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

[Estrella]

“Suella De Vil” is my potential contribution

You beat me to it! Well done! I was just about post that one alongside these:

-"Jeremy Hunt for Red October."
-"Penny (Mordaunt) for Your Thoughts."
-"Trussfund Baby."

I’m always a sucker for “Hunt for the Red October” puns! That would get my vote if Hunt wins.

Coming soon to a Number Ten near you!

[Silent Hunter]

Can I suggest "Strong and Stable IV" as part of the title?

[Torrain]

https://mobile.twitter.com/Keir_Starmer/status/1546830565244116992

[Blair]

perhaps a new threat when we get a new pm?

[Antonio the Sixth]

https://mobile.twitter.com/Keir_Starmer/status/1546830565244116992

Excellent. Force the Tories to either ditch BoJo and cause even more internal strife, or stick by him and provide more ammo for 2024.

[CumbrianLefty]

They won't ditch BoJo now - especially since he has promised to behave

Having to vote confidence in him will be embarrassing for many Tory MPs (that's why Labour are doing it, after all) but they will calculate any long term damage will be limited - at least if his replacement makes a reasonable impression. Though it will also be interesting to see if any *do* break ranks.

[Oryxslayer]

They won't ditch him now - especially since he has promised to behave

Having to vote confidence in him will be embarrassing for many Tory MPs (that's why Labour are doing it, after all) but they will calculate any long term damage will be limited - at least if his replacement makes a reasonable impression. Though it will also be interesting to see if any *do* break ranks.

Given that the replacement process is already formally underway, I bet there will be a number of statements like "I don't have confidence in Johnson, but I have confidence that the process will find a new and competent PM, so I must vote against this measure..."

[Blair]

Lol- another masterclass from the Johnson Premiership about how to turn something tiny into another scandal.

For non-obsessives the Government is expected to always allow a motion of no-confidence from the Opposition to test whether the Government has confidence of the house.

https://twitter.com/KevinASchofield/status/1546872147456495618

[Blair]

I would say I expect better but this is a Government that made Peter Bone a Government Minister.

[Torrain]

The motion appears to read as follows:

That this House has no confidence in Her Majesty’s Government while the Rt Hon Member for Uxbridge and South Ruislip remains Prime Minister.

The Government apparently tried to use the logic that this wasn't a VONC in the Government, but in both the PM and the Government, which they are not required to honour. Which is flimsy at best. Given the potential constitutional ramifications, I think it's important for Labour to check just how far the Government will go, by resubmitting a clarified VONC motion, and ensure that this does not become newly established precendent.

If this Government doesn't allow a straightforward confidence vote to be held, and there isn't an intervention from Hoyle and Tory backbenchers, I would honestly support Labour dragging the Commons to a standstill until this is addressed. Force divisions on procedural votes, filibuster wherever they can. Raise point of order after point of order. Pledge to enshrine the convention in law after the next election.

A no-confidence vote was highly unlikely to pass - but it's a key democratic check on the government's power, and attempting to deny the opposition that right is highly concerning for precedent. What's to stop a future minority government without a democratic mandate clinging on through the same mechanism?

[Torrain]

Potentially relevant:
https://twitter.com/lewis_goodall/status/1546882347559157760

[Filuwaúrdjan]

There's no such thing as a standard form of No Confidence motion!

[Blair]

There's no such thing as a standard form of No Confidence motion!

It is always telling when Government sources state something just how many journalists report it verbatim because they don't see it as their job to simply read the House of Commons Library Briefing on the subject!

[NewYorkExpress]

They won't ditch BoJo now - especially since he has promised to behave

Having to vote confidence in him will be embarrassing for many Tory MPs (that's why Labour are doing it, after all) but they will calculate any long term damage will be limited - at least if his replacement makes a reasonable impression. Though it will also be interesting to see if any *do* break ranks.

Starmer should demand new elections (which Labour would presumably win) in exchange for not filing constant no-confidence votes against whoever the next PM will be.

