[Andy McDandy]

She's a cunt, Fargle is a cunt, Vance is a couch fucking cunt, Philp is an opportunistic cunt, and Musk is not just a cunt, but an enabler and amplifier of cunts worldwide.

Well, that's my view.

[Boiler]

Works for me....

[soulboy]

TLDR, does she ever get to the fucking point?

What is it with shit writers and unrequited love for Boris Johnson?

[zuriblue]

She's a cunt, Fargle is a cunt, Vance is a couch fucking cunt, Philp is an opportunistic cunt, and Musk is not just a cunt, but an enabler and amplifier of cunts worldwide.

Well, that's my view.

You shouldn’t sit on the fence like that.

[Andy McDandy]

TLDR, does she ever get to the fucking point?

What is it with shit writers and unrequited love for Boris Johnson?

Sixth form college paper writers.

[Watchman]

She's a cunt, Fargle is a cunt, Vance is a couch fucking cunt, Philp is an opportunistic cunt, and Musk is not just a cunt, but an enabler and amplifier of cunts worldwide.

Well, that's my view.

Our literary correspondent channels his inner Jane Austen

[Bones McCoy]

She's a cunt, Fargle is a cunt, Vance is a couch fucking cunt, Philp is an opportunistic cunt, and Musk is not just a cunt, but an enabler and amplifier of cunts worldwide.

Well, that's my view.

Our literary correspondent channels his inner Jane Austen

Reader, I shat 'em!

[Boiler]

She's a cunt, Fargle is a cunt, Vance is a couch fucking cunt, Philp is an opportunistic cunt, and Musk is not just a cunt, but an enabler and amplifier of cunts worldwide.

Well, that's my view.

Our literary correspondent channels his inner Jane Austen

Reader, I shat 'em!

Thank you, Bones McShand!!

[Malcolm Armsteen]

She's a cunt, Fargle is a cunt, Vance is a couch fucking cunt, Philp is an opportunistic cunt, and Musk is not just a cunt, but an enabler and amplifier of cunts worldwide.

Well, that's my view.

Our literary correspondent channels his inner Jane Austen

Reader, I shat 'em!

I quote William Blake:

If Andy could do this when he rose up from shite, what might he not do if he sat down to write."

[Andy McDandy]

Stone Cold Jane Austen, that's me...

[Oboogie]

A bit of feedback from Labour doorknockers in Makerfield. Apparently lots of people who were planning to vote Reform have changed their minds having seen the candidate meltdown on the Question Time special.

[Youngian]

Maybe next time stand someone who’s had experience as an MP. How about Jonathan Gullis?

[Abernathy]

We might have talked about this on other threads, but a not-totally-incredible sort- of verging -on-a mental-conspiracy-theory is this :

- Farage has ensured that Reform has put up a total duffer with a dodgy social media history as Reform's candidate in Makerfield.

- Why? because he wants to make sure that Andy Burnham wins and gets back into parliament.

- Again, why? Because he knows that Burnham will try to displace Keir Starmer as Labour leader and Prime Minister - and may well succeed in doing so.

- Farage then has a serious opportunity to demand, and campaign for, an early general election - because Burnham does not have a personal mandate. Farage fancies his chances of winning the election and moving into number ten.

Yes, it's a bit machiavellian, and probably credits frog-face with more political strategic nous than he actually has. But it's plausible - more so when you take even a cursory look at Robert Kenyon.

[Oboogie]

We might have talked about this on other threads, but a not-totally-incredible sort- of verging -on-a mental-conspiracy-theory is this :

- Farage has ensured that Reform has put up a total duffer with a dodgy social media history as Reform's candidate in Makerfield.

- Why? because he wants to make sure that Andy Burnham wins and gets back into parliament.

- Again, why? Because he knows that Burnham will try to displace Keir Starmer as Labour leader and Prime Minister - and may well succeed in doing so.

- Farage then has a serious opportunity to demand, and campaign for, an early general election - because Burnham does not have a personal mandate. Farage fancies his chances of winning the election and moving into number ten.

Yes, it's a bit machiavellian, and probably credits frog-face with more political strategic nous than he actually has. But it's plausible - more so when you take even a cursory look at Robert Kenyon.

I've heard that theory elsewhere and there is logic to it.
I think it's probable that Farage's best chance is an early election, whether he'd get one depends on what policies PM Burnham would implement.
If Burnham simply follows Starmer's manifesto, he can legitimately serve out the term, however if he were to divert from that manifesto it's true he'd have no mandate and Farage (and others) would have a good democratic case to demand an early election.
Is that Farage's game? Is Reform candidate selection Machiavellian or incompetence? Or maybe these pisspoor candidates really are the best available?
Dunno, it could be any of the above, what does the panel think?

[Andy McDandy]

Thing is, I doubt that there are many situations Downing Street/Labour senior management haven't wargamed.

Could it be possible that they're confident Burnham will win, and that he'll be promoted rapidly to the Cabinet, because he and Starmer can work well together, and that with a media friendly "man of the people" type (sadly, sex does play a part in people's perceptions here), they can start doing better in the demographics most at risk to the right?

We're constantly fed this narrative that it's all a constant fight for the PMship, and I think that lazy cynicism is just an excuse for not thinking - so ask yourselves, what if Burnham and Starmer have a plan?

[Oboogie]

Thing is, I doubt that there are many situations Downing Street/Labour senior management haven't wargamed.

Could it be possible that they're confident Burnham will win, and that he'll be promoted rapidly to the Cabinet, because he and Starmer can work well together, and that with a media friendly "man of the people" type (sadly, sex does play a part in people's perceptions here), they can start doing better in the demographics most at risk to the right?

We're constantly fed this narrative that it's all a constant fight for the PMship, and I think that lazy cynicism is just an excuse for not thinking - so ask yourselves, what if Burnham and Starmer have a plan?

I like the idea of Burnham and Starmer having a pact. Burnham gets a cabinet post and, maybe a year before the next election, there's a bloodless coronation maximising the new leader bounce when the benefits of Starmer's hard work are being felt by the electorate.

[Watchman]

Farage is only Machiavellian in the same way MAGA convince themselves that the Orange One is playing 5D chess .

[Oboogie]

Farage is only Machiavellian in the same way MAGA convince themselves that the Orange One is playing 5D chess .

I disagree. Trump was always stupid and now he has Alzheimer's on top of that, I'm not convinced that Farage is at all stupid, compared to Trump he's a genius.

[Watchman]

I was probably being a bit simplistic.
Farage cannot play the long game. its all about being in the moment, picking the issue that he can make the most noise about, get on the front page, cause chaos, and then disappear.
I'm of the view that Farage, deep down does not want to be PM, with all the scrutiny and responsibility that comes with the role. We know a lot of what Reform preach is, in many cases, a Temu MAGA approach to society ( see local councils where they have a majority and we've seen what a shitshow they are), and they have gone down the path that Nigel will be a mini Trump and allow all their, and his, grievances become policy.
However I, naively or not, believe that, on the whole, the British electorate do not want a leader who is unstable, cannot make decisions for the greater good, indulges in petty grievances,and all the other traits we have seen across the pond, and we know Nigel is pretty thin-skinned.