Salt n Vinegar

Aberdeen? Nah, too stuffy for relegation!

I see that everyone's favourite member of the "MPs Least Likely to Win Mastermind Club", Nadine Dorries, has put her foot in it again. From The Independent... "Former culture secretary Nadine Dorries has been accused by Parliament’s anti-corruption watchdog of breaking Government rules by not consulting the body before taking a new job at TalkTV. Ms Dorries will host a new Friday-night talk show on TalkTV but in a letter to the Conservative MP the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba) chair Lord Pickles said “failing to seek and await advice before the role was announced or taken up in this case is a breach of the Government’s rules and the requirements set out in the ministerial code”. Seemingly no further action will be taken though. Again, from the same source... "In a separate letter to Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Oliver Dowden, Lord Pickles recommended that “given the transparent nature” of the role, it would be “disproportionate to take any further action in this case. However, he added that the case was a “further illustration of how out of date the Government’s rules are”. Dunno about that last point though. The rules seem to me reasonably fair. To me, it's just another example of the Tory entitlement mindset- 'No, no, not for the likes of us, rules are for ordinary people.'

I'm not entirely sure where to put this point, but I suppose that here is as good a place as any... We were discussing the Northern Ireland protocol last night, and a pal asked a question that really made me think, so I'll ask it here. Is one reason for the UK Government's inability/unwillingness to come up with a mutually beneficial trading arrangements at a border between NI and the RoI really because any solution that would work at that land border would also apply to any future land border between a future independent Scotland in the EU and the rUK? The Westminster government can't be THAT wicked, surely? To risk the Good Friday Agreement to keep what they think is pressure against Scottish independence? I'd like to think not... Some on the Tory benches might think it's worth it. Off to watch "the Traitors" now!

Nice to see Sunak helping at least one part of the economy. Over the last few days I've been receiving birthday cards, one of which features a cartoon image if our PM with the caption "A birthday is like a Prime Minister... It'll be gone before you know it so enjoy it while you can!" Oh, the banter. Happy enough if he goes, but not enjoying it much while he's here.

The only thing that's surprising about this news is that anybody might be surprised by it. It would be front page news if the situation was the other way round!

Say what you like about DPB, (and some do) but he is as good an example as you could want of someone who never considers the open goals he is leaving in the moments before he posts.

An obsession with "the boaby" does not suggest a healthy mindset.

Ah, so maybe ICTJohnboy was nearly right... Not wallpaper but walloper.

I don't think I'd go quite that far in the 21st century, but there are aspects of the French approach to monarchy that I find quite revealing. 'If we get rid of the monarchy, what about the tourism?' seems to be a common, if silly, question. It may come as a great shock to the more royalty-minded, but as far as I can tell, France appears to have a reasonably healthy tourist industry. I understand that the Palace of Versailles gets about 10m visitors a year and in Austria the Hofburg, which was a former imperial palace, gets 20m. All without a monarchy. In England as I understand it, no royal residence is in the top ten either free or paid entrance tourist locations. In 2019 the top free attraction was Brighton Pier (4.9m) and for paid entrance, Kew Gardens (2.3m) Royalty appears not to be the boon that some folk think, with the possible exception of newspaper circulation figures and book publishers.

How lavish do P&B Forumites think the coronation should be? I realise that some forumites will be at the front of the queue for the stamps, prints, special editions of the Daily Mail and Express, tea towels, ceramics, ash trays, dolls, jigsaws, one-eighth sovereigns from Trustan da Cunha and so on, but what about the event itself? Presumably it will reflect modern Britain. So the lights will be off, there'll be no heating and the state banquet will comprise own brand weetabix and meals costing no more than 30p a head. The BB will provide the marching band and unpaid children will fly kites in place of a RAF fly past. I'm sure it'll be a delight, accompanied of course by God's representatives on Earth just to make sure that everything meets their master's approval. I'll be washing my hair.

Boz. If it's a small fee, it'll make very little if any difference to the number of appointment sought AND would still have to require an exception scheme for the financially knackered and certain categories of patients - children, teenagers, dementia and other elderly, those with long term conditions, care home residents and no doubt others - requiring more "bureaucracy" and thereby, cost. If it's a large fee, it's just another revolting, cynical approach to rationing health care for the poorer. Really, DPB, you'll need to do better than that. What next? Payment for being allowed to vote? We should be doing everything we can to encourage folk to "get that checked out" rather than saying "What? I'd have to pay? I'll leave it a week or so and see ifit gets better..."

If we do our usual and give away the first goal, I wouldn't be surprised if it goes tits up. The saving grace has been that we score next but until we get our defensive set up right, a second goal conceded will kill us off. It would be nice, for a change, to score a couple in the first half and romp home for a convincing victory, but I've got a cousin in Perth and I fear our next conversation might not go well for me.

In these dark, economically challenging times, maybe the Tories could give us all a laugh and put Rishi's Downing Street mantra on the side of a bus - just picture it - "integrity, professionalism and accountability". I mean, ok, they might be in soapy bubble with the Advertising Standards Authority but maybe they should give it a go?

So many Tories seem to idolise (and even pine for the return of) BoJo that it's no surprise that hangers on from his premiership take the same attitude to common decency, "rules" (ha-ha) and the law. As for the former Chancer of the Exchequer... I mean who among us hasn't had to make a seven figure payment to HMRC including a penalty for 'something'... but answer questions about this novel approach to perfectly normal tax arrangements? Errr... no. Sunak? For a politician, getting caught out once was bad, getting caught twice is 'a bit awkward' , getting caught three times.... probably would just cement his reputation with the 'base'. Seriously folks, the Westminster elite... shining examples of "integrity, professionalism and accountability" at every level and no mistake.

Too much green on that parrot for Kinky's liking. Not staunch enough.

Another fixed penalty notice for Sunak. If the police give him a third, do they get to keep him?

Every cloud.

It is weird, isn't it? Maybe he thinks that some entitled notion of diplomatic immunity will prevent him from death or serious injury if he is sideswiped at 30 miles an hour by a HGV. Not suggesting that would would be a good thing, by the way, but if it did happen, and he was saved by a seatbelt it would be a very valuable lesson. However, if he didn't wear a seatbelt, and was malkied into whatever next life he believes in, the lesson would be equally valuable in encouraging others to do the right thing.

We can't rely on opposition teams losing their rag and getting someone sent off every week. Just call the league now, well done Celtic (but you've not been up against much tbh) and lets get ready for next season. Sometimes the truth hurts.

Watching Rangers in the first half of games is making the Parliament Channel look attractive. At least on the Parliament Channel there's the chance of an occasional laugh. Our defence is utterly honking at set pieces and it would be funny if it wasn't so damaging. I'm coming to the unwelcome conclusion that this starting 11 just won't do and the bench isn't particularly inspiring. Major clear out required, but I doubt there's enough loot.

Sakala and Kent to run amok. 3-0 to Rangers.

Not sure that'll wash in court. The Order itself must be justified in terms of the reasons upon which the decision to issue it was made. It's a long time since I studied constitutional law as part of my degree, but my recollections are that if there are not sound reasons at the time the decision was made, the decision is ultra vires and falls. Happy to be corrected if that is no longer the case!

SNP doing a sneaky and asking the Speaker to allow an ugent debate on the Government's action. Speaker has granted it. Will happen after a 10 minute rule bill on market traders.

In a fairly strong field, Jack's performance today is one of the worst I have seen. He was pretty poor when reading out his own speech, but his performance in dealing with questions has been utterly dire.

Aye, but met with the traditional non-answer.