No 10 rule breaking gatherings during 2020.

[Nicholas Lewis]

one way or another, lies were told. There should be consequences

There will be consequences for the special advisers and private secretaries who will be sacrificed to ensure our great leader remains in post. Then watch all but a handful of MPs saying its been dealt with we've moved on stop raking up the past.

 

[Busaholic]

There will be consequences for the special advisers and private secretaries who will be sacrificed to ensure our great leader remains in post. Then watch all but a handful of MPs saying its been dealt with we've moved on stop raking up the past.

I agree with your first sentence, but when the Daily Telegraph, the 'house' paper of the Conservatives and their supporters, starts leaking stuff disobliging to the P.M., to say the least, they're flagging that a change of personnel is required, and will ensure the incumbent, their ex-employee, gets that message loud and clear. Sutton Coldfield, Maidstone and the Weald and no doubt other Conservative Associations have already demanded BJ's resignation and there'll be a snowball effect. General Election 2022 anyone?

 

[bramling]

There will be consequences for the special advisers and private secretaries who will be sacrificed to ensure our great leader remains in post. Then watch all but a handful of MPs saying its been dealt with we've moved on stop raking up the past.

We can be pretty certain a whole fleet of buses is being summoned as we speak, ready for people to be thrown under.

Perhaps that is the real reason for Johnson’s strange thing about buses.

 

[johnnychips]

General Election 2022 anyone?

I am sure you are aware that a party changing its leader, even the PM, does not trigger an election, so I wonder why you think this might happen?

 

[bramling]

I am sure you are aware that a party changing its leader, even the PM, does not trigger an election, so I wonder why you think this might happen?

Yes I can’t really see an election. If Johnson somehow manages to cling on then he will want as long as possible to do a damage repair exercise (this didn’t work for John Major…). Or if as now seems highly likely there’s a new leader installed at some point in the next few months then that person will want time to get themselves established.

I just can’t see the party sticking with this guy, it’s just too much of a liability. They will well remember the Major years when it was catastrophe after catastrophe, and if anything that wasn’t as bad.

 

[Bungle73]

I’m left wondering now why should we obey the current restrictions. I never agreed with the re-introduction of mask, so now I think I just won’t bother with one.

 

[Busaholic]

I am sure you are aware that a party changing its leader, even the PM, does not trigger an election, so I wonder why you think this might happen?

Past precedent, as much as anything. The vanity of a new man/woman/other thinking they're God's gift, or at least a more competent leader than their predecessor, and assuming that enough of the Great British Public endorse that view. May didn't need to call an election in 2017 any more than Johnson did in 2019, and both had to bend the Fixed Parliaments Act nonsense to do so.

 

[Cdd89]

I’m left wondering whether the availability of parties directly contributed to restrictions lasting longer than they otherwise would have, since many of those in charge could enjoy socialisation.

 

[LOL The Irony]

I’m left wondering whether the availability of parties directly contributed to restrictions lasting longer than they otherwise would have, since many of those in charge could enjoy socialisation.

They could've arranged such a party, without issue, if they didn't implement these restrictions.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

I’m left wondering now why should we obey the current restrictions. I never agreed with the re-introduction of mask, so now I think I just won’t bother with one.

According to telegraph there won't be any

 

[brad465]

Johnson has managed to offend his Pension's Minister, who lost his twins during the pandemic, with all the party revelations:

Downing Street party: Minister who lost babies in pandemic criticises Boris Johnson

Pensions minister Guy Opperman says Boris Johnson's behaviour is not acceptable and he needs to change.

www.bbc.co.uk

A minister whose baby twins died during the pandemic says Boris Johnson "needs to change his ways", following a string of revelations about drinks parties at No 10 during lockdown.
Guy Opperman said that in May 2020 - when the PM attended a garden party - he could not visit his wife and sons in hospital due to Covid rules.
His twins Rafe and Teddy died shortly afterwards.
But Mr Opperman told the BBC that Boris Johnson should stay in post.
No 10 has urged critical MPs to wait for senior civil servant Sue Gray to finish her report into lockdown gatherings.

