What do you mean Mussolini ended uo something like this?
"The people have the power to redeem the work of fools..."
Patti Smith, Poet & Rock Icon
WHEN DOES THE GOVERNMENT'S BETRAYAL OF DEMOCRACY JUSTIFY TAKING TO THE STREETS TO TEAR IT DOWN?
Westminster has fallen victim to a coup.
Politicians really should have seen it coming. We all should have seen it coming. But we didn't. A sizable number of us understood full well about the mechanism - the anachronism - known as prorogation. Or we thought we did. I must acknowledge that I was one of them. So why did it happen and what, if anything, can the British people do about it now at 11.59 Brexit time?
The 'why' aspect is pretty simple to explain - not that it offers any kind of excuse for the politicians at Westminster in particular.
The fact is that lazy, incompetent, lying, cheating, racist, apparently coke-snorting, elitist, far-right, pretend-Churchill clown that Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson undoubtedly is I really don't think any of us politicos really, deep-down imagined that beyond the bluster Johnson would risk sending the United Kingdom crashing in to the Second division.
And maybe even lower?
A very stupid boy actually...
Doing so just to, by hook-or-by-crook, achieve the mad Little England dream of the pinstripes and brogues army of Captain Mainwarings, Colonel Blimps, Reece-Moggs and other assorted Johnny Foreigner haters who yearn for the mythical days of a Golden Empire.
A mad dream Johnson also simply must know can, and will without fast and drastic action, end in disaster which will continue for years - decades to come. And one to boot from which only the super-wealthy like him and so many of his motley band of nanny-loving loons will emerge relatively financially unscathed.
Like the cautionary legend of Nero what all in Britain now have to wake up to as the first flames begin to smoulder and Emperor BoJo de Pfeffel gets out his fiddle is the fact that the madman now just has to be stopped and the only way to achieve this may have to be drastic - a rebellion in fact the like of which we have not seen since the Poll Tax Uprising took down the Wicked Witch of the West.
"Trust me - I have a very exciting agenda..."
In truth it may have to be a whole lot more extreme?
For what are the genuine political or judicial remedies on offer when the people are simply being ignored? Indeed, are there actually any?
Option 1: No-Confidence Vote leading to Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn as temporary Prime Minister & General Election
As an advocate of 21st Century Socialism, that I believe this would be the best outcome of all will come as no surprise. It would also be the easiest way out of the mess whether one supports the Corbyn project or not. It would by definition be a temporary, time-limited solution ultimately ending with a General Election that would, I challenge anyone to say otherwise, offer the best opportunity to salve the Brexit wounds no matter what was the outcome.
Not that I am suggesting even this, a new government and a new vote, will mend the division David Cameron set in motion before scuttling off to the million-dollar after dinner speakers circuit and some serious sunbathing.
Jeremy Corbyn - the PM Britain needs - receives a raptuous welcome at Glastonbury
Yet the sad thing is that it won't happen because even those Tories who know Johnson is in the throes of destroying Britain for a generation or more; and their party possibly for ever, are so hardwired in to doing anything but that which might risk the first truly Leftist government since that of Atlee after the war - and the first genuine alternative to neo-liberal greed and forced austerity for the poor - would rather see Britain go down in flames.
It is the sort of scorched earth; condemn everything and everyone to oblivion if we can't have our way mentality that Hitler and the Third Reich pursued as the tanks rolled in to the Fatherland. But that, I am afraid, is bottom-line Conservatism for you.
Throw in the pathetic Lib-Dems of non-entities such as new 'leader' Jo Swinson and Chuka '3 parties' Umunna who will all react in exactly the same 'anyone but Corbyn' way and even then the chances are remote to say the least. Just remember Clegg who happily supported a cruel austerity just for a minor lick on the lollypop of power: leopards really don't change their spots!
There should be greater co-operation with the Greens
Yes, there is small hope with the Greens - who we of the Left really should be encouraging closer co-operation with in my opinion. Maybe the SNP too - even if it is partly in the interest of their wider agenda. But trust me - best way out of the malais as it is by far Option 1 just ain't happening!
If there is to be a General Election those Socialists who believe in a world for the many not the few have got to find a way to force it ourselves.
Option 2: Bringing Theresa May's Brexit deal back from the dead
Least we forget in the prorogue turmoil this was rejected not once, not twice but three times! It also brought about the downfall of one of the worst Prime Ministers in Britsh history - it was that bad. Could any self-respecting politician who had voted it down for the festering cowpat May's proposals were really just hold their noses and vote for it now; just because they might view it the 'least worst' option?
