Brilliant piece as usual, but a bit unfair on Michael Foot, a man so far above Badenoch intellectually and morally that he deserves better. A comparison to Ian Duncan Smith would be more apt I think. God he was awful, but his awfulness pales in comparison to Badenoch ....
Was he? If so, then Mrs T must have been even worse as a leader than many of us believe. Literally from the first months of the Thatcher govt taking power in 1979, until the start of the Falklands crisis, Foots Labour led the Tory's in the polls, at times with margins even Blair didn't manage over Major. Now, I'm not saying I thought he was that great. We all know he was elected as a 'lame duck' leader, and given the job simply because he'd been around so long the party felt 'he deserved a go', but he can't have been that bad if the public, despite the Tory's terrifyingly poor economic policies, gave Labour a 16 point lead (October 1980) over the Tory's. ;)
There's a piece in this week's Economist about Starmer and Badenoch's contrasting relationship to social media and the Internet. Basically Starmer underestimates it, while for Badenoch , it has taken over her whole personality- everything is virtual. And in the flesh, she does come across as a AI troll brought to life- any challenge brings more flaming.
I also wonder if she was a child prodigy, and has never recovered. It's as if she's just not used to being corrected whatever bollocks she spouts, because the surrounding adults didn't know enough to distinguish between the child's intelligent prouncements and the utter rubbish. They all sounded the same to them.
I think that is almost certainly bang on - makes so much sense. And the politicians who insist she’s “smart” or “effective” are seemingly Tory window lickers themselves, so compared to them maybe she is.
Another great piece Ian justifiably skewering Badenoch for her limitations and evasions. Yet another politician whose self-regard and actual ability are in inverse proportion. Her disregard for facts and evidence in favour of the Trump-style playbook just further erodes standards of decency in British politics. A shabby, empty excuse of a leader.
When Trump got elected here, my thoughts went directly to a quote by H. L. Mencken. "On some great and glorious day, the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron. Welcome to our nightmare.
On scathing form as usual Ian, however one point she notably overlooked in her GB News interview. She commented about “two cultures “, the culture of the perpetrators and the culture of “political correctness “ in institutions but, strangely for a previous Women’s minister, she failed to mention the class culture that ignored the concerns of white working class girls. You could almost assume she had another agenda.
It would indeed be funny if it weren't so sad to watch the way the press/media attack Labour for being terrible when they're actually doing something and give Badenoch a free pass for being terrible and not doing anything.
'she comes across as extreme, opportunistic, uninformed, haphazard, confused, shameless, contradictory, ideological, petty, misleading, vindictive and insane.'
Superb
I do wonder how the Badenoch/Truss/Sunak model has become the norm at the top of the Tory party. Tory MPs have been in close proximity to these people for years as MPs and ministers, they've looked at them and thought, 'yeah, that'll do for me, they're top quality, they'll make a great leader' when the reality (that they're borderline psychotic with no social skills at all) is blindingly obviously to anyone with a pulse. Are these MPs such utter morons/piss artists that they've no idea what's going on around them or have they all got money on the Tories getting less seats than Reform at the next election.? We must be told.
Keep up the good work, you cheer me up, but for now it's past Five on a Friday and a beer awaits.
I want to say it's funny but I can't laugh at this yet, she is unthamomably pointless no question and needs to take a good whif of what she's shovelling, but my thoughts go to the people I supported who worked back breaking hours reading through the most soul shredding god awful testimony to make that Report in 2022 and it's recomenations, some of which had traumatic episodes and emotional breakdowns during and since that report was publish so I can't even imagine what the survivors are living with daily and having the leader of the opposition refer to them as very poor peasants is just beyond the pale. I just want this rat infested pile of feaces that is a "national inquiry" to die a death and leave those who so bravely gave evidence to my fellow colleagues at IICSA and other local inquiry leaders in peace.
As I would always say - at least she didn’t note that he was being ‘Pacific’. Teachers of the land rejoice. I think there’s a job at the Guardian waiting for you btw.
I positively seethe when I listen to PMQs. She is sneering and contemptuous, and casual with recent political history. I loathe her. The country deserves a better LOTO.
Dunt! Thank you (x3) for watching Garbage Bollox News on my behalf. That 121 Tory twunts are proving zero recognisable opposition for a while is not so serious, sufficient IQ in other parties opposite; gives the time for the Labour budget, reforms and outcome delivery to get embedded and underway. Give it until about October to review whether the executive are facing adequate challenge and scrutiny.
Brilliant piece as usual, but a bit unfair on Michael Foot, a man so far above Badenoch intellectually and morally that he deserves better. A comparison to Ian Duncan Smith would be more apt I think. God he was awful, but his awfulness pales in comparison to Badenoch ....
He was a good man, but a terrible opposition leader. It's that element only I'm using for comparison. But yeah I take your point.
