This latest allegation on the parties is the first from last year, so it's becoming more likely that there are others leaking in co-ordination with Cummings.
I've just clocked that today's parties are April 2021 not 2020. Different Year, different lockdown.
The Covid Years are all blurring into one.
Don't you find the same in your own life?
I struggle to place various events between January 2020 and January 2022
Some nice things happened but generally it is a blur of shock, horror and misery, and I sense my mind is already trying to dump all the memories in some mental bin
And why not. If the plague is about to end I will be happy to forget two years of my life, if that is the price required
On eve of Friday April 16 2021, Britain was in period of public mourning. Union flags on Govt buildings hung at half mast to mark passing of Prince Philip. Country was in step 2 of strict lockdown. Indoor mixing wasn’t allowed @Telegraphhttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-59989946
Jonathan Walker @jonwalker121 I understand that the chairman and officers of Sutton Coldfield Conservative association tonight unanimously (10-0) passed a motion calling for Boris Johnson to stand down. This is a large association in a safe Tory seat - and they backed Boris in the leadership contest
Jonathan Walker @jonwalker121 · 1h Replying to @jonwalker121 The meeting took place in a local curry house, the Bashundora. Local MP Andrew Mitchell was there but didn't take part in the vote. I'm told he advised them to wait for the Sue Gray report etc
If my staff behaved this badly it would look bad on me and I'd be looking for a new job.
What does it say about Boris Johnson that he employs people like this and never sacks them?
Yes. I know directors who have been sacked for fostering a ludicrous party team atmosphere where everyone dicks about bringing the company into disrepute.
An inquiry into lockdown parties in Downing Street, which could determine the fate of Boris Johnson, is expected to lay bare a “farcical” culture of drinking and impromptu socialising, with little oversight from senior officials, the Guardian understands.
Whitehall sources said the investigation, overseen by the senior civil servant Sue Gray, was also likely to unearth other drinks events across government buildings as special advisers and officials were encouraged to “come clean” about breaches of lockdown rules.
That strongly suggests that there were parties at other government departments and therefore other Ministers potentially in the frame.
Perhaps Ms Grey is asking the two questions I have been posting on here since yesterday -
1. During lockdowns did they ever attend any social events or "work parties" or meetings at which alcoholic drinks were served at all at No 10 and, if so, how many and when? 2. During lockdowns did they ever have any social events or "work parties" or meetings at which alcoholic drinks were served at their own departments and, if so, how many and when?
3. Is this all a complete waste of time, given that the Government is clearly regarded as exempt from all the Covid shit it piled on (and continues to pile on) absolutely everyone else?
Undoubtedly. But for one thing. If this was happening at other government departments then it impacts other Cabinet Ministers and therefore the chances of potential successors. So I'd like to know which are these other government departments.
Also what the hell the permanent secretaries civil in these departments and those in charge of the permanent staff at No 10 thought they were doing.
On eve of Friday April 16 2021, Britain was in period of public mourning. Union flags on Govt buildings hung at half mast to mark passing of Prince Philip. Country was in step 2 of strict lockdown. Indoor mixing wasn’t allowed @Telegraphhttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-59989946
Overwhelmed by grief, staff in Downing Street drank themselves near to death whilst jiving to the latest hits on a iphone speaker set.
One was so overcome at the loss of the sovereign's consort that he smashed a child's swing to pieces.
All these revelations certainly scupper the idea that bitter Remoaner civil servants are behind the leaks. Why would you want to get rid of a boss who allows work to become one continuous piss up? No. HYUFD is surely correct - it's a coordinated plot by Dom and Rishi.
This latest allegation on the parties is the first from last year, so it's becoming more likely that there are others leaking in co-ordination with Cummings.
I've just clocked that today's parties are April 2021 not 2020. Different Year, different lockdown.
The Covid Years are all blurring into one.
Don't you find the same in your own life?
I struggle to place various events between January 2020 and January 2022
Some nice things happened but generally it is a blur of shock, horror and misery, and I sense my mind is already trying to dump all the memories in some mental bin
And why not. If the plague is about to end I will be happy to forget two years of my life, if that is the price required
All these revelations certainly scupper the idea that bitter Remoaner civil servants are behind the leaks. Why would you want to get rid of a boss who allows work to become one continuous piss up? No. HYUFD is surely correct - it's a coordinated plot by Dom and Rishi.
All these revelations certainly scupper the idea that bitter Remoaner civil servants are behind the leaks. Why would you want to get rid of a boss who allows work to become one continuous piss up? No. HYUFD is surely correct - it's a coordinated plot by Dom and Rishi.
Did anyone actually think it wasn't Dominic Cummings?
This latest allegation on the parties is the first from last year, so it's becoming more likely that there are others leaking in co-ordination with Cummings.
I've just clocked that today's parties are April 2021 not 2020. Different Year, different lockdown.
The Covid Years are all blurring into one.
Don't you find the same in your own life?
I struggle to place various events between January 2020 and January 2022
Some nice things happened but generally it is a blur of shock, horror and misery, and I sense my mind is already trying to dump all the memories in some mental bin
And why not. If the plague is about to end I will be happy to forget two years of my life, if that is the price required
On eve of Friday April 16 2021, Britain was in period of public mourning. Union flags on Govt buildings hung at half mast to mark passing of Prince Philip. Country was in step 2 of strict lockdown. Indoor mixing wasn’t allowed @Telegraphhttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-59989946
Overwhelmed by grief, staff in Downing Street drank themselves near to death whilst jiving to the latest hits on a iphone speaker set.
