No 10 rule breaking gatherings during 2020.

[Typhoon]

Yes sorry I meant HMG

I guessed so; clearly I can only speak with authority for the area where I live but I did get the impression that it was much wider, that the general citizenry were grateful for what key workers had been doing but while they made it known, our government did not. I think you were confirming this.

 

[Eyersey468]

I guessed so; clearly I can only speak with authority for the area where I live but I did get the impression that it was much wider, that the general citizenry were grateful for what key workers had been doing but while they made it known, our government did not. I think you were confirming this.

Yes, that is what I had meant. To be fair most of the few passengers we had were grateful for us keeping some services running, not everything as passenger numbers were less than 10% of normal levels during the first lockdown

 

[Busaholic]

I live in a no-clap road

Just as well, as I'm sure clap is no longer being treated on the NHS.

 

[Typhoon]

Just as well, as I'm sure clap is no longer being treated on the NHS.

Yeh! Very good! I walked into that one!

Addition:

I don't know whether this has been shared yet. Ted Hastings for Commissioner!
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/cars/news...rty-in-protest-video/vi-AARSbdY?ocid=msedgntp

 

[brad465]

Looks like it wasn't just at Christmas that partying was going on:

Boris Johnson joined No 10 pizza party during May 2020 lockdown, say sources

Exclusive: Claims raise questions on whether there was rule-flouting culture over number of months

www.theguardian.com

Boris Johnson joined No 10 staff for a party in Downing Street during the first lockdown in May last year, sources have alleged, raising questions about whether there was a culture of flouting the rules over a number of months.

The prime minister spent about 15 minutes with staff at the alleged social gathering on 15 May 2020, telling one aide inside No 10 that they deserved a drink for “beating back” coronavirus, a joint investigation by the Guardian and Independent was told.

Sources claimed about 20 staff drank wine and spirits and ate pizza following a press conference on that day, some in offices inside No 10 and others going into the garden. Some staff stayed drinking until late into the evening, they alleged.

Rules at the time allowed only two people from different households to meet outside, at a distance of 2 metres. Earlier that evening, Matt Hancock, then health secretary, had urged people to “stay at home as much as is possible” and asked them to “please stick with the rules, keep an eye on your family and don’t take risks” during the period of good weather.

The claims follow a string of reports about similar alleged events in Downing Street and elsewhere during the subsequent lockdown last Christmas, and suggests rules might have been broken over a series of months.

 

[Cdd89]

Of course the irony is that the restrictions should have been released by mid May. Their (moral) crime wasn’t the gathering; it was dragging this stuff out into July last year.

It’s obviously a lot easier to dismiss the harms of those laws if you don’t have to live with them yourselves….

 

[Yew]

Of course the irony is that the restrictions should have been released by mid May. Their (moral) crime wasn’t the gathering; it was dragging this stuff out into July last year.

It’s obviously a lot easier to dismiss the harms of those laws if you don’t have to live with them yourselves….

The early modelling did suggest that leaving things too long, as we did in May 2020, would lead to a big winter spike.

 

[DelayRepay]

Oh dear...

Top civil servant Simon Case quits No 10 party probe amid rule breach claims

Simon Case, who was leading the inquiry, stands aside after it emerged an event was held in his office.

www.bbc.co.uk

A staff "Christmas party" was held last year at the office of the man investigating lockdown parties at Downing Street.
Top civil servant Simon Case is due to report shortly on claims Covid rules were broken at events for staff in the run up to last Christmas.
But the BBC has been told that Mr Case's position as chair of the inquiry is now under consideration.
The Cabinet Office has been asked to comment.
The BBC understands a quiz was held for members of Mr Case's private office on 17 December 2020, and invites were sent out titled "Christmas Party!"
About 15 people were invited to the gathering at 70 Whitehall, near Downing Street, although it is understood not everyone turned up.
The BBC has been told that while Mr Case did not take part in the Christmas quiz, he was present for the event.
Responding to press reports of the gathering, Labour's deputy leader Angela Rayner said: "Boris Johnson as prime minister has set the tone for the civil service and the rest of government.
"Which each new revelation there is growing evidence of a culture of turning a blind eye to the rules.
"Labour made it clear when the investigation was launched that the person in charge should be uncompromised and able to make a fair and independent judgement. These fresh revelations put that into question."