The Brexit deal of the dancing robot should stay in the dustbin where it belongs
I think not. And I desperately hope not.
Option 3: Overturn Prorogation through the courts
Some people I have spoken to over the past couple of days really think there is a chance of salvation here. I hope that they are right but unfortunately I don't believe it myself for a minute. And the reason that it won't happen in my view is quite simple: Johnson has shamelessly but quite brilliantly dragged the Queen in to the mix.
As I see it unless the Queen can be shown to have been legally misled over the prorogation - which I would wager that she has not - then whatever some initial ritual posturing for appearances sake it just won't be happening either.
Her Majesty indicates that we need a political swing to the Left
For I just do not believe that the Judiciary would go up against 'its' Monarch in a million years.
So what are the alternatives - Follow the lead of the gilet jaune?
Anyone who is old enough to remember the demonstrations, mass public disorder and downright rioting that arose back in 1990 when, drunk on a decade of power, Margaret Thatcher deluded herself that she had become Untouchable, knows that even in a politically restrained country like Britain, mass rebellion and taking 'people power' to the streets really can work.
Indeed, having only a short time ago lived in France we only have to reflect upon the so-called gilet jaune phenomena to see that such mobilisation - if not allowed to become hijacked and slide in to wanton destruction for the sake of it - can shock the Untouchables in to thinking again. Has Britain now reached the time for such action, I ask?
In times past both Zapata and Che were attributed with the famous saying: "Better to die on your feet than live on your knees!" Why do I highlight this? Simply because one thing is quite clear to me after the events of this week.
"People liberate themselves..."
If Boris Johnson's abuse of Office as a petit sawdust Caesar mandated by less than 3/4 of the tiny Tory Little England party membership - and just 0.13% of the UK population - is left to roll on down the Highway to Hell of one thing alone we can be quite certain. By the time Halloween and Brexit comes around democracy and any chance of a quick-fire salvation will be crawling down the burning streets on its hands and knees.
So I ask readers the question: gilets jaunes, mes ami?
Or given the true 21st Century Socialist revolution that we need perhaps the offer of bonnets rouges is more in line?
The Bonnets Rouges - all the best revolutions are Red!
Thanks to Boris the need to storm our very own Bastille could be very near at hand...
***
Now this IS a good post! Don't know much about Jersey. But understand why you will be commited to it. As a Uk resident and sick of these Tories you should do more of this whatever else you do. Very thought provoking.
ReplyDeleteQuite agree. The last post was packed full of fascinating information but was way too long. But this is great writing. You should be writing for a newspaper if you don't already? Not that there is much choice if you don't adhere to the msm agenda.
DeleteThanks.
DeleteI recognise that the last post was too long for many.
The problem was that there was just so much information that really deserved to be out there. I must have cut another 40% that really still should have been made available.
This, along with what has happened with the Boris situation, is one reason why I have delayed the second part of the Jersey 'Dual' duplicity post - the modern stuff.
I am going to have to be quite brutal in what doesn't get included. Will definitely still put it up in a week or so though.
A very timely post given what has begun to unfold today. Hopefully it doesn't need rioting just being on the streets.
ReplyDeleteBut you ask a very valid question. What do we, as generally law-abiding citizens, do when democracy has been ignored by those we have elected?
I stood - as Mike Dun - in the 2016 Jersey Senatorial Bye Election caused by the retirement of Zoe Cameron after just two years in office. My platform was one of "Jersey after Brexit" because the UK Referendum had just decided in favour of leaving the EU but of course Jersey voters did not take part - although the decision has potentially profound implications for the CI's (and the IOM).
ReplyDeleteI campaigned to be elected for just the remaining 2 years term so that I could try to discover how Jersey residents might be affected by BREXIT, what Jersey people think about the prospect and what they wanted to do about it. I proposed to research and publish information and promote discussion.
64,462 were registered to vote in the Jersey election and about 13,000 did so. Just 73 votes were recorded for me but I received a great deal of abuse and ridicule.
Today I guess that our knowledge and understanding about what might happen in Jersey after BREXIT is still as confused as it was in 2016.
So I don't speculate on the quality of the UK electorate's decision anymore than that of the Jersey electorate in the Senatorial bye election except that there is little point in
expressing critical observations on their ignorance or lack of interest - whatever might be the root cause.
