No 10 rule breaking gatherings during 2020.

[adc82140]

I thought she resigned due to her appearance on the leaked video.

Yes, but just mucking about testing the equipment in the press conference room isn't sometching you would resign over. So by resigning, it's a tacit admission that she didn't just make up the fact that there had been a party on the spot, and there was much more to the content than silly japes. In effect it is she that has thrown the government under the bus. Good.

 

[bramling]

Well if Hunt was PM we'd be in a hard lockdown by now, so it's all a matter of perspective

I’m going to stick my head above the parapet on this and say on balance I’d rather have someone who declares their position even if they’re in favour of restrictions, over someone with whom we always end up with the restrictions in the end anyway, but with a load of arse-ache along the way.

 

[Jonny]

I’m going to stick my head above the parapet on this and say on balance I’d rather have someone who declares their position even if they’re in favour of restrictions, over someone with whom we always end up with the restrictions in the end anyway, but with a load of arse-ache along the way.

Or worse still, claims in good faith to oppose restrictions before flip-flopping through a lack of will.

 

[SuspectUsual]

The more I think about it, the more Stratton being thrown under the bus disgusts me too. A career wrecked, and never Johnson’s

Yes, but just mucking about testing the equipment in the press conference room isn't sometching you would resign over.

She wasn’t testing the equipment, it was a dry run for the press conference with Ed whathisname asking what they perceived to be likely difficult questions.

But I wouldn’t worry too much about her. Quiet phone calls will be made to well -connected friends/donors and she’ll fail upwards into another six-figure salary job

 

[kristiang85]

She wasn’t testing the equipment, it was a dry run for the press conference with Ed whathisname asking what they perceived to be likely difficult questions.

But I wouldn’t worry too much about her. Quiet phone calls will be made to well -connected friends/donors and she’ll fail upwards into another six-figure salary job

It turns out this Ed guy is their senior press officer, yet he's only 23 years old and son of some kind of nobility.

It explains a lot about this government.

 

[bspahh]

J

Jeremy Hunt actually seems one of the least bad options. At least he's not a populist.

He came across well in this podcast

Show 256 - *Jeremy Hunt - Live* | Matt Forde's Political Party

Jeremy Hunt is an optimist and his positive attitude towards life shines out throughout this entertaining and revealing interview. He shares great stories and insights from his time as Foreign Secretary, Health Secretary and Culture Secretary - includi...

play.acast.com

 

[Gloster]

Looking at the newspapers on the bbc website, it appears that Johnson has even lost the Express (if you regard that as a paper). There is also speculation that the vultures are circling, with wannabe PMs starting their campaigns: Liz Truss has already been seen imitating Margaret Thatcher by riding in/on a tank. Personally, I might consider a punt on Ben Wallace, who has generally kept his head down.

 

[bramling]

Looking at the newspapers on the bbc website, it appears that Johnson has even lost the Express (if you regard that as a paper). There is also speculation that the vultures are circling, with wannabe PMs starting their campaigns: Liz Truss has already been seen imitating Margaret Thatcher by riding in/on a tank. Personally, I might consider a punt on Ben Wallace, who has generally kept his head down.

The only reason Johnson has managed to hang on this far is because Starmer time after time seems unable to land a blow on him.

What I think will do it is the lies though. There comes a point where the stink just can’t be kept a lid on any more, and I don’t think we’re far off that point now.

One thing I’d say *is* pretty certain. And that’s that notwithstanding Johnson’s ruthless determination, he won’t be leading the party into the next election. There’s no way the party will allow that after the events of the last few weeks. And if he’s got to be replaced then best to get it done as soon as possible to give them time to do a damage repair job in time for the election.

I don’t think he will go without a fight and a hissy-fit though. When he does make the trip to the palace, anyone fancy joining me on The Mall with a banner “worst PM in history”?

 

[brad465]

The only reason Johnson has managed to hang on this far is because Starmer time after time seems unable to land a blow on him.

What I think will do it is the lies though. There comes a point where the stink just can’t be kept a lid on any more, and I don’t think we’re far off that point now.

While Starmer certainly could have done better, a large part of the issue is Johnson has a very hypnotic personality that easily fools people and is very hard to counter. This is why many Conservative MPs dislike him as a leader, but love him as an electoral asset. Once he's gone, and I think it's almost inevitable now he won't fight the next election, it's possible Starmer might suddenly be able to land blows on his successor, but if not then yes he'll be clearly weak.

