A Political Thread

[General Melchett]

What an utter waste of everyone's time. Calling a media conference to state what everyone already knew i.e. that he won't ask for an extension. Was that meant to put pressure on rebel MPs?

Can see another one tomorrow or Weds confirming he's proposing an election which was his plan all along assuming the rebels wouldn't back him and after all these spending pledges.

Get ready for the Corbyn anti semitic narrative to be wheeled out in the election campaign.

 

[ncurd]

Generate headlines....can't imagine it will stop Tory rebels tommorow.

 

[Which Tyler]

Said sod all, no circumstances in which he'll ask for an extension. But still think that's posturing.

His options are...
Be caught in another outright lie, within 24 hours of making the lie
Break the law
Resign
Goad Corbyn into accepting a GE - which is a bit like me "goading" my dog into eating a biscuit

 

[General Melchett]

If there is a GE I really hope the media are primed to call out Cummings' misinformation and utter BS that he tends to feed the masses in order to get a result. No more NHS buses and BoJo siding with the people v nasty parliament etc.

Another thing, I really wish BoJo would stop saying "Our friends and partners in Brussels". Who is he kidding. We all know he and his cronies hate them and is just being disingenuous.

 

[Reiser99]

Simple fact it's all political manoeuvring to claim that this isn't there fault. As I said I think he knows there's no chance of a deal so now it's who gets the blame for no deal. Johnson is portraying it as he's the man who followed through with the tough but necessary decision after MPs betrayed the will of the people.

 

[ncurd]

On one hand

https://twitter.com/Peston/status/1168606506142638081?s=09

But as @Which Tyler put it WOOF

https://twitter.com/bbclaurak/status/1168608928462188544?s=09

Be nice to have a competent leader of the opposition....

 

[Reiser99]

I'm worried Cummings has outfoxed the remain side again. While they've spent all their energy just about agreeing on how to try and stop no deal, he's been preparing for the general election and setting them up as the bad guys who are forcing no deal by refusing to keep it on the table.

 

[General Melchett]

I'm worried Cummings has outfoxed the remain side again. While they've spent all their energy just about agreeing on how to try and stop no deal, he's been preparing for the general election and setting them up as the bad guys who are forcing no deal by refusing to keep it on the table.

After his shenanigans of 2016 I think the media are better placed to call out any twisted narrative Cummings attempts to create. Also BoJo is giving the false impression that progress was being made in getting a new deal with the EU which is utter BS and easy to disprove. BoJo will claim that Corbyn weakened his hand and prevented him getting a new deal (that was never on the cards) and Corbyn will claim that he stopped BoJo's no deal and saved the country from economic catastrophe.

 

[Reiser99]

After his shenanigans of 2016 I think the media are better placed to call out any twisted narrative Cummings attempts to create. Also BoJo is giving the false impression that progress was being made in getting a new deal with the EU which is utter BS and easy to disprove. BoJo will claim that Corbyn weakened his hand and prevented him getting a new deal (that was never on the cards) and Corbyn will claim that he stopped BoJo's no deal and saved the country from economic catastrophe.

Two problems with that. First is that some of the media will actively support this narrative, lending it credit. Second is there are still far too many voters in this country who won't educate themselves and believe what they read/hear that supports their narrative regardless of facts. My faith in the British electorate is almost non-existent.

 

[General Melchett]

Two problems with that. First is that some of the media will actively support this narrative, lending it credit. Second is there are still far too many voters in this country who won't educate themselves and believe what they read/hear that supports their narrative regardless of facts. My faith in the British electorate is almost non-existent.

I've watched BBC, ITV and Sky News today and all seemed fairly capable of unravelling what BoJo is really up to after today's statement. The main bias exists in tabloid papers some of which are very much pro Brexit. Cummings went pretty much under the radar during 2016 (people actually believed the £350m to the NHS claim). I don't think he'd be able to get away with this to the same extent again. Agree on your second point though. Most people have no idea what they are voting for and do so based on fear, emotion or whatever BS they can't see through.

