UK Politics Thread VIII—Can't Let EU Go

[The Blaatschapen]

He wasn't the best at health secretary, so let's install him in the Foreign Office! Great thinking!

A man I don't like is being replaced by another man that I don't like. Lovely.

Sounds like politics.

Oh, wait.

[Philjia]

Jeremy Hunt is replacing Boris.

He wasn't the best at health secretary, so let's install him in the Foreign Office! Great thinking!

He can't possibly be worse than Boris.

[The Archregimancy]

Anyway, on more serious topics...

I'm surely not the only person thinking of Sir Robert Peel and the Corn Laws this evening.

I'm not sure that Theresa "running through the wheat fields" May has either the political clout or testicular fortitude to even try it.

In the end, it might not be her choice; which is the significant difference with Peel, of course.

In 1846, Peel drove events in the face of opposition from most of his party, realising it was right to do so (though it's worth remembering that Corn Law repeal would have failed if Wellington hadn't persuaded the Lords to pass the bill); May is being driven by events, has been hostage to a minority within her parliamentary party, and seems wholly unsure of what point of principle she's going to stand on next.

So I concede the analogy is far from perfect.

But in terms of an issue that may prove irreconcilable to different wings of the Conservative Party, Brexit may end up providing the first grounds for a split since 1846.
For 172 years, the Conservative Party has done everything within its power to avoid a repeat of the Corn Laws split; it may not be possible anymore.

[Hurdergaryp]

I'm not sure that Theresa "running through the wheat fields" May has either the political clout or testicular fortitude to even try it.

In the end, it might not be her choice; which is the significant difference with Peel, of course.

In 1846, Peel drove events in the face of opposition from most of his party, realising it was right to do so (though it's worth remembering that Corn Law repeal would have failed if Wellington hadn't persuaded the Lords to pass the bill); May is being driven by events, has been hostage to a minority within her parliamentary party, and seems wholly unsure of what point of principle she's going to stand on next.

So no, the analogy is far from perfect.

But in terms of an issue that may prove irreconcilable to different wings of the Conservative Party, Brexit may end up providing the first grounds for a split since 1846.
For 172 years, the Conservative Party has done everything within its power to avoid a repeat of the Corn Laws split; it may not be possible anymore.

Interesting times, these are.

[MERIZoC]

Can't wait for Hunt to fall victim to the Curse of the Lion

[Hurdergaryp]

Can't wait for Hunt to fall victim to the Curse of the Lion

Since I am unfamiliar with this curse you're speaking of, I'll just assume that it's a British thing a Continental such as me just wouldn't understand.

[Philjia]

Can't wait for Hunt to fall victim to the Curse of the Lion

Since I am unfamiliar with this curse you're speaking of, I'll just assume that it's a British thing a Continental such as me just wouldn't understand.

I've got no idea either.

[MERIZoC]

Can't wait for Hunt to fall victim to the Curse of the Lion

Since I am unfamiliar with this curse you're speaking of, I'll just assume that it's a British thing a Continental such as me just wouldn't understand.

the foreign sec is bound to say shit like this, so its an inevitability really

[The South Falls]

He wasn't the best at health secretary, so let's install him in the Foreign Office! Great thinking!

A man I don't like is being replaced by another man that I don't like. Lovely.

A great development.

[Risottia]

I want a death of stalin type movie based on this shitshow, bound to be a good laugh.

Meh.
In Death of Stalin there's Beria raping and killing around. That's dramatic and terrifying.
The British version would feature what, Cameron and a hog's head?

[Hurdergaryp]

A man I don't like is being replaced by another man that I don't like. Lovely.

A great development.

The players change, but the game is still afoot.

[Philjia]

The way I see it, there are a few ways this can go now:
1) There is no no-confidence vote. May continues to stagger on towards Brexit and the next general election undeterred. Boris waits for May to resign before launching a leadership bid.
2) Boris and or Gove launch leadership challenges, but lose. May continues to stagger on towards Brexit and the next general election, but even less confidently than before.
3) Boris or Gove succeeds in ousting May, and becomes Prime Minister.
4) May calls another fucking general election for some reason.

[Eastfield Lodge]

And a guy who has only been a senior cabinet minister for 5/6 months has been made the new Health Secretary. Fortunately, his name also lends itself to childish innuendos for people to use when he inevitably butchers carries out the Tory vision for the NHS.

(Matt Hancock, ex-Culture Secretary, for those unsure.)

