You do wonder whether he's always on the lash when 'at work'. It might be especially hard for him to make the distinction.
it's all gone a bit....
I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky. I never told anybody to lie, not a single time; never. These allegations are false. And I need to go back to work for the American people.
“Nobody warned me that it was against the rules,” the prime minister said, adding: “I would have remembered that.”
This does feel a bit like the end of decent game of chess. Johnson has been steered right in to a trap. Someone just needs to produce an email and it would be checkmate. The question then is whether or not Johnson sees it like that and quits.
It seems unlikely that if there's an email/whatsapp chain he's not checked that himself before talking today. So my prediction is that when it does come to the surface it says something like "Borris, Have you seen this proposed gathering in the garden next week? I think you need to consider the optics of that if it gets into the public domain - people making sacrifices and we are celebrating successes, Dom".
Dom warned him. Boris will say, "see nobody said it was against the rules".
The damage is done, its catch 22 now.
The storms on the Horizon are multiple and will arrive in succession
Truss EU negotiating approach
Local elections
NI Brexit Trade problem
Customs checks
US trade deal/steel tariffs
India trade deal free movement
Fishing
Farming subsidy
Cost of living
Pissed off redwall
Ukraine
Taiwan
Putin in general
An EU that does not give a ****
An election not very far away...
No respite this year, better to leave Boris the shit magnet in place?
Get shot now and try and salvage the core vote?
Hobsons choice
I don’t really care about Downing Street staff holding a party the night before DofE’s funeral and I expect politicians to lie and be hypocrites but this is getting a bit much now
And that's our part of the problem. We've become do immune to this crap in the last 20-30 years - and I'm not solely referring to the Tories here - that we've let our standards drop.
We should expect better to deserve better (at a societal level, before you all point out that you didn't vote for him)
“Nobody warned me that it was against the rules,” the prime minister said, adding: “I would have remembered that.”
On the one hand, he shouldn't need warning - he was the one standing there reading out all the restrictions on TV so the idea that he didn't know or that "work events" were somehow exempt should be bollocks
Having said that... I can actually believe that he paid so little attention to any of the details and/or believed that the rules shouldn't apply to him anyway that he just did what he wanted. There is of course the argument that everyone else should have refused / warned him etc but if the culture in No.10 is that of a toxic bullying workplace (or, equally likely, a bunch of chancers who also believe they're above the law), who's going to stand up and tell him he's wrong?
It now appear that the warning to Reynolds was done via email so there is a record
Is there a link to that? I didnt see it in a quick scan of news updates just now
I don’t really care about Downing Street staff holding a party the night before DofE’s funeral
I do. I had to stand in the road outside my friend's house for his funeral. Socially distancing from all but Mrs TiRed as his body was driven away. I don't expect better, just the same.
It seems unlikely that if there’s an email/whatsapp chain he’s not checked that himself before talking today.
I think it's highly likely he hasn't checked the emails. Given everything we know about him and the anecdotal descriptions of him from the likes of Cummings, he is notorious for not being bothered about process or detail. It's pretty obvious what's happened, he will have arrogantly brushed aside any concerns about the parties because he wanted to be seen as the good-time guy and in the process handed all the ammunition they need to people like Cummings who can use it later if/when the need arises.
In that interview he says "I take full responsibility". Be interesting to see that one squared with him getting his staff to resign.
re
But to then actually remove Johnson would require 182(?) Tory MP’s to vote against him in that leadership election and transfer their votes to somebody else. That would require a ‘unity’ candidate to galvanise a vote for someone they think would do a better job. There is absolutely no sign of that.
If Johnston loses the no confidence vote he is not allowed to stand in the subsequent leadership election, but if he wins another vote is not allowed for 12 months.
I expect politicians to lie and be hypocrites but this is getting a bit much now.
Usually said by right-wing voters when it finally dawns on them that they've been voting against their own (and other ordinary folks) interest.
Ferrals - only indierctly but Peston has seen it and has a copy apparantly
Peston, who like Cummings has not named the second official, says:
<div class="quoted__contents">
[Gray] has also told the sender of the dynamite email she would like to speak with him but has not yet. When she does, he will both point her to the email and he will tell her that Reynolds immediately came to his office after receipt of the email and asked him why the party should be cancelled.
Reynolds was told by the email sender – ‘in the nicest possible way’ – that the party was a kind sentiment but it should be cancelled because it broke the rules. Reynolds allegedly said he feared it could be more embarrassing to cancel.
from the guardian and confirmed on twitter
</div>
If Johnston loses the no confidence vote he is not allowed to stand in the subsequent leadership election, but if he wins another vote is not allowed for 12 months.
^^^^ This is key. The rules are written to help the party move on fast once MPs have rejected their leader (take note Labour).
