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Italy had Berlusconi, US had Trump hard to know who was worse really. Not that that is any sort of defense
Just to put things into context. During the first lockdown , I took the kids over to the car park of the local swimming pool so they could play football. A young lad came up to my 8 year old autistic son and asked if he could play.
My son said I’m sorry but we can only play with our own family. So he knew “the rules”..
Anyhow, here’s a little light relief
Is that Nadine's David Brent impression.
And the fate of the BBC, channel 4 and many other things is presently in that woman’s hands
Terrifying!
West Midlands Tory MPs really are knocking it out of the park today.
https://twitter.com/garysambrook89/status/1488243552874283011?s=21
loved their exchanged looks!
Yep, he merrily helped undermine her from the back benches, and then wrestled the poisoned chalice of Tory leadership from her...
This must all be bloody fantastic fun for Teresa.
Good god is Dorries pissed?!
Its either that or Rosie Holt has really upped her game with disguises.
Is Nadine pissed?
She's definitely enhanced...
https://twitter.com/bmay/status/1488205845875802120?t=rmQrNVw9g3HdzBpq4my9bQ&s=19
Well I've taken stock of things a bit, let everything sink in. I still cannot believe this has all happened today, feels otherworldly. But one thing really irks with me. One of the parties was seemingly held right in the middle of a full lockdown, right near my birthday. That year it was my 40th and I had made plenty of plans for it. I planned to have a few days seeing friends and family, strengthening friendships, renewing others and generally giving myself a good dose of happiness after a horrible 5 years. I then had secretly planned to go to New Zealand for a few weeks and have a trip to remember. All cancelled due to the rules. Those rules meant I spent my 40th on my own in my flat with just a few snacks, some Lego and a film or two to watch. To then find out that the people who had made the rules that I dutifully followed were partying away like the world was completely normal has hit me hard. If it was a one-off it may be reasonable to give them some slack, But it wasn't a one-off, it was just one in a series of many parties. Rules for me, none for them. It is unfathomable how low this whole thing has revealed itself and the lows that it has all sunk to. I previously understood how certain parts of the country despised Thatcher with a passion but never did I think a Prime Minister in my lifetime could make me feel those same feelings so deeply. Johnson must go and take the rest of his cabinet with him. For this not to happen is unthinkable but I fear it's the path we are going down.
Flipping heck, Starmer really tore him a new one.
It looked like boris was about to start crying at one point, lol
Starmer did an excellent job there of staying on point, not trying any cheap shots and made every point hit hard. Anyone else being on the end of a character assassination like that would be destroyed and handing in their resignation immediately. But not Johnson. Starmer has given him a choice knowing full well he'll take the hook and sink himself. Brilliant to watch.
Other than dorries, have either of johnson's other high profile cheerleaders- conor burns or the moggster - offered themselves up for media interview today?
I particularly liked the Thatcher qoute.
Ultimately why should i or anyone else feel obliged to follow any rules that don't suit.
I've got important stuff to do, so I'll do what the **** I like because I'm really busy and important.
I'll say it again: no matter how good the speeches against, how blatent the lies and mis-direction, the House and Government seem to have no process or mechanism to hold bojo and other liers to account.
From now on and in perpetuity everytime someone passes Nadine Doris they should whisper "the prime minister never lies". It should be all she hears until she gets the tap on the shoulder.
Ultimately why should i or anyone else feel obliged to follow any rules that don’t suit.
I’ve got important stuff to do, so I’ll do what the **** I like because I’m really busy and important.
Exactly.. Johnson is ripping up the rule book when it comes to law and order.
What's good for the goose...
And the fate of the BBC, channel 4 and many other things is presently in that woman’s hands
I think once Boris finally gets given the boot, the jig is probably up for most of the faithful in the cabinet. And I can't imagine that none of the cabinet got invited to any No.10 shindigs...
