UK General Discussion:The Rt. Hon Alex Boris de Pfeffel Johnson, Populist Hero

[Middle-aged Europe]

https://twitter.com/paulwaugh/status/1486111189541265408?s=20

Okay, so now they're just making sh**t up.

[TheTide]

This is... not correct.

He, above all, knows that. Which makes it more funny.

[Boobs]

I agree with Jacob. A snap election now!

[Oryxslayer]

This is... not correct.

He, above all, knows that. Which makes it more funny.

It's a threat, saying that if BoJo goes then so does the government. To get to that point requires some weird conclusions, especially since once Boris gets tossed the Tories will let their term go on to the final day if Labour continues to lead the polls. 

[TheTide]

https://twitter.com/Peston/status/1486120247459561472?s=20

[Torrain]

https://twitter.com/paulwaugh/status/1486111189541265408?s=20

Does Rees-Mogg think we don’t remember how his boss got his job in the first place?

Pretty sure JRM actually sent one of the deciding 1992 letters that led May to resign, rather than face another leadership challenge.

Such a farce.

[Torrain]

It also seems like a very poor time to make thinly-veiled threats to the Red Wall MPs, attempting to use their constituencies and small majorities against them.

Given the precedent of Christian Wakeford and the whipping scandal - does JRM not realise the optics and outcomes of this are potentially awful?

Whatever poise he tries to speak with, these comments really read like the last-minute scrambling of a politician who knows he might be out of a job soon. Whoever replaces Johnson, whether that be next week or next year, I doubt they’ll be offering a ministry to JRM.

[Joe Republic]

Christ, Jacob Rees-Mogg is going to be party leader at some point in the near-ish future, isn't he?  If anyone thinks that's a totally ridiculous notion, I direct your attention to the current one.

[Secretary of State Liberal Hack]

Christ, Jacob Rees-Mogg is going to be party leader at some point in the near-ish future, isn't he?  If anyone thinks that's a totally ridiculous notion, I direct your attention to the current one.

The tories would be lucky to have more than 200 seats if he was their leader.

[Oryxslayer]

Christ, Jacob Rees-Mogg is going to be party leader at some point in the near-ish future, isn't he?  If anyone thinks that's a totally ridiculous notion, I direct your attention to the current one.

I wouldn't be surprised if whenever Labour forms a govt he gets put in the post at some point between elections, then quickly tossed aside after the party and the public get a good look at him.

[TheTide]

It also seems like a very poor time to make thinly-veiled threats to the Red Wall MPs, attempting to use their constituencies and small majorities against them.

Given the precedent of Christian Wakeford and the whipping scandal - does JRM not realise the optics and outcomes of this are potentially awful?

Whatever poise he tries to speak with, these comments really read like the last-minute scrambling of a politician who knows he might be out of a job soon. Whoever replaces Johnson, whether that be next week or next year, I doubt they’ll be offering a ministry to JRM.

Let's do a little exercise, on the basis of this. The future prospects of each cabinet member under the next Prime Minister, assuming that scenario isn't too far away.

Raab - Uninspiring, might be offered something but might choose to call it quits.
Truss - Will likely be there regardless of whether she is the actual leader. If she isn't then she could move to the Treasury.
Sunak - Could move to the Foreign Office if he isn't the leader. Will stay in cabinet unless there's a particularly nasty leadership election in which he doesn't win.
Patel - Gone or demoted.
Wallace - Relatively competent. If gone then it will be on his own accord, although his Boris loyalism could come into play.
Gove - Will be in the cabinet until the end of this government, whenever that may be. Is due one of the four Great Offices.
Javid - Difficult to call. I would guess a return to the Home Office.
Barclay - Generic cutout. Who cares, but may stay.
Kwarteng - One of the drossier members. Could stay in a lesser role.
Sharma - Will probably stay.
Trevelyan - Not much profile. Not sure really.
Coffey - Memeish. Drossy. Will probably go to the backbench.
Zahawi - Possibly a Great Office contender.
Eustice - Useless. Probably out.
Shapps - Hilariously opportunistic and careerist, even by the standards of this government. Could continue to be a clogging member.
Lewis - One of those eternal mid-ranking cabinet members, so probably remains.
Jack - Scottish Secretary, not many alternatives.
Hart - Welsh Secretary, not many alternatives.
Evans - Who cares.
Dorries - Certain to be out. The Diane Abbott of this government.
Dowden - Probably stays in some role or another.

And yes, JRM goes. Not officially a member of the cabinet.

[LAB-LIB]

Christ, Jacob Rees-Mogg is going to be party leader at some point in the near-ish future, isn't he?  If anyone thinks that's a totally ridiculous notion, I direct your attention to the current one.

I certainly hope so...

[Torrain]

It also seems like a very poor time to make thinly-veiled threats to the Red Wall MPs, attempting to use their constituencies and small majorities against them.

Given the precedent of Christian Wakeford and the whipping scandal - does JRM not realise the optics and outcomes of this are potentially awful?

Whatever poise he tries to speak with, these comments really read like the last-minute scrambling of a politician who knows he might be out of a job soon. Whoever replaces Johnson, whether that be next week or next year, I doubt they’ll be offering a ministry to JRM.

Let's do a little exercise, on the basis of this. The future prospects of each cabinet member under the next Prime Minister, assuming that scenario isn't too far away.

