No 10 rule breaking gatherings during 2020.

[SuspectUsual]

It’s still a bit suspicious to me why this has come out now, surely the press can’t have sat on it for a year, if things had gone differently with Covid it might not have still been relevant.

I wouldn’t be surprised if someone has left a Downing Street job in the last month and has an axe to grind

 

[Andyh82]

I wouldn’t be surprised if someone has left a Downing Street job in the last month and has an axe to grind

Or maybe longer than the last month?

It’ll be a certain Mr Cummings again I expect

Otherwise I would have expected it to come out either when he ‘cancelled Christmas’ (as the media called it) last year or when the 3rd lockdown begun.

 

[HSTEd]

It may also have been someone who wants to stop a slide towards a lockdown for whatever reason by destroying the idea of "we are all in this together".

As to why it didn't come out? Easy - everyone who knew about it was either at the party itself or had been to other non-permissible parties themselves.

If people start asking questions about this sort of thing its going to turn into Mutually Assured Destruction really quickly.

 

[Kez]

I don't care if there was or wasn't a Christmas party at No. 10 12 months ago.
I don't care if there's a Conservative Christmas party this year.
The media loves to get hold of pointless "news" like a dog with a bone.

It is a matter of trust in government ... without it, a government has no credibility or legitimacy.

It's really not that hard to see why it is important.

 

[greyman42]

He’s outside No 10 tonight with school kids not a mask in sight.Why would anyone want to obey this brainless twit

Why would anyone need a mask in the street?

 

[21C101]

This foaming about a party last year strikes me as manufactured class envy driven outrage by the opposition.

I think it is telling that the leader of the opposition has denounced the Peppa Pig Theme Park as "dreadful"

It encapsulates in one phrase their mentality. Snobbish, puritannical, aloof, bores with no care or interest in the values of the despised majority of hoi polloi, who do not live in their insular, upper class Grauniad reading clique.

How did the party of the working classes become the party of the worst sort of condescending petty middle class "look down your nose" snobs?

From what I can make out this "party" was a business meeting at which some nice christmas food was consumed.

Thats what enterprenerial and imaginative people do, creatively make life enjoyable within the bounds of the limits constraining it.

Meanwhile the unimaginative and dull who haven't the gumption to think outside the box shreik and wave shrouds like some Victorian spinster who has seen an exposed table leg, and cling for security to literal interpretations of rules, like a toddler fearful of going out without wearing reins held by his parent.

Then wonder why they can't win an election even when the other side are knocking regular own goals into their own net.

 

[duncanp]

From what I can make out this "party" was a business meeting at which some nice christmas food was consumed.

I bet there were other "business meetings" around this time last year at which food and drink was consumed.

And I am also sure there were lots of people who blatantly broke the rules and just had parties at home, but were very discreet about.

Also people travelling from Tier 3 areas to nearby Tier 2 areas, and sitting in a pub all afternoon with the amount of booze consumed out of all proportion to their "substantial meal".

The opposition and the Grauniad reading cliques are only getting worked up about the alleged "party" at No. 10 for political reasons.

 

[greyman42]

And I am also sure there were lots of people who blatantly broke the rules and just had parties at home, but were very discreet about.

And some not so discreet but where i was, nobody seemed to care less.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Dec 2021 ==

Also people travelling from Tier 3 areas to nearby Tier 2 areas, and sitting in a pub all afternoon with the amount of booze consumed out of all proportion to their "substantial meal".

Very common.

 

[island]

Compliments to the forum for not complaining about the lack of prosecutions; Twitter was getting very worked-up about it despite that it is now too late due to the 6-month time limit.

I bet there were other "business meetings" around this time last year at which food and drink was consumed.

And I am also sure there were lots of people who blatantly broke the rules and just had parties at home, but were very discreet about.

Also people travelling from Tier 3 areas to nearby Tier 2 areas, and sitting in a pub all afternoon with the amount of booze consumed out of all proportion to their "substantial meal".

The opposition and the Grauniad reading cliques are only getting worked up about the alleged "party" at No. 10 for political reasons.

Quite a number of central London restaurants strongly encouraged "business meetings" as a way of eating indoors together when it was restricted.

He’s outside No 10 tonight with school kids not a mask in sight.Why would anyone want to obey this brainless twit

Masks aren't required outdoors.

 

[Cowley]

Not a particularly good look…

Downing Street party: No 10 staff joked about party amid lockdown restrictions

The video obtained by ITV comes after days of questions about the event that took place last year.

www.bbc.co.uk

A video obtained by ITV shows senior No 10 staff joking about holding a Christmas party - a party the government had denied ever happened.
The PM's then press secretary Allegra Stratton is asked by colleagues about reports of a party, as they rehearse a news conference in December last year.
In jokey exchanges, she says: "This fictional party was a business meeting and it was not socially distanced."
Downing Street continues to insist no party took place.

