The Boris Johnson thread.

[Mandryka]

What could have possibly happened to UK in five days that it is now completely screwed?

This

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11KApV_qaAc&ab_channel=EveningStandard

leading to this

https://news.sky.com/story/pound-slumps-live-news-mortgages-interest-rates-imf-12615118?postid=4542299


"Pension funds would have collapsed today without BoE action - with 'mass insolvencies'"

"UK sees highest ever daily fall in available residential mortgage deals"

""This is by far the worst unforced economic policy error of my lifetime," Torsten Bell said. "

[Todd]

Somebody please tell me that it's not possible to completely fuck a whole G7 country up in five days.

It is, but Mr Bailey is now working around the clock to fix things.

[Mandryka]

Here's a very good case of what the French call Le flegme britannique

No10 and Treasury ministers reject any notion tonight that there's a crisis. Meetings are continuing on a range of subjects in Number 10 - but there's no big focus on the market turmoil. Ministers in cabinet rubbish the link between Friday's statement and today's turmoil. No10 see this is a communications and stakeholder error not a policy messup. So for them, it's business as usual.

https://twitter.com/SamCoatesSky

[Todd]

[vandermolen]

Yes, incredible as it might seem, our new PM might be worse (is that possible?) than the old one.

[foxandpeng]

Yes, incredible as it might seem, our new PM might be worse (is that possible?) than the old one.

Complete shower, all of them. Sadly, the opposition alternatives seem no more competent.

[Mandryka]

I wonder what Ian Rubbish and the Bizzaros think of Liz Truss

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEmIIl96zk0&ab_channel=SaturdayNightLive

[Florestan]

Yes, incredible as it might seem, our new PM might be worse (is that possible?) than the old one.

Be careful what you wish for, it might really happen. How many of you, British guys, expressed here on GMG the desire to see BoJo gone?

[Mandryka]

Yes, incredible as it might seem, our new PM might be worse (is that possible?) than the old one.

I hate to say it, but I told you so

Well IMO the problem is not Boris Johnson, it is the Tory Party and the media, and probably the first past the post system too.

Focussing attention on one man, BJ, is a distraction from the real problem, which, I think, is the influence of capitalist backers on the parties' policies, and on the attitudes of the people they govern. If you think BJ's Tory party is cruel,  just wait till he's ousted and the right of the Tory party -- Sunak or even Gove --  hold the reins. You ain't seen nothing yet, and I think we should count our blessings with Boris.


The parliamentary labour party isn't significantly better. Starmer is hardly less dishonorable than Boris. Labour or Tory, same difference as far as I can see.

[Brian]

Not sure if there is another thread for this (Liz Truss thread?), but I've been shopping the BIS sale at Europadisc and just noticed that they suddenly removed all box sets from the sale. Wondering if it's because they'd be losing money sending them abroad. For an American, the price of new BIS discs at Europa has now dropped to $9.50. Our domestic suggested retail price is $20.

[Todd]

Check out prices in Japan, too.  Best time to import to the US in years.

[The new erato]

Complete shower, all of them. Sadly, the opposition alternatives seem no more competent.

An election system with eg only two parties dermed competent (or having the organization) to rule means there are few ejection seats when they screw up.

Winner takes it all election constituencies are a bad idea.

[vandermolen]

Be careful what you wish for, it might really happen. How many of you, British guys, expressed here on GMG the desire to see BoJo gone?

Oh yes and I'm still delighted that he's gone. I was never a fan of LT (accurately described I think as 'an empty vessel'). The Conservatives made a big mistake in not appointing Rishi Sunak as Leader/PM. I am not as opposed to Keir Starmer as some are here.

[Todd]

UK to reverse cut to higher rate income tax, BBC reports

Ms Truss gets some on the job training.  Apparently, more than half of Britons think she should resign.  Is it possible she could have a term shorter than George Canning?  (I had to look up shortest serving PM using the Google machine.)

[Mandryka]

[Mandryka]

Bring Back Boris

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dGARW-dbzs&ab_channel=TheTelegraph

The end makes me think of this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8IkbCeZ9to&t=17s&ab_channel=Anthropocon

And my favourite newspaper's repsonse

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sm-RE95lKJ0&ab_channel=DailyStar

[Todd]

The Liz Truss Travesty Becomes Britain's Humiliation

Even by British traditions of political failure, this prime minister's brief tenure has been a spectacular disaster.


Didn't take The Atlantic long to get something out.

[Mandryka]

The Liz Truss Travesty Becomes Britain's Humiliation

Even by British traditions of political failure, this prime minister's brief tenure has been a spectacular disaster.


Didn't take The Atlantic long to get something out.

I think the markets are doing us a favour in this case, she was elected just by paying members of the Tory party, and they chose a dangerous extremist -- in her six weeks of government she has made every single Britain poorer.

However, I confess to being very concerned about how much power these markets have, the power to topple governments. Nobody elects the FX traders. I'm not sure what conclusions to draw.

[Todd]

However, I confess to being very concerned about how much power these markets have, the power to topple governments. Nobody elects the FX traders. I'm not sure what conclusions to draw.

All countries are ruled by economic elites.  The only thing that varies is how many crumbs they throw to the hoi polloi and how corrupt they are.  The UK fares pretty well in both areas, and the current PM may have fewer days left than a fresh head of lettuce. 

[geralmar]

The Liz Truss Travesty Becomes Britain's Humiliation

Even by British traditions of political failure, this prime minister's brief tenure has been a spectacular disaster.