Daily Archives: September 2, 2019

The pub reacts to Boris Johnson’s post-cabinet Brexit/election speech

Boris Johnson made an impromptu speech after his emergency cabinet session today that was almost utterly pointless.

But it caught This Writer completely by surprise – I was at my local at the time, where I meet a friend for a coffee sometimes.

It’s actually a hotel rather than a pub, and I overheard a guest talking about BoJob getting the podium out as he was leaving his room to meet friends or family (I don’t know which) in the bar.

So I looked up what was going on, using my mobile (gosh, technology!) and read out what I found, as the Dictator had already finished. Then I had to read it again as I had the attention of the room.

Here’s how that went:

“Boris Johnson says when he became PM he said he would not wait before making changes. That is why he has made a series of policy announcements… It is to push forward these measures that he needs a Queen’s speech.”

“Rubbish!” from one of the audience.

“He says he has been encouraged by the progress being made towards a Brexit deal.”

“What progress?”

“He says there are three reasons why it has become more likely. The EU can see the UK wants a deal. It can see the UK has a vision for Brexit. And it can see the UK is preparing for no-deal.”

“How’s that?”

“He says MPs will chop the legs off his negotiating position if they vote tomorrow to rule out no-deal.”

“I’d like to chop his legs off.” This from a particularly dark and surly-looking fellow.

“He says there are no circumstances in which he will delay Brexit. Armed with this conviction, he believes he will get a deal at the EU summit in October.”

“But that’s on October 17,” I said, interrupting myself. “It’ll be too late to change course after that.” Gruff murmurs of agreement.

“He says negotiators should be allowed to get on with their work – without an election. I don’t want an election and you don’t want one either, he says.”

In unison: “So there’ll be an election in October, then.”

And it seems as though we’re right.

A later entry in the Graun‘s live blog states that the operative part of Dictator Johnson’s speech was:

I want everybody to know there are no circumstances in which I will ask Brussels to delay. We are leaving on 31 October – no ifs or buts. We will not accept any attempt to go back on our promises or scrub that referendum.

That’s a direct threat that he will refuse to be bound by the anti-“no deal” Bill being tabled by Hilary Benn, even if it is passed.

But his only alternative is an election.

And already the date of such a poll is in dispute!

Apparently news reporters are being told it would be on October 14, but this would deny Jewish voters the chance to take part as this would be the first day of the festival of Sukhot.

If this is his preferred date, Dictator Johnson is either really inept, or anti-Semitic. It will be interesting to see which it is.

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Dictator Johnson’s latest anti-democratic scheme – call an election and shift the date

What the country should do: But should MPs take an offer of a general election at face value when Dictator Johnson could use anti-democratic powers to shift the date?

It’s one dastardly scheme after another in Dictator Johnson’s regime.

The latest, according to certain sources, is that he’ll mitigate the effects of any legislation to stop his “no deal” Brexit by calling a snap general election – some time within the next three days (so before the end of September 5).

It seems a motion to stop “no deal” Brexit will be seen as a motion of “no confidence” in BoJob’s bodge-up of a government.

Laura Kuenssberg suggested it on the BBC’s Politics Live:

And here’s ITV’s Paul Brand:

The “prerogative proclamation power” refers to the Royal prerogative, which the prime minister exercises in the name of the Crown.

It is – once again – anti-democratic in the extreme. Despotic, dictatorial – it would be kicking the British people in the teeth.

And as far as I can tell, it seems open to dispute by MPs as the exercise of such a power has never been fully defined.

In any case, Mr Johnson would have to gain the support of two-thirds of MPs in the Commons before he had approval to call a general election, as set out in the Fixed Term Parliaments Act.

While Labour has said it would support a general election if Mr Johnson asked for one, it would not be in the nation’s interest to do so under the circumstances on offer above.

It would be better to demand a resolution to the Brexit emergency now, and leave a general election for later.

Of course, that applies only to this situation. Who knows what BoJob will be saying tomorrow?

Have YOU donated to my crowdfunding appeal, raising funds to fight false libel claims by TV celebrities who should know better? These court cases cost a lot of money so every penny will help ensure that wealth doesn’t beat justice.

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How will Brexit affect people in poverty and on benefits – and why won’t the DWP say?

Food bank: Will Boris Johnson’s Brexit increase the length of the queue? And why won’t the DWP tell us what its research has revealed?

The Department for Work and Pensions has analysed the impact of Brexit on people in poverty, on low incomes and on benefits – but won’t publish the findings. Why not?

That is the question put by the Scottish National Party over the weekend, with a deafening silence as the DWP’s only response.

According to Welfare Weekly:

The call for the full publication of the findings comes after the Poverty Alliance used a Freedom of Information request to ask whether or not the DWP had carried out any assessments to look at the impact of different Brexit scenarios on levels of poverty and inequality in the UK, as well as analysis on the impact on low-income households, on wages, employment and costs of living.

The DWP replied to confirm that it does hold some of the analysis but that it would not publish any of the findings as it was not in the public interest to do so.

