UK Politics Thread IX: Try turning the UK off and on again.

[The Huskar Social Union]

Because this election isnt enough of a shitshow already, we have some good ole fashioned sectarian harassment: Cara Hunter, SDLP MLA for Eastern Londonderry was harassed whilst canvassing, having men come up to her car and scream at her that she is the IRA and an SDLP candidate for South Belfast, Elsie Trainor, was assaulted, almost robbed and called a "Republican Bastard" after filming the people who tore down her election posters

Totally has nothing to do with the fear mongering rhetoric from certain Unionist Political leaders and Loyalists from the TUV and DUP the last two years, no siree.

[Vassenor]

Daily Mail resorts to whataboutism to demand that Boris face no consequences over Partygate.

[The Nihilistic view]

Arch quoting fake news, whatever next.

A fixed penalty notice isn't a conviction.

Jay Rayner isn't 'news'; he's a restaurant critic with a pithy turn of phrase mocking the government; might as well complain that a satirist occasionally bends the truth to make a point.

In the narrow technical sense, though, you are of course correct. A fixed penalty notice is distinct from a criminal conviction, though whether most people understand or care about the distinction is something that we'll only find out in due course.

Nonetheless, the Prime Minister has been found to have broken the law, has misled Parliament over that specific matter on multiple occasions, and by failing to resign over either point is in breach of the ministerial code; which itself would normally be a resignation matter.

We are saddled with a morally bankrupt Prime Minister who is utterly unfit to hold his office, and whose continued presence at Number 10 only further serves to corrupt the underpinnings of the British body politic.

I should be angry; instead I'm just desperately sad.

I think the wider public sphere has forgotten what satire is to be honest, and nor was that post satire.

I'm just generally not a fan of over the top meltdowns and righteous indignation that constitutes the majority of public discourse now. Whatever it may be. You've probably noticed I don't particularly pile in over stuff with other parties either. Who's whiter than white anyway? The way for example most politicians have gone on you'd think none of them have ever broken a law that carries a fixed penalty notice......or perhaps we should talk about the bending of expenses or who they employ in their constituency. Does anybody think Starmmer has never speeded? Pretty much everybody has done that who can drive at some point even if it's totally by accident and that's (Presuming you're not going stupidly over) that's the same level of offence as this.

So less of the righteous bullshit and just the simple truth in all things would be something to strive for. How many people care or not doesn't really matter, people should really care if they want better politics.

I'm sure somewhere in by 10,000 odd posts I've slipped up somewhere but I try not to. I'm also conscious I might have sounded over aggressive as well but I did post the original with a smile on my face, intended as a joke rather than sounding like a condescending school teacher.

[Vassenor]

LBC: Jeremy Corbyn should 'take a lot of the blame' for Boris Johnson's conduct

So apparently despite resigning as leader of the opposition two years ago and practically disappearing from public life since JC is to blame for everything bad in this country somehow.

[Ifreann]

LBC: Jeremy Corbyn should 'take a lot of the blame' for Boris Johnson's conduct

So apparently despite resigning as leader of the opposition two years ago and practically disappearing from public life since JC is to blame for everything bad in this country somehow.

As if Boris is a large child who can't be expected to behave himself if left unsupervised.

[The Blaatschapen]

LBC: Jeremy Corbyn should 'take a lot of the blame' for Boris Johnson's conduct

So apparently despite resigning as leader of the opposition two years ago and practically disappearing from public life since JC is to blame for everything bad in this country somehow.

Jesus Christ!

[Annihilators of Chan Island]

Daily Mail resorts to whataboutism to demand that Boris face no consequences over Partygate.

Pretty awful that one. Not least because we replaced our PM in both world wars.

LBC: Jeremy Corbyn should 'take a lot of the blame' for Boris Johnson's conduct

So apparently despite resigning as leader of the opposition two years ago and practically disappearing from public life since JC is to blame for everything bad in this country somehow.

Well, they called Jeremy "Magic Grandpa", maybe its because they really believed he was Boris' grandfather.

[Ifreann]

Jay Rayner isn't 'news'; he's a restaurant critic with a pithy turn of phrase mocking the government; might as well complain that a satirist occasionally bends the truth to make a point.

