Rayvin

It's absolutely about keeping ERG on side - also worth noting though that Braverman is a favourite amongst the Daily Mail brigade. She'll keep the dyed in the wool Kippers happier.

It's this sort of cutting political analysis that makes your contributions on here so vital to the debate

Case in point

I appreciate this post. Not sure I would claim to be depressed per se but I have a very dim outlook at present. That said, I don't feel like I'm going out of my way to look at things negatively, I'm just trying to make sense of what I can see as best I can. And yes, there's speculation on my side here too in fairness - I speculate that the Tories will derive some success from narratives, given that they have some capability to set and impose such things around their policy directions in a way that Labour seem utterly incapable of emulating. That's my 'negative assumption', I suppose. Agree on Starmer, Labour and everything else. Also, I'm really not in a state of handbags with you atm for all it might appear that way, I'm just tired and resigned to this shit. Sorry for my rudeness earlier (have to throw this in, it's a crowd pleaser).

Suppose it's also fitting that Truss' podium looks like a jenga tower in a state of imminent collapse. Foreshadowing.

My exact words were "So far, the Tories seem to be rallying around". Not "Behold mortals, here is the undeniable proof that all I have feared and foreseen is about to come to pass, I hang it all on the word of Boris Johnson." I will remain open minded throughout this and base my views on the information I have available. At such a point where is becomes clear to me that Labour remain on course for victory with complete certainty, I will acknowledge this. Until that happens (and frankly, it is far too early to tell in my opinion), I'm just going to look at what we can see, not what I want to see. The latter approach has been the primary source of my disappointment in politics for some years. I do not see what benefit assuming victory brings to our side of the argument whatsoever other than perhaps some people find it easier to sleep at night. It's not in my nature to afford myself that luxury though, I will continue looking at what I can see rather than what I'm being told to see. And to clarify that - Labour look very likely to win the next general election. We will have two years of austerity to get through before that happens, as well as full Tory command of all developing narratives around it. Sunak will claim that his record shows he takes tough but compassionate decisions to help the people of his country. These narratives might fail because we're all poorer and people will feel that - I will watch how things go and form an opinion based on evidence rather than speculation. If that isn't looking at things objectively then I'm really not sure what objective means anymore.

I agree that people like him do at least try. Smart guy, lot of respect for him - even if he is a Lexiter.

I'm fine Well I'm not, the country depresses me. But as far as Renton and I go, I'm totally fine. But then I'm not the one kicking off over a very benign statement of fact. I just can't be fucked to argue anymore so I'm afraid bored and weary resignation is all I'm going to be offering on that front for a bit.

Feel free to stick me on ignore if you need to.

So far, it looks like the Tories are rallying around.

Would be somewhat admirable actually although would never happen because the gammons would literally eat him alive.

They are definitely trying to match us stride for stride here. Can only assume every fibre of their club is affronted at our sudden shift past them. Not that we were, IMO, ever beneath them. I can only assume Agbonlahor's influence...!

Yeah wonder if they'll ask him for repayment of all that money we stole from them around the time of their independence.

Is he trying to argue that this would be a worse state of affairs than if we just gave it to City every year instead?

"It is the greatest privilege of my life to serve the party I love - and give back to the country that has given me so much" --Sunak Serves the party first and foremost. Country is an afterthought.

If we can take points off Spurs away and hold City at home, I'm confident that we can beat a few of the traditional top 6 at our place and get a few draws elsewhere. Top 4 still probably not but I think we can qualify for Europe here. Season after should be set up for CL at expense of Manure, Spurs and dare I say it Liverpool.

Ok.

They were told they'd be poorer last time too. The Tories may not have said it, but plenty of others did. You think the Tories are going to tell them they'll be poorer this time? Look I just can't be bothered anymore - you have faith in something, good for you, I shouldn't try to rob you of that. I'll just be quiet.

People voted literally for that very thing in Brexit.

I agree with bits of this but not sure about the identity politics bit. IMO a lot of the noise around that dropped off even before Corbyn, it was something largely attributed to Labour but which isn't actually often visible. What in the Labour manifesto or recent history is particularly digging up identity politics? I think the issue has crossed the aisle again and is now back with the right - everything is woke, it's the evil that never sleeps, etc. Sunak will steady but constrict the economy, but yes that might be enough.

I just have no hope left - total obliteration via that blonde fuckwit was about all I had. Wonder what will be left in 2 years. But yes, let's see what happens.

The polls have him taking 11 points out of that just by taking control.

All the Tories will rally around Sunak because it's what they do time and time again. I mean what are you really saying here, that you think the government will collapse in the next two years? I don't think you are but if it doesn't then yes, they've rallied around him.

People failed to vote with their pockets through austerity 1.0. Do you not remember the Cameron years and how we got here, I sometimes wonder if it's become obscured by the chaos of Brexit. Like I said, I genuinely hope you're right and we see a comfortable, easy Labour majority. If I was the Labour strategist though, I'd now be reaching across to the Lib Dems and SNP to lay the groundwork for that electoral pact. 2 more fucking years, and I'd dared to dream. Johnson is a disappointment in every conceivable sense.

I reckon they'll rally around him because they always do. Cost of living crisis plus austerity. Maybe we'll have all starved to death by the time of the next GE, that could be their plan.