 

[Typhoon]

Oh dear...

Top civil servant Simon Case quits No 10 party probe amid rule breach claims

Simon Case, who was leading the inquiry, stands aside after it emerged an event was held in his office.

www.bbc.co.uk

Assuming this is true (and there is an awful lot of detail) one wonders whether Johnson knew of Case's gathering so gave him the job in the knowledge that he would have to find that nothing illegal had gone on without possibly implicating himself. However, this could rebound on both of them. Case should have made his gathering known and withdrawn from the role, his position as Cabinet Secretary will now be damaged. For Johnson, this is more kindling for the Partygate fire. it is not going away soon; he needs to be grateful that there are fewer papers over Christmas.

It is also reported elsewhere:-

It has been alleged, if the events did take place, they would have been in breach of strict COVID rules in place at the time.

In an allegation reported by the Guido Fawkes website, it was claimed that parties were held in Mr Case's office on two occasions last December.

Meanwhile, the Independent and Politico websites reported that Mr Case shared drinks with a group of staff at his office and in the waiting room outside at 70 Whitehall at a time when London was in Tier 2 restrictions, which banned people from socialising indoors.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/ukne...ended-events-himself/ar-AARVey5?ocid=msedgntp
Any advance on 2 (or is it 3)?

I never knew why Case was thought to be the right person for the job as he owes his position to Johnson, who unceremoniously dumped his predecessor. I suppose Johnson wanted someone he had some hold over, rather than a retired judge who is more likely to have done the job thoroughly.

 

[DelayRepay]

I never knew why Case was thought to be the right person for the job as he owes his position to Johnson, who unceremoniously dumped his predecessor. I suppose Johnson wanted someone he had some hold over, rather than a retired judge who is more likely to have done the job thoroughly.

... or indeed a Police Officer, who would normally be expected to investigate when it is alleged that crimes have been committed.

 

[bramling]

Assuming this is true (and there is an awful lot of detail) one wonders whether Johnson knew of Case's gathering so gave him the job in the knowledge that he would have to find that nothing illegal had gone on without possibly implicating himself. However, this could rebound on both of them. Case should have made his gathering known and withdrawn from the role, his position as Cabinet Secretary will now be damaged. For Johnson, this is more kindling for the Partygate fire. it is not going away soon; he needs to be grateful that there are fewer papers over Christmas.

It is also reported elsewhere:-


https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/ukne...ended-events-himself/ar-AARVey5?ocid=msedgntp
Any advance on 2 (or is it 3)?

I never knew why Case was thought to be the right person for the job as he owes his position to Johnson, who unceremoniously dumped his predecessor. I suppose Johnson wanted someone he had some hold over, rather than a retired judge who is more likely to have done the job thoroughly.

Seems rather grubby to me, but then this is what we've come to expect.

One does, actually, have to seriously question Johnson's mental health. In PMQs on Wednesday, Starmer put it to him that the restrictions had only gone through with the aid of Labour votes, and Johnson sat there and claimed this wasn't true. Even Starmer didn't know what to say.

Then again, when one sees and listens to Stanley Johnson, it's not so hard to understand why things are as they are. He doesn't seem all there either at times (but at least he can spell Pinocchio).

 

[SuspectUsual]

One does, actually, have to seriously question Johnson's mental health. In PMQs on Wednesday, Starmer put it to him that the restrictions had only gone through with the aid of Labour votes, and Johnson sat there and claimed this wasn't true. Even Starmer didn't know what to say.

I'm not sure that Johnson telling (yet another) lie in Parliament is necessarily a sign of deteriorating mental health; as others have said its how he's been for ages

 

[brad465]

In an update of the above article, Simon Case has officially quit the probe.

 

[SuspectUsual]

In an update of the above article, Simon Case has officially quit the probe.