In the narrow technical sense, though, you are of course correct. A fixed penalty notice is distinct from a criminal conviction, though whether most people understand or care about the distinction is something that we'll only find out in due course.

Nonetheless, the Prime Minister has been found to have broken the law, has misled Parliament over that specific matter on multiple occasions, and by failing to resign over either point is in breach of the ministerial code; which itself would normally be a resignation matter.

We are saddled with a morally bankrupt Prime Minister who is utterly unfit to hold his office, and whose continued presence at Number 10 only further serves to corrupt the underpinnings of the British body politic.

I should be angry; instead I'm just desperately sad.

I think the wider public sphere has forgotten what satire is to be honest, and nor was that post satire.

I'm just generally not a fan of over the top meltdowns and righteous indignation that constitutes the majority of public discourse now. Whatever it may be. You've probably noticed I don't particularly pile in over stuff with other parties either. Who's whiter than white anyway? The way for example most politicians have gone on you'd think none of them have ever broken a law that carries a fixed penalty notice......or perhaps we should talk about the bending of expenses or who they employ in their constituency. Does anybody think Starmmer has never speeded? Pretty much everybody has done that who can drive at some point even if it's totally by accident and that's (Presuming you're not going stupidly over) that's the same level of offence as this.

Feels like it can only be a deliberate choice to read this controversy as just a matter of Johnson getting a small fine and ignoring the wider context of this fine arising from Johnson flouting restrictions put in place because of a global emergency, lying constantly to Parliament and the public, making disgusting accusations about Starmer to try and distract from his constant lies, and getting away with a piddly little fine when his own office was threatening the public with fines sixteen times larger.

[West Bromwich Holme]

[
Feels like it can only be a deliberate choice to read this controversy as just a matter of Johnson getting a small fine and ignoring the wider context of this fine arising from Johnson flouting restrictions put in place because of a global emergency, lying constantly to Parliament and the public, making disgusting accusations about Starmer to try and distract from his constant lies, and getting away with a piddly little fine when his own office was threatening the public with fines sixteen times larger.

I've not trusted this Government for a long time, especially since the days of David Cameron. I'm no Labour supporter, especially after the Blair scandal and things like the cash-for-influence scandal.

But then again you have Putin breaking his own lockdown rules in 2020, which I saw in the comments of The Express and Daily Mail, so it's not just our leaders doing this sort of thing. However, he probably wouldn't be fined for that where he is.

People are saying we need him now while the Ukraine crisis is ongoing, but France didn't suspend their elections due to it, and I don't think any of the other European countries will.

I wouldn't want Labour or The Greens in power, but what would it be like if the Lib Dems were in power, with Ed Davey as PM? I know we haven't had a Liberal Democrat Prime Minister for over 100 years.

[Hanovereich]

[
Feels like it can only be a deliberate choice to read this controversy as just a matter of Johnson getting a small fine and ignoring the wider context of this fine arising from Johnson flouting restrictions put in place because of a global emergency, lying constantly to Parliament and the public, making disgusting accusations about Starmer to try and distract from his constant lies, and getting away with a piddly little fine when his own office was threatening the public with fines sixteen times larger.

I've not trusted this Government for a long time, especially since the days of David Cameron. I'm no Labour supporter, especially after the Blair scandal and things like the cash-for-influence scandal.

But then again you have Putin breaking his own lockdown rules in 2020, which I saw in the comments of The Express and Daily Mail, so it's not just our leaders doing this sort of thing. However, he probably wouldn't be fined for that where he is.

People are saying we need him now while the Ukraine crisis is ongoing, but France didn't suspend their elections due to it, and I don't think any of the other European countries will.

I wouldn't want Labour or The Greens in power, but what would it be like if the Lib Dems were in power, with Ed Davey as PM? I know we haven't had a Liberal Democrat Prime Minister for over 100 years.

Personally, I don't trust the Tories- at least not under Johnson- but I have no confidence in Starmer either. A Lib Dem PM would be interesting, and I support Davey's views, but realistically it's going to be between the Conservatives and Labour for the foreseeable future.