Was he? If so, then Mrs T must have been even worse as a leader than many of us believe. Literally from the first months of the Thatcher govt taking power in 1979, until the start of the Falklands crisis, Foots Labour led the Tory's in the polls, at times with margins even Blair didn't manage over Major. Now, I'm not saying I thought he was that great. We all know he was elected as a 'lame duck' leader, and given the job simply because he'd been around so long the party felt 'he deserved a go', but he can't have been that bad if the public, despite the Tory's terrifyingly poor economic policies, gave Labour a 16 point lead (October 1980) over the Tory's. ;)
There's a piece in this week's Economist about Starmer and Badenoch's contrasting relationship to social media and the Internet. Basically Starmer underestimates it, while for Badenoch , it has taken over her whole personality- everything is virtual. And in the flesh, she does come across as a AI troll brought to life- any challenge brings more flaming.
I also wonder if she was a child prodigy, and has never recovered. It's as if she's just not used to being corrected whatever bollocks she spouts, because the surrounding adults didn't know enough to distinguish between the child's intelligent prouncements and the utter rubbish. They all sounded the same to them.
I think that is almost certainly bang on - makes so much sense. And the politicians who insist she’s “smart” or “effective” are seemingly Tory window lickers themselves, so compared to them maybe she is.
Another great piece Ian justifiably skewering Badenoch for her limitations and evasions. Yet another politician whose self-regard and actual ability are in inverse proportion. Her disregard for facts and evidence in favour of the Trump-style playbook just further erodes standards of decency in British politics. A shabby, empty excuse of a leader.
When Trump got elected here, my thoughts went directly to a quote by H. L. Mencken. "On some great and glorious day, the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron. Welcome to our nightmare.
Kemi perpetually giving off the air of someone who's been accidentally promoted to deputy head of HR in a small midlands factory
It says a lot about the rump of the Conservative party that they had to choose between her and Robert bloody Jenrick.
On scathing form as usual Ian, however one point she notably overlooked in her GB News interview. She commented about “two cultures “, the culture of the perpetrators and the culture of “political correctness “ in institutions but, strangely for a previous Women’s minister, she failed to mention the class culture that ignored the concerns of white working class girls. You could almost assume she had another agenda.
You know when Trump starts one of his rants that sounds increasingly insane as it goes on? She’s starting to sound that insane.
Well done Dunty! This really cheered me up :)
It would indeed be funny if it weren't so sad to watch the way the press/media attack Labour for being terrible when they're actually doing something and give Badenoch a free pass for being terrible and not doing anything.
Well I think Kemi is doing a fantastic job at running the Tory party… into the ground!
Ian, you get better every week.
'she comes across as extreme, opportunistic, uninformed, haphazard, confused, shameless, contradictory, ideological, petty, misleading, vindictive and insane.'
Superb
I do wonder how the Badenoch/Truss/Sunak model has become the norm at the top of the Tory party. Tory MPs have been in close proximity to these people for years as MPs and ministers, they've looked at them and thought, 'yeah, that'll do for me, they're top quality, they'll make a great leader' when the reality (that they're borderline psychotic with no social skills at all) is blindingly obviously to anyone with a pulse. Are these MPs such utter morons/piss artists that they've no idea what's going on around them or have they all got money on the Tories getting less seats than Reform at the next election.? We must be told.
Keep up the good work, you cheer me up, but for now it's past Five on a Friday and a beer awaits.
I want to say it's funny but I can't laugh at this yet, she is unthamomably pointless no question and needs to take a good whif of what she's shovelling, but my thoughts go to the people I supported who worked back breaking hours reading through the most soul shredding god awful testimony to make that Report in 2022 and it's recomenations, some of which had traumatic episodes and emotional breakdowns during and since that report was publish so I can't even imagine what the survivors are living with daily and having the leader of the opposition refer to them as very poor peasants is just beyond the pale. I just want this rat infested pile of feaces that is a "national inquiry" to die a death and leave those who so bravely gave evidence to my fellow colleagues at IICSA and other local inquiry leaders in peace.
As I would always say - at least she didn’t note that he was being ‘Pacific’. Teachers of the land rejoice. I think there’s a job at the Guardian waiting for you btw.
I thought that the extraordinariness of her call for a pogrom was only exceeded by the weakness of the general response to it.
Plus her latest PMQs shambles
I positively seethe when I listen to PMQs. She is sneering and contemptuous, and casual with recent political history. I loathe her. The country deserves a better LOTO.
Dunt! Thank you (x3) for watching Garbage Bollox News on my behalf. That 121 Tory twunts are proving zero recognisable opposition for a while is not so serious, sufficient IQ in other parties opposite; gives the time for the Labour budget, reforms and outcome delivery to get embedded and underway. Give it until about October to review whether the executive are facing adequate challenge and scrutiny.