But I do note with some despair that a serious political article that takes 12 minutes or more to read is dismissed by several commentators here as "too long". So it comes as no surprise to me that the likes of Boris is now PM and I have little doubt that if Zoe was to stand again in Jersey, she would gain more than 73 votes and probably be re-elected as Senator.
Hi Tom/Mike
DeleteI followed your election from France in 2016. I must say that the campaign and the attacks you got and your final vote tally on the night summed up exactly what is wrong with Jersey.
It was in fact quite sad.
Candidates coming many votes above you who in all honesty had nothing to offer other than I'll deliver more of the same neo-liberal, kiss-the-Bailiff's-arse candy floss; everything in Jersey is really great regardless of the evidence, honest bullshit.
I would go as far as saying that in the case of a couple of candidates finishing above you I really wondered if they were sane.
You were flagging up real concerns and promising real efforts to try and prepare for them. Yet barely anyone listened.
After the events of this week with Dictator de Pfeffel it is easy to think for a moment that the UK is worse off than Jersey. You remind us that for all its faults Jersey is where the UK could soon be.
Everyone who visits here should really visit the Tom Gruchy blog. A link is in my blog list at the side of the page.
Can I just say that I am very disappointed in the Queen. She has one job, if that, to protect the constitution and the institution of parliament, and she has failed miserably.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that nothing much is to be expected from the courts however strong the case. It would be a brave judge, and as you say, Bojo de Piffle has already dragged the Queen into this on his side.
The only hope I can see is in the Commons in the next few days if a piece of legislation can be got through instructing the PM to either revoke Article 50 notification (which can be done unilaterally) or seek a further extension (which would require assent of EU27).
A motion of confidence, even if carried by the opposition, seems too full of holes to serve the immediate purpose, which is to avert a catastrophic no-deal exit from the EU.
As an off-shoot of recent debate Polo I personally think that 'our' Queen and her advisors will be spitting blood behind closed doors about BoJo de Pfeffel dragging her in to this.
DeleteNow as people know I am no supporter of the Monarchy/Royal Family - not due to any ill will to any one of them. Simply because I cannot in any way support a Head of State having no public mandate.
To this regard, and I was chuffed to see Owen Jones who I respect a lot stressing this too, following BoJo's use of the Queen a whole lot more people are starting to ask why - and how is it that we have got this unmandated Head of State.
From my personal experience many of these people appear to be folk who have never asked this question before. The consequences could be huge and ones BoJo Baggins never saw coming.
Bring on the election!
I agree with a pervious comment who said you should write a book. I love your writing style if not necessarily agreeing with all your politics.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteIt is good to disagree. So long as you appreciate that I am always right anyway!
Only joking of course.
Yes, Mike. I too was appalled at remarks that suggested a 12 minute read was too long. On that basis both yourself and Voice should have shut up shop long ago. And then where would we be.
ReplyDeleteIn my book, a post can only be judged too long relative to its content and I don't think that was what was in mind here.
I happened to follow a link to a longish piece in the Daily Mirror recently. It read like a piece composed by multiple contributors in separate silos, each repeating what the other said, sometimes word for word. Now that piece was too long and that's mediated MSM.
Give us a break.
Keep up the good work.
Yes Polo/Tom/Mike it is a bit disappointing that some people find a 12 minute read too long.
DeleteAs we all know it is bloody hard cutting down a post which has so much stunning - damning - information.
And isn't a problem we all moan about with the MSM that they feed us distorted sound-bytes instead of stories allowing us to make up our own mind?
To one really huffy commentator whose bolshy post I didn't put up, I would just say that while I know I am a decent writer I would have to have the finely honed brutally concise 'clipping' skills of Orwell at his finest to get the post down to the 1/3 length Mr Huffy said he wanted.
I couldn't do it without butchering the narrative. Yes, I accept that it was long. Next time I would even split it in to two. But there we go.
The modern era 'Dual' duplicity post is being kept much shorter if it makes Mr Huffy happy?!
Hi all
ReplyDeleteI have to rush out now to get my pitchfork and flaming torch. Will reply to all later today upon my return. Thanks for all the comments and the pleasing number of hits.
Excellent post. I would imagine that you would get far more comments if put up on a Monday? Everyone trying to enjoy the last proper summer holiday weekend?
ReplyDeleteYou do ask some pertinent questions. Personally I would like to see the attempted storming of both parliament and Buckingham Palce. I don't advocate violence but this action would trigger a real re-think.
