Pinned
My new book 'Turning Points-Crisis and Change in Modern Britain from 1945 to Truss' is out on Sept 21st. What are the turning points and did the UK turn? Available for pre order here and elsewhere:
amazon.co.uk/Turning-Points…
steve richards
19.5K posts
steve richards
@steverichards14
Steve Richards presents the Rock N Roll Politics podcast: podfollow.com/1384867286 He's also an author and broadcaster
London UK
Born June 6
Joined June 2010
- Brexit minister , Lord Frost, resigns… the Brexit Secretary , David Davis, resigned..the day after the referendum UKIP leader, N Farage, resigned…they all run a mile rather then face the practical consequence of their delusional fantasies.
- Last year Cummings helped to frame the dangerous ‘elite versus the people’ message. Now while the ‘people’ cant travel to visit parents he felt he could ..and did. In doing so Cummings shows he’s part of a non elected elite that treats ‘the people’ with contempt.
- PMQs is often an anti climax when a PM is in deep trouble. This one wasn’t. Keir Starmer was forensic and passionate. B Johnson was hopeless and his MPs know it. This was a PMQs that has deepened the crisis for Johnson.
- The only issue today re Partygate is accountability of @metpoliceuk..1st they declared there was nothing to investigate, then they announced an investigation.. delaying Gray report..now they fine juniors for attending same parties as Johnson who’s not fined… shocking sequence.
- Historians will wonder with good cause why J Corbyn and J Swinson gave B Johnson an election on the date he wanted and at the height of his prime ministerial honeymoon. They were leaders in a hung parliament with considerable powers to determine an election timing and much more.
- If the polls are right the Conservatives are about to discover that in the end there are consequences to reckless, self-absorbed misrule…I often wondered over the past 14 years whether England would ever turn ..but it seems it has…one of the most important words in
- How do Emma Barnett and Laura Kuennsberg know their listeners/ viewers are furious? It’s a form of populist arrogance..they read the screaming headlines in some papers..assume they speak for the entire electorate and elect themselves as their fantasy audience’s spokespersons.
- Comparisons are being made with ‘Tory sleaze’ in the mid 1990s. This is much worse. Then it was a few Tory MPs. John Major and his senior ministers had evident integrity. Sleaze was hugely overplayed then. Now it comes from the very top and the dangers can’t be overplayed.
- The Sun drove the story.. not social media… a crazy , disproportionate frenzy followed…and now unsurprisingly Huw Edwards is in hospital as we hear the police has no cause for investigation…for followers of the British media here is another familar darkly hysterical sequence
- Its now clearer than ever that UK was least equipped to leave EU of any member..low productivity, low skilled economy dependent on single market on many fronts including free movement.. and the N Ireland conundrum for which there’s no solution except a united Ireland.What a mess
- If Dominic Cummings wants to wield such power perhaps he should stand for election.. he’s a believer in some forms of accountability and is good at campaigns .. there has never been a non-elected adviser so powerful in the UK...or a PM so in complacent awe of an adviser.
- Fantasies of leading Brexiteers being tested by reality now...huge sums on border infrastructure, new bureaucratic obstacles that'll make UK businesses less competitive, N.Ireland border problems, costly travel insurance etc, etc..they'll blame EU but this is their project alone
- Gordon Brown showing same range, depth and urgency he displayed during financial crisis...making all the connections. The contrast with B Johnson- who began this crisis by disappearing from public view for 10 days -and has been behind the curve since- is marked.