It seems he has officially recused himself, which again reflects poorly on Johnson’s judgement as presumably he saw no problem with Case remaining, er, on the case

 

[bramling]

I'm not sure that Johnson telling (yet another) lie in Parliament is necessarily a sign of deteriorating mental health; as others have said its how he's been for ages

It’s one thing telling a lie, as if that’s not bad enough, but one draws a line when it’s so bare-faced, and in front of the whole nation on live TV. Certainly lies just seem completely second-nature. The question is whether it’s got to the point where he genuinely doesn’t know what’s truth and what isn’t, which is the point when it becomes a mental health issue.

 

[brad465]

Seen elsewhere, but seems very adept to this saga:

"Is the main purpose of this administration to generate plots for "Yes Minister" scripts?"

 

[backontrack]

Well, well, well...

Boris, Carrie, Cummings, Case, advisors and staff sharing wine in the Downing Street garden. From May 2020, during lockdown (and Barnard Castle-gate).

Source: The Guardian

 

[Eyersey468]

Well, well, well...

View attachment 107288

Why doesn't that surprise me?

 

[Darandio]

Well, well, well...

Why doesn't that surprise me?

Downing Street have of course already replied to defend it. It was a "staff meeting".

 

[brad465]

Given the angle of that photo, that could have been taken by someone inside No.11. What's the betting Sunak leaked it in the hope of triggering a leadership contest sooner rather than later?

 

[initiation]

Why doesn't that surprise me?

And isn't that Simon Case sat next to Boris? You know, the guy who was originally asked to investigate the parties...

 

[Mag_seven]

It was a "staff meeting".

I've never been to a "staff meeting" with wine and cheese. Indeed in the industry I worked in, drinking alcohol "on duty" would be a sackable offence!

 

[Eyersey468]

I've never been to a "staff meeting" with wine and cheese. Indeed in the industry I worked in, drinking alcohol "on duty" would be a sackable offence!

It would in my industry as well.

 

[Jimini]

In mine (press and publishing (don't worry I'm not a journo)) I've had more interviews in pubs than I have in offices!

 

[Ediswan]

I've never been to a "staff meeting" with wine and cheese. Indeed in the industry I worked in, drinking alcohol "on duty" would be a sackable offence!

I have. On a visit to a company outpost in Switzerland. It was weekly, last thing on a Friday. Definitely on company time.

 

[takno]

I've never been to a "staff meeting" with wine and cheese. Indeed in the industry I worked in, drinking alcohol "on duty" would be a sackable offence!

Not uncommon in most companies I've worked for. Well the wine, don't think I've ever had cheese at a meeting. Mind you, I'm now considering asking for a fondue pot to be installed in all the meeting rooms.

 

[backontrack]

And isn't that Simon Case sat next to Boris? You know, the guy who was originally asked to investigate the parties...

Good spot!

I guess a new lockdown is guaranteed now that this has come to light...

 

[brad465]

And isn't that Simon Case sat next to Boris? You know, the guy who was originally asked to investigate the parties...

IIRC he became Downing Street Permanent secretary around the time of that photo, so maybe that was his welcome party or something.

 

[Cdd89]

What irritates me off about that photo is not the gathering, but how casual they all look.

The restrictions should have been lifted by mid May, but carried on because it was a politically easy decision for which they, (like others) working in a context with social opportunities, didn’t have to bear the consequences.

How dare they be so relaxed while depriving people of their basic liberties and causing huge amounts of direct harm, when such a measure should be reserved for only the utmost of seriousness?

 

[Aaron1]

In January a friend of mine died in a car accident, he died on his birthday and he was only in his early 20s, he left behind a broken family, a distraught fiance and a just 7 week old baby boy. He was only allowed 30 people at his funeral, face masks mandatory and no wake to celebrate his life, instead many of us had to watch the funeral online and drink to him alone, if there was no restrictions that crematorium would have been absolutely heaving, it would have been packed to the rafters.

So my mate was denied the send off he deserved, meanwhile Downing St was the host of many a party as the rules they thought clearly didn't apply to them.

If any more restrictions are bought in I will not be complying.