[Tubby Isaacs]

Comparing Johnson to Haughey is probably a bit flattering.

This may be the guy to compare him to.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Fahy

In 2002–03, a road beside Fahy's farm was being widened, using funds allocated from the Community Involvement Scheme.[16] A contractor erected 2,506 metres of fencing on Fahy's farm.[16][17] Fahy later claimed in court that he had a verbal agreement to supply an equivalent value of rubble from his farm for the roadworks.[5] The contractor was paid by the council in 2002 for an invoice of €7,055, and submitted another invoice in 2003 for €7,523.[16][18] After a council investigation, Fahy reimbursed the council for €7,055 and apologised for any embarrassment.[18] In March 2004, the Galway county manager asked Fahy to pay €3,000 to charity;[5] he donated that sum to the Ardrahan Lourdes Invalid Fund.[18] An Irish Independent journalist submitted a request for details under freedom of information legislation, and a Garda investigation was begun.[5] When news of this became public in September 2004, Fahy resigned from Fianna Fáil,[4] although local Fianna Fáil TD Joe Callanan and councillor Michael Regan supported him at his trial.[1]

In March 2007 at Galway Circuit Criminal Court in Loughrea a jury took 2½ hours to find him guilty on seven counts

[Andy McDandy]

I'd have said Warren G Harding.

[Youngian]

Haughey was presiding over a country on the up economically gaining international prestige so was cut some slack. Johnson is orchestrating deliberate economic decline and turning the country into an international joke.

[satnav]

Footage of Johnson going to cast his vote with Carrie Symonds makes for interesting viewing. The Mail said they were 'putting on a united front' which is an interesting choice of words. Boris seemed to be grabbing onto Carries arm rather than holding her hands. If they are going to stage photos to try and give the impression that they are all loved up they need to put in more of an effort.

[Andy McDandy]

They're a pair of mercenary cunts fucking for position. Made for each other.

[Oboogie]

Rees-Mogg was on The Westminster Hour (Radio 4) last night, apparently the Queen's speech is going to include legislation to repeal the FTPA. presumably that won't apply to this parliament though.

[Andy McDandy]

I'm old enough to remember when a 5 year term between elections was seen as a mark of desperation, clinging onto the limos and grace & favour apartments to the last minute. A confident government would go to the polls after 3.5, or 4 years. Revoking the FTPA would grant whoever was in power a tactical advantage, but would also show up lame duck governments easier.

[Bones McCoy]

I'm old enough to remember when a 5 year term between elections was seen as a mark of desperation, clinging onto the limos and grace & favour apartments to the last minute. A confident government would go to the polls after 3.5, or 4 years. Revoking the FTPA would grant whoever was in power a tactical advantage, but would also show up lame duck governments easier.

It's hardly had an effect while It has been in place.
GE every 2 years.
By that standard we're due one about now.

[Boiler]

This is a bit... Trumpian.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/20 ... ocial-care

Britons will have to show photo ID to vote in future general elections, ministers are poised to confirm this week, as a means of tackling fraud which critics claim could deter poorer and ethnic minority voters from taking part in democracy.

[Youngian]

This is a bit... Trumpian

Certainly a trick the Tories picked up from Trump’s Dixieland allies. Although not so racist as the Tories aim to disbar white Labour voters as well.

[Malcolm Armsteen]

The Tories are racist, but mostly they are fighting class war. They just lump black and brown people into the working class, unless they are Lodge members.

[Tubby Isaacs]

They kept this quiet while the elections were happening, didn't they? Does this scream "transformation" of Teesside to you.

[Samanfur]

Are we still bothering to count the number of investigations?

Boris Johnson facing probe over funding of 2019 holiday

Boris Johnson is being investigated by the MPs' standards watchdog over the funding of a Caribbean holiday in 2019.

Commons standards commissioner Kathryn Stone has confirmed she is looking into whether the prime minister correctly declared how the trip was paid for.

Mr Johnson has previously declared he received accommodation worth £15,000, covered by Carphone Warehouse co-founder David Ross.

Downing Street said the prime minister had acted correctly and transparently.

But Labour said there were "questions" over Mr Ross's "generosity".

The commissioner normally investigates whether MPs have failed to declare a financial interest, not declared it correctly, or declared it late.

Mr Ross initially said he had not paid "any monies" for the trip Mr Johnson took with his partner Carrie Symonds to the private island of Mustique - part of St Vincent and the Grenadines - between Boxing Day 2019 and 5 January 2020.

He later clarified that he had "facilitated" accommodation for the prime minister.

Mr Ross added that Mr Johnson's declaration of a "benefit in kind" in the February 2020 MPs' register of MPs' interests had been "correct".

But Labour asked for the standards commissioner to investigate, saying Mr Johnson's entry appeared "to be incorrect".

[Watchman]

Mr Ross, who also "owns" an academy chain
Any way it will just be a cut and paste from Wallpapergate

[Andy McDandy]

I once worked for one of his academies. My opinion of him is very low indeed.

[Tubby Isaacs]

Making it up as they go along.

If you click on the second link, you'll see that despite the end of the brain drain to cities, there will nonetheless be one "globally competitive city" in every region.

[mattomac]

Only thing I expect this lot will do is level down.

[Boiler]

Queen's speech highlights here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-56987630

[Youngian]

PM: I’ll stop brain drain to the cities

That’s not a bad thing and won’t do Labour’s demographics any harm. I’d guess the number of people in Hartlepool who switched to the Tories over concerns about software engineers moving to Manchester and London is about zero.

[Tubby Isaacs]

PM: I’ll stop brain drain to the cities

That’s not a bad thing and won’t do Labour’s demographics any harm. I’d guess the number of people in Hartlepool who switched to the Tories over concerns about software engineers moving to Manchester and London is about zero.

It would help Labour's demographics. Doubt it's very easy to do though. Everybody else has wanted to do that.