BY MANRAJ ATWAL The King is dead; Long live the King! Or so the media declare as Britain faces up to its seventh Prime minister in a decade. The seemingly ritualistic axing of our head of government has been accompanied by all the usual rites. The choir of voices declaring “The grownups are back in charge”, the scuttling of MPs as they preach the virtues … Continue reading Devolution Is a Deflection, Not a Diagnosis
BY SEAN WALSH “I am satisfied the relevant processes were followed. The men are ascending and descending at the same time.”— Keir Starmer The English language is pretty useful when it comes to describing things, but it can only do so much. Some things are beyond its scope: the malignant, ordinary-yet-strange quality of the Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury, Keir Starmer, for … Continue reading Starmer’s Process State Is an Escher Universe
BY PAUL T HORGAN Of course, Sir Keir could see a revival in the opinion polls. British armed forces could reveal a Wunderwaffe that, when used by Ukrainians, causes the Russian hordes to retreat from Ukraine like the Blue Meanies did from Pepperland when confronted by The Beatles, while, when used by the USA, permanently secures safe passage in the international waters of the Straits of Hormuz. … Continue reading Kicking the Can
BY STEWART SLATER “I stand here also as a black man” the Foreign Secretary portentously informed the United Nations. While sitting down. “I am a woman” was the overwhelming message of the Chancellor’s glossy video celebrating her position as the nation’s first female Second Lord (Lady?) of the Treasury. Their answer to the late Col. John Boyd’s famous question, “To be or to do?” seems … Continue reading Keir Canute
BY STEWART SLATER Like George Nathaniel Curzon, David Cameron is a most superior person. His face is pink, his hair is sleek. He may even (for all I know) dine at Blenheim once a week. Unlike “Dear George”, Dave became Prime Minister but the former would gain some comfort, I am sure, from having been Viceroy of India and a Marquess rather than having to … Continue reading It’s Dave’s World
BY STEWART SLATER Different societies have developed different ways of dealing with failed leaders. The ancient Athenians used ostracism, exiling the offender from the city for 10 years. The Romans preferred their fallen heroes to make a more permanent exit, as did the Japanese (the novelist Yukio Mishima committed seppuku in 1970 after the inevitable failure of his laughably inept coup attempt). Gentler societies have … Continue reading A Question of Truss
BY JON ALEXANDER As Partygate continues to engulf the Tories, rumours now persist that a leadership challenge is likely to take place in the near future as it’s claimed that the 54-letter threshold has been breached to trigger a leadership challenge. The Tory faithful has started recycling all their old arguments used to keep Theresa May in post following her disastrous 2017 which saw her … Continue reading What Next?
BY STEWART SLATER Returning to Babylon from India, Alexander the Great marched his army through the Gedrosian Desert. Taking longer than expected, food began to run short, and water ran out. When it appeared that the glorious story of conquest would come to a tragic end under the baking Persian sun, some scouts returned to the army announcing the discovery of an oasis. As proof, … Continue reading Why We Should Encourage Downing Street Partying
CSM EDITORIAL Yesterday evening’s statement by Theresa May that she would be seeking a further extension to Article 50 and would be reaching out to Corbyn’s Labour Party was the last straw for Brexiteers across the country – with talk of “the rape of British Democracy” last night. For Conservative Brexiteers her statement was even worse – May has put them in an impossible position … Continue reading Brexit Alliance Urgently Required
CSM EDITORIAL The dossier and smears launched against Boris Johnson this weekend seemed planned to coincide with the launch of the ERG’s alternative plans for Brexit. The hitjob is well-detailed here http://bit.ly/2oPO2f4 here http://bit.ly/2wYtAwj and here http://bit.ly/2wVjuMB As things turned out, Boris’ use of the term suicide vest rather dulled the attacks – a quite brilliant shield tactic or a lucky counter strike by the man who could well … Continue reading Smearing Boris Backfires
BY JOHN ISMAEL So, John Mann, the Labour MP for Bassetlaw, has stated what many see as the obvious: Jeremy Corbyn is too old to be Prime Minister. Therefore, he should not stand as Leader of the Labour Party after the fixed term parliament delivers a new General Election in 2022. Mann said in an interview with Blairite commentator Richard Angell, covered by the Mail: … Continue reading Corbyn Too Old?
BY JOHN ISMAEL Reason states that the Corbynites certainly do not merit a reaction. Momentum and Labour activists tend to have loud voices rather than being in control of large swathes of voters. McDonnell, Abbott and Nugee are hardly of a calibre worth giving any respect to. Without JC, no doubt there will be dissent in the Labour Party and the cock will not need … Continue reading The Antidote?
CSM EDITORIAL After a worrying vacuum, Theresa May’s Lancaster House speech – setting out the Government’s general terms for negotiation for Brexit – was a characteristically thoughtful, clear and impressive speech. That was back in mid-January. Since then the Prime Minister has solidified her lead in the polls, her authority – despite a couple of iffy Prime Minister’s Questions – has grown and her stock is … Continue reading One Speech Away From Greatness