 

[brad465]

Any restrictions imposed in the run up to Christmas will now be very difficult to announce with a straight face...and enforce. (The latter has already been difficult enough)

 

[Kez]

Are there 54 Tory MPs who are willing to put their country before their party and put an end to this embarrassing episode in Britain's history ?

 

[Cowley]

Are there 54 Tory MPs who are willing to put their country before their party and put an end to this embarrassing episode in Britain's history ?

I doubt it!

 

[brad465]

Are there 54 Tory MPs who are willing to put their country before their party and put an end to this embarrassing episode in Britain's history ?

Anyone who wants him to go doesn't want 54 letters submitted, they'll want 183 letters, i.e., over 50%. If a leadership vote is triggered and Johnson survives he's not going anywhere for a year.

 

[kristiang85]

I wonder how this video got out (surely they would have asked for it not to be filmed?). And I wonder if the leaker is the same person who leaked Hancock's indescretions.

Both leaks seem to help the anti restriction cause - Hancock was ousted at the perfect time to get rid of him as restrictions were being eased, and now this is perfect timing for people to wilfully ignore any Christmas restrictions.

Whoever it is, I wish I could buy them a pint.

 

[Jimini]

I wonder how this video got out (surely they would have asked for it not to be filmed?). And I wonder if the leaker is the same person who leaked Hancock's indescretions.

Both leaks seem to help the anti restriction cause - Hancock was ousted at the perfect time to get rid of him as restrictions were being eased, and now this is perfect timing for people to wilfully ignore any Christmas restrictions.

Whoever it is, I wish I could buy them a pint.

+1

 

[HSTEd]

Compliments to the forum for not complaining about the lack of prosecutions; Twitter was getting very worked-up about it despite that it is now too late due to the 6-month time limit.

Public health order violations are not like other magistrates court charges and are not actually bound by a six month limit

The limit is three years, which is why there is an ongoing prosecution for a violation of that particular lockdown at a house in Ilford.

 

[bspahh]

This is a detailed and (I am not a lawyer) plausible analysis of whether the Downing Street party was legal.
https://barristerblogger.com/2021/1...-break-the-law-with-the-downing-street-party/

It concludes:

If the party was confined to the government rooms and offices in the “official” parts of No 10, it probably did not breach the criminal law, even though it was in flagrant breach of its spirit, as well as of the official advice and guidance, much of it emanating from the Prime Minister himself.

If the party took place inside the private flat within No 10 it was unlawful. There is still plenty of time left for a prosecution to take place. But given that the flat at No 10 was not the Prime Minister’s actual residence, and given that he did not attend the party the prospect of actually prosecuting the Prime Minister would seem to be extremely remote.

 

[Jonny]

Public health order violations are not like other magistrates court charges and are not actually bound by a six month limit

The limit is three years, which is why there is an ongoing prosecution for a violation of that particular lockdown at a house in Ilford.

Are you sure that wasn't started (as in ^information laid^) during the six month period?

 

[Smidster]

If he had an ounce of credibility he would resign today - Of course he doesn't so he won't

In the next week he is going to bring in even more restrictions for the plebs safe in the knowledge that you will follow the rules because you are good law abiding citizens.

They however will literally laugh at you behind your back when you are cancelling your plans to see people you haven't seen in years or trips / events that have kept you going since this nightmare started.

 

[island]

Public health order violations are not like other magistrates court charges and are not actually bound by a six month limit

Source, please. Mine is section 127 of the Magistrates Court Act 1980.

The limit is three years,

which is why there is an ongoing prosecution for a violation of that particular lockdown at a house in Ilford.

I expect that prosecution was duly initiated (information laid) within the 6 month period, but is being tried after that time because of court backlogs.

 

[duncanp]

If he had an ounce of credibility he would resign today - Of course he doesn't so he won't

In the next week he is going to bring in even more restrictions for the plebs safe in the knowledge that you will follow the rules because you are good law abiding citizens.

They however will literally laugh at you behind your back when you are cancelling your plans to see people you haven't seen in years or trips / events that have kept you going since this nightmare started.

I think these revelations make it difficult, if not impossible, for Boris Johnson to bring in restrictions on family gatherings for Christmas and New Year.

He would have to announce, barely a week before Christmas Day, that such gatherings are not allowed, and I think the vast majority of people would stick two fingers up at him and say:-

"...Up yours Boris, we're going ahead with our plans anyway, just what do you think you are going to do about it..?"

I think what is most likely to happen next week is that the current mask rules and money making scheme for the testing companies travel testing rules are extended for a further three weeks until the second week of January, together with perhaps advice about working from home over Christmas, which a lot of people do anyway.

