I should offer a language warning about this, but you won't regret the time spent watching it:
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Absolutely brilliant, just made my morning, thank you
I particularly like the understatement.
The PM today has made clear that if he ever manages to put anyone on a plane to Rwanda, he is going to make a big issue of the ‘event’. This really presents the essence, the shallowness, the superficiality of Rishi Sunak. The flight is a PR stunt. It changes nothing in immigration levels. It is there supposedly (risibly) simply as proof that it will “deter” the “boats”. The “boats” are a sideshow in immigration impact; it is simply not material. There is no compelling evidence that Rwanda will provide genuine deterrence; it is a simply a speculative, politically exploitative piece of opportunism, because Sunak has failed, and has no other answer to offer. It is a political scam.
He also casually claims in an answer to a press question that he has “smashed the gangs”. He hasn’t smashed the gangs; if he had, there would already be virtually no boats. This is the worst PM since Truss; and since Johnson; and since May; and since Cameron.
I hadn’t realised till now quite what a steep spiral even that misery had implied.
Perfect. Accurately summarises the wretches. I just got a reply back from an MP I’ve never heard of who is apparently, the Minister for Sport, Gambling and Civil Society (!?), in response to my complaint about the “government’s” shafting, yet again, of the BBC by changing the basis of inflation used to calculate the next licence fee increase from RPI to CPI, at the last minute without consulting the BBC.
As I pointed out, this will save the licence fee payer £5 a year, so their claim to be supporting families in a time of inflation is nonsense; but it will of course damage the BBC by forcing yet more cuts on it with no warning.
And what was the response I got back? Waffle about how the BBC is a “great national institution”, and it’s ‘vital role in growing our creative industries’. (So why have the tories cut it’s income by over a third since 2010 if they love it so much then?).
Then an excuse to try and justify this by saying that CPI is used to calculate the rise in benefits, so it’s fair to use it for the BBC. So the fact that benefit claimants will suffer the consequences of a below inflation rise is used to justify the BBC getting the same treatment.
Then the lie that the government and the Beeb agreed a 2 year licence fee freeze in January 2022; no, negotiations about the licence fee were ongoing in autumn 2021 when the then “culture” minister, Nadine Dorries, imposed a licence fee freeze out of the blue as a way of throwing ‘red meat’ to the backbench cretins to distract them from Johnson’s increasing problems as PM. Oh, and she hated the ‘elitist’ BBC anyway.
Having tried to justify this policy in the first two paragraphs, the last then admits that the BBC faces challenges in an ‘increasingly competitive media landscape’ and goes on to use this as their reason for introducing a review into the BBC’s funding model. This despite the fact that the Charter Review process is not due to take place until 2027, when it is extremely unlikely this “government” will be in place.
Needless to say, the phrase ‘looking at how the BBC can increase its commercial revenues to reduce the burden on licence fee payers’ crops up. In other words, its the same approach used by the right everywhere to destroy popular, high quality public services by incremental defunding and bring in privatisation by the back door. Just like the NHS then.
Always accompanied by empty cliches like ‘our NHS’, ‘great national institution’ and other bollocks.
Fascinating Aida are right. C*nts, c*unts, c*unts, c*nts is all they are.
The Tory MP video is great stuff but the fact that it comes up in the same screen as another video of Tory MP Jake Berry giving a perfect example of how accurate the song is made my day.
Serendipity or perfect placement by somebody?
Perfect placement by the almighty him/herself I would suggest Paul! As sick of these ***** as the rest of us by now.
I’ve put a link on Democratic Socialism’s facebook page to see if admin will let it through.
I find it fascinating that they can use the ‘c’ word because whenever I use it in polite company I just get told off.
My answer is that if you are not swearing when describing a Tory, then you are not angry enough and there must be something wrong with you.
I think three women in their 50’s, 60’s and 70’s have more chance of getting away with it than you do
I always avoid it
Absolutely right, us more mature women are all for reclaiming the word and can definitely get away with it. Incidentally this video has restored my equilibrium after yet another row with my heating and boiler service company who have left me with no central heating for two weeks in the coldest weather for some time. Cunts!
Well, that made me smile
I was brought up to avoid the excessive use of swearing myself Richard, and it’s true that endless use of the f and c words in some people’s mouths is actually very tedious and often shows a limited degree of intelligence. Obviously not in the case of FA; they are witty and clever in their use of c*nt.
However, I agree very much with PSR that these days, if you aren’t frequently swearing about the tories, you aren’t angry enough. Hell, I’d like to be a lot less angry and therefore have far less reason to swear, but it would require the patience of a saint not to when faced with these rats, if you do actually care about the state of things.
Much to agree with
Well Richard I have always maintained that you are better man than me for sure.
I am but a well meaning thug after all.
Years ago I was involved in a company which had a product called “Cutinova”. I stopped a colleague from making a PowerPoint presentation of some 30 slides where it was always spelt with the letter n in a most unfortunate place ….
On the use of the c*** word as a pejorative.
Sorry, but once again I’m riling up at the use of “cunt” as a pejorative.