You can see how desperate Boris is now, his trying "play the man, not the ball" and get all the 'lazy lawyer' jabs in, but the character assassination is all a bit late now and Kier can just sit back and quietly watch things implode across the aisle...
Do we think there are a few letters being drafted tonight? Or are the back benchers really going to hang on and ride the Boris bus off a cliff?
Tory MP Paul Scully floundering desperately on Newsnight 😳
Emma Barnett butchered him. Almost felt sorry for the guy…
Well said Mr Starmer.
It's interesting to see the mask wearing ratio each side of the chamber,you would think Johnson would enjoy hiding behind one just now.
As above I think the back benchers will be plotting. Some of them have favoured candidates so they will be discussing with the candidates when is the best time and make a tactical decision- after local elections would be my guess. A few actually have principles like May, some just hate Johnson, some will be waiting to follow others. Lots of machinations going on. I suspect that there will be enough letters by the end of the week but the steady drip drip drip of allegations will continue and also the postbags once they get back to their constituencies at the weekend will make a few folks minds up.
Johnsnons performance in the house was really poor and it was noticable how little support he was getting - and Dorries really cannot have helped.
Its death by a thousand cuts rather than decapitation
Emma Barnett butchered him.
Shoes off… but she didn’t exactly tread lightly. She’s ruthless when given the chance… and even handed. Impartial, smart, tough, takes no bullshit.
And I didn’t realise before that he was a minister. Again… how?!? We know how, but it’s depressing.
I keep thinking things can't get any more ridiculous but that Nadine Dorries video up there, jeez.
And BJ resorting to made-up Jimmy Savile memes about SKS as an attack line. 🤦
We are fully into unhinged bizarro-world Trump-style territory now in this country. Can we get lower still?
Is Nadine pissed?
She's sitting on a space hopper.
Ian Blackford was good too.. Like him or loath him.. Incandescent with justified rage.. He almost got booted out of the house. Fair play to him.
Scully isn't the sharpest knife and must have known Barnett would dissect him.
I enjoyed that!
matty - Blackford did get booted out but he was great today.
All very theatrical but he made his point.
Nadine drunk? Shhhuuuurrlley not...
https://mobile.twitter.com/shit_rock/status/1323660857545543688
Hiccup..
My shoes off comment was nonsense, just matching shoes and tights going on. Scully won’t be returning to Newsnight any time soon, anyway. Who will they persuade to go on and try to defend Johnson next…? Another big name, no doubt.
Well I’ve taken stock of things a bit, let everything sink in. I still cannot believe this has all happened today, feels otherworldly. But one thing really irks with me. One of the parties was seemingly held right in the middle of a full lockdown, right near my birthday. That year it was my 40th and I had made plenty of plans for it. I planned to have a few days seeing friends and family, strengthening friendships, renewing others and generally giving myself a good dose of happiness after a horrible 5 years. I then had secretly planned to go to New Zealand for a few weeks and have a trip to remember. All cancelled due to the rules. Those rules meant I spent my 40th on my own in my flat with just a few snacks, some Lego and a film or two to watch. To then find out that the people who had made the rules that I dutifully followed were partying away like the world was completely normal has hit me hard. If it was a one-off it may be reasonable to give them some slack, But it wasn’t a one-off, it was just one in a series of many parties.
Now don't get me wrong - I loath Johnston as much as the next Guardian reading leftie and given the opportunity would whip off his testes with a rusty spoon at the first chance but I wonder if this sort of rhetoric is going to be what allows him to hang on to power.
Johnston is a liar. He is also has, now made even clearer to the very dimmest, got zero grip on the authority of those in his closest charge. But to say they were partying away like it was normal or comparing to your significant birthday party that got got cancelled is over playing your hand. Have you been to a works 'party' before? ****ing grim things. For me one of the bonuses of lockdown was not having to go to works dos. They got pissed up with their work colleagues. The were gathering in large group for non work related reasons on works premises to drink and socialise. Not was totally not allowed in both the spirit and the letter of the regs, but it still wasn't socialising with their best friends and family. In those respects they might well have been following the regs too.
