34 Comments
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Alan B's avatar

The effect of all of this seems to be that we have a great deal more government but with a lot less quality. I suspect it suits almost all of those involved and it is therefore unlikely to change. Do you have any suggestions, Sir Jacob?

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Jacob Rees-Mogg's avatar

You are quite right. It needs a government that has identified the problem, and brings the control back to those who were elected.

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Robert Phillips's avatar

There is far too much legislation,you've summed it up brilliantly , they're just keeping themselves in business.

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Gabrielle Hayden's avatar

That was a very informative and closely-observed essay. And a fun read. Thank you.

The skeleton bills followed by lightly-scrutinized secondary masonry added to the said bills have a bit of similarity to certain senatorial activity here, namely tacking any sort of unrelated regulation onto bills that have passed congress and have yet to be voted on by the senate.

In 1988, Sen. Ted Kennedy inserted some very restricting regulations about media ownership into a bread-and-butter appropriations bill. The bill amendment was aimed at Rupert Murdoch. Every Democrat pol in NY didn’t like that. That bit of legislation was repealed.

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Jacob Rees-Mogg's avatar

Thank you, I am fascinated to hear about the similarities between our systems, which I was previously unaware of.

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Robert Phillips's avatar

Who's interested?All I need to know about Ted Kennedy is summed up in one word Chappaquadick.

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Gabrielle Hayden's avatar

I'm on Murdoch's side, you baboon.

Hey! It's getting late. Time to jam your head into the toilet.

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Robert Phillips's avatar

Whenever your name crops up I think of David Lammy.

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Gabrielle Hayden's avatar

So my name "crops up".

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Robert Phillips's avatar

You're probably the same colour of things I flush down the toilet .As the Australians say if it's yellow let it mellow ,if it's brown flush it down.

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Robert Phillips's avatar

I bet you tell all your friends in Jew York about how you're in touch with an ex cabinet minister with a title ,because you're just a pathetic snob.

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Gabrielle Hayden's avatar

Are you going to have JRM testify in your upcoming court appearance and say that you normally wear trousers?

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Robert Phillips's avatar

Is anyone really concerned about the history or the machinations of our filthy and vile "Democracy"?

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Gabrielle Hayden's avatar

Well… yes. Our host was clear about what he would be posting about. History and government were mentioned. Historical figures brought to the forefront, and some cultural observations.

That’s why I am here. Why are you here?

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Robert Phillips's avatar

Given you're an American,don't live in this country ,don't put up with anything we put up with in this country,have your wonderful Emperor Trump ,why are you here ?

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Robert Phillips's avatar

Incidentally the only host I know of was the one I used to know in Berchtesgaden,when I used to leave Italy when it became too hot.Even then I paid ,I also wanted to repay the kindness of my excellent MP JRM,I didn't expect to encounter a rude crackpot yank like you.

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Robert Phillips's avatar

You've called me a baboon,suggested my head should be shoved down a toilet ,I'll tell you now.Ive wiped better things than you off of my shoes.

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Gabrielle Hayden's avatar

OK Baboon toilet hound, stop laughing and concentrate ..., on something important and special.

I liked that toilet jibe. I felt like Gene Hackman in The French Connection.

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Gabrielle Hayden's avatar

your fly is open.

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Gabrielle Hayden's avatar

You looked!

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Robert Phillips's avatar

AH and I don't mean Adolf Hitler

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Gabrielle Hayden's avatar

I told you.

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Robert Phillips's avatar

I'm sure your name does crop up in all the wrong places and not for the nicest of reasons but I meant on here

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Gabrielle Hayden's avatar

The thing is, Mr. P, Sir Jacob set up this place for decent discourse.

Your frequent racist outbursts are unsettling. The more you spew such offal, the more people might want to not want to post here. What if their boss finds out that they are posting alongside of you as you slander those who were not born in England?

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Robert Phillips's avatar

Back in civilised mode are we.?I won't argue about offal as you're clearly an expert in it.However I don't think decent discourse constitutes calling people baboons or wanting to shove there heads down toilets.You obviously do .I've never been one to say" 'I'm not a racist but"prefer to say I'm a REALIST.

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Gabrielle Hayden's avatar

Employers don't care about toilet jokes. They are concerned about laws regarding racial slur issues.

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Robert Phillips's avatar

I've always called a spade a spade.I don't intend responding to you ever again.Youve shown what you are and thankfully everyone else.You madame started trading insults and slurs not me .

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Gabrielle Hayden's avatar

Tickle fight!

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Robert Phillips's avatar

Let's agree to end this on a civilised note and in future just blow it out your ass.

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Francis Coxhead's avatar

Thank you for this clear and well researched article which could be published (maybe with a bit of detail on secondary legislation edited) elsewhere.

This understanding of the history and current context of the UK government is missing from most comment and analysis of current affairs.

Instead we get a rather superficial reporting and commentary which is inconsistent (or incongruent) and where establishment commentators escape critical scrutiny.

I wish I’d had such material when teaching civil servants!

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