Politics Thread 7: Dishy Rishi's Cabinet of Horrors

[Garth]

This stuff coming from Vallance in the Covid inquiry is exactly why I hate all the career-politician secretary-for-whatever bullshit that is still somehow an accepted leadership model in government.

I realise it would mean a dramatic change in structure, but can we please have actual subject matter experts as the heads of department? Or does that make me a sworn enemy of democracy? I don't vote for a local MP on the basis that they might be suitable to one day become the leader of a department they know strawberry float all about.

I know people fetishise about a glorious leader etc, but listen to all this about Johnson having no strawberry floating clue what anyone was talking about when it came to complex medical data, scientific analysis etc. I can accept someone being a Prime Minister and not then being the person expected to make the final decision – yes, even if it is about something as critical as emergency national health policy. That doesn't remove ultimate accountability.

Never going to happen, I know. I just have to accept we'll forever be listening to wannabe celebrities, who want to go on telly talking about things they don't properly understand, so they can book their place in the celebrity jungle a few years later, or whatever . Parklife.

We've had enough of experts

[Hypes]

This stuff coming from Vallance in the Covid inquiry is exactly why I hate all the career-politician secretary-for-whatever bullshit that is still somehow an accepted leadership model in government.

I realise it would mean a dramatic change in structure, but can we please have actual subject matter experts as the heads of department? Or does that make me a sworn enemy of democracy? I don't vote for a local MP on the basis that they might be suitable to one day become the leader of a department they know strawberry float all about.

I know people fetishise about a glorious leader etc, but listen to all this about Johnson having no strawberry floating clue what anyone was talking about when it came to complex medical data, scientific analysis etc. I can accept someone being a Prime Minister and not then being the person expected to make the final decision – yes, even if it is about something as critical as emergency national health policy. That doesn't remove ultimate accountability.

Never going to happen, I know. I just have to accept we'll forever be listening to wannabe celebrities, who want to go on telly talking about things they don't properly understand, so they can book their place in the celebrity jungle a few years later, or whatever . Parklife.

How do you feel about Cameron as Foreign Secretary?

[Oblomov Boblomov]

This stuff coming from Vallance in the Covid inquiry is exactly why I hate all the career-politician secretary-for-whatever bullshit that is still somehow an accepted leadership model in government.

I realise it would mean a dramatic change in structure, but can we please have actual subject matter experts as the heads of department? Or does that make me a sworn enemy of democracy? I don't vote for a local MP on the basis that they might be suitable to one day become the leader of a department they know strawberry float all about.

I know people fetishise about a glorious leader etc, but listen to all this about Johnson having no strawberry floating clue what anyone was talking about when it came to complex medical data, scientific analysis etc. I can accept someone being a Prime Minister and not then being the person expected to make the final decision – yes, even if it is about something as critical as emergency national health policy. That doesn't remove ultimate accountability.

Never going to happen, I know. I just have to accept we'll forever be listening to wannabe celebrities, who want to go on telly talking about things they don't properly understand, so they can book their place in the celebrity jungle a few years later, or whatever . Parklife.

How do you feel about Cameron as Foreign Secretary?

It's a bit of a unique situation, as we have knowledge of the history of his actions in office that were very much in the public eye, some of which resulted in the sheer disaster of Brexit etc, plus the overall legacy of his premiership that oversaw such a dramatic downturn in public health and wellbeing as a result of austerity.

Objectively, you could certainly challenge my argument on this very basis . I'm not suggesting we just stick with the current setup except get one bloke to nominate leaders from anywhere instead of from the pool of elected MPs. There would need to be a sensible and comprehensive system/process around it. One that would intentionally prevent former pig/country-fuckers from taking office, preferably, and maintained – no, enhanced – public accountability.

[Rex Kramer]

I don't have too much of an issue with non experts in government positions if they have the humility to accept when they don't know something and to seek expert advice. We have far too many public school educated politicians whose arrogance far outweighs their competence.

