Borexit; Now it’s Just Getting Weird.

Written By: - Date published: 7:04 am, July 1st, 2016 - 98 comments
Categories: Europe, International, uk politics - Tags: ,

The leader of the UK’s Leave campaign and the favourite to replace David Cameron as Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, has quit the race for the top job. He’s been royally stabbed in the back by his lieutenant Michael Gove, who has thrown his own hat into the ring, describing BoJo as unfit to lead the country.

Earlier in the week, Gove’s wife, opinion writer Sarah Vine had accidentally sent a private email to the wrong recipient. In it, she urged her husband to secure a job guarantee from Johnson before committing to manage his campaign. Clearly, no such offer was made, or if it was, it was derisory.

With Gove amongst the runners, and forced to find another campaign manager, Johnson has calculated that he will get the numbers to beat Home Secretary Theresa May, the self described ‘unity’ candidate, who opposed leaving Europe.

Meanwhile, there’s more chaos for Labour, with Jeremy Corbyn embroiled in a supposed ‘anti-semitic’ row.

Close down the bookies and the pollsters. There’s just no picking how this will all end.

98 comments on “Borexit; Now it’s Just Getting Weird. ”

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  1. Incognito 1
    1 July 2016 at 7:32 am

    It is a strange disturbance in the atmosphere of politics of the UK and many Western nations: Boralis Surrealis.

  2. Fustercluck 2
    1 July 2016 at 7:39 am

    The kabuki epic that is Brexit is performing a magnificent service by revealing many of the hidden tensions and conflicts that the political sycophants to the financial elite were previously able to keep hidden from the masses. Pouring democracy on top of plutocracy is always a good idea even if the exercise is rather poorly conceived as with this most recent referendum.

  3. Tiger Mountain 3
    1 July 2016 at 8:00 am

    some academics predictions and analysis are now reality; the almost clichéd “atomisation” of the working class since Thatcher has been extended, several years back the BBC determined that there are now seven distinct social classes
    http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-22007058
    Elite
    Established middle class
    Technical middle class
    New affluent workers
    Traditional working class
    Emergent service workers
    Precariat, or precarious proletariat

    marxists would rightly argue points of the BBCs findings, but class was a major component (along with age, region etc) of the Brexit vote and will likely be moreso in the next phase

    “Bojo” bought an element of toff ridiculousness to the circus, but I guess now everyone can get down to the grim business at hand

    • aerobubble 3.1
      1 July 2016 at 2:13 pm

      Thatcher taught that you could roll in police riot squads into mining commuities and not have to regenerate those areas. The pattern was set. Polticians dont have to regard cinsequences, or didn’t due to predicted energy costs falling decade on decade. Thatchers bait and switch, removing social cohesion for market finance, which based on the real economy was unsustainable once cheap energy disappeared.
      Now England is once again forced to deal with rampaging out of work groups of white males, choosing destruction because they are not feelin the love. Now its brexit, what next? Reality? That EU want UK in the tent an the UK want to be in the tent, so someone will pragmatically point out that all the brexit voters were not anti-immigation, and argue for a referendum on the type of brexit, i.e all with stop eu telling us what our sausages must include or exclude. Some will include free travel and the EU will do a beyter job of making the EU more livable so they dont move to the uk!

  4. Stephen 4
    1 July 2016 at 8:06 am

    That’s politics for ya. Boris saw the opportunity to shaft his old mate Cameron via the Brexit campaign. Then realisedwhat a cluster fuck the whole thing would be and went awol. Gove saw the opportunity to shaft his old mate Boris ,and here we are.

    On the left, the Blairite remnants in the LP Caucus thought the saw the opportunity to shaft Corbyn, for their own political ends, screw what the party members think. They had a once in a generation to take the Conservatives by the throat, and have eaten their own young instead.

    • Draco T Bastard 4.1
      1 July 2016 at 10:08 am

      On the left, the Blairite remnants in the LP Caucus thought the saw the opportunity to shaft Corbyn, for their own political ends, screw what the party members think.

      Doesn’t appear to have worked too well:

      A massive show of support for Jeremy Corbyn has left the coup coalition of media pundits and disgruntled MPs with their jaws to the floor. With only 24 hours notice, over 10,000 people marched on parliament square to reinforce the Labour leader’s unprecedented democratic mandate.

      Meanwhile, a vote of confidence in the Labour leader has soared to 220,000 signatures in just four days. With respect to such a democratic mandate among Labour members and the wider public, Corbyn has ruled out resigning.

      Realising it will be impossible to subvert such an impressive display of support, those pushing to topple Corbyn have entered full panic mode.

    • Ovid 4.2
      1 July 2016 at 1:33 pm

      Blairite remnants

      The man lost a confidence vote by 172:40. Who exactly is the rump here?

      • Crashcart 4.2.1
        1 July 2016 at 2:25 pm

        A confidence vote that means nothing at all and was completely for show. The only confidence vote that matters is that of the party members and the 10,000 who showed out with less than 24 hours notice far exceeds those 172.

