Has our country ever been in such a state?

It doesn't matter that there is no obvious replacement for him, anyone, but almost anyone, would be better than having our country represented abroad by a serial liar and cheat who looks permanently as if he has slept under a hedge and is probably on something addictive.

I know he has a proper home together and has no addictions, but that makes it worse, that he doesn't need either to look as if he does

Seems as though the Machiavellian dark arts practiced in the Whip’s office is nothing new ...

“Social media has also "changed everything", according to one former whip. "The days a whip could lift an MP off their feet by his tie and start squeezing his testicles are over," they said.

"You'd end up in prison if you tried that today – and rightly so – but these days MPs are very much in control of their own messaging. Also, a lot of these newer MPs come from professional backgrounds. They've had jobs outside politics and they are not going to put up with any nonsense that wouldn't stand up to scrutiny in a corporate HR department."

EllanVannin

It's just been one big party since 2016. I'd like to bet that BJ got in under false pretences, but proving it when most of them are liars is difficult. I knew it would end in tears, I could see it coming. Any idiot could have taken us through the pandemic !
QT tonight should be interesting.

May the Raving Loony party reign.

Yes I too shall be watching QT. I wonder who will be wheeled out to speak for the Tories? I shall watch with a glass of wine and have a drink every time he/she diverts the subject to vaccination programme. Probably have to be put to bed before the end of the programme

If I had a pound for every time I heard those words!

MayBee70

Currently listening to Rory Stewart being interviewed on Sky News. I may be a Labour supporter but I could weep when I think that the country could have had someone like him as PM. He’s in a different league to Johnson. He even admits that what he is saying is from a biased position having lost to Johnson in the leadership election.

Me too. What an honourable man - no wonder he left politics, he's far too principled to be an MP ?

I know he has a proper home together and has no addictions,

From what I've heard from time to time I wouldn't be too sure about the 'no addictions'...

Curlywhirly

MayBee70

Currently listening to Rory Stewart being interviewed on Sky News. I may be a Labour supporter but I could weep when I think that the country could have had someone like him as PM. He’s in a different league to Johnson. He even admits that what he is saying is from a biased position having lost to Johnson in the leadership election.

Me too. What an honourable man - no wonder he left politics, he's far too principled to be an MP ?

He seems too principled (and humane) to be a tory, really.

I wonder why he plumped for them originally...

Watching QT now and not a single person on the panel supporting Johnson, not a single one. Not even the Conservative one.

Dinahmo

Growstuff If only people, like some of the posters on here, took more notice of the news from a number of different sources perhaps, the country might be in a better position. I despair sometimes at their lack of knowledge and/or interest.

There's plenty of money available for Tory councils I think.

No you are wrong. Our Tory council just as money poor. It’s the ones down South that benefit. As for your condescending comment about other commenters, well I’m lost for words.

MayBee70

At least we no longer have the embarrassment of Farage and Widdecombe representing us in the EU Parliament I suppose (trying to look on the bright side here….).

Seeing as we are not in the EU anymore, doesn’t matter.

I don’t think any councils “down south” are well off - most councils are cash strapped.

growstuff is correct regarding funding Lincslass. Here is some of the evidence, and it’s not just Southern councils that are benefitting.
www.ft.com/content/d485da2a-5778-45ae-9fa8-ca024bc8bbcf

Lincslass

MayBee70

At least we no longer have the embarrassment of Farage and Widdecombe representing us in the EU Parliament I suppose (trying to look on the bright side here….).

Seeing as we are not in the EU anymore, doesn’t matter.

Their behaviour was an embarrassment - behaving like adolescents in the classroom - and it does matter that we might be judged by the childish manners of those representing our nation, regardless of the fact that we've left the EU.

OK - it matters to some of us.

We still need to trade with Europe until - or if ever - we replace every commodity outside of it, and those of us who run a business - and I do - dealing with Europe, care about our reputation.

Any idiot could have taken us through the pandemic!

Really?

What a silly, sweeping statement.

