What the two by-election results mean for Brexit In a double whammy for Boris Johnson and his party, yesterday saw them lose two by-elections in different parts of the country to two separate political parties. It would have been difficult to engineer a worse result for the Tories - a loss to Labour in a red wall constituency that demonstrates how vulnerable they are to losing a score of seats won in 2019, with Corbyn and Brexit no longer (as) relevant, as well as a crushing defeat against the Lib Dems in a formerly safe seat in southwest England, informing the Conservatives that ignoring their traditional base at the expense of a red wall that’s turning against them anyhow means they are in danger of leaking seats in several different directions at the next general election.
It is funny how the Conservative Party can change leaders at the drop of a hat, the electorate is allowed to change Governments every 5 years or less, yet Brexiteers feel that the referendum result of 6 years ago is cast in stone. The country has now had longer than the term of a government to determine whether Brexit has worked or not. Surely we have right to decide whether we wish to continue outside the EU or not? I would propose that, on the 10th anniversary of the Brexit decision, we can once again decide whether to apply for membership or not. I'm not a Remainer, I'm a Rejoiner.
Michael O'Leary is right that Brexit prevents them employing EU workers easily but are there fully trained security staff in the EU available to work here? The real problem was the ending of furlough while the aviation industry was at a low ebb. Airlines and airports had no option but to make surplus staff redundant. Replacing them has proved difficult. As for the airport delays and flight cancellations, a lot of this is due to airlines making flights available for holiday companies that overstretched airport capacity. Effectively selling flights that couldn't be flown. The desire for more revenue overriding the hard logistic limits. It was avoidable if airlines hadn't been so hopelessly optimistic that "something would turn up" to make things work.
I'm a remainer and deplore the government but the airlines must take some of the blame and I don't think it's realistic to blame Brexit in this case.
Cleverly's comments about the Northern Ireland economy and public spending were hilarious. Apart from ignoring the fact of free trade with the EU flourishing there it's an admission that the Tory obsession with cutting public spending actually damages the economy. Public spending is good for the economy. F*ck business indeed.
The quote from Shapps is telling "we found the solutions are..." So that got put into practice and was found to work, the UK roads now thrum to the sound of modern HGVs designed for driver safety and comfort, those well trained and paid drivers stopping in appropriately sited service areas for a shower in their rest period? Of course not, "solution" here means "a plausible soundbite in a slanging match". Not just "fuck business" but "fuck reality" too.
So a "proposed solution". Going to need some time to implement, with some additional costs for the state and especially for businesses. But arguably worthwhile; British consumers will see the real tradeoffs between quality of life and the supply of costumer goodies and will be empowered to make wise choices, probably accepting a simpler more pastoral life in the process. That's what Shapps surely meant? It wouldn't just be more "cakeism"?
The Tories 'look the part' when it comes to business. They talk the talk but fail to walk the walk. The Tories remind me of a documentary about professional shoplifters I remember seeing on Ch4 some years ago. Featured was a young, attractive woman calling herself 'Megan'. She had dark hair tied back, wore a white blouse, a matching dark jacket and skirt with polished high heel shoes. Looking every bit the successful woman, at first glance, Megan could have been a businesswoman, lawyer or a secretary working for a large firm.
In reality, Megan was a pro shoplifter. She explained that looking the way she did made her much less suspicious to security guards - their attention would be more likely fixed on the chap wearing a leather jacket and jeans or the woman wearing a denim jacket and jogging bottoms. All the wile, Megan helps herself to small but valuable items, which she puts in her handbag and strides out of the department store doors with confidence!
This is precisely what the Tories have done and continue to do. They fool the public into thinking they're competent and capable by using the correct buzzwords. In reality, the Tories are more pro-donor than pro-business.
We live in times where the traditional dividing lines of economic thinking which defined political parties have gone from blurred to incomprehensibly perplexing in their defiance of what would usually be considered logical or rational.
But we shouldn't always look for logic where the sole motivation and rationale is the drive to stay in power, at any cost, of a Conservative political elite; who were so ideologically bankrupt they let themselves become manipulated by politically far right and seemingly any old financial interests whatsoever.
Political colours confused with right wing Etonians on the campaign trail in a red bus, the traditional colour of the Labour movement, pitted against their own unpopular government headed by their uncharismatic school friend in a blue bus of their own political shade.
Now we are expected to accept their narrative of nobody wants to talk about it any more, being tired of the subject. People are only tired of the subject because they are told they are, and perhaps reluctant to admit they have let themselves be manipulated by Johnson and his allies. Talking about it would be a good idea but the government in power don't want us to.
