First arrest at anti-vaccine passport protest taking place at Parliament Square in London, just hours before the Prime Minister is expected to announce tighter covid restrictions for the country
It'll be interesting to see what happens to opinions on Brexit. Is Boris so bound up with the idea and execution of Brexit that he drags opinion on the whole thing down with him, or is opinion on Brexit completely independent of views on Boris and he was simply a convenient mouthpiece for it?
Recent polling might tend to support the former - that he is tarring the image of Brexit in the public eye - but that may just be to do with general perceptions of how it's going (border admin, fishing tussles with France, all the article 16 noise). We'd be able to tell one way or the other if the Yougov tracker poll suddenly ticks up if Boris is replaced as leader.
Fans attending sports events including Premier League matches this weekend are expected to be required to have vaccine passports or proof of a negative test as part of new government rules to tackle the Covid pandemic.
The Premier League was in talks with Whitehall officials on Wednesday seeking clarification on the requirements of complying with the government’s plan B, due to be announced to deal with the spread of the Omicron variant.
If, as the BBC reports, the December party was for the press team, it would have to have been authorised, or at least not vetoed, by then-director of communications James Slack. Since he has departed to The Sun it makes it more difficult for No. 10 to blame him for subsequently assuring the PM that no rules were broken. If, however, current director of communications Jack Doyle was at the party, and has been briefing it didn’t happen, that would make life very difficult for him. It was Max Blain, the Prime Minister’s Official Spokesperson, who briefed the Lobby on Monday that there was no party.
Despite being the poster girl for this story, Allegra Stratton was not in charge of the Downing Street press operation at the time of these events, according to the leaked video did not stay for the party in question and certainly is not responsible for briefing the PM or the Lobby about the nature or existence of the party this week. Ultimately the PM must take responsibility for his advisors and their actions. Boris’s errors at PMQs today, not least denying Lee Cain’s leaving do was a party on November 13 and being bounced by Starmer into agreeing to hand over any evidence to the Metropolitan Police and the CPS, has compounded his difficulties. The Cabinet Secretary Simon Case is to head an internal inquiry, though currently Downing Street can’t confirm or deny if he attended the party. Allegra resigning over a party for which she wasn’t responsible might not be the end of this…
Fans attending sports events including Premier League matches this weekend are expected to be required to have vaccine passports or proof of a negative test as part of new government rules to tackle the Covid pandemic.
The Premier League was in talks with Whitehall officials on Wednesday seeking clarification on the requirements of complying with the government’s plan B, due to be announced to deal with the spread of the Omicron variant.
Stratton - even last year - understood that there was no defence. Nor, if we're to take her at her word then (and it was in private and wasn't contradicted then, so it's probably reasonable to do so), was she at the party.
If she should go for having said something embarrassing, where does that leave those who actually did the thing that it was embarrassing to admit to? Or their boss, who must have known about it.
On North Shropshire: I think the market has over-reacted to recent developments. The anti-Tory vote will be split between Lab and LD, and probably a decent number of Tory postal votes have already been cast. I've just taken a bite of the Evens available on BF for the Conservatives to win.
Fans attending sports events including Premier League matches this weekend are expected to be required to have vaccine passports or proof of a negative test as part of new government rules to tackle the Covid pandemic.
The Premier League was in talks with Whitehall officials on Wednesday seeking clarification on the requirements of complying with the government’s plan B, due to be announced to deal with the spread of the Omicron variant.
Glad I went to see Spurs on Sunday, I expect getting into the stadium will now take 2-3h of queuing and checking vaccine status with arguments and fights breaking out.
Its incredible the Lib Dems aren't heavy odds-on favourites for N Shropshire. They should be the clear favourites.
Sad to see Stratton's tearful resignation, but it is kind of inevitable. She humiliated herself on that video and a resignation now was realistically the only way out.
The weirdest thing in the video is the way that she looked at the camera in an embarrassed way saying "this is filmed" . . . why not ensure that recording was deleted? To allow it to leak is just odd. Don't put things on tape you don't want to see the light of day, its like the political equivalent of a sex tape.
Its incredible the Lib Dems aren't heavy odds-on favourites for N Shropshire. They should be the clear favourites.
Sad to see Stratton's tearful resignation, but it is kind of inevitable. She humiliated herself on that video and a resignation now was realistically the only way out.
The weirdest thing in the video is the way that she looked at the camera in an embarrassed way saying "this is filmed" . . . why not ensure that recording was deleted? To allow it to leak is just odd. Don't put things on tape you don't want to see the light of day, its like the political equivalent of a sex tape.
IN other words, she was made by her boss to do it. No?
Stratton - even last year - understood that there was no defence. Nor, if we're to take her at her word then (and it was in private and wasn't contradicted then, so it's probably reasonable to do so), was she at the party.
If she should go for having said something embarrassing, where does that leave those who actually did the thing that it was embarrassing to admit to? Or their boss, who must have known about it.
