General election speculation feels different this time
Civil servants, advisers, MPs, you name it - there is, not for the first time this year, a swirl of chat within government and beyond that the prime minister might be about to call a general election, or at least have something to say about it.
Cards on the table: I am usually not that excitable about this kind of stuff, because it is usually quickly debunked. This time, at least as I write this, it feels different.
Since yesterday , I have been seeking a straight answer to whether Rishi Sunak is about to call an election and no straight answer has come.
Calls that are normally returned haven't been. It's not a complete wall of silence, but the only question that matters isn't being directly addressed.
Mr Sunak appeared briefly in front of a camera this morning to welcome the fall in inflation, but stuck to his formulation that the general election would be in the second half of the year.
And at Prime Minister's Questions, a combination of the return to Parliament of Tory MP Craig Mackinlay and a discussion about the infected blood scandal gave the exchanges a far more consensual feel than usual.
It took Stephen Flynn, the SNP's Westminster leader, to address it head on.
Downing Street know the swirl of chat that is, well, swirling.
And Rishi Sunak's answer will do nothing to ease that swirl, even though he merely said again what he has been saying repeatedly for the last six months.
For around half an hour, the prime minister's team have taken questions from reporters, as is standard on a Wednesday after PMQs.
While sticking to their long standing formulation about an election in the second half of the year, they again did nothing to knock down all the speculation.
I am told senior civil servants who spend their days in regular conversations with Downing Street and the heart of government are encountering a wall of silence from those they normally deal with.
A senior Conservative figure who is standing down at the election just hugged one of my colleagues goodbye.
In other words, all the building blocks of choreography and behaviour you would expect on the day a general election is called are taking shape.
It is worth saying that each and every one of them has an individually plausible alternative explanation.
But the sum total of all of them becomes very difficult to explain away if an election isn't either imminent or the prime minister isn't about to say something about when it will happen.
The thing with Westminster is to check out a rumour you have to spread it, so a rumour becomes endemic in the tilt of a ear, the blink of an eye.
Home Office ministers diaries have been cleared according to the BBC.
And Andrew Bowie, minister in Dept of Energy and Net Zero has cancelled an interview with BBC Wales this evening.
Re: Stop voting for fucking Tories
Posted: Wed May 22, 2024 2:44 pm
by Insane_Homer
He'll probably declare no election soon because he deserves to have 4 years from when he became PM to continue his 'plan' (lots more stealing to be done)
Re: Stop voting for fucking Tories
Posted: Wed May 22, 2024 2:48 pm
by SaintK
This was ballsy to say the least. Good on him
Craig Mackinlay, the Conservative MP who had his hands and feet amputated last year due to sepsis, has returned to the Commons chamber for the first time since his illness, receiving a standing ovation from fellow MPs as well as tributes from Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer.
Mackinlay, the MP for South Thanet, who has said he will stand again for his seat, arrived just before prime minister’s questions. Science and technology questions, which were taking place, paused while MPs stood to applaud him.
When the floods come, we should all take to the (abandoned) boats on Folkstone beach to save ourselves.
Re: Stop voting for fucking Tories
Posted: Wed May 22, 2024 3:36 pm
by Slick
SaintK wrote: Wed May 22, 2024 3:21 pm
Vennells may not get all the headlines tomorrow after all.....................shame!
There is a God
Re: Stop voting for fucking Tories
Posted: Wed May 22, 2024 3:41 pm
by Biffer
Re: Stop voting for fucking Tories
Posted: Wed May 22, 2024 3:52 pm
by sockwithaticket
Mildly surprised they've gone early rather than cling on 'til the bitter end. Bet every Tory connected company leeching off the public teet is calling emergency C-suite meetings as I type.
Re: Stop voting for fucking Tories
Posted: Wed May 22, 2024 3:55 pm
by SaintK
The Tory in-house magazine has probably called it right
Re: Stop voting for fucking Tories
Posted: Wed May 22, 2024 4:02 pm
by Biffer
sockwithaticket wrote: Wed May 22, 2024 3:52 pm
Mildly surprised they've gone early rather than cling on 'til the bitter end. Bet every Tory connected company leeching off the public teet is calling emergency C-suite meetings as I type.
Rishi got his green card in the post this morning.
Re: Stop voting for fucking Tories
Posted: Wed May 22, 2024 4:17 pm
by sturginho
Chapeau to whoever is playing D-REAM!
Re: Stop voting for fucking Tories
Posted: Wed May 22, 2024 4:19 pm
by fishfoodie
The Universe pissing on Sunak is most pleasing
Re: Stop voting for fucking Tories
Posted: Wed May 22, 2024 4:19 pm
by SaintK
I'm listening on the radio, WTF is that music in the background to his speech.
He really sounds fucking useless at this
Edit: Ahh Things Can Only Get Better
Re: Stop voting for fucking Tories
Posted: Wed May 22, 2024 4:19 pm
by Biffer
sturginho wrote: Wed May 22, 2024 4:17 pm
Chapeau to whoever is playing D-REAM!
Nah, it's prick behaviour. Free speech relies on allowing others theirs as well. Don't drown them out, destroy their arguments and how fucking incompetent and corrupt they are.
