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Backbench Tory pressure groups
Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2020 8:54 pm
by Grumble
I’m somewhat alarmed to learn that my MP, who I’d mainly thought of as a bit wet previously, is the only one in all three new backbench groupings.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/20 ... SApp_Other
I don’t necessarily object to the headline of the Northern Research Group, but the Common Sense Group sounds properly reactionary and the COVID Recovery Group sound like a bunch of anti-lockdown cranks.
Can I go back to having a non-descript MP rather than a crank?
Re: Backbench Tory pressure groups
Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2020 9:02 pm
by Turdly
I think Wragg is happy just to be part of a gang, any gang, hence his membership of all of them.
Re: Backbench Tory pressure groups
Posted: Thu Nov 12, 2020 10:57 am
by Fishnut
Is there any official list of members for those groups? I'm struggling to find anything online and many articles talk about people remaining anonymous "because they work in the government" which surely makes it
more important we know who they are, not less?
For the
COVID Recovery Group wiki has the 12 named members as:
Adam Afriyie
Steve Baker
Harriett Baldwin
Graham Brady
Nus Ghani
Chris Green
Mark Harper
Philip Hollobone
Ben Spencer
Philippa Stroud
Robert Syms
William Wragg
The Guardian has the letter the Northern Research Group sent to Johnson with the following signatories:
Aaron Bell
Alexander Stafford
Andrew Percy
Anthony Higgenbotham
Ben Bradley
Chris Green
Christian Wakefield
Craig Whittaker
David Davis
David Jones
David Morris
David Mundell
Ester McVey
Imran Ahmad Khan
James Daly
James Davies
James Grundy
Jason McCartney
John Stevenson
Julian Sturdy
Karl McCartney
Kieran Mullen
Lee Anderson
Mark Eastwood
Mark Jenkinson
Mark Logan
Mark Menzies
Mary Robinson
Nick Fletcher
Paul Howell
Paul Maynard
Peter Gibson
Philip Davies
Robbie Moore
Robin Goodwill
Robert Largan
Sara Britcliffe
Simon Clark
Simon Fell
William Wragg
Sir John Hayes wrote about setting up the Common Sense Group in
the Express and states that "So far, thirty six MPs and five Peers have joined us" but doesn't give their names. I found the letter reproduced
here but it doesn't list the signatories beyond John Hayes.
Re: Backbench Tory pressure groups
Posted: Thu Nov 12, 2020 11:54 am
by El Pollo Diablo
Fishnut wrote: ↑Thu Nov 12, 2020 10:57 am
Is there any official list of members for those groups? I'm struggling to find anything online and many articles talk about people remaining anonymous "because they work in the government" which surely makes it
more important we know who they are, not less?
For the
COVID Recovery Group wiki has the 12 named members as:
Adam Afriyie
Steve Baker
Harriett Baldwin
Graham Brady
Nus Ghani
Chris Green
Mark Harper
Philip Hollobone
Ben Spencer
Philippa Stroud
Robert Syms
William Wragg
The Guardian has the letter the Northern Research Group sent to Johnson with the following signatories:
Aaron Bell
Alexander Stafford
Andrew Percy
Anthony Higgenbotham
Ben Bradley
Chris Green
Christian Wakefield
Craig Whittaker
David Davis
David Jones
David Morris
David Mundell
Ester McVey
Imran Ahmad Khan
James Daly
James Davies
James Grundy
Jason McCartney
John Stevenson
Julian Sturdy
Karl McCartney
Kieran Mullen
Lee Anderson
Mark Eastwood
Mark Jenkinson
Mark Logan
Mark Menzies
Mary Robinson
Nick Fletcher
Paul Howell
Paul Maynard
Peter Gibson
Philip Davies
Robbie Moore
Robin Goodwill
Robert Largan
Sara Britcliffe
Simon Clark
Simon Fell
William Wragg
Sir John Hayes wrote about setting up the Common Sense Group in
the Express and states that "So far, thirty six MPs and five Peers have joined us" but doesn't give their names. I found the letter reproduced
here but it doesn't list the signatories beyond John Hayes.