Johnson is a bluffer who doesn't give a shit about this country. He is also an out of his depth coward. His bluff needs to be called and in no half-hearted fashion.
How can the lunatic in the photo at the top of your post be our bloody Prime Minister? A month later I really can't quite believe it. To use the words of one of Captain Mainwaring's men 'we're all dooooomed!'
ReplyDeleteTrevor would you consider standing for the Labour Party?
ReplyDeleteUnder Corbyn, Anonymous - absolutely.
DeleteUnder Blair and his betrayal of almost all that is inherently good in Labour to create Tory-Lite - not in a million years.
Didn't Blair once say that he came to Socialism through Marxism?
Any one of us who has examined Blair's record of betrayal of the poor and working class will say that the only works of Marx Tony is familiar with must have been the works of Groucho, Harpo, Chico and Co.
Great MP, brave, hardworking and honest in Jersey. Would be a great MP in England.
DeleteThank you. Your comments are very kind whoever you are.
DeleteBored with Facebook... the blogs are back!
ReplyDeleteYou think you have problems UK? You should all come over to the States and live under Trump!
ReplyDeleteGive me living under Trump OR BoJo any day of the week! Try living under the Bailhache Brothers!
DeleteYou and Shona should come back to Jersey and fight that corrupt bankruptcy law and get your rightful seats back where you belong. Never mind protesting outside Buckingham Palace and the likes, there should be protests outside Government house and the corrupt Royal court!!!!!
DeleteAgree on what living under the Jersey Judicial Jackboot is like.
DeleteAs for us coming back...
I can't speak for Shona, but if this is what you want I think you might have to gather together a good few brave souls and demonstrate outside Government House/Royal Court to get the bent and illegal bar on us standing lifted.
Suppose you could ask the political opposition in the States to help? But then I think Deputy Higgins is probably tied up with the excellent Air Display right now?
Lots of talk as always about demonstrating and political actions - but the sad fact is that the one great demonstration of 28 September 1769 - when the corrupt Royal Court was actually overthrown - by the people - is just simply forgotten and disregarded. There is an endless demand for stories about pigs being smuggled around the parishes during the Occupation but information, discussion and understanding about the political systems of Jersey and the relationships with Britain over a 1,000 years period are just too tedious to contemplate. The Occupation pig can be written about in a few lines but other more important matters might take as long as 12 minutes to read! Imagine that if you have an imagination....
ReplyDeleteSadly right on the money, Tom.
DeleteI have so much respect for those minority, of which I am proud to be one, who have stood up and put my head above the parapet. But most are, as you say, all talk.
Whether we agree with some of the actions in UK this week at least people are putting themselves in the firing line for their beliefs.
As you and I know the reasons for the Great & the Bad not wanting to raise awareness of Reform Day are born out of a desperate fear of their version of history being torn away by the truth.
Anyone doubting how the truth differs from what we are told really just needs to look at your own excellent blog where you have pretty much alone before 2012 kept the 1769 flame glowing.
Surely anyone reading my own humble efforts in the first part of the terribly long 12 minute 'dual duplicity' post can see straight away - these facts are not what we told at school, or even in the media about our perfect, caring, genial Bailiff system?
I do of course understand people's fear about the consequences of standing up for what they believe to be right, against injustice. sadly fear along with ignorance is what they rely on.
But without that step en masse in Jersey I really don't think things will ever change until the whole rotten system begins to tumble under the weight of its own corruption.
There has to be a real chance that this previously unthinkable ending might begin with whatever happens after the Brexit that you tried to raise awareness to, and prepare for in your by-election campaign.
Assuming we haven't all died of old aga beforehand.
All true unfortunately. People in Jersey are apathy on legs. Left two years ago nearly and glad I did.
DeleteTrevor.
ReplyDeleteAs much as I was looking forward to the launch of your new Blog I must confess I was a little put out that you might poach my number 1 fan who bombards me with a barrage of incoherent comments on a daily basis.
I must confess they do brighten my day up but with you starting up a new Blog I thought my number 1 fan would desert me and start bombarding you with his/her ramblings.
I'm pleased to say that I haven't been deserted and as most of the comments are now about yourself and Shona. I will send them all on to you and you (and possibly Big Ian) might consider publishing a "Christmas Special" Blog of my number 1 fan and his/her comments?
There are literally 100's if not 1,000's of them so perhaps Polo might want to do a Christmas special also?
A strange obsession.
DeleteYou really thought he might have moved on? Perhaps its as U2 sang - "Stuck in a moment he can't get out of"?