One was so overcome at the loss of the sovereign's consort that he smashed a child's swing to pieces.
Perhaps they broke the swing due to a lack of plates when marking the Greeks funeral in the traditional way.
I know they are following The Thick of It scripts, but this is Julius Nicolson's report into Steve Fleming now...
He remains then in office. A dead albatross rotting around the necks of the conservatives.
What's the next GE campaign going to be like? A jaunty affair as good ole Boris tours the country laughing with fellow citizens and generally blathering boosterism about the prospects for this "fantastic country"?
I know they are following The Thick of It scripts, but this is Julius Nicolson's report into Steve Fleming now...
He remains then in office. A dead albatross rotting around the necks of the conservatives.
What's the next GE campaign going to be like? A jaunty affair as good ole Boris tours the country laughing with fellow citizens and generally blathering boosterism about the prospects for this "fantastic country"?
There's surely no chance he's PM/tory leader at the next election.
Called this weeks ago, that culture of office drinking egged on by Boris as the chaps and chapettes were working bloody hard.
Boozers closed, no matter, we will stay late in the office and drink instead.
But the political problem with doing that was that everyone in the NHS was working bloody hard too. But they couldn't have a bring a bottle party down at radiography...
I think Boris is gone. He never stepped up to the role of being PM.
From what I am hearing, Jeremy Hunt is worth a flutter.....
On eve of Friday April 16 2021, Britain was in period of public mourning. Union flags on Govt buildings hung at half mast to mark passing of Prince Philip. Country was in step 2 of strict lockdown. Indoor mixing wasn’t allowed @Telegraphhttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-59989946
Overwhelmed by grief, staff in Downing Street drank themselves near to death whilst jiving to the latest hits on a iphone speaker set.
One was so overcome at the loss of the sovereign's consort that he smashed a child's swing to pieces.
Perhaps they broke the swing due to a lack of plates when marking the Greeks funeral in the traditional way.
This latest allegation on the parties is the first from last year, so it's becoming more likely that there are others leaking in co-ordination with Cummings.
I've just clocked that today's parties are April 2021 not 2020. Different Year, different lockdown.
The Covid Years are all blurring into one.
Don't you find the same in your own life?
I struggle to place various events between January 2020 and January 2022
Some nice things happened but generally it is a blur of shock, horror and misery, and I sense my mind is already trying to dump all the memories in some mental bin
And why not. If the plague is about to end I will be happy to forget two years of my life, if that is the price required
All these revelations certainly scupper the idea that bitter Remoaner civil servants are behind the leaks. Why would you want to get rid of a boss who allows work to become one continuous piss up? No. HYUFD is surely correct - it's a coordinated plot by Dom and Rishi.
Did anyone actually think it wasn't Dominic Cummings?
I think it's multiple sources, not coordinated but driven by similar goals.
I struggle to place various events between January 2020 and January 2022
This is why I think kicking off this series of party leaks with the Christmas 2020 one was a clever move -- the detail of which level of lockdown was on when might have blurred, but everybody remembered that Christmas being a terrible one and not being able to do what they'd planned. If they'd started with the April 2020 stuff it wouldn't have had the same impact.
This latest allegation on the parties is the first from last year, so it's becoming more likely that there are others leaking in co-ordination with Cummings.
I've just clocked that today's parties are April 2021 not 2020. Different Year, different lockdown.
The Covid Years are all blurring into one.
Don't you find the same in your own life?
I struggle to place various events between January 2020 and January 2022
Some nice things happened but generally it is a blur of shock, horror and misery, and I sense my mind is already trying to dump all the memories in some mental bin
And why not. If the plague is about to end I will be happy to forget two years of my life, if that is the price required
Chris AddisonBlue heart @mrchrisaddison · 14m Anyway, whoever's leaking it all, please continue but could you stop doing it at bedtime? Thanks.
They must have a good idea who is. The video from the zoom quiz it couldn't have been hard to narrow down who shot it.
The funeral eve piss up is post departure of Cummings, by some margin.
As i have pointed out a number of times you don't have to be a genius to have a pretty good guess where some of the tip offs came from simply by looking at the two journaliats who get the major scoops.
Go on?
The husband of Paul Brand works in the cabinet office.....given how regular these #10 events were I can't imagine it has never been mentioned.
He’s at the Geospatial Commission though, which is an utterly useless CO subcommittee set up because someone convinced Francis Maude that location data would make Britain the next Silicon Valley, and the CO proceeded to recruit the most out-of-touch, clueless people to run it.
It’s about as close to the heart of the Cabinet Office as Go-Jetters is to the BBC chief political correspondent.
On eve of Friday April 16 2021, Britain was in period of public mourning. Union flags on Govt buildings hung at half mast to mark passing of Prince Philip. Country was in step 2 of strict lockdown. Indoor mixing wasn’t allowed @Telegraphhttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-59989946
Overwhelmed by grief, staff in Downing Street drank themselves near to death whilst jiving to the latest hits on a iphone speaker set.
One was so overcome at the loss of the sovereign's consort that he smashed a child's swing to pieces.
Perhaps they broke the swing due to a lack of plates when marking the Greeks funeral in the traditional way.
I wonder how long they keep the No 10 garden CCTV footage?