  5. Nessalt 5
    1 July 2016 at 8:22 am

    “supposed” anti-semitic row? so you support systemic anti-semitism in the british labour party by down playing the significance of Jeremy Corbyn trying to compare israel to daesh in a speech where he was there is no anti-semitism in the labour party after a whitewash of an inquiry?

    • Hanswurst 5.1
      1 July 2016 at 8:33 am

      There is nothing anti-semitic about criticising the state of Israel. It is even more clearly distanced from anti-semitism to point out that it is important not to equate Judaism with Israel when criticising the latter, and call for unbiased appraisal of all religions, which is clearly what Corbyn was doing. Even a Guardian article that was intent on smearing Corbyn stopped short of defaming him by misreporting that. In fact, your post runs a far greater risk of fostering anti-semitism by trying to turn the entire debate back into an issue of for-us-or-against-us religious hardlining. You should truly and earnestly be ashamed of yourself.

    • dukeofurl 5.2
      1 July 2016 at 12:10 pm

      “trying to compare israel to daesh in a speech ” Which he didnt do.
      So thats solved then.
      One says its a jewish state, other say they are islamic states – eg Saudi, Iran and so on.
      Example :”In Israel, religious law governs family matters.” Using laws written 4000 years ago.

    • AB 5.3
      1 July 2016 at 4:05 pm

      Cobyn made no comparisons. He gave two examples of how wrong it is to condemn individuals for the behaviour of organisations they are not members of, but simply share the same religion or race. As an atheist I am no culpable for Stalin’s purges.
      What we see in your comment is the level of control that is exercised over what is acceptable opinion about Israel. A form of censorship.

      • aerobubble 5.3.1
        5 July 2016 at 10:51 am

        Politicians, politics, are what our ancestots created to replace religion and its excesses. So its obviously a error, to attack politicians who criticize religious based policies, even more so, when the poltician did not. I’mmore worried about somone comparing the US drone usage to daish, or is the US to big to be bullied? yet its okay the opposition. Says more about the undemocratic nature of Israel supporters.

  6. Hanswurst 6
    1 July 2016 at 8:24 am

    Can’t understand for the life of me why you mentioned the Corbyn thing at all, let alone in the manner you did. For one thing, it’s not an anti-semitism issue, for another, it’s completely unrelated to the story abouf Johnson, and for yet another, it smacks so heavily of trying to manufacture news where there isn’t any that… well, repeating it is just pandering to cheap clickbait.

    • The Lone Haranguer 6.1
      1 July 2016 at 9:45 am

      Corbyn gets a mention in this piece, because its demonstrating just how completely messed up politics in Britain is at the moment.

      And it also demonstrates that Brexit wasnt just bad for the Conservatives – because its really messed up the Labour party at the same time.

      Both Corbyn and Cameron were toast by the day after the referendum, but only Cameron was smart enough to exit the madness.

      • Hanswurst 6.1.1
        1 July 2016 at 9:52 am

        Corbyn gets a mention in this piece, because its demonstrating just how completely messed up politics in Britain is at the moment.

        Well, that’s just nonsense. There have already been plenty of inches dedicated to the fallout in the Labour Party – more, in fact, than on the Conservatives. What is the point, in a post about rather surprising developments in the latter party, of a mention that basically proclaims, “And in other news, nothing of any note happened within the Labour Party today.”?

      • Draco T Bastard 6.1.2
        1 July 2016 at 10:11 am

        Both Corbyn and Cameron were toast by the day after the referendum, but only Cameron was smart enough to exit the madness.

        LOL

        • aerobubble 6.1.2.1
          1 July 2016 at 2:22 pm

          Really. Corbyn compares ISIS and Israel. Israel only ghettoized Muslim and Christian Palestinians, ISIS does far far worse. Speaks more to Corbyn wanting his own exit, but like Boris, wanting their successor to earn it.

          • Hanswurst 6.1.2.1.1
            1 July 2016 at 8:10 pm

            I could call out the faulty reasoning above as a consequence of the disastrous “scientific method” taught in modern liberal education, but that would be like calling the Nazis a consequence of proportional representation. Oh, look, I just compared you to Hitler. How positively shocking. On the plus side, I managed to expose your idiotic smear for even the most credulous reader to see.

            • aerobubble 6.1.2.1.1.1
              5 July 2016 at 10:36 am

              They are politicians, like Hitler, its their job to turn on a dime. Israel is not a likeable state, and jumping done the throat of anyone questioning Israel is akin to fascism. State terror is still terror. Jews are great, Israel not so much.

          • Draco T Bastard 6.1.2.1.2
            1 July 2016 at 8:41 pm

            https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CmON3ZnWQAAduVQ.jpg:large

            You want the 6th one down.

          • Gristle 6.1.2.1.3
            1 July 2016 at 9:30 pm

            The summary execution of Palestinians by the israeli army is well documented. This is not a case of the Israelis “only the ghettoz[ing of] Muslim and Christian Palestinians”.

