Same comment as three months ago, there is still time on our side. Labour will implode and will be holding the parcel when the music stops. Reform has a year or two to refine its message, and respond to pressure from right and left. On the other hand …
The special needs school of the PPE political class has shown itself (once again) to be an outdated, sclerotic richbois club that just can't keep with the times.
Of course, our establishment still want to be in it. God forbid they actually make any decisions themselves!
I think you are a sceptic of Danny Kruger’s and I can understand your reservations, but one thing I would note about him is that he is a career politician (thus his switch from the ‘dead’ tories). I am slightly intrigued to see whether he can shape or inform Reform’s policy approach and negate Farage’s baleful leadership when it comes to actual detail. Kruger is 50ish. Farage is now past 60 and has not had the best record of health over the last few years.
Whenever I see Farage, he looks tired. And, despite Reform's polling, he doesn't look like he's much enjoying his role as leader. And neither does he strike me as someone who's much interested in or capable of getting his head around a wide array of policy detail. So it's perhaps fortuitous that someone like Kruger, who strikes me as capable of coordinating the development of a policy platform, has come along at this time. We shall see how it pans out.
I was just going to post a similar comment, so have appended - interested in your thoughts on Kruger. I appreciate that my short blog on him (https://alexstarling77.substack.com/p/danny-kruger) might come across a bit fan-boyish, but check the para at the bottom regarding the stark choices for the thinking voters (noting your point about BBC-watchers, of course!).
I'm aware of various older boomers (and possibly pre-boomers) - avid BBC watchers and Daily Mail readers all - who were VERY taken by Kruger's speech on the church in July. Not sure whether this angle has been noted by the lobby or the chattering classes. The fact that Charles Moore felt obliged to be sniffy about him kind of indicates that they - at least sub-consciously - may have realised that Kruger has struck a chord with some.
Sir John 'Pasha' Glubb in in his 1975 essay The Fat of Empires pointed out in the six and final stage of s nations life cycle he called 'The age of Decadence; he made it very clear the West has further to go down hill before it rises again.
The current lots of politicians, including Farage, have to be totally discredited before new blood can takes over.
This is an excellent and hard nosed analysis but I just can’t share any enthusiasm for Jenrick, a Johnny come lately opportunist and one who sold his vote to a porn baron for a few grand in a brown envelope. If he’s the leader and I’m Labour I’m going to remind the public of that Every. Single. Day. until he resigns.
The Tories are done unless someone completely untainted by 20 years of failure and sleaze can come up from the roots. Maybe the next Thatcher is out there somewhere. But as you rightly say, Kemi isn’t it, neither is Nige, nor Rupert.
We are seeing the result of that 'March through the institutions'
Every government departments is run by lefty activists, as this is the result. It is also the best they can achieve. They need reminding of this daily.
As for who can start to clean up this mess, pfffft, who knows.
The Tories won't, even if they got in. CCHQ and the donors are the same people and will want the same outcomes the Tories gave them during their 14 years of doing absolutely nothing they were elected to do.
Labour won't as it's their mates.
Lib Dems? Bwahahahaaa....Ooooh, look at me, I've fallen off a canoe, I'm sooooooo zany. Ed Davey appeals only to the middle class feminist who thinks she's rebellious by not voting labour.
Heritage Party? I like Dave, but his support isn't even close to being anything above a single percentage point.
Corbyns 'Raisin' party? He's as divisive as Farage, with less support.
Habib and Lowe? See Heritage - not happening
Leaves only Reform. As sticky as it is and as uncertain as it would be, what is turning into Farage's Tory Party 2 may well be the only option on the ballot that has a remote chance of breaking the Uni party, and actually doing.......just something! Christ, it really is that bad.
It's all rather grim.
Still, you have to laugh; Ed Davey may forget his life jacket next time.
Same comment as three months ago, there is still time on our side. Labour will implode and will be holding the parcel when the music stops. Reform has a year or two to refine its message, and respond to pressure from right and left. On the other hand …
A bit of a silver lining is the state of the EU.
The EU think their economy can sail on, it can’t.
A floundering Europe (including the UK) will have to look to the USA.
