Brexit and the waning days of the United Kingdom

[Iormlund]

So when was the point that British politics broke and started this descent into madness?

[Tonitrus]

I think one lesson I've learned about political campaigning is: never eat in public.

Or, at least, nothing that takes more than one hand/bite.

[garbon]

I think one lesson I've learned about political campaigning is: never eat in public.

Or, at least, nothing that takes more than one hand/bite.

Well you need to eat something as otherwise people don't think you are human. Think of all those state fair photo ops.

[Admiral Yi]

Yeah, pretty unavoidable, at least in US politics.

[Sheilbh]

I looked at Thos Cook as a potential investment some years ago (the shares were very cheap compared to their level of business and famous name) but concluded that they were highly likely to go under. There is something rotten in the system when the board draws vast salaries and a rank amateur in Lancashire knows that they are fucking things up.

(Drifing leftwards on that political compass thingie these days  )

Yeah. The section on directors remuneration and corporate governance in their latest accounts

Also moving to the left on this sort of thing, believe it or not

[Syt]

I think one lesson I've learned about political campaigning is: never eat in public.

Or, at least, nothing that takes more than one hand/bite.

[Sheilbh]

Jonathan Freedland's just posted a rather depressing story. He was interviewing Sadiq Khan outside conference when two (middle-aged, white) party members came up to him. They wanted to know why he'd attended (and given a great speech) at the Jewish Labour Movement event.

He said that he wanted to "show solidarity with our Jewish brothers and sisters".

"But they're Zionists. Why would you show support to Israeli Zionists?"

"Why do you assume every member of the British Jewish community supports every action of the Israeli government?" He asked.

They replied that "these Israeli Zionists" were trying to destabilise the Labour Party and remove Jeremy Corbyn as leader and why hadn't he gone to the Jewish Voice for Labour event instead. As Freedland points out the Jewish Labour Movement was founded in 1903 (Poale Zion as it was), is the oldest Labour Party affiliate and has deep roots in the Jewish community. Jewish Voice for Labour was founded in 2017 to oppose arguments that Labour has an anti-semitism problem and has a very small amount of support in the Jewish community.

At this point Khan said he didn't want to talk to them anymore and turned his back on them to continue the interview. They then accused him of being aggressive and rude for a while before leaving.

Grim

[mongers]

One of the labour delegates summed up the chaos well, "What we've just done is to vote to be third place behind the Lib Dems, very sensible"

[Richard Hakluyt]

Khan must be wondering whether he joined the right party.

[garbon]

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/sep/23/the-guardian-view-on-jeremy-corbyns-labour-time-to-come-together

I wish the authors of Guardian View opinion pieces wouldn't hide behind these hidden bylines.

The guardian isn't always great but hard to believe the editorial staff stand behind such a ridiculous article.

[Josquius]

One of the labour delegates summed up the chaos well, "What we've just done is to vote to be third place behind the Lib Dems, very sensible"

I'm not sure I would go that far.
But it all depends on how many people vote tactically. Worst case is labour loses just enough to the lib dems to let the Tories and worse win seats.
No matter how much some may be screaming about farage sweeping the north I don't see it happening. Fascists always do well in EU elections but not general elections. I think the north is safely labour. People are sick of hearing about brexit.
Interesting times in more metropolitan places however.

[Sheilbh]

Unanimous decision. Rejected all the governments arguments. Prorogation was "unlawful, void and of no effect".

[Josquius]

So...parliament is back at work tomorrow or...?

[Sheilbh]

They can meet whenever they want. They were not prorogued.

Bercow wants to reconvene ASAP.

[The Larch]

Boris is racking up the accolades, well on his way to being the worst British PM ever?