It is just laughably inadequate. Especially as most people thought she had gone anyway.
Its incredible the Lib Dems aren't heavy odds-on favourites for N Shropshire. They should be the clear favourites.
Sad to see Stratton's tearful resignation, but it is kind of inevitable. She humiliated herself on that video and a resignation now was realistically the only way out.
The weirdest thing in the video is the way that she looked at the camera in an embarrassed way saying "this is filmed" . . . why not ensure that recording was deleted? To allow it to leak is just odd. Don't put things on tape you don't want to see the light of day, its like the political equivalent of a sex tape.
Isn't that the problem with being in politics and modern technology, everything you do can be recorded or filmed and held against you at some point in the future.
Feel rather sorry for Stratton. This will haunt her, as she tearfully says, for the rest of her life
This gives the lie to any idea this is some kind of internal Spectator/ITV plot. She is married to James Forsyth, the Spec's political ed, he won't be happy seeing his wife in bits, nor will their kids be overjoyed at the sight of Mum weeping on telly
Stratton - even last year - understood that there was no defence. Nor, if we're to take her at her word then (and it was in private and wasn't contradicted then, so it's probably reasonable to do so), was she at the party.
If she should go for having said something embarrassing, where does that leave those who actually did the thing that it was embarrassing to admit to? Or their boss, who must have known about it.
I agree. I said similar on the last thread. She was just preparing for questions and laughing at how to answer an impossible question. Not sure she has done anything wrong.
Only 1/3 of Conservative voters in the poll however think Boris should resign.
Hopefully Allegra Stratton's resignation should begin to draw a line under the story
See Guido Fawkes post I linked below, I don't think it will be anywhere near enough, so many people are implicated in multiple gatherings.
Any other No 10 staff who attended this party or other parties during lockdown should be sacked or disciplined.
However as long as Boris was not personally at this party he will stay
The problem is, I suspect that perhaps he might well have given them a nudge nudge wink wink to hold a gathering, and that somebody who has been thrown under the bus will say that was the case. Also, it seems like he was actually in Downing Street at the time of the party, so chances of being totally unaware of any gathering going on would be virtually impossible.
Fans attending sports events including Premier League matches this weekend are expected to be required to have vaccine passports or proof of a negative test as part of new government rules to tackle the Covid pandemic.
The Premier League was in talks with Whitehall officials on Wednesday seeking clarification on the requirements of complying with the government’s plan B, due to be announced to deal with the spread of the Omicron variant.
For all those supporting BoJo - what success has he delivered over the last 2 years?
I am not supporting him, but he got us out of the EU, got a trade deal that protected our sovereignty more than anyone said was possible, and got us a vaccine program earlier than anyone else in Europe
Stratton - even last year - understood that there was no defence. Nor, if we're to take her at her word then (and it was in private and wasn't contradicted then, so it's probably reasonable to do so), was she at the party.
If she should go for having said something embarrassing, where does that leave those who actually did the thing that it was embarrassing to admit to? Or their boss, who must have known about it.
I agree. I said similar on the last thread. She was just preparing for questions and laughing at how to answer an impossible question. Not sure she has done anything wrong.
Unbelievably on the last thread HYUFD thinks Allegra is more to blame than Boris. I mean how?
If Boris brought in a Plan B with destructive implications to the economy and general society would it be a smart political move by Rishi (whether he really feels it or not) to resign stating he cannot accept more damage to economy etc etc?
Not only could he show clear blue water between him and the Boris cluster-fk but He would be the darling of a lot of Tory MPs who might then find the strength and motivation to get those letters in to Brady PDQ - striking whilst the iron is hot…..
The Allegra Stratton mess also makes me question my prior assumption this is a Cummings hit job. Cummings is married to Mary Wakefield, another Spectator editor (and, no doubt, a friend of Stratton)
Is Dominic that envenomed he would take down his friends as well as his enemies?
If 3 vaxx doses or 2 plus an infection still pretty much stop you getting omicron, then there aren't gonna be many hospitalisation even in a large omicron wave cos we've already triple-vaxxed the main groups from which hospitalisations come.
Only 1/3 of Conservative voters in the poll however think Boris should resign.
Hopefully Allegra Stratton's resignation should begin to draw a line under the story
See Guido Fawkes post I linked below, I don't think it will be anywhere near enough, so many people are implicated in multiple gatherings.
Any other No 10 staff who attended this party or other parties during lockdown should be sacked or disciplined.
However as long as Boris was not personally at this party he will stay
They all work for Boris. He is responsible.
He isn't if he was not there and did not organise it.
Most Tory voters still want Boris to stay on this afternoon's polls, he will therefore stay despite the usual anti Boris hysteria on here (most of it from those who did not vote Tory in 2019 anyway(
Fans attending sports events including Premier League matches this weekend are expected to be required to have vaccine passports or proof of a negative test as part of new government rules to tackle the Covid pandemic.
