Ahead of The Curve

 

 It's OK everyone, we are "ahead of the curve" apparently!

Parliament To Sit on 30th.... if There's a Deal

 

Plans are afoot for Parliament to sit next Wednesday, Dec 30, if there's a Brexit deal, gvt sources confirm.

Aim would be for a Bill to clear both Houses & gain Royal Assent in one day. Related SIs could then be passed on Dec 31.

1/2

— Lucy Fisher (@LOS_Fisher) December 21, 2020

The Tobias Ellwood Exemption Clause

 

My thanks to Tobias Ellwood for giving me a spiffing idea!

As the owner of a Ltd company I am happy to hire myself out for business meetings in pubs and restaurants. All I ask in return is that you cover the cost of my food and drink, whilst I regale you with my views on Brexit, HMRC, finance and politics.

For an extra £50 I won't regale you with my views on Brexit, HMRC, finance and politics!

Happy Tier Lottery Day!

 

Children Caught In Council/Government Crossfire

 

BREAKING: Greenwich Council say they have no choice but to ask schools in the borough to reopen following Gavin Williamson’s threat of legal action. pic.twitter.com/LnkQ9wfCuZ

— Adam Bienkov (@AdamBienkov) December 15, 2020

The Corbyn Project

 

I’m pleased to announce the new Peace and Justice Project, bringing people together for social and economic justice, peace, and human rights in Britain and across the world.

Find out more in our video and sign up to our launch here 👉 https://t.co/RcnJE1kA6q pic.twitter.com/pyHpeHGa1S

— Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) December 13, 2020

Question For Sky News

Will you be camping outside Kay Burley's and Beth Rigby's homes and harass them for weeks on end, as you did with Cummings?

The New Data In Government's Impact Assessment of Tiered #COVID19 Restrictions

 

Tumbleweed Desert GIF from Tumbleweed GIFs

Labour is Gutless!

 

Gutless! If they think it's wrong they should vote against, if they think it's right they should support it! https://t.co/rWNpBSJZZr

— Ken Frost (@ken_frost) December 1, 2020

More to the point, if they have an alternative plan then they should present it to parliament and get a vote on it!

Moggy Misspeaks!

 

The first duty of the British government is to its subjects. The Chancellor is providing £4 billion of taxpayers’ money to support the economies of the midlands and the north this parliament. @BBradley_Mans pic.twitter.com/NtQCyUXc6M

— Jacob Rees-Mogg (@Jacob_Rees_Mogg) November 27, 2020

I'm not your subject old boy!

Sunak Goads The Bleaters

 

Yesterday Rishi Sunak laid bare the devastating cost to the UK of the lockdowns, a.o.:

- Rising unemployment (projected at being over 2.5 million)

- A reduction in the foreign aid budget

- A pay freeze for some of the public sector

- Raised taxes (the elephant in the room)

- £394BN debt

- The largest fall in GDP for 300 years etc etc

Unsurprisingly certain sections of the media, politicians, public sector union leaders and general handwringers (who appear on the BBC for no apparent reason, other than they like to moan about government policy) started bleating about the fact that Sunak can't wave a magic wand to make this go away. 

Indeed, the public sector unions are screaming for pay rises willy nilly, conveniently forgetting that their members still have jobs and defined benefit pension schemes, whilst many in the private sector have lost income and in many cases their jobs!

You should have nothing but contempt for these bleaters, for they are the very same people who have been screaming for lockdowns and ever tighter restrictions ever since Covid was first mentioned by the BBC et al. 

They OWN this pile of shit, and should never be allowed to forget that they brought us to where we are now.

Boris Gives Santa a Freedom Pass

 

Monti (aged 8) wrote to me asking if Father Christmas will be able to deliver presents this year 🎅🎁🎄

I've had lots of letters about this, so I have spoken with experts and can assure you that Father Christmas will be packing his sleigh and delivering presents this Christmas! pic.twitter.com/pXwcjHSxZg

— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) November 25, 2020

Left Stages Digital Walkout at NEC

Former Labour deputy leader, cabinet minister and veteran MP Margaret Beckett is the new chair of the party's NEC.
Vice chair is @aliceperryuk.

Elected unopposed after digital walk out by Left members of NEC from its first AGM.

— Paul Waugh (@paulwaugh) November 24, 2020

What was the point of the walkout?

No Leaks! No Bullying!

 

NEW: Boris Johnson and cabinet secretary Simon Case have written to all ministers warning against bullying:

"There is a particular duty..to create...a culture which is professional, respectful, focused and ambitious for change and in which there is no place for bullying." pic.twitter.com/vwUuno5CmT

— Sebastian Payne (@SebastianEPayne) November 23, 2020

Beware The Ides of November Boris!

