POLITICS CORNER

[Whyperion]

Hot news is that Tory MP Christian Wakeford has tergiversated, and now takes the Labour whip.

He has strong Pendle connections, and I'm sure the fact that he is recently elected with a majority of just 402 votes, had nothing to do with his decision. Does that mean he will automatically be the Labour candidate at the next general Election? I wonder what the local Labour party will make of that. Someone will be very disappointed.

Given that Starmer has shifted Labour back to Centre Right Blairland, its possible the Trad Labour may not be too worried at a local level. Its what you see as the Objectives (interesting it was Tory to Lab, I would have expected Lib Dem). 403 Tory voters might be disappointed , but soundbites from the Red Wall seem to be 'I lent the tories my vote, but I now I want it back'. Apparently, aside from Boris' handling of the integrity situation, I could not help but wonder if Johnson had not had the problem of Covid (and the required liberty restricting lawmaking around that), would Wakeford still have moved to Labour particulary with the restrictions on public demonstrations and so forth in the policing bill ? Was Wakeford one of the signatories to getting the PM to resign (if so, and if more move, that will reduce the number putting pressure on the 1922 comittee). David Davis seems to want the PM to relinquish his posistion, sometimes it seems for not being Tory enough. Johnson attempts to save himself by dropping Plan B covid restrictions from the end of January, at least we will see if it was restrictions restricting runaway growth of covid in the population, or vaccines, though the warmer weather from spring might see a happy easter for Johnson. I would not forecast anything in politics at present, other than probable gains for Labour at May local elections.

[Stanley]

See THIS BBC report from Laura Kuenssberg. She has it about right I think, nobody is certain where this all ends but what is sure is that Johnson has found that lies and bluster aren't enough. I am certain he can't change so sooner or later he either goes or brings the Party crashing down with him.

[Stanley]

I'm sat here listening to Sajid Javez defending the indefensible. He won't say that Johnson was wrong, he believes the increase in taxes on the poorest in society are the best way to fund the NHS. And the end of Plan B is probably OK.

[Tizer]

When I hear Tories getting agitated over Johnson it reminds me of the old Iowa farmer, a lifelong Republican, who was interviewed by the BBC at the time of Trump's election. All he said was `Is this really the best we can do?'

`Boris Johnson's future: Ministers blackmailing plotters, claims Tory MP' LINK
`A senior Tory has accused the government of trying to "blackmail" its own MPs against plotting to remove Boris Johnson. William Wragg, who is among those calling on the PM to resign, said rebels had faced "pressures and intimidation" from ministers. And he accused No 10 of promoting embarrassing stories about those suspected of joining their ranks.'...

[Stanley]

And Johnson assures us this doesn't happen. Who does he think he is kidding?? Of course dirty tricks are used particularly by the Whips and plenty of politicians can attest to that. (Including retired Whips.)

[Tizer]

This has got the attention of our newspapers this morning. As well as the man named at the start of the article "The Foreign Office also named four other Ukrainian politicians who it said maintained links with the Russian intelligence services."...
`Russia-Ukraine tensions: UK warns of plot to install pro-Moscow ally' LINK

[Stanley]

Did I hear a suggestion later that this was speculation to draw fire from someone skulking in Chequers? The observers say Johnson will emerge only when the Sue Gray report is ready.
Meanwhile, there are numerous reports saying that the work of the government is paralysed as people wait to see who is going to be sacrificed as scapegoats to protect Johnson. Others are saying matters have gone too far and if this pan is followed it will backfire in Johnson's face.

[plaques]

Susan Grey appointed by Boris Johnson to investigate Boris Johnson. Can anyone imagine him sat there waiting for the fully polished document to drop on his desk? Downing St has declined to say whether they are in receipt of the investigation. Dominic Raab can't say if the investigation will be published in full or whether is will be a summary concocted by Downing St. I think it goes without saying that whatever emerges at the end will have been poured over by lawyers, script writers and loophole specialists. Rumour is out they are trying to blame the French for suppling high alcohol wine.

[PanBiker]

It has been reported this morning that the Tory Party will be investigated over claims of Islamaphobia within the party. But hang on a minute, the investigating body will be the Cabinet Office! Their brief is to support the Prime Minister and Treasury, hardly impartial. Why cant the claim be investigated by an independent panel made up of black and Asian members? After all when the Labour Party was accused of anti Semitism it was claimed that only a Jewish jury could understand the issues. Is this another example of of one rule for the Tories and another for everyone else?

[Tripps]

She lost her job two years ago. Nice time to make it the top news item today isn't it?

Her husband is David Wheeldon Is he in the loop?