It's not that I don't want to flog these ****s for their contempt, but I honestly believe we are giving them wiggle room if we make our comparisons to the shit we all didn't do too ott they'll be able to use that to their advantage.
Something I've not heard explained yet.....why did so many government advisers and Downing Street civil servants have to go physically into work? The rest of the world including some massive organisations had to work out rapidly how to do everything online. What makes them or their job so special? Was there an element of making an excuse to do so, so the drinking could happen? That seems a better line of questioning than comparing to missed 40th parties and holidays.
Something I’ve not heard explained yet…..why did so many government advisers and Downing Street civil servants have to go physically into work?
A fair few would be working with classified information for which there isnt an easy work from home option.
That said the "press office" keeps popping up and it seems unlikely they would have those restrictions.
Have you been to a works ‘party’ before. **** grim things.
They didn’t have to stay into the early hours of the morning, and tell police on the way out “only we are allowed to party”. Their office is NOTHING like yours… they are involved in running the country, and there’s an excitement around that. They were loving those get togethers, don’t imagine for a second they were not.
Excellent, excellent speech by Starmer
I bet a few back bench Tory MP's were thinking to themselves, "he's totally right, what the f*** am I going to do here?"
Reluctant jumper shows very clearly why this will stick and the longer Johnson clings on the worse it will be for the tories
This is something millions of ordinary folk can relate to. Most of us did our best to follow at least the spirit of the rules. Most of us missed big events because of following the rules. I missed my godless daughters funeral. I had to cancel my 60th birthday / retirement party. My Julie had to cancel her birthday celebration. She had to receive the news that she had cancer without my support because i was not allowed into the hospital. I didn't see my parents for over a year.
We will all have these tales. This is why that this scandal will get him even tho i many ways its less serious than the grifting.
If they/he can make such a mess of everything - culpable in so many deaths, damage the economy and introduce terrible inconsistent policy - he will make it through this.
Watch it become old quickly.
Basically panel shows are going to have a field day - everyone else will have to tolerate it.
Excellent, excellent speech by Starmer
I bet a few back bench Tory MP’s were thinking to themselves, “he’s totally right, what the f*** am I going to do here?”
It's the only real way now, shame them by association into doing the right thing and keep banging home the point that their constituents will now be increasingly angry if they carry on backing BoJo...
Anyway, Liz Truss for PM?
Raab doing the rounds… on Radio4 basically saying that he can’t talk about the issue he’s on to talk about because it’s in the hands of the police. Floundering around trying to use as many words as possible without accidentally saying a single thing.
There are those who like, trust and respect Boris Johnson.
And there are those who know him.
This is something millions of ordinary folk can relate to. Most of us did our best to follow at least the spirit of the rules. Most of us missed big events because of following the rules.
Doing the right thing because it had to be done, putting aside your wants for the good of your friends,neighbours and fellow countrymen.
Whilst the men telling you what to do,partied and made their friends rich.
Sir Kier Starmer spoke very well on Sky News this morning. Very much what you would want in a leader.
Think about the threads and discussions we used to have about ‘is this within the rules/guidelines on driving somewhere to ride your bike’ and the upsets and arguments over that, blissfully unaware of how little regard was held for the rules by the people who drafted them.
Rant over 🙂
It just annoys me when the piss is taken so blatently.
I'm astonished that Starmer can be so good sometimes and so weak at others, given the targets he's been given to hit.
matty – Blackford did get booted out but he was great today.
All very theatrical but he made his point.
I did wonder if there should have been a Spartacus moment there, with other MPs calling him a liar and getting asked to leave till there was just the last few Tories in the chamber. Maybe with Starmer still there going "They're not wrong!"