But eventually all conmen get found out; Londoners found Johnson out from his Mayor tenure, 2 Newspapers found him out when they sacked him for lying, and the electorate who voted for him are now starting to find out too.

 

[bramling]

While Starmer certainly could have done better, a large part of the issue is Johnson has a very hypnotic personality that easily fools people and is very hard to counter. This is why many Conservative MPs dislike him as a leader, but love him as an electoral asset. Once he's gone, and I think it's almost inevitable now he won't fight the next election, it's possible Starmer might suddenly be able to land blows on his successor, but if not then yes he'll be clearly weak.

But eventually all conmen get found out; Londoners found Johnson out from his Mayor tenure, 2 Newspapers found him out when they sacked him for lying, and the electorate who voted for him are now starting to find out too.

Agree with all of this. I think the population is very quickly realising that lovable fluffy bag of laughs is actually an incompetent dishonest thoroughly nasty piece of work.

I hope Starmer will manage to come out of his shell a bit, we need a decent opposition.

How long Johnson can now last is a matter for speculation. He will likely make it to Christmas, when there will be a natural lull. But I’d say it’s a good bet early January could see it all kick off again.

 

[Dent]

I hope Starmer will manage to come out of his shell a bit, we need a decent opposition.

All he does when he does come out of his shell is demands even more restrictions, this is really not what we need.

 

[adc82140]

Johnson is a pathological liar. He fails to understand the difference between political bending of the truth, which the public will largely be tolerant of, and telling downright porkies, which the public won't stand for.

In the grand scheme of things, most PMs could weather a bit of sleaze over flat redecoration. It doesn't affect the day to day lives of the electorate. But partygate, which most certainly did affect us, had damaged him. The flat issue, whilst in itself is largely inconsequential, could now be the straw that breaks the camel's back.

 

[Eyersey468]

Johnson is a pathological liar. He fails to understand the difference between political bending of the truth, which the public will largely be tolerant of, and telling downright porkies, which the public won't stand for.

In the grand scheme of things, most PMs could weather a bit of sleaze over flat redecoration. It doesn't affect the day to day lives of the electorate. But partygate, which most certainly did affect us, had damaged him. The flat issue, whilst in itself is largely inconsequential, could now be the straw that breaks the camel's back.

There wasn't just the party, both Cummings trip to Barnard Castle and Hancocks affair both did a lot of damage as well

 

[Baxenden Bank]

Re the last few posts.

I guess this is why they are already rowing back on some of the very recently introduced restrictions. For example hints on removing some of the international travel measures.

Perhaps The Mirror, with it's deliberately timed (?) party expose has actually saved Christmas for the law-abiding types?

If we had a decent media / parliamentary opposition, these failings would have been exposed earlier and more strongly. The way to defeat a bullsh***** is to confront them immediately. When they announce something without supporting evidence, immediately ask them for the evidience, for the expected outcomes and how success will be measured. As per the 'law' that someone mentioned, challenging it after the event requires a lot more effort, plus people have moved on and many are no longer all that interested. I would expect a top lawyer (Starmer) to be able to do that. Quick thinking on your feet in court and all that.

 

[bramling]

Johnson is a pathological liar. He fails to understand the difference between political bending of the truth, which the public will largely be tolerant of, and telling downright porkies, which the public won't stand for.

In the grand scheme of things, most PMs could weather a bit of sleaze over flat redecoration. It doesn't affect the day to day lives of the electorate. But partygate, which most certainly did affect us, had damaged him. The flat issue, whilst in itself is largely inconsequential, could now be the straw that breaks the camel's back.

Yes he ultimately won’t get away with partygate. It’s not the sort of thing one can get away with when 150,000 people have died and relatives couldn’t be with them. Even more so when he then lies about it.