Lincslass

Dinahmo

Growstuff If only people, like some of the posters on here, took more notice of the news from a number of different sources perhaps, the country might be in a better position. I despair sometimes at their lack of knowledge and/or interest.

There's plenty of money available for Tory councils I think.

No you are wrong. Our Tory council just as money poor. It’s the ones down South that benefit. As for your condescending comment about other commenters, well I’m lost for words.

That's not true. My council pays more to the Treasury than it receives in grants. There are some councils in all areas of the country in a similar position. That's the way the system works. However, this is a wealthy area and can afford to pay more to the central "pot". What has happened over the last few years is that the funding formula has changed and councils like mine are receiving more, while deprived councils receive less. Some councils have been able to benefit from government grants to build more housing, especially those in high price areas where the incentive to build is higher.

Councils retain very little of the money they collect in council tax, despite being blamed for cuts. The money is collected and paid to central government and is then redistributed. It's a way of deflecting blame. It is extremely concerning if the criteria for redistribution is based on a local MP's "loyalty" to his/her party.

vegansrock

I don’t think any councils “down south” are well off - most councils are cash strapped.

Cutting funding to councils has been a stealthy way of imposing "austerity" by central government while not being seen to be responsible. Some councils have suffered more than others - often for political manipulation.

Dickens

Lincslass

MayBee70

At least we no longer have the embarrassment of Farage and Widdecombe representing us in the EU Parliament I suppose (trying to look on the bright side here….).

Seeing as we are not in the EU anymore, doesn’t matter.

Their behaviour was an embarrassment - behaving like adolescents in the classroom - and it does matter that we might be judged by the childish manners of those representing our nation, regardless of the fact that we've left the EU.

OK - it matters to some of us.

We still need to trade with Europe until - or if ever - we replace every commodity outside of it, and those of us who run a business - and I do - dealing with Europe, care about our reputation.

Think the yellow tee shirted idiots embarrassed us more.

What yellow tee shirted idiots are you talking about. Ll?

I remember them!

think the yellow tee shirted idiots embarrassed us more
If that refers to the liberals, I couldn’t agree more.
But I could be wrong ?

MerylStreep

^think the yellow tee shirted idiots embarrassed us more^
If that refers to the liberals, I couldn’t agree more.
But I could be wrong ?

Oh yes. 'Bollocks to Brexit'

And how right they have turned out to be! ???

Perhaps we should have considered Johnson's past history more carefully. Remember the involvement with Darius Guppy and the beating up of a journalist .

I guess the name Whips Office gives a clue, they are there to knock their MPs into following the party line, so no surprise really. Think House of Cards, I am sure it has always gone on and probably worked well when they all came from the same school and were used to it, now they have a very different set of MPs it is obviously not going to work. We have a Labour Council here in the deep South and they are struggling.

Certainly tory run councils in the south are cash-strapped.

Cutting local government funding is the easiest way for central govt to make 'savings' as it can, and do, just cut back the cash year after year and often savagely. A double bonus for them is that they can, and do, respond to complaints about reduced services by saying that the local council receives £x mm and it's up to them how to spend it. Not our fault if the roads are in disrepair, care services are non-existent, children's centres have closed, subsidised public transport has gone - your council, decides how to spend the money it's given - nothing to do with us.

Lincslass

Dickens

Lincslass

MayBee70

At least we no longer have the embarrassment of Farage and Widdecombe representing us in the EU Parliament I suppose (trying to look on the bright side here….).

Seeing as we are not in the EU anymore, doesn’t matter.

Their behaviour was an embarrassment - behaving like adolescents in the classroom - and it does matter that we might be judged by the childish manners of those representing our nation, regardless of the fact that we've left the EU.

OK - it matters to some of us.

We still need to trade with Europe until - or if ever - we replace every commodity outside of it, and those of us who run a business - and I do - dealing with Europe, care about our reputation.

Think the yellow tee shirted idiots embarrassed us more.

... equally 'adolescent' behaviour.

The difference is - they were not attempting to insult the EU or Europe. They were Remainers who chose a rather juvenile way of demonstrating the fact.