Once again I'm blown away by the spinelessness of Tory MPs
Apparently after his disastrous commons appearance he was able to win them all round at committee after, that it was possiy a liz Truss superspreader event is another story...
I did wonder if there should have been a Spartacus moment there, with other MPs calling him a liar and getting asked to leave till there was just the last few Tories in the chamber.
That’s where this needs to go and they missed the opportunity. The sight of opposition MPs trooping out leaving the tories to stew in their flagrant dishonesty and mendacity would have been unsurvivable. They would have taken quite a few tories with them too I bet. The normal rules don’t apply any more, and opposition MPs need to take extraordinary action to get rid of him.
kimbers
Apparently after his disastrous commons appearance he was able to win them all round at committee after...
He probably threw them an impromptu 'business meeting'.
I did wonder if there should have been a Spartacus moment there, with other MPs calling him a liar and getting asked to leave till there was just the last few Tories in the chamber. Maybe with Starmer still there going “They’re not wrong!”
I did wonder what would happen if there was a co-ordinated pressure put on the speaker from all parties. Some kind of real effort or big statement - end of PMQ's get the whole house chanting 'liar!' like a football crowd for example...
The problem is that getting booted out plays into the tories hands - they would continue without opposition for the day.
In committee he can say anything without scrutiny, with the whips and cabinet standing around like bouncers.
Ive seen reports of the Met investigation taking a year - any idea if that is substantiated?
There are rumours that the downing street party on Nov13 was an Abba Themed bash.
The sight of opposition MPs trooping out leaving the tories to stew in their flagrant dishonesty and mendacity would have been unsurvivable.
This bunch of Tories would've just laughed. You need them to feel shame for that tactic to work, and if anything yesterday's taught you; it's that they can't be shamed.
Only the Tory MPs have the power to get shot of this prat, and they won't, and Johnson's decided that "**** you, I'm staying" is the answer he's giving to to every question, and it'll probably work.
There are rumours that the downing street party on Nov13 was an Abba Themed bash.
The references to Abba seem to be for the choice of song "the winner takes it all" after Cummings lost the internal fight.
The problem is that getting booted out plays into the tories hands – they would continue without opposition for the day.
Exactly. What would the Lords do with any legislation passed by the Commons without an opposition present? What would happen if the legislation was challenged in the courts? The point of doing it would be to trigger a constitutional crisis. I imagine that once Hoyle saw what was going on he would suspend the session and try to get talks going.
Id heard fancy dress, so pre-organised.
Sir Kier Starmer spoke very well on Sky News this morning. Very much what you would want in a leader.
his response at the dispatch box yesterday was very prime ministerial, and won't go unnoticed by the tory back benches.
his response at the dispatch box yesterday was very prime ministerial, and won’t go unnoticed by the tory back benches.
The fact that Starmers entire speech was conducted in absolute silence from the opposition benches, without the usual braying, tells you everything you need to know.
Only one of the people at the despatch box looked like a credible leader and it wasn't the freezer bag full of porridge on their side of the house
going by the front pages this morning someones taken a mower to the long grass.
House and Government seem to have no process or mechanism to hold bojo and other liers to account.
If anything, it's worse, where it's absolutely fine to lie to Parliament but if you dare to point it out, you're thrown out of the building.
There are rumours that the downing street party on Nov13 was an Abba Themed bash.
Boris and Carrie's Waterloo, you couldn't make it up.
his response at the dispatch box yesterday was very prime ministerial, and won’t go unnoticed by the tory back benches.
I wonder if Starmers performance will have galvanised Johnsons MPs:
Threatened by Starmer, but all too aware the alternatives to Johnson are pretty useless
Im conflicted. I see Johnson staying as beneficial to labour in the next election. He is a 1 trick pony, and has been exposed as a liar to the public now.
Sadly I want our country to have a functional leader, so put his departure as paramount.
But he got Brexit done, yet continues to negotiate Brexit deals.......
