Boris Johnson, former Prime Minister

[honeybee13]

From the Washington Post.

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/08/15/boris-johnson-brexit-legacy/

[tobyjugg2]

Brexit: Trade Performance Now Worst On Record - The Economic Times

ECONOMIC-TIMES.CO.UK

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The UK’s trade performance this year fell to its worst level since records began in 1955. And the cause, according to analysts - Brexit.

 

 

“The country’s current account deficit was calculated at 8.3 per cent of gross domestic product in the first quarter of 2022, a deterioration from an average of 2.6 per cent across all of 2021.

It was the worst figure on record since quarterly balance of payments data was first published in 1955.

 

 

UK�s trade performance falls to worst level since records began

WWW.MARKETSCREENER.COM

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The first semester has come to an end, with the FTSE 100 losing 2.92% over the period, which is much better than its peers.

 

Edited August 16, 2022 by tobyjugg2

[unclebulgaria67]

UK sees biggest rise in foreign workers since COVID pandemic

WWW.REUTERS.COM

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Britain recorded its biggest rise in foreign workers since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in the year to June, driven overwhelmingly by workers...

 

 

[honeybee13]

More on diverting refugees to Rwanda.

 

Rwanda asylum scheme: Warning over political killings before UK flight

WWW.BBC.COM

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Ministers were told the Rwandan regime tortures opponents weeks before the first flight was due to go.

 

Access denied: I went to Rwanda to talk firsthand to refugees … and the state wouldn’t let me | Global development | The Guardian

WWW.THEGUARDIAN.COM

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The African country has been lauded as an ideal location for migrants diverted from the UK, but a ‘sinister’ and secretive government awaits them

 

[honeybee13]

This is a depressing article on freeports by George Monbiot. Bosses do well, everyone else doesn't.

 

There is, as yet, no evidence that the government wants to turn their secretive freeports into charter cities, but if any senior politician is biddable and extreme enough to extend the stupidities of freeports, it is Liz Truss. | George Monbiot.

 

Welcome to the freeport, where turbocapitalism tramples over British democracy | George Monbiot | The Guardian

WWW.THEGUARDIAN.COM

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From Teesside to Plymouth, these ‘special economic zones’ are shrouded in secrecy – and only benefit big business, says Guardian columnist George...

 

[honeybee13]

So anyone who disagrees with the government can be viewed as an extremist. Afua Hirsch mentioned remarks made by the PM which are there for everyone to see.

 

Government bans Afua Hirsch from Whitehall over criticism of Boris Johnson - Voice Online

WWW.VOICE-ONLINE.CO.UK

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Author labelled an 'extremist' for calling PM a racist, as freedom of speech-loving Rees-Mogg turns snowflake over Johnson's hurt feelings

 

[tobyjugg2]

Rees-Mogg, who has previously boasted of his love for freedom of speech, is now leading a clampdown on free speech in government departments.

 

- he loves free speech but only if they are quoting his opinions

[honeybee13]

New York Times article. I like how they feel they need to spell out to their readers which person in the photo is the PM.

 

nytimes.com

WWW.NYTIMES.COM

 

[honeybee13]

This is interesting. Filmed by Channel 4 at the American embassy between November 2017 and January 2018.

 

 

[honeybee13]

Rees Mogg on how to solve the country's economic problems.

 

archive.ph

ARCHIVE.PH

 

[tobyjugg2]

Heres another perspective, which is also light on detail, as Smugg is light on any detail, but the 'intent' seems clearly there of removing state functions to 'save costs'  - like regulation

.. presumably leaving industries, energy companies, water companies, fracking companies ... anybody .... to 'self regulation

 

Of course - the NHS is the jewel in the crown they want opened to their pals to do whatever they like

 

Jacob Rees-Mogg says state should no longer ‘deliver certain functions’ after Brexit

WWW.INDEPENDENT.CO.UK

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‘Our departure from the European Union necessitates a re-thinking of the British state’

 

 

[honeybee13]

So if it's all such a good idea, why weren't we told what the choices would be before the referendum?

[tobyjugg2]

They did under the general headings of Brexit benefits, EU rules  etc

They just didn't go into specifics as millions of people wouldn't have voted for it

 

.. and if they had gone into specifics, they would have lied ...

Like

'no ones threatening our place in the single market

'all the benefits none of the costs

'we hold all the cards

etc

 

Speaking of which, 'thick as mince' 'dont need to know or do anything' Davies is being lined up for a senior position in Truss' 'some new incompetents but same old corrupt lying doodoo government' isnt he?