 

[General Melchett]

European Commission officials now saying no talks have even been held with the UK in recent days even though BoJo the liar claiming progress has been made and a deal is closer The man is a compulsive liar. Feeding people with utter boll ocks.

 

[Amiga500]

If there is a GE I really hope the media are primed to call out Cummings' misinformation and utter BS that he tends to feed the masses in order to get a result. No more NHS buses and BoJo siding with the people v nasty parliament etc.

Yeah, the media really are complicit in the degeneration of politics to this level.

If you are interviewing someone and they state a lie - they need to be called on it ASAP - told to retract it or that particular outlet will not be shy of letting everyone know that the politician in question is a liar. If the lie is immediately known as a lie - they have to retract or else the interview is over and there will be a rolling bar at the bottom of the screen for the duration explaining why the interview was cancelled - because X lied.

 

[Which Tyler]

I've watched BBC, ITV and Sky News today and all seemed fairly capable of unravelling what BoJo is really up to after today's statement. The main bias exists in tabloid papers some of which are very much pro Brexit. Cummings went pretty much under the radar during 2016 (people actually believed the £350m to the NHS claim). I don't think he'd be able to get away with this to the same extent again. Agree on your second point though. Most people have no idea what they are voting for and do so based on fear, emotion or whatever BS they can't see through.

You also have to remember, Cummings only got away with his referendum **** because it was a non-binding vote, same with the media.
For a GE, the electoral commission has teeth and the media are legally required to be unbiased (which has never stopped them, but still)

 

[General Melchett]

Yeah, the media really are complicit in the degeneration of politics to this level.

If you are interviewing someone and they state a lie - they need to be called on it ASAP - told to retract it or that particular outlet will not be shy of letting everyone know that the politician in question is a liar. If the lie is immediately known as a lie - they have to retract or else the interview is over and there will be a rolling bar at the bottom of the screen for the duration explaining why the interview was cancelled - because X lied.

For sure. I would also like to see more interviews terminated when they repeatedly evade questions just like Richard Madley did to Gavin Williamson.

Ironic that the very people who pass our laws and insist that we abide by them operate in a murky world with not much governance over the small matter of telling the truth.

 

[General Melchett]

You also have to remember, Cummings only got away with his referendum **** because it was a non-binding vote, same with the media.
For a GE, the electoral commission has teeth and the media are legally required to be unbiased (which has never stopped them, but still)

Surely campaigning for non binding votes should be subject to the same if Parliament invariably endorse the result. Have they not learned anything after the shenanigans of 2016.

 

[Gavin]

Tory MP Justine Greening not to stand at next general election

 

[Which Tyler]

Surely campaigning for non binding votes should be subject to the same if Parliament invariably endorse the result. Have they not learned anything after the shenanigans of 2016.

Yes, they should.
MPs should also be required to be truthful with an automatic by-election if publicly caught knowingly lying.
Equally a change of leader for the governing party should automatically trigger a GE.

Unfortunately, we don't live in such a world.

 

[ncurd]

Phillip Hammond in gull on gloves are off mode. Was quite clear he was one the reasonable voices in May's cabinet now he doesn't have to show any loyalty and his local party said no way in hell are they deselecting him.

 

[ncurd]

A collegue legitimately just tried the line Cameron said 'out means out' and we should go to WTO lines and just spouted out the same thing when I pointed out nobody on leave actually campaigned for that.....

This is supposed to be a person who can actually engage in critical thinking...

 

[Amiga500]

In other news, I see Sinn Fein have disharmony in the ranks.

John O'Dowd challenging Michelle O'Neill (who is utter useless) for leadership in Norn Iron.


Hope he gets it - 'cos with Brexit happening and O'Neill / Foster unable to do anything but fight like cats - having at least someone that might* be competent in a position of influence might help.

*We know O'Neill and Foster are incompetent. O'Dowd might be incompetent too, but we don't know for sure!