Earlier this week Mr Johnson acknowledged that he attended a drinks gathering on 20 May 2020 but insisted he believed it was a work event.
Downing Street has also apologised to Buckingham Palace after it emerged two staff parties were held at No 10 on the night before Prince Philip's funeral.
Mr Johnson was not at either event, but his spokesman said it was "deeply regrettable that this took place at a time of national mourning".
Speaking to BBC's Politics North programme, Mr Opperman - pensions minister and MP for Hexham in Northumberland - said: "I feel pretty emotional about this because in May 2020 my wife and kids were unwell and they went to hospital.
"I was not able to go there to support them.
"And I've got constituents who couldn't go to the care homes, to funerals who were obviously obeying the rules and quite clearly in No 10 at that time there were a number of people not behaving appropriately.
"I feel pretty emotional that I wasn't able to support my wife and kids."
He added while some of the behaviour in No 10 was clearly not acceptable, it was 18 months ago and the prime minister should continue in his position. He said Sue Gray's report would be the time to "consider what has happened".
Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the SNP are all calling for Mr Johnson to resign after he admitted attending the 20 May 2020 drinks party in the Downing Street garden during lockdown.
And Andrew Bridgen has become the fifth Conservative MP to publicly declare they have written to the chairman of the 1922 Committee - which organises Tory leadership contests - to say they have no confidence in the prime minister.
Fifty-four Conservative MPs have to write a letter to trigger a vote.
Elsewhere the former head of the government's Covid taskforce has apologised for attending a leaving drinks at the Cabinet Office on 17 December 2020 when she left the civil service.
Kate Josephs, who is now the chief executive of Sheffield City Council, said she was "truly sorry" for "the anger that people will feel".

This is also the most read BBC article at the moment.

 

[takno]

They could've arranged such a party, without issue, if they didn't implement these restrictions.

I think the point is more that they had the opportunity to socialize and get out of the house, and as such they would have been less in touch with the misery being suffered by people who were working from home and actually following the rules.

I'm not hugely bothered by the concept of civil servants generally having had parties, but I don't feel so relaxed when it comes to politicians who implemented the rules and the actual taskforce that wrote them. They should throw the book at them, then fetch the book back and throw it at them again.

 

[nw1]

I don't see why. Cheating its not illegal, whereas these gatherings at the time were.

I think it reflects rather badly on society that so many people care more about politicians' private lives than about their suitability for their roles.

Absolutely, my point - though not sure whether the reply to my post regarding Yeo was ironic.

While Yeo was perhaps not the nicest man ever and could certainly be considered 'guilty' of hypocrisy, he did not break laws recently introduced by the then-government which were impacting on the entire population and forcing us into a difficult existence.

But I suppose Yeo wasn't senior enough to qualify for the automatic protection the most senior politicians of all appear to get. (Consider also the extremely lenient treatment of Raab and Patel after the controversies they were involved in, both part of Johnson's inner circle).

There will be consequences for the special advisers and private secretaries who will be sacrificed to ensure our great leader remains in post. Then watch all but a handful of MPs saying its been dealt with we've moved on stop raking up the past.

If that happens we all need to write to our MPs once a week demanding the removal of Johnson. If he makes other people take the blame for his own actions that is truly vile.

The fact that he is the prime minster and comes from a rich family shouldn't make him above consequences for his actions.

 

[D1537]

I think the pertinent point about this is not that parties were held, nor rules broken. It is that they and the BBC were scaring, or trying to, scare the s*** out of us, yet the people attending these events were not at all scared. (Puts tin hat on). Did they perhaps know that it wasn’t as serious as they made out?

In cases like these Occam's Razor applies - the most simple explanation is usually the correct one, and the simplest explanation is that they couldn't care less about the restrictions that applied to everyone else (see also: Barnard Castle eye test).

 

[Silver Cobra]

So it seems that Sir Keir Starmer isn't that much more innocent than Boris Johnson is, as he had been caught attending a drinks gathering during restrictions in April last year:

Keir Starmer shamed: Labour's 'hypocritical' attack on Boris

SIR KEIR STARMER has been branded "an absolute hypocrite" for attacking Boris Johnson for illegal parties in No10 despite pictures of him drinking with colleagues during lockdown.

www.express.co.uk

SIR KEIR STARMER has been branded "an absolute hypocrite" for attacking Boris Johnson for illegal parties in No10 despite pictures of him drinking with colleagues during lockdown.

The former lawyer demanded the Prime Minister's resignation on Wednesday after saying the public could see he was “lying through his teeth”. Mr Johnson had apologised after admitting he attended a "bring your own booze" gathering in the No10 garden during the first lockdown, but said he believed it was a "work event".

Labour has seized on the Conservative leader's admission he was at the alleged party as proof the Government were failing to follow their own lockdown rules.

But last night a senior Tory hit back at the Opposition, pointing out Sir Keir's criticism came despite having been pictured drinking with party staff last May.

Sir Keir was seen having a beer while standing close to two other people.

The image was taken from outside the window of a constituency office in Durham in the days leading up to the Hartlepool by-election.

At the time England was in step two out of the third lockdown and indoor mixing between different households was prohibited except in work scenarios.

Criticising the Labour leader, the Conservative source told The Telegraph: "Sir Keir has spent the past two months criticising people for doing the exact same thing he's been doing himself.

"He is an absolute hypocrite."

Mr Johnson also drew attention to the image during Prime Minister's Questions earlier this week saying of Sir Keir: "He might explain why there are pictures of him quaffing beer - we have not heard him do so."

