What a week! What another grim week! After the Trussonomics mini-budget fiasco, the departure of chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng, and the 'resignation' of Suella Braverman because of a row with Truss about immigration, and her security breaches that precipitated the resignation of the PM.
So now we have Tory chaos, another leadership election in which Bozo Johnson, who has been partying, and has been absent from parliament, having three holidays since he was booted out in July, threw his hat into the ring. He was immediately supported by many conservative MPs including Nadheem Zahawi who had told him to quit only a few months ago. As someone said, an hour is now a very long time in politics.
But Johnson had to withdraw due to lack of support and now Rishi - eat out to catch covid - Sunak - is the favourite to become the next PM. Tory members may get an electronic vote and it's worth mentioning here that union members have been denied the opportunity to have an electronic vote, another piece of anti-union legislation.
Even half an hour is a long time in politics! Since I started this post Penny Mourdant, who was Sunak's only remaining rival for leader has withdrawn and the richest person in parliament, Sunak is set to be the next anointed PM. So, we're no further forward and still deep in the nightmare of Tory government. I expect that Sunak will cling on for the next two years and try to win in 2024. Will he? I doubt it, but Starmer's Labour isn't offering us much hope. After the expulsion and departure of many socialists from Labour, including myself, there is no viable vehicle for the left in the UK. Enough is Enough is not enough!
The only light in the darkness is that it appears that many Tories are quitting the party because they are racists and don't like the colour of Sunak's skin. Some are saying he's not British. Anything which helps to split the Tory party and potentially weaken it should be welcomed. The hashtag #RishiOut is already trending on Twitter.
We can only hope that Corbyn will stand as an independent at the next election, or preferably as a Peace & Justice Party candidate. I have no doubt he could win his seat and that thousands would join such a party. At the moment that is just wishful thinking. Are we going to get a left alternative to Starmer's establishment party? Try to make it happen if you can. I will.
