The 2024 UK General Election - news, speculation and updates

[Wilf]

Is that really possible??

'And let me tell you about that time we had a takeaway that was nearly in breach of Covid regulations! I stood near the window having a beer - yes, for all to see!'

 

[Larry O'Hara]

By the by, what's the hostility towards Sweeney all about? I've cast my mind back and even looked at his wiki page, but nothing comes to mind other than some solid journalism. Genuine (and probably naive) Q, as they say.

Solid journalism: hardly eg
1) during the iraq war run up he spun outrageous MI6 lies: the best was that taxi drivers were paid to bring bodies of dead children to Baghdad to falsely claim they were killed in allied airstrikes
2) another one you wont find on his digital cesspit (Wikicult) page: he tried to do a Panorama number onnTommy Robinson. This included trying to get the delectable Lucy Brown pissed. Sadly for him, she recorded his drunken boasts, including hatred for the working class, so when he went to confront TR the footagecwas shown back to him and he was poleaxed. Needless to say, the programme never aired and Sweeney was ‘let go’. I laughed so much I nearly cried….

 

[Wilf]

Solid journalism: hardly eg
1) during the iraq war run up he spun outrageous MI6 lies: the best was that taxi drivers were paid to bring bodies of dead children to Baghdad to falsely claim they were killed in allied airstrikes
2) another one you wont find on his digital cesspit (Wikicult) page: he tried to do a Panorama number onnTommy Robinson. This included trying to get the delectable Lucy Brown pissed. Sadly for him, she recorded his drunken boasts, including hatred for the working class, so when he went to confront TR the footagecwas shown back to him and he was poleaxed. Needless to say, the programme never aired and Sweeney was ‘let go’. I laughed so much I nearly cried….

Thanks.

 

[Kid_Eternity]

I saw Keir Starmer nursing a pint at noon outside The Pineapple in Kentish Town a couple of years ago, his eyes all bloodshot and his face all red. I suspect unlike many politicians he is very comfortable with a pint in his hand.

My old local, great pub.

 

[cupid_stunt]

Is saying Farage is a crook and conman libellous considering the demonstrable lies he’s been peddling? I don’t think either word specifically alleges criminality, just dishonesty

To call him a crook and conman, then go on to make a false claim that “Reform UK, is another smokescreen. Set up to take money off people without offering them membership like any other established political party", is clearly libellous.

* I had to check wikipedia, when the Brexit Party was rebranded as Reform UK in 2021, they changed the model to offer proper membership, in line with other political parties.

The SNP's Alyn Smith got into a bit of bother over similiar claims about the Brexit Party back in 2019.

SNP MEP Alyn Smith has issued an "unreserved" apology over his allegation that the Brexit Party is a "money laundering front".

Brexit Party chairman Richard Tice threatened to sue Mr Smith over the claim, which he made in a TV interview.

Mr Smith has now admitted he did not have any evidence to support his claim.

He has agreed to pay a "significant" contribution to Mr Tice's legal costs, and will also make a donation to the Help for Heroes charity.

Alyn Smith: SNP MEP apologises over Brexit Party 'money laundering' claim

Alyn Smith had been threatened with legal action by the chairman of the Brexit Party after claiming it was a "money laundering front".

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[wtfftw]

I'm lost between all the threads. have we had farage being milkshaked today?

 

[Silas Loom]

I'm lost between all the threads. have we had farage being milkshaked today?

Yes, but all threads benefit from it.

 

[Bingoman]

GB news are reporting 6 Tories are on the verge of joining Reform including a household name?

I wonder who the big name is if true

 

[King Biscuit Time]

It will be JRM getting parachuted out of the seat he's about to lose and into somewhere in the South East

 

[Wilf]

GB news are reporting 6 Tories are on the verge of joining Reform including a household name?

I wonder who the big name is if true

If it happens, it isn't likely to be anyone more right wing than elphicke.

 

[spitfire]

GB news are reporting 6 Tories are on the verge of joining Reform including a household name?

I wonder who the big name is if true

Braverman I bet.

Is Gullis a household name? He’s a household pest for sure.