The call for the full publication of the findings comes after the Poverty Alliance used a Freedom of Information request to ask whether or not the DWP had carried out any assessments to look at the impact of different Brexit scenarios on levels of poverty and inequality in the UK, as well as analysis on the impact on low-income households, on wages, employment and costs of living.

The DWP replied to confirm that it does hold some of the analysis but that it would not publish any of the findings as it was not in the public interest to do so.

Why is it “not in the public interest”?

Neil Gray, the SNP’s Social Justice spokesperson, reckons he knows why – we have a “Tory government intent on inflicting a damaging policy no matter the price ordinary people and families will have to pay.

“It’s becoming increasingly clear that a Tory Brexit will push vulnerable people across Scotland and the UK into further poverty and hardship, yet the UK government callously carries on regardless.

“People are already suffering under a decade of Tory austerity, however analysis has shown time and time again that under all Brexit scenarios, jobs will be lost, wages will be hit and people’s living standards will be harmed.”

Rather than not being in the public interest for the expected impact to be known, then, isn’t it more accurate to say that it wouldn’t be in the Tories’ interest?

We won’t know until we see the report.

So let’s have it.

Source: DWP urged to publish ‘secret’ Brexit impact analysis

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Riley troll tries scaremongering to stop you supporting CrowdJustice campaign

A desperate Twitter troll tried to claim people supporting my CrowdJustice campaign would be liable to pay any costs if I lose.

It was a desperate attempt to undermine the huge amount of public support I have received, with nearly £35,000 provided for the campaign.

As is now well-known, celebrity game-player Rachel Riley is taking This Writer to court, claiming that I libelled her over her ill-treatment of a teenage girl with mental health issues.

It seems she wanted to bully me into paying her thousands of pounds, by threatening me with a court action in which I could not possibly afford to defend myself.

So I launched a funding campaign with CrowdJustice, drawing a huge number of donations from more than 1,000 contributors.

Meanwhile, on Twitter, I have been subjected to a near-constant barrage of lies, insults and other vilification from supporters of Ms Riley – often the same people who have also falsely accused me of anti-Semitism in the past.

This one turned up after another Twitter user posted a list of fellow socialists – including Yr Obdt Srvt – calling for others to support us. He/she claimed that one of us was a Holocaust denier so I called it out as a troll:

Notice the lack of any evidence in support of the claims and the threat to report the original tweeter to the Labour Party – which has proved sadly supine in complying with the wishes of these hatemongers.

This one turned its focus on me, repeating false claims of anti-Semitism and claiming I was a misogynist – I have no idea if this anonymous person is male or female – before turning its attention to the Riley libel case.

Let us be clear about this: Nobody supporting my CrowdJustice campaign will have to pay any more than their initial donation, even in the remote possibility that I lose.

This is nothing but scaremongering, based on unproved speculation.

But now I have a question:

How do you feel about this attempt to manipulate you?

This is a person who has tried to mislead you and others like you who may otherwise want to support my CrowdJustice campaign, trying to help Ms Riley by making me unable to fund my defence.

I think that’s despicable, don’t you?

If you do, then please make your disgust count by contributing to the campaign. Libel cases are notoriously expensive and I need more funds if I’m to mount a successful defence.

You could email five of your friends, asking them to pledge to this CrowdJustice site. The address is https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/mike-sivier-libel-fight/

You could also post a link to Facebook, asking your friends to pledge.

If you’re on Twitter, you could tweet in support, quoting the address of the appeal.

If you use other social media platforms, please mention the campaign there, quoting the appeal address.

And if you can afford it, please consider pledging some cash yourself.

Money is no object to my opponents; they are trying to use their wealth to buy the result they want.

I think that is a deplorable abuse of the justice system.

I hope you do too.

Please come to the CrowdJustice page and help defeat them. It only takes a donation.

PS. Here’s some extra reassurance:

Have YOU donated to my crowdfunding appeal, raising funds to fight false libel claims by TV celebrities who should know better? These court cases cost a lot of money so every penny will help ensure that wealth doesn’t beat justice.

https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/mike-sivier-libel-fight/

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Financial Times gives Labour a huge boost with front page lead on life-changing policies

Plaudits to Skwawkbox for pointing out the fact that the Financial Times has shot itself in the foot with its lead story today (September 2).

The headline states that “Labour would cost companies £300bn” – implying that this is a scare story. But it continues “by shifting shares to staff”.

Brilliant news!

It’s saying that working people, who actually create the profits that the UK’s biggest firms make every day, will actually receive a dividend from those profits under a future Labour government.

That alone is a good reason to vote Labour at any future election.

No doubt the parasites will claim that the move will destabilise UK industry but this is clearly nonsense.

Working people have every right to profit – just as much as bosses and other shareholders – from the work they do.

The Financial Times (FT) has given the ‘above the fold’ half of its front page this morning to policies it presumably thinks will horrify its core readership – but which will be music to the ears of millions of voters hard-pressed under the Tories and their prioritisation, as Corbyn said in his Salford speech this morning, of ‘those who lend and speculate over those who actually make things‘.