 

Join us on the 25 November when @CharlesHMoore will discuss the ‘30 anniversary of Margaret Thatcher's downfall as Prime Minister’. This session also marks the paperback publication of Lord Moore’s biography of ‘Thatcher Vol 3’ @PenguinUKBooks https://t.co/fYVecJKCju pic.twitter.com/Po7RVpCqTA

— The Strand Group (@thestrandgroup) October 21, 2020

Sir Alex Resigns

 

PM’s advisor on ministerial code resigned after PM backs Patel. Sir Alex Allan: “It’s for PM to make a judgement on whether actions by a Minister amount to a breach of Code. But I feel that it is right that I should now resign from my position as PM’s independent adviser on Code”

— Beth Rigby (@BethRigby) November 20, 2020

Sitting Priti?

 

Boris Johnson is expected to set out his decision later on the findings of an inquiry into the conduct of Home Secretary Priti Patel.

Sources familiar with the Cabinet Office report told the BBC it concluded Ms Patel broke rules on ministers' behaviour.

She has always strongly denied allegations of bullying.

Boris Schedules Space Command Rocket Lift Off For 2022

 

The existing Space Directorate, based at RAF High Wycombe, will become the Space Command. Investment in weapons and tech, including ships and Tempest fighter jets, will support 10,000 jobs, the government said.

Successful rocket launches will give Space Command a sovereign capability to put weapons and surveillance satellites into orbit, to defend British interests, without relying on other nations.

The key difference will be that it welcomes staff from across all three armed forces.

It is expected to launch its first rocket from a site in Scotland, Wales or Cornwall.

PMQ By Zoom!

 

A first.... @BorisJohnson taking PMQs from isolation pic.twitter.com/H4lkKg9JQe

— Nick Eardley (@nickeardleybbc) November 18, 2020

No Whipping For Jeremy!

 

Corbyn will NOT have whip restored

— Laura Kuenssberg (@bbclaurak) November 18, 2020

Corbyn Is Back!

 

Corbyn has been readmitted into the Labour Party, now the world waits with baited breath for Starmer to restore the whip.

Lord Cummings of Barnard Castle Has Trolled The Media Royally

Now with musical accompaniment...#DominicGoing pic.twitter.com/nwgEM5Z9KX

— Slough for Europe 🇪🇺🎪 (@SloughForEU) November 14, 2020

Cummings hasn't gone anywhere!

The media have been trolled royally😁 https://t.co/AO0YuUXX7N

— Ken Frost (@ken_frost) November 14, 2020

The question that the media haven't asked: given that their attention was focused on the front door, who was leaving by the back door?

I will be hugely amused to see the media's reaction when Cummings is given a peerage!

Boris's Glorious Self Isolation

 

Hi folks, I’ve been instructed by our NHS Test & Trace scheme to self-isolate for two weeks, after being in contact with someone with Covid-19.

I’m in good health and have no symptoms, and will continue to lead on our response to the virus & our plans to #BuildBackBetter pic.twitter.com/yNgIme8lOz

— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) November 16, 2020

PM message to MPs on Whatsapp tonight: “the rules are the rules” pic.twitter.com/9ZSrDOFRTP

— Harry Cole (@MrHarryCole) November 15, 2020

The media are bleating that this messes up Boris's plans for the reset of his government.

Nonsense!

He can spend this time wisely considering what to do, and still maintain contact with Carrie via WhatsApp!

Media Wetting Themselves Over The Departure of Cummings - As Usual The Media Gets It Wrong!

 

The media are currently wetting themselves over the now formalised year end departure of Dominic Cummings.

Whilst this may be all very entertaining, if you are in the media or Westminster bubble, it rather ignores the elephant in the room.

His year end departure was known about, and reported on, back in May; eg as per The Metro:

"A source, who reportedly knows him well, told the Daily Mail he plans to step back from politics now Brexit has been achieved. 

They said: ‘Dominic has not decided what to do. He will stay in his job if it seems worthwhile and [he] can improve things – otherwise he probably won’t.’ 

The Spectator magazine, where Mr Cummings used to work and where his wife is a commissioning editor, also reported that he could consider himself ‘largely redundant’ by Christmas if he has completed reforms of Whitehall. "

The resignation is merely formalising what was already the plan.

The question is, once he goes who will become the object of the media's frenzied hatred?

Cain, Cummings and Carrie

Lee Cain and Dominic Cummings

A No10 spad messages this morning. No love lost, it appears: “Literally no one in here is mourning Lee this morning. A rude, needlessly abrasive, insecure clown with no brain for govt, who crashed Boris’s comms into the ground before flouncing off in a huff without an apology”.

— Tom Newton Dunn (@tnewtondunn) November 12, 2020

 

There are currently shenanigans aplenty in Number 10, as Boris tries to wrestle with the competing egos and factions within his "in house" team.