I'd love to know where all those Northern Research Group MPs come from. Aaron Bell, for instance, grew up in Kent and went to Oxford. Truly, he doth know the issues the north of England faces.
Re: Backbench Tory pressure groups
Posted: Thu Nov 12, 2020 12:35 pm
by TimW
They're just trying to find out where "the North" is. They've heard about it quite a bit lately.
Re: Backbench Tory pressure groups
Posted: Thu Nov 12, 2020 12:48 pm
by Imrael
Why do Tories have groups but Labour have factions? Is it for the same reason Europe has governments but Africa has regimes?
Re: Backbench Tory pressure groups
Posted: Thu Nov 12, 2020 12:57 pm
by Gfamily
TimW wrote: ↑Thu Nov 12, 2020 12:35 pm
They're just trying to find out where "the North" is. They've heard about it quite a bit lately.
Expect the 'economic North' to expand southwards.
Re: Backbench Tory pressure groups
Posted: Thu Nov 12, 2020 1:18 pm
by El Pollo Diablo
I did a check on all the MPs there, and to be fair it's only the first two who are fully southern. David Davis was born in York but grew up in London, so he's pretty much southern as well. There's two midlanders, three Scots, two Welsh, one Northern Irish, four where it isn't clear, and one where he's discounted from any northern-ness, because he's such a gigantic c.nt (Philip Davies). The rest are all northerners, at least 24 of them.
Re: Backbench Tory pressure groups
Posted: Thu Nov 12, 2020 1:38 pm
by Grumble
El Pollo Diablo wrote: ↑Thu Nov 12, 2020 1:18 pm
I did a check on all the MPs there, and to be fair it's only the first two who are fully southern. David Davis was born in York but grew up in London, so he's pretty much southern as well. There's two midlanders, three Scots, two Welsh, one Northern Irish, four where it isn't clear, and one where he's discounted from any northern-ness, because he's such a gigantic c.nt (Philip Davies). The rest are all northerners, at least 24 of them.
I wish people were discounted from northernness for being c.nts, but despite our best efforts we haven’t sent them all to London yet.
Re: Backbench Tory pressure groups
Posted: Thu Nov 12, 2020 2:42 pm
by JQH
TimW wrote: ↑Thu Nov 12, 2020 12:35 pm
They're just trying to find out where "the North" is. They've heard about it quite a bit lately.
You're being unfair. They're well aware it's the other side of Watford.
Re: Backbench Tory pressure groups
Posted: Thu Nov 12, 2020 2:58 pm
by nezumi
JQH wrote: ↑Thu Nov 12, 2020 2:42 pm
TimW wrote: ↑Thu Nov 12, 2020 12:35 pm
They're just trying to find out where "the North" is. They've heard about it quite a bit lately.
You're being unfair. They're well aware it's the other side of Watford.
Ah, the Watford Gap, never been but I imagine it looks something like this:
- fiery pit.jpg (11.19 KiB) Viewed 2412 times
Re: Backbench Tory pressure groups
Posted: Thu Nov 12, 2020 3:57 pm
by Imrael
Well actually
To engage Pedant mode, Watford (town in Hertfordshire) is a fair bit south of Watford Gap (Northamptonshire). When commuting is allowed I drive past Watford Gap daily - sadly much less interesting than your idea.
</pedant>
Re: Backbench Tory pressure groups
Posted: Fri Nov 13, 2020 2:48 pm
by Little waster
There;'s an old joke about the ERG not being particularly European and not doing any Research.
Presumably I can just TUPE that straight over to the Common Sense Group?
Re: Backbench Tory pressure groups
Posted: Fri Nov 13, 2020 5:08 pm
by Bird on a Fire
Imrael wrote: ↑Thu Nov 12, 2020 3:57 pm
Well actually
To engage Pedant mode, Watford (town in Hertfordshire) is a fair bit south of Watford Gap (Northamptonshire). When commuting is allowed I drive past Watford Gap daily - sadly much less interesting than your idea.
</pedant>
bl..dy hell, all this time I thought Watford Gap was, like, a gap near to Watford. I realise now that I'd never even thought about what it would be a gap
in.
Why yes I am from the south, how did you know?
