Major concerns, Ruthless Tories, Rebel Rebel, Lib Dems hold Shetland: The week that was.

Major concerns

In an unprecedented move that will see a former prime minster go against the current prime minister John Major has vowed to do everything he can to stop a no deal Brexit. Major, who is a vocal critic of a no deal Brexit and the suspension of parliament said, “I promised that, if the prime minister prorogued parliament in order to prevent members from opposing his Brexit plans, I would seek judicial review of his action.”

Ruthless Tories

Ruth Davidson, leader of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party has resigned as leader of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party citing family reasons. Davidson, who had been leader of the Scottish Tories since 2011 and was instrumental in re-branding the once toxic party to becoming the official opposition in 2016 will be a big blow to the party and a hard act to follow.

Rebel Rebel

Following the announcement that the prime minister has been authorised to suspend parliament the remain alliance or as some have come to call it the “rebel alliance” have ramped up efforts to stop this from happening in the hope of enacting legislation to curb the governments ability to suspend parliament, with many critics arguing that the suspension of parliament transcends party politics and undermines British democracy.

Liberal Democrats hold Shetland

Beatrice Wishart, the Liberal Democrat candidate won the Shetland by-election with a majority of 1, 837. In her acceptance speech, Ms Wishart said Shetland has once again rejected Scottish nationalism and shown that it has not been taken in by the bullying tactics," she said.

"My work will start on Monday to get the Scottish government to take action on its empty promises for fair ferry funding, to improve nursery provision, mental health care, broadband - the key strands of my positive campaign for Shetland."

Everything you need to know about attending party political conference and how to make the most out of it and why it’s our business to know the people that can help your business.

In today’s world of uncertainty with the constant threat of an election looming soon and the overshadowing of Brexit, there has never been a more important time to engage with key decision makers and influencers.

Party conference provides a good opportunity to meet with key stakeholders in both a formal and an informal setting and have those all-important conversations.

At Pentland it’s our business to know the people that can help your business and party conference is all about knowing the right people such as MP’s, MSP’s and Special Advisors.

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 The conference season schedule:

Liberal Democrat Conference, 14-17 September, Bournemouth

Labour Party Conference, 21-25 September 2019, Brighton

Conservative Party Conference, 29 September – 2 October, Manchester

SNP Party Conference, 13-15 October, Aberdeen

For more information please email: barriecunning@pentlandcomms.co.uk

A class Act, Lib Dems win by-election, Scotland no more: The Week That Was

A Class Act

In an attempt to re-define social class, Richard Leonard, Leader of the Scottish Labour Party said, “even a doctor on £100,000 is still working class.” The announcement attracted fierce criticism with Richard Leonard having to clarify the point he was attempting to make.

Liberal Democrats win By- election

The Liberal Democrats won the Brecon and Radnorshire By- election with 43.5% of the vote and a majority of 1,425 beating the Conservative Party and with the Labour Party in third place. In her acceptance speech Jane Dodds MP said “ My very first act as your new MP when I get to Westminster will be to find Mr Boris Johnson, wherever he's hiding, and tell him to stop playing with the future of our community and rule out a no-deal Brexit."

Frank Field to stand as Social Justice candidate in next election

Former Labour MP Frank Field has announced that he will stand for the Birkenhead seat at the next general election as the candidate for the Social Justice party. Field, who resigned the Labour whip last year stating, “the Labour Party has become a force for anti-Semitism.”

In announcing his intention to stand, Field said “I will be standing again as a candidate at the next election with the aim of doing what I have done for 40 years: always putting the interests of our town and our country first while championing the views and interests of the underdogs in our society."

Tory MP threatens to quit

Tory MP for Bracknell Philip Lee has said he will spend the summer recess contemplating his decision to leave the Conservative Party as a result of the party’s stance on Brexit. Lee who was elected in 2010 spoke about feeling alienated as a result of the party’s stance on Brexit.

In a podcast interview with fellow Tory MP Sam Gyimah who asked, “would you consider moving to the Liberal democrats” Lee said, “I’m increasingly feeling politically homeless.”

Scotland no more

In a week when every Conservative MP has spoken “passionately” about the UK Union and Scotland’s role within it including Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Ryan Henson, Tory activist and Conservative candidate for Bedford and Kempston in 2017 accused Scotland of “fleecing” English tax payers and that Scotland remaining in the union would be a “catastrophe” for England.

In 2014 Henson wrote an article for Conservative Home in which he argued that “Scotland faces economic ruin if it continues with it’s socialist policies “ and further said “ it is we English who bankroll their free prescriptions, fund the entirety of their children’s four year long university courses .”

In an attempt to play down his remarks Henson said the article was meant to be taken as satire and that he “passionately” believes in the union.

Union at Risk, Spreadsheet Phil to resign, Peer pressure, ideological purity at any price will be costly. The Week That Was.