The Premier League was in talks with Whitehall officials on Wednesday seeking clarification on the requirements of complying with the government’s plan B, due to be announced to deal with the spread of the Omicron variant.
Glad I went to see Spurs on Sunday, I expect getting into the stadium will now take 2-3h of queuing and checking vaccine status with arguments and fights breaking out.
It'll be interesting to see if they accept the blue cards issued at vaccination rather than an "app" on a phone. I've been surveyed twice so far this season (once at Arsenal and once at Leicester), and on both occasions the blue card was fine.
I still object to them asking, but so long as they aren't insisting on me downloading something on to my phone, then I'm not too worried. But there is bound to be trouble if they actually stop people from entering without proof of being vaccinated.
The Allegra Stratton mess also makes me question my prior assumption this is a Cummings hit job. Cummings is married to Mary Wakefield, another Spectator editor (and, no doubt, a friend of Stratton)
Is Dominic that envenomed he would take down his friends as well as his enemies?
Big Dom....Yes....not saying it was him, but he is quite happy to torpedo anybody and everybody.
Stratton - even last year - understood that there was no defence. Nor, if we're to take her at her word then (and it was in private and wasn't contradicted then, so it's probably reasonable to do so), was she at the party.
If she should go for having said something embarrassing, where does that leave those who actually did the thing that it was embarrassing to admit to? Or their boss, who must have known about it.
I agree. I said similar on the last thread. She was just preparing for questions and laughing at how to answer an impossible question. Not sure she has done anything wrong.
Unbelievably on the last thread HYUFD thinks Allegra is more to blame than Boris. I mean how?
She was the one laughing about this party not Boris who was not even in the room
For all those supporting BoJo - what success has he delivered over the last 2 years?
I am not supporting him, but he got us out of the EU, got a trade deal that protected our sovereignty more than anyone said was possible, and got us a vaccine program earlier than anyone else in Europe
The one that ended the United Kingdom as a trading block and forces GB and NI companies to have export licences to sell things to each other?
If that's protecting the sovereignty of the UK I'd hate to see what not ptotecting it looks like.
The irony is that the Pen Farthing story is far, far more serious, but has been displaced from the news by Partygate.
That hasn't gone away. I thought sks would devote half his questions to it today. He was right not to do so but there's always next Wednesday. And the publication of the fac report.
Feel rather sorry for Stratton. This will haunt her, as she tearfully says, for the rest of her life
This gives the lie to any idea this is some kind of internal Spectator/ITV plot. She is married to James Forsyth, the Spec's political ed, he won't be happy seeing his wife in bits, nor will their kids be overjoyed at the sight of Mum weeping on telly
Bollocks, she's crying because she got caught, no sympathy.
For all those supporting BoJo - what success has he delivered over the last 2 years?
I am not supporting him, but he got us out of the EU, got a trade deal that protected our sovereignty more than anyone said was possible, and got us a vaccine program earlier than anyone else in Europe
The one that ended the United Kingdom as a trading block and forces GB and NI companies to have export licences to sell things to each other?
If that's protecting the sovereignty of the UK I'd hate to see what not ptotecting it looks like.
Stratton - even last year - understood that there was no defence. Nor, if we're to take her at her word then (and it was in private and wasn't contradicted then, so it's probably reasonable to do so), was she at the party.
If she should go for having said something embarrassing, where does that leave those who actually did the thing that it was embarrassing to admit to? Or their boss, who must have known about it.
I agree. I said similar on the last thread. She was just preparing for questions and laughing at how to answer an impossible question. Not sure she has done anything wrong.
Unbelievably on the last thread HYUFD thinks Allegra is more to blame than Boris. I mean how?
She was the one laughing about this party not Boris who was not even in the room
You're aware of the role of Directors in companies ?
Only 1/3 of Conservative voters in the poll however think Boris should resign.
Hopefully Allegra Stratton's resignation should begin to draw a line under the story
See Guido Fawkes post I linked below, I don't think it will be anywhere near enough, so many people are implicated in multiple gatherings.
Any other No 10 staff who attended this party or other parties during lockdown should be sacked or disciplined.
However as long as Boris was not personally at this party he will stay
They all work for Boris. He is responsible.
He isn't if he was not there and did not organise it.
Most Tory voters still want Boris to stay on this afternoon's polls, he will therefore stay despite the usual anti Boris hysteria on here (most of it from those who did not vote Tory in 2019 anyway(
He is their boss. Whatever they do they do it because someone who works for Boris told them it was ok. His is the ultimate responsibility.
And then you go on about the polls. You are defending a party that doesn't want people like you as a member.
Only 1/3 of Conservative voters in the poll however think Boris should resign.
Hopefully Allegra Stratton's resignation should begin to draw a line under the story
See Guido Fawkes post I linked below, I don't think it will be anywhere near enough, so many people are implicated in multiple gatherings.
Any other No 10 staff who attended this party or other parties during lockdown should be sacked or disciplined.