The headline may blare about ‘costing UK companies £300bn’ – the FT’s estimate – but it goes on to say ‘by shifting shares to staff’. The article itself can’t help but elaborate a few of Labour’s groundbreaking policies and the way they would revolutionise the life of ‘the many’ in this country:

And it seems the FT digs itself further in by listing other great Labour policies:

The detail of the front-page coverage gives some key information on just a few of Labour’s game-changing policies:

  • Labour in government will give shares to workers in seven thousand of the UK’s biggest employers – entitling them to dividends of up to £500 per year as well as helping the national finances
  • Labour will introduce a right-to-buy for tenants of private landlords at affordable prices, helping to reduce the concentration of property in the hands of a few that has driven up rents and house prices under Conservative governments
  • Shifting power away from ‘bosses and landlords’ and to the people
  • Increasing productivity and long-term thinking by giving employees a meaningful stake

The timing is also hilariously inept for a newspaper trying to undermine Jeremy Corbyn and Labour.

This week, Parliament is in crisis as Boris Johnson’s dictatorial excuse for a government tries to overrule Parliament’s sovereignty in order to push through a “no deal” Brexit that few people want.

MPs may push back, even to the point of demanding a general election.

And on the eve of such a move, the Financial Times has given us all an excellent reason to vote Labour into power.

Tony Blair may be urging Labour to vote against an election on the grounds that Jeremy Corbyn is unpopular – but he is preaching a perspective on the Labour leader that is largely created by the Tory media.

We saw similar claims evaporate during the 2017 election campaign and fearmongers and yesterday’s men like Mr Blair would be better-off keeping their mouths shut.

The message from this newspaper is clear – if not quite as intended: If a general election is possible, bring it on! Labour will walk it.

Source: FT inadvertently gives huge front-page ad to Labour as party of hope and change | The SKWAWKBOX

Have YOU donated to my crowdfunding appeal, raising funds to fight false libel claims by TV celebrities who should know better? These court cases cost a lot of money so every penny will help ensure that wealth doesn’t beat justice.

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Tory rebels are set to call Dictator Johnson’s bluff

He THINKS he’s the law: Dominic Cummings, the Leave campaigner now seen as Boris Johnson’s top henchman, warns Tory rebels including David Gauke, Philip Hammond and – is that Theresa May or Ken Clarke? Michael Gove cheers him on while Dictator Johnson, wrapped in a Union Flag like a good ultra-nationalist fascist, watches from the background in this cartoon by Morton Morland.

Tory MPs who say they will not support Boris Johnson’s “no deal” Brexit may stand as independent Conservatives if he goes through with his threat to withdraw the whip from them – effectively expelling them from his party in Parliament.

The Dictator’s warning is already seen as an empty threat by many, as he would lose his majority in Parliament if he goes through with it.

And if BoJob’s government falls as a result, then he will not be leader and will be unable to follow through his threat to stop them standing as Tory election candidates.

So it could be crippling to him that as many as 20 Tory MPs are preparing to defy him:

The Mirror report, to which the tweet links, states that potential rebel MPs had been expecting to attend a meeting with Mr Johnson today (September 2), but this was cancelled after David Gauke appeared on a TV interview and said he was prepared to stand as an independent candidate in a future election, in the “national interest”.

BoJob said he would hold a “summit” meeting with Philip Hammond instead, but it seems unlikely that this will mollify the potential rebels.

The Dictator’s ultimatum means MPs who were cabinet ministers just six weeks ago may find themselves ejected from the party they used to lead in a matter of days – including, possibly, former prime minister Theresa May.

Also in the firing line are Philip Hammond, David Gauke and Dominic Grieve.

Some leading members of the Johnson camp have – astonishingly – claimed that nobody will be deselected at all, in what seems a transparent attempt to deflect attention away from what’s going on – particularly with reference to the apparent rebel ringleader, David Gauke:

It has been suggested that James Cleverly’s tweet may be deleted soon, so let’s just repeat its claim: “THERE IS NO DESELECTION MECHANISM IN THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY. We have had these Leave EU stories amplified by the press for months and no Conservative MP has been deselected. David Gauke is a great MP and a huge asset to our party.”

The threat from the Johnson camp has already been likened to a Stalinist purge, with some commentators pointing out that the only reason the mass media aren’t using those words is because it is happening in the Conservative Party and not Labour:

Indeed, the fact that Labour has not purged any MPs is being used against the Johnson regime:

But the most clear comparison is with Adolf Hitler – against whom Dictator Johnson has actually made himself appear the less acceptable figure:

Some have even adopted the optimistic view that this crisis could finish the Conservatives for good:

https://twitter.com/SurreyAmps/status/1168171760522604546

This Writer would not go that far. Conservatives are resilient and seem to have the survival instinct of the mythical hydra; cut off their head and two more will take its place.

And they are wily, too. Where the stick seems ineffective, Johnson and Cummings may try to apply the carrot and bribe their wayward colleagues back into line.

But the possible loss of his majority could represent a quantum leap forward in the battle against Boris Johnson’s bid to become the UK’s dictator.

Have YOU donated to my crowdfunding appeal, raising funds to fight false libel claims by TV celebrities who should know better? These court cases cost a lot of money so every penny will help ensure that wealth doesn’t beat justice.

https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/mike-sivier-libel-fight/

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