Having first promised a sop job to Lee Cain, Boris has had to unpromise it as a result of an outcry from others including Carrie.

Cain has now flounced off, and Cummings is pondering doing the same; with rumours that David Frost may also go. 

I doubt very much that Frost will go until the Brexit endgame is over. However, be that as it may, nonsense like this in the middle of a national crisis (partially self inflicted) and so close to Brexit deal/no deal is an utter disgrace. It reflects very poorly on the prima donnas involved, and poorly on Boris for allowing this to happen.

Shape up or ship out Boris, you have until year end to sort yourself and your team out!

Sir John Bell Nails It - Don't Screw It Up!

 

Health select committee:

Sir John Bell says we have a "70 to 80 per cent chance" of reaching Easter having vaccinated the most vulnerable

"That's provided they don't screw up the distribution of the vaccine."

— Rowland Manthorpe (@rowlsmanthorpe) November 10, 2020

The American View of The World Is Remarkably Insular!

 

WATCH: Fireworks in London, Edinburgh as Biden win celebrated abroad https://t.co/dqPLRPso6i pic.twitter.com/xAOzXP79AU

— The Hill (@thehill) November 8, 2020

Handcock The Leaker Twists Reality

 

#Coronavirus has a very significant impact on mental health.@rcpsych said today: "allowing Covid to go unchecked would also have serious consequences for mental illness"

Supporting mental health is another reason to bring this virus under control. pic.twitter.com/zDr4etoT6Q

— Matt Hancock (@MattHancock) November 2, 2020

Handock really is a vile little man, he knows perfectly well that lockdowns cause untold psychological damage to many people!

Whilst I have your attention, he was the one who leaked the lockdown details on Saturday.

Brexit Party Relaunched as Reform Party

EXCLUSIVE
The Brexit Party is to be relaunched as an anti-lockdown party called Reform UK, in a move which could alarm Conservative MPs jittery about Covid-19 policy.
Plans to change the name of the Brexit Party to Reform UK were submitted to the Electoral Commission last week.

— Christopher Hope📝 (@christopherhope) November 1, 2020

 

 The cat has been put well and truly amongst the pigeons!

Corbyn Suspended - "Sorry" is The Hardest Word

 

via Imgflip

EHRC Finds Labour Guilty of Unlawful Acts of Discrimination and Harassment

Our investigation into antisemitism in the Labour Party has found unlawful acts of discrimination and harassment.

Read the full report: https://t.co/qfTOEGfYGx pic.twitter.com/JvTxz03gOZ

— EHRC (@EHRC) October 29, 2020

"Our investigation has identified serious failings in leadership and an inadequate process for handling antisemitism complaints across the Labour Party, and we have identified multiple failures in the systems it uses to resolve them. We have concluded that there were unlawful acts of harassment and discrimination for which the Labour Party is responsible.

While there have been some recent improvements in how the Labour Party deals with antisemitism complaints, our analysis points to a culture within the Party which, at best, did not do enough to prevent antisemitism and, at worst, could be seen to accept it."

Corbyn has issued a statement:

Jeremy Corbyn responds to EHRC report: "One antisemite is one too many, but the scale of the problem was also dramatically overstated for political reasons by our opponents inside and outside the party, as well as by much of the media." pic.twitter.com/iIyTZ9CT2A

— John Johnston (@johnjohnstonmi) October 29, 2020

The issue facing Sir Keir now is to decide if Corbyn should remain a member of the Labour Party.

Advice To Sir Keir

 

 The next time you go to the pub, don't drive; instead go by tube, bus or simply walk!

Andy Burnham To Address The Nation

 

Burnham presser this afternoon. Big announcements, I'm told. With some big names.

Watch this space.

— David Collins (@DavidCollinsST) October 27, 2020

Local Authority Funding For Kid's Meals To Be Increased?

NEW: Boris Johnson says ministers will, "make sure that we have no children" in England "who go hungry this winter... certainly not as a result of any government inattention" #freeschoolmeals

— Jessica Parker (@MarkerJParker) October 26, 2020

 This is one way to avoid a U turn on offering free school meals, albeit a messy one!

Manchester Will Get The £60M Irrespective of Burnham

 

Johnson says Greater Manchester WILL get the 60 million after all

— Laura Kuenssberg (@bbclaurak) October 21, 2020

Manchester To Have Tier 3 Imposed Upon It at Midday

  This will end in tears!

Speaker Gives MPs a Taste of Their Own Medicine

 

NEW: Speaker bans the sale of alcohol in Commons bars.

“As MPs represent different constituencies in different tiers – with the very highest level ordering the closure of pubs – I have decided to stop the sale of alcohol across the Commons-end of the estate from this Saturday."

— Paul Brand (@PaulBrandITV) October 15, 2020

Ooh Lah Lah!