Re: Stop voting for fucking Tories
Posted: Wed May 22, 2024 4:20 pm
by Slick
sturginho wrote: Wed May 22, 2024 4:17 pm
Chapeau to whoever is playing D-REAM!
I'm finding it really annoying to be honest, the police should be able to tell them to shut the fuck up for a few minutes.
sturginho wrote: Wed May 22, 2024 4:17 pm
Chapeau to whoever is playing D-REAM!
I'm finding it really annoying to be honest, the police should be able to tell them to shut the fuck up for a few minutes.
Agree. But quite amusing, though it took me a while to realise what it was!
Re: Stop voting for fucking Tories
Posted: Wed May 22, 2024 4:35 pm
by SaintK
fishfoodie wrote: Wed May 22, 2024 4:19 pm
The Universe pissing on Sunak is most pleasing
The £2K suit not looking too good!
Re: Stop voting for fucking Tories
Posted: Wed May 22, 2024 4:43 pm
by sturginho
Re: Stop voting for fucking Tories
Posted: Wed May 22, 2024 4:49 pm
by PCPhil
In case you missed Rishi's announcement I have a short clip here
Re: Stop voting for fucking Tories
Posted: Wed May 22, 2024 4:49 pm
by Raggs
SaintK wrote: Wed May 22, 2024 2:48 pm
This was ballsy to say the least. Good on him
Craig Mackinlay, the Conservative MP who had his hands and feet amputated last year due to sepsis, has returned to the Commons chamber for the first time since his illness, receiving a standing ovation from fellow MPs as well as tributes from Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer.
Mackinlay, the MP for South Thanet, who has said he will stand again for his seat, arrived just before prime minister’s questions. Science and technology questions, which were taking place, paused while MPs stood to applaud him.
SaintK wrote: Wed May 22, 2024 2:48 pm
This was ballsy to say the least. Good on him
Craig Mackinlay, the Conservative MP who had his hands and feet amputated last year due to sepsis, has returned to the Commons chamber for the first time since his illness, receiving a standing ovation from fellow MPs as well as tributes from Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer.
Mackinlay, the MP for South Thanet, who has said he will stand again for his seat, arrived just before prime minister’s questions. Science and technology questions, which were taking place, paused while MPs stood to applaud him.
Is it just me that thinks that standing up and clapping is a little insensitive to a guy who's had his hands and feet removed?
Snigger!
Re: Stop voting for fucking Tories
Posted: Wed May 22, 2024 4:58 pm
by Insane_Homer
So what sort of a terrorist attack will befall us between now and 4 July? All this security rhetoric does not sit well, and I really wouldn't put it past these cunts. Probably be one of those 'known to police, lack of resource, got lost in the system but definitely arrived via a dingy' types.
Re: Stop voting for fucking Tories
Posted: Wed May 22, 2024 5:03 pm
by SaintK
PCPhil wrote: Wed May 22, 2024 4:49 pm
In case you missed Rishi's announcement I have a short clip here
Where's my tailor!!
Re: Stop voting for fucking Tories
Posted: Wed May 22, 2024 5:16 pm
by C69
Shall we use this as the official UK General Election Thread ?
Or start a new one?
Re: Stop voting for fucking Tories
Posted: Wed May 22, 2024 5:26 pm
by Dinsdale Piranha
C69 wrote: Wed May 22, 2024 5:16 pm
Shall we use this as the official UK General Election Thread ?
Or start a new one?
C69 wrote: Wed May 22, 2024 5:16 pm
Shall we use this as the official UK General Election Thread ?
Or start a new one?
Start a new one.
Then on July 5th, when the hangovers clear, & we resolve to never, ever again eat any more popcorn, we can open a, "Stop voting for the fucking ....." thread
Re: Stop voting for fucking Tories
Posted: Wed May 22, 2024 8:56 pm
by Sandstorm
Followed by: “ Who the fuck voted for those cnuts??”
Re: Stop voting for fucking Tories
Posted: Wed May 22, 2024 9:35 pm
by fishfoodie
Sandstorm wrote: Wed May 22, 2024 8:56 pm
Followed by: “ Who the fuck voted for those cnuts??”
That might take awhile, as I'd like to think the Electorate now realizes how FUBAR things are, & how much work any incoming Government will have to do to even take stock, & work out what to do first.
I think, if, Labour win with a decent majority, the first thing Starmer needs to do after thanking the voters, is to temper expectations, & remind everyone how screwed the finances are, & just be clear that on the doorsteps voters said that these were their priorities, & they were a, b & c, & say that these are Labours priorities, but he isn't going to promise miracles, just that they will work very hard to deliver on the voters priorities.
Re: Stop voting for fucking Tories
Posted: Thu May 23, 2024 7:00 am
by Paddington Bear
Insane_Homer wrote: Wed May 22, 2024 4:58 pm
So what sort of a terrorist attack will befall us between now and 4 July? All this security rhetoric does not sit well, and I really wouldn't put it past these cunts. Probably be one of those 'known to police, lack of resource, got lost in the system but definitely arrived via a dingy' types.