            • aerobubble 6.1.2.1.3.1
              5 July 2016 at 10:41 am

              Yes, but Israel doesn’t like the full truth, that would include dispossession of jewish communities throughout the middle east, pogroms etc. Look there is no nice in a region where the light shines out their collective religious behinds.

  7. Puckish Rogue 7
    1 July 2016 at 8:42 am

    My contacts in the publishing world have let me know that Sir Jeff Archer (its Jeff to his friends) is firing up laptop even as we speak

    • TC 7.1
      1 July 2016 at 9:40 am

      Ah yes shoplifter jeff my what quality units these tories are.

      • North 7.1.1
        1 July 2016 at 9:57 am

        Didn’t know about any shoplifting………he did time for perjury didn’t he or some other offence in the nature of perverting the course of justice ?

        • Anne 7.1.1.1
          1 July 2016 at 11:02 am

          Actually I’m with PR on this one. He writes a darn good yarn. Years of experience both in politics and in the clink (there’s a correlation between the two?) have honed his writing skills.

        • Mrs Brillo 7.1.1.2
          1 July 2016 at 2:42 pm

          Lied about his payments to a prostitute, as I recall (probably wrongly).

        • TC 7.1.1.3
          1 July 2016 at 2:53 pm

          Admitted to taking a few suits after initial denial. Quite the model tory is lord jeff with his works of fiction bet they miss him as he was alot better than most of this lots of twits.

  8. Adrian Thornton 8
    1 July 2016 at 8:43 am

    Not sure if I would use the Guardian’s view on anything Corbyn does as a gauge to it’s legitimacy as a controversy, more like another controversy that they are helping to keep alive or start.

    It would seem that Corbyn has taken the right moral and ethical stand on Israel, the only position a Leader with a functional moral compass could take, but few have the moral fortitude to enact, just the sort of fearless leader a Labour party needs.

    Remember this is this the rag that ran this head line two days ago…
    “The Guardian view on Jeremy Corbyn: after the experiment”
    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jun/28/the-guardian-view-on-jeremy-corbyn-after-the-experiment
    Already writing him off as a legitimate of Leader of Labour, The Guardian fears nothing more than a real bona fide progressive left. And most especially one that involves the working classes.

    I would have thought, if the Guardian was actually a progressive news source, that it would have run a story extolling Corbyns courageous stand.
    But no, of course not, just look at the unbelievable bias it has and is showing toward that mad war hawk, pro free trade, pro fracking disaster Clinton..enough said.

    • Pasupial 8.1
      1 July 2016 at 10:07 am

      The Guardian has gone downhill a bit since Viner took over as editor-in-chief in 2015. It’s a bit too clickbaity nowadays, however I still can’t think of a better MSM news source. There are certainly good articles there if you glean them out from the dross. It does emphasize the need to follow links and not just regurgitate headlines though.

      “there is no one on either side of the [Atlantic] ocean who has thought as deeply as Viner about the relationship between readers, technology and the future of journalism.”…

      In March 2016, Viner and Guardian News and Media chief executive David Pemsel announced cost-cutting measures, leading to the projected loss of 250 jobs

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katharine_Viner

      • Adrian Thornton 8.1.1
        1 July 2016 at 11:16 am

        I not sure I agree, in a way the Guardian are in effect, more dangerous than obvious crazies like the Daily Mail, everyone can laugh at them, but many of those same people unfortunately seem to have lost the use of their critical thinking capacity, so easily buy into what ever garbage the guardian spew out.
        I mean just look at how many ‘progressives’ have brought into Clinton, and now the Guardian are actively anti Corbyn, probably sucking in many citizens who don’t have the time or inclination to do more research, and why should they? they should be able to trust at least one MSM source to disseminate news that is unbiased, absorb that information, and get on with their day.
        This is why I regard the Guardian as a real enemy of the people, constantly undermining real human progress from within.

        • RedLogix 8.1.1.1
          1 July 2016 at 2:38 pm

          Already writing him off as a legitimate of Leader of Labour, The Guardian fears nothing more than a real bona fide progressive left. And most especially one that involves the working classes.

          John Michael Greer wrote an important essay a few months back. Some of us will have read it but in light of what you said above I think it’s worth relinking:

          It concluded:

          Step back and look at the whole picture, and it’s not hard to see why this should be so. At any given time, after all, there are many different Rescue Games in play, with affluent white people always in the role of Rescuers and an assortment of less privileged groups alternating in the roles of Victims and Persecutors. Perhaps, dear reader, you find it hard to imagine why affluent white people would want to keep everyone else so busy fighting one another that they never notice who benefits most from that state of affairs. Perhaps it hasn’t occurred to you that giving the underprivileged the chance to air their grievances and engage in a little socially sanctioned bullying is a great deal less inconvenient for the affluent than actually taking action to improve the lives of the underprivileged would be. Such thoughts seemingly never enter the minds of most Americans; I’ll leave it to you to figure out why.

          http://thearchdruidreport.blogspot.com.au/2016/04/american-narratives-rescue-game.html

    • te reo putake 8.2
      1 July 2016 at 2:38 pm

      The ‘comment is free’ section is for opinions, Adrian. It’s not evidence of anything pertaining to the Guardian itself, any more than your comment is reflective of the position of the Standard. You are confusing the expressed opinions of individuals with what you perceive to be the editorial line of the newspaper itself.