Very sad really.
Indeed. He/she is very much stuck in the past commenting on subjects that nobody is interested in any more. It's kind of like a spent conviction for threatening to kill people, where no-one is interested anymore and people move on. It's old news. Still there is certainly one person who dwells on the past and accuses you and Shona of votal fraud which one might suggest is, not only inaccurate, but possibly libelous?
DeleteSome people should really move on and stop living in the past!
Meant to say thank you for giving me a sneak preview of one of the latest cast members to the up-coming BTR's. A new and improved version of THIS ONE?
ReplyDeleteThe troll has more or less left me alone since my two posts on him some time ago. A bit sad really as his abuse was great raw material for those posts and at some stage I might contemplate doing another.
ReplyDeleteLink
Link
Can I be a character on the new BTR?
ReplyDeleteThere have been three very different posts on here since starting up the new blog only a month ago.
ReplyDeleteIf the troll isn't happy with them - and sorry, my little friend, but no one is interested in you any more, you are old news etc, then just stay away.
As to bombarding a third party with rants about my wife and I... that really shows a person who needs some help very urgently.
Move on.
Thanks for the example abusive comment from the Troll, Voice, but I don't think I will bother posting it.
ReplyDeleteWho would be interested in the ramblings of a man with a conviction for harrassment? Even more so when he is still saying the same things, almost word-for-word, that he was at the time of his arrest>
No one. It is old news.
Boris Johnson is providing so much material for blogs with his black comedy premiership. How did we ever get this prat as our PM? Just can't be right someone getting to lead the country (that's a joke in itself) on the vote of a few thousand of the flannels and brogues brigade. Politics here needs a complete overhaul. And a Corbyn government to kick the change off.
ReplyDeleteAny news on when you are hoping to put up the second part of the separation of powers in Jersey post?
ReplyDeleteHopefully go up in the next week. This one still getting read so don't really want to rush it.
DeletePlus who knows what is going to happen with Brexit at the Commons, and what there might be to write about?
When are you coming back to Jersey?
ReplyDeleteWhy? Don't say you miss me?
DeleteBoris Johnson would have made a typical Jersey Bailiff. Don't you agree? Full of himself and zero respect for the law.
ReplyDeleteTrevor.
ReplyDeleteIndependent Jersey Care Inquiry 2n Report IMMINENT.
I look forward to reading it VFC, though I won't be holding my breath as to what it will come up with.
DeleteThere has been no holding to account - even as in naming those at the top who deserve so much payback - thus far so I can't really see the COI growing some teeth now.
Hope I am mistaken.
Aim to have Part 2 of the Bailiff 'dual duplicity' posts up on Monday. Hopefully the '12 minutes is too long a read' viewers will be happy that I have tried a different approach.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to this. Can't believe anyone can claim 12 minutes is too long a read though. I like detail. It is what the msm generally don't give us. Deliberately too. Anyone else agree?
DeleteYes
DeleteThat's good guys. Doesn't seem much point putting up stuff if you have to leave out important detail just to get people to read it?
DeleteHopefully have it up Monday evening anyway as weekends don't seem the best period for traffic in summer.
Regarding your thoughts in the post Boris Johnson just cannot be trusted to keep his word on adhering to his promises on the no deal law. There is no way he should be granted the election Labour, SNP and even Lib-Dems want until it is written in stone and the 31st of October has passed. Then give him his election and the beating he and his joke of a party deserves.
ReplyDeleteAren't you meant to be putting up a new post tomorrow? This one seems to have run its course with comments and the Brexit chaos getting dafter by the day.
ReplyDeleteMight even be up later tonight.
DeleteAs John Lennon said 'life is what happens while you are busy making other plans'.
What I can say is that it will be the second in the Jersey Bailiff's 'dual duplicity' blogs.
I should also add that there will be one more in the series after this because at risk of upsetting the 12 minute gang you can only cut so much info.
I'm looking forward to the new article today, any idea what time it will be loaded up?
ReplyDeleteJust come in from a very hectic day so apologies. I hope to put it up before falling in to bed. So if you are not a night-owl at least it will be there in the morning.
DeleteTrevor.
ReplyDeleteNew and (some) old media Appear at Child abuse Review Panel TRANSCRIPTS.
Apologies to readers again but due to something unexpected coming up I will have to post the new blog on Wednesday, hopefully before lunchtime.
ReplyDeleteNot a problem Trevor we know it will be well worth the wait and I for one am looking forward to it.
Delete