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And obviously this is the conformation that after weeks of Boris saying no rules were broken, very clearly rules were broken.
Thats the rub. If they're issuing 20 fines then it means that the law was broken repeatedly. And this is only the first tranche of fines.
The attitude of Johnson and co from the off is that they do think that the rules don't apply to them and that they are above the law. There hasn't been the remotest hint of contrition.
The trouble for them, you would hope, is that people remember the sacrifices they made while they were following the rules.
Unfortunately, it seems that a lot of people seem to agree with Boris that the rules shouldn't be applied to him, as he's 'a character' or something... 🙄
Thing is, most of the electorate couldn’t give a toss about this kind of stuff. Imagine a local news crew in, I dunno, Middlesborough, Stoke or Plymouth asking one of the locals in the High Street what they thought of Johnson
I was at a wedding at the weekend.
Chap on our table said they thought Boris is great & doing a good job. The same chap didn't know what prosecco was & disappeared at several times throughout the day & left his 2 kids completely unattended. Make of that what you will.
What's the justification for keeping them secret?
https://twitter.com/JimMFelton/status/1508728192504373255?t=rDYLD3r9s-53W9bjn_hnag&s=19
I’m concerned that he’s allowed the UK to become a vast washing machine for dirty Russian cash”
Admittedly more now than ever but its been going on for 20 odd years under both tories & Labour, UK is an absolute disgrace of a country in this area & hidden offshore companies/wealth.
What’s the justification for keeping them secret?
You could argue there is a public interest angle to revealing them.
But generally these fines along with speeding tickets etc aren't made public, unless appealed at magistrates court in which case it becomes public record.
What’s the justification for keeping them secret?
Given how notoriously leaky the Met is, I doubt theres much chance of the names not becoming public almost the second they're issued.
Don't worry though. It won't be any names you'll recognise, anyway. Just some sacrificial civil servants
Unfortunately, it seems that a lot of people seem to agree with Boris that the rules shouldn’t be applied to him, as he’s ‘a character’ or something…
What I keep hearing from others is that because under his government we’re all getting poorer and facing lowering living standards, we should just ignore his “one rule for us, another for the little people” approach to life and running the country, because the public can only turn against him for one reason at a time. 🤷🏻♂️ “Stop talking about law breaking parties (when we couldn’t even see our own families in person) because people are more concerned about eating and heating.”
Bizarrely No10 spokesperson is still not admitting that the PM now accepts that rules were broken. Can’t see that position lasting.
I wonder how many other parties were had up and down the country where the homeowner/tennant wasn't fined (unless Carrie got chucked under the bus)
Like that sort of opposition?
No, not that sort of opposition, the other sort.
Wow
Bad timing, but no longer illegal.
Raab on the radio telling us why we get to know nothing about who in government broke the rules. Or if anyone in no10 have been fined for breaking those rules. So we have 20 fines... but still no actual acceptance/admittance that any of law breaking occurred in the PM's home and workplace (his description of no10). Amazing that the Prime Minister gets to preside over law breaking, with fines issued, without even having to admit that laws were broken under his nose. Kafka would be impressed.
It perfectly illustrates the contempt in which we're all held.
Anyone in possession of even a shred of self-awareness might question whether it was appropriate to attend a big party on the day the police hand out fines for illegal parties
This lot don't even care.
I don't think the fines are going to be a big issue, sadly. I'm wondering if there might be action for obstructing the Police enquiry, maybe perverting justice.
Heard the rumour again that there are pics of the PM indulging in Colombian marching powder at one of these events. This time via someone well connected to the Tory party. Though they are at the headbanger end of the party so possibly just trying to discredit Boris.
I'm a bit surprised that more is not being made of the Michelle Mone scandal, she makes the Great Train Robbers look like pussies.
Though they are at the headbanger end of the party so possibly just trying to discredit Boris.
Something you wouldn't have thought was any more possible at this point. Still, I'm receptive to the idea.
Anyone in possession of even a shred of self-awareness might question whether it was appropriate to attend a big party on the day the police hand out fines for illegal parties
I'm questioning how or when they actually do any work. From what I can tell, their days seem to consist of preparing to get pissed, getting pissed, and recovering from being pissed. How they find time to do any of that minor governing the country stuff, I have no idea.