[West Bromwich Holme]

Personally, I don't trust the Tories- at least not under Johnson- but I have no confidence in Starmer either. A Lib Dem PM would be interesting, and I support Davey's views, but realistically it's going to be between the Conservatives and Labour for the foreseeable future.

Ed Davey does seem like an interesting choice, but I don't agree with him on re-joining the EU; a "Bre-re-enter" would not be a good thing and as complex as Brexit.

Yes, Brexit's got its problems, but it's still early-ish days post-Brexit isn't it? After all, it took 5 years to get through in full.

Then again, France might exit next, and what about other nations? The EU could grow smaller over the next decade, couldn't it?

[The Nihilistic view]

I think the wider public sphere has forgotten what satire is to be honest, and nor was that post satire.

I'm just generally not a fan of over the top meltdowns and righteous indignation that constitutes the majority of public discourse now. Whatever it may be. You've probably noticed I don't particularly pile in over stuff with other parties either. Who's whiter than white anyway? The way for example most politicians have gone on you'd think none of them have ever broken a law that carries a fixed penalty notice......or perhaps we should talk about the bending of expenses or who they employ in their constituency. Does anybody think Starmmer has never speeded? Pretty much everybody has done that who can drive at some point even if it's totally by accident and that's (Presuming you're not going stupidly over) that's the same level of offence as this.

Feels like it can only be a deliberate choice to read this controversy as just a matter of Johnson getting a small fine and ignoring the wider context of this fine arising from Johnson flouting restrictions put in place because of a global emergency, lying constantly to Parliament and the public, making disgusting accusations about Starmer to try and distract from his constant lies, and getting away with a piddly little fine when his own office was threatening the public with fines sixteen times larger.

For that to be true I'd have to have flown off the handle about Margaret Ferrier. Knowing me like I do I'd imagine I'd have made a flippant remark about her hypocrisy and that would probably be my only comment on the matter. Which is fine I understand why you might think that, it's what a lot of people do on NS, fly off the handle against the others politically and come up with some crazy defence when in reverse.

The thing that stands out as possibly below the belt is the remarks about Starmer and the way it was expressed was certainly unwise.

[The Nihilistic view]

You can add Keir having a beer to that point as well.

[Ifreann]

Feels like it can only be a deliberate choice to read this controversy as just a matter of Johnson getting a small fine and ignoring the wider context of this fine arising from Johnson flouting restrictions put in place because of a global emergency, lying constantly to Parliament and the public, making disgusting accusations about Starmer to try and distract from his constant lies, and getting away with a piddly little fine when his own office was threatening the public with fines sixteen times larger.

For that to be true I'd have to have flown off the handle about Margaret Ferrier.

No, you don't have to have had any other reaction to any other situation for it to be true that you're choosing to downplay this. It is very obvious to anyone even remotely aware of British politics that there is more to this than Boris just getting a little fine. You cannot possible be unaware of these things. And it beggars belief to suggest that you don't see what the big deal is that while Britons were being told that they must stay at home while their loved ones die alone in hospital, Boris was having office parties and getting his mates around for drinks in the garden.

[Ostroeuropa]

For that to be true I'd have to have flown off the handle about Margaret Ferrier.

No, you don't have to have had any other reaction to any other situation for it to be true that you're choosing to downplay this. It is very obvious to anyone even remotely aware of British politics that there is more to this than Boris just getting a little fine. You cannot possible be unaware of these things. And it beggars belief to suggest that you don't see what the big deal is that while Britons were being told that they must stay at home while their loved ones die alone in hospital, Boris was having office parties and getting his mates around for drinks in the garden.

He wrote a letter to a 7 year old girl telling her to cancel her birthday party and explaining why the measures were necessary to keep others safe. This was at the same time he was doing all this shit.

For that to be true I'd have to have flown off the handle about Margaret Ferrier. Knowing me like I do I'd imagine I'd have made a flippant remark about her hypocrisy and that would probably be my only comment on the matter. Which is fine I understand why you might think that, it's what a lot of people do on NS, fly off the handle against the others politically and come up with some crazy defence when in reverse.

The thing that stands out as possibly below the belt is the remarks about Starmer and the way it was expressed was certainly unwise.

The dude panicked and his instinct was to try and rile up a fascist paramilitary mob mate. He's a criminal and a liar without even the appearance of a moral compass. The collective denial on the party of conservative voters about this is just sad by this point. The Corbyn Cult was never this bad.

