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

[Darthpi – Anti-Florida Activist]

Assuming that the rules are changed and that Johnson does lose a VONC next week (although, at this point, I'm not 100% confident that the party won't bottle it yet again), the rule that leaders can't be challenged again for one calendar year after winning a one needs to be scrapped ASAP. Sure, a threshold of letters for a challenge is probably a necessity, but the one year rule has created a truly ludicrous situation.

At this point I'd also have to say that the careers of anyone who remains in cabinet after this point must be toast. The Johnson loyalists apart, you can't announce that you have no confidence in the PM, tell that to his face, then back down and announce that you support him just because he ing says 'no - piss off'. This is possibly the only parliamentary democracy in the world where the politicians could be that weak and spineless in dealing with a failed leader. You can't imagine them sh*tting the bed this badly in an Australian party.

Yeah, I'm especially curious about what the endgame of Zahawi is. Sure, it's an amusing bit of Machiavellian tactics, but surely all he'll get out of it is like a position in pub trivia nights (who was the shortest serving Chancellor?)

Edward Law, 1st Baron Ellenborough: interim Chancellor from January 23rd to February 5th, 1806.

[Statilius the Epicurean]

I don't even get what the Boris plan is now. It's inevitable you're going to lose the VONC as soon as it's able to happen. So what is even the point of fighting? The only possible way to avert it is to go to the Palace ASAP.

Even that would be pointless as he'd certainly lose an election under these circumstances and he'd take the party down with him, but I dunno maybe he'll do it out of spite.

Well, probably yes. But he believes he has magic election-winning powers and probably fancies there's a chance to dig one out against an untested Labour with some "SNP coalition of chaos" line.

I also wonder how much of it is wanting to last longer in office than May did (28 days behind by my count).

[TheTide]

Simon Hart, the Welsh Secretary, has resigned.

[ηєω ƒяσηтιєя]

BoJo the Bozo needs to go! RESIGN!

[Cassius]

BoJo the Bozo needs to go! RESIGN!

I maintain that the biggest bozo here is Nadhim Zahawi.

[CumbrianLefty]

Assuming that the rules are changed and that Johnson does lose a VONC next week (although, at this point, I'm not 100% confident that the party won't bottle it yet again), the rule that leaders can't be challenged again for one calendar year after winning a one needs to be scrapped ASAP. Sure, a threshold of letters for a challenge is probably a necessity, but the one year rule has created a truly ludicrous situation.

At this point I'd also have to say that the careers of anyone who remains in cabinet after this point must be toast. The Johnson loyalists apart, you can't announce that you have no confidence in the PM, tell that to his face, then back down and announce that you support him just because he ing says 'no - piss off'. This is possibly the only parliamentary democracy in the world where the politicians could be that weak and spineless in dealing with a failed leader. You can't imagine them sh*tting the bed this badly in an Australian political party.

Johnson is trying to make this argument that the Conservative victory in 2019 resulted in a governing mandate not for the party but for him as an individual, which really is totally contrary to the central premise of parliamentary democracy, and it's extraordinary how many are somehow willing to go along with that reasoning.

Reasoning that has been massively been encouraged by our media, of course - not least when even a BBC Political Editor banded around the nonsense phrase "unelected prime minister" with abandon.

[kyc0705]

I think they've crossed "raid the Lords" on ways to fill the vacancies and have arrived at "bring back national service."

[TheTide]

https://twitter.com/MrMKimber/status/1544799547658047489?s=20&t=Py8CQRNhOzBW...

[CumbrianLefty]

I don't even get what the Boris plan is now. It's inevitable you're going to lose the VONC as soon as it's able to happen. So what is even the point of fighting? The only possible way to avert it is to go to the Palace ASAP.

Maybe he thinks he can actually get a dissolution *after* losing a VONC??

Utter and absolute madness obviously, but seriously who the f*** knows at this point

(Johnson loyalists have also been heard muttering about the "Corbyn precedent" - yes really)

[Zinneke]

65 MPs is More than enough for a Cabinet. I’m on my third wine now and I’m we’ll and truly backing the Johnson low tax high spend Caudillismo over the psychopaths plotting against him. Go Boris!

[TheTide]

Edward Argar, Health Minister, has resigned.

[Darthpi – Anti-Florida Activist]

https://twitter.com/MrMKimber/status/1544799547658047489?s=20&t=Py8CQRNhOzBW...

"It's just a flesh wound!"

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

How did repealing the Fixed-Term Parliament Act work exactly? I'm far from an expert on British constitutional law, but my understanding was that the royal prerogative to dissolve the legislature was a matter of common law, which once codified by the Coalition was forever annulled because the legislature cannot create common law.

The law that repealed it explicitly said that 1. it was restoring the situation as if the FTPA had never been passed and 2. this was non-justiciable. It might not technically have been "constitutional" because of the understanding of common law you mention, but this is the UK we're talking about.

[TheTide]

Suella Braverman, Attorney General, calling for him to go. Saw a snippet of Stanley Johnson (Boris's father) on GB News and putting on a bit of bravado but I get the sense that he doesn't give much of a damn.

[ηєω ƒяσηтιєя]

Is GB News conservative/right-leaning? Kind of like the UK's Fox News or am I wrong?

[All Along The Watchtower]

[Torrain]

Is GB News conservative/right-leaning? Kind of like the UK's Fox News or am I wrong?

They really badly want to be Fox News, but are constrained by our version of the fairness doctrine, a lack of talent, and a tiny viewership.

[Cassius]

I'm starting to think that we'll have a 'Boris Johnson Party' in a few months.

[TheTide]

Is GB News conservative/right-leaning? Kind of like the UK's Fox News or am I wrong?

Something approaching it, but nothing outside of the US could ever quite match Fox News.

[TheTide]

I'm starting to think that we'll have a 'Boris Johnson Party' in a few months.

Which would be less successful than the Nigel Farage Party (i.e. UKIP whenever he led it, and the Brexit Party).

[Zinneke]

Is GB News conservative/right-leaning? Kind of like the UK's Fox News or am I wrong?

Right wing but not necessarily pro-Johnson

[Sestak]

I'm starting to think that we'll have a 'Boris Johnson Party' in a few months.

Ab Ki Baar Boris Sarkar

[Statilius the Epicurean]

How did repealing the Fixed-Term Parliament Act work exactly? I'm far from an expert on British constitutional law, but my understanding was that the royal prerogative to dissolve the legislature was a matter of common law, which once codified by the Coalition was forever annulled because the legislature cannot create common law.

The law that repealed it explicitly said that 1. it was restoring the situation as if the FTPA had never been passed and 2. this was non-justiciable. It might not technically have been "constitutional" because of the understanding of common law you mention, but this is the UK we're talking about.

Acts of Parliament are supreme over common law and always have been.

The idea that British constitutional law is a part of common law is controversial and not generally accepted.

[Cassius]

I'm starting to think that we'll have a 'Boris Johnson Party' in a few months.

Which would be less successful than the Nigel Farage Party (i.e. UKIP whenever he led it, and the Brexit Party).

I mean, probably. On the other hand, if Johnson and a rump of hardcore loyalists split off from the main party I can see him doing decent business in a few months time when the new government is inevitably floundering and he can 'be Boris' again, with all that the latter entails.

[Torrain]

Suella Braverman launching a doomed leadership candidacy - before the PM has resigned, and while trying to stay in cabinet. In an insane day, that’s got to be in the top ten barmy moments.