I bet even the average student is looking on in wonderment at how you can fit that many parties into a schedule.
Michelle Mone and Medpro PPE - yep, she and her husband have been lying through their teeth but it's treated like a storm in a D cup.
Yeah but she's pretty and a business woman and not like 'all them'
SPOILER ALERT - she's a pig with her trout in the same trough as all the rest of the fat greedy piggies.
Mild applause for the d-cup joke.
I didn't know pigs had trouts. Bravo.
PMQs might be worth watching today, I wonder if Starmer goes for “lying in parliament” as a resignation offence - something Boris agreed was statute in the house a few weeks ago when questioned.
You can't prove he's lied by referring to the police fines... because we don't "know" (even though it's bleeding obvious) that the fines were for anything that happened at no10 or for any event that he was present at or aware of. It's a joke.
PMQs might be worth watching today, I wonder if Starmer goes for “lying in parliament” as a resignation offence – something Boris agreed was statute in the house a few weeks ago when questioned.
Cue the standard answer of blah blah, got Brexit done, first country to beat Covid, blah, Brexit, blah, world-leading...
Exactly as predicted. Asked about Partygate he blathered on about the Labour Party wanting to 'take us back into the EU', vaccinations etc, etc....
At 3 this afternoon Johnson has to make his appearance in front of the commons liaison committee so expect a surreal other-wordly mix of bluster, blather, out-and-out lies, deflection and latin quotes
He certainly won't provide any answers to any questions any more than he does at PMQ's
Surreally, No10 spokesperson says the Boris Johnson is still not accepting that fines being handed out means that laws were broken.
Kafkaesque doesn't even come close really
Surreally, No10 spokesperson says the Boris Johnson is still not accepting that fines being handed out means that laws were broken.
On a strictly technical level, none of them have been convicted (yet), so they could all challenge these fines in court to try to convince a magistrate no crime had been committed.
But yes, it's bizarre..
It just seems like more of the same, usual gaslighting.
Keep telling everybody, over and over and over, that black is white, and eventually some people will believe it.
Move along now. Nothing to see here...
frankconway
Full MemberMichelle Mone and Medpro PPE – yep, she and her husband have been lying through their teeth but it’s treated like a storm in a D cup.
Your scheduled reminder that the real issue isn't the money or the corruption or the lying- not that they don't matter, but the gowns delivered were never used, they weren't up to spec. That, in the middle of a PPE crisis, meant that healthcare workers didn't get the kit they needed to do their jobs safely.
The money's a sideshow. I'd almost have been happy to have corruption, lying and wasted money, if it'd delivered what was needed. Same as track and trace- yes it's an insane amount of money to have spent, and all handled through the chumocracy, but also it didn't work. By the time it was launched, they'd forgotten parts of what it was even supposed to do. The government openly didn't understand that the Scottish government were basing parts of their policy on data from scottish track and trace, because they'd forgotten that this is half the job it was to do.
Would spending all that cash on a working track and trace have been smart? No. But spending it on a non-working track and trace killed people.
This appearance in front of the commons liaison committee is a masterclass in spouting absolute bollocks.
The Met have once again allowed him to dodge yet another bullet, as the investigation continues
Listening to it, its staggering that this blithering idiot has become PM. He is an absolute imbecile as well as a compulsive liar.
I know that it's said he's 'not a details man', but he sounds like he hasn't got a clue what he's being asked about and he's just blathering complete nonsense. He's off again with his 'quills of the porcupine' rubbish now...
Yep. I'm behind on the live feed, but this hiding behind the '...you'll have to wait until the conclusion of the investigation...." line is an absolute joke.
There is no point to this kind of thing at all if the person being interviewed can just bat away every question and not actually provide any answers or facts.
Listening to it, its staggering that this blithering idiot has become PM. He is an absolute imbecile as well as a compulsive liar.
In most of his previous roles though, notably London Mayor, he was able to hide behind others. Turn up and take the credit where needed, but have others do the Actual Work.