Johnson always has the nuclear option of resigning as leader (not PM) and then standing in the subsequent leadership election. A "put up or shut up" game of hardball. He could still come out as the winner in that, if he can be ahead when it comes to the final two (the parliamentary party wouldn't allow that to then continue to a membership vote). I can see him doing that if he thinks it'll stop some of the main potential candidates (those wanting to stay in the cabinet) from running, and he can come out on top, and he can keep his title for a few more years. That would be the ideal scenario for Labour, the LibDems... and perhaps even the Green Party, in preparing for elections. 🤞🏻
Surely he must be tempted to resign, just to avoid the shit show coming down the line. Inflation, fuel costs, continued Brexit costs, disruption and negotiations.
Why not sail off into the sunset, telling himself he got Brexit done, write a newspaper column and enjoy drinking himself into oblivion.
For him to resign means admitting to himself he did something wrong. He is psychologically incapable of believing he has done anything wrong IMO
Once he does that his whole facade crumbles and his self worth / self image is gone
But he must also know the game is up. Its obiously torture for him - good 🙂
Be interesting to see that one squared with him getting his staff to resign.
"Some of you will lose your jobs. But that's a sacrifice I am willing to take"
Why not sail off into the sunset, telling himself he got Brexit done, write a newspaper column and enjoy drinking himself into oblivion
Because of his clearly documented, Trump-esque personality flaws.
Boris must win. He's so insecure and inadequate (just like Trump) that they simply can't deal with the idea of their perceived enemies getting a 'victory' over them
It's tragic really. For him and us
“Some of you will lose your jobs. But that’s a sacrifice I am willing to take”
Boris shares so many traits with David Brent
thanks @tjagain - based on that I found the article by Peston in the Spectator.
I've a feeling with all this going around, the Gray report may not be as toothless as expected.
How the "nobody told me" defence can play well with anyone I don't know. So now anyone can break the rules and just say "nobody told me" and it's fine? Anybody can break the law and just say "nobody told me" and it's fine? Even the people that made the rules, that make the law, that stand on a stage in front of 43 union jacks and tell everyone what the rules are.
At this point, thinking that's an acceptable excuse must be pretty close to a mental illness.
That Sky News video was stunning really, not just because I think it's the first time we've seen him in a week, and talking about it and not just because the Interviewer was so wonderfully Brutal, I know Sky news is left-wing these days, but She didn't hold back at all, but mostly because just how broken Johnson looks. He's not coming back from this, yeah 'Downfall' the film that spawned a million memes, but that's exactly what it looks like, a broken Man, who just isn't quiet ready to accept he's lost yet.
Labour must be praying hard now that they keep him on as PM, if they head into a GE with Johnson in charge Labour will brutalise him with this, and more than just bad press, I think it will have a meaningful affect on him personally, every time it comes up, he'll feel crushed again.
the Gray report may not be as toothless as expected
The Gray report will result in civil servants being given new jobs. No one expects any more direct actions from it (because it is the PM who decides on those actions). It just buys time for the PM to try and butter up enough of his MPs. The Mail will go full in with the ... "culprits have been sacked" line (they won't be jobless, and won't include Johnson), but it honestly feels like the rest of the press might push on with bouncing Johnson of the ropes a few more times. Will he hit the floor...? Who knows, but it's going to be another knackering experience for a guy who really doesn't seem up to it... the fake boosterism isn't going to wash any more after all this... and the "cake tomorrow" promises will get less and less effective the longer he is in office anyway.
Gray can only report on what she finds - facts. She does not make recommendations
So she will be able to say Reynolds was warned by email and in person. If Reynolds tells her that he checked with Johnson she can also say that. But she cannot make recommendations or draw inferences from the facts - thats my understanding. It could come to Reynolds say he checked with Johnson, Johnson denies this.
Why not sail off into the sunset, telling himself he got Brexit done, write a newspaper column and enjoy drinking himself into oblivion
Because he is grifting. He is busy ensuring that both he, and his mates, profit from billions of pounds of procurement being awarded outside of all correct process. The longer he stays in power, the more money they all make.
I know Sky news is left-wing these days
Its really not you know. Its just not as cowed as BBC news
So now anyone can break the rules and just say “nobody told me” and it’s fine?
No, the correct defence is now "in a limited and specific way". This has parliamentary precedent.
Ive said it before but I still think his last option is to 'trigger' a VONC and win, thereby giving him another year. If he can get whats left of his loyal backbenches to get their letters in to the 1922, I am pretty confident he'd win the ensuing vote. It's a very narrow path out of the mess he's created, its not without risk but it would buy him 12 months.
Obviously it's underhand but it doesn't seem to be outhwith the rules.
i'd be really surprised if he actually resigns and goes on his own volition. He's not the resigning type, more a roll the dice kind of guy.
All things being equal, inflation will finish him one way or another.