 

BREAK: Quite extraordinary moment in France this morning...

The homes and offices of France's health minister and director general of health have been searched by police as part of a judicial enquiry into the government's handling of the #coronavirus pandemic

— Darren McCaffrey (@DarrenEuronews) October 15, 2020

London Has Fallen

Spock Mr GIF from Spock GIFs

BREAK: London to move to New Tier 2 restrictions from midnight on Friday, as in tomorrow night

— Darren McCaffrey (@DarrenEuronews) October 15, 2020

Labour's Confused

Labour's Shadow Health Secretary John Ashworth said yesterday that a national lockdown "would be disastrous for society... but I don't believe anyone in the house is proposing that..." Hours later Starmer proposed precisely that...https://t.co/4vN3DbNc5b pic.twitter.com/nOzcE4pXou

— Guido Fawkes (@GuidoFawkes) October 14, 2020

Sturgeon Does Irony

 

I am gemused to see that Sturgeon does "irony", for on the very same day that this appears in the Herald she chooses to announce the death-knell of the hospitality industry in Scotland.

Salmond affair: Sturgeon claims she 'forgot' about explosive meeting https://t.co/qymb8CbQEj

— Tom Gordon (@HTScotPol) October 7, 2020

Oh the "irony"!

Initiate Operation Scapegoat - Handcock's Last Days

 

"Matt Hancock has come under so much fire since the beginning of March there’s been speculation that Boris Johnson is only keeping him in the cabinet as a human shield. The time to initiate Operation Scapegoat may have arrived.” https://t.co/QgV7rpSq5A

— Toby Young (@toadmeister) October 8, 2020

Where Is Her Majesty's Official Opposition?

 

One Tory backbencher said: "Undoubtedly there will be an autumn showdown in Parliament at some point but I don't think there's any point in me going balls to the wall on a 10pm curfew unless the opposition come and help."https://t.co/8EA2gfD6Ca

— PoliticsHome (@politicshome) October 6, 2020

PHE Test and Trace HQ

 

Boris's Windy Bluster

 

Boris Johnson channelling his inner Alex Salmond claiming to make UK the "Saudi Arabia of wind". The then first Minister promised to do that for Scotland. Nothing new in politics.

— Andrew Neil (@afneil) October 6, 2020

Handcock's Half Hour

 

Handcock has to explain this shite to Parliament today, under any other circumstances he would have been fired!

Whoever thought that Excel was the right solution for a database built to withstand a 2nd wave? https://t.co/dOctmmoLRY

— Alistair Haimes (@AlistairHaimes) October 5, 2020

Sturgeon Nips at Ferrier's Heels

 

I’ve spoken to Margaret Ferrier and made clear my view that she should step down as an MP. I did so with a heavy heart - she is a friend & colleague - but her actions were dangerous & indefensible. I have no power to force an MP to resign but I hope she will do the right thing.

— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) October 2, 2020

Unsurprisingly social media and others are using this to try to force Cummings to resign.

Factoids:

1 He's not an MP

2 He didn't sit on a train traversing the country whilst knowingly infected.

The Enemy Within

A Whitehall source (otherwise known as Cummings) re the leaks:

“There is a rotten core of civil servants who have never gotten over Brexit, want revenge for the incompetent [Philip] Rutnam and fear the hard rain that is coming. They’re the enemy within and will be rooted out.”

— PrimalPolitical (@PrimalPolitical) October 1, 2020

 

 Operation Hard Rain continues apace!

Shenanigans Alert!

 

Waiting for white smoke on compromise talks over whether the Commons should have more of a say in Coronavirus restrictions

It’s a referendum on the influence of chief whip Mark Spencer, who Tory rebels think understand the issue properly. The q is whether No10 listens, they say

— Sam Coates Sky (@SamCoatesSky) September 30, 2020

Sadiq's Fake Little Prick

 

Vaccine propaganda https://t.co/t5kKIZHf2M pic.twitter.com/gL8i0Qdm3q

— Minitrue⁺ (@banthebbc) September 29, 2020

Starmer's Purge of Momentum Continues Apace!

 

WATCH: The Moment Nadia Whittome Found Out She’d Been Sacked https://t.co/fxcp0A7ux5 pic.twitter.com/iptgOXk7Fu

— Guido Fawkes (@GuidoFawkes) September 24, 2020

Very wise to get rid of them. 

Now, more than ever, the country needs a functioning and credible opposition!

Look Busy!

 

This is appalling. It appears that the 10pm pub and restaurant curfew was decided on the hoof without any evidence.

Source: The Times pic.twitter.com/byjjthLg0C

— James Melville (@JamesMelville) September 23, 2020

 

When politicians don't know what to do about a problem, rather then admit that, they try to look busy.

