As I have pointed out before, Bernard Jenkin is given to lying to the public (see Liars in public places). It's not a habit he's cured, if what he said today on BBC Radio 4 is anything to go by: "We've got two democratic systems of deciding things in the modern constitution: one is by … Continue reading Another lie from the egregious Bernard Jenkin
Category: MUSINGS ON . . .
occasional effusions on every subject under the sun
Hijacking the common speech: A bad deal is better than a worse one, but no deal is better than both.
The use and abuse of language has been critical to the continuing political crisis initiated by David Cameron's ill-judged and badly-executed attempt to stem the flow of votes from his party to UKIP in the 2015 General Election. Recently I remarked on how 'just get on with it' and kindred expressions had been subverted to … Continue reading Hijacking the common speech: A bad deal is better than a worse one, but no deal is better than both.
This way to the oligarchy
An odd collocation: I came home from a visit to Stanley Mills to find that Dominic Cummings had said he wanted to ‘get away from rich remainers’ and ‘talk to ordinary people.’ As many were quick to point out, Cummings himself is exceedingly wealthy, as are his closest allies in the Brexit camp; so this … Continue reading This way to the oligarchy
If what they say is true, then how did we get here?
A useful test is to ask whether the account that people give of events is consistent with the events themselves. If it were really the case that in the 2016 referendum ‘the country voted overwhelmingly to leave’ (to quote the chronically untruthful Bernard Jenkin, MP*) is that at all consistent with the point we have now … Continue reading If what they say is true, then how did we get here?
Ow! yaroo! Stop it, you beasts!
I have remarked before that the level at which Boris Johnson operates – and those about him – is ‘school debating society’. That is why the majority of EU politicians, who are serious-minded, grown-up types who see politics in terms of public service (as we once did in this country) cannot comprehend him. Today’s proroguing … Continue reading Ow! yaroo! Stop it, you beasts!
Candidates oddly reluctant to take helm of sinking ship headed for the rocks
Like the young woman from Glasgow, who raised the issue that will shape politics not only in Britain but the rest of the world for the foreseeable future – the climate emergency – I was not impressed by any of the candidates for conservative leader (and hence, prime minister) in last night's debate; though it … Continue reading Candidates oddly reluctant to take helm of sinking ship headed for the rocks
Remain in good heart
The general representation of the recent European election results shows a lack of penetration on the part of our media which has become sadly familiar. The election is presented as a remarkable triumph for the newly-formed Brexit Party, led by Nigel Farage, which captured nearly 32% of the votes and won 29 of the 73 … Continue reading Remain in good heart
Speech for an imagined leader
‘Mr Speaker, it is past time for someone to tell the truth to this House, and the British people, in the face of the tide of falsehood that has engulfed us since 2016. Much has been made in recent months of the fact that 80% of the electorate voted in the last election for parties … Continue reading Speech for an imagined leader
Time to stop this ‘Carry on’
Careless talk, as the war time poster tells us, costs lives. It may not have reached that point yet, but there is no doubt that what the Prime Minister sloppily calls ‘the Brexit process’ has been bedevilled from the outset by much talk that is careless and some that is down right lying. And as … Continue reading Time to stop this ‘Carry on’
Brexit? it’s just a flesh wound!
I am grateful to my wife for drawing attention to this article by Giles Fraser, 'why won't Remainers talk about family?' , even if reading it did take me back to my days marking essays by adolescents whose ardour outstripped their capacity for reasoned argument: having conceived a notion, and decided that it must be right, … Continue reading Brexit? it’s just a flesh wound!
COMPLEAT TROWZER 