The brits are in for a rough ride

Page 13 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.
Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
P

pmv

Lifer
May 30, 2008
13,049
7,976
136
manly said:
I could be wrong about this, because I know little of British politics. But it's funny to hear Sunak is a fiscal conservative, because when I read about his most recent tenure in government, he would be what you'd call a "moderate Republican" in the U.S. Of course, no such thing still exists today except for someone like Joe Manchin. Sunak has raised taxes, and approved some modest direct relief against soaring energy prices. Things that not a single GOP Congressperson would ever vote for in the U.S. Mainly, it sounds like he wants to pay for any new government spending and as a policy starting point, that isn't wholly unreasonable.
Click to expand...

It's really hard to work out what Sunak's politics are. He apparently was one of those who argued most strongly _against_ an early COVID lockdown (and thus is partly why the Johnson government locked down late and caused a lot of avoidable deaths). And on the one hand he introduced furlough, while on the other he brought in the stupid 'eat out to help out' subsidy for MPs favorite restaurants, that did nothing but cause further spread of COVID.

And on the one hand he was quite correct in pointing out Truss/Kwarteng's plans would lead to disaster, but on the other he himself had earlier pushed for even larger cuts in corporation tax.

Seems like there are two different Sunaks in there. Don't know which one we'll get as PM.
 
  • Like
Reactions: manly
WelshBloke

WelshBloke

Lifer
Jan 12, 2005
30,443
8,109
136
manly said:
I immediately acknowledged that fact in my first sentence. :)
Click to expand...
I kinda meant that even if you were really well versed in the politics on both sides of the Atlantic you still can't really compare US and UK political parties without getting the wrong end of the stick about lots of things!
 
WelshBloke

WelshBloke

Lifer
Jan 12, 2005
30,443
8,109
136
pmv said:
It's really hard to work out what Sunak's politics are. He apparently was one of those who argued most strongly _against_ an early COVID lockdown (and thus is partly why the Johnson government locked down late and caused a lot of avoidable deaths). And on the one hand he introduced furlough, while on the other he brought in the stupid 'eat out to help out' subsidy for MPs favorite restaurants, that did nothing but cause further spread of COVID.

And on the one hand he was quite correct in pointing out Truss/Kwarteng's plans would lead to disaster, but on the other he himself had earlier pushed for even larger cuts in corporation tax.

Seems like there are two different Sunaks in there. Don't know which one we'll get as PM.
Click to expand...
Small aside, I didn't realize how much like an android he is when making a speech! Total uncanny valley thing going on with his face and intonation!
 
P

pmv

Lifer
May 30, 2008
13,049
7,976
136
WelshBloke said:
Small aside, I didn't realize how much like an android he is when making a speech! Total uncanny valley thing going on with his face and intonation!
Click to expand...

Echoes of Gordon Brown, perhaps? What is it about ex-chancellors?


The fact that nobody has much idea what Sunak's going to do now he's in office, is a good reason why there needs to be a General Election. They've foisted the guy on us, without him at any point giving much inkling as to what his 'manifesto' even is.

Did he give much a clue in the previous contest vs Truss? I can't say I paid any attention, on account of not having a vote.
 
WelshBloke

WelshBloke

Lifer
Jan 12, 2005
30,443
8,109
136
Whole speech if anyone can face it.


It's like every politician has employed the same voice coach as Tony Blair, they all sound like him.
 
P

pmv

Lifer
May 30, 2008
13,049
7,976
136
WelshBloke said:
I mean given the last two he's kind of an improvement! Admittedly it's a really low bar but...
Click to expand...

Last three, surely?

Easy to lose count these days.

(Even more so with Chancellors - the Conservatives have had four of them in the last year, while Labour have had five in the last 60 years)
 
P

pmv

Lifer
May 30, 2008
13,049
7,976
136
Not a good sign that he's left Hunt in situ and also bought back Braverman (only a few weeks after she quit due to her own version of buttery males)

Hugely ironic that an Indian-descended PM, in choosing an Indian-descended Home Secretary may have endangered he chances of a trade deal with India

"Not only is Braverman likely to maintain a tough line on immigration, which could torpedo the chances of an India trade deal and rule out relaxing foreign worker rules to help boost economic growth, but the appointment threatens to undermine a key pledge made in Sunak’s first speech as prime minister."
Click to expand...

www.theguardian.com

Rishi Sunak’s cautious reshuffle unlikely to alienate Tory camps

New cabinet is designed to bring down the temperature in the party – but dangers lie ahead
www.theguardian.com www.theguardian.com
 
Fenixgoon

Fenixgoon

Lifer
Jun 30, 2003
31,574
9,955
136
gotta drop this one here -


will Sunak's policies be any different than Truss' or since they are from the same party will Britain see more of the same, but maybe a slightly different flavor of policy?
 
  • Like
Reactions: misuspita
P

pmv

Lifer
May 30, 2008
13,049
7,976
136
Fenixgoon said:
gotta drop this one here -


will Sunak's policies be any different than Truss' or since they are from the same party will Britain see more of the same, but maybe a slightly different flavor of policy?
Click to expand...

That's the ridiculous thing about it - nobody knows what to expect from him, because _he didn't have to face an election_. Because he gave no interviews, undertook no public campaign, and produced no manifesto, everyone is reduced to searching through all his past statements and examining his biography, in order to work out what he's likely to do.

This is the fourth time in a row the Conservatives have picked a new PM without consulting the electorate. They've broken the parliamentary system. If not deliberately, then through their degree of internal dysfunction,
 
  • Like
Reactions: Fenixgoon
misuspita

misuspita

Senior member
Jul 15, 2006
401
452
136
Oh, and the people he chose to get into government. That gov could all be in prison if the justice worked in Britain, but nooo, they blame East Europe for corruption, but what is happening there is Benny Hill.... Can't even get angry, only laugh
 
Artorias

Artorias

Platinum Member
Feb 8, 2014
2,111
1,382
136
At this point it might be better to just get King Charles to take the wheel for a few months.

Bring back a little nostalgia lol.
 
P

pmv

Lifer
May 30, 2008
13,049
7,976
136
Trying to imagine what Enoch Powell would have thought had he known his successor would be, not one, but two South Asian women politicians competing with each other for being 'tough' on migrants (Braverman seems to have out-done Priti Patel).

(And that's not even including the Nigerian-descended (and perfectly named) Kemi "BadEnoch"


Honestly can't decide if Enoch would have been horrified or pleased. Maybe anti-migrant folk should be more aware that today's migrants are likely to be tomorrow's xenophobic defenders of the borders?

I guess it happens with class mobility also - it's the amalgamated union of drawbridge pullers and ladder lifters.
 
Last edited:
T

thilanliyan

Lifer
Jun 21, 2005
11,871
2,076
126
pmv said:
Trying to imagine what Enoch Powell would have thought had he known his successor would be, not one, but two South Asian women politicians competing with each other for being 'tough' on migrants (Braverman seems to have out-done Priti Patel).

(And that's not even including the Nigerian-descended (and perfectly named) Kemi "BadEnoch"

Click to expand...
So ironic to see descendants of immigrants calling other immigrants an invasion. :(
 
  • Like
Reactions: hal2kilo
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom