Tag: Brexit

Remember Dominic Cummings? Neither.

Remember Dominic Cummings? Neither.

Dominic Mckenzie Cummings, Chief Adviser to Boris Johnson and arguably one of the most hated men in Britain, for those of you who may have justifiably forgotten. They say ‘ignorance is bliss’ and having no knowledge of this guy must be heavenly.

At the beginning of this once in a lifetime crisis Dominic Cummings was the epitome of the Tory party – one rule for them and one rule for us. It will be rare that I will be quoting Peaky Blinders on this blog, but I can’t help remembering Oswald Moseley’s quote, “two men like us for whom forbidding is forbidden”. Moseley, an equally reprehensible character and leader of the British fascist movement in the 1920s and 1930s, would be proud if he could see the way Boris Johnson and Cummings have dodged what would be career-ending for any Labour politician.

For those who don’t know, a bit of background on Cummings. The ‘man’ was special adviser to Michael Gove *sigh* for 7 years, including his time as Secretary for Education where he, for some reason, got rid of AS-Levels and turned GCSE grades into numbers. (I don’t know why, I’ll work it out one day.)

He then left Gove. “Hooray!” you may be thinking. ‘Ding dong the Witch is Dead’ might even be slipped on and you could be forgiven. But no. Instead the timing was actually perfect for Cummings as he immediately took up the position of Director of ‘Vote Leave’ between 2015-2016. *Bigger sigh*.

After his 2016 Brexit victory there came a blissful silence from this ‘man’. Then some people elected Boris so that Brexit thing could happen. Boris created a new position, ‘Chief Adviser to the Prime Minister’, just so he accommodate his Cummings into one of the most senior roles in government, without being elected of course. Just a side-note for those of you who think I am being harsh on Cummings – Sajid Javid, THE CHANCELLOR OF THE UK, resigned after he refused Cumming’s demands that he dismiss one of his Chief Advisers. The Chancellor of the UK, effectively the third most powerful man in Cabinet, was forced to resign because Cummings said so. Cummings has never been elected by anyone; at least Javid has. Make no mistake about who’s in charge – and it certainly isn’t that blonde James Corden look-a-like.

UK does get back some of £350m it sends to EU, Boris Johnson ...

Remember that famous slogan “£350 million pounds a week could be spent on the NHS” – you’ll never guess who worked that out. *I need to breathe in now

Cummings list of lies are absolutely incredible – in ANY other job he would be fired and probably face criminal proceedings. A quick reminder of just a few of his lies. Four days after the Prime Minister announced everyone “must stay at home” Mr Cummings was seen leaving his house because his wife believed their four year old to be very ill. He left, then returned to Downing Street 4 hours later. Despite the advice the clear advice that anyone who had symptoms or had come into contact with someone who may have COVID should remain at home for 14 days.

Cummings then drove to Durham because he feared that he and his wife would become seriously ill and need childcare. You may, at this point, have a touch of sympathy for the man. After all, the guidelines were vague when children were involved. ‘Essential travel’ was not fully explained.

Couldn’t he have found childcare closer to him? A friend, family member, care-worker? 240 miles is a long way to go for childcare isn’t it? He also drove to and back from a Hospital because there were ‘no taxis’, despite the advice at that time being – “people with symptoms that may be caused by coronavirus and who do not require hospital treatment are told they “must remain at home until they are well”. I could go on about his various lies since this incident but I’m sure you’re sick to death of reading them. But there are two really interesting aspects to this Cummings case which should be addressed.

The first was the journalism. Journalists these days have almost become identical to politicians: sensationalist, looking for click-bait, questionable sources and bare-faced lies (see Johnny Depp vs The Sun). But the journalism in this case was worthy of Woodward and Bernstein. Release one bit of information about seeing Cummings driving around – let Tory leaders panic, find an excuse, get it out there. Then just as they think they’re safe, add the ‘blog’ incident and the ‘long drive’ incident and watch the Tories scramble for someone to blame. Survival of the fittest has always been their way.