When he was a journalist, it didn't really matter - opinion columns are precisely about speaking complete bollocks while not being held accountable since anything untrue can simply be avoided by saying that it's the columnists opinion, not editorial fact.
London Mayor he could hide behind the (mostly good) things that Ken did, ride the coattails of the Olympic Games feelgood factor and not really do a lot which is just as well because he spaffed billions up the wall on non-existent bridges and airports.
Once promoted above his competence levels though (and yes, you can argue that anything beyond a weekly newspaper column is above his abilities) it's become increasingly apparent that he's wildly out of his depth and he's rapidly using up all his lifebelts of bullshit and bluster.
Northwind - my post about michelle mone was wider than 'just' the money; it covers wasted money inc excessive pricing, product unfit for intended use, excess stock and lying about direct involvement.
I'm fully aware that >50% of the gowns supplied by Medpro were deemed unfit for use and the gov claim to be seeking redress.
But thanks for pointing out what I have known for nearly two years and have posted about previously.
Also aware that >50% of product supplied by the favoured ones through 'VIP channel' is unfit for purpose.
Not to mention the huge storage charges still being incurred for containers of un-needed PPE at various facilities in East Anglia.
he’s wildly out of his depth and he’s rapidly using up all his lifebelts of bullshit and bluster
Sometimes it feels like he has an infinite supply.
Not to mention the huge storage charges still being incurred for containers of un-needed PPE at various facilities in East Anglia
Yep that’s just the cherry on the top,I think that’s a massive scandal in itself.
That has to be one of the cruelest April Fools evvvvaaaa,Bar Stewards 😒
Your scheduled reminder that the real issue isn’t the money or the corruption or the lying- not that they don’t matter, but the gowns delivered were never used, they weren’t up to spec. That, in the middle of a PPE crisis, meant that healthcare workers didn’t get the kit they needed to do their jobs safely.
Don't forget, too, that the company connected to Mone also insisted on exclusivity*. So not only did they supply sub-standard crap, they also ensured that existing suppliers wouldn't be able to provide pukka stuff. Good old thrusting Tory enterprise there.
*According to a chap I know who is fairly senior at Arco.
Not to mention the huge storage charges still being incurred for containers of un-needed PPE at various facilities in East Anglia
Yep that’s just the cherry on the top,I think that’s a massive scandal in itself.
Presumably another 'thrusting, buccaneering, British entrepreneur' owns the storage facility.
The whole 'PPE Contracts for Mates' is just a microcosm of what this government represents. Namely a one off smash and grab on the economy of a country in slow, but terminal decline.
Job's jobbed for the dodgy PPE suppliers, though. That money is gone and will never be recovered.
An interesting, but completely unsurprising article on our glorious leader by Andrew Rawnsley in yesterdays Observer
Boris Johnson may think that partygate is a laughing matter. Outraged voters don’t
It is appalling enough that the police have found a pattern of criminality at the very heart of government. It is worse that the prime minister treats this scandal as a joke
One senior Tory present at the dinner says: “The number of jokes Boris devoted to partygate showed that he is either monumentally insensitive or monumentally self-confident.” Or both.
Did anyone expect anything different from him? Not only does Johnson think he's 'got away' with Partygate, he's happily making crass jokes about it and openly mocking those who criticised him or thought he should be held to account. The arrogance and entitlement of the man is absolutely off the scale!
According to JRM today, even if Johnson gets fined, it isn’t the right time for a “Self-Indulgent Leadership Contest”
Nothing to see here, peasants - get back to work!
Perhaps write to your MP to let them know, politely if you can manage it, that you haven’t forgotten and that the outcome will influence your voting intentions. I did this yesterday. I also pointed out that I found his (Wiggin’s)comments on ‘the right sort of immigrants’ at a select committee last week were at best open to misinterpretation, at worst deeply unpleasant considering that he has taken hospitality from the Qataris
I have yet to receive a reply.
Back to PPE; as at Nov '21
https://www.suffolklive.com/news/gallery/gallery-photos-unusable-ppe-suffolk-6170341
More detail in this
https://eastangliabylines.co.uk/exclusive-suffolk-at-centre-of-multi-million-alleged-cover-up-of-government-ppe-scandal/