Raab - Uninspiring, might be offered something but might choose to call it quits.
Truss - Will likely be there regardless of whether she is the actual leader. If she isn't then she could move to the Treasury.
Sunak - Could move to the Foreign Office if he isn't the leader. Will stay in cabinet unless there's a particularly nasty leadership election in which he doesn't win.
Patel - Gone or demoted.
Wallace - Relatively competent. If gone then it will be on his own accord, although his Boris loyalism could come into play.
Gove - Will be in the cabinet until the end of this government, whenever that may be. Is due one of the four Great Offices.
Javid - Difficult to call. I would guess a return to the Home Office.
Barclay - Generic cutout. Who cares, but may stay.
Kwarteng - One of the drossier members. Could stay in a lesser role.
Sharma - Will probably stay.
Trevelyan - Not much profile. Not sure really.
Coffey - Memeish. Drossy. Will probably go to the backbench.
Zahawi - Possibly a Great Office contender.
Eustice - Useless. Probably out.
Shapps - Hilariously opportunistic and careerist, even by the standards of this government. Could continue to be a clogging member.
Lewis - One of those eternal mid-ranking cabinet members, so probably remains.
Jack - Scottish Secretary, not many alternatives.
Hart - Welsh Secretary, not many alternatives.
Evans - Who cares.
Dorries - Certain to be out. The Diane Abbott of this government.
Dowden - Probably stays in some role or another.

And yes, JRM goes. Not officially a member of the cabinet.

Agree with a lot of this.
- Patel, JRM and Dorries are doomed, Raab probably too.
- Sunak has be in the inner circle (PM, Great Office), unless he’s lost a bitter contest
- Truss is probably too big to fail right now. I don’t think she’ll be PM right now, but could see her be be given a high profile, but tough job (Home Secretary is plausible) to keep her busy, and away from plotting, although her primary interests are heavily in the international sphere, so she might try and stay put.
- Zahawi is well-liked, so unless he’s backed the wrong horse, he’s feels like a shoo-in for a big job (FCO, Home, or Health if he’s unlucky)
- I do think we could end up with a different Scotland Secretary, if one of the other Scottish Tories helps the new PM whip votes in a leadership campaign. Andrew Bowie, for instance, is a good soldier, defends the government where he has to, but has been distancing himself from Boris. Will face a tough re-elect campaign in ‘24, but might want ministerial opportunity while he has the chance…
- Javid depends entirely on which horse he backs, methinks. Could be sent packing, or allowed to remain in post (poor guy).

Haven’t had enough time to consider the rest, but given how fast Johnson has turfed through ministers, I don’t feel too guilty about my unfamiliarity with the B-Team. On that note, will be interested to see whether May and Early Boris (pre-COVID) alumni feature in his takedown and rise of the successor. The combination of previous ministerial experience (even junior), and civil-war loyalty during party spats typically leads a savvy MP back into the cabinet, so will be keeping an eye on that faction.

[TheTide]

Using Daily Mail headlines to justify the leader's position.

https://twitter.com/NadineDorries/status/1486294541942591488?s=20

[Torrain]

Johnson’s prepped line about Starmer for PMQs, “He’s a lawyer not a leader!” seems poorly timed, given he may need one, and certainly may be facing some shortly.

It also plays to Starmer’s biography and assets, letting Labour run lines about “prosecuting the case against the government”. 

[Middle-aged Europe]

Johnson’s prepped line about Starmer for PMQs, “He’s a lawyer not a leader!” seems poorly timed, given he may need one, and certainly may be facing some shortly.

It also plays to Starmer’s biography and assets, letting Labour run lines about “prosecuting the case against the government”.  

"I would prefer to be led by a lawyer than a liar, will he resign?" - Lloyd Russell-Moyle, Labour MP

[Torrain]

Johnson’s prepped line about Starmer for PMQs, “He’s a lawyer not a leader!” seems poorly timed, given he may need one, and certainly may be facing some shortly.

It also plays to Starmer’s biography and assets, letting Labour run lines about “prosecuting the case against the government”.  

"I would prefer to be led by a lawyer than a liar, will he resign?" - Lloyd Russell-Moyle, Labour MP

Aye - they kind of set themselves up for that kind of line.

Maybe the speechwriters have started jumping ship too?/s

[CumbrianLefty]

Johnson’s prepped line about Starmer for PMQs, “He’s a lawyer not a leader!” seems poorly timed, given he may need one, and certainly may be facing some shortly.

It also plays to Starmer’s biography and assets, letting Labour run lines about “prosecuting the case against the government”.  

"I would prefer to be led by a lawyer than a liar, will he resign?" - Lloyd Russell-Moyle, Labour MP

Things have got so bad, that LRM said something supportive of Starmer

[LabourJersey]

Christ, Jacob Rees-Mogg is going to be party leader at some point in the near-ish future, isn't he?  If anyone thinks that's a totally ridiculous notion, I direct your attention to the current one.

I really doubt this---I don't get the sense that Rees-Moog has any allies or friends to speak of that would allow him to get selected for Leader

[CumbrianLefty]

JRM as Tory leader is not going to happen, period.

[Angel of Death]

[TheTide]

    

https://twitter.com/PoliticsForUK/status/1486353871060586499?s=20

[Joe Republic]

^ Lenin?  Really?

[Silent Hunter]

^ Lenin?  Really?

He worked as a legal assistant for a while, yes.

[Joe Republic]

^ Lenin?  Really?

He worked as a legal assistant for a while, yes.

Yes, great.  Is it "cool" to be in the company of him?