Such matters in the hated Tory party, have already been investigated by Professor Swaran Singh. Does he pass the test to be allowed to be involved in an investigation?

[PanBiker]

Yes as long as everyone else on the panel has a similar ethnic background.

[Tripps]

Nonsense.

[PanBiker]

How about using the MCB?

Muslim Council of Britain

[Tripps]

Double nonsense. . . .

[PanBiker]

But fair under the circumstance.

[Tripps]

I knew it was a mistake to get up before the usual 11.00 am.

[Stanley]

The shock horror revelation of the Johnson birthday party grabbed my attention but THIS Report of the resignation of Lord Agnew is actually far more important. He is shining light on what he describes as "a combination of arrogance, indolence and ignorance" which is "freezing the government machine". High time this was attacked at the highest levels.

[Stanley]

I'm listening to Grant Shapps trying to defend Johnson and making a complete fool of himself. It's pathetic.

[plaques]

Apparently you can have your cake and eat it. The Buffoons birthday bash is getting more complicated by the minute. The first reports were that 30 people attended the Cabinet room where they were given some birthday cake. (Wot No Wine?) The Buffoon only attended for 10 minutes. No comment about how long the rest stayed doing their Marie Antoinette bit. The 10 minutes does its Cheshire cat impression being trimmed down to 'briefly' and the numbers reduced to 10. Then using Star Trek technology they were beamed into the garden for a barbecue leaving no crumbs behind. All straight forward really but we will have to wait for Susan Gray for the rest of this Harry Potter party saga.

[Big Kev]

I believe he has instigated an enquiry into when his birthday is...

[Tizer]

The cartoon of the Telegraph's front page today shows two people coming out of the door of No.10. One is saying to the other: `Let's scrap the National Insurance rise. We can always say we were drunk when we thought of it.'
--------------------------------

Stanley, Lord Agnew...I especially note the sentence in that article: `...he fears a "new dangerous phase" where banks act less than rigorously in seeking repayment, given they know they can reclaim the cash from the taxpayer.'

The Times on Saturday had a very long essay by Sir Anthony Seldon on the need for better political leadership in the UK. In particular he calls for people with more experience and compares that of our present set with prime ministers all the way back to the earliest. The comparisons are illuminating and worrying and it's not surprising we're in such a dire situation now.

[Tripps]

He's got clean away with it all hasn't he? In the old war films the Royal Navy command was "make smoke".

We see now why Cressida Dick is still in her job, and so does she. Her peerage is safe.

By the time all the reports have been done - if that ever happens - we'll have largely forgotten what all the fuss was about.

Back on your heads peasants . . . .

************************************************************************

Now he says
“A few weeks ago I commissioned an independent inquiry into a series of events in Downing Street, in the Cabinet Office, as well as some other Whitehall departments that may have constituted potential breaches of the covid regulations. That process has quite properly involved sharing information continuously with the Metropolitan Police, so I welcome the Met’s decision to conduct its own investigation because I believe this will help to give the public the clarity it needs, and help to draw a line under matters…”

I shal now go and refresh my understanding of the word Chutzpah.

[Stanley]

"I shall now go and refresh my understanding of the word Chutzpah."
David. A Jewish friend in NY told me that his father's definition was pissing through a letter box and than knocking on the door and asking how far up the hall it had gone.
Every time I hear Cressida Dick mentioned I think of that poor innocent bloke on the tube with a head full of bullets. (LINK)
Johnson 'welcomes' the Metropolitan Police involvement because this kicks the can even further down the road than Sue Gray. When do the Tory backbenchers find the courage to get rid of the mill stone round their necks. Will it take a disastrous result in the May local elections?

[Stanley]

Later.... Sue Gray's report could be made public today as it is finished.
This could trigger a leadership contest.
Jacob Rees Mogg puts the frighteners on the backbenchers by 'warning them' that any such move could trigger a general election. The implication being of course that in such an election they could lose their seats.
Rees Mogg says that in effect the UK now has a presidential system. Really? When did that happen? If it is who decided to end the Cabinet System?

[plaques]

Sue Gray's report could be made public today as it is finished.

Its been suggested that it could be released later this afternoon. I would have thought the first people who should see it would be the House of Commons but too late for Prime Ministers questions. Another week goes by without Boris Johnson having to answer questions directly to the House. "I've already apologised and I don't believe I broke any rules" will be the stock reply until the police decide what to do then it will require a Court case which will never happen. As far as the police are concerned Susan Gray's report will be seen as an individual comment of no legal standing and will require further investigation. Jarndyce and Jarndyce will be overtaken by Partygate as the longest running non-fiction saga. The answer won't even be '42' but '0'.