Called this weeks ago, that culture of office drinking egged on by Boris as the chaps and chapettes were working bloody hard.
Boozers closed, no matter, we will stay late in the office and drink instead.
But the political problem with doing that was that everyone in the NHS was working bloody hard too. But they couldn't have a bring a bottle party down at radiography...
I think Boris is gone. He never stepped up to the role of being PM.
From what I am hearing, Jeremy Hunt is worth a flutter.....
I wasn't excusing it. Its inexcusable. I was saying when it was reported there was a Christmas party, that i bet there was a culture of drinks in the office, which Boris will have justified as you lot working hard, have a drink...and became the thing they did, which got more and more out of hand, such that standard Friday night piss up.
I think the only thing in doubt was how often was Boris on the lash with them and how often was he upstairs moaning about the noise from the party below.
You might not care...But this is turning into a dreadful chapter for @TheSun It's deputy political editor James Slack caught up in the biggest political scandal of the moment and it's pretending nothing is happening. Utter loss of bottle. https://twitter.com/CharlieBeckett/status/1481762476521930753
It might explain why The Sun has been quiet on this story for the past week.
I know they are following The Thick of It scripts, but this is Julius Nicolson's report into Steve Fleming now...
He remains then in office. A dead albatross rotting around the necks of the conservatives.
What's the next GE campaign going to be like? A jaunty affair as good ole Boris tours the country laughing with fellow citizens and generally blathering boosterism about the prospects for this "fantastic country"?
There's surely no chance he's PM/tory leader at the next election.
God alone knows.
The more immediate question, should he survive another few months, is what happens next to those who've already repudiated him, notably the large bulk of the Scottish Tories. A split?
This latest allegation on the parties is the first from last year, so it's becoming more likely that there are others leaking in co-ordination with Cummings.
I've just clocked that today's parties are April 2021 not 2020. Different Year, different lockdown.
The Covid Years are all blurring into one.
Don't you find the same in your own life?
I struggle to place various events between January 2020 and January 2022
Some nice things happened but generally it is a blur of shock, horror and misery, and I sense my mind is already trying to dump all the memories in some mental bin
And why not. If the plague is about to end I will be happy to forget two years of my life, if that is the price required
It's been a strange few years. I refer to the years BC now, for "Before Covid" and it does seem to be ancient times.
I don't think though it will be a return to what went before. Living with Covid is different to Living Without Covid.
Quite what the world looks like afterwards I have been musing on, but certainly my life will be different, at least until I retire.
I just can't quite understand the ineptitude of all this. I mean it is one thing to be a heartless tory but it looks like even Dominic Cummings could see this was wrong.
How do people at the top of the most efficient election winning machine in history not see that this behaviour would be seen as totally unacceptable by 90%+ of people, and not understand that it would inevitably get out?
It's one thing to be seen as lining your pockets - a lot of people would probably think I would like to be in their position, but to hold parties in the home of the Prime Minister in three separate lockdowns.
What else is going to come out? I don't know but I note this now moves it into 2021 and therefore over 12 months. This isnt a one off misjudgement that can be explained away rather an unedifying culture. The PM should resign in shame at what he has allowed to develop in his name - even if he wasn't there.
I just can't quite understand the ineptitude of all this. I mean it is one thing to be a heartless tory but it looks like even Dominic Cummings could see this was wrong.
How do people at the top of the most efficient election winning machine in history not see that this behaviour would be seen as totally unacceptable by 90%+ of people, and not understand that it would inevitably get out?
It's one thing to be seen as lining your pockets - a lot of people would probably think I would like to be in their position, but to hold parties in the home of the Prime Minister in three separate lockdowns.
What else is going to come out? I don't know but I note this now moves it into 2021 and therefore over 12 months. This isnt a one off misjudgement that can be explained away rather an unedifying culture. The PM should resign in shame at what he has allowed to develop in his name - even if he wasn't there.
I think the number of parties is now a problem for those who want Johnson out. It will be easier to say it is the 'culture' of whitehall and what could the PM do even if he knew about one or two of them?
I know they are following The Thick of It scripts, but this is Julius Nicolson's report into Steve Fleming now...
He remains then in office. A dead albatross rotting around the necks of the conservatives.
What's the next GE campaign going to be like? A jaunty affair as good ole Boris tours the country laughing with fellow citizens and generally blathering boosterism about the prospects for this "fantastic country"?
There's surely no chance he's PM/tory leader at the next election.
God alone knows.
The more immediate question, should he survive another few months, is what happens next to those who've already repudiated him, notably the large bulk of the Scottish Tories. A split?
This latest allegation on the parties is the first from last year, so it's becoming more likely that there are others leaking in co-ordination with Cummings.
I've just clocked that today's parties are April 2021 not 2020. Different Year, different lockdown.
The Covid Years are all blurring into one.
In January 2020, I went to:
Marylebone Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway Nine Elms Paddington Iver Langley Burnham Taplow Valentine's Park (Ilford) Stratford (London) Welwyn London Zoo Oxford Street Romford Fairlop Waters Reading Euston Runcorn & Chester (via Halton Curve) St Pancras Harpenden Luton Airport Maidenhead Twyford Glasgow Dundee Arbroath Aberdeen Inverurie Stonehaven Dunnottar Castle Southend Harold Wood Barking Barking Riverside Radlett St James's Park (London) Redhill Goodmayes Slough
By contrast, in January 2021, I went to:
My local park (Valentines) My local Sainsbury's My local pharmacy.
