Labour Loves Bercow

Not stunned by much in politics. But pro-Bercow Labour saying Speaker's anti-Brexit role trumps bullying report is just jaw-dropping.

— Iain Martin (@iainmartin1) October 16, 2018

Universal Credit Rollout Delayed

BBC News - Universal credit rollout delayed yet again https://t.co/HVq7jdx5T4

— Guy Smith (@GuySmithtax) October 16, 2018

A rare display of commonsense from this government!

Austerity Is Over!!!!!!!!!

When Theresa May announced, in her recent conference speech that austerity was over, many in the media and politics dismissed it as BS.

However, I refer you to the news on the BBC today that say senior judges in England and Wales could be set for pay rises of up to 32% if recommendations made by the Senior Salaries Review Body are accepted.

The move aims to address low morale among judges and to compensate them for changes to their pension scheme.

The recommendations would see a High Court judge receive an additional £60,000 a year.
Crown Court judges would receive a 22% rise - taking them to £165,000 - and district judges would get an 8% rise.

Clearly austerity is definitely over, as there is no way judges would get such a stonking pay rise if others in the public sector didn't as well!

"No Vacancy" - But Here Are The Rules!

Lots of wild and loose talk about leadership moves. There is no vacancy. However, on a technical point, if a vacancy did arise process need not take more than 2 working weeks - 4 days in Commons (if needed) and 6 days with membership - does not need to be an overly long process

— Mark Pritchard MP (@MPritchardUK) October 11, 2018

The Duplicitous DUP

This is extraordinary. In the event the DUP vote down the budget: “No10 sources also insisted the move would be a clear breach of the Tory-DUP confidence and supply agreement – meaning Ulster would also have to pay back its £1bn bonus from the government.” https://t.co/cgQiIiunRV

— Labour Whips (@labourwhips) October 11, 2018

Sadly, because of Theresa May's disastrous decision to call and election and then botch it, the country is being run by government propped up by the DUP (who demanded £1BN for their support).

Now that things are hotting up wrt Brexit, the DUP is relishing its position of "power broker", or more accurately in this case "power destroyer", and is threatening to vote against the Budget if their Brexit "red lines" are crossed.

The DUP claim to want to be treated as the same as the rest of the UK. This is all very well, noble and commendable. However, when it comes to other laws (eg abortion) the DUP are "strangely" reluctant to follow the UK's lead.

Inevitably, as could have been predicted when the confidence and supply deal was brokered by May, this particular house of cards looks like it is about to come crashing down to earth.

As and when it does, I will be most fascinated to see how May gets the £1BN back!

American Curse of Paid Protesters Infects The UK

Hats off to Steve Coogan, Patrick Kielty, Ian McEwan, Alastair Campbell, Eddie Izzard, Sir Patrick Stewart and Delia Smith who are on the list of sponsors to help pay for protesters to travel to London for the anti-Brexit #PeopleVoteMarch on October 20th.https://t.co/xaisBP7SSp

— James Melville (@JamesMelville) October 9, 2018

Tories Whipping Labour MPs

Such is the bizarre state of British politics, that we have finally crossed through the looking glass, and are now in a world where Tory ministers are in talks with aaround 25 Labour MPs to secure Theresa May's widely despised Chequers Brexit deal.

Seemingly the Government’s whips’ office has spent recent months making contact with the MPs, as a back-up option for when May’s Brexit deal is put to a vote in Parliament in early December.

Methinks certain Tories will not be best pleased by this!