However as long as Boris was not personally at this party he will stay
They all work for Boris. He is responsible.
He isn't if he was not there and did not organise it.
Most Tory voters still want Boris to stay on this afternoon's polls, he will therefore stay despite the usual anti Boris hysteria on here (most of it from those who did not vote Tory in 2019 anyway(
The expression 'last man standing comes to mind'
And I have voted conservative every election since 1964, apart from 1997 and 2001, and again in 2019
Can you not see the damage he has caused to the party with Paterson and now this
The irony is that the Pen Farthing story is far, far more serious, but has been displaced from the news by Partygate.
That hasn't gone away. I thought sks would devote half his questions to it today. He was right not to do so but there's always next Wednesday. And the publication of the fac report.
Half the country were fully behind rescuing the fucking cats and dogs.
Stratton - even last year - understood that there was no defence. Nor, if we're to take her at her word then (and it was in private and wasn't contradicted then, so it's probably reasonable to do so), was she at the party.
If she should go for having said something embarrassing, where does that leave those who actually did the thing that it was embarrassing to admit to? Or their boss, who must have known about it.
I agree. I said similar on the last thread. She was just preparing for questions and laughing at how to answer an impossible question. Not sure she has done anything wrong.
Unbelievably on the last thread HYUFD thinks Allegra is more to blame than Boris. I mean how?
She was the one laughing about this party not Boris who was not even in the room
Sadly HYUFD is right on this one. She's the face who was laughing about this, she's the one who caused the ire, and she's now done a teary resignation. The scalp has come, even if it isn't the PMs.
A lot of people I think will be happy to see her resign and will view a tear-filled resignation as the matter resolved, unlike what happened with Cummings. Had Cummings done a teary-eyed resignation then that would have played out very differently.
And not to be sexist, but the fact its a woman crying on TV is a powerful image.
The Allegra Stratton mess also makes me question my prior assumption this is a Cummings hit job. Cummings is married to Mary Wakefield, another Spectator editor (and, no doubt, a friend of Stratton)
Is Dominic that envenomed he would take down his friends as well as his enemies?
Isn't it odd how in a country of over sixty million people those at the top across the media, politics, the civil service, law etc all seem to know each other, or are even related. Britain is basically an oligarchy. No wonder it's so dysfunctional.
BBC 5 Live listeners are happy now Stratton has gone, blaming her for the party video and blaming Labour "bots" for creating all the No 10 party fuss in the first place. "Who cares about a party that happened a year ago?"
Johnson still has significant support in the country and he still has the BBC watching his back, and can easily tough this out.
What do folks make of the idea of betting on Hamilton for SPOTY, while laying him as winner of last GP for the amount of that stake at 1.75 on Betfair ?
Feel rather sorry for Stratton. This will haunt her, as she tearfully says, for the rest of her life
This gives the lie to any idea this is some kind of internal Spectator/ITV plot. She is married to James Forsyth, the Spec's political ed, he won't be happy seeing his wife in bits, nor will their kids be overjoyed at the sight of Mum weeping on telly
Bollocks, she's crying because she got caught, no sympathy.
No, she isn't. She has been painted as a heartless witch in front of an entire country, during a time of great death and suffering. The emotional impact on her must be severe, and it will be long lasting
She had to resign, and it is good that she did. But she's still a human being. She made a foolish, throwaway remark about a party which - it seems - she never even attended. Who hasn't made a daft remark that would look terrible if filmed and put in a different context?
One can condemn the actions but still forgive the person. And she has done the right thing. Resigned almost immediately
So are we getting a press conference today or not?
Looks unlikely
Cabinet has yet to meet and who knows maybe they are saying time to go
Ideally the PM has been told he's on thin ice and that people will not back new restrictions and he needs to get us through the winter without any new resignations or people will demand he resigns.
Better that we get through the winter with him refusing new restrictions than he's replaced with someone "with the moral authority" to put us back into lockdown again.
On topic, the worst thing from this polling is this.
Three in ten say they are less likely to follow Covid rules as a result (29%).
This rises to a third of Labour voters (33%) and those aged 18-34 (33%) who say the same.
Over half say they are just as likely to follow the rules (54%)
Whatever Boris Johnson announces tonight will be ignored by large parts of the country making us less secure.
He needs to go and be replaced by someone with the credibility and authority to launch you new Covid-19 measures.
That sounds like a reason that he should stay.
When it comes to restrictions then we need to take a drugs stance to them: Just Say No.
Indeed, if you want further restrictions vote for Starmer and note most of those refusing to comply following this are young Labour voters, so that is more his problem
The Allegra Stratton mess also makes me question my prior assumption this is a Cummings hit job. Cummings is married to Mary Wakefield, another Spectator editor (and, no doubt, a friend of Stratton)
Is Dominic that envenomed he would take down his friends as well as his enemies?
If you're going to eliminate members of the ruling elite because they have connections to the Speccie then it can't be any member of the ruling elite.