      • Adrian Thornton 8.2.1
        1 July 2016 at 6:21 pm

        The piece in the Guardian I linked to was an editorial, so I assume it is the editorial line of the Guardian, that was my point.

        In the piece I linked to originally, they of course don’t mention The Blairites that are behind this coup
        http://www.marxist.com/britain-hands-off-corbyn-defeat-the-blairite-coup.htm

        they of course didn’t say one word about his good numbers, as pointed out in this Standard piece…
        http://thestandard.org.nz/chilcot-corbyn-and-the-uk-labour-party-caucus/

        No mention that the trade unions stand with Corbyn
        http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2016/06/union-leaders-vow-to-help-corbyn-fight-labour-coup/

        Martin Kettle associate editor of the Guardian
        from his wiki page…
        Martin James Kettle (born 7 September 1949) is a British journalist and author. The son of two … Martin Kettle has often defended New Labour and Tony Blair (a personal friend).
        Google his writing for the Guardian re Corbyn.

        Polly Toynbee
        Dismal, lifeless, spineless – Jeremy Corbyn let us down again https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jun/25/jeremy-corbyn-referedum-campaign

        In short I don’t think my opinion on the overall position of the Guardian re Corbyn is a perceived opinion, but an opinion based on research, and of course what the Guardian actually publish.

        • te reo putake 8.2.1.1
          1 July 2016 at 7:20 pm

          Yeah, good point! My bad, Adrian, I have should have looked further in to what you wrote. Just as an aside, the title of the opinion section ‘comment is free’ is a foreshortened version of the Guradian’s motto “Comment is free, facts are sacred”. That’s been the Guardian’s function for ever; presenting facts and formulating opinion. It’s still the best left wing mainstream newspaper in the English speaking world by a considerable distance, for all it’s many faults.

          • Adrian Thornton 8.2.1.1.1
            1 July 2016 at 8:05 pm

            I respectfully disagree, as I have mentioned earlier, i believe the Guardians constant and real undermining of a real progressive movement on the left, is why we keep ending up with third way progressives like Blair, Clinton, Obama, Clarke, their economic policies have not worked for us, and will never work, because their fundamental economic ideology is laissez-faire, hence their embrace of free market policies, their embrace of free trade, their acquiesce to the family home being traded as just another commodity, letting generations of youth start their lives with an average debt that would have once been the deposit for a first home etc etc…
            No the Guardian is no freind to working people or the poor.

  9. James 9
    1 July 2016 at 8:49 am

    Well that kills my “Boris for PM dream”.

    Don’t know much about Grove.

    Corbyn is even funnier. How can a man lead a team that hates him and he zero confidence?

    So many have quit under him you would have to wonder if he stays what team will be bring in – team “F”? Because he is running out of people. Hell he can’t fill positions quick enough already.

    Interesting to see how feral and disgusting his supporters are becoming. Threats of violence against MP’s who are against him – this is the kind of thing that rips a party apart. I believe that is what Corbyns legacy will be.

    • Puckish Rogue 9.1
      1 July 2016 at 9:02 am

      It kills it for the time being but there’s always another election…

    • North 9.2
      1 July 2016 at 9:51 am

      That’s two toffs down in ten days. Excellent !

    • save nz 9.3
      1 July 2016 at 10:08 am

      @James, oh you mean the ‘FAR RIGHT’ person who just killed the UK MP? Since Corbyn seems ok with immigration I don’t think the guy was a Corbyn supporter.

      What is even funnier is that Cameron the Conservative who F*&ked up with the referendum gets off scott free and they are after Corbyn to calm down the masses like good chap, while his own party stab him in the back and the neoliberals try to see how they can make the most profit and career enhancement and defiantly get war crimes off the table for Blair, out of the situation.

      • James 9.3.1
        1 July 2016 at 12:41 pm

        No Save nz – not at all. I was referring to the behavior of the Corbyn supporters, who are making threats against other labour MP’s.

        The guy you mention has nothing to do with this at all. But – I will agree he was a far right nut, and I hope that the ba$tard never see’s the light of day again.

        • miravox 9.3.1.1
          2 July 2016 at 12:06 am

          he was a far right nut, and I hope that the ba$tard never see’s the light of day again.

          Apparently he was doing ok under mental health care in the community. Then the care got defunded. Austerity you see… Then the authors of austerity turn up the dial on immigration. Now a person has been assassinated because of her political views supporting freedom of movement and the government has to pay to keep this guy in prison.

