Rayvin

And his rule will be one of terror and death, based on his stated aims.

I'm not really anticipating anything, certainly with respect of stability - other than, I suppose, that I don't think the whole thing collapses before a GE. That's the only position I have on it really. All I'm saying with that previous post is that he will have given her that position to try to deal with the instability. Whether it works or not, I've no real view - more concerned about austerity than anything else.

I think it's fully as simple as keeping the ERG on side. He wants stability, Braverman is an ex-chair of the ERG, having her in position gives them the illusion of some manner of control over proceedings, if not some actual and real input. It may not play well with the public but within the Tory party it looks like it makes sense to me from a unifying standpoint.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/oct/26/rishi-sunak-britain-general-election-protest Really good article by Monbiot as usual. "After 12 years of Conservative austerity and chaos, the very rich have taken almost everything. They have even captured virtue. They now appropriate the outward signs of an ethical life while continuing – despite or because of their organic cotton jackets and second homes, their electric cars and pasture-fed meat, their carbon offsets and ayahuasca retreats, philanthropy and holidays in quiet resorts whose palm-thatched cabins mimic the vernacular of the people evicted to make way for them – to grasp the lion’s share of everything... ...In other words, it’s not just a general election we need, it’s a complete rethink of who we are and where we stand. It’s not just proportional representation we need, but radical devolution to the lowest possible levels at which decisions can be made, accompanied by deliberative, participatory democracy. It’s not just new lobbying laws we require, but a comprehensive programme to get the money out of politics, ending all private political donations, breaking up the billionaire press and demanding full financial transparency for everyone in public life. We should seek not only the repeal of repressive legislation, but – as civil disobedience is the bedrock of democracy – positive rights to protest. All this now feels far away. Jeremy Corbyn offered some (though by no means all) of these reforms. Keir Starmer offers none. Though Labour MPs voted against the public order bill, his only public comment so far has been to endorse its headline policy: longer sentences for people who glue themselves to roads. But if the Labour party or its future coalition partners can persuade him to agree to just one aspect of this programme, proportional representation, we can start work on the rest, building the political alliances that could transform the life of this nation. Without PR, we’re stuck with a dysfunctional duopoly, in hock to the billionaire press and the millionaires it appoints to govern us. We cannot carry on like this."

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.