UK General Discussion: Rishecession

[Progressive Pessimist]

Its weird its been 4.5 years since the last election. I remember when the UK seemed to have an election every year. 2015, Brexit, 2017, 2019 lol

The Tories weren't as hated then and having to delay elections as their only recourse.

[TheTide]

Its weird its been 4.5 years since the last election. I remember when the UK seemed to have an election every year. 2015, Brexit, 2017, 2019 lol

The Tories weren't as hated then and having to delay elections as their only recourse.

I'm pretty sure that they wouldn't have held an election in 2021 or 2022 if they had remained reasonably popular. Maybe 2023, but that would have been less than four years unless it had been held at Christmas.

[Torrain]

Police Scotland unloading their pre-purdah update:
https://twitter.com/KieranPAndrews/status/1793680277744857399
Investigation into Sturgeon, and the former SNP Treasurer Colin Beattie is continuing - this was just about submitting the report now, so the case against Murrell isn’t stuck in total limbo for six weeks.

[EastAnglianLefty]

Is Greater Manchester Police also going to be affected by purdah?

[Torrain]

Is Greater Manchester Police also going to be affected by purdah?

Per the Times, GMP have said the investigation will be complete by the election.

Unclear if that means a pre/post purdah decision, or they're going to make a mid-campaign announcement - Swinford doesn't speculate on a specific date in the article.

[CumbrianLefty]

Hmmm, they had better be careful given how the election appears likely to go don't you think?

[Flyersfan232]

Remember when rishi was popular

[Progressive Pessimist]

Remember when rishi was popular

No.

[CumbrianLefty]

He seriously was in the pandemic days. Who knew that handing out free money would be popular?

[Filuwaúrdjan]

He seriously was in the pandemic days. Who knew that handing out free money would be popular?

This is how he started his 'drenched' speech: remember when you all liked me, during the pandemic?

[CumbrianLefty]

To which many might have replied, that was then and this is now.

[Silent Hunter]

To which many might have replied, that was then and this is now.

Also, "Eat Out to Help Out" was criticised at the time and is felt to have slightly increased the spread of Covid.

[CumbrianLefty]

Yes, it was actually well motivated (I will give the then Chancellor that) but had some side effects.

[Pouring Rain and Blairing Music]

To which many might have replied, that was then and this is now.

Also, "Eat Out to Help Out" was criticised at the time and is felt to have slightly increased the spread of Covid.

That sounds like the time that New Zealand’s head COVID-response doctor said “spread your legs, not the disease,” in an attempt to get people into socially-distanced outdoor recreation during lockdown.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Yes, it was actually well motivated (I will give the then Chancellor that) but had some side effects.

It would have been an excellent technocratic policy... if it had come after the first tranche of vaccinations. As it was any boost to the economy in general and the hospitality sector specifically was entirely ephemeral.

[Torrain]

ScotGov u-turn on Matheson, now the Greens are supporting the sanctions.

Rather than trying to block the sanctions against Michael Matheson, as they promised to do last week, the SNP are now seeking to pass them, but with an amendment decrying the members of the committee who sanctioned him.

Odd week on that story. Swinney, like Yousaf, seems to have a desire to protect Matheson, because he's everyone’s mate, even though he's a massive liability. It became the focus of every news conference the party leaders held. Every one started with an election question, and then pivoted to Matheson.

We'll have the vote on his suspension tomorrow, and then probably a second vote on whether he should be asked to resign. The first one will pass (probably with the Greens backing the SNP amendment), but the second vote will fail.

[CumbrianLefty]

Is Greater Manchester Police also going to be affected by purdah?

Per the Times, GMP have said the investigation will be complete by the election.

Unclear if that means a pre/post purdah decision, or they're going to make a mid-campaign announcement - Swinford doesn't speculate on a specific date in the article.

And yesterday GMP said that no action would be taken. With obvious desperation, those who have totally bought into the idea of a MAJOR SCANDAL were saying "but they have passed it on to HMRC!!" even though the latter have already said that there is no case to answer.

Still, at least it got a few headlines in the Tory client press when they needed them. Good governance.

[Torrain]

The reverse ferret has been unreversed:
https://twitter.com/BBCScotlandNews/status/1795782779973648559
Swinney’s campaigning in Fife today has, again, been overshadowed.

[Torrain]

Matheson suspended from parliament on a 64-0 vote. All 63 SNP MSPs abstain.

Very odd moment. The SNP successfully amended the motion (on a 68-56 vote), and then refused to endorse the altered motion they'd just produced. It the sort of too-clever-by-half politicking which just looks bizarre from the outside.

Swinney walked out of the chamber as soon the vote was concluded, leaving Forbes to chair the SNP during the subsequent debate on whether to introduce a Westminster-style recall system at Holyrood.

[Angel of Death]

Apparently, this happened:



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhuZOzQNXak

[AustralianSwingVoter]

Apparently, this happened:



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhuZOzQNXak

Same energy

[CumbrianLefty]

Well, he did pledge to crack down on Mickey Mouse degrees just days earlier.

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

Another day, another embarrassment for Rishi Sunak.

[Progressive Pessimist]

He's making Ed Milliband look like Churchill.

[LabourJersey]

He's making Ed Milliband look like Churchill.

The "scandal" of Milliband having two kitchens in his house is one of my favorite British electoral moments.