Britain - The Official Thread

[baldgye]

This is not debatable.

Then, as I said, you should help clue in the FT.

...no one can say anyone specifically was behind it.

That was a quick investigation...

 

[TenEightyOne]

But what if it was a hack?

A leak or a hack amounts to the same thing.

The ambassador has still done his job properly. The Prime Ministerial candidate has failed him and, arguably, so has Downing Street's incumbent.

 

[Dotini]

A leak or a hack amounts to the same thing.

The ambassador has still done his job properly. The Prime Ministerial candidate has failed him and, arguably, so has Downing Street's incumbent.

What is the greater failure, those of the Ambassador, the President, the PM candidate, the PM, the leaker, or is the greater failure that of relations between the US and the UK?

 

[Tired Tyres]

Do you think Sir Kim was dishonest in his appraisal? It seems to me that throughout this he's done his job - report the honest, brutal truth to Westminster. Trump hasn't done his job - at least he hasn't followed the normal protocol to declare Sir Kim persona non grata. Downing Street didn't recall him because he'd done nothing wrong. The only wrongdoing was the leak of classified diplomatic reports.

With one of the two Prime Ministerial candidates refusing to support him I'm not surprised Sir Kim resigned, it's a complete betrayal by his employer.

Nowhere do I say or think anything about the accuracy of the leak. Only the fact that it happened. It made his position untenable.

 

[TenEightyOne]

What is the greater failure, those of the Ambassador

There are no failings that I can see from the Ambassador. It's his job to report on the political state of the country to which he's posted, and that's exactly what he's done. Sometimes the truths told behind closed doors by ambassadors would make discomforting reading - and that's why those doors aren't normally allowed to open to the world.

the President

There's a simple protocol for him to follow so that he can avoid looking like a think-skinned git. Surprisingly he chose the latter.

the PM candidate, the PM

Johnson should have supported Sir Kim, May should have made it clear to Sir Kim that he wasn't to resign.

the leaker

Presumably their intent was to leak the information. A great success from their point of view.

or is the greater failure that of relations between the US and the UK?

Who's to say? The popularity of the USA around the world rests on its public image. I think it's fair to say that the USA isn't seen in a great light here in the UK at the moment. A lot of that is to do with the Presidential Office, imo.

Nowhere do I say or think anything about the accuracy of the leak. Only the fact that it happened. It made his position untenable.

That's why I asked you, do you think he was dishonest in his appraisal?

 

[Dotini]

Who's to say? The popularity of the USA around the world rests on its public image. I think it's fair to say that the USA isn't seen in a great light here in the UK at the moment. A lot of that is to do with the Presidential Office, imo.

According to what I've heard in polls, the US and Israel rank lowest in global popularity. Strangely, popularity doesn't seem to matter very much. I think whatever happens, the UK is tied at the hip to the US in a subordinate position. What might be in the balance is post-Brexit trade deal.

 

[baldgye]

That's why I asked you, do you think he was dishonest in his appraisal?

If anything the Trump government has only proven his appraisal to be accurate

 

[Tired Tyres]

That's why I asked you, do you think he was dishonest in his appraisal?

Since it is part of his job to accurately appraise a government which our government is supposed to have dealing with together with Trump on Twitter.....

 

[TenEightyOne]

Welcome to Britain, the seagulls say hi. Language warning!

 

[UKMikey]

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/brexit-party-richard-tice-darroch-18206347.amp

 

[Touring Mars]

Until this morning, I'd never met the leader of a major political party* - but by this time tomorrow, I will have met three - including the Prime Minister.

This morning I happened to meet the former leader of Scottish Labour, Kezia Dugdale. However, in the past I've met Jo Swinson and Boris Johnson... Swinson just became the leader of the Liberal Democrats and Johnson is, barring a miracle (or an assassination), going to be named the leader of the Conservatives (and thus the Prime Minister) tomorrow.

So, that will be three political leaders in ~24 hours... (even though I actually met Boris about 10 years ago).