UKOK: Gordon Brown warns that the union is at risk if Boris becomes PM

Former Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown has warned that Boris Johnson might be the last UK prime minister. Brown argued that Johnson’s anti-Europe Conservatism was largely perceived as being anti Scottish and that “no matter what he says now two decades of anti-Scottish invective will come back to haunt him.”

Spreadsheet Phil to resign if Boris becomes Prime Minister

Philip Hamond, Chancellor of the Exchequer announced that he will tender his resignation if Boris Johnson wins the Conservative Party leadership. Hammond, who has often spoken about the serious ramifications of a no deal Brexit will have on Britain’s economy said “a prime minister must have a chancellor who is aligned with his policy agenda and Boris has made it clear that a condition for serving in his government will be to accept the possibility of a no deal Brexit which I cannot do.”

Pursuing ideological purity at any price will be costly, Theresa May warns.

In her final speech as Prime Minister, Theresa May took aim at the absolutism of politicians like Boris Johnson. In a speech to the Chatham House think tank, Ms May said” An inability to combine principles with pragmatism and make a compromise when required seems to have driven our whole political discourse down the wrong path. It has led to what is, in effect, a form of absolutism. One which believes that if you simply assert your view loud enough and long enough you will get your way in the end.”

Peer pressure: Labour peers tell Jeremy Corbyn he has failed the test of leadership

More than sixty Labour Party peers took an advert out in the Guardian accusing Jeremy Corbyn, Leader of the Labour Party of “failing the test of leadership.” The advert said “The Labour party welcomes everyone* irrespective of race, creed, age, gender identity, or sexual orientation. (*except, it seems, Jews). This is your legacy, Mr Corbyn.”

The advert was taken out following revelations from the BBC Panorama documentary in which eight former Labour Party staff members accused the Labour Party of failing to address complaints of antisemitism properly and interference from the leader’s office in disputes. The direct message to Jeremy Corbyn from the Labour peer’s said “It’s the style of your office and your followers to deny the truth of the message and shoot the messengers, whether they are party members or whistle-blowers from Labour’s head office. But we cannot stay silent while younger, braver party workers and members speak out. You have failed to defend our party’s anti-racist values. You have therefore failed the test of leadership.”

Gloria De Piero quits Labour Party front bench

Gloria De Piero announced that she was stepping down from the Labour Party front bench and won’t be standing as a Labour candidate in the next election. De Piero who was the party’s shadow Justice Minister said” lack of tolerance for different viewpoints in the Labour party frankly worries me”. We have to have respect for each other, even if we disagree, because we are all part of this party,” she added. This party is about a set of values not any individual and we would all do well to remember that. And while I’m at it, and it doesn’t happen in Ashfield, but when I hear people being called right wing in the Labour party, I find it utterly offensive.”

Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt go head to head, The Labour family needs an intervention, Andrew Neil cross examines Tory leadership hopefuls: The Week That Was.

Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt go head to head

Tory leadership hopefuls Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt went head to head in this week’s ITV debate. In an intense hour both candidates turned up the heat on one another during questions put to them by members of the audience.

In a heated exchange of words, Jeremy Hunt said “Boris, the difference between you and me is, you are peddling optimism, we need leadership that will guide us through this great constitutional change”.

Boris Johnson stuck to his core campaign message that it’s vital that we leave the European Union on the 31st October and that the £39bn payment to the EU should be suspended to create ambiguity and accused Jeremy Hunt of not being committed to leaving the European Union on the 31st October.

The question that everyone wanted an answer to was whether Jeremy Hunt or Boris Johnson would keep UK ambassador to the US on following the leaked document in which Kim Darroch suggested the US president was incompetent, inept and things are likely to not change.

In response to the leak, President Trump tweeted that he wanted Mr Darroch sacked. Jeremy Hunt categorically said he would not sack Mr Darroch whilst Mr Johnson refrained from answering the question.

The Labour family needs an intervention

The Labour Party has often described itself as a family but if that is the case then clearly an intervention is needed. As tensions escalate between Tom Watson Deputy Leader of the Labour Party who accused Jennie Formby the party’s general secretary over poor handling over complaints of antisemitism the hard-left propaganda machine went into overdrive.

In what could be argued as the battle for winning the moral high ground, pro-Corbyn supporters accused Watson of political posturing motivated by self-gain which resulted in Len McLuskey, key Corbyn ally and leader of Unite addressing a crowd at the Durham Miners Gala in which he said "I've said it today at the Durham Miners' Gala so I'll repeat it here. Attacking a woman going through chemotherapy - @tom_watson you are a f****** disgrace. @JennieGenSec."

Calls for Watson’s resignation has intensified but the reality is that there is likely to be no winners in this situation.

Andrew Neil cross examines Tory leadership hopefuls

Veteran political broadcaster and journalist Andrew Neil interviewed both leadership contenders. In what can only be described as a tough cross examination for both leadership rivals. Jeremy Hunt was accused of being “Theresa May in trousers” and Boris Johnson was challenged on his understanding of the General Agreement on tariffs and Trade (Article 24), when asked by Andrew Neil how would you handle article 5b, Johnson responded and said “paragraph 5B, article 24, get the detail right, get the detail right Andrew, it’s article 24 paragraph 5B”.