Stratton - even last year - understood that there was no defence. Nor, if we're to take her at her word then (and it was in private and wasn't contradicted then, so it's probably reasonable to do so), was she at the party.
If she should go for having said something embarrassing, where does that leave those who actually did the thing that it was embarrassing to admit to? Or their boss, who must have known about it.
I agree. I said similar on the last thread. She was just preparing for questions and laughing at how to answer an impossible question. Not sure she has done anything wrong.
Unbelievably on the last thread HYUFD thinks Allegra is more to blame than Boris. I mean how?
She was the one laughing about this party not Boris who was not even in the room
At the time!
And, FPT, a question I asked then: what is 'the succession of Antrim'?
The Allegra Stratton mess also makes me question my prior assumption this is a Cummings hit job. Cummings is married to Mary Wakefield, another Spectator editor (and, no doubt, a friend of Stratton)
Is Dominic that envenomed he would take down his friends as well as his enemies?
Cummings may be piggybacking his existing grievance at the Nov 23 party - a party (if it existed) held on the day he left No 10, quite possibly *because* he left No 10 - onto this separate story about the December Christmas party, which someone else set running for reasons of their own.
The irony is that the Pen Farthing story is far, far more serious, but has been displaced from the news by Partygate.
That hasn't gone away. I thought sks would devote half his questions to it today. He was right not to do so but there's always next Wednesday. And the publication of the fac report.
Feel rather sorry for Stratton. This will haunt her, as she tearfully says, for the rest of her life
This gives the lie to any idea this is some kind of internal Spectator/ITV plot. She is married to James Forsyth, the Spec's political ed, he won't be happy seeing his wife in bits, nor will their kids be overjoyed at the sight of Mum weeping on telly
Bollocks, she's crying because she got caught, no sympathy.
No, she isn't. She has been painted as a heartless witch in front of an entire country, during a time of great death and suffering. The emotional impact on her must be severe, and it will be long lasting
She had to resign, and it is good that she did. But she's still a human being. She made a foolish, throwaway remark about a party which - it seems - she never even attended. Who hasn't made a daft remark that would look terrible if filmed and put in a different context?
One can condemn the actions but still forgive the person. And she has done the right thing. Resigned almost immediately
She hasn't been painted like that, she is heartless.
While we were all making sacrificing she was taking the piss.
The Allegra Stratton mess also makes me question my prior assumption this is a Cummings hit job. Cummings is married to Mary Wakefield, another Spectator editor (and, no doubt, a friend of Stratton)
Is Dominic that envenomed he would take down his friends as well as his enemies?
I don't think Allegra is long-term damaged by this anyway. The more you think about it the more you think: hang on, she wasn't at the party and she didn't raise the topic so what about Oldfield? Plus who knew this would become an issue? Surely someone with current access to the video records must be behind it?
The Allegra Stratton mess also makes me question my prior assumption this is a Cummings hit job. Cummings is married to Mary Wakefield, another Spectator editor (and, no doubt, a friend of Stratton)
Is Dominic that envenomed he would take down his friends as well as his enemies?
Collateral damage. This is the set-up before the next video revelation is leaked.
Feel rather sorry for Stratton. This will haunt her, as she tearfully says, for the rest of her life
This gives the lie to any idea this is some kind of internal Spectator/ITV plot. She is married to James Forsyth, the Spec's political ed, he won't be happy seeing his wife in bits, nor will their kids be overjoyed at the sight of Mum weeping on telly
Bollocks, she's crying because she got caught, no sympathy.
No, she isn't. She has been painted as a heartless witch in front of an entire country, during a time of great death and suffering. The emotional impact on her must be severe, and it will be long lasting
She had to resign, and it is good that she did. But she's still a human being. She made a foolish, throwaway remark about a party which - it seems - she never even attended. Who hasn't made a daft remark that would look terrible if filmed and put in a different context?
One can condemn the actions but still forgive the person. And she has done the right thing. Resigned almost immediately
All this leaking of videos etc, it is fascinating. I can't imagine anybody trusts one another within the higher echelons of the government.
Stratton - even last year - understood that there was no defence. Nor, if we're to take her at her word then (and it was in private and wasn't contradicted then, so it's probably reasonable to do so), was she at the party.
If she should go for having said something embarrassing, where does that leave those who actually did the thing that it was embarrassing to admit to? Or their boss, who must have known about it.
I agree. I said similar on the last thread. She was just preparing for questions and laughing at how to answer an impossible question. Not sure she has done anything wrong.
Unbelievably on the last thread HYUFD thinks Allegra is more to blame than Boris. I mean how?
She was the one laughing about this party not Boris who was not even in the room
She was laughing because it was an impossible question to answer and trying to think up responses all of which sounded absurd. She did nothing wrong other than her job of trying to defend Boris/Govt. This was preparation and they had to go through the scenarios. She laughed because it was indefensible and the possible answers crass.
Whereas Boris has been denying a party took place which he knew was a lie or if he didn't he should have jolly well known. I mean how many clues has he been given over the last week.
