Blimey! She's gone.....

Here you are, Peaseblossom

It had me bemused for some time too!

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daily_Star_lettuce

I do not understand all this lettuce business. Where did it come from?

French and Russian too.

Johnson has some Turkish ancestry.
And was born in New York, America.

Annaram1

"I was not being racist when I said Sunak has not a drop of British blood. I was merely stating a fact. My dear late husband was Indian."

OK, let's accept you were not being racist. Nonetheless, you were not stating a fact as you claim. Sunak was born in 1980 in Southampton and, regardless of the nationality status of his parents then or now, that makes him undeniably British and therefore, to use your expression, he has British blood. But 'not a drop of British blood' is by no means a simple fact to be taken at face value. Actual blood is the same in human beings around the world otherwise blood donations and transfusions would be far more difficult than they are. 'British blood' is a rhetorical device which historically conveyed being White rather than Black or of Colour and which certainly still conveys elements of culture, origin and heritage amongst other factors. Although Sunak obviously has an ethnic origin and acknowledges his Hindu ancestry and religion he is also steeped in British culture and institutions: he attended Winchester, Oxford and worked in the City. He clearly possesses some US culture having attended Stanford (and held a Green Card). There is no legal requirement for the PM to be of 'British blood' whatever that means. Disraeli was Jewish by family, Churchill had an American mother and Johnson has some Turkish ancestry. The Royal family has German ancestry. It is not at all clear why not having 'a drop of British blood' is relevant other than to raise some kind of doubt as to Sunak's eligibility for high office. The expression 'a drop of British blood' also has resonance to the 'one drop rule' in the USA which was used in the 20th century to imply (with legal force in some instances) that anyone with a drop of Black blood was Black, a circumstance which shaped many, many lives. I refer you to Hickman's paper at core.ac.uk.

MaizieD

Casdon

I just can’t see that any international organisations will be inviting Truss to conferences etc. to give the benefit of her wisdom on being the British PM or driving political change on a wider level. People have been knocking Tony Blair, but he is still much in demand for such events.

Well, I couldn't see international organisations clamouring for the wisdom of a former PM who had to resign in disgrace and whose list of blunders and corruption is almost too long to recite.

But, Johnson is on the US lecture circuit it seems...

I can see the attraction (wrong word) to conferences etc. at the moment though, as the political situation in the UK is so unsettled, and Johnson is still very much in the public eye, has some support and is entertaining I guess. Truss is likely to sink without a trace.

Who in the world is a good leader now? I used to think Angela Merkel was but she’s gone. I really can’t think of any. Certainly not Biden or anyone I can think of offhand.

Casdon

I just can’t see that any international organisations will be inviting Truss to conferences etc. to give the benefit of her wisdom on being the British PM or driving political change on a wider level. People have been knocking Tony Blair, but he is still much in demand for such events.

Well, I couldn't see international organisations clamouring for the wisdom of a former PM who had to resign in disgrace and whose list of blunders and corruption is almost too long to recite.

But, Johnson is on the US lecture circuit it seems...

I just can’t see that any international organisations will be inviting Truss to conferences etc. to give the benefit of her wisdom on being the British PM or driving political change on a wider level. People have been knocking Tony Blair, but he is still much in demand for such events.

Doggie6

All for being dignified at £115,000.00 a year pension for a few week disaster I would be dignified as well

It's not a pension. It's an allowance.

Former PMs are allowed to claim up to a maximum of it for 'expenses'. Presumably expenses incurred in their political work after having been PM. Apparently not all former PMs claim the maximum and some don't claim at all.

All for being dignified at £115,000.00 a year pension for a few week disaster I would be dignified as well

sunday am now. Wish I had been a betting woman! Was being sarcastic to a friend when I said it is exciting these days . Go out shopping and come back to see who is PM or Home Secretary today, bet she will go soon. But really the lastest thing just shows the contempt and arrogance of the conservatives now. To hear that some of them are suggesting that they should bring back Boris Johnson, is crass,appalling and puts two fingers up at the electorate and shows what they think of the laws of this country. I am not concerned with party politics. It is far more important than that. To suggest that someone who we all know has lied, cheated, made strict rules for others but considered himself and his cronies above respecting the laws made, should actually be reelected is dreadful. What example is that to the country or the world. Do we now try and teach children to become part of the community and lead a decent and honest life, by having to say just do not behave like the MP. Horrendous !! Well if they do even put him in as a candidate they will be shooting themselves in the foot, because even dyed in the wool tories, surely cannot want to vote in someone that we dont suspect of things but actually know his character. The term Banana Republic was used to show your feelings about dictators and untrustworthy governments . How appalling that Britian, who did have some respect will now be seen as something very similar. God help us all, if this carries on!

