No 10 rule breaking gatherings during 2020.

[kristiang85]

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!

Has he actually flatly denied it though? I might have missed more quotes, but so far I've just seen him being cleverly evasive. That isn't good either, but it could make it hard to pin the charge he has blatently lied.

However he's done it many time already and nothing happens, so I doubt it will now.

 

[ainsworth74]

(surely they would have asked for it not to be filmed?)

They were practicing for the daily White House style press briefings (which of course never actually happened) so presumably they were also testing things like video and sound quality. In these circles I think they also like to play back recordings to review things and how to improve (ha!) for future performances. So it being recorded is not that surprising.

That it leaked is however. The other example that was thinking of was the leak of an unredacted PPE contract that showed that whilst Matt Hancock's friend didn't win a contract another company did and was required to subcontract another company. That was owned by Hancock's mate. Funny how that detail was redacted from the officially released version....

I'm starting to wonder if they've begun to properly lose the Civil Service? There's that FCDO whistle-blower as well the other day.

 

[Crossover]

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.

It is nothing but theatre - donning a face covering, walking 30 seconds to a table and sitting down and removing said face covering - completely and utterly pointless!

 

[initiation]

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.

I am not sure.

An alternative view is the Gov will want to try and deflect the media from the party story, so will ramp up the fear and say we need to impose new restrictons like vaccine passports (which according to Yougov are popular with the public...).

 

[bramling]

I am not sure.

An alternative view is the Gov will want to try and deflect the media from the party story, so will ramp up the fear and say we need to impose new restrictons like vaccine passports (which according to Yougov are popular with the public...).

Yes that’s already proved a useful distraction tactic recently.

I can’t see how they could viably implement any socialising restriction though, people just aren’t going to do it. Things are patchy enough with masks.

 

[HSTEd]

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

Section 64A of the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984

(1)Notwithstanding anything in section 127(1) of the Magistrates' Courts Act 1980, a magistrates' court may try an information (or written charge) relating to an offence created by or under this Act if the information is laid (or the charge is issued)—

(a)before the end of the period of 3 years beginning with the date of the commission of the offence, and

(b)before the end of the period of 6 months beginning with the date on which evidence which the prosecutor thinks is sufficient to justify the proceedings comes to the prosecutor's knowledge.

 

[Kez]

Has he actually flatly denied it though? I might have missed more quotes, but so far I've just seen him being cleverly evasive.

In what way was it clever ?

It fooled no one and left everyone knowing that a gathering did take place but that he didn't care because he thinks it is one rule for us and one rule (or no rules) for him and his inner circle.

The arrogance is/was astonishing and he feels himself answerable to no one. He is answerable. He is answerable, in the first instance, to his backbenchers and they should be sorting this circus out. The honeymoon of the large majority is over ; he is now a liability to both their party and the country.

 

[Eyersey468]

In what way was it clever ?

It fooled no one and left everyone knowing that a gathering did take place but that he didn't care because he thinks it is one rule for us and one rule (or no rules) for him and his inner circle.

The arrogance is/was astonishing and he feels himself answerable to no one. He is answerable. He is answerable, in the first instance, to his backbenchers and they should be sorting this circus out. The honeymoon of the large majority is over ; he is now a liability to both their party and the country.

It has always seemed like its one rule for us and another for his circle

 

[brad465]

Johnson's apologises for video and ordered an inquiry into the incident:

PMQs: Boris Johnson sorry for offence caused by aides joking about lockdown party

Boris Johnson says he was assured no rules were broken, but Labour's Keir Starmer questions the PM's moral authority.

www.bbc.co.uk

Prime Minister Boris Johnson apologises for video where staff joked about lockdown Christmas party and orders inquiry into whether rules were broken

Note this is not an apology for the party itself.

 

[bramling]

In what way was it clever ?

It fooled no one and left everyone knowing that a gathering did take place but that he didn't care because he thinks it is one rule for us and one rule (or no rules) for him and his inner circle.

The arrogance is/was astonishing and he feels himself answerable to no one. He is answerable. He is answerable, in the first instance, to his backbenchers and they should be sorting this circus out. The honeymoon of the large majority is over ; he is now a liability to both their party and the country.

It’s quite revealing when we see how Stanley Johnson behaves. Lies and bulls—t are simply a way of life in the Johnson household.

How on earth can this guy hold any credibility with the population. The only reason he’s getting away with it is because Labour are underperforming.