How should we predict the way forward of the Chinese money interfering in UK politics story? Grooming? The Labour Party wants to present itself as ready for power, will protect the realm, but is it denying it took £600K or more and allowed itself to be groomed? If there is no such thing as a free lunch, what is a no strings attached £600K?
How big and damaging is the grooming story once more details emerge. Is it one of those story’s which start quietly but in few days will be huge with more and more individuals with questions to answer under huge pressure?
And is it as Party Political and damaging to Labour as Daily Mail and Conservatives hope - the Indy has Cameron and Christine Lee on the front. Did she put any money at all into Cameron’s China fund? Has she met Boris and let him know she has plenty of cash to lend friends whenever their short but need to nip in B&Q
Its very lucky some unknown individual close to Boris has got covid today.
Yeah, undoubtedly a lie.
And there we have it. It could well be true. But does anyone, anywhere have the slightest faith that anything at all that emerges from Number 10 can be trusted? Occam's razor. He's lying.
Its very lucky some unknown individual close to Boris has got covid today.
Yeah, undoubtedly a lie.
And there we have it. It could well be true. But does anyone, anywhere have the slightest faith that anything at all that emerges from Number 10 can be trusted? Occam's razor. He's lying.
No, it couldn't be true. The timing is just too convenient.
Its very lucky some unknown individual close to Boris has got covid today.
Yeah, undoubtedly a lie.
And there we have it. It could well be true. But does anyone, anywhere have the slightest faith that anything at all that emerges from Number 10 can be trusted? Occam's razor. He's lying.
No, it couldn't be true. The timing is just too convenient.
Its very lucky some unknown individual close to Boris has got covid today.
Yeah, undoubtedly a lie.
And there we have it. It could well be true. But does anyone, anywhere have the slightest faith that anything at all that emerges from Number 10 can be trusted? Occam's razor. He's lying.
No, it couldn't be true. The timing is just too convenient.
It's a lie. Everything now is a lie is the best way to deal with this administration.
Even if it is true it will be some third cousin four times removed.
Its very lucky some unknown individual close to Boris has got covid today.
Yeah, undoubtedly a lie.
And there we have it. It could well be true. But does anyone, anywhere have the slightest faith that anything at all that emerges from Number 10 can be trusted? Occam's razor. He's lying.
No, it couldn't be true. The timing is just too convenient.
gabyhinsliff @gabyhinsliff · 18m Imagining the PM’s next audience with the Queen
Joking aside, it’s been a really horrible day for our Queen hasn’t it? I wish I could be there right now and give her a big hug. 🤗Make her a cup of tea with chocolate biscuits and natter about the nags and fun she’s had with them
How should we predict the way forward of the Chinese money interfering in UK politics story? Grooming? The Labour Party wants to present itself as ready for power, will protect the realm, but is it denying it took £600K or more and allowed itself to be groomed? If there is no such thing as a free lunch, what is a no strings attached £600K?
How big and damaging is the grooming story once more details emerge. Is it one of those story’s which start quietly but in few days will be huge with more and more individuals with questions to answer under huge pressure?
And is it as Party Political and damaging to Labour as Daily Mail and Conservatives hope - the Indy has Cameron and Christine Lee on the front. Did she put any money at all into Cameron’s China fund? Has she met Boris and let him know she has plenty of cash to lend friends whenever their short but need to nip in B&Q
What has grooming got to do with the price of fish? Or the price of influence?
How should we predict the way forward of the Chinese money interfering in UK politics story? Grooming? The Labour Party wants to present itself as ready for power, will protect the realm, but is it denying it took £600K or more and allowed itself to be groomed? If there is no such thing as a free lunch, what is a no strings attached £600K?
How big and damaging is the grooming story once more details emerge. Is it one of those story’s which start quietly but in few days will be huge with more and more individuals with questions to answer under huge pressure?
And is it as Party Political and damaging to Labour as Daily Mail and Conservatives hope - the Indy has Cameron and Christine Lee on the front. Did she put any money at all into Cameron’s China fund? Has she met Boris and let him know she has plenty of cash to lend friends whenever their short but need to nip in B&Q
I don't see why any individual should be able to give more than about 1000 GBP to an MP in any parliament. And it should be zero for non-individuals and non-citizens.
How should we predict the way forward of the Chinese money interfering in UK politics story? Grooming? The Labour Party wants to present itself as ready for power, will protect the realm, but is it denying it took £600K or more and allowed itself to be groomed? If there is no such thing as a free lunch, what is a no strings attached £600K?
How big and damaging is the grooming story once more details emerge. Is it one of those story’s which start quietly but in few days will be huge with more and more individuals with questions to answer under huge pressure?
And is it as Party Political and damaging to Labour as Daily Mail and Conservatives hope - the Indy has Cameron and Christine Lee on the front. Did she put any money at all into Cameron’s China fund? Has she met Boris and let him know she has plenty of cash to lend friends whenever their short but need to nip in B&Q
What has grooming got to do with the price of fish? Or the price of influence?