 

[Smidster]

I think these revelations make it difficult, if not impossible, for Boris Johnson to bring in restrictions on family gatherings for Christmas and New Year.

He would have to announce, barely a week before Christmas Day, that such gatherings are not allowed, and I think the vast majority of people would stick two fingers up at him and say:-

"...Up yours Boris, we're going ahead with our plans anyway, just what do you think you are going to do about it..?"

I think what is most likely to happen next week is that the current mask rules and money making scheme for the testing companies travel testing rules are extended for a further three weeks until the second week of January, together with perhaps advice about working from home over Christmas, which a lot of people do anyway.

I agree it is unlikely that there will be limits on family gatherings but the other restrictions will go far beyond travel testing.

I would expect, at the absolute bare minimum:

Masks in all enclosed public spaces including hospitality
Vaccine Passports - Maybe not in all hospitality but certainly for events.
Vaccine Passports to include the need for a Booster Jab (Providing 3 months from second dose)
Work at Home unless absolutely impossible for 6 weeks from 19th December.
Mandatory isolation for close contacts regardless of vaccination status.

And that is if we are very lucky!

 

[Falcon1200]

The opposition and the Grauniad reading cliques are only getting worked up about the alleged "party" at No. 10 for political reasons.

Quite possibly, but at the same time the Government must set the example and obey to the letter the restrictions they have told the rest of us to follow.

I think these revelations make it difficult, if not impossible, for Boris Johnson to bring in restrictions on family gatherings for Christmas and New Year.

Agree, but OTOH it presents an open goal for the SNP here in Scotland to announce just such restrictions and demonstrate how much more caring and responsible they are than those evil, sleazy Tories down south.

I hope that the PM stands up today and apologises for the party, and the cover-up, and the alleged lie about there being no party, and announces who is being sacked, starting with the woman laughing in the video. But given his performance so far I won't hold my breath.....

 

[duncanp]

I agree it is unlikely that there will be limits on family gatherings but the other restrictions will go far beyond travel testing.

I would expect, at the absolute bare minimum:

Masks in all enclosed public spaces including hospitality
Vaccine Passports - Maybe not in all hospitality but certainly for events.
Vaccine Passports to include the need for a Booster Jab (Providing 3 months from second dose)
Work at Home unless absolutely impossible for 6 weeks from 19th December.
Mandatory isolation for close contacts regardless of vaccination status.

And that is if we are very lucky!

I am not sure about your suggestions for vaccine passports. Current newspaper reports suggest that a majority of the cabinet, crucially including Sajid Javid and Rishi Sunak, are against the proposals.

I am also not sure about masks in hospitality settings, given that you have to take the wretched things off to eat and drink. What difference would putting on a mask to go to the toilet, or outside for a fag, actually make? Given the level of public anger, cynicism and general weariness with all these restrictions, I think Boris Johnson will probably pass on this.

I think working from home until the end of January and isolation for close contacts regardless of vaccination status are more likely though, if only as "strengthened guidance" rather than a legal mandate. NHS Track & Trace do not have the capacity to keep tabs on everyone who should be self isolating, and the government knows this. It is also impossible to judge whether someone who goes into the office should be working from home, as it is for the employer and employee to determine whether a job can be done effectively from home or not. The current row about civil servants "working from home" during the Afghanistan evacuation crisis in August shows that there are limits to WFH.

 

[kristiang85]

I hope that the PM stands up today and apologises for the party, and the cover-up, and the alleged lie about there being no party, and announces who is being sacked, starting with the woman laughing in the video. But given his performance so far I won't hold my breath.....

That was Angela Stratton, who left the job long ago.

 

[yorksrob]

That's lockdown dead and buried then.

 

[Falcon1200]

That was Angela Stratton, who left the job long ago.

It was Allegra Stratton, but you are right, she is no longer in that post. But she should still be sacked from whatever job she has now !

 

[kristiang85]

It was Allegra Stratton, but you are right, she is no longer in that post. But she should still be sacked from whatever job she has now !

Allegra* indeed, sorry! Haven't had my morning tea yet

 

[DerekC]

It was Allegra Stratton, but you are right, she is no longer in that post. But she should still be sacked from whatever job she has now !

Not sure why she should resign - she was evidently thinking "Oh sh*t, what on earth would I say if a real journalist asked the question?" The person who should resign is the PM, for deliberately and repeatedly misleading Parliament. That's the real point. The party itself is trivial - if they had issued a mumbled semi-admission and semi-apology as the Department of Education has just done, it would all have been over in a couple of days. Boris has been caught out deliberately lying, and in any previous age that would have been the end of him. However, pigs might fly. I might even watch PMQs to see what our ex-Director of Public Prosecutions makes of an open goal!