Yesterday's tinkering with the rules wrt pub/restaurants opening hours and wearing masks when not seated is a classic example of the "look busy" tactic.

Sadly for those who derive a living from the hospitality trade this will negatively impact their lives, whilst having bugger all effect on Covid.

Boris Has a Double

It seems that, according to the media, Boris was in Perugia on 11 September and was also having his baby christened in Westminster at the same time.

How could this be possible?

Simple, he has a double!

Test Ministers and MPs First!

 

Excl: Priti Patel backs plans to force large firms to randomly test their staff for Class A drugs: https://t.co/O7QjbZplTI

— Matt Dathan (@matt_dathan) September 18, 2020

Are we to assume the Patel backs the idea of testing Minsiters and MPs as well?

No, I thought not!

Sir Keir's Test is Negative, Angela Still To Take PMQs

 

Angela Rayner will still take #PMQs. https://t.co/XrJAlKrCpO

— Paul Waugh (@paulwaugh) September 16, 2020

Internal Market Bill Passes Second Reading

The Internal Market Bill passed its second reading yesterday, with a majority of 77.

Next week will be more bumpy.

The Internal Market Bill - Today's Shenanigans

 

The second reading of the Internal Market Bill takes place today.

Irrespective of what the media and the Guardian are trying to portray, it will pass to the next stage and the alleged "rebels" will be no more than 20.

Boris To Calm Parliamentary Party's Nerves

 

NEW: Prime Minister to address the parliamentary party this afternoon 17:30 – MPs have not been given details of the purpose of the meeting

— Katy Balls (@katyballs) September 11, 2020

Hancock Cancels Christmas

 

In case you were unaware, irrespective of the half hearted optimism of Boris, Hancock has cancelled Christmas.

Day by day the Covid restrictions noose will be drawn ever tighter!

A Busy Day In The Commons Methinks!

 

EXCLUSIVE: The dirty tactics Brussels used on Northern Ireland that enraged London enough to push button on Withdrawal Agreement bombshell. https://t.co/JTziZQ7gbS

— Harry Cole (@MrHarryCole) September 8, 2020

It will be interesting to see how this pans out!

The Hard Rain Continues!

 

"Those close to Sir Jonathan said he was 'very unhappy' about the decision to ... overwrite parts of the 2019 withdrawal agreement"https://t.co/VqwfGMJLUs via @financialtimes

— roula khalaf (@khalafroula) September 8, 2020

Twats!

 

Walking round or stepping over them is clearly impossible https://t.co/d1Wk5QfdDB

— Count Mysterioso (@MysteriosoX) September 3, 2020

A Case of Hard Rain

 

No. 10 formally announce Simon Case as new Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service pic.twitter.com/tvCfaiSEUM

— Guido Fawkes (@GuidoFawkes) September 1, 2020

First Day Back To School

 

New term, new uniform? A rare sight - Dominic Cummings in a suit... pic.twitter.com/Fyv21qJ71L

— Daniel Hewitt (@DanielHewittITV) September 1, 2020

Ed Davey Elected Leader of LibDems

 

42,756 votes to 24,564? It wasn't even close.

— Harry Cole (@MrHarryCole) August 27, 2020

Bloody lousy turnout, the LibDems have over 120K members!

Who Knew?

 

Who knew that when they voted for Boris in December 2019 that they would get Sturgeon running the country?

The Distant Rumble of Thunder?

 

Boris Johnson could be gone by February according to Cummings’ father-in-law: scoop in Times diary via ⁦@patrick_kidd⁩ pic.twitter.com/7HJPdWzxmf

— Jim Pickard (@PickardJE) August 25, 2020

Ben & Jerry's Marketing Gimmick Backfires

Ben & Jerry’s sales have plummeted across the UK, many stores have now agreed to put the ice cream out at a reduced price with @benandjerrysUK taking the hit. The stores we looked at are selling at just over half price and the shelves are still almost full. pic.twitter.com/l7r9RYSAph

— Anonymous Journalist (@AnonymousJourn9) August 20, 2020

On 12 August I wrote:

"For reasons best known to itself, Unilver (in the guise of its brand Ben & Jerry) has decided to come out in support of criminal people smuggling gangs who profit from smuggling economic migrants across Europe into the UK."

It was of course a marketing gimmick to push sales of Ben & Jerry's.

It has failed!

 

Trouble In The Valleys

NEW: Welsh Brexit Minister @Jeremy_Miles absolutely roasts Biz sec Alok Sharma @AlokSharma_RDG over plans UK internal market bill - warns it will "accelerate the break up" of the UK - this is VERY strong language from pro Union welsh govt /1 Threadhttps://t.co/mLauSW2Hw4

— Peter Foster (@pmdfoster) August 20, 2020

 

The Guardian Hangs Carole Cadwalladr Out To Dry

 

Arron Banks is a pussy who is using the courts to try & shut me down. I face adverse costs of up to £1m. Most of press silent. Security services - & I quote - ‘asleep at wheel’. And yet. Still it keeps oozing out.. https://t.co/YdkzIDvzi1

— Carole Cadwalladr (@carolecadwalla) August 19, 2020

Rather bizarrely, despite the fact that the Guardian occasionally uses her articles, the Guardian is happily going to let Cadwalladr go to the wall.