The irony is that the Pen Farthing story is far, far more serious, but has been displaced from the news by Partygate.
That hasn't gone away. I thought sks would devote half his questions to it today. He was right not to do so but there's always next Wednesday. And the publication of the fac report.
Half the country were fully behind rescuing the fucking cats and dogs.
That's the alarming thing. There's probably a majority in favour of prioritising the evacuation of animals over Afghans.
Obviously goes without saying that @AllegraCOP26 is just not the story here, probably didn’t even go to the party that didn’t happen, and was merely the person whose job it was to be on the (rehearsal) camera. The moral of the story - just never ever, ever go near Boris Johnson. https://twitter.com/tompeck/status/1468617974399619072
Feel rather sorry for Stratton. This will haunt her, as she tearfully says, for the rest of her life
This gives the lie to any idea this is some kind of internal Spectator/ITV plot. She is married to James Forsyth, the Spec's political ed, he won't be happy seeing his wife in bits, nor will their kids be overjoyed at the sight of Mum weeping on telly
Bollocks, she's crying because she got caught, no sympathy.
No, she isn't. She has been painted as a heartless witch in front of an entire country, during a time of great death and suffering. The emotional impact on her must be severe, and it will be long lasting
She had to resign, and it is good that she did. But she's still a human being. She made a foolish, throwaway remark about a party which - it seems - she never even attended. Who hasn't made a daft remark that would look terrible if filmed and put in a different context?
One can condemn the actions but still forgive the person. And she has done the right thing. Resigned almost immediately
I agree. From the 30 second clip I saw (if that is all there is to see) she seemed to me to be embarrassed about something she didn't know and realised it was dangerous territory. It was a car crash moment for sure. I feel sorry for her too, and even more sorry for the staff that Johnson seems willing to throw under the bus.
The Allegra Stratton mess also makes me question my prior assumption this is a Cummings hit job. Cummings is married to Mary Wakefield, another Spectator editor (and, no doubt, a friend of Stratton)
Is Dominic that envenomed he would take down his friends as well as his enemies?
Isn't it odd how in a country of over sixty million people those at the top across the media, politics, the civil service, law etc all seem to know each other, or are even related. Britain is basically an oligarchy. No wonder it's so dysfunctional.
Not quite true. There are three or four competing oligarchies
There's a left wing one: the Guardian, the BBC, the Shadow Cabinet, north London types
There's a posho Remainer west London Tory elite: Cameron, Osborne, etc
This crosses over with a third cabal: the Spectator Telegraph Brexiteer faction, who are in charge at the moment (but maybe not for much longer)
BBC 5 Live listeners are happy now Stratton has gone, blaming her for the party video and blaming Labour "bots" for creating all the No 10 party fuss in the first place. "Who cares about a party that happened a year ago?"
Johnson still has significant support in the country and he still has the BBC watching his back, and can easily tough this out.
I've never thought Boris was in the slightest danger. He's survived far worse.
Stratton - even last year - understood that there was no defence. Nor, if we're to take her at her word then (and it was in private and wasn't contradicted then, so it's probably reasonable to do so), was she at the party.
If she should go for having said something embarrassing, where does that leave those who actually did the thing that it was embarrassing to admit to? Or their boss, who must have known about it.
I agree. I said similar on the last thread. She was just preparing for questions and laughing at how to answer an impossible question. Not sure she has done anything wrong.
Unbelievably on the last thread HYUFD thinks Allegra is more to blame than Boris. I mean how?
She was the one laughing about this party not Boris who was not even in the room
Sadly HYUFD is right on this one. She's the face who was laughing about this, she's the one who caused the ire, and she's now done a teary resignation. The scalp has come, even if it isn't the PMs.
A lot of people I think will be happy to see her resign and will view a tear-filled resignation as the matter resolved, unlike what happened with Cummings. Had Cummings done a teary-eyed resignation then that would have played out very differently.
And not to be sexist, but the fact its a woman crying on TV is a powerful image.
Unfairly or not (and I don't think it is unfair), it also plugs into the idea that Bozza is a serial shagger who dumps women when he gets bored.
Only 1/3 of Conservative voters in the poll however think Boris should resign.
Hopefully Allegra Stratton's resignation should begin to draw a line under the story
See Guido Fawkes post I linked below, I don't think it will be anywhere near enough, so many people are implicated in multiple gatherings.
Any other No 10 staff who attended this party or other parties during lockdown should be sacked or disciplined.
However as long as Boris was not personally at this party he will stay
They all work for Boris. He is responsible.
He isn't if he was not there and did not organise it.
Most Tory voters still want Boris to stay on this afternoon's polls, he will therefore stay despite the usual anti Boris hysteria on here (most of it from those who did not vote Tory in 2019 anyway(
I refer you to the woman on R5 this afternoon, who joined the party because of Boris, and has just resigned saying that it's obvious he's "lying through his teeth".