          This seems to make perfect sense in a neo-lib world.

    • Draco T Bastard 9.4
      1 July 2016 at 10:25 am

      How can a man lead a team that hates him and he zero confidence?

      That’s easy – the UK Labour membership get rid of that team as they’re obviously a bunch of stuck up arseholes who are ignoring what they want and put in place one that will work with him and represent their wishes.

    • The Lone Haranguer 9.5
      1 July 2016 at 2:07 pm

      “Don’t know much about Grove.” (James)

      No you dont, but then most outside of the UK hadnt heard of him or his modus operandi.

      Heres a few bits for you:

      1) His name is GOVE not Grove (thats a major I guess)
      2) His wife is apparently best likened to Lady MacBeth
      3) She single handedly knifed dear Boris the Pretender
      4) She works in the press so no chance it was an innocently leaked email
      5) With the blood of Boris on her hands, Hubby wont be the next PM
      6) Thanks to Mr & Mrs Gove, Theresa May is hot favourite for next PM

  10. mpledger 10
    1 July 2016 at 9:05 am

    Grove is Education minister and has been wreaking havoc. If he’s PM that’ll have to stop and if someone else is get elected Grove will be demoted for having the gall to run. So that’s actually looking good.

    Boris leaving is no surprise – he saw how much work was going to be involved, much of it contentious and ran for the hills.

    • TC 10.1
      1 July 2016 at 10:10 am

      Gove is one ambitious ruthless operator but unlike dave, boris and many other tories he lacks the upper class pedigree and connections that goes with being born into the ruling class.

      A perfect candidate to shoulder the mess he stoked along with boris. BJ will now be working out how he can spin away from his mess to take the PM role after the next PM gets shafted for cleaning up after him.

      With friends like that……

    • Rocco Siffredi 10.2
      1 July 2016 at 1:33 pm

      “Grove is Education minister ”

      He is Secretary of State for Justice.

      ” If he’s PM that’ll have to stop and if someone else is get elected Grove will be demoted for having the gall to run”

      Imagine having the gall to run for election in a democratic process. Its bloody outrageous.

  11. esoteric pineapples 11
    1 July 2016 at 9:06 am

    Opps! Corbyn tells the truth again – what was he thinking!

    • Pasupial 11.1
      1 July 2016 at 10:19 am

      “Our Jewish friends are no more responsible for the actions of Israel or the Netanyahu government than our Muslim friends are for those of various self-styled Islamic states or organisations.”…

      “The point is that you shouldn’t say to someone that just because they’re Jewish you must have an opinion on Israel, any more that you say to anyone who’s a Muslim you must have an opinion on the vile actions being taken by people misquoting the good name of Islam in what they do,”

      Pro-Israel and Anti-semitic are not antonyms.

      • save nz 11.1.1
        1 July 2016 at 10:50 am

        Apparently war monger and chief stirrer, Hillary Benn, is very pro Israel.

        Apparently if you don’t agree with Israel bombing UN schools and hospitals you are anti-semitic.

        • Colonial Viper 11.1.1.1
          1 July 2016 at 12:28 pm

          Except if you are a Jew who understands the message of compassion of the Torah, it’s commandments not to murder, steal or covet the home of another, and are therefore against the Israeli Government bombing of UN schools and hospitals.

          In that case you are not “anti-semitic” but merely “self hating” or “mentally unwell.”

  12. Sutton's li'l helper 12
    1 July 2016 at 9:28 am

    All the Labour Party had to do was keep its head down and let the conservatives implode, then sleep walk to government. That they are also tearing themselves apart would suggest they are so infested with right wing ideals now they would rather lose than see corbyn enact socialist policy.

    Seeing Cameron implore corbyn to quit in the house should strengthen his resolve to stay. Why would you do what your opponents want?

  13. infused 13
    1 July 2016 at 9:42 am

    Pretty easy to see some days ago when he went quiet. He doesn’t have support in the party, can’t stand or it will turn in to Labour.

    • Olwyn 13.1
      1 July 2016 at 10:04 am

      Perhaps more importantly, the PLP is at odds with the people it claims to represent. According to Dina Abbott, Colleagues have contrived a “vote of no confidence” that has absolutely no basis in the rule book. There was no notice. It was tabled on Monday and the vote held the following day. No institution would run an important ballot in this way. And it was a secret ballot…All this was necessary because some Labour MPs expressly did not want any time to consult with ordinary party members. On the contrary they were terrified that their members might actually find out how they voted. Hence the haste and the secrecy. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jun/29/labour-mps-vs-corbyn-war-party-members-tories-brexit

      This raises much deeper questions than the question as to whether or not Corbyn is liked by his colleagues. Why would the claimed representatives of a group of people seek to dupe them about how they voted? isn’t that how dodgy finance companies operate? Would you want to be represented by a lawyer who treated you like that?