A “cunt” is a source of pleasure and joy, and the portal to new life, none of which can be applied to corrupt “bought and sold” politicians.
And except for the new life bit, the arse can serve the same purpose for gay men.
What to use, then, to describe our current gaggle (implies geese – too
nice – rabble, then) of politicians
It’s obvious, they are appendixes (not appendices = quite different).
Earlier in our evolution the appendix USED to perform a useful function in processing food for nourishment, but no longer does.
Instead, it’s now a useless appendage that CAN become inflamed and poisonous, so CAN kill.
Does that fit out current rabble? Given their role in poisoning political discourse & killing hope, yes, to a “T”.
Very well put. I agree that Sunak is an absolute total appendix.
Very good point Andrew, and logically speaking I’m sure you are correct. I’m no expert on the etymology of swear words, but as it seems the most offensive one we can use is the female genitalia, this is probably evidence of misogyny going back centuries.
However, I’m afraid appendix, 3 syllables, is rather less snappy when used in a song, chant or shouted abuse, than c*nt, which is 2(?) syllables. A lot snappier. Perhaps ‘rat’ is more appropriate. They have lot in common with tories I feel.
Or am I being unfair to rats?
Many years ago I saw a giggle ripple round the office when I sent a ‘Round Robin’ email that said that I was having ‘….words with the helpdesk, mostly ones learnt while serving as a stoker in the Merchant Navy’
Oh they are great. Go see them live if you can!
It’s a sign of a misogynistic society that the worst word to use refers to part of a woman. Even ‘woman’ is a term of abuse if applied to describe a man.
Are you saying they are being misogynistic?
Fascinating Aida and Dilly Keane have been at it for years. Always funny and scabrous and their politics are clear. Worth seeing live.
I still treasure hearing Jim Naughtie refer to my MP Jeremy Hunt live on R4 Today as Jeremy *unt. (And in Hunt’s latest newsletter he assures us he is standing again…)
The funniest bit was Naughtie crying with laughter
I’ve reflected on this swearing business and my view is that swearing is the language of those who feel powerless to stop what is happening to them.
I mean what do you prefer – bad language or bloodshed? Sounding off is akin to the safety valve on a steam engine. But the middle class puritans and Toires I suppose will try to suppress any form of protest.
As a person from a working class background it is the only explanation I can give. I think that you’ve got to be pretty petty bourgeoisie to look down on it and born with a silver spoon in your mouth (yes sorry, I am class warrior – or even worrier).
This also of course applies to women and children – and when has it not? – and increasingly applies to men as well within our wonderful mode of capitalism.
Swear away I say.
Thinking of the covid inquiry makes me realise that swearing is nothing to do with class.
My dad, a bus driver, used to clip my ear if he heard me swear although he swore a lot. He never touched my brother who was two years older than me.
I don’t think it’s a class thing, as you would realise if you’ve been following the covid inquiry.
JenW
I work in the public sector (Housing) so I have been ‘fortunate’ in having first hand experience of their handy work since the first day they got into power.
I can assure you that where ever they go, indifferent depravity is sure to follow the Tory MP as night follows day.
Yielding power to spoil things is all they are interested in.
Their aim seems to do nothing more than to take us back into the 18th century and pickle us in it.
@sickoftaxdodgers
You quite right say:
“However, I’m afraid appendix, 3 syllables, is rather less snappy when used in a song, chant or shouted abuse, than c*nt, which is 2(?) syllables. A lot snappier. Perhaps ‘rat’ is more appropriate. They have lot in common with tories I feel.
Or am I being unfair to rats?”
To which I’d make the two following responses:
1) Calling appendixes “rats” could be said to be unfair to rats, though the aptness of the word to far too many in the Westminster bubble, and to the Establishment/ruling class can hardly be denied – swarming everywhere, scavenging, pissing and crapping on vital goods necessary for the means to life, or simply stealing them, and generally causing problems for everyone else.
2) The 3 syllables are INDEED a barrier to successful campaigning. So I suggest we abbreviate appendix to “dix”.
We all know dick, and dickhead can be used as pejoratives, and men have to admit that there IS, or CAN be, something faintly ludicrous about the phallus.
So “a dix” can contain a hint of that pejorative overtone, while actually being also an abbreviation for my take on “appendix”.
Let’s be able to swear at someone, calling him “an utter dix”, implying that he is a useless appendage with the potential to be life-threatening.
Because that is SURELY what both our main Parties – the Destructives and the Fewer Party, as I now call them – and their dire Leaders and Leadership are.
We really DO deserve better, and must take action to rid ourselves of Rule by dixes = a revolution from below, via civil disobedience, day in day out, and tactical voting when it comes to the ballot box, until we get the PR we need.
It’s an old joke I know but it was said that laboratories were using lawyers instead of rats for testing and experiments. Because:
– There are more lawyers than rats
– Lab assistants don’t bond with lawyers like they do with rats
– Lawyers will do things that rats just will not do.
Given the behaviour of the Post office lawyers, seems appropriate to bring it up again.