[The Archregimancy]

The way I see it, there are a few ways this can go now:
1) There is no no-confidence vote. May continues to stagger on towards Brexit and the next general election undeterred. Boris waits for May to resign before launching a leadership bid.
2) Boris and or Gove launch leadership challenges, but lose. May continues to stagger on towards Brexit and the next general election, but even less confidently than before.
3) Boris or Gove succeeds in ousting May, and becomes Prime Minister.
4) May calls another fucking general election for some reason.

I think you might have conflated a leadership election (an internal Conservative Party mechanism that excludes other parties) with a no-confidence vote (a parliamentry mechanism where all MPs have a vote).

A leadership election would be triggered by 48 (if memory serves) Conservative Party MPs writing to the chair of the 1922 Committee to ask for a leadership election.

A no-confidence vote, in contrast, can be formally triggered by the government or by the opposition; or, in rare cases (such as the Norway Debate of 1940), a parliamentary vote on a separate issue can become a de facto no-confidence vote.

Under the 2011 fixed-term parliaments act, a no-confidence vote doesn't automatically trigger an election or the collapse of the government; instead, the figure tasked with forming a government has 14 days to win a confidence vote after the initial no-confidence vote.

[DesAnges]

I'm starting to think the Tories might not know what they're doing, yano.

[Vassenor]

I'm starting to think the Tories might not know what they're doing, yano.

You mean that thing we've known for the last two years?

[Philjia]

The way I see it, there are a few ways this can go now:
1) There is no no-confidence vote. May continues to stagger on towards Brexit and the next general election undeterred. Boris waits for May to resign before launching a leadership bid.
2) Boris and or Gove launch leadership challenges, but lose. May continues to stagger on towards Brexit and the next general election, but even less confidently than before.
3) Boris or Gove succeeds in ousting May, and becomes Prime Minister.
4) May calls another fucking general election for some reason.

I think you might have conflated a leadership election (an internal Conservative Party mechanism that excludes other parties) with a no-confidence vote (a parliamentry mechanism where all MPs have a vote).

I think they're unlikely to occur in isolation of each other, although I could be wrong.

[DesAnges]

I'm starting to think the Tories might not know what they're doing, yano.

You mean that thing we've known for the last two years?

I forgot NSG was super bad at sarcasm.

[Eastfield Lodge]

You mean that thing we've known for the last two years?

I forgot NSG was super bad at sarcasm.

Jeez, when was the last time you were around these parts???

[DesAnges]

I forgot NSG was super bad at sarcasm.

Jeez, when was the last time you were around these parts???

I pop in on rare occasions when my life is boring, just to snark at people.

[Hurdergaryp]

Jeez, when was the last time you were around these parts???

I pop in on rare occasions when my life is boring, just to snark at people.

Fills my heart with pure joy, knowing that you visit us whenever the nihilistic voids threatens to overwhelm you and all other forms of entertainment have lost their luster in your jaded eyes.

[DesAnges]

I pop in on rare occasions when my life is boring, just to snark at people.

Fills my heart with pure joy, knowing that you visit us whenever the nihilistic voids threatens to overwhelm you and all other forms of entertainment have lost their luster in your jaded eyes.

Naw, it's just a fresh audience.

[Hurdergaryp]

Fills my heart with pure joy, knowing that you visit us whenever the nihilistic voids threatens to overwhelm you and all other forms of entertainment have lost their luster in your jaded eyes.

Naw, it's just a fresh audience.

Wait a minute... this is not TET!

*runs away*

[Jedi Council]

Discussions within my family have lead to the conclusion that the next Prime Minister is more likely than not going to be Jeremy Hunt. Theresa May is highly unlikely to survive until the next election, unless the Government collapses and she is forced into one early.

Boris is too poisonous to some of the Party and has looked a fool (or rather, a larger fool than usual) ever since he backed Leave in the Referendum and there is not another strong Tory to really replace May.

Similarly, fact that Corbyn has not been able to establish a strong, consistent lead over the Tories is a sign of how divisive he is. The Opposition should be bounds ahead of a Government this feeble, and Labour, I think, would be if they were lead by someone who appealed to the middle as well as the left, or someone with a bit more political acumen.

[Freezic Vast]

So Gove and Boris resigned from their positions as Brexit and Foreign Secretaries? No-Confidence vote when and who will challenge May for Tory leader?

All this internal debate in government is making me side with the Lib Dems more and more, as the only good option left, even if it means a shot at a 2nd referendum.