My MP has finally stuck his head above the parapet.
https://twitter.com/JulianSmithUK/status/1488436899215818753
Think about the threads and discussions we used to have about ‘is this within the rules/guidelines on driving somewhere to ride your bike’ and the upsets and arguments over that, blissfully unaware of how little regard was held for the rules by the people who drafted them.
I feel the same with the audits and checks that we go through - we're a relatively tinpot public sector org getting by on about £10m per year. Everything is scrutinised, online, audited, recorded, checked, signed off by Legal and Finance and HR. We have independent Scrutiny Committee and Audit Committee, we have published Declarations of Interest forms for all staff.
Meanwhile, the ones in charge are busy creating their own procurement pathways for their mates, doing business on WhatsApp and personal email, "losing" or wasting dozens / hundreds of times our entire annual budget with no consequences to them, lying...
It's just massively depressing, literally a two-tier society. We can do whatever we want, scummy little people. You have to follow the rules
This is something millions of ordinary folk can relate to. Most of us did our best to follow at least the spirit of the rules. Most of us missed big events because of following the rules.
This is the rub. This is why people won't 'move on' from this. Everyone has their own story. My Father in law was seriously ill in Intensive Care (not covid related) and couldn't receive any visitors. My wife couldn't go in to see her own father who we genuinely thought was about to die. I was taking my own father in for his radiotherapy and had to leave him at the door of the hospital.
So the knowledge that while this was going on, they were all knocking back the wine with a big group of their mates, with a DJ banging out the tunes, on multiple occasions? I won't express my opinion about that as I'd see off the swear filter.
How many other peoples personal experiences would also cause an expletive-laden rant? Many, I'd guess.
Johnson absolutely appalls me.
Im conflicted. I see Johnson staying as beneficial to labour in the next election. He is a 1 trick pony, and has been exposed as a liar to the public now.
Sadly I want our country to have a functional leader, so put his departure as paramount.
I feel the same. Short-term pain for long-term gain perhaps - if we can tolerate the blond-haired bellend for a bit longer now, in the long-term surely it's doing more damage to the Tories and improving the chances of a change of government?
Impressed with Starmer yesterday, what a contrast to BJ just sitting there looking down slowly shaking his head for much of the time.
My MP has finally stuck his head above the parapet.
I think having Raab out there on all the morning news programmes reinforcing that slur (while being careful not to repeat it outside the HoC) will be pushing MPs to choose to either speak up, or be complicit.
Yup. I agree with Binners
I am so angry that Julies last year on earth was blighted by covid and sticking to the rules. Now what we did was right and in her last weeks we did only sort of stick to the spirit of the rules so as she could actually say her goodbyes but we missed so much we wanted to do because of covid
At writing that I am veering between anger and tears
Reluctant jumper shows very clearly why this will stick and the longer Johnson clings on the worse it will be for the tories
I find your optimism touching TJ but let's be honest, this will be dragged out until EVERYONE is bored of it, and what opposition/media outlets are left calling for something to be done about it will be dismissed as clinging on to old news.
The MET have to be considered as in collusion though, a 1 year moratorium on any serious discussion whilst they investigate? Ultimate can kicking skills.
How many other peoples personal experiences would also cause an expletive-laden rant? Many, I’d guess
STW seems more tolerant of sweary words now compared to previous times, but the swear filter would have an immediate meltdown if we all vented without holding back.
And even if you personally don't have a horror story about the sacrifices you made as a result of the restrictions, unlike the Tory front bench, most people are capable of empathising strongly with those who weren't able to care for or even meet relatives at their time of need.
I saw my mum once in 2020, for a few hours, in her garden. She died in November of that year.
There will be people who will (rightly) never let this go, for reasons similar to TJ’s. Including Conservative MPs and key journalists.
The thing is, there isn't an obvious replacement as Tory leader. Tory MPs don't want to back a loser as they'll no doubt get the backlash (and obviously lose a cushy role they've secured) if their candidate fails.