The USA will rescue the situation, as it’s a financial opportunity.
They will also demand a change to our politics.
Trump and his allies are well aware of Europes slide into chaos and won’t shy away from remedial action.
It will hurt, but not as much as continuing on Europes suicidal path though.
The EU is effed
The special needs school of the PPE political class has shown itself (once again) to be an outdated, sclerotic richbois club that just can't keep with the times.
Of course, our establishment still want to be in it. God forbid they actually make any decisions themselves!
I think you are a sceptic of Danny Kruger’s and I can understand your reservations, but one thing I would note about him is that he is a career politician (thus his switch from the ‘dead’ tories). I am slightly intrigued to see whether he can shape or inform Reform’s policy approach and negate Farage’s baleful leadership when it comes to actual detail. Kruger is 50ish. Farage is now past 60 and has not had the best record of health over the last few years.
Whenever I see Farage, he looks tired. And, despite Reform's polling, he doesn't look like he's much enjoying his role as leader. And neither does he strike me as someone who's much interested in or capable of getting his head around a wide array of policy detail. So it's perhaps fortuitous that someone like Kruger, who strikes me as capable of coordinating the development of a policy platform, has come along at this time. We shall see how it pans out.
I was just going to post a similar comment, so have appended - interested in your thoughts on Kruger. I appreciate that my short blog on him (https://alexstarling77.substack.com/p/danny-kruger) might come across a bit fan-boyish, but check the para at the bottom regarding the stark choices for the thinking voters (noting your point about BBC-watchers, of course!).
I'm aware of various older boomers (and possibly pre-boomers) - avid BBC watchers and Daily Mail readers all - who were VERY taken by Kruger's speech on the church in July. Not sure whether this angle has been noted by the lobby or the chattering classes. The fact that Charles Moore felt obliged to be sniffy about him kind of indicates that they - at least sub-consciously - may have realised that Kruger has struck a chord with some.
Sorry Pete all i can provide is more bad news.
Sir John 'Pasha' Glubb in in his 1975 essay The Fat of Empires pointed out in the six and final stage of s nations life cycle he called 'The age of Decadence; he made it very clear the West has further to go down hill before it rises again.
The current lots of politicians, including Farage, have to be totally discredited before new blood can takes over.
This is an excellent and hard nosed analysis but I just can’t share any enthusiasm for Jenrick, a Johnny come lately opportunist and one who sold his vote to a porn baron for a few grand in a brown envelope. If he’s the leader and I’m Labour I’m going to remind the public of that Every. Single. Day. until he resigns.
The Tories are done unless someone completely untainted by 20 years of failure and sleaze can come up from the roots. Maybe the next Thatcher is out there somewhere. But as you rightly say, Kemi isn’t it, neither is Nige, nor Rupert.
No heir in sight for the right.
We are seeing the result of that 'March through the institutions'
Every government departments is run by lefty activists, as this is the result. It is also the best they can achieve. They need reminding of this daily.
As for who can start to clean up this mess, pfffft, who knows.
The Tories won't, even if they got in. CCHQ and the donors are the same people and will want the same outcomes the Tories gave them during their 14 years of doing absolutely nothing they were elected to do.
Labour won't as it's their mates.
Lib Dems? Bwahahahaaa....Ooooh, look at me, I've fallen off a canoe, I'm sooooooo zany. Ed Davey appeals only to the middle class feminist who thinks she's rebellious by not voting labour.
Heritage Party? I like Dave, but his support isn't even close to being anything above a single percentage point.
Corbyns 'Raisin' party? He's as divisive as Farage, with less support.
Habib and Lowe? See Heritage - not happening
Leaves only Reform. As sticky as it is and as uncertain as it would be, what is turning into Farage's Tory Party 2 may well be the only option on the ballot that has a remote chance of breaking the Uni party, and actually doing.......just something! Christ, it really is that bad.
It's all rather grim.
Still, you have to laugh; Ed Davey may forget his life jacket next time.
I met Paul Embery this evening. Not all Labour Party members and trade unionists are narcissistic progressive twits. That was good news to me, anyway.
Reform is a rudder less mess with Mr Farage. Without him and his media pulling power they're good as gone.