I’ll take that as a serious question. That is what foreign spy agency’s do, groom people. Make out they are friendly with you, share the same interests, talking with you what you think is normally but they’ve been trainined to slyly get info from you. 🙂
Interesting to see the quote from Ken Clarke, who up to now has I think said nothing in public since his retirement. I posted this on my FB page yesterday -
We can all argue about policies. But we need to start from basic honesty. Some people will tell you that all politicians are the same - but this is really not normal. It's symptomatic of the current state of the Conservative Party that they chose Boris because they saw him as a winner, and even now are merely debating not whether he's wrong but whether he's still a winner. Decent people who I worked with like Ken Clarke (ejected by the Conservatives for failing to toe the line) seem a very long time ago.
Interesting to see the quote from Ken Clarke, who up to now has I think said nothing in public since his retirement. I posted this on my FB page yesterday -
We can all argue about policies. But we need to start from basic honesty. Some people will tell you that all politicians are the same - but this is really not normal. It's symptomatic of the current state of the Conservative Party that they chose Boris because they saw him as a winner, and even now are merely debating not whether he's wrong but whether he's still a winner. Decent people who I worked with like Ken Clarke (ejected by the Conservatives for failing to toe the line) seem a very long time ago.
That is not Ken Clarke - established spoof account.
Interesting to see the quote from Ken Clarke, who up to now has I think said nothing in public since his retirement. I posted this on my FB page yesterday -
We can all argue about policies. But we need to start from basic honesty. Some people will tell you that all politicians are the same - but this is really not normal. It's symptomatic of the current state of the Conservative Party that they chose Boris because they saw him as a winner, and even now are merely debating not whether he's wrong but whether he's still a winner. Decent people who I worked with like Ken Clarke (ejected by the Conservatives for failing to toe the line) seem a very long time ago.
I think the Ken Clarke account is a spoof, though probably not that far from the view of the man himself..
How should we predict the way forward of the Chinese money interfering in UK politics story? Grooming? The Labour Party wants to present itself as ready for power, will protect the realm, but is it denying it took £600K or more and allowed itself to be groomed? If there is no such thing as a free lunch, what is a no strings attached £600K?
How big and damaging is the grooming story once more details emerge. Is it one of those story’s which start quietly but in few days will be huge with more and more individuals with questions to answer under huge pressure?
And is it as Party Political and damaging to Labour as Daily Mail and Conservatives hope - the Indy has Cameron and Christine Lee on the front. Did she put any money at all into Cameron’s China fund? Has she met Boris and let him know she has plenty of cash to lend friends whenever their short but need to nip in B&Q
I don't see why any individual should be able to give more than about 1000 GBP to an MP in any parliament. And it should be zero for non-individuals and non-citizens.
To be expected no doubt, but I hadn't seen an analysis before which put Kavanaugh as the 'ideological fulcrum'. Roberts, yes, on some issues at least.
Once again, the current balance of the Supreme Court comes into sharp relief, with four reliably conservative justices, three reliable liberal ones and two - Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh - at the ideological fulcrum
How should we predict the way forward of the Chinese money interfering in UK politics story? Grooming? The Labour Party wants to present itself as ready for power, will protect the realm, but is it denying it took £600K or more and allowed itself to be groomed? If there is no such thing as a free lunch, what is a no strings attached £600K?
How big and damaging is the grooming story once more details emerge. Is it one of those story’s which start quietly but in few days will be huge with more and more individuals with questions to answer under huge pressure?
And is it as Party Political and damaging to Labour as Daily Mail and Conservatives hope - the Indy has Cameron and Christine Lee on the front. Did she put any money at all into Cameron’s China fund? Has she met Boris and let him know she has plenty of cash to lend friends whenever their short but need to nip in B&Q
I don't see why any individual should be able to give more than about 1000 GBP to an MP in any parliament. And it should be zero for non-individuals and non-citizens.
That is a good point. But I was coming from the angle how could any UK politicians be so stupid they can’t see they are being groomed? Even with a barrier, you have pointed out isn’t even there, as they are accepting it, how do they think it looks. Since there have been pipers on this earth, those who pay the pipers play the tune.
What is the tune? At the moment Chinese would like to soften up UK so we go easy on them over what they are doing in Hong Kong etc etc.
gabyhinsliff @gabyhinsliff · 18m Imagining the PM’s next audience with the Queen
Joking aside, it’s been a really horrible day for our Queen hasn’t it? I wish I could be there right now and give her a big hug. 🤗Make her a cup of tea with chocolate biscuits and natter about the nags and fun she’s had with them
I should think she has ignored Doctor's advice to give up her nightly gin. Let the old lady have her drink.
Stewart Rhodes, the leader and founder of the far-right Oath Keepers militia, was arrested on Thursday and charged along with 10 others with seditious conspiracy over what prosecutors said was their wide-ranging plot to storm the Capitol on Jan. 6 last year and disrupt the certification of Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s electoral victory.
gabyhinsliff @gabyhinsliff · 18m Imagining the PM’s next audience with the Queen
Joking aside, it’s been a really horrible day for our Queen hasn’t it? I wish I could be there right now and give her a big hug. 🤗Make her a cup of tea with chocolate biscuits and natter about the nags and fun she’s had with them
I should think she has ignored Doctor's advice to give up her nightly gin. Let the old lady have her drink.
Cup of cocoa and a natter and laugh far better than reaching for gin on a bad day?
gabyhinsliff @gabyhinsliff · 18m Imagining the PM’s next audience with the Queen
Joking aside, it’s been a really horrible day for our Queen hasn’t it? I wish I could be there right now and give her a big hug. 🤗Make her a cup of tea with chocolate biscuits and natter about the nags and fun she’s had with them
I should think she has ignored Doctor's advice to give up her nightly gin. Let the old lady have her drink.