Plus with local elections coming in a couple of months and all the NI stuff kicking in, energy bill hikes etc. I'm not sure if their blind greed for power would override sense. They'll ideally want Johnson to take the can for them and get a bounce in the polls just in time for a general election (which depressing I think they still might win). Though I think the blood lust has taken over Truss so who knows.
Maybe best case is Johnson survives a no confidence vote, we all move on a bit and, you know, try and govern the country vaguely properly and as lame duck gets a massive kick in the plums come GE time.
This bunch of Tories would’ve just laughed. You need them to feel shame for that tactic to work, and if anything yesterday’s taught you; it’s that they can’t be shamed.
Yes they would laugh, but the symbolism of an empty commons apart from Johnson and his cronies would be priceless. They don't need to boycott parliament, just Johnson's personal appearances. They could make it clear that as long as Johnson continues to lie and mislead the house, and as long as they are not allowed to call it out, they won't be partaking in any debates with him.
I find your optimism touching TJ but let’s be honest, this will be dragged out until EVERYONE is bored of it, and what opposition/media outlets are left calling for something to be done about it will be dismissed as clinging on to old news
This - I'd be really surprised if much else comes from this (I hope I'm proven wrong though). Most voters won't care about it in a couple of months time once they're screwed by the rapidly rising cost of living etc. throw in a war in Eastern Europe and FUD will wash away the stains of this scandal quickly enough.
I think Blackford did the right thing. But on the mass absence... speaking as someone who doesn't have a representative I voted for in parliament... I'd rather MPs turned up and spoke for their constituents, not leave the Conservatives to crack on without any difficult questions (even if those questions go unanswered).
Like Kelvin i have never had an MP in Parliament who i voted for, i have had no political representation for the 40 years of my adult life.
Thats quite something.
Steve Double MP statement on publication of Sue Gray Report:
I have read the Sue Gray update report on her investigations into events at No10 Downing Street during the lockdowns, which was published yesterday, and subsequently listened to the Prime Minister’s statement in the House of Commons, and responses to questions from MPs.
I fully appreciate the concerns raised with me by some constituents over allegations of covid rule-breaking in Number Ten Downing Street, and welcome the Prime Minister’s apology and commitment to take immediate action in reforming the governance and culture of No10, in line with the findings of the report.
Whilst the report is critical of some of what took place, I do not see anything in it that means the PM should resign. He has committed to change the things recommended in the report and I believe he should be allowed to make these changes.
Since last week we have seen the Metropolitan Police commit to investigating some of the various allegations that have been raised, and while this is an ongoing investigation, it would not be appropriate for me to pre-judge its outcome.
Got to love local MP's sticking up for Johnson.
The scandal is not going away tho is it? We have the met investigation then the publishing of the full report to come. So thats two more large events outlining the venality of Johnson and his cronies plus we also have such a perfect set of attack lines for the opposition.
We also have the local elections in may where its highly likely the tories will lose swathes of seats and control of councils
I also don't think cummings has finished yet
he publishing of the full report to come
That won't happen while Johnson is PM.
The public already know that. They don't expect the "truth" to come out in full now, and they don't need to... they know enough to want Johnson gone. His MPs might not agree, but public sentiment has swung firmly against Johnson as PM, even with dyed in the wool conservative supporters and activists. His time has gone. But he still has power. This could be a very dangerous combination. What does he do next, when he starts lashing out at all around him (including us)?
Cummings doing a 2hr Q&A this evening for substack subscribers.
That won’t happen while Johnson is PM.
He promised his back benchers last night it would to stop them writing the letters now. He has committed to it. mendacious tho he is he cannot get away without publishing it and he knows that because refusing to do so will trigger those letters
Just heard Starmer's turn at the dispatch box again from yesterday. Measured and heartfelt, and utterly damming of Johnson. And his MPs. I recommend listening to it again. So good.