      • Anne 13.1.1
        1 July 2016 at 11:19 am

        I’m sure I read somewhere in the past 24 hrs that Angela Eagle’s local electorate committee (or whatever name they go by in the UK) have threatened to “deselect her” if she goes ahead with her leadership challenge. I note she has delayed her announcement “24 hours or more” so maybe she is about to do a u-turn?

        Can’t rule anything in or out at the moment.

        • Colonial Viper 13.1.1.1
          1 July 2016 at 12:32 pm

          Massive direct membership pressure on these back stabbing careerists is going to be required.

        • Olwyn 13.1.1.2
          1 July 2016 at 12:56 pm

          Isn’t it nuts! They can’t afford to say how they voted out of fear of deselection and can’t afford to stand. And after all this, assuming they get someone to do it, that sleek, shiny person will begin by bleating, “I promise to bring our fractured party together…” after having likely voted for austerity etc. If it is someone with vaguely working class roots the Guardian will run a line about them growing up in a council house, if not, about how they were already an activist at 11. It’s too late for such bullshit – you can no longer get away with claiming to side with the dispossessed while voting against them – they are too dispossessed and it has gone on for too long. Some of these people want to represent a coterie, not a constituency.

          • Anne 13.1.1.2.1
            1 July 2016 at 3:21 pm

            As far as I can ascertain they’ve ALL lost the plot – Conservs and Labour alike. About the only one who has maintained a cool, calm exterior (apart from Cameron and I give him credit for it) is Jeremy Corbyn and he is supposed to be the bad man in the piece.

            I keep thinking of Shakespeare. He would have had a ball turning this farce into a master comedy.

            • RedLogix 13.1.1.2.1.1
              1 July 2016 at 5:10 pm

              @Anne … yes Shakespeare. Perfect!

              King Lear, Macbeth … or Comedy of Errors? mmm

              • Anne …
                1 July 2016 at 5:22 pm

                I can’t help thinking these UK political shenanigans make the NZ Labour Party problems of recent years look like a Sunday School picnic.

        • Bill Drees 13.1.1.3
          1 July 2016 at 3:12 pm

          Can we try that in Wellington Central?

  14. Armada 14
    1 July 2016 at 10:00 am

    England. Call it England. Brexit is an English thing. The failed parliament of Westminster is an English failure.

    The UK is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
    Great Britain is the 1707 union of Scotland and England (into which Wales was formally integrated in 1542 having been conquered in 1282).

    Scotland will remain in the EU and exit the union with England. This will happen over the new few years as England exits the EU.

    Norther Ireland unionists will dump their First Minister for being a Brexiter and going against the will of the majority. The Norther Ireland Assembly will act to ensure no border is created between the north and the south. it is possible they will create a border between the north and England! An All Irealand or possibly a Scotland and Ireland euro zone could be formed.

    One way or another the people of Scotland and Ireland will put as much distance between themselves and the crazy self cenrered clique that is the English esanlishment.

    • dukeofurl 14.1
      1 July 2016 at 12:18 pm

      Scotland as the last referendum voted to remain part of UK so wont be getting a new referendum soon and cant act unilaterally.
      No mechanism to ‘remain in EU’ they leave with UK and if further down track become independent will have to apply to EU – and maybe face veto from Spain. Then there is euro , all new members have to adopt this currency , so Scotland will lose pound as well.

      • Colonial Viper 14.1.1
        1 July 2016 at 12:21 pm

        Scotland as the last referendum voted to remain part of UK so wont be getting a new referendum soon and cant act unilaterally.

        Scotland can veto any UK exit out of the EU.

        • dukeofurl 14.1.1.1
          1 July 2016 at 2:11 pm

          No it cant veto. Thats just a headline comment. There is no explicit veto. Just some have taken a clause in Scotland Act 1998 which requires all laws passed in Holyrood to be compatible with EU laws. It will be ignored as they have no power to overule Westminster anyway.

          Dont forget the 1998 Act gives the Secretary of State for Scotland power to direct the Scottish government in certain matters. So its the boot on the English foot ( as all ways) rather than other way round.

          Scotland applying for EU membership on its own would find its bargaining limited.
          Out would go the pound and in comes the euro and its austerity budget levels. Scotland wouldnt be allowed to stay out of the Schengen area. It might find paying EU contributions a burden rather than something that is left to Westminster while they gather EU subsidies.

        • Bill 14.1.1.2
          1 July 2016 at 4:39 pm

          Scotland can’t veto an exit CV.

          I’ve been reading some stuff about Scotland being essentially put in a ‘holding pen’ with regards the EU. The idea is that their status would be put on hold (kind of), while an independence referendum is held, and then Scotland, potentially, accepted into the EU without having to exit and re-apply.

          All to do with timing potential disentanglement from the UK in a way that didn’t muddy the waters in regards to a Scottish/EU relationship.

          Thing is, that fucking Euro. I don’t think Scotland would be given an option of using any other currency. And that would make Europe seem like a very poor option

          Rock and hard place and all of that….