Gollum 2.0

Gollum 2.0

Even more saddening than that is this. The guidelines and advice given at the beginning was most likely checked and double-checked by Cummings before Boris was allowed to announce it. He knew the rules. He knew what Boris was going to say. And he knew the loopholes to stop him being properly charged. That is corruption. He was also aware of the millions of people, you and I included most likely, who weren’t allowed to visit loved ones because we believed their advice. Hindsight is wonderful – but why did we do that? Why did we trust men like Johnson and Cummings? Some say the public reaction was harsh and an overreaction – these people are wrong. It cannot be one rule for them, one rule for us.

It is currently estimated that up to 6.5million jobs could be lost by the end of this lock-down – but I doubt Cummings is too worried.

Jacob Rees-Mogg (A Brief History of a Moron)

June 27th 2023 / Leave Feedback / nezuppal

“But Nez!” I hear you shouting upon mymagnificent return. There’s so many worse Tories, why not write about them? Boris? Or Suella? Or just anyone associated with them. There’s also so much going on in the international sphere (the Ukraine War, China’s manoeuvres in the South China Sea, that bloody submarine), I imagine to myself you’re screaming.

Well, if you want to read about that … go to BBC News. Or is that too left wing? Then go to Fox News. Or do they just spread lies? I don’t write about that stuff because it’s all over the news. And people watch/read the news. Furthermore, in the words of the great Denzel Washington: “don’t read the news you’re uninformed, read the news and you’re misinformed.” Thank you Mr. Washington I’ll happily stay uninformed.

Why Groggy Mogg? Ah well, why not. He may not be the worst but we must remember we’re comparing him to tax-dodgers, coke-heads and Liz Truss. Picking the worst would be near impossible – though please feel
free to leave a comment saying your worst.mogg

Back to the Groggster. While some applaud his commitment to traditional values and staunch conservatism, others have raised concerns about his actions and stances on various issues. (By “some” … even I don’t know who I’m referring to). Let’s start where this man’s evil, in politics at least, began. Grenfell.

Don’t worry if you’d forgotten about Grenfell. The government forgot as well. And it’s their job not to forget. What was a shocking national disaster, raising so many issues not just around housing but around compensation, safety and the basic living conditions in this country. We were all appalled! Rees-Mogg wasn’t. Soon after the shocking incident, in 2017, he released a statement claiming that the victims lacked “common
sense” in following fire safety advice. Let that sink in.

Trained first-responders are giving you instructions. You’re building’s on fire. But if you listen to these trained
experts then, according to Mogg, you have no common sense.

If that wasn’t enough … he starts to attack the LGBTQ+ community. Let’s not get into a heated debate about gender identity or whatever, I don’t have time for that and whatever I say about it will offend someone. But when it comes to same-sex marriage the answer seems simple. Not for Mogg. His opposition to same-sex marriage and remarks suggesting that he does not personally support same-sex adoption have been met with outrage from LGBTQ+ advocacy groups and supporters.

Grenfell. Then the homosexual community. THEN we have Rees-Mogg’s views on abortion and contraception. Rees-Mogg, a devout Catholic (since when has that mattered?), has consistently opposed abortion in
all circumstances, including cases of rape and incest. Including rape and incest …

As a likely product of generations of incestuous in-breeding I can understand why he has such a warped mind. But he is not supposed to be looking out for his own family and their in-breeding ways. He is supposed to politically support the people he represents. Those people, we must assume, are either angry about Foggy Mogg’s stance. Or their ignorant to it. Get it? Ignorance is bliss.

His position disregards women’s reproductive rights and restricts access to safe and legal abortions. Additionally, Rees-Mogg has expressed opposition to contraception, advocating for abstinence
instead.

… Is he an InCel?

In the brilliant ‘House of Cards’ a simple political principle is spelt out to the viewers. Politicians have three things to consider when they are casting votes or making speeches. Vote your conscience. Vote your party. Vote for your constituents.

Not for Mogg, however, as he is “one of a kind” … in a VERY special way. He votes his Party; then perhaps he votes his conscience (if he has one). And his constituents?

Screw them. He’s probably laughing at how stupid they were to elect him the first place!

Rats Leaving the Sinking Ship (But that “Ship” is the British Government!)

