[randomelement]

Yeah, but that's going to cover a lot of people who wouldn't vote Tory anyway. It might not be as big of a bounce, but once he's in and makes a few oh-so funny speeches it'll bring the boorish twats out of the woodwork.

Corbyn looked like a ball of fire next to May's amazing impression of a malfunctioning android made of solid oak. Next to Johnson, Corbyn's going to look like May only with a beard.

Yeah, we really are fucked, there are no choices any more. Johnson will beat Corbyn at the dispatch box, but his boorish speeches may go down well with the retired golf club Tories, but a lot of Tory voters are small business owners or directors and probably don't appreciate "fuck business" .

It's straw grasping, but the latest polls have 4 parties within 8% of each other, so who know what's going to happen.

[Winegums]

The idea that anyone actually wins at the dispatch box is a joke. May has shown for the last two years that all you have to do is not answer the question. It's not a "battle of wits" or political nous, it's just soundbiting and the winner is whoever any given paper likes.

[randomelement]

But it's the soundbites that make it into the newspapers. Soundbites first then policy, Unfortunately you have to play the game.
Look at Johnson, he is just soundbites, it's got him a long way, now he's getting scrutiny it's falling apart.

It's shit, but that's the system and Corbyn isn't the one to break the system,

[Winegums]

So why even do PMQs? Just say your soundbites. Don't ask questions, don't have a conversation, just look right at the camera and say "Tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime"

[Abernathy]

That PMQs are irrelevant and unimportant must be a great source of comfort for Jeremy Corbyn.

[Winegums]

It's more that they're pointless than anything. You can ask any question you want and it'll just be deflected or ignored.
JC: Can the prime minister explain why child poverty is increasing under her leadership and what she will do about it?
TM: Our government has invested more than any before in child poverty, we are committed to seeing it eradicated. His lot want Venezuela!

etc

[crabcakes_windermere]

The idea that anyone actually wins at the dispatch box is a joke. May has shown for the last two years that all you have to do is not answer the question. It's not a "battle of wits" or political nous, it's just soundbiting and the winner is whoever any given paper likes.

The problem is, Corbyn never pressed the matter either. He often had good initial questions which yes, May then evaded. But he just moved on - he rarely thought on his feet and went for the kill. It's not just about soundbites and the like. It's demonstrating in front of your peers and parliamentary party that you're sharp, keen and absolutely committed to showing up the opposition for what they are. Corbyn often just seemed to be working through a list.

[Winegums]

She can just keep not answering the question lol.

[Malcolm Armsteen]

But a half-decent speaker who is clever enough to think on his feet can just keep pressing until she looks shifty.

lol.

[Winegums]

Or she can just repeat the answer to the same question.

[crabcakes_windermere]

She can just keep not answering the question lol.

Well true. But if you keep avoiding answering questions and just bang out the same stupid soundbites, falsehoods and easily debunked nonsense, pretty soon everyone thinks you're an idiot.

[Oblomov]

Presumably we shouldn't bother interviewing politicians on current affairs programs because they can just perennially dodge the question?

[Winegums]

It's a bit harder to get away with it in an interview given than the decorum- and rules- bound parliament.

Bear in mind May managed to coast along as PM by just refusing to resign. Turns out that a political system designed around expecting people to answer questions honestly and jump on their sword when they fuck up falls apart when they just...refuse to do so.

[The Red Arrow]

Did somebody mention interviews?

[crabcakes_windermere]

Bear in mind May managed to coast along as PM by just refusing to resign. Turns out that a political system designed around expecting people to answer questions honestly and jump on their sword when they fuck up falls apart when they just...refuse to do so.

It's also built around the fact that if they don't, they will be under immense pressure to leave from their own side until it becomes untenable. In this case though, no one wanted the poison chalice of Brexit so she staggered on until the only options left were no deal, referendum or revoke - and only 1 of those is realistically an option for the Tories, so whoever wins the prize there can blame May for what comes next.

That pressure to go is usually also ramped up by a capable opposition. But when the person opposite is no threat and is doing worse in the polls than you are, that source of pressure disappears.

It's essentially been an anti-parliament. An absence of government, an absence of opposition to hold them to account, and an absence of accountability and leadership.