Don't normally like the "oh poor Queen" stuff when there's embarrassing stuff about the royals - e.g. Meghan and Harry - family embarrassments and troubles are hardly exclusive to the royals and it's not like she hasn't had long experience of them and the public duties. But in this case make an exception, as there's something incredibly distasteful about two amoral entitled posh men who've never felt a consequence for bad behaviour beclowning her dotage by refusing to take any responsibility for their actions. Admittedly the one she's related to is the far more egregious but still. Whatever the way the Giuffre case goes, the same gross lack of duty or common decency is present at the core of irresponsibility about the stuff that's already on the record.
gabyhinsliff @gabyhinsliff · 18m Imagining the PM’s next audience with the Queen
Joking aside, it’s been a really horrible day for our Queen hasn’t it? I wish I could be there right now and give her a big hug. 🤗Make her a cup of tea with chocolate biscuits and natter about the nags and fun she’s had with them
I should think she has ignored Doctor's advice to give up her nightly gin. Let the old lady have her drink.
Don't normally like the "oh poor Queen" stuff when there's embarrassing stuff about the royals - e.g. Meghan and Harry - family embarrassments and troubles are hardly exclusive to the royals and it's not like she hasn't had long experience of them and the public duties. But in this case make an exception, as there's something incredibly distasteful about two amoral entitled posh men who've never felt a consequence for bad behaviour beclowning her dotage by refusing to take any responsibility for their actions. Admittedly the one she's related to is the far more egregious but still. Whatever the way the Giuffre case goes, the same gross lack of duty or common decency is present at the core of irresponsibility about the stuff that's already on the record.
This is a great moment for PB, rallying around the Queen this evening.
gabyhinsliff @gabyhinsliff · 18m Imagining the PM’s next audience with the Queen
Joking aside, it’s been a really horrible day for our Queen hasn’t it? I wish I could be there right now and give her a big hug. 🤗Make her a cup of tea with chocolate biscuits and natter about the nags and fun she’s had with them
I should think she has ignored Doctor's advice to give up her nightly gin. Let the old lady have her drink.
Don't normally like the "oh poor Queen" stuff when there's embarrassing stuff about the royals - e.g. Meghan and Harry - family embarrassments and troubles are hardly exclusive to the royals and it's not like she hasn't had long experience of them and the public duties. But in this case make an exception, as there's something incredibly distasteful about two amoral entitled posh men who've never felt a consequence for bad behaviour beclowning her dotage by refusing to take any responsibility for their actions. Admittedly the one she's related to is the far more egregious but still. Whatever the way the Giuffre case goes, the same gross lack of duty or common decency is present at the core of irresponsibility about the stuff that's already on the record.
This is a great moment for PB, rallying around the Queen this evening.
Let's hope there's a new PM in time for the Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
gabyhinsliff @gabyhinsliff · 18m Imagining the PM’s next audience with the Queen
Joking aside, it’s been a really horrible day for our Queen hasn’t it? I wish I could be there right now and give her a big hug. 🤗Make her a cup of tea with chocolate biscuits and natter about the nags and fun she’s had with them
I should think she has ignored Doctor's advice to give up her nightly gin. Let the old lady have her drink.
Don't normally like the "oh poor Queen" stuff when there's embarrassing stuff about the royals - e.g. Meghan and Harry - family embarrassments and troubles are hardly exclusive to the royals and it's not like she hasn't had long experience of them and the public duties. But in this case make an exception, as there's something incredibly distasteful about two amoral entitled posh men who've never felt a consequence for bad behaviour beclowning her dotage by refusing to take any responsibility for their actions. Admittedly the one she's related to is the far more egregious but still. Whatever the way the Giuffre case goes, the same gross lack of duty or common decency is present at the core of irresponsibility about the stuff that's already on the record.
This is a great moment for PB, rallying around the Queen this evening.
It's rally round your nan, isn't it? You wouldn't do stuff that would upset her in a fraction of this way. No monarchist but one feels for her on a human level.
Anyone know how I can post one of my own photos here?
Open your PB account (or whatever its called) by clicking your name (say on one of your comments) then going to top right to "edit profile" button (look for abstract head) then go to left of page that's opened to "change my profile"
Then you can load whatever you wish to use as avatar from your PC or phone.
Anyone know how I can post one of my own photos here?
Open your PB account (or whatever its called) by clicking your name (say on one of your comments) then going to top right to "edit profile" button (look for abstract head) then go to left of page that's opened to "change my profile"
Then you can load whatever you wish to use as avatar from your PC or phone.
I think he may mean posting in the body of the comments.
Just go to the icon for photos and browse to wherever your photos are and attach.
FFS, antivaxxer doctor is a total twat. For all this statements and equiocating, he admits he a) doesn't know when he had COVID, only he has antibodies and b) there were many months when he didn't know this and could have been vaccinated, but still didn't get it. Instead talking about why not wait several years and just see.
Putting aside his dubious arguments about because he has had COVID before he doesn't need to be vaccinated, his core argument is also bullshit, he didn't get vaccinated even when he didn't know if he ever had COVID. Antivaxxer, pure and simple, just one that is able to speak slightly more eloquently.