          • dukeofurl 14.1.1.2.1
            1 July 2016 at 4:49 pm

            Spain is talking a veto on any sort of ‘holding pen’ for Scotland, lest it encourage its own independence seekers in Catalonia.
            I used to think Scotland was misguided getting UK independence but the Brexit vote for them was a stark contrast to rest of England and Wales.

          • Armada 14.1.1.2.2
            1 July 2016 at 6:09 pm

            The Euro has had successes as well as its problems. The ease of doing trade in a single currency zone is of immence value. The Euro is not going away. It has better prospects than Sterling.

            The SNP failed to have a clear story on currency for the last referendum. That was a significant issue in the vote. The Euro within the EU package would be saleable to the people of Scotland.

      • Armada 14.1.2
        1 July 2016 at 1:07 pm

        Alex Massie writes on the very deep change that the Brexit vote can crough about with Scottish Unionists.
        The Euro is an acceptable alternative to incompetent London rule. The Pound is not exactly all the rage at present.

        http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2016/06/brexit-beginning-end-britain/

        • dukeofurl 14.1.2.1
          1 July 2016 at 2:12 pm

          Eurozone requires very strict levels of budget deficit, so is the origin of the ridiculous austerity measures- just what Scotland needs to knock the stars from their eyes.

          • Armada 14.1.2.1.1
            1 July 2016 at 6:13 pm

            Dufeofurl, do you search out negativity or does it feel attracted to you?

    • bearded git 14.2
      1 July 2016 at 2:32 pm

      Ok then Eexit it is

  15. save nz 15
    1 July 2016 at 10:01 am

    The Blairites gift to the Conservatives. They need to get a room!

    Labour has rediscovered its soul under Jeremy Corbyn. If he goes, so do I
    Dan Iles

    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jun/30/jeremy-corbyn-labour-party-rebel-mps

  16. save nz 16
    1 July 2016 at 10:11 am

    Lets face it, the best person to negotiate for Britain with the EU and keep Scotland and Northern Irelend while keeping the people of Britain happy is Corbyn.

    • Peroxide Blonde 16.1
      1 July 2016 at 11:44 am

      Why would Cobyn do that?

      Corbyn’s Labour is an England Wales entity.

      Labour does not organise in Northern Ireland.
      Labour is history in Scotland. They are not even the opposition in Holyrood and they are going to have the last rites read to them beore the May ’17 local elections.

      4 Million English voters votes for UKIP; they are not all racists; they are people to whom Corbyn should be offering genuine listening and leadership.

      Cotbyn has a constitution opportunity

      1. Proportional representation: the failure of 4 million UKIP voters to get seats is one of the reasons for the Brexit mess.
      2. Abolition of the house of Lords and do not replace it. 1,000 un-elected parasites with seats in parliament and 4 million voters can’t get an MP elected!!!
      3. An English Assembly: Northern Ireland , Scotland and Wales has one each; why not England? This last point might be too late as Scotland and Northen Irland could be out soon. An alternative suggestion would be 5 or 6 regional assemblies for England.

    • Peroxide Blonde 16.2
      1 July 2016 at 11:44 am

      Why would Cobyn do that?

      Corbyn’s Labour is an England Wales entity.

      Labour does not organise in Northern Ireland.
      Labour is history in Scotland. They are not even the opposition in Holyrood and they are going to have the last rites read to them beore the May ’17 local elections.

      4 Million English voters votes for UKIP; they are not all racists; they are people to whom Corbyn should be offering genuine listening and leadership.

      Cotbyn has a constitution opportunity

      1. Proportional representation: the failure of 4 million UKIP voters to get seats is one of the reasons for the Brexit mess.
      2. Abolition of the house of Lords and do not replace it. 1,000 un-elected parasites with seats in parliament and 4 million voters can’t get an MP elected!!!
      3. An English Assembly: Northern Ireland , Scotland and Wales has one each; why not England? This last point might be too late as Scotland and Northen Irland could be out soon. An alternative suggestion would be 5 or 6 regional assemblies for England.

    • James 16.3
      1 July 2016 at 12:43 pm

      *Keep Britian happy – By that do you mean he will follow the wishes of the people and manage the exit from the EU?

      Or do you think he will try and pull the plug on the exit against the wishes of the majority?

      If the later – how will that keep the people happy?

  17. Enough is Enough 17
    1 July 2016 at 11:04 am

    They say that a week is a long time in politics. This past week in the UK has just been sensational.

    Fascinating to watch from the other side of the world.

    Noone could have really written the script of what has gone on since this time last week.

    As you say… where will it all end?

  18. Dave 18
    1 July 2016 at 11:22 am

    Snp looks rock solid these Tories caused this mess now they don’t want any part of fixing it cowards
    I can see the only way forward is fresh elections

    • dukeofurl 18.1
      1 July 2016 at 12:12 pm

      Fresh elections require 2/3 vote of commons MPs under 5 year election term laws.

