Johnson and the Great Escape?

It just as simple as needing the Tories gone at the moment. They are a disaster because they have no actual policy focus any more, they are simply spending their years in government in campaign mode and in firefighting mode. Whatever you think of the opposition at the moment, and Lord knows I am not massively keen, we need a "normal" acting government in power as soon as possible. One with a proper legislative and administrative agenda, not the random thoughts of racist Dave down the pub. And if the only realistic one would be under the current Labour leadership, then so be it, it will be a category improvement over what we have now. We will at least have responsible adults in charge, who actually intend to do the right thing as they see it, rather than just govern by trolling and dividing.

The way I see the EU thing playing out now is for Labour to ignore it for the time being and not campaign in the next election on any European issue. The priority is to win back the Red Wall and oust the Tories, and vocalising any signal that they would like to move back towards Europe may be too much of a risk - imagine the Tory Facebook campaigns aimed at the gammons, the Home Counties wannabe-horsey GSTQ mob in red trousers and the northern xenophobes. Look, Labour are stealing YOUR BREXIT! Again, so be it, given the overwhelming priority of simply removing the current government. Then, if Labour can normalise the country and get it back on track in a first term, look at applying to join the SM and CU (i.e. via EEA or EFTA) either towards the end of a first term or at the start of a second one, depending on the lie of the land.

IMHO.

We don't need a Rolls Royce right now, and it doesn't look like there's one on the market anyway. Currently we've got a shonky Austin Allegro on its last legs, and a 3 year old Mondeo will do the job quite nicely as a replacement for that thank you, for now, until we are in a position to upgrade that also. Hopefully the aircon is working and the cambelt’s got plenty of life in it.

Innovative jam, wasn't it?

Of course. I take your point entirely.  And 'I don't know', is the answer.  However, we have to start from the beginning again by restoring our reputation as a trusted partner and a country to do business with.  And that process can't even start until the Allegro is sent off to the scrappers.  We have a mountain to climb.

All the Conservatives who snorted and guffawed about the Labour party and its magic money tree at the last election.

I wonder how many of them are now noticing they have less disposable income at the end of the month ? Have they put two and two together and worked out they are the magic money tree and it does not have a party allegiance ?

Win or lose, will there be a party ?

Lead government in the sense of lead balloon?

He won’t last 12 months. The June by-elections should see him off.

Exactly ! They are dragging everything down. So many opportunities to take leadership and show what they stand for which descends into a mud slinging match.

I'm not sure he will resign even if they are hit hard in the upcoming by-elections. I get the impression he'll have to be removed kicking and screaming despite his comments over remuneration.

If I was a member of the Conservatives (which I am not) I would now be resigning... It is not so much the nonsense coming out of No.10 (it doesn't help mind) but the inability of Tory MPs to hold their alcohol, touching up people who do not want to be touched up, and generally acting like teenagers on alcopops when they should be mature, sincere adults running the country.

If there is one thing you can say about Keir Starmer, you feel safe around him.