Interesting to see the quote from Ken Clarke, who up to now has I think said nothing in public since his retirement. I posted this on my FB page yesterday -
We can all argue about policies. But we need to start from basic honesty. Some people will tell you that all politicians are the same - but this is really not normal. It's symptomatic of the current state of the Conservative Party that they chose Boris because they saw him as a winner, and even now are merely debating not whether he's wrong but whether he's still a winner. Decent people who I worked with like Ken Clarke (ejected by the Conservatives for failing to toe the line) seem a very long time ago.
Ken Clarke would probably have become leader in 1997 if it hadn't been for the fact that the Tories lost so many previously safe seats with moderate MPs, like Jim Lester in Broxtowe for instance.
Anyone know how I can post one of my own photos here?
Open your PB account (or whatever its called) by clicking your name (say on one of your comments) then going to top right to "edit profile" button (look for abstract head) then go to left of page that's opened to "change my profile"
Then you can load whatever you wish to use as avatar from your PC or phone.
Thanks, SSI. No, not for my avatar. But to share the photo I took today of the bald eagle sitting in a tree in our back yard and then flying down to another tree.
I know they are following The Thick of It scripts, but this is Julius Nicolson's report into Steve Fleming now...
He remains then in office. A dead albatross rotting around the necks of the conservatives.
What's the next GE campaign going to be like? A jaunty affair as good ole Boris tours the country laughing with fellow citizens and generally blathering boosterism about the prospects for this "fantastic country"?
There's surely no chance he's PM/tory leader at the next election.
God alone knows.
The more immediate question, should he survive another few months, is what happens next to those who've already repudiated him, notably the large bulk of the Scottish Tories. A split?
If Johnson doesn’t go, then Ross is history. He can’t eat his words because he’ll lose all authority.
The “sullen ceasefire” suggestion by @rottenborough might work until May, but then all hell is going to break out. Ross will have no option but to pin the blame fairly and squarely on Johnson’s shoulders. And he’ll be right.
This is the key point. The folk wanting Johnson to stay:
- no-hoper Tory sycophants like Rees-Mogg, Patel and that Nadine wifey who would be out the door - partisan Labour, SNP and Lib Dem activists like Roger and myself - FUDHY
The folk wanting Johnson gone:
- most of the Conservative Party - the electorate - HMQ - Whitehall
I’d say that the second group was far more powerful than the first.
Nobody wants to be a new Con leader in time to experience a shellacking in May's elections.
So Boris Johnson is here to stay for the short term.
I reckon that sums up a lot of the thinking.... there's no need to rush at present despite the media pushing (and me also wanting to see the sex-crazed liar carpeted) and May's elections are close enough that a new leader could still be in place for the Sep conference and possible 2023 GE (if it is wanted).
Nobody wants to be a new Con leader in time to experience a shellacking in May's elections.
So Boris Johnson is here to stay for the short term.
I reckon that sums up a lot of the thinking.... there's no need to rush at present despite the media pushing (and me also wanting to see the sex-crazed liar carpeted) and May's elections are close enough that a new leader could still be in place for the Sep conference and possible 2023 GE (if it is wanted).
It is karma of sorts. Someone with a lifelong need to be liked, is going to find out what it is like when he isn’t.
Its very lucky some unknown individual close to Boris has got covid today.
The assumption is that this is a lie, but it's just possible the person with covid is BoZo himself
Longcovid + obesity + history of drug and alcohol abuse + partying as HRH the Duke of Edinburgh’s coffin lay in state + mental meltdown + nuclear button + “China is a clear and present danger” + covid, again = hope everyone still has Anderson shelters in the back garden
As distraction stories go... the Barry Gardiner case is hardly the Profumo Scandal... if thats the best the Conservatives can spin up, things must be bad.
The biggest problem he has is that he is not up to the job. That's not going to change.
I hope however that the tories do bottle it and leave him in place. The tories are toxic now and I think we will see some dramatic national voting intention opinion polls.
Comments
I struggle to place various events between January 2020 and January 2022
Some nice things happened but generally it is a blur of shock, horror and misery, and I sense my mind is already trying to dump all the memories in some mental bin
And why not. If the plague is about to end I will be happy to forget two years of my life, if that is the price required
Jonathan Walker
@jonwalker121
I understand that the chairman and officers of Sutton Coldfield Conservative association tonight unanimously (10-0) passed a motion calling for Boris Johnson to stand down. This is a large association in a safe Tory seat - and they backed Boris in the leadership contest
Jonathan Walker
@jonwalker121
·
1h
Replying to
@jonwalker121
The meeting took place in a local curry house, the Bashundora. Local MP Andrew Mitchell was there but didn't take part in the vote. I'm told he advised them to wait for the Sue Gray report etc
Also what the hell the permanent secretaries civil in these departments and those in charge of the permanent staff at No 10 thought they were doing.
One was so overcome at the loss of the sovereign's consort that he smashed a child's swing to pieces.
Now it's fuck her majesty's grief.
https://unherd.com/2020/05/why-we-remember-wars-but-forget-plagues/
What's the next GE campaign going to be like? A jaunty affair as good ole Boris tours the country laughing with fellow citizens and generally blathering boosterism about the prospects for this "fantastic country"?
I think Boris is gone. He never stepped up to the role of being PM.
From what I am hearing, Jeremy Hunt is worth a flutter.....