Given that the Guardian is sitting on a £1BN trust fund, I would have thought it would bail out one of its own?

Exams

 

Exams are necessary to stop fuck ups such as we have just witnessed.

I trust and assume that the government have understood this?

Oh, and whilst we are at it, someone tell Williamson to remove the riding crop from his desk the next time he is photographed!

Algorithms

 

Algorithms that highlight statistical anomalies are all well and good, but if there is not a robust and fair human override they will cause tears.

Given that universities will be well short of foreign applicants this year, it might be wise to override the algorithm and allow a one off inflation of grades that the universities can mop up this year.

Unilever Slags Off Priti Patel

 

Hey @PritiPatel we think the real crisis is our lack of humanity for people fleeing war, climate change and torture. We pulled together a thread for you..

— Ben & Jerry's UK (@benandjerrysUK) August 11, 2020

For reasons best known to itself, Unilver (in the guise of its brand Ben & Jerry) has decided to come out in support of criminal people smuggling gangs who profit from smuggling economic migrants across Europe into the UK.

Suffice to say Priti Patel had a few words to say on the subject.

OOOF! Home Office source: “Priti is working day&night to bring an end to these small boat crossings, which are facilitated by international criminal gangs&are of serious concern. If that means upsetting the social media team for a brand of overpriced junk food then so be it.” https://t.co/QIrfXOjZ5w

— Chris Mason (@ChrisMasonBBC) August 11, 2020

Irrespective of what Unilever (no stranger to controversy itself) thinks of the matter, the criminal gangs will be targeted and brought to justice, and the economic migrants in the UK who chose not to settle in the parts of the EU which they first entered will be deported.

Driving Ms Butler

 

Maybe the media would serve their audience better if, given that they seem to think a police vehicle stop is national news, they actually interviewed the driver of the car to garner his views rather than the passenger?

Aberdeen!

Meanwhile in Scotland Again...

A leadership contest, of one. Douglas Ross is named the new leader of the Scottish Tories after nominations closed at noon with no other candidates. His relationship with No10 will be interesting, Ross resigned in May over Barnard Castle-gate.

— Tom Newton Dunn (@tnewtondunn) August 5, 2020

Shrewd move resigning, it shows he is his own man!

Meanwhile in Scotland..

Nicola Sturgeon has said that teachers’ grading of their pupils was “not credible” as she defended the lowering of marks for a quarter of all entries from Scottish students https://t.co/4e34POT5IX

— The Times Scotland (@thetimesscot) August 4, 2020

My sympathies to the Scottish school students who didn't sit exams this year, but have had their grades for the non existent exams fucked up by bureaucrats!

Shielding The Over 50's - The Plan That Never Was

No 10 ditches plan to shield over-50s after backlash from ministershttps://t.co/QR5k650DTd

— Moriarty (@LeProfMoriarty) August 3, 2020

When is a plan not a plan?

When it was never a plan!

The media had a fun 48 hours with their headlines about shielding the over 50's, yet to no avail.

For you see ladies and gentlemen, there never was any such plan!

£100K Reward for The Great Communicator

 

EXC Boris Johnson has launched the search for a new £100,000-plus a year spokesman to become the face of the Government in televised press conferences from this Autumn.
A job ad asks for someone to "communicate with the nation on behalf of the Prime Minister".
Apply by Aug 21.

— Christopher Hope📝 (@christopherhope) July 28, 2020

Emulating the Americans, it seems that the Brits will soon have a Prime Ministerial spokesman.

Sadly, Reagan cannot apply!

Boris Nails It!

Corbyn's Legal Fund

It seems that a legal fund has been set up for Corbyn, as per GoFundMe:

It is reported that John Ware a reporter for Panorama is taking legal action for libel against former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. The relentless attacks on Mr Corbyn, a man of integrity, honesty and humility cannot be allowed to continue and we have an opportunity here to offer him support in a practical way. It will also let him know that his supporters have not forgotten him, nor have they gone away.

Here is the man himself:

Labour Party members have a right to accountability and transparency of decisions taken in their name, and an effective commitment from the party to combat antisemitism and racism in all their forms.

The Party’s decision to apologise today and make substantial payments to former staff who sued the party in relation to last year’s Panorama programme is a political decision, not a legal one.