Stratton - even last year - understood that there was no defence. Nor, if we're to take her at her word then (and it was in private and wasn't contradicted then, so it's probably reasonable to do so), was she at the party.
If she should go for having said something embarrassing, where does that leave those who actually did the thing that it was embarrassing to admit to? Or their boss, who must have known about it.
I agree. I said similar on the last thread. She was just preparing for questions and laughing at how to answer an impossible question. Not sure she has done anything wrong.
Unbelievably on the last thread HYUFD thinks Allegra is more to blame than Boris. I mean how?
She was the one laughing about this party not Boris who was not even in the room
She was laughing because it was an impossible question to answer and trying to think up responses all of which sounded absurd. She did nothing wrong other than her job of trying to defend Boris/Govt. This was preparation and they had to go through the scenarios. She laughed because it was indefensible and the possible answers crass.
Whereas Boris has been denying a party took place which he knew was a lie or if he didn't he should have jolly well known. I mean how many clues has he been given over the last week.
Boris having no idea what so ever, its about as believable as Gordo having no idea what McBride and Draper were up to, when they sat right next to him day in day out.
Let say he wasn't even in Downing Street the day of the party (which it is suggested he was), the chances not a single person ever mentioned well such and such got twatted or talk of stupid secret santa presents etc....not a single person ever let it slip there was a piss up, not a chance.
The irony is that the Pen Farthing story is far, far more serious, but has been displaced from the news by Partygate.
That hasn't gone away. I thought sks would devote half his questions to it today. He was right not to do so but there's always next Wednesday. And the publication of the fac report.
Half the country were fully behind rescuing the fucking cats and dogs.
That's the alarming thing. There's probably a majority in favour of prioritising the evacuation of animals over Afghans.
Comments
like LibDems in N Shropshire.
https://twitter.com/senewspics/status/1468595893238734855?s=20
The Eco-Fascists never get treated this way...They get asked if they would like hemp or oat milk with their tea, while blocking the road for hours.
It'll be interesting to see what happens to opinions on Brexit. Is Boris so bound up with the idea and execution of Brexit that he drags opinion on the whole thing down with him, or is opinion on Brexit completely independent of views on Boris and he was simply a convenient mouthpiece for it?
Recent polling might tend to support the former - that he is tarring the image of Brexit in the public eye - but that may just be to do with general perceptions of how it's going (border admin, fishing tussles with France, all the article 16 noise). We'd be able to tell one way or the other if the Yougov tracker poll suddenly ticks up if Boris is replaced as leader.
Fans attending sports events including Premier League matches this weekend are expected to be required to have vaccine passports or proof of a negative test as part of new government rules to tackle the Covid pandemic.
The Premier League was in talks with Whitehall officials on Wednesday seeking clarification on the requirements of complying with the government’s plan B, due to be announced to deal with the spread of the Omicron variant.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/premier-league-grounds-set-for-vaccine-passports-under-covid-plan-b-mrwcf6kkw
Despite being the poster girl for this story, Allegra Stratton was not in charge of the Downing Street press operation at the time of these events, according to the leaked video did not stay for the party in question and certainly is not responsible for briefing the PM or the Lobby about the nature or existence of the party this week. Ultimately the PM must take responsibility for his advisors and their actions. Boris’s errors at PMQs today, not least denying Lee Cain’s leaving do was a party on November 13 and being bounced by Starmer into agreeing to hand over any evidence to the Metropolitan Police and the CPS, has compounded his difficulties. The Cabinet Secretary Simon Case is to head an internal inquiry, though currently Downing Street can’t confirm or deny if he attended the party. Allegra resigning over a party for which she wasn’t responsible might not be the end of this…
https://order-order.com/2021/12/08/whose-head-will-roll-over-downing-street-parties/
Even Boris official PR team at Guido Fawkes sticking the boot in, he is in big trouble.
If she should go for having said something embarrassing, where does that leave those who actually did the thing that it was embarrassing to admit to? Or their boss, who must have known about it.
As ever: DYOR, this is not advice!
Sad to see Stratton's tearful resignation, but it is kind of inevitable. She humiliated herself on that video and a resignation now was realistically the only way out.
The weirdest thing in the video is the way that she looked at the camera in an embarrassed way saying "this is filmed" . . . why not ensure that recording was deleted? To allow it to leak is just odd. Don't put things on tape you don't want to see the light of day, its like the political equivalent of a sex tape.
https://twitter.com/jessphillips/status/1468611210606268426
Hopefully Allegra Stratton's resignation should begin to draw a line under the story
In other times the video in a headline like this would surely have been a bit more x-rated
This gives the lie to any idea this is some kind of internal Spectator/ITV plot. She is married to James Forsyth, the Spec's political ed, he won't be happy seeing his wife in bits, nor will their kids be overjoyed at the sight of Mum weeping on telly
However as long as Boris was not personally at this party he will stay
Which of the BJ alternatives will be able to put a competent staff in place?