* I've been in the same pub as Patrick Harvie, the leader of the Scottish Greens, a couple of times, but that doesn't count.

 

[Dotini]

Until this morning, I'd never met the leader of a major political party* - but by this time tomorrow, I will have met three - including the Prime Minister.

This morning I happened to meet the former leader of Scottish Labour, Kezia Dugdale. However, in the past I've met Jo Swinson and Boris Johnson... Swinson just became the leader of the Liberal Democrats and Johnson is, barring a miracle (or an assassination), going to be named the leader of the Conservatives (and thus the Prime Minister) tomorrow.

So, that will be three political leaders in ~24 hours... (even though I actually met Boris about 10 years ago).

* I've been in the same pub as Patrick Harvie, the leader of the Scottish Greens, a couple of times, but that doesn't count.

Have you ever noticed that some people have kind of a charisma about them, an "animal magnetism", if you will?
Once, at Boeing, I met Bill Clinton. We shook hands and he spoke briefly with me as he moved down a reception line of engineers. I have large hands (glove size 10), but his hand dwarfed mine and was exceptionally warm. He definitely had charisma, and I can appreciate that it helped him win two terms despite numerous faux pas.

 

[baldgye]

Until this morning, I'd never met the leader of a major political party* - but by this time tomorrow, I will have met three - including the Prime Minister.

This morning I happened to meet the former leader of Scottish Labour, Kezia Dugdale. However, in the past I've met Jo Swinson and Boris Johnson... Swinson just became the leader of the Liberal Democrats and Johnson is, barring a miracle (or an assassination), going to be named the leader of the Conservatives (and thus the Prime Minister) tomorrow.

So, that will be three political leaders in ~24 hours... (even though I actually met Boris about 10 years ago).

* I've been in the same pub as Patrick Harvie, the leader of the Scottish Greens, a couple of times, but that doesn't count.

I once saw Ed Balls in Birmingham...

Have you ever noticed that some people have kind of a charisma about them, an "animal magnetism", if you will?

...no

 

[Lizard]

Lets see who I have met politically.

Lord Davies, he spoke very posh.
Karen Lee. Was my local MP.
Rebecca Long Bailey
3 councilors.

I have seen in person but not spoken to.
Jeremy Corbyn
Ed Miliband

There, my claim of who I know.

 

[UKMikey]

I have large hands (glove size 10), but his hand dwarfed mine and was exceptionally warm.

Imagine how Trump's hands would've looked in comparison.

 

[Tired Tyres]

Johnson won. Oops.

 

[Touring Mars]

Boris Johnson in the UK's new Prime Minister

He was elected as leader of the Conservative Party, winning the final round against Jeremy Hunt by a margin of around 2:1...

 

[MatskiMonk]

Bozza!!!

 

[TheCracker]

 

[Dotini]

Let the fires begin! How long will this terrible person last? Will his party immediately split in two, will he fail in everything he does? Was his margin over 67.5%?

 

[PzR Slim]

Well, at least he will now have to own all his BS over the past three years. How long before his first gaff?

 

[Liquid]

Can everyone in the UK please put the crack pipe down?

Coldwar Steve on the money as usual.

 

[DK]

Well, it is rather more-ish.

 

[MatskiMonk]

Bozza's career summed up in a Gif.

 

[Touring Mars]

And this sums up Boris's attitude towards the forthcoming Brexit negotiations:

 

[UKMikey]

And his attitude towards the more vulnerable members of our society...

 

[Dennisch]

I'm expecting nothing less than gold meme material from this clown.

 

[Famine]

Really harshly, it seems like just moments after he lost the leadership run off, crowds of people are calling on Boris to fire Jeremy.

There's loads of people chanting "Johnson Sack Hunt! Johnson Sack Hunt!". I think.

 

[Liquid]

 

[Touring Mars]

I don't really get why anyone in European can be surprised by Boris Johnson's rise to power...

... while I fully accept that the UK's handling of Brexit has been disastrous, I also lay the blame squarely at the feet of the EU for singularly failing to offer Britain anything that even resembles an acceptable agreement. This is the result.