Bob Jenrick Defects to Reform

 

I apologise for including this picture of these two Not Great people.  No, I don't.  You deserve it.

Title says it all.  Bob the Bloke - who never saw a cheap publicity grabbing stunt he didn't like - has had the whip withdrawn for plotting to defect to Reform, and promptly defected to Reform.

This may actually be good for Badenoch.  Jenrick was a continual threat to her leadership.  Now he gone off to become a continual threat to Nigel Farage's.  This has likely extended her leadership.   There aren't any more clear leaders-in-waiting in the (very thinned) ranks of the Conservative Party.  Presumably, Jenrick was looking at the recent slight recovery in the polls and realised his chances of usurping her were fading.

Keir Starmer is probably weeping bitter tears and wondering why Kemi is so lucky and why none of the various thorns in his side don't piss off and join Your Party.

For the benefit of Elon Musk, Alan Gardiner, Nick Tenconi and others

 This is how you make a celebratory or exultant arm gesture without looking like a neo-Nazi.

The Battle of Caerphilly

So the results are in and it seems the battalions of Reform have been dealt a swinging defeat at Caerphilly. Wales is a bit like Afghanistan - you just shouldn't try it on there.

Perhaps the Battle of Caerphilly represents the turning of the sinister nationalist tide? We can but hope. 

 At least is Wales and Scotland, pissed of Labour has somewhere to go that isn't Reform.  Given Labour seems unwilling to do anything to make it look like a party anyone would want to vote for, England needs a similar not-Reform receptacle. 

With due respect to Zak Polanski, I don't think the Greens are it.  They might have more members than the Conservative Party, but bragging about that just confirms their fringe status.  With a following wind and Labour engaged in a curious act of self-destruction they are on 12%.  Enough to split critical votes but not consolidate potential voters into a cohesive, winning whole.  Though there may be time for that.  I may be wrong, it happens.

While I have a place in my heart for the Corbyn / Sultana party / Acrimonious Break Up / Party, I don't think they quite get the urgency of the situation.  Given they are currently touring the country to 'workshop' policies with 'the people' (i.e. the sort of people who sell Socialist Worker and attend meetings), they might be ready for the fight sometime about 2083 - probably with a manifesto of policies which could have been copied and pasted from the 1983 Labour manifesto.  Though I may be wrong, it happens.

But assuming I amn't, what is to be done?