Boris won't enjoy being PM again this time if he wins
He won't be able to splash money around and will have furious disagreements with his Chancellor unless he appoints a complete toady.
A toady will spook the markets all over again which is the last thing we need.
The Tories need a long spell out of office to give other more competent people the opportunity to prevent them from influcting further fiscal and economic harm.

I must admit to being rather puzzled by the disapproval of Mrs Sunak. I may be wrong, but I am of the impression that her income is being generated from her family's businesses in India. Seeing as we provide financial aid to that country, is it so wrong that she pays tax there (or did she not?). Also, I thought that the days of a wife's fortune belonging to her husband were long gone

sazz1

Bring back Boris at least you know what you're getting
Tax fiddling Rishi No thanks

I can at least agree with you on one point - yes, we know what we would be getting if BJ came back.
That, however, is the very reason why anyone must surely be either ignorant (as in unaware of what he is really like and what he has actually done/not done) or plain crazy to think that having him back would be a good idea.

Bring back Boris at least you know what you're getting
Tax fiddling Rishi No thanks

Annaram1

I was not being racist when I said Sunak has not a drop of British blood. I was merely stating a fact. My dear late husband was Indian.

Ok, you weren't being racist. In that case, I don't understand the point of your comment. What is British blood? Do you mean blood descended from Britons, Angles, Saxons, Picts, Celts, Romans, Vikings and Normans? Would that mix be pure enough for you?

Kemi Badenoch backs Rishi Sunak, compares him to Margaret Thatcher

Why? Why do the Conservatives insist on mentioning Thatcher? Thatcher wouldn't have last 5 minutes today. The world has changed. Society (there is such a thing) has changed.

We need a new political party. This lot a disgrace. The otge4 lit a joke. It’s depressing.

Johnson is not a family man, he is a man of many families. I have no respect for any of the current Tory hierarchy, they’re all Oxbridge Grads with a single mindset and are thus totally unrepresentative of the country as a whole. They want to destroy public services and throw us to the mercy of the private sector.

Isn’t it Bonfire Night soon? Just asking…

Mordaunt has no children.

So?

I'm just gobsmacked by how prejudiced and unpleasant some people are, and they don't even know it.

FranA

Please let them pick Richie Sunak. That is the only way the Tories have even the slightest chance at the next election. That man and his family know they don’t need any more money and have reached a point where they want to do good for the rest of us. I do hope the Tories have the sense to see that. Please let them do something for the good of the country at last.

Boris doesn't need the money either.

Politicians are a strange breed. They aren't in it for the money. And to be blunt, I dont believe they want to do good for everyone. It's the power.

I still haven't got over my shock when Rishi informed a group of Tunbridge Wells residents that he took money from deprived urban areas in order to give it to other parts of the country. Wealthy areas.

Not a real hero.

Annaram1

Its obviously a good thing she has gone. But Boris is my choice because he is a family man, and will understand what families want. Mordaunt has no children. Sunak is the country's richest man but has not a drop of British blood.

Does Sunak not have children?

A family man with children who have access to the best of private healthcare and education, going on holiday all over the world, staying in 5* accommodation with 24/7 security. How would Johnson know what it is like to have to choose between eating and heating, and not eating so your kids can eat??? And live in dire, damp and cold flats, with kids in huge innercity classes, etc, etc. HOW- he has not got a bleeding clue!

As for British blood- wow, that took my breath away. How much British blood as Johnson got himself- a bit. And you say that was not racist!

Please let them pick Richie Sunak. That is the only way the Tories have even the slightest chance at the next election. That man and his family know they don’t need any more money and have reached a point where they want to do good for the rest of us. I do hope the Tories have the sense to see that. Please let them do something for the good of the country at last.

It hardly matters about British blood! What is that anyway?