Yes indeed it’s f*ck business (in the context of workers, productivity and output) but it’s yeay business when it comes to profits, diverting public funds to private shareholders, speculators and asset strippers.
It is funny how the Conservative Party can change leaders at the drop of a hat, the electorate is allowed to change Governments every 5 years or less, yet Brexiteers feel that the referendum result of 6 years ago is cast in stone. The country has now had longer than the term of a government to determine whether Brexit has worked or not. Surely we have right to decide whether we wish to continue outside the EU or not? I would propose that, on the 10th anniversary of the Brexit decision, we can once again decide whether to apply for membership or not. I'm not a Remainer, I'm a Rejoiner.
Michael O'Leary is right that Brexit prevents them employing EU workers easily but are there fully trained security staff in the EU available to work here? The real problem was the ending of furlough while the aviation industry was at a low ebb. Airlines and airports had no option but to make surplus staff redundant. Replacing them has proved difficult. As for the airport delays and flight cancellations, a lot of this is due to airlines making flights available for holiday companies that overstretched airport capacity. Effectively selling flights that couldn't be flown. The desire for more revenue overriding the hard logistic limits. It was avoidable if airlines hadn't been so hopelessly optimistic that "something would turn up" to make things work.
I'm a remainer and deplore the government but the airlines must take some of the blame and I don't think it's realistic to blame Brexit in this case.
Cleverly's comments about the Northern Ireland economy and public spending were hilarious. Apart from ignoring the fact of free trade with the EU flourishing there it's an admission that the Tory obsession with cutting public spending actually damages the economy. Public spending is good for the economy. F*ck business indeed.
The quote from Shapps is telling "we found the solutions are..." So that got put into practice and was found to work, the UK roads now thrum to the sound of modern HGVs designed for driver safety and comfort, those well trained and paid drivers stopping in appropriately sited service areas for a shower in their rest period? Of course not, "solution" here means "a plausible soundbite in a slanging match". Not just "fuck business" but "fuck reality" too.
So a "proposed solution". Going to need some time to implement, with some additional costs for the state and especially for businesses. But arguably worthwhile; British consumers will see the real tradeoffs between quality of life and the supply of costumer goodies and will be empowered to make wise choices, probably accepting a simpler more pastoral life in the process. That's what Shapps surely meant? It wouldn't just be more "cakeism"?
I am in Spain right now needless to say all this drivel about all Europe being the same with staff shortages is not true
Cleverly becoming a socialist and a believer of massive spending in public sector to avoid priaising the protocol is a moment to be cherished for ever
The Tories 'look the part' when it comes to business. They talk the talk but fail to walk the walk. The Tories remind me of a documentary about professional shoplifters I remember seeing on Ch4 some years ago. Featured was a young, attractive woman calling herself 'Megan'. She had dark hair tied back, wore a white blouse, a matching dark jacket and skirt with polished high heel shoes. Looking every bit the successful woman, at first glance, Megan could have been a businesswoman, lawyer or a secretary working for a large firm.
In reality, Megan was a pro shoplifter. She explained that looking the way she did made her much less suspicious to security guards - their attention would be more likely fixed on the chap wearing a leather jacket and jeans or the woman wearing a denim jacket and jogging bottoms. All the wile, Megan helps herself to small but valuable items, which she puts in her handbag and strides out of the department store doors with confidence!
This is precisely what the Tories have done and continue to do. They fool the public into thinking they're competent and capable by using the correct buzzwords. In reality, the Tories are more pro-donor than pro-business.
Thanks for This week in Brexit Land.
We live in times where the traditional dividing lines of economic thinking which defined political parties have gone from blurred to incomprehensibly perplexing in their defiance of what would usually be considered logical or rational.
But we shouldn't always look for logic where the sole motivation and rationale is the drive to stay in power, at any cost, of a Conservative political elite; who were so ideologically bankrupt they let themselves become manipulated by politically far right and seemingly any old financial interests whatsoever.
Political colours confused with right wing Etonians on the campaign trail in a red bus, the traditional colour of the Labour movement, pitted against their own unpopular government headed by their uncharismatic school friend in a blue bus of their own political shade.
Now we are expected to accept their narrative of nobody wants to talk about it any more, being tired of the subject. People are only tired of the subject because they are told they are, and perhaps reluctant to admit they have let themselves be manipulated by Johnson and his allies. Talking about it would be a good idea but the government in power don't want us to.
Yes indeed it’s f*ck business (in the context of workers, productivity and output) but it’s yeay business when it comes to profits, diverting public funds to private shareholders, speculators and asset strippers.