Our legal advice was that the party had a strong defence, and the evidence in the leaked Labour report that is now the subject of an NEC inquiry led by Martin Forde QC strengthened concerns about the role played by some of those who took part in the programme.

The decision to settle these claims in this way is disappointing, and risks giving credibility to misleading and inaccurate allegations about action taken to tackle antisemitism in the Labour Party in recent years.

To give our members the answers and justice they deserve, the inquiry led by Martin Forde must now fully address the evidence the internal report uncovered of racism, sexism, factionalism and obstruction of Labour’s 2017 General Election campaign.

Corbyn To Lose The Whip?

If as is being reported, @uklabour are about to remove the whip from Jeremy Corbyn because of recommendations in the EHRC report.

Yes it is 5 years late. But it is a major statement that will underline just how bad things were and how close we came to disaster.

— David Collier (@mishtal) July 22, 2020

The Corbynites are Revolting

EXCLUSIVE: Corbyn, Milne and Formby attempt to stop Labour apology https://t.co/JgWFMouLWj

— The Jewish Chronicle (@JewishChron) July 21, 2020

Russia Report Published - Spoiler Alert - They Didn't Interfere in Brexit

Here is the ISC report on Russia https://t.co/EutpsCt6HX pic.twitter.com/LfwmMePazW

— PARLY (@PARLYapp) July 21, 2020

It seems that contrary to the hopes of the left, Russia didn't mess with Brexit. However, Russia did try to mess with the Scottish Independence vote!

Pay Rises For The Public Sector

Our public sector workers have made a vital contribution to our country in the past few months. We can rely on them when we need to.

So we’re giving them a pay rise.

Details here: https://t.co/MzU46Bz3um pic.twitter.com/UKW0mgqmuW

— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) July 21, 2020

Department	Agreed award
School Teachers	3.1%
Doctors & Dentists	2.8%
Police Officers	2.5%
Armed Forces	2%
National Crime Agency	2.5%
Prison Officers	2.5%
Judiciary	2%
Senior Civil Servants	2%
Senior Military	2%

 

Meanwhile in the private sector, many will lose their jobs once the furlough scheme ends.

Britain's Calibrated Response To China

"What we won't do is completely abandon our policy of engagement with China," says Prime Minister Boris Johnson

"We've got to have a calibrated response... we're going to be tough on some things but also going to continue to engage"https://t.co/jM8sKVeOHd pic.twitter.com/MVtgoiWLIF

— BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) July 20, 2020

Boris To Enter The Lion's Den

COVID - The Next Steps

WATCH LIVE: PM @BorisJohnson hosts a press conference on the next steps in the UK’s recovery from coronavirus https://t.co/bzwtWDK8Qp

— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) July 17, 2020

PHE Is Shite!

BREAKING ....

Matt Hancock calling "urgent review" into a staggering fiasco at Public Health England.

They are counting people who die of natural causes as coronavirus deaths if they tested positive at any time previously.

Not clear how many deaths were recorded in this way

— Joe Murphy (@JoeMurphyLondon) July 17, 2020

Russia Report To Be Published Before Recess - Quelle Surprise!

It's happening. Statement from Intelligence and Security Committee:
"The Committee has unanimously agreed this morning that it will publish the Report on Russia prepared by its predecessor before the house rises for the summer recess. There will be no further comment."

— Paul Waugh (@paulwaugh) July 16, 2020

Pound to a penny, it's not nearly as "earth-shattering" as some people are hoping it will be!

Lewis Trounces Grayling and Loses The Whip

Julian Lewis has had a busy 24 hours, not only has he managed to trounce Chris Grayling and get himself elected as chair of the ISC he has also lost the whip for his trouble.

He is now expressing "surprise" at the loss!

Julian Lewis speaks... statement just released to the Press Association on ISC vote pic.twitter.com/7cXPxjXp7F

— Nick Eardley (@nickeardleybbc) July 16, 2020

Covid Inquiry Confirmed

Everyone knew it was coming but still a moment. Boris Johnson commits to an independent inquiry into covid response

— Francis Elliott (@elliotttimes) July 15, 2020

Facemasks In Offices To Be Made Compulsory

Matt Hancock rules out mandatory face masks in offices https://t.co/9j2eEDip6Z

— The Guardian (@guardian) July 15, 2020

Boundary Reform Happening

The Parliamentary Constituencies Bill has passed all of its Commons stages.

Boundary reform is now all but certain.