As if the Peppa Pig speech wasn’t bad enough. It was cringeworthy when he expected to get a laugh and it wasn’t forthcoming. Perhaps reflects how the wider population must surely feel.

 

[MikeWM]

Johnson's apologises for video and ordered an inquiry into the incident:

Ah, an inquiry! The usual politicans response to try to kick something problematic into the long grass and hope we all forget about it.

And given where this country/world is heading, in this case it will probably be rather successful. By the time it reports, we'll probably all be permanently welded in our homes or similar 'for our safety' while the 1% continue to do whatever they feel like.

 

[bramling]

Johnson's apologises for video and ordered an inquiry into the incident:

PMQs: Boris Johnson sorry for offence caused by aides joking about lockdown party

Boris Johnson says he was assured no rules were broken, but Labour's Keir Starmer questions the PM's moral authority.

www.bbc.co.uk

Note this is not an apology for the party itself.

It was also quite noticeable that the apology was immediately followed by the word “but”.

So not sorry at all.

Reeks of “I’m sorry if you were offended”, not “I’m sorry for what happened”.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

Johnson's apologises for video and ordered an inquiry into the incident:

PMQs: Boris Johnson sorry for offence caused by aides joking about lockdown party

Boris Johnson says he was assured no rules were broken, but Labour's Keir Starmer questions the PM's moral authority.

www.bbc.co.uk

Note this is not an apology for the party itself.

Yeah could see that coming last night as soon as ITV broke the story but Starmer clearly didn't game that potential outcome before deciding how to tackle PMQs and as usual they've missed the best opportunity for last two years. At least Blackford says it as it is but unlikely to get a stalking horse before Xmas.

 

[kristiang85]

Cummings is apparently saying they held a third party in the Downing St flat. Not seen a proper source beyond Politics for All though.

Edit: He was asked a question about this as I was typing it.

 

[D6130]

However, pigs might fly.

Even Peppa?

 

[Eyersey468]

It was also quite noticeable that the apology was immediately followed by the word “but”.

So not sorry at all.

Reeks of “I’m sorry if you were offended”, not “I’m sorry for what happened”.

I agree. I haven't believed a word Boris has said for some time.

 

[brad465]

Also worth noting that, after Starmer asked the question, Johnson committed to handing over everything the Government knows about Downing Street parties (not just the 18/12/20 incident), at the dispatch box. This was either Johnson accidentally committing without thinking properly, and/or him throwing all his staff under a bus.

 

[43066]

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.

My money would be on something along the lines of the above.

It’s quite revealing when we see how Stanley Johnson behaves. Lies and bulls—t are simply a way of life in the Johnson household.

How on earth can this guy hold any credibility with the population. The only reason he’s getting away with it is because Labour are underperforming.

As if the Peppa Pig speech wasn’t bad enough. It was cringeworthy when he expected to get a laugh and it wasn’t forthcoming. Perhaps reflects how the wider population must surely feel.

It’s pretty shameless really. I suppose the strategy is: apologise, investigate, sack a few sacrificial junior staff and pray there’s no smoking gun implicating anyone more senior.

Meanwhile bury it with more fear mongering, announce plan B, and then bounce back by taking credit when cases fall off again in the spring. Worked like a charm last year!

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

Also worth noting that, after Starmer asked the question, Johnson committed to handing over everything the Government knows about Downing Street parties (not just the 18/12/20 incident), at the dispatch box. This was either Johnson accidentally committing without thinking properly, and/or him throwing all his staff under a bus.

It will be a cover up anyway and they are going for plan B later by the sounds of it to move the story off the front pages. Its also telling that some papers barely covered the story - i wonder why? Perhaps their journos were at alleged party(ies)

 

[D6130]

I agree. I haven't believed a word Boris has said for some time.

I haven't believed a word that Boris has said since long before he became Prime Minister. (Full disclosure: The daughter of a good friend of ours was Carrie's flatmate and was present at the infamous 'red wine incident').

 

[bspahh]

I believe some things that Boris says. I don't trust anything he says.

 

[bramling]

Also worth noting that, after Starmer asked the question, Johnson committed to handing over everything the Government knows about Downing Street parties (not just the 18/12/20 incident), at the dispatch box. This was either Johnson accidentally committing without thinking properly, and/or him throwing all his staff under a bus.

Either scenario is possible. The sole priority is looking after Johnson.

At the moment it would seem the Conservative backbenchers are the best hope. I certainly intend to fire (another) letter off to my MP as soon as I can. I would urge others to do same, and to encourage others likewise.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 8 Dec 2021 ==

My money would be on something along the lines of the above.