July 6th, 2022 / Leave Feedback / nezuppal

Why are we celebrating? Well, because last night Rishi Sunak (the Govermment’s Chancellor of the Exchequer) and Sajid Javid (Health Secretary), amongst others, handed in their official resignations as members of the cabinet. I suppose we all knew this would come at some point – it had too.

Here’s a quick list of the Ministers (different to being in the cabinet) who have also resigned:

  • Will Quince, Education Minister
  • Alex Chalk, Solicitor General
  • Robin Walker, Education Minister
  • John Glen, Treasury Minister
  • Victoria Atkins, Justice Minister
  • Jo Churchill, Environment Minister
  • Stuart Andrew, Housing Minister

But what is more interesting is the specific cabinet ministers who have resigned. And I expect more to come.

After 2 years of Covid lockdowns, restriction, changing financial policies and record-breaking cases of deaths we now have no Chancellor of the Exchequer or Health Secretary. Yes, Nadhim Zahawi will become the new Chancellor; there are even rumours that he was threatening to also resign if he was not given the Chancellor role.

It’s not what you know, it’s who you know. 

Steve Barclay will become the new Health Secretary. I hear you ask “who”? Good question. Well, after being elected he previously served as “Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union” from 2018 to 2020 and that went um … well. Essentially, they’re seat fillers, looking to get ahead and siding with the PM to make it seem as if Boris was prepared for this.

And to be fair, throughout his career Boris has always been a step ahead of the game. He plays the buffoon, the “loveable” (I use that word because I have heard others refer to him in such a manner) clown. But let’s not forget he was a very talented journalist. He then moved into politics at the exact right time, defeating Ken Livingstone in 2008. Ken Livingston was actually the first Mayor of London, elected in 2000, and was responsible for winning the UK’s bid for the 2012 Olympics. As well as implementing ride-and-go bikes for people to get around the city easier. They’re now called “Boris Bikes”.

During the Brexit referendum Boris chose the side of “leave” which I think shocked many because, if he were to tell the truth (highly unlikely in any circumstance), he would probably admit that he is not a Brexiteer. But he saw that through, eventually winning. Then, he allowed Theresa May to immediately take over and take the brunt of the Brexit anger. It was only after this had, to some extent, settled down that Boris saw his opportunity to reach the position of Prime Minister, something which he told his dad he was going to be when he was 9 years old.

It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.

So, as the cost-of-living crisis increases, COVID cases continue to rise and the UK is stuck with an unbelievable amount of debt, matched only by record levels of inflation and a recession which technically hasn’t begun yet if you follow the strict definition of what a “recession” is. But everyone knows it’s coming and they’re batting down the hatches.

Rishi probably had his resignation letter prepared as soon as the tax-dodging, non-domicile news about his wife was leaked. You cannot be Chancellor and a tax dodger. Although, there used to be a time when we would not have a convicted criminal as a Prime Minister and yet here, we are.

And I agree, I think it is no coincidence that these two Ministers in particular resigned. Because what can they do? Apart from leave it to the next guy to sort. Remember David Cameron after the Brexit Referendum? Cut. And. Run.

But what’s more pertinent, relevant, and perhaps scary in my eyes is that we are celebrating the collapse of our own government. This is madness, surely. Yes, they should all resign. But these are ministers and MPs who have backed Boris Johnson all the way; they were all biding their time and I feel like the Pincher scandal was the opportunity that they all seized. The Pincher scandal is disgusting. The man is disgusting. But the Tory Cabinet is disgusting too. Whilst you were in lockdown, doing those annoying Zoom quizzes with family you hadn’t seen in years, they were partying and lying and laughing at you. And me. Us.

But the celebrations that Boris may finally disappear need to be quick and then we need to focus back on politics. Our cabinet is resigning. Our PM is a liar, cheat, narcissist, and a criminal. I recently wrote an article on how Democracy is failing. Our government is failing. Whatever happens in the USA tends to happen in Britain 5/10 years later (if not sooner). Democracy is failing in this country. We can see it crumbling in front of us!

