2 big stories
The slide towards banana republic status for the United Kingdom continues. Yesterday, whipped by their leadership, Conservative MPs voted to return to the old ways of operating, causing a queue of MPs to form in order to vote that ran through Westminster Hall, the gardens of the Palace of Westminster and as far as Portcullis House. Frankly, if I were the Opposition, I’d be calling divisions on anything and everything, up to and including what day of the week it is.
Excluding MPs who are pregnant, shielding or in vulnerable groups is an attack on our democracy, and the Speaker’s passive acceptance is a constitutional outrage.
And I hate bananas…
Yet, where even Britain fears to tread, the Trump administration mindlessly marches on. Clearing a hitherto peaceful demonstration with teargas in order to have a photo opportunity in front of a boarded up church, Bible in hand, Donald Trump drives a coach and horses through the separation of church and state, and does so knowing exactly what he’s trying to do – destroy race relations in the United States for a generation.
2 social media posts
I might not normally “promote” a Conservative MP here but, on this occasion, how could I disagree?…
Now Parliament a laughing stock. What a nonsense.
Just as the rest of the country is harnessing the power of technology to improve productivity, resilience & engagement (as the #LiaisonCommittee @bernardjenkin did brilliantly) Jacob insists @UKParliament goes back to the 18thC: pic.twitter.com/20twC6yshV
— George Freeman MP (@GeorgeFreemanMP) June 2, 2020
Meanwhile, this is Munira Wilson’s response…
Thanks to @Jacob_Rees_Mogg, I'm heading back into Westminster, putting my husband who's on immuno-suppressants at greater risk, despite virtual parl working well. I"ll be joining 1km+ queue of MPs to vote to keep remote participation so everyone can represent their constituents pic.twitter.com/RpsEguJjB8
— Munira Wilson MP 🇺🇦 (@munirawilson) June 2, 2020
We’re the laughing stock of the world, aren’t we?…
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9 Comments
Will this be a storyline on EastEnders?
Will an MP test positive for Covid-19?
Will Rees-Mogg apologise for his poor judgement?
Or will he blame the PM? and/or the Conservative Chief Whip?
Will the female MPs quote Shirley Williams’ story about bottom pinching in the lobby, high heels and a confession of ‘gout’ from a male Tory MP?
3rd Jun ’20 – 9:08am
Health Secretary Matt Hancock MP has told the daily press briefing that he is part of the research to use samples of blood to try to establish whether people who have tested positive for Covid-19 have perhaps a partial immunity.
So, may we have an interim report on progress?
Why did Matt Hancock not mention Boris Al Johnson in this context?
We think we should be told.
3rd Jun ’20 – 9:25am
A junior health minister on BBC1 Breakfast emphasised transparency.
He was mainly trying to defend the government’s performance on statistics, with moderate credibility.
I have forgotten his name.
He is not Nadine Dories.
The Tories are masters of spin,secrecy etc. Hancock ,I will believe him when he shows proof. Statistics! You pick them that reinforces your view. Mogg! Victorian to his fingertips Steeped in old Parliamentary ways.Indeed stuck in his ways Getting old also, witness dozing on the seats!! e are indeed stuck with people dreaming of the past NOT the future.
Banana republic, Mark? The expression is a bit iffy, smells a bit of colonial attitudes.
I know what you mean and I don’t have anything better to describe the UK’s sad decline.
Phil,
There are, sometimes, advantages to being half-Indian… We had glorious civilisations at a time when the locals here were painting themselves blue and calling it the height of fashion… 😉
Mark Valladares: “We had glorious civilisations at a time when the locals here were painting themselves blue and calling it the height of fashion…”
I’m too young for hippies but I do know that there were some great blues bands in the 1960s. They inspired the pub rock scene in the 1970s.
@Phil Beesley
Colonial or not – the term “banana republic” has indeed been used about Britain – at an election court by the presiding judge – about postal voting fraud.
e.g. https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2005/apr/05/politics.localgovernment
The term Banana Republic originally referred to Latin America with its Banana plantations & seemingly endless cycles of Revolution & Dictatorship. So Colonial but not our Colonial.
The Civilisation thing is an outmoded Myth, most modern Histories accept that civilisation in the modern sense was pretty simultaneous across Eurasia. Britain didnt go in for Cities but there is the magnificent Architectural complex around Stonehenge, Avebury & Silbury Hill.