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.