  19. Halfcrown 19
    1 July 2016 at 12:23 pm

    Looks like the Tory’s may end up with another Thatcher.

    Heaven helps us, no doubt the first thing she will do is look for another Falklands war.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=11666982

    • The Lone Haranguer 19.1
      1 July 2016 at 2:35 pm

      Why, she doesnt need another Falklands war. It looks like shes already got a big fight with Europe – and possibly with Scotland and with Ireland on the other fronts.

  20. taxicab 20
    1 July 2016 at 1:55 pm

    I see the real driver of the Gove Johnson attempted coup of the Tory party has come to light .None other than Lynton Crosby no doubt assisted by his fellow Australian scumbag Murdoch . Thanks for the gong Dave oops I seem to have left my knife in your back !

  21. BlueSky 21
    1 July 2016 at 2:10 pm

    An early general election seems like the most likely outcome. Hardly any credible politicians want to leave EU. Few of the labour MPs want to support Corbyn. Time for a clean out. It is hard to see how the current lot can govern without another election which would effectively function as a second referendum. I’m a little surprised it has not been floated yet by the pundits. Are people afraid that a selection of fascists will gain power?
    The other reasonable outcome is some form of proportional representation and change in power structures as mentioned above
    We’d certainly see what remains of democracy functioning at full noise.

    • dukeofurl 21.1
      1 July 2016 at 2:30 pm

      Proportional representation lost massively in a previous referendum- so its not a likely outcome in the next 5 years or so.

      • Draco T Bastard 21.1.1
        1 July 2016 at 8:49 pm

        IIRC, That didn’t surprise me at the time as the system of proportionality that was mooted was fairly atrocious.

  22. Observer Toke 22
    1 July 2016 at 3:15 pm

    .Labouring Along

    . The whimpish Boris who rolled over like a dead fly lying on its back, gave the game away because it looks like hard work.

    . I must hand it to Jamie Oliver, who having weighed Boris like a pound of Pork in a sausage kitchen, found him to be in fact a can of worms. So Oliver ended his Twitter the morning after the Leave victory saying: “BUGGER OFF BORIS”.

    Boris has obliged.

    What is the collective noun for a large bunch of Traitors? Do you know. All I know is that 172 pompous members of the parliamentary labour Party have traduced what they each call a “very decent man” , namely the leader of the Party, Jeremy Corbyn.

    This has been planned for 9 months by the 172 . A long period of time, as required by a rather slow and voter-disconnected bunch of turncoats. They make Boris look like a Prince in comparison. Also, It is impossible to distinguish Labour from the Tories in the House. Same self goals, same attitudes, same policies, same smugness,

    So as they sift through their numbers looking for a better man or woman than Corbyn whilst staunchly imitating the Tories, they will be aware that coups are addictive.

    A leader drawn from this turncoat mob will likely have a very short stay at the dispatch box. As will the replacement of the next replacement down through the “long descent of wasted days”. There are no happy endings to Coups and constructive rebuilds.

    Jeremy Corbyn has common sense policies for the Common Man. As such he is a huge embarrassment. In essence, he wants that wealth and opportunity be shared in what was once Great Britain.

    I am relying on Jamie Oliver to give them a Twitter. No Lime and loads of Bitters. But I would rather they offered practical assistance to this “very decent man” and burnt to cinders their Tory clothes.

  23. Draco T Bastard 23
    1 July 2016 at 8:43 pm

    Well, apparently BoJO leaving has something to do with morale and forgetting.

  24. gnomic 24
    2 July 2016 at 1:29 am

    I am not an expert on politics in the dubiously united kingdom. But this article from the Independent sounds about right.

    http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/theresa-may-conservative-party-leader-shes-no-progressive-conservative-a7109121.html

    A sapient comment.

    crickedneck
    May is morphing in to Thatcher, her record on human rights is frightening and she said nothing during the referendum. Gove is a duplicitous liar and is run by his wife. The other 3? Stalking horses. If this line up is the best the tories can muster – God help us. They will make a complete bollox of it and the messiah will arise from the ashes in the shape of the supreme liar of all – Boris.

    As for the Labour Party in the UK, anyone else noticed how the meeja constantly refer to Mr Corbyn as ‘hard-left’? Surely some mistake here? And just why is socialist a term of abuse? Perhaps it is time to purge the Bliarist fraction. They never were much use anyway. Except to people who profit from public-private partnerships, merchant bankers, and so on. And advocates of the Trident nuclear missiles. If just pale shadows of the Tories, hardly any wonder the Tories rule.

    • Ad 24.1
      2 July 2016 at 7:15 am

      if Corbyn is relying on some enormous bloodbath of a leadership contest in which 80% of his MPs campaign against him, but the members rise for him, and he goes off and takes them with him into a new party, and finally purity and super-leftism wins and plastic unicorns shit rainbows …….

      …….all he has to do is watch the Conservatives in action..

      Lannister action may look good on a 55 inch screen, but in real life its just shit.

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