I’m surprised that Johnson even managed to cobble together an alliance to put through his bill, and much as I’ve suggested Corbyn should get some credit for preventing no-deal, this is equally at his door, because this is - IMO - a pretty clear example of how the only thing that matters to Johnson and Corbyn is who sits in No. 10, rather than the well-being of the country.
As has been the case all along, I guess - Cameron started this in order to remain King on the Hill, Johnson cynically undermined two PMs in order to get into No. 10, and now Corbyn has seemingly sold the country down the river in order to get his own shot. Because even if he loses the next election, this Brexit is probably his best chance at becoming PM. All he needs to do is hang on a few more years as Labour leader (and he’s been obviously cementing his position with the party faithful), and by the time Johnson has run the UK into ruin during the next 4-5 years, he’ll be good to go.
Sad for my UK friends, but looking forward to this saga transitioning to the point where we can go back to mostly ignoring UK news. If that will be at all possible, of course - I expect there’ll be no shortage of drama in 2020, what with Scotland already gearing up for another independence referendum. Hell of a legacy Cameron/Johnson will have.
Aceris
6688
Corbyn ran a good campaign last time, but Labour are forgetting just how diabolical May’s campaign was. Boris is a deeply deeply flawed politician, and will doubtless make mistakes on the campaign trail, but he will not completely fail to have a appealing retail proposition in the way May did.
I think the gap will narrow. But will it narrow enough?
Aceris
6689
I actually disagree. Post brexit the lib dems will immediately become the party of rejoin. Corbyn won’t match this. Corbyn has been able to hold on to plenty of hardcore remainer votes, but that ends once brexit is done. Another few points swing to the LibDems and you get Swintonmania and talk of Labour being replaced as the party of the left.
Maybe this is wishful thinking on my part.
The level of deliberate deception here is beggared only by its incompetent execution.
It’s an attractive thought, given that Swinton seems to be the only one of the three not to be completely obsessed by own ambitions. I think the LibDems are too centrist for this to actually happen though.
That is not my impression of Swinton, but I am admittedly far away.
I’m not going to become a LibDem supporter or member, or actually go out posting leaflets and knocking on doors like i did for Labour, but they’ve got my vote for a long time by default basically.
I can amend it to say that she’s the only one who has not (yet) demonstrated that she puts her own ambitions over that of country and party. That may just be a lack of opportunity, but the two others have clearly demonstrated where their loyalties lie.
Johnson’s current stint in No 10 has been achieved by ruthlessly walking over the corpse of British unemployed and the party. And no matter whether one thinks Corbyn is unfairly maligned (and I think he is, to an extent), the fact that he remains leader of Labor is evidence of the same. A person who actually believes in the cause, would have stepped down once it became clear that his own person is in the way of actually achieving the stated goals (and - unfairly or not - he is). Hard for a politician - sure - but other parliamentary politicians have managed this (with more or less dignity).
You’re requesting a set of adult behaviours from people stuck in adolescence!
Your criteria for politicians is just through the roof m8. The only person to enter Parliament with honest intentions was Guy Fawkes.
Edit: Some examples
If you think so, I have a bridge to somewhere to sell you.
And no - I don’t expect politicians to be perfect or devoid of ambition (if they were, they probably wouldn’t be aiming at the highest office in the land). I do think one should be able to expect them to live up to the responsibilities of the job they have and do it to the best of their ability (same as anyone else). Many politicians do, and I don’t think that is too much to ask.
Though apparently it is, for the US GOP and a fair amount of the UK’s MPs for the past few years.
JoshL
6699
Totally apart from anything regarding Brexit, this is a great quote. I laughed. Kudos.
This is just completely fucked up. Brexit is an end in itself now, beyond all reason.
Well that’s horrible.
Also, it seems the election might not come to pass because the election has not been offered along with a delay of Brexit legislation. So it seems Boris wants to get Brexit done AND an election.
I’m officially giving up on understanding British politics.
Tbh if there was a button that made every Brexiter and Trump voter disappear I’d be like
Someone please explain “zombie Parliament”.
Shambling along, not doing much and moaning alot?