 

[Wilf]

I'll believe I when I see it in terms of 6. But still, we've basically got rats leaving a sinking ship in 2 separate lifeboats. One to the right to Reflux and the other to.... err... the right to Labour.

 

[The39thStep]

GB news are reporting 6 Tories are on the verge of joining Reform including a household name?

I wonder who the big name is if true

Why aren't they joining Labour?

 

[Smangus]

Well, if Fuhrage gets elected I suppose there's a good chance he'll drink himself to death in the subsidised bars of the commons like Dorries tried to. Every cloud etc...

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

 

[Karl Masks]

GB news are reporting 6 Tories are on the verge of joining Reform including a household name?

I wonder who the big name is if true

Liz Truss

 

[moochedit]

Liz Truss

Well she jumped ship before from the lib dems so it's possible i guess.

 

[skyscraper101]

Rees-Mogg losing his seat still sounds too good to be true. I mean I want to believe but can it actually happen? I hope Reform with Farage will at least galvanize the swing Tory vote against him.

 

[agricola]

To call him a crook and conman, then go on to make a false claim that “Reform UK, is another smokescreen. Set up to take money off people without offering them membership like any other established political party", is clearly libellous.

* I had to check wikipedia, when the Brexit Party was rebranded as Reform UK in 2021, they changed the model to offer proper membership, in line with other political parties.

The SNP's Alyn Smith got into a bit of bother over similiar claims about the Brexit Party back in 2019.

Alyn Smith: SNP MEP apologises over Brexit Party 'money laundering' claim

Alyn Smith had been threatened with legal action by the chairman of the Brexit Party after claiming it was a "money laundering front".

www.bbc.co.uk

TBF the membership point is almost certainly not libellous - it is true that you can now sign up as a member, but there is no guarantee that you would (as you would for any other established political party) be able to vote for the leader, or select a PPC within a constituency party, or indeed do anything beyond what "supporters" used to do for the old Brexit Party. Given they've just selected a load of PPCs and switched the leader with no membership involvement, and given they are still a company that is owned by Farage and others, I would imagine what the Greens have said here is not actionable.

Smyth got into trouble for saying it was a money laundering organization, which couldn't be stood up. On similar lines the "crook and conman" might be something he could go after them for, but even then there is the fact that he was going around a couple of years ago trying to get people to buy a several-hundred pounds a year subscription to a financial advice newsletter; it perhaps could be argued as fair comment within the heat of an electoral campaign.

 

[agricola]

GB news are reporting 6 Tories are on the verge of joining Reform including a household name?

I wonder who the big name is if true

How many Tories have shows on that channel? Isn't it about six?

 

[Wilf]

This thread’s been moving fast but have a look upthread

Thank you for your near assistance in this matter.

 

[Orang Utan]

Thank you for your near assistance in this matter.

You’re welcome. It’s my training.

 

[Wilf]

You’re welcome. It’s my training.

Will I be receiving a text asking me to rate my customer experience?

 

[Orang Utan]

Will I be receiving a text asking me to rate my customer experience?

Fuck no

 

[stavros]

How many Tories have shows on that channel? Isn't it about six?

From looking at Wikipedia it looks like only McVey and Mogg of current MPs. However they also have 30p Lee, Farage, Arlene Foster, Portillo and Tice, with Johnson to come, if he can ever be arsed.

 

[klang]

This. Clapton is in Hackney North and Stoke Newington and I imagine has very different demographics to Clacton.

Pints are too expensive to chuck at politicians in HN & SN, for a start.

 

[Wilf]

From looking at Wikipedia it looks like only McVey and Mogg of current MPs. However they also have 30p Lee, Farage, Arlene Foster, Portillo and Tice, with Johnson to come, if he can ever be arsed.

Portillo is quite into trains. So what's the angle of his GB News show? Which kind of regimes make them run on time?

 

[steveo87]

How early into tonight's 'debate' will we hear what their parents did for jobs.

 

[Wilf]

How early into tonight's 'debate' will we hear what their parents did for jobs.

Sunak v Starmer? I didn't know they were still making Robot Wars.

 

[gentlegreen]

A pity they weren't brave enough to say WHY they voted Tory before..
Was it one or more of several words beginning with B ?
The concept of "floating voter" is beyond me...