[honeybee13]

Is he? The rumour I saw was John Redwood and someone else I can't remember coming back from a long break as being a minister.

 

ETA: Iain Duncan Smith is the other one I saw.

[unclebulgaria67]

Might as well rename this thread, once Johnson is gone from office.  Perhaps Boris gone, now Tories heading for winter of discontent ?  The Tories may try to stay in office as they hold a majority, but I wonder if some Tory backbenchers may defect to other parties, as they fear the Tories facing a disaster at the next election.

 

Strikes seem to be growing.

 

Workers at Felixstowe container port to launch eight-day strike

WWW.MSN.COM

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Around 1,900 members of Unite at Felixstowe will walk out in the first strike to hit the port since 1989.

 

[honeybee13]

I have also thought about needing a name change or even a new thread once we know who's PM. We could still be talking about a Johnsonian government, the way Truss is talking.

 

[honeybee13]

A flagship jobs policy doesn't seem to have worked out, despite Johnson's claim about it.

 

Boris Johnson’s flagship jobs scheme was a failure, new figures reveal | Boris Johnson | The Guardian

WWW.THEGUARDIAN.COM

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Fewer people found jobs under Way to Work despite triumphant claim that it helped 500,000

 

[unclebulgaria67]

The problem with labour market statistics, is that it is very difficult to obtain accurate figures for this.

 

For example, say a Universal Credit (UC) claimant is noted as unemployed and they then sign up to an agency for temporary work for 2 weeks.  On their UC claim they report the change that they are employed and the earnings for the 2 weeks is reported via HMRC.  The UC claim then shows a change from intensive work search to light touch-in work, because their earnings were above an administrative threshold.

 

And this one claimant may be typical of many tens of thousands of people across the UK. 

 

There are a large number of people in the UK relying on zero hours contracts and temporary work.  They don't know whether they have work until they receive a text message from employers/agency.

 

Did 500,000 find employment as Government stated ?  I am not sure there are any definitive statistics to confirm or refute this. 

 

 

 

 

[honeybee13]

I can see that, UB.

 

But the ONS is saying that there isn't enough structured  information. No10 probably should have handled it better.

[theoldrouge]

2 hours ago, honeybee13 said:

I have also thought about needing a name change or even a new thread once we know who's PM. We could still be talking about a Johnsonian government, the way Truss is talking.

 

Whilst some of the characters may remain the same,it will be nothing like a Johnson government 

Watching the hustings last night 

North Sea resources and fracking will come to the fore

Plus a stand still on covering prime agricultural land with junk( sorry solar panels)

Energy and food security will be prioritised 

[brassnecked]

In Wales farmland will be sold to outside interests to plant trees and solar panels where sheep and cattle grazed and crops were grown.  They have an exciting plan to put 20,  250 metre (812 foot for Imperial fans) high wind turbines within 500 metres of people's home 9 miles inland between Abergele and Llanrwst at Moelfre, thereby taking out more farmland.

[tobyjugg2]

16 hours ago, honeybee13 said:

I have also thought about needing a name change or even a new thread once we know who's PM. We could still be talking about a Johnsonian government, the way Truss is talking.

 

 

Johnson will likely still be in charge if Truss wins as expected

 

perhaps rename to 'Johnson, the Dummy behind the Dummy'

 

or maybe

 

'Behind every really crap female PM, theres an even crapper male'

Edited August 21, 2022 by tobyjugg2

[honeybee13]

A lot of people think the ERG will be running Truss. I think they had a lot of input into what Johnson did as well.

[tobyjugg2]

Surprisingly. and this is not meant as any form of compliment, I think Johnson kept the ERG in line more than Truss ever will, or ever could.

If she could, they would be supporting Sunak.

 

 

(Freudian typo corrected)

Edited August 21, 2022 by tobyjugg2

[tobyjugg2]

13 hours ago, brassnecked said:

In Wales farmland will be sold to outside interests to plant trees and solar panels

 

Surely you've read the leaked docs? they've been referred here

- ERG little England doesn't need farmers or farmland,

just drilling and fracking for high profit margin hydrocarbons and fleecing taxpayers

and solar and wind to supply their mansions

 

.. and bring back hedgerows for the remaining required serfs to sleep in ... because they need something to protect them from dying outside the workhouse

 

Edited August 21, 2022 by tobyjugg2