Contagion 2020

[Del-icious]

Aren't all questions submitted prior to when PMQ starts?

Are they not submitted to the speaker rather than gvt?

[Big Physical Acey]

Not to mention that PMs / FMs are supposed to spend a lot of time prepping for PMQs/FMQs with a whole team of people.

[Groot]

Are they not submitted to the speaker rather than gvt?

I'm basing that on whenever I've watched it previously the PM usually has a prepared statement in place

[Del-icious]

Not to mention that PMs / FMs are supposed to spend a lot of time prepping for PMQs/FMQs with a whole team of people.

Is that not their advisors are there for, to prepare them for the difficult inevitable questions?

It's not exactly a secret what's going to be getting asked.

[Big Physical Acey]

Is that not their advisors are there for, to prepare them for the difficult inevitable questions?

It's not exactly a secret what's going to be getting asked.

Yes.

[Groot]

https://www.facebook.com/304330961065/po.../?vh=e&d=n

Fuck right off  

This Thursday night pish has to stop

[Cheeky Gnando’s]

Not to mention that PMs / FMs are supposed to spend a lot of time prepping for PMQs/FMQs with a whole team of people.

Correct. It's the wilful excusal of any responsibility that I find incredible. It never used to be like this (he's the first PM in my lifetime to routinely turn up to PMQs unprepared tbf, so maybe I don't have a frame of reference). “It's a hard job so give him a break; he may not be doing the job, but I bet YOU COULDN'T. Also I think he's doing a great job and the two thoughts in my head are not in any way joined up with one another”. These people are abdicating responsibility for the leader of the country and cheerleading his laziness.

I can't help but feel that this is what the sprigs of fascism look like.

[Big Physical Acey]

https://www.facebook.com/304330961065/po.../?vh=e&d=n

Fuck right off  

This Thursday night pish has to stop

Imagine that being the highlight of your week.

[Floyd]

https://www.facebook.com/304330961065/po.../?vh=e&d=n

Fuck right off  

This Thursday night pish has to stop

Surely I'm not alone in wanting George Michael, Brian Harvey & Morph to all be driving down that street while those clowns were doing that?

[Cheeky Gnando’s]

I'm basing that on whenever I've watched it previously the PM usually has a prepared statement in place

That's the first question, which is always about his engagements for the day. In FMQs it's the same. The prepared statement is the response to that administrative question before the questions start proper.

Questions are submitted in advance to the speaker and usually the question submitted will be the engagement question, which allows them to present an unseen question to the PM. A lot of these are planted questions by the PM. In normal times, you can also “bob” to try and get the speaker's attention if you don't get a spot on the order paper. The PM isn't supposed to know what questions are being asked, but given that half will come from his own side and that he's supposed to be extensively briefed on possible questions, that isn't supposed to be a problem.

[Zizou]

https://twitter.com/BethRigby/status/126...5854687233

Wasn't even aware this was a thing. Absolutely ridiculous. That amendment should be a no brainer.

[Big Physical Acey]

Seems strange for Labour to be calling it a "surcharge" rather than a tax. Not like they have a choice to not pay it, as far as I'm aware?

[Drederick Shanktum]

Sounds as if starmer battered him again today at PMQs

[Walter Sobchak]

Seems strange for Labour to be calling it a "surcharge" rather than a tax. Not like they have a choice to not pay it, as far as I'm aware?

It's called 'the immigration health surcharge' so I don't see the issue, other than optics.

As a charge that attaches onto some visas, and can have the fee waived (in circs where applicant would be destitute), I think surcharge is probably accurate.

[Big Physical Acey]

Ah, fair enough - didn't know that it can be waived. Still find it odd from an optics point of view though - compare it to "the dementia tax" from the other year.

[Walter Sobchak]

Agree with that.

The Visa TAX, NHS workers visa TAX. etc

[Cheeky Gnando’s]

There's also potentially, I suspect, an element of avoiding calling it a tax because of who is subject to paying it. Attacking the govt for “taxing” migrant workers might not play as well as it ought to - you can see the “so they bloody should pay their taxes like the rest of us” chat from your average Brexit prick. Tax obviously carries a negative connotation as a word, but it also carries a legitimacy.

[Big Physical Acey]

Yeah, probably. Something like "hero tax" though

[Cheeky Gnando’s]

Hero tax

Delightfully devilish, Seymour Starmer

[Walter Sobchak]