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> It's a bit like hitting the nuclear self-destruct button or something. The words you picked show in a despairingly ironic way that she's not afraid to push t

> It's a bit like hitting the nuclear self-destruct button or something. The words you picked show in a despairingly ironic way that she's not afraid to push the button https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/jul/18/theresa-may-takes-aim-at-jeremy-corbyn-over-trident-renewal https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/jul/18/theresa-may-... This is the most right-wing government we've had for a long time.

ddebernardy 10y ago
Dunno about the most right-wing bit, but this much I can suggest: if you're a nuclear power and openly boast that you'd hesitate to use it if needed your nuclear deterrance policy goes down the drain. And that basically is what she said insofar as I could tell. Also: what kind of funky debate thing is there in the UK that brings MPs to say "she" before the person they're speaking to? Do they do the same when it's a "he" or do they then use "you" to actually acknowledge that the person they're speaking to is actually present in the room? (I'm genuinely asking; this is not merely rethorical... Though admittedly, I can't imagine Thatcher accepting this type of being ignored as a doormat if it's reserved for women.)
- DanBC 10y ago
  In the commons MPs talk to the Speaker, not to each other. It's a bit weird.
- dragonwriter 10y ago
  > Also: what kind of funky debate thing is there in the UK that brings MPs to say "she" before the person they're speaking to? The person they are speaking to is the Speaker of the House of Commons. The questions are to be answered by a third person, the Prime Minister. You will note that May also follows the same rules, referring to the people to whom she is (apparently) responding in the third person. (Because, in theory, she is actually, again, responding to the Speaker as to what she would say to the questioner.) > Do they do the same when it's a "he" or do they then use "you" to actually acknowledge that the person they're speaking to is actually present in the room? Absolutely. Indeed, were they not to do so, they would be called out for violating the rules of the House. Incidentally, this isn't actually a funky debate thing that is specific to the UK; if you watch the US Congress you will note that members also refer to each other (except the presiding officer) in the third person even when making what appear to be direct requests like "Will the gentleman yield for a question?" This is because members are generally prohibited from directly addressing each other, they formally address the presiding officer.
  - ddebernardy 10y ago
    How wonderfully British. Thank you for clarifying this. (And come to think of it, maybe "members are generally prohibited from directly addressing each other" ought to get implemented in some other countries if that keeps debates - reasonably - polite and without fist fights.)

ddebernardy 10y ago

Dunno about the most right-wing bit, but this much I can suggest: if you're a nuclear power and openly boast that you'd hesitate to use it if needed your nuclear deterrance policy goes down the drain. And that basically is what she said insofar as I could tell. Also: what kind of funky debate thing is there in the UK that brings MPs to say "she" before the person they're speaking to? Do they do the same when it's a "he" or do they then use "you" to actually acknowledge that the person they're speaking to is actually present in the room? (I'm genuinely asking; this is not merely rethorical... Though admittedly, I can't imagine Thatcher accepting this type of being ignored as a doormat if it's reserved for women.)

DanBC 10y ago
In the commons MPs talk to the Speaker, not to each other. It's a bit weird.
dragonwriter 10y ago
> Also: what kind of funky debate thing is there in the UK that brings MPs to say "she" before the person they're speaking to? The person they are speaking to is the Speaker of the House of Commons. The questions are to be answered by a third person, the Prime Minister. You will note that May also follows the same rules, referring to the people to whom she is (apparently) responding in the third person. (Because, in theory, she is actually, again, responding to the Speaker as to what she would say to the questioner.) > Do they do the same when it's a "he" or do they then use "you" to actually acknowledge that the person they're speaking to is actually present in the room? Absolutely. Indeed, were they not to do so, they would be called out for violating the rules of the House. Incidentally, this isn't actually a funky debate thing that is specific to the UK; if you watch the US Congress you will note that members also refer to each other (except the presiding officer) in the third person even when making what appear to be direct requests like "Will the gentleman yield for a question?" This is because members are generally prohibited from directly addressing each other, they formally address the presiding officer.
- ddebernardy 10y ago
  How wonderfully British. Thank you for clarifying this. (And come to think of it, maybe "members are generally prohibited from directly addressing each other" ought to get implemented in some other countries if that keeps debates - reasonably - polite and without fist fights.)