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Who is running this country?

(134 Posts)
MawB Thu 24-Oct-19 07:42:41

If I can remember that far back, I seem to remember one of the objections to being in the EU was of being governed by the unelected bureaucrats of Brussels, or some such phrase.
How do we feel about the “unelected” of the U.K?
I do wonder who is in charge when I read things like this in this morning’s paper
Reports of Dominic Cummings angrily banging his fist on a table during a meeting between the Prime Minister and Jeremy Corbyn surfaced soon after the pair met yesterday in an attempt to reach a compromise over the Withdrawal Agreement Bill (WAB)
It was alleged that when Mr Johnson asked the Opposition leader how long it would take to agree a new timetable – after the programme motion calling for his Brexit deal to be passed in three days was voted down on Tuesday night – an irate Cummings interjected: “No!”

I believe it was Margaret Thatcher who said “Advisers advise, ministers decide” - presumable including Prime Ministers hmm

BlueSapphire Thu 24-Oct-19 11:26:52

At the moment it is that little so full of himself so-and-so Bercow. I am counting down the days till he goes - unless he changes his mind. I wouldn't put it past him.......

BusterTank Thu 24-Oct-19 11:29:30

Funny how he hasn't really made stand before , on other votes over the years . We all know his remainer and is try in to make Brexit as hard as possible . So White waves perhaps you should open your eyes and buck up .

CarlyD7 Thu 24-Oct-19 11:36:16

Getting fed up of the attacks on Bercow. He's only making them follow The Rules, and they hate him for it. It's like watching a gang of school bullies rage against their teacher for making them behave.

Whitewavemark2 Thu 24-Oct-19 11:36:53

Just like some posters

CarlyD7 Thu 24-Oct-19 11:40:28

Cummings spent 3 years working in Russia - he's a well known fan of the country and who knows what connections he still has there? If you add that to the fact that we know that Putin wants to destabilise the West by breaking up the EU (Brexit is only the first step in his plan), anyone who can help him do it, by whatever means, will be A Friend of Russia.

petra Thu 24-Oct-19 11:46:14

BusterTank
Little man syndrome ?
You have to feel a little bit sorry for him ?

growstuff Thu 24-Oct-19 11:49:03

I disagree Buster. Bercow has been quite outspoken right from the start. The difference is that Parliament as an institution hasn't been attacked to the same extent as Johnson/Cummings and their acolytes are trying to attack it now. I doubt if so many people have followed parliamentary procedure quite so closely in the past.

growstuff Thu 24-Oct-19 11:49:37

A bit like Mark Francois, petra? grin

grandtanteJE65 Thu 24-Oct-19 12:04:05

Civil servants carry out the administration of the country. They do not decide how to run it. Basically, they have to do as they are told by the Government and can only object if a government tries to implement something that is illegal.

At the present moment, Johnson and his Cabinet should be running the UK.

Many of us feel they are making a pig's breakfast of it, but others support them - in a democracy we all have the right to say and think what we please within the bounds of the law.

Bercow is doing his job as chairman of the house, although he must often feel more like a schoolmaster dealing with a class of 10 year olds.

BusterTank Thu 24-Oct-19 12:07:37

White waves we are all entitled to our opinions and being a passive aggressive , won't change change other people views . We read your views and excepted it . Please be courteous to us and do the same .

Whitewavemark2 Thu 24-Oct-19 12:10:22

A question

How do those critical of Bercow, think the next speaker should conduct herself?

growstuff Thu 24-Oct-19 12:14:03

You could try following your own advice Buster.

growstuff Thu 24-Oct-19 12:16:44

I think he probably feels more like a diligent school governor dealing with a headteacher who's gone off the rails.

Amagran Thu 24-Oct-19 12:18:45

Those of you who think that Bercow is wrong to follow the rules which for centuries have governed Parliamentary procedure, who do you think should be deciding how Parliament proceeds?

The government led by the PM? That is called a Dictatorship.

It might get you what you want this time, but in the future, as I said above, sure as ordure runs downhill - it will come back to bite you.

How would you feel if some people started driving on the right because they thought driving on the left would stop them from taking a short cut to where they wanted to go? Would you berate any policeman who tried to stop them?

Miche Thu 24-Oct-19 12:20:17

John Bercow

FC61 Thu 24-Oct-19 12:22:59

After attending Exeter College, Oxford, Cummings moved to post-Soviet Russia from 1994 to 1997, working on various projects. So probably the Russians are running things through him. The Russians probably want a no deal before 1st January 2020 when the EU anti tax avoidance directive comes into operation.

FC61 Thu 24-Oct-19 12:26:00

Well said CarlyD7 ! Cummings is hijacking the parliamentary process for who? Not the UK that’s for sure. Russia wants to destroy the EU and protect their money in London.

Callistemon Thu 24-Oct-19 13:02:05

It's a good question and one which we have pondered for many years, before the arrival of Cummings. Pre the Blair years there were probably advisers who kept a much lower profile then along came the much more high profile Campbell and his ilk who appeared to be pulling the strings.

Perhaps this has always happened but we did not realise exactly who was running the country.

maddyone Thu 24-Oct-19 13:05:17

The Russians are running the government now are they? Give me strength!

Saggi Thu 24-Oct-19 13:07:07

Well said MawB....I didn’t think there was anyone else than me that thought from day one of the vote, that we’d ever actually leave Europe. All this three years of baloney they’ve been speaking is so there’s a lot more 18 year olds waiting in the wings for a 2nd vote! Also lots of us oldies would have died in that time. Manipulation ...!!! Oh yes!

Willjac123 Thu 24-Oct-19 13:11:37

Thank God for John Bercow

growstuff Thu 24-Oct-19 13:12:51

I'm not sure about God, but I'm very grateful he's Speaker. grin

growstuff Thu 24-Oct-19 13:14:05

Saggi I hope you told that to the GNers who've already bought their Prosecco and sparklers.

Maria1954 Thu 24-Oct-19 13:55:51

I have been concerned for a long time re the advisors. Boris has Dominic Cummings and Corbyn has Seamus Milne. Both these individuals appear to controlling the parties and both are unelected and are not answerable to anyone. They are shaping what is going on from within a ‘Westminster Bubble’ completely divorced from ordinary people’s lives. I don’t believe the Civil Service exists in the way it once did following reorganisation and outsourcing . I think it’s fair to say our political system is broken. I wonder what Sir Humphrey would say ...........

netflixfan Thu 24-Oct-19 14:14:16

Is Cummings really leaving?