Crabcakes]

If he's ousted from Downing Street, how long do you give him and Carrie?

Days or weeks?

11 minutes

[Boiler]

If he's ousted from Downing Street, how long do you give him and Carrie?

Days or weeks?

11 minutes

[Tubby Isaacs]

Another day of genius from Johnson, who had kept out of sight but nonetheless told his team that he won't declare his stay at Zac Goldsmith's villa nor deny that Owen Paterson has been offered a peerage.

[mattomac]

Sydner’s stuff which Campbell quotes alerted me to the seriousness of this under May, it’s got far worse since.

[Tubby Isaacs]

Interesting array of drubbings for the Tories in by-elections yesterday, mostly at the hands of the Lib Dems. Not every by-election will happen on a day like yesterday, but interesting. Lib Dems were at least second in all of their gains, I think. It would be nice if they got as good as they used to be at peeling off Tories, though that'll be much harder now that they can't depend on dustbin voters like they had pre-2010.

I reckon they might beat Labour in North Shropshire.

[davidjay]

Interesting array of drubbings for the Tories in by-elections yesterday, mostly at the hands of the Lib Dems. Not every by-election will happen on a day like yesterday, but interesting. Lib Dems were at least second in all of their gains, I think. It would be nice if they got as good as they used to be at peeling off Tories, though that'll be much harder now that they can't depend on dustbin voters like they had pre-2010.

I reckon they might beat Labour in North Shropshire.

What's Martin Bell doing these days?

[Malcolm Armsteen]

Adverts for something worthy.

[kreuzberger]

What's Martin Bell doing these days?

Being 83. James O'Brien could take the brief and visit his mum after surgery. I doubt that he would want it, not in a million years. He also has a tricky drug conviction, I believe, and doubtless doesn't fancy the pay cut anyway.

[Tubby Isaacs]

I think the Martin Bell type candidacy was killed once Paterson stood down, really.

The Lib Dems did the old "not those houses there" lark in Chesham and Amersham. Is that such a worry in North Shropshire? In any case, Gove is on the case now to reassure that sort of voter. I wonder if they'll try that hard in this by election. If they did, then maybe they could go past Labour. But it's not really in their interest to put pressure on Starmer like that, I wouldn't have thought. They must have heard "I've considered voting for you, but I can't let lefty Labour in" a few times in 2019.

[satnav]

Boris Johnson had a fantastic opportunity this week to project himself as a world leader and a true statesman. Instead he will be remembered as the PM who clowned around, fell asleep, failed to wear a mask when sat next to David Attenborough. He then jetted home to attend a piss up before totally cocking up the Paterson scandal.

[Tubby Isaacs]

Is Johnson going to be able to get Paul Dacre in at Ofcom now? If I were Johnson, I'd be phoning up a few firms like Randox who obviously aren't choosy and asking if they can give old Paulie a sinecure.

[Malcolm Armsteen]

If it's true that he has offered/is offering Paterson a peerage I reckon he'll double down on that as well. It's a supermarket sweep now.

[kreuzberger]

Dacre's a shoo-in, in my book. Dots will not be joined for fear of being accused of being in the Westminster Bubble or an "Elite", whatever that is.

It's two years now since a couple of us on here broached the concept of a slo-mo coup. In fairness, there was little push back at the time. Now, there can be even less doubt.