With counterintuitive brilliance, the Conservatives have assembled a cabinet full of the same ashen-faced misfits voters already rejected. They have wrecked a failing pub in an insurance flood and rebuilt it, not as flats or a leisure centre, but as an identical failing pub.
Johnson, Hunt and Gove. It’s as if DC Comics, having mislaid Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman, had to launch a movie franchise based on Ace The Bat-Hound, Matter-Eater Lad and the Super-Moby Dick of Space.
Yes, even the Trump-rimming Murdoch fist-puppet Gove has been reinstated, despite the proved electoral toxicity of associations with the environment-loathing golf magnate and the failing public-opinion wrangler respectively.
Was it only in January that Super Dick Gove, his pink bottom upon the old knee of an invisible Murdoch, flew to New York in a golden elevator to rub his horrid genital against Trump’s chair leg? Gove then described as “warm” and “charismatic” a man whose British visit, it is tacitly accepted, would have caused civil disobedience on an unprecedented scale. Oh! The warmth!! The charisma!!!
Since 8 June’s Ragnarök, the Conservative party has resembled not so much a dog returning to its own vomit as a dog returning to its own vomit, putting on a nice dinner suit and tucking into its own vomit with the finest silver cutlery, as if its own vomit were in fact a delicious treat it would choose to eat willingly, over and over again, even if had it the option of consuming the finest Pedigree Chum instead.
Waking up at the weekend, it appeared to my blurred eye that the Conservatives were about to enter an arrangement with the Plague Monks, the parade-loving, rat-faced death-cultists from my 10-year-old’s Warhammer game.
“Driven into battle by their frenzied faith, the Plague Monks of Clan Pestilens are a repulsive tidal wave of filth… each model can be built as a Bringer-of-the-Word, clutching a Book of Woe, an Icon Bearer with a Contagion Banner or as a Plague Harbinger carrying a Doom Gong.”
But the Tories’ proposed partners were in fact the Democratic Unionists, doom gongs in hand, who appear to be lead by the Gruffalo from the popular children’s book of the same name.
It’s like going into partnership with the unevolved flesh-eating subterranean humanoids from Neil Marshall’s 2005 horror film The Descent and thinking it will probably be OK, as long as we turn a blind eye to the flesh-eating.
If I were a prewar newspaper cartoonist, I’d draw an ocean going liner with “The Conservative Party’’ written on it and on the horizon an iceberg labelled “DUP” and caption the picture “Full Steam Ahead”.
But the Plague Monks’ reactionary views will cause problems for enlightened Conservatives. While, historically, not the most gay-friendly party in Britain, the Conservatives have always been the most gay.
Putney MP Justine Greening, Arundel MP Nick Herbert, Finchley MP Mike Freer and Grantham MP Nick Boles are all gay; Stourbridge MP Margot James was one of the 50 most gay people of 2009; Reigate MP Crispin Blunt is gay and spoke in parliament in favour of amyl nitrate, an exciting bottled smell popular at gay social events and dances.
Tory peer Baron Barker of Battle, who warmed his dachshund’s cushion with a Department of Energy and Climate Change microwave, and Tory peer Baron Black of Brentwood, are both gay lords; and the Tories’ charismatic election star Ruth Davidson, an incorrigible show-off who dresses like a member of Deacon Blue, is Scottish, Protestant, gay and engaged to a gay Catholic lady.
As May, Gove and Johnson are all dead ducks, the Conservative party might, in the shape of Davidson, soon field Britain’s first openly gay prime minister. And only the most bigoted Tory would deny that the Conservative party is stronger not in spite of, but because of, its gayness.
And this makes the proposed partnership with the Plague Monks even more unworkable. What Conservatives and Democratic Unionists do in the privacy of their own homes is up to them, but to parade their relationship in public is obscene.
Founded by the gaberdine hate foghorn Ian Paisley, the Plague Monks are opposed to abortion and deny the facts of climate change, evolutionary theory and even geology. Their former health minister, Jim Wells, supported attempts to lobby the visitors’ centre of the Giant’s Causeway into accepting that the ancient basalt may only be 6,000 years old, as that was when God created everything, except Michael Gove, a failed prototype human that was supposed to be discarded.
But our putative co-rulers’ highest profile hate is same-sex partnerships. In 2008, Plague Monk MP Iris Robinson declared: “There can be no viler act, apart from homosexuality and sodomy, than sexually abusing innocent children.” Clearly, Iris Robinson never saw Ian Paisley trying to peel off a surgical stocking.
It’s not obvious if Robinson’s objection to sodomy is limited to sodomy between men or between heterosexuals as well. Hopefully, a member of the public will write to Jeremy Corbyn and ask him to ask Theresa May’s position during the next prime minister’s questions. Or maybe The One Show’s presenters can ask next time she and Philip are on the sofa. Perhaps there are boy jobs and girl jobs. Indeed, should the Democratic Unionists submit to Tory control, it is not unfeasible that future prime minister Ruth Davidson will demand the corpse of Ian Paisley is disinterred and forced to become gay.
Many Tories are thoroughly nice people, who genuinely believe the traditional values of their party serve Britain best. Anna Soubry and Ken Clarke for example. There are loads of others I am sure. I just can’t think of them because I have sick in my mouth from laughing. But I don’t believe many Conservative supporters want to be beholden to the DUP.
The chaotic fallout of this botched election is like something you’d watch in baffled horror, unfolding in a ludicrous failing foreign democracy; all the zoo animals have escaped and flare-wearing people waving flags with heraldic images of black puddings on them are throwing strangely shaped pastries at sword-wielding, pantalooned policemen.