Labour has always denied any rules were broken.

The party said in a statement: "Keir was in the workplace, meeting a local MP in her constituency office and participating in an online Labour Party event.

 

[D1537]

So it seems that Sir Keir Starmer isn't that much more innocent than Boris Johnson is, as he had been caught attending a drinks gathering during restrictions in April last year:

Yes, because having a beer during a Zoom call - a work-related Zoom call, at that - at a time when restrictions were light (shops were open, schools were open, pubs were open though only outside) is the same as inviting 100 people to a piss-up when everyone else was locked up. The moral equivalence of the Express, you've got to love it.

(It was mentioned at the time in the press, but didn't make any real news then, which probably shows you how desperate they are now).

 

[Gloster]

Having read the details about the Starmer meeting (the last sentence of the Express’ piece is fairly accurate (*)), most people probably would accept that it was a work-related meeting, although whether you would need to have a drink is a bit more questionable. In hindsight it is a bit of a misjudgement, but it can’t really be seen as in any way equal to habitually driving a coach and horses through the rules as has been the case at Number 10.

* - Yes, something accurate in the Express. I feel faint with the shock.

 

[brad465]

So it seems that Sir Keir Starmer isn't that much more innocent than Boris Johnson is, as he had been caught attending a drinks gathering during restrictions in April last year:

Keir Starmer shamed: Labour's 'hypocritical' attack on Boris

SIR KEIR STARMER has been branded "an absolute hypocrite" for attacking Boris Johnson for illegal parties in No10 despite pictures of him drinking with colleagues during lockdown.

www.express.co.uk

Having read the details about the Starmer meeting (the last sentence of the Express’ piece is fairly accurate (*)), most people probably would accept that it was a work-related meeting, although whether you would need to have a drink is a bit more questionable. In hindsight it is a bit of a misjudgement, but it can’t really be seen as in any way equal to habitually driving a coach and horses through the rules as has been the case at Number 10.

* - Yes, something accurate in the Express. I feel faint with the shock.

The Daily Mail have it on their front page also. But as has been pointed out by some, this story and the image used were first reported in The Sun last April/May and back then it must either have been debunked or not of interest, otherwise we'd have heard a lot more about it. The fact these papers are recycling old news speaks more of desperation on this occasion.

 

[Silver Cobra]

It figures that they're just trying to blow something somewhat out of proportion (I didn't know this had been reported earlier in 2021 but nothing much came of it at the time). That's the problem with taking things on face value, I guess.

Still, it wouldn't surprise me if most politicians have done things during the different periods of restrictions and lockdowns that cut close to what would be acceptable, in the same way a majority of the public likely have. Just not to the same blatant extent of breakings those rules as what happened in No. 10.

 

[Cdd89]

In hindsight it is a bit of a misjudgement, but it can’t really be seen as in any way equal to habitually driving a coach and horses through the rules as has been the case at Number 10.

I fully agree it’s far less bad. Weighed against that, however, is the fact that Labour have demanded tighter restrictions at every opportunity (including remote working, with punishment of the employee in the case of Welsh Labour). Also the obvious point that this is the only time he was caught, not necessarily the only time he did it. There were also lots of things that weren’t illegal, but hypocritical based on the restrictions he was calling for, including in the Euros.

I’m afraid I’m left with utter contempt for both main political parties (and I have voted for both of them in the past). The whole thing makes me more angry as time passes, not less; my anger is not with the parties, it is with the application of “tough” rules they couldn’t follow themselves.

 

[kristiang85]

One thing that occurred to me: surely if someone went out with a case to buy wine, they would have had to get it past the security at Downing Street when they came back. So how would the Met police not have known parties were going on?

 

[Mag_seven]

One thing that occurred to me: surely if someone went out with a case to buy wine, they would have had to get it past the security at Downing Street when they came back. So how would the Met police not have known parties were going on?

We always used to joke about how unenforceable these rules were in that to enforce them you would need to station a police officer outside every home in the land. Yet in the one home in the land where there is a police officer outside the front door....

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

If that happens we all need to write to our MPs once a week demanding the removal of Johnson. If he makes other people take the blame for his own actions that is truly vile.

The fact that he is the prime minster and comes from a rich family shouldn't make him above consequences for his actions.

Written to mine and he clearly has an automated mail response setup already to respond to words like "resgin" in it as he defends him and says wait for Sue Gray - didn't expect anything less mind you.

Unfortunately they will ride this out as very few media organisations keep the pressure up and people will lose interest and forget. BoJo will also buy off the poorer element in our society over fuel bills as well as haling himself as the saviour who didn't lockdown and kept you in your jobs. Labour won't be able to counter this.

 

[kristiang85]

We always used to joke about how unenforceable these rules were in that to enforce them you would need to station a police officer outside every home in the land. Yet in the one home in the land where there is a police officer outside the front door....