[NewYorkExpress]

SAS operatives in Afghanistan were responsible for unlawfully killing 54 people in one six-month tour.

SAS operatives in Afghanistan repeatedly killed detainees and unarmed men in suspicious circumstances, according to a BBC investigation.

Newly obtained military reports suggest that one unit may have unlawfully killed 54 people in one six-month tour.

The BBC found evidence suggesting the former head of special forces failed to pass on evidence to a murder inquiry.

The Ministry of Defence said British troops "served with courage and professionalism in Afghanistan".

The BBC understands that General Sir Mark Carleton-Smith, the former head of UK Special Forces, was briefed about the alleged unlawful killings but did not pass on the evidence to the Royal Military Police, even after the RMP began a murder investigation into the SAS squadron.

General Carleton-Smith, who went on to become head of the Army before stepping down last month, declined to comment for this story.

[Pericles]

Fox News has a wild take about Boris' downfall https://twitter.com/Number10cat/status/1546878911639871490

[Mr. Smith]

"Here Comes the Sunak."

"Dishi Rishi"

[nicholas.slaydon]

Fox News has a wild take about Boris' downfall https://twitter.com/Number10cat/status/1546878911639871490

Not even a single mention of Boris covering up for a sex pervert in his own administration.

[Torrain]

This week just gets weirder and weirder.
https://twitter.com/nickeardleybbc/status/1547173003045257217

Edit: The motion will be as follows:
That this House has confidence in Her Majesty's Government.

Clearly an attempt to sidestep Labour's plan to frame the debate around Johnson's leadership (as reflected in the wording of their confidence motion), rather than general support for a Conservative Government.

[Torrain]

Also notably, PMQs is anarchic - it's 4 minutes past schedule, and the Speaker can't even get the House quiet enough to have the first question asked. Both Alba Party MPs had to be forcibly removed from the Chamber by the Sergeant at Arms.

[CumbrianLefty]

This week just gets weirder and weirder.
https://twitter.com/nickeardleybbc/status/1547173003045257217

Edit: The motion will be as follows:
That this House has confidence in Her Majesty's Government.

Clearly an attempt to sidestep Labour's plan to frame the debate around Johnson's leadership (as reflected in the wording of their confidence motion), rather than general support for a Conservative Government.

It still had no right to disallow Labour's wording, in the opinion of many who know about this stuff.

[The Dowager Mod]

Also notably, PMQs is anarchic - it's 4 minutes past schedule, and the Speaker can't even get the House quiet enough to have the first question asked. Both Alba Party MPs had to be forcibly removed from the Chamber by the Sergeant at Arms.

I could watch it all day. lol
https://twitter.com/OxfordDiplomat/status/1547183722151157760

[Darthpi – Anti-Florida Activist]

Also notably, PMQs is anarchic - it's 4 minutes past schedule, and the Speaker can't even get the House quiet enough to have the first question asked. Both Alba Party MPs had to be forcibly removed from the Chamber by the Sergeant at Arms.

I could watch it all day. lol
https://twitter.com/OxfordDiplomat/status/1547183722151157760

I have far more respect for this than I have for the American Congress, where it's rare to see any speech given before a chamber less than 90% empty.

[All Along The Watchtower]

"Sad!" that BoJo was finally cucked by his own party. Certainly not the "British Trump" - the opposite, in fact. Though tbf, I do find it amusing that he insists on being a caretaker PM for two more months. I suppose there's few meaningfully less bad alternatives among the Tory candidates to succeed him, are there?

Is there anyone on the Conservative side who would be better in terms of "not actively making a bad situation worse", or has the horse bolted the stable on that? 12 years of criminal stupidity and stupid criminality...

[DINGO Joe]

https://mobile.twitter.com/robpowellnews/status/1547123763422035969

I've seen multiple pictures of Sunak brandishing a brief case in such manner.  Is this a tradition of some type?