Brexit and the waning days of the United Kingdom

[Sheilbh]

This is very funny from a Sun reporter - as evereyone is noting it's real arguing over the deckchairs on the Titanic:

Jonathan Reilly
@thejonnyreilly
Stand off in No10.

Boris wants Liz Truss to become Chancellor.

But Nadhim Zahawi says he will quit if he isn't moved from Education to No11.

Separately we're up to 8 resignations now (largely more junior roles).

[Sheilbh]

So Nadhim Zahawi won and will be Chancellor. Tomorrow Johnson has PMQs and a couple of hours in front of the Liaison Committee (a committee made of all the chairs of the other parliamentary committees) which'll be tough.

I think tomorrow is also when the 1922 Committee Executive elections happen (or it might be next Wednesday). Here's (very Leave, fairly hardline MP) Andrew Bridgen who's running on the anti-Johnson slate calling on other cabinet ministers to resign if they want a chance in the next election - and promising "we will change the rules and throw him out" by summer recess (21 July):
https://twitter.com/Channel4News/status/1544399460716912644?s=20&t=fyGB_z81QPjILiaLtuSfDQ

Still don't really see how Johnson can hang on for more than a week or why anyone around him thinks he can keep going.

Edit: Separately Starmer's calling for an election (and the SNP saying not to have an election because their priority is the referendum strategy, not removing the Tories) as you'd expect but may have to stand down himself - it seems like Durham Police are close to deciding if they'll fine him.

Edit: And a snap poll (by YouGov which, rather awkwardly, was founded by Zahawi) that 55% of Tory voters think Johnson should resign as well as 70% of the general public. But I'm sure trying to hang on will go splendidly.

[Gups]

This is very funny from a Sun reporter - as evereyone is noting it's real arguing over the deckchairs on the Titanic:

Jonathan Rpeilly
@thejonnyreilly
Stand off in No10.

Boris wants Liz Truss to become Chancellor.

But Nadhim Zahawi says he will quit if he isn't moved from Education to No11.

Separately we're up to 8 resignations now (largely more junior roles).

It's Downfall remade as a shit 70s sitcom

[Josquius]

S.

Edit: Separately Starmer's calling for an election (and the SNP saying not to have an election because their priority is the referendum strategy, not removing the Tories) as you'd expect but may have to stand down himself - it seems like Durham Police are close to deciding if they'll fine him.

Unless there's a lot more to the story than we knew (the reopening is down to a local 2019 tory sending them a screenshot of a typo on a Facebook group and claiming it meant something it doesn't) or Durham police are corrupt as fuck (possible) I don't that will happen.

[Sheilbh]

On that snap poll, only 17% think Johnson should remain as PM - for context 15% of Brits think the moon landings were staged.

[Admiral Yi]

I personally get it because I would want to be very careful in how I talked about a situation like this because there is a history of stereotyping and homophobia about gay men as predators. I'd want to try and make my points as clearly as possible without falling into that trap - and I'd want to flag it so people know I'm aware and that's what I'm tring to avoid. I think there's an element of that from the reporters perspective here - that what she is reporting is not homophobic gossip but a serious issue.

There's also a history of stereotyping about straight men as predators.  Why should gay men get different treatment?

Another one of the moral failings of political correctness.

[Sheilbh]

There's also a history of stereotyping about straight men as predators.  Why should gay men get different treatment?

I don't think there is and that's not what I said.

[crazy canuck]

I personally get it because I would want to be very careful in how I talked about a situation like this because there is a history of stereotyping and homophobia about gay men as predators. I'd want to try and make my points as clearly as possible without falling into that trap - and I'd want to flag it so people know I'm aware and that's what I'm tring to avoid. I think there's an element of that from the reporters perspective here - that what she is reporting is not homophobic gossip but a serious issue.

There's also a history of stereotyping about straight men as predators.  Why should gay men get different treatment?

Another one of the moral failings of political correctness.

There's also a history of stereotyping about straight men as predators.  Why should gay men get different treatment?

I don't think there is and that's not what I said.

More to the point, you are advocating for a position that gay men be treated the same as straight men - ie where there is evidence of a person being a predator, then pursue that person to the full extent of the law.

[Admiral Yi]

I don't think there is and that's not what I said.

No you didn't.  You said you would be careful.  That part was directed more at the media folk mentioned in your link.

It would be helpful to have a common understanding of the word stereotype.  Please tell me yours.  Mine is a negative generalization.  That certainly applies to straight men as predators.

[Sheilbh]

Yeah absolutely.

Not least because not treating them in that way leaves young men vulnerable.

I'd also say I think this is an issue where the stereotyping of men or our concept of masculinity gets in the way because I think there is a perception that men are more able to resist unwanted advances or just issues with viewing masculinity as vulnerable in that way. I think that ignores power and is something that a sexual predator can take advantage of.

Incidentally - just back on today's politics, for all the criticism of Zahawi that I have and will have, he has an incredible life story. And as Ben Judah points out I think it is worth noting that he's the first first generation immigrant/refugee Chancellor (or any of the big jobs in the cabinet - he was born in Baghdad and moved to the UK when he was a kid), as well as the first of Kurdish heritage and the second Muslim. The Tories are the less diverse of the two big parties, but it is generally good our politics looks a little more like our country than it used to. It's a shift that has been visible in my lifetime and is a good thing.

[Admiral Yi]

My attempt to pick a fight with you has been stymied by my inability to decipher your post. 

[viper37]

There's also a history of stereotyping about straight men as predators.  Why should gay men get different treatment?

I don't think there is and that's not what I said.

1) It exists.
2) No, it's not what you said.


#Metoo and #Balancetonporc were aimed at straight men mostly, because so far, they were the ones at the top of the food chain. As we see more gay men and more women reaching the top echelons of power, we will see more of these stories affecting these groups.

[Jacob]

I don't think Sheilbh's comments about the stereotype is in the context of MeToo, but rather the older "gay men are all predatory perverted ephebophiles look to pervert the young" one.

[Admiral Yi]

I don't think Sheilbh's comments about the stereotype is in the context of MeToo, but rather the older "gay men are all predatory perverted ephebophiles look to pervert the young" one.

That's the apparent double standard which I raised.

[Jacob]

I'm afraid I don't follow.