Tag: Politics

Oven ready

 

What is it that they

admire about Boris J

a sound-bite fraudster

 

by Scooj

 

Sorry for getting all political, but I am utterly baffled by the adulation Boris receives. He has an abysmal record in high-office and yet because he promises to deliver one policy item (something he has promised and failed to do before) he is winning hearts (and minds?), but there is no scrutiny of the man and the damage he has done in the past and the damage he might do over the next five years if he is returned as PM.

Cult of celebrity. Enough said.

Vote

 

Polling card arrived

I’m pretty much decided

time for a big change

 

by Scooj

Tell them what they want to hear

 

Convenient lies

trotted off with abandon

electioneering

 

by Scooj

I am afraid

 

The world’s in a mess

extremists rise from chaos

what are we to do?

 

by Scooj

 

I have never known anything like it in my life and I am afraid. The extremists (particularly the far right) are seizing power and disregarding/dismembering those who stand in their way. To win at all costs seems to be the narrative and one that is popular amongst ignorant followers who don’t care about detail or facts or collateral damage just so long as they win and get their way, and get to crow that they are on a winning team.

This state of affairs couldn’t be any further away from consensus politics where ideas are discussed on their merits, not on their origins. Good ideas are not the property of one party or another, or at least they shouldn’t be. Had Theresa May been more inclusive in her approach to Brexit and created a cross-party working group from the start we would probably have left Europe by now, but instead she decided to lay down red lines… remember those? Then the chaos began.

In the UK, the worst part of all of this is the dominance of an unelected advisor to the Prime Minister, Dominic Cummings, who is pulling all the strings and playing Boris Johnson for the opportunist fool he is, and what does he get from all of this? He gets the satisfaction of winning, as if it is an intellectual game. He cares not one jot about the outcomes, simply that he orchestrated a win. ‘America first’, ‘win at all costs’, ‘bring back control’ – these are all jingoistic slogans designed to whip up superiority, strength and a winning mentality, while utterly ignoring reason, facts, and the damage inflicted to achieve the win.

My biggest fear though, and the reason for this rant is the way our Prime Minister and his inner circle are attacking and undermining the Supreme High Court and the judiciary more generally, suggesting that they are enemies of the state. Academics and experts have already been relegated as unimportant (Michael Gove has been particularly rampant in this field). I am afraid that the political landscape mirrors some of the darkest periods in European history. Each day trawls up yet another inflammatory or provocative episode that encourages the right wing hoards to gain momentum and confidence. I am afraid for the country I love.

Bro Jo

.

His loyalty stretched

picks country over brother

dignity intact.

.

by Scooj

On the news that Jo Johnson the Prime Minister’s brother has resigned as a Government Minister and from the Conservative party. This has not been a good week for Boris. Perhaps a little humility might help.

Regime change

 

The long knives are out

May’s early September comes.

The nasty party.

 

by Scooj

UK not OK

 

These uncertain times

create chaos and despair

divided nation.

 

by Scooj

Rees-Mogg

.

Insufferable

bore, darling of the far right;

Victorian code.

.

by Scooj

Split

 

Nation divided

by weather and politics;

flood, drought and Brexit.

 

by Scooj

907. Beaconsfield Road

Anthony Wedgwood Benn, or Tony Benn, will be forever remembered as the Bristol South East Labour MP who ruffled the feathers of the establishment with his hard left wing views. An adopted son of Bristol and much loved MP. This is a lovely tribute to Tony Benn by Stewy.

Stewy, Beaconsfield Road, Bristol, July 2017
Stewy, Beaconsfield Road, Bristol, July 2017

I think I a several years late in posting this fabulous stencil, and it has faded a little over time, but I have only just discovered it, and felt it write to post it as soon as I was able. Stewy has a great track record of creating stencils of important popular figures from Bristol, some of which are recorded previously in the blog. I like his work very much, and this particular piece feels so very right.