Has the Conservative Party lost all sense of competence

Obviously not with this government, Jalima.
What's even more appalling is that they have said if they want to stay together he can always leave with her.

I'll let you know when the petitions start for my two daughters in law.

djen re your post about the archaeologist - there must be some real jobsworths working in the Home Office who are unable to use any discretion in their decision making.
Surely it should not be up to the general public to have to petition in these cases and for these cases to have to go as far as Ministerial level for any common sense to be applied?

You go on "truly believing" that Wally but could that be because it is what you want?

We had a long and thoughtful post some time ago about "no one I know supports remain" and how that figures - or rather doesn't, in statistics. Perhaps finding the half of the country that didn't support it and talking to them would be helpful.

You may not know them but I think we have seen instances of people on here who have changed their minds. My take on what I have seen and heard - no better than yours, but different as all the people I actually know supported remain (but I do try and research too), is that feelings about this get more and more fluid as we hear what it will mean.

theconversation.com/theresa-may-brought-this-rotten-year-on-herself-did-she-have-to-take-the-rest-of-the-uk-with-her-89503

I'm the opposite to you, Wally, so that means nothing.
Haven't seen a single poll that says more people want to leave the EU than did at the referendum. Everyone I know voted to remain, and nobody has changed their minds.

The polls that I've seen put brexit in the ascendency. I truly believe that brexit has more support now than when the vote was taken. No one I know supports remain and I don't know one single person that have changed their minds on this.

I'll take that.
Off to bed now, feeling happier.
Goodnight.

There are little chinks all over that I notice. The numbers who had been leavers since the original vote must be very few and far between so many had not been feeling this way for very long.

I think that puts those of us who like the idea as happier but not yet happy.

Yes, I can believe that, even among those who wanted Brexit.
At last they are beginning to realise what they voted for, even up in the North East, and are beginning to feel embarrassed.

Can we go to bed feeling happy now?

The world is going mad Jen.

This may cheer you up.

% of Labour voters who'd be "delighted or pleased" if the Labour Party said it would...
Stop Brexit: 63%
Proceed with Brexit: 22%
(via YouGov / 17 - 19 Dec)

Just when you thought the government couldn't get any more ridiculous.

"Dr Jennifer Wexler has worked at the British Museum as a Bronze Age archaeologist for four years and is married to my colleague Dr Sam Nixon. He excavates on some of the most exciting sites in Africa.

The Home Office have said Jennifer must leave the UK and I’m calling for her to be allowed to stay.

Jennifer is originally from the USA and the Home Office say that her application to remain has been rejected because she has spent too much time abroad. This time though was principally for her archaeological research, which was approved by the Home Office via a series of highly-skilled visas.

By leaving, she would be separated from her husband of 3 years. The Home Office suggest that he also leaves the country with her, even though Sam is a British citizen, with no work permit for the US.

The UK has been Jennifer’s home for over 11 years. Not only has her Indefinite Leave to Remain been rejected but so has her appeal. Her lawyer said she was “bewildered” by the Home Office’s refusal. And Jeremy Corbyn is also supporting Jennifer’s case by writing to the Home Office, saying the decision puts UK’s research reputation at risk.

He said: “Dr Wexler is an obvious asset to the UK due to her expertise and education” and “This is far from a one-off case: there are many academics who have to travel overseas to properly conduct their research and the Home Office should be more flexible.”

Archaeologists around the world are shocked and appalled that Jennifer and Sam are both being asked to leave the UK. We would end up losing two highly valuable members of the UK research and academic community, who contribute to UK society in entirely positive ways."

I think he must be totally horrified to see what has happened to his party. Although it is, for some strange reason, the minority of leavers who hold sway now I can't see the majority ever forgiving them for what is happening to their party.

Jura - sorry if I was being inappropriate (although not sorry at all if it applies)

Heseltine is right. Governments come and go and often make things worse by their aim of reversing the policies of the previous government, but brexit threatens to do permenant irreversible damage to our country .

It's being suggested that Heseltine should lose the whip!
I am sure he will be really bothered.

The Conservatives (can't use the abbreviation, it is just too rude ;) ) ... are as divided as ever. From Heseltine today:

Asked what could happen under five years of a Corbyn government, he said: “Well, we have survived Labour governments before. Their damage tends to be short-term and capable of rectification. Brexit is not short-term and is not easily capable of rectification. There will be those who question whether the short-term pain justifies the avoidance of the long-term disaster.”

Heseltine argued public opinion was already beginning to move against Brexit and Labour would end up changing its current position to one in favour of the EU, which could put the Conservatives in trouble with their pro-remain voters.

“If you look at the polls there is probably a bigger majority against Brexit than the referendum secured, but that, I think, will continue to happen and it will become more and more unpopular as people realise what it’s all about,” he said in the podcast, named after the declaration that gave rise to the Social Democratic party , and hosted by the activist William Porteous.

“When that happens, the Labour party will move, and the present government will be left holding the baby. But then you have got to realise the present government is supported by large numbers of people as opposed to Brexit as I am. How long will they remain within the tribe and loyal to the party?”

As a French speaker, I just had to laugh at this point. ;)

Indeed.

If the cons have a hellishly difficult job it's because they made it that way.

lost them or never had any?

Is this incompetence or something far more sinister?

kittysjones.wordpress.com/2017/12/27/the-self-declared-most-transparent-government-in-history-is-editing-history/

Here's another silly Conservative who has lost her marbles.

www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/nadine-dorries-panto_uk_5a43bc80e4b0b0e5a7a417a7

The problem I see here as a life long Labour supporter is that under Corbyn and his members it has become a communist party and I could never vote for that. True socialism has never worked in a single country. What I'm trying to say is be careful of what you wish for.

Everybody in Parliament durhamjen..... how on earth could any Government please every single person in the UK.
IMHO trying to please all Conservative MP’s and Ministers and those in Opposition as well, is a thankless task and a waste of energy.The Cabinet need to promote one view only, that of obtaining the best all round deal for the country from the EU and stop being torn in different directions.The Opposition is also riven with differing viewpoints.

Conservatives trying to please everybody?
Best laugh I've had on here for a long time.

Tell that to the homeless, those on benefits, those moved onto Universal credit over the last month, those from Grenfell who have still not been rehoused, those teachers and TAs who have just been made redundant, those working in the NHS who have not been given a payrise again, those who are ill and have had their operations cancelled again,....

I could go on, but I hope you have got the picture now.

Oh thank you, and the same to you Bridgeit and I hope we meet up for that chat at some stage!
Lemon you are so right! Politicians are, like the rest of us, human beings and cannot all be totally right, wise and generally perfect ALL the time. Most do their best as they see it, and as you say TM and her team have a fiendishly difficult job in more ways than one, not a job I suspect that others, however loudly they shout, would actually want to take on themselves until a much later, hopefully clearer date!!!

Thank you so much Nigglynellie & Ninny , wishing you both a Happy New Year

There has always been imcompetence in Governments, it’s not a new thing.There is incompetence in all sorts of other professions too, doctors, solicitors etc.
Why do posters suppose that politicians are or should be perfect?
The Conservatives have a hellishly difficult job, and their mistake as I see it is in trying to please everybody.