Brexit and the waning days of the United Kingdom

[mongers]

Another MP called Ms Truss's news conference "a mega-disaster". They said: "She will have to resign - she is worse than Corbyn."

[Sheilbh]

Sounds like decided on Indian politics?

Partly but also I get the impression Labour in Leicester East are in a bit of a mess generally.

The former MP, Keith Vaz, was basically forced to not run again in 2019 because of a rent boys and coke scandal. He was also suspended from the party for six months.

I think that happened in October and the election was in December so Labour had to pick a candidate very quickly. They selected Claudia Webbe who's from Leicester but has mainly worked in politics in London with Ken Livingstone and was a close Corbyn ally. She then got convicted for harassing and threatening a woman who was friends with her partner and given a ten week sentence which would have triggered a by-election, but was reduced to community service on appeal. She's been kicked out of Labour for that so is now sitting as an independent.

Add to that that Vaz has made a comeback and is now constituency party chair for Leicester East (and might try to get back into parliament) - and I generally get the sense that Labour is a bit of a mess there. Add in picking candidate who's had to deny being a BJP supporter in an area that's about 40% Muslim and 10% Sikh.

Feels like a rare cae when "local factors" really are important. A bit like when Sunderland council had a huge swing to the Tories - but the local context was a Labour councillor getting convicted for child sexual abuse and the Labour leader of the council being accused of killing someone.

[mongers]

If I were the incoming labour Post-Master General, not that I think there's still such a position, I'd make sure this event was commemorated in stamps; we've had the "Year of the Three Kings" commeratives, this could be the "Year of the Four Chancellors, (and Counting)" 

[HVC]

In other British news, today I learned a judge on the Isle of Man is called a deemster.

Definition of deemetster is: A judge; one who pronounces sentence or doom.

So that's cool

[Josquius]

In other British news, today I learned a judge on the isle of Mann is called a deemster.

Definition of deemetster is: A judge; one who pronounces sentence or doom.

So that's cool

"Your honour. My client would like to petition for doom."

[Zanza]

So the new chancellor has announced tax raises and spending cuts. Totally discredits the PM after just six weeks into the job.. 

[Richard Hakluyt]

I was about to make some half-assed comments about "sovereignty" and "taking back control" but Jonathan Freedland over at the Guardian has this covered very well :

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/oct/14/markets-take-back-control-brexit-humiliation-britain-suez

[Richard Hakluyt]

Andrew Marr, a prominent political journalist and broadcaster, explains his feelings about the state of the nation :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ho181-k9lv0

[Sheilbh]

Meanwhile following Cameron's Greensill involvement, Blair hawking his consultancy on "human rights" to various autocracies and Major sitting on the board of various Gulf oil firms - we now have Nick Clegg being named as the Facebook executive (bad enough) OnlyFans was allegedly bribing to blacklist rival sites.

The political class really not sending their best lately

[Tamas]

I like the summary that what we are seeing is the final unravelling of the myth that you can merge Raeganite/Thatcherite minimum tax policy with the kind of state spending and redistribution that British society feels is necessary.

I think it's an oversimplification (it's also likely the beginning of the final unravelling of the British Empire and its cultural momentum since its geographical dismantling) but still feels apt.

[Admiral Yi]

Are police not allowed to yank protestors off streets and highways?

[Richard Hakluyt]

They have to drag them politely and not injure them.

(Sounds flippant but it is true)

[Richard Hakluyt]

Speaking of the old bill, Louise Casey's report on the Met police is out. It is pretty damning and confirms, I think, suspicions that the reason for Cressida Dick's popularity with the force is that she shielded them from punishment for their frequent misdeeds.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-63277161

Hell of a lot of bad apples 

[HVC]

They have to drag them politely and not injure them.

(Sounds flippant but it is true)

Are pepper spray infused fire hoses polite? If so I choose those.

[Richard Hakluyt]

The objectionable protestors are generally committing criminal damage; which is either a serious crime with up to 10 years imprisonment or, for lower value offences, can be tried summarily for a sentence of up to 3 months.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/police-crime-sentencing-and-courts-bill-2021-factsheets/police-crime-sentencing-and-courts-bill-2021-criminal-damage-to-memorials-factsheet#:~:text=The%20offence%20of%20criminal%20damage,of%20up%20to%20%C2%A32%2C500.

That takes effort by the police and a fuctioning justice system of course. The government is looking to make it easier for the police to deal with protestors. Knowing the shower currently in charge I think we can look forward to the day when a bit of light heckling of the useless fuckers who rule us will result in a severe beating by government goons and internment in a re-education camp on Gruinard Island.