UK General Discussion: Rishecession

[AustralianSwingVoter]

“Ryanair CEO Will ‘Happily’ Offer Rwanda Deportation Flights” is an incredible headline.

[Statilius the Epicurean]

No comment

https://twitter.com/staylorish/status/1783863816045937078

[CumbrianLefty]

Well he probably didn't but that's not really an excuse.

[Torrain]

Weekend a bit quieter, but a little movement:

• A group of SNP MPs (who've declined to be named) have pointed the finger at Stephen Flynn. He's getting the blame from some, but he seems to be coming out better than Yousaf - "Flynn has bounced the First Minister into this. It’s his party now.”
• Yousaf, speaking in Cupar, has refused to say whether he'd resign if the informal VONC is successful, and refused to rule out an election.
• Alba has convened an emergency weekend meeting of their National Executive Committee to rule whether to back Yousaf.

And, looking to the future:

• Forbes' weekly column in the National is a bromide about working with other parties in the spirit of 2007-11, and stressing her own 'success' working with the Greens while Finance Sec, stressing her willingness to work with them in the future. The Greens, worried she's on maneuveurs, have said they only worked with her out of respect for Nicola Sturgeon.
• Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth is also said to be positioning herself, per reporting in the Times, and New Statesman this weekend, which tallies with reporting about her reaching out to Sturgeon to consult on strategy earlier in the month. Raises the prospect of Kezia Dugdale moving into Bute House - not a sentence I thought I'd ever be typing!

[Cassius]

Another Tory MP has defected to Labour.

[YL]

Another Tory MP has defected to Labour.

Dan Poulter, MP for Central Suffolk & North Ipswich. Or, rather, Dr Dan Poulter, as that appears to be related to his reasoning: Observer article explaining it

[Torrain]

Poulter was a health minister under Cameron, and is still standing down at the election so he’s a more credible/damaging defector than Wakeford, if we’re drawing comparisons.

Quite a coup for Starmer, and Streeting - who seems to have taken credit. When even Tory MPs are attacking the state of the NHS, with May 2nd just around the corner, it’s just a dire look for the gov.

Sunak's on the pre-locals media round tomorrow, which does make the timing feel rather precise.

[JimJamUK]

Poulter was a health minister under Cameron, and is still standing down at the election so he’s a more credible/damaging defector than Wakeford, if we’re drawing comparisons.

Quite a coup for Starmer, and Streeting - who seems to have taken credit. When even Tory MPs are attacking the state of the NHS, with May 2nd just around the corner, it’s just a dire look for the gov.

Sunak's on the pre-locals media round tomorrow, which does make the timing feel rather precise.

Poulter has previously expressed support for pay rises during NHS strikes a couple of times, but otherwise didn’t seem especially moderate or outspoken to the degree that a defection looked likely. Then again, Wakeford wasn’t either.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Poulter has previously expressed support for pay rises during NHS strikes a couple of times, but otherwise didn’t seem especially moderate or outspoken to the degree that a defection looked likely. Then again, Wakeford wasn’t either.

That's the exact profile of someone who needs to be watched as a possible jumper, or at least would be under any half-decent whipping operation. Someone who sounds off a lot generally won't go, or at least won't go to a major party.* Someone who quietly mutters opposition to the government stance on a major issue...

_{*This is why during the second half of the New Labour government Labour whips cheerfully spread false rumours about MPs who would never defect to the Conservatives (Frank Field was a favourite. He would never, could never, have done it, but often criticized government policy from a socially conservative direction, and was thus perfect) whenever there were indications that others might.}

[JimJamUK]

Alba are demanding the SNP stand aside in multiple Holyrood seats if they are to support Yousaf as first minister. Given Alba only have 1 incumbent by defection, and presumably don’t want no-hoper seats, this would mean the SNP surrendering constituencies they have incumbent MSPs in. I’m sure fellow posters can guess how likely the SNP are to agree to such a demand.

[YL]

Alba are demanding the SNP stand aside in multiple Holyrood seats if they are to support Yousaf as first minister. Given Alba only have 1 incumbent by defection, and presumably don’t want no-hoper seats, this would mean the SNP surrendering constituencies they have incumbent MSPs in. I’m sure fellow posters can guess how likely the SNP are to agree to such a demand.

Indeed Alba have never had anybody elected to anything. Given that there have been STV local elections in every council in Scotland as well as an AMS Scottish Parliament election since they were formed, this is quite impressive in a way.

[Torrain]

Alba are demanding the SNP stand aside in multiple Holyrood seats if they are to support Yousaf as first minister.

Salmond knows how the SNP works, both culturally, and its constitution - it's not just a bad-faith offer, it's the political equivalent of throwing a stick of dynamite at Yousaf and yelling "catch". Even though Alba are on life support, and could be finished by this, he just can't resist.

He'll be on the BBC Sunday show tomorrow morning. Let's see if he's any more measured then. If he doubles down on this line, then he's essentially just telling Yousaf to resign and get it over with.