Plenty of us were like "Yeah he's fucking shit on foreign policy".

The problem is, if you admit how fucking terrible Boris is, what appeal does he actually have?

"He's a Tory and not Labour so I like him, even though he's a thug, a liar, and a criminal. Literally nothing else matters to me.". Well I mean, just say it man. Just come out and say it. Be honest with yourself and us.

The 'we like money man' people should realise that he's pissing our money down the drain.

Yeah, but

"Lmao, libs destroyed" , "He got Brexit done!" And "He's trying his best" people are numerous and willing to vote.

Hating libs isn't sufficient reason. I know from personal experience.

[Imperial States of Duotona]

If being at risk of getting in trouble is "skating on thin ice", Boris has essentially already cracked it, fallen into the water below, whilst half the bystanders point and laugh and the other half, who tried to say that the ice would never crack, now are trying to say it wasn't his fault it cracked despite the fact that he skated on it.

Hoo boy, this is needlessly more messy than it needs to be. Boris messed up to the point that he was fined, people need to face that it was him and/or his party who organised this mess. They need to face the repercussions of their actions.

[The Huskar Social Union]

Jim Wells: Former DUP MLA quits party and endorses rival TUV

Former Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) assembly member Jim Wells has quit the party and will back the Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) in the election on 5 May.

Mr Wells had been an assembly member (MLA) for South Down since 1998.

However he was not reselected by the DUP to stand again in the upcoming poll.

In response to Mr Wells' decision, the DUP said the election was more important than personalities.

The party said the seat totals after the election would decide whether Northern Ireland goes in the "right or wrong direction".

Juicy. Current sole Unionist MLA for South Down and former DUP veteran has went after the DUP for not reselecting him and is now backing the TUV. South Down could be interesting to watch come the election, the SDLP will be fighting a tough fight to defend one of their seats from the Alliance Party and its gona be a Unionist slugging match to see who will retain the sole Unionist seat.

[Philjia]

Daily Mail resorts to whataboutism to demand that Boris face no consequences over Partygate.

Pretty awful that one. Not least because we replaced our PM in both world wars.

Twice during WW2, and one of those was in a full on general election.

This is the part where I get to shit on Winston Churchil for being a genocidal maniac again.

[West Bromwich Holme]

Is this hyperbole or do they have a point?. Yes, it's the comment box of Daily Mail, but do they have a point or not?

[Nationalist Northumbria]

Is this hyperbole or do they have a point?. Yes, it's the comment box of Daily Mail, but do they have a point or not?

Why don't you make up your own mind?

[West Bromwich Holme]

Is this hyperbole or do they have a point?. Yes, it's the comment box of Daily Mail, but do they have a point or not?

Why don't you make up your own mind?

It's probably both, but then again Partygate is still going to be a big issue for months to come.

[Vassenor]

So we're going full on Patrick Starr and sending all our migrants to Rwanda.

[Allinburg]

So we're going full on Patrick Starr and sending all our migrants to Rwanda.

ah yes, the australian solution

[Ifreann]

So we're going full on Patrick Starr and sending all our migrants to Rwanda.

Why not just legalise torture, it'd be easier.

[Hirota]

Border externalisation isn't anything new, I've talked about elements of the policy before, but I have examples of the EU engaging in elements of the practice for years, but it's been used before that too.

That isn't to say that because the EU does it it's okay that we do it, merely to point out the UK were complicit in the practice beforehand, and I don't recall the regular talking heads on here expressing outrage in the past. Indeed, some of the non-UK posters on here are still members of the EU, and perhaps if they are truly outraged at such policies might benefit from looking to their own governments?

Alas though, there is some broad support for the policy - people in general are not opposed to immigration on humanitarian grounds, but are opposed to those who enter the country illegally (normally for economic reasons), funding criminal gangs.

Perhaps that why it was announced - it's a policy popular in certain quarters that might distract from other issues. I can't imagine what those might be.

Personally, I'd imagine the money on this border externalisation policy would be better going to dealing with those criminal gangs rather than sticking tons of single men in Rwanda, but that's just me. <shrugs>