Re: Backbench Tory pressure groups
Posted: Fri Nov 13, 2020 5:42 pm
by geejaytee
Bird on a Fire wrote: ↑Fri Nov 13, 2020 5:08 pm
Imrael wrote: ↑Thu Nov 12, 2020 3:57 pm
Well actually
To engage Pedant mode, Watford (town in Hertfordshire) is a fair bit south of Watford Gap (Northamptonshire). When commuting is allowed I drive past Watford Gap daily - sadly much less interesting than your idea.
</pedant>
bl..dy hell, all this time I thought Watford Gap was, like, a gap near to Watford. I realise now that I'd never even thought about what it would be a gap
in.
Why yes I am from the south, how did you know?
It's quite a handy gap*, as the Roman Watling Street (the modern A5), the Grand Union Canal, the West Coast Mainline and the M1 motorway all pass through it on their way northwards:
https://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=4 ... pp=map.srf
*In a low range of hills
Re: Backbench Tory pressure groups
Posted: Fri Nov 13, 2020 6:42 pm
by Gfamily
Bird on a Fire wrote: ↑Fri Nov 13, 2020 5:08 pm
Imrael wrote: ↑Thu Nov 12, 2020 3:57 pm
Well actually
To engage Pedant mode, Watford (town in Hertfordshire) is a fair bit south of Watford Gap (Northamptonshire). When commuting is allowed I drive past Watford Gap daily - sadly much less interesting than your idea.
</pedant>
bl..dy hell, all this time I thought Watford Gap was, like, a gap near to Watford. I realise now that I'd never even thought about what it would be a gap
in.
It is, but not
that Watford
Re: Backbench Tory pressure groups
Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2020 3:07 pm
by jdc
Here's one of your covid recovery group members:
Steve Baker who pushed for Brexit despite all impact assessments saying it will devastate our economy, and pushed to leave the ECHR (by repealing the Human Rights Act)...
...Is now demanding an economic impact assessment for lockdown and complaining that it violates the ECHR.
Conservative MP Steve Baker said on BBC Radio 4's Today Programme that England’s nationwide lockdown is “a major infringement on a right to a family life. I'm looking at the European Convention on Human Rights as I speak to you."
Re: Backbench Tory pressure groups
Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2020 3:38 pm
by bagpuss
Bird on a Fire wrote: ↑Fri Nov 13, 2020 5:08 pm
Imrael wrote: ↑Thu Nov 12, 2020 3:57 pm
Well actually
To engage Pedant mode, Watford (town in Hertfordshire) is a fair bit south of Watford Gap (Northamptonshire). When commuting is allowed I drive past Watford Gap daily - sadly much less interesting than your idea.
</pedant>
bl..dy hell, all this time I thought Watford Gap was, like, a gap near to Watford. I realise now that I'd never even thought about what it would be a gap
in.
Why yes I am from the south, how did you know?
You're far from alone. In my student days, as a South Warwickshirean at a very southern university, I used to be frequently accused of being a northerner. When I denied the charge, the accuser would insist I was from north of the Watford Gap and therefore counted. And they were, every one, completely astounded when I pointed out that while I was indeed from north of Watford, my home village was actually a frazzle further south than Watford Gap.
Re: Backbench Tory pressure groups
Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2020 4:29 pm
by sTeamTraen
bagpuss wrote: ↑Mon Nov 23, 2020 3:38 pm
Bird on a Fire wrote: ↑Fri Nov 13, 2020 5:08 pm
Why yes I am from the south, how did you know?
You're far from alone. In my student days, as a South Warwickshirean at a very southern university, I used to be frequently accused of being a northerner. When I denied the charge, the accuser would insist I was from north of the Watford Gap and therefore counted. And they were, every one, completely astounded when I pointed out that while I was indeed from north of Watford, my home village was actually a frazzle further south than Watford Gap.
Mrs sTeamTraen thinks the north starts at the M4. She grew up in Hounslow and Swansea.
Re: Backbench Tory pressure groups
Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2020 4:39 pm
by Lew Dolby
Went to Uni at Bristol. Knew someone from Exeter who believed that Bristol was in the North until he got there - then decided it started at Gloucester !!