Boris needs to realise time is up and do the honest thing and resign and not hide behind resignations of his staff
Whistleblowers and journos trying to get verification on a few things.
Not only could he show clear blue water between him and the Boris cluster-fk but He would be the darling of a lot of Tory MPs who might then find the strength and motivation to get those letters in to Brady PDQ - striking whilst the iron is hot…..
For the first time in my life I'm hoping that Dominic Cummings has something that helps him further in his closet.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2021/12/08/ghislaine-maxwell-jeffrey-epstein-seen-relaxing-queens-log-cabin/
- A far better initial Brexit deal with the Backstop replaced with the infinitely better NI Protocol including Article 16
- 80 seat majority defeating Jeremy Corbyn
- Got Brexit Done
- Promoted Liz Truss who did a great job shoring up trade agreements and starting new ones.
- Got a trade deal with the EU that allows regulatory divergence.
- Vaccines
- Promoted my 250/1 next PM tip Rishi Sunak to Chancellor.
- Got us through a pandemic with full employment at the other end.
- Vaccines. Vaccines. Vaccines.
- One of the only nations to drop Covid restrictions in the summer.
Those are all on the credit list.I really hope the cabinet and his mps call time is up
The Allegra Stratton mess also makes me question my prior assumption this is a Cummings hit job. Cummings is married to Mary Wakefield, another Spectator editor (and, no doubt, a friend of Stratton)
Is Dominic that envenomed he would take down his friends as well as his enemies?
"5G in Coverdale: Ancient valley set for telecoms upgrade"
I mean, most valleys are ancient, aren't they?
It's a more complicated, slower burn story. That doesn't mean it will get forgotten.
If 3 vaxx doses or 2 plus an infection still pretty much stop you getting omicron, then there aren't gonna be many hospitalisation even in a large omicron wave cos we've already triple-vaxxed the main groups from which hospitalisations come.
Most Tory voters still want Boris to stay on this afternoon's polls, he will therefore stay despite the usual anti Boris hysteria on here (most of it from those who did not vote Tory in 2019 anyway(
Three in ten say they are less likely to follow Covid rules as a result (29%).
This rises to a third of Labour voters (33%) and those aged 18-34 (33%) who say the same.
Over half say they are just as likely to follow the rules (54%)
Whatever Boris Johnson announces tonight will be ignored by large parts of the country making us less secure.
He needs to go and be replaced by someone with the credibility and authority to launch you new Covid-19 measures.
I still object to them asking, but so long as they aren't insisting on me downloading something on to my phone, then I'm not too worried. But there is bound to be trouble if they actually stop people from entering without proof of being vaccinated.
Don't spoil it.
When it comes to restrictions then we need to take a drugs stance to them: Just Say No.
If that's protecting the sovereignty of the UK I'd hate to see what not ptotecting it looks like.
Infinitely worse.
And then you go on about the polls. You are defending a party that doesn't want people like you as a member.
And I have voted conservative every election since 1964, apart from 1997 and 2001, and again in 2019
Can you not see the damage he has caused to the party with Paterson and now this
A lot of people I think will be happy to see her resign and will view a tear-filled resignation as the matter resolved, unlike what happened with Cummings. Had Cummings done a teary-eyed resignation then that would have played out very differently.
And not to be sexist, but the fact its a woman crying on TV is a powerful image.
Cabinet has yet to meet and who knows maybe they are saying time to go
https://twitter.com/adampayne26/status/1468611596176052225
Johnson still has significant support in the country and he still has the BBC watching his back, and can easily tough this out.
Decent arb or not ?
She had to resign, and it is good that she did. But she's still a human being. She made a foolish, throwaway remark about a party which - it seems - she never even attended. Who hasn't made a daft remark that would look terrible if filmed and put in a different context?
One can condemn the actions but still forgive the person. And she has done the right thing. Resigned almost immediately
Better that we get through the winter with him refusing new restrictions than he's replaced with someone "with the moral authority" to put us back into lockdown again.
And, FPT, a question I asked then: what is 'the succession of Antrim'?
While we were all making sacrificing she was taking the piss.
Who Boris resembles more than either of them would like to admit.
Maybe BoJo will find some medical excuse to step down.
Whereas Boris has been denying a party took place which he knew was a lie or if he didn't he should have jolly well known. I mean how many clues has he been given over the last week.
https://twitter.com/tompeck/status/1468617974399619072
There's a left wing one: the Guardian, the BBC, the Shadow Cabinet, north London types
There's a posho Remainer west London Tory elite: Cameron, Osborne, etc
This crosses over with a third cabal: the Spectator Telegraph Brexiteer faction, who are in charge at the moment (but maybe not for much longer)
And so on
Let say he wasn't even in Downing Street the day of the party (which it is suggested he was), the chances not a single person ever mentioned well such and such got twatted or talk of stupid secret santa presents etc....not a single person ever let it slip there was a piss up, not a chance.