Once, we could secretly congratulate our smug British selves on how that sort of thing doesn’t happen here. But now we are one of those countries, unravelling with bewildering rapidity, a source of international ridicule and concern, however sensible a face Dan Hannan tries to make on Newsnight. In the euphoria surrounding the unexpected scale of the Tories’ failure, it’s easy to forget that this is still a disaster for everyone.
Stewart Lee is touring his new show, Content Provider, throughout 2017
Spursguy, Youtube
Spursguy, Youtube
Fairy Pingu, Twitter
Fairy Pingu, Twitter
Leach Juice, Twitter
Leach Juice, Twitter
Mpf1947, Youtube
Mpf1947, Youtube
Guest1001, Youtube
Guest1001, Youtube
Peter Ould, Youtube
Peter Ould, Youtube
FBC, finalgear.com
FBC, finalgear.com
Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
Al Murray, Comedian
Al Murray, Comedian
Len Firewood, Twitter
Len Firewood, Twitter
Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
Anon, westhamonline.com
Anon, westhamonline.com
Anon, BBC Complaints Log
Anon, BBC Complaints Log
Pnethor, pne-online.com
Pnethor, pne-online.com
Frankie Boyle, Comedian
Frankie Boyle, Comedian
World Without End, Twitter
World Without End, Twitter
Foxfoxton, Youtube
Foxfoxton, Youtube
Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
Aiden Hearn, Twitter
Aiden Hearn, Twitter
Hiewy, Youtube
Hiewy, Youtube
Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
Joe, Independent.co.uk
Joe, Independent.co.uk
Wharto15, Twitter
Wharto15, Twitter
Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
Slothy Matt, Twitter
Slothy Matt, Twitter
Keilloh, Twitter
Keilloh, Twitter
Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
98rosjon, Twitter
98rosjon, Twitter
12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
Gwaites, Digitalspy
Gwaites, Digitalspy
Anamatronix, Youtube
Anamatronix, Youtube
John Robins, Comedian
John Robins, Comedian
Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
Borathigh5, Youtube
Borathigh5, Youtube
Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
Etienne, Chortle.com
Etienne, Chortle.com
Zombie Hamster, Twitter
Zombie Hamster, Twitter
Horatio Melvin, Twitter
Horatio Melvin, Twitter
Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
Peter Ould, Twitter
Peter Ould, Twitter
Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
Joycey, readytogo.net
Joycey, readytogo.net
Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
Iain, eatenbymissionaries
Iain, eatenbymissionaries
Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
Herald Scotland.
Herald Scotland.
NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
Visualiser1, Twitter
Visualiser1, Twitter
Tokyofist, Youtube
Tokyofist, Youtube
Tin Frog, Twitter
Tin Frog, Twitter
Peter Fears, Twitter
Peter Fears, Twitter
Microcuts 22, Twitter
Microcuts 22, Twitter
Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
Rudeness, Youtube
Rudeness, Youtube
Chez, Chortle.com
Chez, Chortle.com
Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
GRTak, finalgear.com
GRTak, finalgear.com
Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
Lents, redandwhitekop.com
Lents, redandwhitekop.com
General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
Brighton Argus
Brighton Argus
James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
Idrie, Youtube
Idrie, Youtube
Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
Gabrielle, Chortle.com
Gabrielle, Chortle.com
Mearecate, Youtube
Mearecate, Youtube
Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
Robert Gavin, Twitter
Robert Gavin, Twitter
Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
Fowkes81, Twitter
Fowkes81, Twitter
Meninblack, Twitter
Meninblack, Twitter
Aaron, comedy.co.uk
Aaron, comedy.co.uk
Birmingham Sunday Mercury
Birmingham Sunday Mercury
Dick Socrates, Twitter
Dick Socrates, Twitter
Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
Contrapuntal, Twitter
Contrapuntal, Twitter
Cyberbloke, Twitter
Cyberbloke, Twitter
Z-factor, Twitter.
Z-factor, Twitter.
Bosco239, youtube
Bosco239, youtube
Sidsings000, Youtube
Sidsings000, Youtube
Sam Rooney, Youtube
Sam Rooney, Youtube
Clampdown59, Twitter.
Clampdown59, Twitter.
Mini-x2, readytogo.net
Mini-x2, readytogo.net
Dan McCaid, Twitter
Dan McCaid, Twitter
Jackmumf, Twitter
Jackmumf, Twitter
BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
Rubyshoes, Twitter
Rubyshoes, Twitter
Shit Crit, Twitter
Shit Crit, Twitter
Stokeylitfest, Twitter
Stokeylitfest, Twitter
Richard Herring, Comedian
Richard Herring, Comedian
Tres Ryan, Twitter
Tres Ryan, Twitter
Secretdeveloper, Youtube
Secretdeveloper, Youtube
Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
Pudabaya, Twitter
Pudabaya, Twitter
Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
Danazawa, Youtube
Danazawa, Youtube
Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
XPIJONpsY, Twitter
XPIJONpsY, Twitter
Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
A D Ward, Twitter
A D Ward, Twitter
Jamespearse, Twitter
Jamespearse, Twitter
Mrdavisn01, Twitter
Mrdavisn01, Twitter
Kozzy06, Youtube
Kozzy06, Youtube
Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
Emilyistrendy, Youtube
Emilyistrendy, Youtube
Sweeping Curves, Twitter
Sweeping Curves, Twitter
Liam Travitt, Twitter
Liam Travitt, Twitter
Stuart, Chortle
Stuart, Chortle
Carcrazychica, Youtube
Carcrazychica, Youtube
Funday’schild, youtube.
Funday’schild, youtube.
DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
Zoot Cadillac, Twitter
Zoot Cadillac, Twitter