When asked about how Mr Johnson would handle paragraph 5C, he said “ I would confide in entirely in paragraph 5B” and when asked by Mr Neil did he know what was contained in paragraph 5C he admitted that he didn’t.

Dear Jeremy, it's not us its you, more powers for Scotland, Fluff and Blunder wont solve Brexit, Oppressed people turning on their oppressors: The Week That Was

Devolution review

This week Theresa May announced a review into devolution to make sure UK government departments work in the best interests of devolution. In a move that has been described as “desperate” by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, the review will be conducted by Lord Dunlop, former Scotland Office Minister.

Scottish Labour leader announces review to deliver more devolution to Scotland

On Saturday, Richard Leonard, leader of Scottish Labour Party announced a review into the current devolution settlement pledging to bring new powers into Holyrood that would “make a real difference.”

In what many will perceive as a welcomed move for making the case for a more robust devolved parliament and strengthening the union, Mr Leonard also spoke of the need for Holyrood to have “borrowing powers fit for a parliament.”

Mr Leonard spoke about the need to identify what new powers would make a difference in tackling many of the problems in Scotland.

Anne Widecombe : Oppressed people turning on their oppressors

“It’s a great honour to speak on behalf of the largest single party in this place and may I say if I needed any convincing at all that the best thing for Britain is to leave here as soon as possible, it was the way those elections were conducted yesterday because if that is this places’ idea of democracy then that is a serious betrayal of every country that is represented here, because it is not democratic at all and that is just one of many reasons why Britain is right to be leaving this place hopefully on Halloween.

And it is right because it’s a pattern consistent throughout history of oppressed people turning on the oppressors: Slaves against their owners, the peasantry against the feudal barons, colonies against their empires and that is why Britain is leaving and it doesn’t matter which language you use, we are going and we are glad to be going. I represent the South West of the United Kingdom and I found on my first day what this place has decided today to increase to actually increase the size of fishermans meshes, thereby reducing their income by 40% , that’s what you do here, that’s why we are going.”

New President for the European Parliament

Members of the European Parliament have chosen David -Maria Sassoli as the new President of the European Parliament.

In a speech following Wednesday’s result Mr Sassoli spoke about an “imperfect union” and the need for reform calling for the EU to return to the spirit of its founding fathers who swapped warfare and nationalism for peace and equality. Mr Sassoril said “We need to strengthen our capacity to play a leading role in democracy, focusing particularly on the need for reform to the EU's system for asylum seekers. "You can't continue to kick this down the road. We don't want citizens asking, 'where's Europe' every time an emergency happens."

Charles Michel to replace Donald Tusk as President of the European Council

This week Charles Michel the interim Prime Minister of Belgium was elected as the new President of the European Council and will take over from Donald Tusk in October.

Mr Michel is the youngest Belgian Prime Minister since 1845 and has been described as cool headed and an effective conciliator which will come in handy irrespective of how the UK leaves the European Union.

It is worth noting that Mr Michel was one of the first EU politicians to talk about “burden sharing” with regard to migration and suggesting that some member states could lose rights as a result of being reluctant to take in migrants.

Fluff and Blunder alone won’t solve Brexit

Last week Tory leadership hopefuls Jeremy Hunt and Boris Johnson were in Perth for the latest Conservative Party leadership hustings and it wasn’t just the Conservative membership that was getting into the political action as a local café advertised its milkshakes and said, “perfect for quenching your thirst while waiting for Boris”.

In an attempt to woo Scottish Conservative Party members both candidates spoke about the need to enhance the UK union and Mr Hunt said, “he would never sign up to an independence referendum.”

One member of the audience asked, “whether a good prime minister needs to be a loyal husband and father” in response Boris said, “I just don’t comment on that stuff.”

Dear Jeremy, its not us, it’s you

In a week that has seen former Chancellor of the Exchequer and Prime Minister Gordon Brown suggest that a hard line approach should be taken against anyone that expresses anti-Semitic views with party expulsion, the downward spiral for the Labour Party continues and is now at the top tier of the party’s organisation.

John McDonnell, the Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer and close ally of Jeremy Corbyn is urging the Labour leader to change the party’s policy on Brexit following the party’s poor performance in the European Parliament election.

Currently the party is 18% in the polls and is haemorrhaging votes to remain parties, namely the Liberal Democrats, with one in five voters saying that they would vote for the Labour Party if there was a general election.

With mounting pressure on Jeremy to change the party’s stance on Brexit, it is rumoured that close ally Diane Abbott MP is one of those in his inner camp who is advocating for the policy change and that she and John McDonnell are arguing for the sacking of Karie Murphy and Seamus Milne, two of Jeremy’s closest political advisors.