 

[brad465]

The fallout from last year's incidents has now led to this year's Christmas party at Downing Street being called off:

Downing Street Christmas party cancelled

No 10 says Boris Johnson has full confidence in press chief Jack Doyle amid row over last year's gatherings.

www.bbc.co.uk

This year's 10 Downing Street Christmas party has been cancelled amid growing anger over a gathering that occurred last December when London was under strict Covid restrictions.
But Boris Johnson has declared his full confidence in communications chief Jack Doyle, after it emerged that he had spoken at last year's event.
An inquiry is under way into what happened at the party and who attended.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer called the prime minister "unfit for office".
The revelation of Mr Doyle's speech at the Downing Street gathering on 18 December last year - at which he also handed out awards to staff - follows a tumultuous few days for the government, with Labour accusing it of not being honest about parties in lockdown.

The 18 December gathering, involving between 20 and 30 people. took place two days after London had gone into Tier 3 lockdown restrictions, meaning people could not mix indoors with anyone outside their household or support bubble.
No 10 has refused to explain how this complied with the rules in place at the time.
On Wednesday, government spokeswoman Allegra Stratton resigned after video footage of her joking with colleagues in relation to the 18 December party was revealed by ITV.

 

[adc82140]

They keep digging. They have called off this year's party in response to accusation about a similar party last year which they say didn't happen.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

They've only said they've cancelled the Downing Street party.

That doesn't stop them from having a party elsewhere in Whitehall...

 

[DanNCL]

What are the chances they’ll quietly reinstate this year’s Downing Street Christmas party later today?

 

[Eyersey468]

What are the chances they’ll quietly reinstate this year’s Downing Street Christmas party later today?

Wouldn't surprise me at all

 

[adc82140]

What are the chances they’ll quietly reinstate this year’s Downing Street Christmas party later today?

They quietly reinstated Neil Ferguson...

 

[D6130]

They quietly reinstated Neil Ferguson...

Maybe Allegra Stratton will be quietly reinstated too....as she seemed to have been the life and soul of the party.

 

[kristiang85]

The only parties I want to see scrapped are the Conservative Party and the Labour Party.

 

[Baxenden Bank]

There were no parties, there were only gatherings. As any good shepherd will tell you, a shared meal of cheese and wine, together with the exchange of gifts, is traditional at gatherings. The sheep are gathered, sorted out to hand back strays to their rightful owner, then the shepherds get drunk and stagger home with their flocks.

 

[Yew]

All he does when he does come out of his shell is demands even more restrictions, this is really not what we need.

Indeed, the first few weeks of his leadership, it felt like he could cut through the wiff waff. However now it seems is that all he does is shout for more restrictions.

 

[brad465]

Boris Johnson has been awarded Last Leg's "Dick of the Year" award, which is his second after 2019; Priti Patel was second place. Last week I thought Patel would get it and was most deserving of it, however I'm pretty sure this "partygate" fiasco and Johnson's attempts to lie and cover it up suddenly swung it to his favour.

 

[Tracked]

They've only said they've cancelled the Downing Street party.

That doesn't stop them from having a party elsewhere in Whitehall...

It's only going to be the Downing Street Gathering, they've just cancelled the balloons.

Can't help feeling these last two restrictions have only been brought back to distract from bad news, and that if the Conservative party hadn't been having various troubles we wouldn't have had them imposed. Also bad to see that after giving daft answers to questions on the restrictions last year they still manage to come a cropper with the singing in Tesco's thing, the sort of thing that also makes it sound like restrictions are being rushed without much thought, quite bad how unprepared they still appear to be - it's not like they've had 18 months notice to tighten up a bit

 

[D6130]

....and I can't help thinking that this whole partygate thing is a deliberately-organised distraction to take peoples' minds away from the fact that the Policing Bill is now going through its final stages in Parliament. If - as seems likely - it becomes law, our democracy will truly be dead and buried and the odious Priti Patel will be licking her lips with glee. Practically all forms of dissent and protest will be outlawed and many non-violent organisations such as CND will be outlawed. The police will be given sweeping stop-and-search and surveillance powers and even carrying a placard in public could result in a prison sentence of up to fifty-one weeks. They had better start building a lot of new prisons priti damned quickly, because a lot of people won't take this lying down....or, on second thoughts, probably will - in the middle of the road.

(CND = Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament)

 

[greyman42]

Maybe Allegra Stratton will be quietly reinstated too....as she seemed to have been the life and soul of the party.

I can't really see why she had to go in the first place, surely there are others more culpable?

 

[duncanp]

I can't really see why she had to go in the first place, surely there are others more culpable?

That is just the point - there are others more culpable - but she is the scapegoat.