Quote from: JBR on Today at 09:31:14 AMI wonder whether we'll ever manage to climb back up again.

I'm pretty much certain that you don't wonder that at all. I certainly don't. I have no doubt whatsoever which direction we are headed and it ain't up.

Quote from: klondike on Yesterday at 09:54:29 AMRees-Mogg Calls on Sunak to Offer Jobs to Farage, Reform UK Leaders to Save Conservative Party

In a hail mary attempt to save the Conservative Party from electoral devastation, Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg has called on Rishi Sunak to offer Nigel Farage and top Reform UK figures the chance to become Tory MPs and potentially members of the government in an election pact.

Rees-Mogg, the former Business Secretary and Brexit campaigner pitched a rerun of 2019, in which Nigel Farage's Brexit Party (now Reform UK) partnered with Boris Johnson's Conservatives to "Get Brexit Done" by stepping aside in key constituencies to ensure a large majority against the Labour Party.

Yet to sweeten the pot this time around, Sir Jacob has argued that Reform UK leader Richard Tice, his deputy Ben Habib, and honorary president Nigel Farage should be allowed to stand for the Conservatives and for Farage to be given assurances of a cabinet post.

"With the help of Nigel Farage in a Conservative government, as a Conservative minister, with Boris Johnson probably returning as foreign secretary and welcoming the likes of Ben Habib and Richard Tice into our party, as well as pursuing genuinely conservative policies, winning the next election suddenly becomes within reach," Rees-Mogg said on Tuesday.

In a mock negotiation held on GB News, Mr Farage and Sir Jacob largely agreed on the changes needed within the Tory party, namely getting control of mass migration. The two agreed to such an extent that Farage said that they should be in the same party.

However, the Brexit boss told the former Business Minister that he underestimates "the level of contempt that is felt for the Conservative Party" in the country, with many people who previously voted Tory feeling betrayed by the record waves of immigration allowed into the country following the UK's withdrawal from the European Union.

https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2024/05/16/rees-mogg-calls-on-sunak-to-offer-jobs-to-farage-reform-uk-leaders-to-save-conservative-party/

It's good to see that at least one Tory MP can see the catastrophe coming and understands that a move to the right completely trumps a move to the left and is essential to satisfy the Tory faithful and most past Tory voters.

Of course this idea is never going to happen. Most of the Tories despise Farage. Farage would never be persuaded to join anyway as he recognises that the Tories are not just poorly but terminal.

Does poor Nigel have an unfortunate gurning habit or do the press only release unflattering pictures of him the way police mugshots would make Mother Theresa appear to be a homicidal maniac?

If you play any video clip in ultra slo-mo it's amazing the number of facial expressions in just a few seconds.

Jacob Rees-Mogg has mastered the art of keeping a fixed facial expression that vastly reduces the chances of such split-second images being found.

I regard Jacob Rees-Mogg as the Tory equivalent of Labour's Frank Field.

Far too intelligent & far-sighted to ever have their ideas acted upon.

I also realise that my Reform vote will be nothing more than a sop to my conscience.

Quote from: klondike on Today at 09:28:18 AMIt is the main problem for sure but there are a lot of people who for some reason seem to love open borders. It doubtless gives them a nice warm glow inside to be so inclusive. They probably love all the LGBQT+ stuff too. Reform only has issues with foisting gender identify BS on children but that is probably enough to queer the pitch with the liberal lefties.

Yes, of course.  The consequence is that those same people will eventually come to realise their mistake.

Quote from: Diasi on Today at 09:12:54 AMNot just schools, modernisation has wrecked all our public services which is why I baled out at 50.

I agree.  Britain has risen to the heights and peaked when we controlled a quarter of the entire world.
Now we are heading rapidly to the depths, ultimately due to our own leaders and others of influence.

I wonder whether we'll ever manage to climb back up again.

Quote from: JBR on Today at 09:11:15 AMThe only problem, as I see it, is the mass of people who can only consider the 'two main parties'.

It is the main problem for sure but there are a lot of people who for some reason seem to love open borders. It doubtless gives them a nice warm glow inside to be so inclusive. They probably love all the LGBTIQA+ stuff too. Reform only has issues with foisting gender identify BS on children but that is probably enough to queer the pitch with the liberal lefties.

I had to look up LGBTIQA+. I'd missed out some letters. There are some that are longer still but I stuck at that one. Lord only knows what stuff I'll get shown in the Ali mailshot after that search

Quote from: dextrous63 on Yesterday at 12:02:44 PMI once worked in a school which was so far behind the times that it was ahead of the times, and hence successful and highly regarded.

Along came a new head who proceeded to modernise it.  Standards and reputation soon fell.

I think you can see the parallel I'm making.

Quote from: JBR on Today at 09:05:32 AMExactly.  Same experience for me - change of head and change of OFSTED reports.
Fortunately not too long before I retired.

Not just schools, modernisation has wrecked all our public services which is why I baled out at 50.

Quote from: klondike on Yesterday at 10:31:52 AMUnfortunaterly Reform is unelectable too. They don't have the active membership machinery, donors etc. that can put them into a winning position in elections. Tory MPs may as well stay where they are if they want to keep their jobs because they stand more chance standing as Conservatives than they do defecting to Reform.

What Rees-Mogg wants is reform of the Tory party. The grass roots are doubtless behind him but the Parliamentary party is now beyond redemption. My hope is for a total wipeout. Let the grass roots see that the brand has sunk lower than Ratners. That way there is an outside chance of either a reformed Tory party or maybe just Reform, Either way expect Socialism for the rest of your days now I fear.

Perhaps so, but Reform is the only party my conscience will allow me to vote for.

It is logical to assume that if a clear majority of people do vote for Reform, they will form the next government.
The only problem, as I see it, is the mass of people who can only consider the 'two main parties'.

Quote from: muddy on Today at 08:55:32 AM

Quote from: muddy on Today at 08:55:32 AMThe teacher behaved unethically and abused her position .
Perhaps fathers should take heed should and give their teenage sons guidance on sexual behaviour and what is and what is not acceptable

Perhaps mothers should do the same with their daughters when the boot's on the other foot.

Quote from: muddy on Today at 08:55:32 AMFollowing the break up of her marriage

I must admit I never went past the headline and didn't read the detail. All I could see was that there was some mental problem involved and that provides a possible reason for it.

Quote from: dextrous63 on Yesterday at 12:02:44 PMI once worked in a school which was so far behind the times that it was ahead of the times, and hence successful and highly regarded.

Along came a new head who proceeded to modernise it.  Standards and reputation soon fell.

I think you can see the parallel I'm making.

Exactly.  Same experience for me - change of head and change of OFSTED reports.
Fortunately not too long before I retired.