It’s pretty shameless really. I suppose the strategy is: apologise, investigate, sack a few sacrificial junior staff and pray there’s no smoking gun implicating anyone more senior.

Meanwhile bury it with more fear mongering, announce plan B, and then bounce back by taking credit when cases fall off again in the spring. Worked like a charm last year!

Yep. So lockdown it is from Christmas through to June. Welcome to our new way of life.

Let’s just hope Sunak is prepared to stick his neck out and say no to any restart of furlough, as that essentially throws a spanner in the works.

 

[MikeWM]

Either scenario is possible. The sole priority is looking after Johnson.

At the moment it would seem the Conservative backbenchers are the best hope. I certainly intend to fire (another) letter off to my MP as soon as I can. I would urge others to do same, and to encourage others likewise.

My MP is a fairly senior minister in the government, so writing to her would seem to be entirely pointless.

Separation of powers is a rather good idea, at least in theory, but unfortunately it isn't something we have in the UK.

 

[43066]

Yep. So lockdown it is from Christmas through to June. Welcome to our new way of life.

Let’s just hope Sunak is prepared to stick his neck out and say no to any restart of furlough, as that essentially throws a spanner in the works.

There will undoubtedly be more stupid and damaging restrictions around the edges but I honestly can’t see anything approaching a full lockdown this time around. Quite simply the arithmetic has changed: as well as furlongh being absent, a key difference is confidence. Far more people were genuinely (usually wrongly) scared of dying of the virus this time last year, and therefore more willing to be locked down. The vaccine roll out has completely changed that.

I seem to recall recent polls (for what they’re worth) showing the majority of adults are no longer in favour of lockdowns and, as we know from the tried and tested pattern or leaking restrictions to gauge reaction before implementing them, that’s the only metric that really counts to this government.

 

[SuspectUsual]

I might be getting this wrong, but did I hear right that the investigation into the party that may or may not have happened is being led by the cabinet secretary, who is widely alleged to have attended it?

 

[kristiang85]

ar more people were genuinely (usually wrongly) scared of dying of the virus this time last year, and therefore more willing to be locked down. The vaccine roll out has completely changed that.

And don't forget a signficiant number of people since that time will have tested positive and suffered nothing more than sniffles, so I doubt they will be fearful of the virus still.

 

[D6130]

Breaking news: Allegra Stratton has resigned from her position as a government advisor.

 

[bramling]

Breaking news: Allegra Stratton has resigned from her position as a government advisor.

As predicted. Scapegoat identified, and promptly straight under the bus.

 

[brad465]

As predicted. Scapegoat identified, and promptly straight under the bus.

I doubt she'll be the last in this Saga either. The question is how long before he throws someone under a bus who has very serious dirt on him and can be believed?

 

[bramling]

There will undoubtedly be more stupid and damaging restrictions around the edges but I honestly can’t see anything approaching a full lockdown this time around. Quite simply the arithmetic has changed: as well as furlongh being absent, a key difference is confidence. Far more people were genuinely (usually wrongly) scared of dying of the virus this time last year, and therefore more willing to be locked down. The vaccine roll out has completely changed that.

I seem to recall recent polls (for what they’re worth) showing the majority of adults are no longer in favour of lockdowns and, as we know from the tried and tested pattern or leaking restrictions to gauge reaction before implementing them, that’s the only metric that really counts to this government.

Yes I don't think there would be a "stay at home" lockdown as such, just enough irritating restrictions to give us another winter / spring of torment.

Agree very much about the absence of furlough being a material difference, as well as that more people feel less threatened than before (though one presumes at least some people will be concerned when they hear stuff like "vaccine escape"). However by the same token, it bugs me just how easily we're back on the restriction slippery-slope, based on very little substance at all.

I'm not sure it's going to pan out quite so easily this time though. I've already heard from quite a few people, either those who were happy to go along with things last year to varying degrees of enthusiasm, and the prevailing view does now seem to be that the more we acquiesce to this, the more we will get.

But, by the same token, just heard someone else "I will wear the mask, simply because I haven't got enough spare money to risk a fine". What an objectionable state of affairs.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 8 Dec 2021 ==

I doubt she'll be the last in this Saga either. The question is how long before he throws someone under a bus who has very serious dirt on him and can be believed?

I feel a bit sorry for Stratton actually. Well and truly under that bus.