So, these celebrations must be quick, but then we must act to preserve the nature of democracy in this country. We cannot have a cabinet filled with criminals. We cannot have a Prime Minister who invites Sue Gray (the investigator of the “party-gate” claims) to his office to tell her not to produce the report. Then say she was never invited. Then suddenly remember she was. A liar through and through.

But much like how Boris has seen and picked his moments throughout his career – Starmer and Labour or The Liberal Democrats must see this as their chance to hammer the final nail in the coffin. They cannot be weak. They must strike at PMQs, they have to be on the streets. Now is not the time to watch the world burn, as Labour seem to have been doing over the last few years. The time is now for Starmer to prove his worth and prove that he is a better politician, leader, and human being than Boris.

For the sake of the country. Don’t screw this up.

Brexit – You Broke It, You Bought It

January 10th, 2021 / Leave Feedback / nezuppal

I’m not sure if many people remember where/when they were when the Brexit result was announced. I remember exactly. It was the day after we got our exam results and we decided to go out. One of my friends, who shall remain nameless, overdid it and I was forced to look after him for the night. I woke up bright and breezy and went into my friend’s living room.

I switched on the TV and saw those two famous numbers that would dominate British political discourse for the next five years of my life. 52% to 48%. (Why oh why could they not have put a 5% minimum limit on it, why?) I imagine it’s because, much like me, most people never ever expected Britain to leave the EU. I went into my friend’s room and in his sick-covered shirt he sat bolt upright, ran down the stairs and started watching the news – nearly wept. Boris’ blatant lies, Michael Gove’s muddled statements, the chilling racist undercurrent which cut through the entire campaign. The expectation that all your problems were caused by the EU and its institutions is shocking.

Tories must admit the lies of Brexit to save the economy – and themselves - New Statesman

Essentially, as I said it would, the vote would come down to a simple question about whether people were happy with their current situation/lives or whether they were not. It is clear from that outcome that most were not. But this was after six years of Conservative rule. So is the austerity you face, the rise in foodbanks, the tripling of our national debt, joblessness, homelessness etc. Is that more down to a harsh government? Or an international unified body which has no ability to dictate a sovereign states’ laws. Obviously, the latter …?

I won’t go through a list of the lies they told you. You’ve heard them all and if you had any political nous, common sense, or a brain cell you would instantly see them for what they were, complete rubbish? I’m not a fan of James O’Brien, he does a daily talk show for LBC, but he has been consistently arguing against Brexit since the vote and has received a ridiculous amount of online hatred for it. I don’t agree with everything he says and do find him to be a bit patronising to people who may not be as educated as he is. But if you get a chance, you should definitely give him a listen.

In one portion of his show, my personal favourite, he gets a lot of angry Brexit supporters to ring in and simply say why we’ll be better off outside the EU. He asks them to specifically name one law, as I have done to my Brexit-voting kin, that they did not like obeying while in the EU. One man jokingly answered, “straight bananas” to about 10 seconds of stunned silence. Another woman seriously replied, “blue passports”, utterly seriously, and when asked whether this would improve poverty, housing, suicide rates, a crumbling NHS, people who rely on the freedom of movement – she immediately hung up.

My biggest argument for the EU had nothing to do with freedom of movement or the economy. In fact, there are certain aspects of the European Union, particularly the Commission, which I find wholly undemocratic and fundamentally disagree with. However, the creation of the European Union (technically starting as the European Economic Community ironically without Britain) has led to 65 years of peace between European nations.

This is the longest period of peace in the region in over 2,000 years. 65 years out of 2000.

It’s because it came down to immigration. Which is fine and I honestly don’t understand the problem. Being concerned about immigration affecting your livelihood etc can be a genuine problem and people admitting that can be a real step forward because then a genuine discussion can be had on the pros and cons of immigration. The problem arises when someone says they did vote on the basis of immigration and immediately get called a racist, shutting down the argument and making the debate even more controversial.

A lot of Brexit voters said there would be no delay in organising a deal because the EU needs us as much as we need them. When will this Dunkirk/Blitz spirit end? We are not the country that once controlled 3/4 of the globe. We are a country run by an unelected blonde fool who is being run by an even bigger unelected blonde fool. European countries look upon us a joke. Believe it.