Haha true

 

[duncanp]

I am sure you are aware that a party changing its leader, even the PM, does not trigger an election, so I wonder why you think this might happen?

Given Labour's lead in the polls at the moment, the last thing the Conservatives will want at the moment is a general election.

The situation is comparable to 1990 when Margaret Thatcher resigned.

Her resignation enabled the Conservatives to win the 1992 general election, whereas it is likely that they would have lost had Margaret Thatcher not resigned.

I think Boris Johnson will go sometime this year. The question is, will he jump or will he need to be pushed. The answer to this question will be determined by the local election results in May, plus the state of the opinion polls at the same time. If both are bad for the Conservatives and Boris Johnson still hasn't resigned by then, he will be forced out.

 

[Lampshade]

One thing that occurred to me: surely if someone went out with a case to buy wine, they would have had to get it past the security at Downing Street when they came back. So how would the Met police not have known parties were going on?

Dominic Cummings: https://twitter.com/dominic2306/status/1482099421470994440?s=21

Ignorant nonsense from Cohen. FACT: Police do NOT 'scan' bags of those with a no10 pass, u cd walk a grenade or cocaine in if you wanted. Trying to shift blame to police who guard the building is stupid & offensive. Blame lies with the & some staff, NOT No10 guards/custodians

 

[kristiang85]

Dominic Cummings: https://twitter.com/dominic2306/status/1482099421470994440?s=21

Ok thanks, good to know.

I'm surprised security is that lax though! Especially for a large case.

 

[LOL The Irony]

Dominic Cummings: https://twitter.com/dominic2306/status/1482099421470994440?s=21

Ok thanks, good to know.

I'm surprised security is that lax though! Especially for a large case.

No.10 have obviously never heard of Operation Valkyrie.

 

[HSTEd]

No.10 have obviously never heard of Operation Valkyrie.

Ultimately you don't defeat Operation Valkyrie by stopping conspirators from assasinating the leadership, you just build a military-political structure where such an action is unthinkable.

Which is why I think accusations of a 70s preparation for a coup against Harold Wilson are just silly.

 

[brad465]

According to The Observer/Guardian, there are large numbers of Tory MPs prepared to oust Johnson if he tries to dodge responsibility for all the parties, where despite many saying they're waiting for the Sue Gray report, many have already made up their minds and are just observing due process, where angry responses from constituents have helped driver their opinions:

Tories will oust Boris Johnson if he tries to dodge ‘partygate’ blame

Conservative MPs could force PM out within weeks after furious reaction to Downing Street gatherings

www.theguardian.com

Tory MPs will be ready in sufficient numbers to force Boris Johnson out of Downing Street within weeks if he tries to dodge responsibility for rule-breaking parties at No 10, the Observer has been told.

While most Conservative MPs say they are waiting for a report into so-called “partygate” by the senior civil servant Sue Gray before deciding the prime minister’s fate, large numbers admit privately that their minds are effectively made up and that they are merely observing “due process”.

What has convinced many Tory MPs to act against Johnson if he or the Downing Street operation is criticised directly or indirectly by Gray – and he then tries to fight on – has been the furious reaction from their constituents to new revelations of partying, including two events late into the night at No 10, on the eve of Prince Philip’s funeral last April when such gatherings were forbidden.

An Opinium poll for the Observer will spread further alarm in Conservative ranks.

It shows Labour taking a 10-point lead over the Tories, with Johnson’s personal ratings collapsing to levels equivalent to Theresa May at her lowest ebb. It also shows that 46% of Leave voters who backed the Conservatives at the 2019 election say Johnson should resign, suggesting the coalition he put together to win an 80-strong majority in parliament is fracturing.

The Tory MP Tobias Ellwood, a former foreign office minister, said that Johnson had to demonstrate within days that he could end the chaos for good and demonstrate a new kind of leadership. “But if he tries to spin his way out of a critical report, he will lose my support,” he said.

So far only a handful of Tory MPs have called publicly for Johnson to go. To trigger a vote of confidence in him, 54 MPs or more need to write to the chair of the influential 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchers asking for one. If Johnson were to lose such a vote, he has to step down.

Another senior figure in the party said MPs were in a holding pattern. The Tory MP for Waveney in Suffolk, Peter Aldous, said he was close to calling for Johnson’s head though he would wait for the Gray report, adding that many pro-Brexit voters in his constituency were among those who were outraged at what had been going on.

“An awful lot people who voted Brexit do feel very badly let down,” he said, pointing out that this was not because of the effects of Brexit but because of Johnson’s personal behaviour.

Another Tory MP said that he had been confronted by local Tory councillors on Friday who had voted for Johnson as leader and backed Brexit before voting Conservative in 2019, but were now insisting en masse that Johnson had to go. “I can say my councillors are very pissed off,” he said.