Mailwatch(ed) Forum

I thought Kemi had shut up about the Chagos Islands, after Starmer offered her a full security briefing. Did she ever take that up? Are the Security Services bothered? Is there some equivalent of Peter Wright whispering prophesies of doom to some equivalent of Chapman Pincher?

You'd think the Opposition at this time could put its silly talking point aside and concentrate on backing the Government during this Greenland crisis.

It's classic Kemi bandwagon jumping

Tubby Isaacs wrote: ↑Tue Jan 20, 2026 9:21 am Badenoch’s Tories now joining in with Trump on the Chagos Islands deal, despite Rubio having previously welcomed the deal. Pathetic.

The mango motherfucker's reverse ferreted because it suits his Greenland narrative.

Olukemi hasn't realised that Greenland's in play - yet.

Tice was chuntering on about the Chagos Islands at last week's PMQs. Does that stink of back-channel chatter?

Yes, really.

Lovely slap-down by Starmer to Olukemi at PMQs:

Badenoch is claiming sacking Jenrick was a sign of strength. But at that point she had already read his defection letter. What else was she going to do? Correct the typos and give it back?

This has got to be up there with Cameron's "I think I'd be rather good at it", surely?

I joined the Tories for the partying, says Kemi Badenoch

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has said she initially joined the Conservatives for the "party aspect of it - socialising, drinks, hanging out with other young people".

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs, Badenoch said that after university all her friends had "gone all over the world" and she thought joining the party would be "a fun thing to do".

I'm sure any social gathering would be enlivened by the presence of Kemi Badenoch

Lively in the sense of Kemi kicking off, judging by her media performances.

Tories partying.

When I just typed Tories, as I hit the p on my keypad, autofill's first suggestion was Partygate.

I've always placed thick Chinese walls between Labour Party business and having fun. Apart from the odd pub quiz night at Christmas.

People say that Braverman's defection is proof that the Tories can detoxify. Of course, this depends on Badenoch and the rest.

.

I see Kemi has been banging on about both Reform and Labour being involved in something called a "psychodrama" in relation to, respectively, defecting Tories joining Farage, and the Andy Burnham shite. She's trying to cast the Tories under her leadership as "serious people" who are above all that mallarkey (well, good luck with that, though she might arguably be right if she keeps shedding malevolent loonies like Braverman & Jenrick).

"Psychodrama" is one of those politically fashionable words or phrases that modern politicians like to bandy about a lot - like "throw(ing) people under a bus", and so on. I realised that beyond it being something that was a right waste of time and to be avoided if at all possible, I have no idea what a "psychodrama" actually is.

So I looked it up. Wikipedia says :

Psychodrama is an acting method, often used as a psychotherapy, in which clients use spontaneous dramatization, role playing, and dramatic self-presentation to investigate and gain insight into their lives. Developed by Jacob L. Moreno and his wife Zerka Toeman Moreno, psychodrama includes elements of theater, often conducted on a stage, or a space that serves as a stage area, where props can be used. A psychodrama therapy group, under the direction of a licensed psychodramatist, reenacts real-life, past situations (or inner mental processes), acting them out in present time. Participants then have the opportunity to evaluate their behavior, reflect on how the past incident is getting played out in the present and more deeply understand particular situations in their lives.

Psychodrama offers a creative way for an individual or group to explore and solve personal problems. It may be used in a variety of clinical and community-based settings in which other group members (audience) are invited to become therapeutic agents (stand-ins) to populate the scene of one client. Besides benefits to the designated client, "side-benefits" may accrue to other group members, as they make relevant connections and insights to their own lives from the psychodrama of another. A psychodrama is best conducted and produced by a person trained in the method, called a psychodrama director.

So maybe not such a waste of time- if it helps people. Labour too is not absolved of having used the term in a derogatory way - especially about the Tories.

Maybe people should quit bandying it about.

Bit rich coming from a person who was in that party that was in power for 14 years.

At one point they had 3 PMs in 5 months and we had to accept it as a country.

Ok, Kemi

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/20 ... i-badenoch

Centrist ideas are no longer wanted in the Conservative party, Kemi Badenoch has said, arguing that one nation-type Tories or others who have qualms about her rightward direction for the party “need to get out of the way”.

Making a speech in Westminster intended to set out her vision for the party after a spate of recent defections to Reform UK, the Conservative leader hit out at what she called the “tantrum” of Robert Jenrick and others.

She explicitly rejected the approach of Andy Street, the former West Midlands mayor, and Ruth Davidson, the former Scottish Tory leader, who have launched a new group within the party for what they call “politically homeless” centrist and centre-right voters.

While Badenoch said she welcomed any help that could win her party an election, she said this did not involve any policies that were not based around her right-leaning ideas. “They need to recognise the agenda which I’m setting,” she said, when asked about the efforts by Street and Davidson under their Prosper UK banner.

Rrrrrrright. Just you carry right on, Kems.

Screw the lot of them.

'Politically homeless' used to mean extremist. How lucky we are live in such times.

Turning Truss.

Zarah Sultana more like.

Common ground with whom? It is unlikely to be the party full of betrayed colleagues that your competing on the same turf with. The 'Davey4LOTO' speech.

While Badenoch argued that her approach was about finding “a common ground” rather than left-right divides, such an explicit repudiation of the historically strong centrist tradition in conservatism is likely to dismay some in the party.

When all out of ideas, double down.