Re: Backbench Tory pressure groups
Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2020 4:42 pm
by Fishnut
sTeamTraen wrote: ↑Mon Nov 23, 2020 4:29 pm
bagpuss wrote: ↑Mon Nov 23, 2020 3:38 pm
Bird on a Fire wrote: ↑Fri Nov 13, 2020 5:08 pm
Why yes I am from the south, how did you know?
You're far from alone. In my student days, as a South Warwickshirean at a very southern university, I used to be frequently accused of being a northerner. When I denied the charge, the accuser would insist I was from north of the Watford Gap and therefore counted. And they were, every one, completely astounded when I pointed out that while I was indeed from north of Watford, my home village was actually a frazzle further south than Watford Gap.
Mrs sTeamTraen thinks the north starts at the M4. She grew up in Hounslow and Swansea.
The M4 is my barrier to the north too, as a result of growing up near Bristol (though I still have to check which one is the M4 and which is the M5). And anything past Swindon is east.
Re: Backbench Tory pressure groups
Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2020 4:47 pm
by Gfamily
Lew Dolby wrote: ↑Mon Nov 23, 2020 4:39 pm
Went to Uni at Bristol. Knew someone from Exeter who believed that Bristol was in the North until he got there - then decided it started at Gloucester !!
Whereas just outside Ullapool is this roadsign
- N S divide.PNG (613.89 KiB) Viewed 2106 times
Re: Backbench Tory pressure groups
Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2020 4:51 pm
by FlammableFlower
Fishnut wrote: ↑Mon Nov 23, 2020 4:42 pm
sTeamTraen wrote: ↑Mon Nov 23, 2020 4:29 pm
bagpuss wrote: ↑Mon Nov 23, 2020 3:38 pm
You're far from alone. In my student days, as a South Warwickshirean at a very southern university, I used to be frequently accused of being a northerner. When I denied the charge, the accuser would insist I was from north of the Watford Gap and therefore counted. And they were, every one, completely astounded when I pointed out that while I was indeed from north of Watford, my home village was actually a frazzle further south than Watford Gap.
Mrs sTeamTraen thinks the north starts at the M4. She grew up in Hounslow and Swansea.
The M4 is my barrier to the north too, as a result of growing up near Bristol (though I still have to check which one is the M4 and which is the M5). And anything past Swindon is east.
Snap!
Re: Backbench Tory pressure groups
Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2020 5:39 pm
by bjn
sTeamTraen wrote: ↑Mon Nov 23, 2020 4:29 pm
bagpuss wrote: ↑Mon Nov 23, 2020 3:38 pm
Bird on a Fire wrote: ↑Fri Nov 13, 2020 5:08 pm
Why yes I am from the south, how did you know?
You're far from alone. In my student days, as a South Warwickshirean at a very southern university, I used to be frequently accused of being a northerner. When I denied the charge, the accuser would insist I was from north of the Watford Gap and therefore counted. And they were, every one, completely astounded when I pointed out that while I was indeed from north of Watford, my home village was actually a frazzle further south than Watford Gap.
Mrs sTeamTraen thinks the north starts at the M4. She grew up in Hounslow and Swansea.
I remember a cider fuelled afternoon with a local on Isle of Purbeck (Square and Compass, Worth Matravers, truly unique pub) where he proclaimed "The North? The North? The North starts at Wareham Bridge!"
Re: Backbench Tory pressure groups
Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2020 5:49 pm
by Sciolus
jdc wrote: ↑Mon Nov 23, 2020 3:07 pm
Here's one of your covid recovery group members:
Steve Baker who pushed for Brexit despite all impact assessments saying it will devastate our economy, and pushed to leave the ECHR (by repealing the Human Rights Act)...
...Is now demanding an economic impact assessment for lockdown and complaining that it violates the ECHR.
Conservative MP Steve Baker said on BBC Radio 4's Today Programme that England’s nationwide lockdown is “a major infringement on a right to a family life. I'm looking at the European Convention on Human Rights as I speak to you."
He's so keen in the importance of the right to a family life, he
voted against allowing lone migrant children to be relocated with close relatives in the UK.
I was born 500 m from the English Channel. You're all northerners.