[sherlock]

Absolutely.

[wasbeen]

smirking tick during the resignation speech (?)

[petejh]

Jesus fucking Christ this is not normal.

It’s the new normal…

Yep, they are making it normal. Last night seemed next level, but its easy to forget it was only 3 months ago that basically the entire government resigned en masse to force out Johnson. That in itself was not normal - ps Chris Pincher, the guy who admitted groping, the reason that precipitated all that, is still an MP, wandering around the commons and taking a wage! Also not normal. Another ps - Johnson is currently on holiday in the Carribean, taking his MP's wage and PM severance pay, despite parliament sitting. Imagine taking an unauthorised holiday from work like that? Is that normal?

If they wanted to carry on with the business of government after they themselves forced out the last PM, then that was the time to install the deputy PM as PM (or what are they for?) with the express intent to carry on with the 2019 manifesto, or call a new general election. Instead they pressed pause on the machinery of government while there was an energy crisis and war in Europe so they could have a faux general election campaign, televised on shows with names like "Your Next Prime Minister", which to a rounding error basically no-one watching could vote in. Its one party state stuff. Truss explicitly campaigned against the government she was part of, complete with manifesto breaking promises e.g. fracking. Sunak campaigned for the government he was part of which also included lots of manifesto breaking promises e.g. tax rises, and somehow elided the fact that he had also broken the law in office and would rather live in America thank-you-very-much. Neither of them mentioned going to the country with their brand new plans.

Then you get the mini-budget / not a budget / biggest budget ever which exploded norms on fiscal policy. Now we are effectively led by a person who went for the leadership and actually came last on MP's votes. Who does he represent? There hasn't been anything vaguely normal for ages.

I expect our new masters "the market" are feeling reassured right now at least 

All accurate except the last sentence. There's nothing new about markets being the ultimate political masters. See the US response to Suez in 1956 for e.g.

[Will Hunt]

The next week is going to be an absolute bloodbath. I can't wait 

[Oldmanmatt]

Shit! I drove to and spent an hour in the gym. Get home and Britain’s leaderless again! FFS

[TobyD]

The next week is going to be an absolute bloodbath. I can't wait 

Other than the distinct feeling that if Johnson runs,  he'll win, and its another 2 years at least  of chaos, incompetence and lying. 

[dunnyg]

Is there any candidate who won't provide that?

[mrjonathanr]

Well. You can keep tabs on it here .
At the time of writing the three candidates’ nominations are:
Mordaunt 16
Sunak. 35
Johnson  48.

[Wellsy]

You're fucking joking

48 want him back already?!?

[mrjonathanr]

Er no, look at the link above. 49 now.

[Fultonius]

Well. You can keep tabs on it here .
At the time of writing the three candidates’ nominations are:
Mordaunt 16
Sunak. 35
Johnson  48.

Fuck, if that's the case can in just tap out now?

[spidermonkey09]

What dunnyg said. Its a very transparent tactic by Johnson supporters to get out early and put his name in the headlines to build an impression of momentum. I still get the impression he would be short of 100 nominations but obviously I know nothing. It would also risk defections to Labour. I think it will be Sunak.

[Bradders]

Well. You can keep tabs on it here .
At the time of writing the three candidates’ nominations are:
Mordaunt 16
Sunak. 35
Johnson  48.

What dunnyg said. Its a very transparent tactic by Johnson supporters to get out early and put his name in the headlines to build an impression of momentum. I still get the impression he would be short of 100 nominations but obviously I know nothing. It would also risk defections to Labour. I think it will be Sunak.

Yeah, I'm not sure what that Guido Fawkes thing is based on but it includes "a whip" 10 times for Boris Johnson, along with Shaun Bailey, who is not, and never has been, an MP....

[mrjonathanr]

I think he might get his hundred votes. If that happens and it goes to the membership, he’ll be back. If it doesn’t, it’s Sunak. There were reasons why he had to leave office and they haven’t gone away. Chris Bryant and the committee investigation into misleading parliament have yet to give their judgment. I expect more than mere chaos if he returns.

[galpinos]

Yeah, I'm not sure what that Guido Fawkes thing is based on but it includes "a whip" 10 times for Boris Johnson, along with Shaun Bailey, who is not, and never has been, an MP....

Agree with the fact Guido is pushing the Boris agenda by padding the list to give the impression he's more popular than he is to get him in the press but bizarrely, there are two Shaun Bailey's in the Tory politico-sphere:

https://www.shaunbailey.org.uk/

I made the same mistake......

[Bradders]

Huh, learn something new every day!

[edshakey]

There were reasons why he had to leave office and they haven’t gone away.

Because they were literally a matter of weeks ago! Incredible to think some will try to claim we can move on from all of that already

I expect more than mere chaos if he returns.

Agreed. This has got to be the tipping point. Not that any other Tory PM would be much better, but returning to Johnson crosses a line for sure.

[TobyD]

Notably, Johnson backers either have very marginal seats, or they are no hopers in search of cabinet glory. Naked self interest. Since 2016, the best bet is that things can always get worse, he'll probably win, although Sunak should.

[teestub]

Notably, Johnson backers either have very marginal seats, or they are no hopers in search of cabinet glory. Naked self interest. Since 2016, the best bet is that things can always get worse, he'll probably win, although Sunak should.

JRM have just piped up in favour of Big Dog, I’m hoping his seat is now marginal!

[andy popp]

As seen on Twitter yesterday: "Boris Johnson: The Wilderness Weeks."

[spidermonkey09]

https://www.ft.com/content/60fdceb7-bed0-4947-a436-ccc62cab498b

FT comes out for a GE. All the right wing tabloids predictably rowing in behind Johnson. The Times continues its descent into comic book territory by  saying Truss was right to resign in its leader after several weeks of dissembling and obfuscation. It really is a disgraceful rag currently, and with new editor Gallagher (formerly of the Sun) this will only get worse. Paper of record?

[galpinos]

Yeah, I'm not sure what that Guido Fawkes thing is based on but it includes "a whip" 10 times for Boris Johnson, along with Shaun Bailey, who is not, and never has been, an MP....

As expected, Guido is inflating numbers:

https://twitter.com/CWhittaker_MP/status/1583392419554693120?s=20&t=kn5OVbnfh5wNa7hZQD5LTw

[BrutusTheBear]

Don't be relying on Guido Fawkes for accurate/truthful/impartial information.  Well known for spouting  .

[Offwidth]

Some interesting background on some economists supporting Truss's plans and the warnings they gave which were ignored...all just before she became PM.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/oct/21/liz-truss-ignored-economists-stark-warnings-over-mini-budget

[BrutusTheBear]

Some positive news amongst the torrent of myopic/amnesiac Conservative leadership coverage.  Seeing Rishi Sunak described as competent and kind is triggering me
Anyhow here's the good news, the airline that was contracted to fly people to Rwanda has bailed after a fantastic targeted email/information campaign they want nothing more to do with the deportations.