— Bruges Group 🇬🇧 (@BrugesGroup) July 15, 2020

Tories Poll Higher Than Election Day

Guido fact of the day: according to the latest YouGov poll the Tories are polling 3 points higher than they were on general election dayhttps://t.co/s3Mblat877 pic.twitter.com/WaTgq7q6Dd

— Guido Fawkes (@GuidoFawkes) July 13, 2020

The Dark Knight Sedwill Was Fired

Sedwill’s £248,189 Payout Indicates Involuntary Dismissal https://t.co/CTbSIWzZDf pic.twitter.com/x8cZjdNEgC

— Guido Fawkes (@GuidoFawkes) July 9, 2020

Keir Starmer is Captain Hindsight

#PeoplesPMQs

On Friday, PM @BorisJohnson will host the #PeoplesPMQs

Ask your question here: https://t.co/kLNGCTITL1 pic.twitter.com/vQOgdYx2ur

— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) July 8, 2020

Clarkson Backs Labour?

Keir Starmer has welcomed Jeremy Clarkson's apparent backing for Labour.

Unsurprisingly, the Corbynite section is having a mental breakdown over it.

Sunak's £1.57BN Arts Lifeline

The show must go on.

We’re introducing a world-leading £1.57 billion rescue package to help cultural, arts and heritage institutions weather the impact of coronavirus. pic.twitter.com/J3KXUOxJEE

— Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) July 5, 2020

I goes without saying that the Luvvie Darlings will be ungracious and ungrateful, and will continue to slag the Tories off!

Televised Press Briefings To Replace Lobby Briefings

Boris Johnson to introduce televised White House-style press briefings hosted by an experienced broadcaster

PM to replace afternoon lobby briefings with a broadcast Q and A sessionshttps://t.co/IkJXxLNplZ

— Steven Swinford (@Steven_Swinford) July 2, 2020

BLM's Strange Runic Symbolism

Black Lives Matter are, apparently, holding another demonstration this Sunday (ending at Downing Street).

No doubt it will be peaceful, according to the media.

Anyhoo, the publicity material has two rather an unusual features. In the "A" of "Matter" and in the clenched fist resides a lightning bolt, which is the runic symbol used by the SS.

Surely shome mishtake!!!

doppelte Siegrune

"Victory" or "Schutzstaffel"

The sig rune (or Siegrune) symbolised victory (sieg). In its original form as the ᛋ-rune of the Younger Futhark, it represented the sun; however, von List reinterpreted it as a victory sign when he compiled his list of "Armanen runes" .[2] It was adapted into the emblem of the SS in 1933 by Walter Heck, an SS Sturmhauptführer who worked as a graphic designer for Ferdinand Hoffstatter, a producer of emblems and insignia in Bonn.[2] Heck's simple but striking device consisted of two sig runes drawn side by side like lightning bolts, and was soon adopted by all branches of the SS – though Heck himself received only a token payment of 2.5 Reichsmarks for his work.[3] The device had a double meaning; as well as standing for the initials of the SS, it could be read as a rallying cry of "Victory, Victory!".[2] The symbol became so ubiquitous that it was frequently typeset using runes rather than letters; during the Nazi period, an extra key was added to German typewriters to enable them to type the double-sig logo with a single keystroke.[4]

The Chronicles of Banquo - Götterdämmerung

Gather ye round my best beloveds, and I shall recount to you another tale from the Chronicles of Banquo.

It was at the time when Albion and its people were gradually trying to come out of the great plague lockdown (interspersed with local flare ups caused by sweat shops, excessive communal gatherings and unsanitary working conditions). Enemies outwith and within Albion were still plotting to use this period of perceived weakness to their own evil ends.

The Dark Knight Sedwill had been persuaded of the hopelessness of his situation and had fallen on his sword, and a motion to the home of the lords was expected.

On the eve of the hour of No Turning Back (when Ben would strike 11 as the clocks across the water would strike 12) the king donned his trusty battle helmet and went forth to the heartlands, where once a red wall had stood, to offer the people of Albion hope for the future and a promise of a very British New Deal.

It was, as I recounted to you before, a time to Build, Build, Build!

Yet, my best beloveds, not all were happy.

Last year's Queen of The May was vexed by stories of her being bullied during her special relationship, and she publicly vented her spleen (in order to save face) about the king's trusted emissary Frost who was to become the king's security adviser.

Sadly for the Queen of The May, her anger had made her forget that Frost was an experienced diplomat and well versed in security matters. Her words were soon forgotten, and the clock did chime.

On the dawn of the new day and era Banquo afforded himself a brief sojourn by booking an awayday weekend for himself and his chums. However, he knew much was to be done:

•  Save the Albion economy from the effects of the plague.
•  Ensure that miscreants from across the water would soon be blocked without interference from the emperors across the water.
•  Restructure/relocate/transmute the aged home of the lords.
•  Defund dear, tired old Auntie and tame her anti Albion witterings.
• Grant citizenship to the industrious and innovative people of 香港 - the Spice Harbour.
  

Much was needed to be done, and indeed it would be done.

I shall tell you more my best beloveds, but not today.

However, fear not, I shall return to relate another tale in the Chronicles of Banquo.