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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsAnyone read the original book 'House of Cards'?
Michael Dobbs, the author, was an advisor and speechwriter to Thatcher, a government special advisor and Chief of Staff to the Conservative Party. He knew the ins and outs of Westminster.
I've been thinking about the scenario played out in 'House of Cards', where Chief Whip, Francis Urquart wins the contested Tory Party leadership race and comparing it to the current battle.
"Urquhart then eliminates his enemies in the resulting leadership contest by means of fabricated scandals that he sets up himself or publicizes. These include threatening to publish photographs of Education Secretary Harold Earle in the company of a rent boy; causing Health Secretary Peter MacKenzie to accidentally run over a disabled man; and forcing Foreign Secretary Patrick Woolton to withdraw by blackmailing him with an audiotape of a one-night stand. His remaining rival, Environment Secretary Michael Samuels, is alleged by the press to have supported far-left politics as a university student. Urquhart thereby reaches the brink of victory.
Prior to the final ballot, Urquhart murders the party's drug-addicted and increasingly unstable public relations consultant, Roger O'Neill, whom he forced into helping him to remove Collingridge from office. Urquhart invites O'Neill to his country house near Southampton, gets him drunk, and puts rat poison in his cocaine."
Poor old Boris. Apart from being a thug, liar and blowhard, he seems to have a penchant for domestic violence. Barely two days after this embarrassing revelation, the Guardian has a new scandal.
Video reveals Steve Bannon links to Boris Johnson
New evidence suggesting close links between Boris Johnson and Donald Trumps controversial former campaign manager Steve Bannon can be revealed, calling into question the former foreign secretarys previous denials of an association with the influential far-right activist.
Video evidence obtained by the Observer shows Bannon, who helped mastermind Trumps successful bid for the presidency but was later exiled from the White House, talking about his relationship and contacts with Johnson, and how he helped him craft the first speech after his resignation as foreign secretary, in which Johnson tore into Theresa Mays Brexit strategy.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jun/22/video-reveals-steve-bannon-links-to-boris-johnson
New evidence suggesting close links between Boris Johnson and Donald Trumps controversial former campaign manager Steve Bannon can be revealed, calling into question the former foreign secretarys previous denials of an association with the influential far-right activist.
Video evidence obtained by the Observer shows Bannon, who helped mastermind Trumps successful bid for the presidency but was later exiled from the White House, talking about his relationship and contacts with Johnson, and how he helped him craft the first speech after his resignation as foreign secretary, in which Johnson tore into Theresa Mays Brexit strategy.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jun/22/video-reveals-steve-bannon-links-to-boris-johnson
Is someone doing a hit job on Boris? "You might very well think that; I couldn't possibly comment."
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Anyone read the original book 'House of Cards'? (Original Post)
canetoad
Jun 2019
OP
OnDoutside
(19,908 posts)1. I hope so ! He's an unstable asshole.
msongs
(67,199 posts)2. the original british tv show is just totally delicious nt