[Oblomov Boblomov]

I don't have too much of an issue with non experts in government positions if they have the humility to accept when they don't know something and to seek expert advice. We have far too many public school educated politicians whose arrogance far outweighs their competence.

I really think it engenders a fundamental cultural issue of ineffective governance. People who become very powerful and important simply because they're powerful and important, rather than properly equipped to understand and execute their duties. As we can see from this inquiry, it results in decisions being made on the basis of inappropriate priorities* and incomplete/erroneous knowledge.

*I appreciate we'll never find a way to completely avoid this from happening

[Squinty]

I think it would be better if they actually had the time to grow and learn in their roles. Because of the turnover and reshuffles, they don't.

But yeah, I agree with you, it is completely unavoidable, parachuting inexperienced people into these roles.

[Moggy]

Spot the difference

[jimbojango]

Well it is happening next year:

[OrangeRKN]

Looking forward to the sequel, "Today we celebrate the culture of the Falkland Islands! "

[SEP]

Looking forward to the sequel, "Today we celebrate the culture of the Falkland Islands! "

With the new Argentine president, that may happen sooner than we think.

[Moggy]

Looking forward to the sequel, "Today we celebrate the culture of the Falkland Islands! "

With the new Argentine president, that may happen sooner than we think.

We are ready for them!

[Tomous]

twitter.com/margbarrusiye/status/1726676098472403138

[Lex-Man]

Looking forward to the sequel, "Today we celebrate the culture of the Falkland Islands! "

With the new Argentine president, that may happen sooner than we think.

We are ready for them!

It seems like Milei has the same economic ideas as Truss so I think they might be dealing with bigger problems than Falkland Islands.

[Moggy]

Looking forward to the sequel, "Today we celebrate the culture of the Falkland Islands! "

With the new Argentine president, that may happen sooner than we think.

We are ready for them!

It seems like Milei has the same economic ideas as Truss so I think they might be dealing with bigger problems than Falkland Islands.

He will CRUSH the anti-growth coalition!

[Dowbocop]

Downing Street Instagram admin immediately before posting this:

twitter.com/Rossmac212/status/1726794486075011290

[Moggy]

Two protesters were “reasonable” in calling Iain Duncan Smith “Tory scum” outside the Conservative party conference, the high court has ruled, in a rejection of an attempt to overturn their acquittal.

Lord Justice Popplewell and Justice Fordham said no fault in law was made by a senior district judge last November in finding Ruth Wood, 52, and Radical Haslam, 30, not guilty of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/20 ... ourt-rules

If you ever see IDS, it is perfectly legal to call him Tory scum.

[Moggy]

1979 National Front rally.

[Vermilion]

Two protesters were “reasonable” in calling Iain Duncan Smith “Tory scum” outside the Conservative party conference, the high court has ruled, in a rejection of an attempt to overturn their acquittal.

Lord Justice Popplewell and Justice Fordham said no fault in law was made by a senior district judge last November in finding Ruth Wood, 52, and Radical Haslam, 30, not guilty of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/20 ... ourt-rules

If you ever see IDS, it is perfectly legal to call him Tory scum.

Tbh, that's pretty tame compared to what people should actually call him.

[Dowbocop]

Two protesters were “reasonable” in calling Iain Duncan Smith “Tory scum” outside the Conservative party conference, the high court has ruled, in a rejection of an attempt to overturn their acquittal.

Lord Justice Popplewell and Justice Fordham said no fault in law was made by a senior district judge last November in finding Ruth Wood, 52, and Radical Haslam, 30, not guilty of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/20 ... ourt-rules

If you ever see IDS, it is perfectly legal to call him Tory scum.

Enemies of the people

[Squinty]

My ma is currently going through the migration for Universal Credit and it's been a shitshow so far. She has to go for a work interview soon to see what type of work she can do, which is going to be pointless because she's a 60+ woman with severe mobility issues. She has next to nothing in terms of computer skills.

I'm not really looking forward to hearing about these benefit changes in the budget. They are always punitive.