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It is quite instructive that the press have managed to damage the Tories' poll rating simply by pulling up the publicly-available list of MP registered interest
by flooow 5y ago
It is quite instructive that the press have managed to damage the Tories' poll rating simply by pulling up the publicly-available list of MP registered interests and reporting them as the scandal they are and always were.
Why didn't they do this at any point in the past 10+ years? Because the press are owned and operated by the Tory party (sometimes once-removed, sometimes not) and understand that their primary function is to distribute pro-Tory propaganda.
So why are they doing it now? Because a) the opposition has been thoroughly defanged after the wholesale demolition of the left-wing Corbyn project and b) a lot of top Conservatives do not like Johnson because he makes them embarrassed at dinner parties, and would prefer someone like Gove. In other words, it's a Barclay twins vs Murdoch ruling-class squabble.
- lordnacho 5y ago> Why didn't they do this at any point in the past 10+ years? Because the press are owned and operated by the Tory party (sometimes once-removed, sometimes not) and understand that their primary function is to distribute pro-Tory propaganda. Maybe I'm just too cynical but I think if you're the media you need to shake down your favourites from time to time, even if you do prefer them over the opposition. If you can make a storm, you can make it blow over as well.
- drcongo 5y agoThis comment is absolutely bang on, but leaves out one minor detail - this digging was done by openDemocracy who have been doing this constantly over the last 10 years. The fact that the print press also picked it up eventually is entirely down to your point (b). You can always tell when the tories are tired of their current leader because the rest of the party starts briefing the press with damaging stories.