A choice that is no choice

The two candidates vying to be the next leader of the UK Conservative Party, and by default, the next Prime Minister of Britain, are coming to the end of their campaigns. They are facing tougher than usual questioning, and both are seen to be struggling under the pressure. For US readers, these characters are the equivalent of Republican grandees. Well-educated, previous experience in government, and both suitably smug and complacent.

Jeremy Hunt and Boris Johnson are competing in a one-horse race to win the prize. That will be voted on only by the members of the UK Conservative Party; around 160,000 people, out of a population of around 67,000,000. I say one-horse race, because Boris Johnson is the out-and-out leader, and expected to win, by everybody. This man seems to be a tousle-haired buffoon. A supporter of the Right in politics, and a bumbling former Mayor of London.

But don’t be fooled by his public persona. He is very intelligent, and knows very well how to play to the ‘mob’.

There is little chance Hunt will beat him, but to me that is of little consequence. They are both the awful descendants of Margaret Thatcher. Supporters of the rich and privileged, big business, and their financial backers. They won’t keep a single promise they are making, whichever one of the evil men wins.

We supposedly have a choice, voted for by their own party members. But for me, it is no choice at all.

They are both as bad as each other. In my world, they would be hanging from lamp-posts.

26 comments

  2. arlene

    Compared to yours Pete, ours is the dirtiest politics in town. Imagine, the three branches of the govt. executive, legislative and judiciary are held by one man, even our police and military forces. He protects china, everyone who opposes to his rule is abhorrent to him, either they are jailed for crimes they didn’t commit or ridiculed in social media and his loyal followers believe him.

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    • beetleypete

      Indeed so, Elizabeth. Also in Hungary, Greece, Austria, Turkey, and so many other countries that are lurching to the Right politically.
      I try not to think about it too much, but it feels like the early 1930s, all over again.
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  10. alenstoldstory

    In other countries, the fact that two of the last three Prime Ministers went to the same school, the same university, were members of the same dining club, at the same time, would be seen as some remarkable coincidence. Here, it’s just how things are done.

    It’s like like some fucking Ruritanian banana republic.

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