Lol binners, I read this
“Some of you will lose your jobs. But that’s a sacrifice I am willing to take”
and before scrolling any further went off to find this
You're not going to lose your job, you're not going to lose your job, you know...you're not going to lose your job...
but you got there before me!
Because he is grifting. He is busy ensuring that both he, and his mates, profit from billions of pounds of procurement being awarded outside of all correct process. The longer he stays in power, the more money they all make.
I do worry that there are certain behind-the-scenes elements absolutely making the most of this - quick, the spotlight is off us, lets run through a few more multi-million pound contracts, grant/receive a few quick favours, do some more decorating, pass another draconian law...
He is psychologically incapable of believing he has done anything wrong IMO
I think he knows full well when he done wrong. I think it's that he feels he shouldn't have to bear the consequences like normal people
Labour must be praying hard now that they keep him on as PM
I doubt it. Whilst on the surface it may look like it's in labour's interests for him to stay, deposing a PM who only a couple of years ago had >50% poll ratings would be a massive victory. It will not only give Starmer a huge boost in his party and in the country, but it also destroys the aura of invincibility the tories have enjoyed under Johnson. The bubble will have burst and whoever his successor is will struggle to build the same level of unquestioning support in the media and public which Johnson had. If Johnson goes, the tories are f*****.
Northwind
Full MemberHow the “nobody told me” defence can play well with anyone I don’t know. So now anyone can break the rules and just say “nobody told me” and it’s fine? Anybody can break the law and just say “nobody told me” and it’s fine? Even the people that made the rules, that make the law, that stand on a stage in front of 43 union jacks and tell everyone what the rules are.
At this point, thinking that’s an acceptable excuse must be pretty close to a mental illness.
Couldn't agree more.
Ignorance or feigned ignorance will not get you off the hook in any walk of life, except maybe playgroup.
I know Sky news is left-wing these days
I can see how their endless calling for the proletariat to seize the means of production would lead someone to come to that conclusion 🙂
Calling a right wing government to account doesn't make them left wing, it just makes them journalists.
Marina Hyde continues to be the chronicler of our golden political age
How will the great wrecker Boris Johnson break himself out of this bind?
Johnson’s allies have reportedly gone with Operation Save Big Dog, a name that just underscores the impression of No 10 as a stag do gone badly wrong. You know the plot: some inadequate guys mount a desperate rearguard action to escape the problem of a dead stripper/missing groom/pub crawl that has somehow made them the target of Armenian gangsters.
So she will be able to say Reynolds was warned by email and in person. If Reynolds tells her that he checked with Johnson she can also say that. But she cannot make recommendations or draw inferences from the facts – thats my understanding. It could come to Reynolds say he checked with Johnson, Johnson denies this.
Maybe I'm being optimistic, but I think if that gets put in the report, Johnsons position will be untenable, even if he denies it. At some point its going to be one lie too many
Years ago we had a new manager at work who pretty quickly established himself as the type of person that treated rules as advisory. He was initially pretty popular, mistakes were forgiven, here for a good time, not a long time etc. etc. He seemed perpetually cheerful, although getting him to actually make any kind of decision was painful. We actually started calling him 'Brent'
The problem was, the industry I worked in was pretty heavily regulated and inevitably one of the Directors visited after 11 months and two weeks, calling him in for a meeting. He emerged after 15 minutes, visibly broken and started emptying his desk drawers. He simply could not grasp how this situation had occurred, his shock was palpable. I suppose he'd been blagging his way though life for years.
I've thought a lot about him over the last week or so.
Johnsons position will be untenable
It's already untenable. As with all compulsive liars they dig themselves a hole that they can't escape and then it collapses in on them. Johnson is only one more lie being exposed from that happening. He's finished and he knows it.
From her terms of reference
The primary purpose will be to establish swiftly a general understanding of the nature of the gatherings, including attendance, the setting and the purpose, with reference to adherence to the guidance in place at the time.
That last bit I take to mean that Gray must try to cast her findings in terms of the requirements of the guidelines, ie specifically finding out how far apart people were, whether they were from the same household etc. Thus even if she doesn't actually say whether they were complied with, it should be obvious from the findings whether they were or not.
But she cannot make recommendations or draw inferences from the facts
Nothing in the terms of reference says she cannot find facts by inferring them from other facts.
you cannot infer a fact. If its inferred its an inference 🙂
https://twitter.com/GhanaMFA/status/1483467010612903937?s=20
Particularly good is the perhaps unintentional switch of red to dead in the operation name.
Variosu twitter muttering that the required number of letters is nearly there, and that some are waiting for PMQs - will he duck it and have a "positive lft" or other excuse?
That Ghana letter is brilliant - is it genuine?
I reckon if you used the pictures of BJ in his different work outfits you’d have a mental happy families deck.
Or perhaps they could reboot mr Ben as Mr Johnson, gotta be a fair few episodes there.
And that tie thing of tucking it in your shirt, like a 6th former, what’s that all about.