Susanna Reid
@susannareid100
·
6h
Still irked by this:
“even if [the party] could be said technically to fall within the guidance, there would be millions of people who would not see it that way.”
He doesn’t think HE is in the wrong. He thinks WE are. We - the public. Wrong to see it as a breach of the law.😡
It’s about as close to the heart of the Cabinet Office as Go-Jetters is to the BBC chief political correspondent.
I think the only thing in doubt was how often was Boris on the lash with them and how often was he upstairs moaning about the noise from the party below.
The more immediate question, should he survive another few months, is what happens next to those who've already repudiated him, notably the large bulk of the Scottish Tories. A split?
@gabyhinsliff
·
18m
Imagining the PM’s next audience with the Queen
I don't think though it will be a return to what went before. Living with Covid is different to Living Without Covid.
Quite what the world looks like afterwards I have been musing on, but certainly my life will be different, at least until I retire.
How do people at the top of the most efficient election winning machine in history not see that this behaviour would be seen as totally unacceptable by 90%+ of people, and not understand that it would inevitably get out?
It's one thing to be seen as lining your pockets - a lot of people would probably think I would like to be in their position, but to hold parties in the home of the Prime Minister in three separate lockdowns.
What else is going to come out? I don't know but I note this now moves it into 2021 and therefore over 12 months. This isnt a one off misjudgement that can be explained away rather an unedifying culture. The PM should resign in shame at what he has allowed to develop in his name - even if he wasn't there.
https://twitter.com/unfortunatalie/status/1481772188340469764
https://twitter.com/stimmo/status/1481658794438443012?s=20
Marylebone
Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway
Nine Elms
Paddington
Iver
Langley
Burnham
Taplow
Valentine's Park (Ilford)
Stratford (London)
Welwyn
London Zoo
Oxford Street
Romford
Fairlop Waters
Reading
Euston
Runcorn & Chester (via Halton Curve)
St Pancras
Harpenden
Luton Airport
Maidenhead
Twyford
Glasgow
Dundee
Arbroath
Aberdeen
Inverurie
Stonehaven
Dunnottar Castle
Southend
Harold Wood
Barking
Barking Riverside
Radlett
St James's Park (London)
Redhill
Goodmayes
Slough
By contrast, in January 2021, I went to:
My local park (Valentines)
My local Sainsbury's
My local pharmacy.
And that's it
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-59989476
The Labour Party wants to present itself as ready for power, will protect the realm, but is it denying it took £600K or more and allowed itself to be groomed? If there is no such thing as a free lunch, what is a no strings attached £600K?
How big and damaging is the grooming story once more details emerge. Is it one of those story’s which start quietly but in few days will be huge with more and more individuals with questions to answer under huge pressure?
And is it as Party Political and damaging to Labour as Daily Mail and Conservatives hope - the Indy has Cameron and Christine Lee on the front. Did she put any money at all into Cameron’s China fund? Has she met Boris and let him know she has plenty of cash to lend friends whenever their short but need to nip in B&Q
But does anyone, anywhere have the slightest faith that anything at all that emerges from Number 10 can be trusted?
Occam's razor. He's lying.
Even if it is true it will be some third cousin four times removed.
We can all argue about policies. But we need to start from basic honesty. Some people will tell you that all politicians are the same - but this is really not normal. It's symptomatic of the current state of the Conservative Party that they chose Boris because they saw him as a winner, and even now are merely debating not whether he's wrong but whether he's still a winner. Decent people who I worked with like Ken Clarke (ejected by the Conservatives for failing to toe the line) seem a very long time ago.
Once again, the current balance of the Supreme Court comes into sharp relief, with four reliably conservative justices, three reliable liberal ones and two - Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh - at the ideological fulcrum
What is the tune? At the moment Chinese would like to soften up UK so we go easy on them over what they are doing in Hong Kong etc etc.
NY Times
Then you can load whatever you wish to use as avatar from your PC or phone.
Just go to the icon for photos and browse to wherever your photos are and attach.
Putting aside his dubious arguments about because he has had COVID before he doesn't need to be vaccinated, his core argument is also bullshit, he didn't get vaccinated even when he didn't know if he ever had COVID. Antivaxxer, pure and simple, just one that is able to speak slightly more eloquently.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ik6cxFBbBw
https://www.bbc.com/news/business-59980216
The “sullen ceasefire” suggestion by @rottenborough might work until May, but then all hell is going to break out. Ross will have no option but to pin the blame fairly and squarely on Johnson’s shoulders. And he’ll be right.
- no-hoper Tory sycophants like Rees-Mogg, Patel and that Nadine wifey who would be out the door
- partisan Labour, SNP and Lib Dem activists like Roger and myself
- FUDHY
The folk wanting Johnson gone:
- most of the Conservative Party
- the electorate
- HMQ
- Whitehall
I’d say that the second group was far more powerful than the first.
Barry Gardiner: "Not in great detail"
https://news.sky.com/story/christine-lee-labour-mp-barry-gardiner-says-chinese-agent-gained-no-political-advantage-from-him-12515277
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2022/01/13/labour-mp-barry-gardiner-accepted-425000-donations-chinese-spy/
Several posters have objected in the past to my use of BoZo to refer to the FLSoJ
I was wrong.
It should have been BooZo
The biggest problem he has is that he is not up to the job. That's not going to change.
I hope however that the tories do bottle it and leave him in place. The tories are toxic now and I think we will see some dramatic national voting intention opinion polls.