Boris has been an excellent PM in the round, he has handled the biggest issues (Ukraine, Covid, Brexit) extremely well.
But lawmakers can not be lawbreakers.
As an analogy, its like an excellent employee who hits all the KPIs who goes on a bender and attacks a colleague - it is gross misconduct, they have to go, even if they've been hitting their KPIs.
"extremely well" lol. He is a buffoon that leaves a trail of chaos in his wake and is totally unfit for office in every way. I'll give him some credit for his support of Ukraine, but it is no more than any other PM of the last 100 years would have done.
I'm glad you're willing, begrudgingly, to acknowledge the support for Ukraine but that's not all.
Got a Brexit deal through Parliament which his predecessor couldn't? ✅ First country in the world to roll out vaccines? ✅ First country in Europe to lift lockdown? ✅ [Thanks to pressure from MPs] didn't put the country into an unnecessary lockdown over Christmas/New Year (unlike Scotland, Wales, NI and rest of Europe)? ✅ Followed his own laws? ❌
Plenty of ticks in his column. The red X is gross misconduct though, he has to go regardless of how many credits there are in his column.
You are just still trying to justify support that until recently was obsequious and obsessive. As Churchill said, even fools are right sometimes, and you are attempting to cherry pick "achievements" to justify your inappropriate fawning of the worst PM in history.
If you're trying to persuade people, then using ridiculous hyperbole like "worst PM in history" is a funny way to go about it.
US inflation has just hit 8.5%, and they DON'T have the European energy crisis
How bad can this get?
Further inflationary pressures from the war in Ukraine, food prices up, gas prices up, steel prices up (Europe's biggest steel works was in Ukraine), also a problem with semiconductor chips as half the neon used in production was made in Ukraine.
Add into that lockdowns in China with all the supply chain shortages that entails and my opinion is we are barely at the beginning of the upward curve.
We are also seeing wage demands start to rise - a classic wage/inflationary spiral.
I'm sitting on over 100k in cash and have been thinking about putting it all into gold.
Likewise. I sold all my shares a few months back, made a decent profit, and now I have basically everything in cash
This is not good if inflation is heading north of 10% (which I think it might be) - not good at all. But what does one do?
Rishi resigns and takes Boris with him would be the most spectacular political event in years
If it leads to Liz Truss as leader it would be the most disastrous as well. It’s the only good reason for him staying.
However, I do think he has to go. How can I teach about this ‘British Values’ bollocks that Gove dreamed up when the PM is ignoring his own laws with such breathtaking chutzpah and lack of concern for the consequences?
He’ll stay because the majority of Tory MPs are spineless cowards with no brains and no integrity, but he should go.
It might lead to Priti Patel or Nadine Dorries as PM.
US inflation has just hit 8.5%, and they DON'T have the European energy crisis
How bad can this get?
Further inflationary pressures from the war in Ukraine, food prices up, gas prices up, steel prices up (Europe's biggest steel works was in Ukraine), also a problem with semiconductor chips as half the neon used in production was made in Ukraine.
Add into that lockdowns in China with all the supply chain shortages that entails and my opinion is we are barely at the beginning of the upward curve.
We are also seeing wage demands start to rise - a classic wage/inflationary spiral.
I'm sitting on over 100k in cash and have been thinking about putting it all into gold.
i would do that quickly ! with a bit in bitcoin etc as well. buying a forest might work as well
Rishi resigns and takes Boris with him would be the most spectacular political event in years
If it leads to Liz Truss as leader it would be the most disastrous as well. It’s the only good reason for him staying.
However, I do think he has to go. How can I teach about this ‘British Values’ bollocks that Gove dreamed up when the PM is ignoring his own laws with such breathtaking chutzpah and lack of concern for the consequences?
He’ll stay because the majority of Tory MPs are spineless cowards with no brains and no integrity, but he should go.
It might lead to Priti Patel or Nadine Dorries as PM.
Boris has been an excellent PM in the round, he has handled the biggest issues (Ukraine, Covid, Brexit) extremely well.
But lawmakers can not be lawbreakers.
As an analogy, its like an excellent employee who hits all the KPIs who goes on a bender and attacks a colleague - it is gross misconduct, they have to go, even if they've been hitting their KPIs.
"extremely well" lol. He is a buffoon that leaves a trail of chaos in his wake and is totally unfit for office in every way. I'll give him some credit for his support of Ukraine, but it is no more than any other PM of the last 100 years would have done.
I'm glad you're willing, begrudgingly, to acknowledge the support for Ukraine but that's not all.
Got a Brexit deal through Parliament which his predecessor couldn't? ✅ First country in the world to roll out vaccines? ✅ First country in Europe to lift lockdown? ✅ [Thanks to pressure from MPs] didn't put the country into an unnecessary lockdown over Christmas/New Year (unlike Scotland, Wales, NI and rest of Europe)? ✅ Followed his own laws? ❌
Plenty of ticks in his column. The red X is gross misconduct though, he has to go regardless of how many credits there are in his column.
You are just still trying to justify support that until recently was obsequious and obsessive. As Churchill said, even fools are right sometimes, and you are attempting to cherry pick "achievements" to justify your inappropriate fawning of the worst PM in history.
I don't agree with BR's list and I don't need to. Boris could have personally cured cancer and he would still need to go. You cannot lie to the House of Commons and stay in office. The ministerial code is clear and unambiguous on that front.
So he is right. He broke the law - and lied about doing so. Gross Misconduct. Off you go.
Blair arguably committed gross misconduct over lying to take us to war but Labour kept him until 2007
Boris has been an excellent PM in the round, he has handled the biggest issues (Ukraine, Covid, Brexit) extremely well.
But lawmakers can not be lawbreakers.
As an analogy, its like an excellent employee who hits all the KPIs who goes on a bender and attacks a colleague - it is gross misconduct, they have to go, even if they've been hitting their KPIs.
"extremely well" lol. He is a buffoon that leaves a trail of chaos in his wake and is totally unfit for office in every way. I'll give him some credit for his support of Ukraine, but it is no more than any other PM of the last 100 years would have done.
I'm glad you're willing, begrudgingly, to acknowledge the support for Ukraine but that's not all.
Got a Brexit deal through Parliament which his predecessor couldn't? ✅ First country in the world to roll out vaccines? ✅ First country in Europe to lift lockdown? ✅ [Thanks to pressure from MPs] didn't put the country into an unnecessary lockdown over Christmas/New Year (unlike Scotland, Wales, NI and rest of Europe)? ✅ Followed his own laws? ❌
Plenty of ticks in his column. The red X is gross misconduct though, he has to go regardless of how many credits there are in his column.
You are just still trying to justify support that until recently was obsequious and obsessive. As Churchill said, even fools are right sometimes, and you are attempting to cherry pick "achievements" to justify your inappropriate fawning of the worst PM in history.
I don't agree with BR's list and I don't need to. Boris could have personally cured cancer and he would still need to go. You cannot lie to the House of Commons and stay in office. The ministerial code is clear and unambiguous on that front.
So he is right. He broke the law - and lied about doing so. Gross Misconduct. Off you go.
Blair arguably committed gross misconduct over lying to take us to war but Labour kept him until 2007
To their eternal shame so did the British electorate. I wouldn’t be surprised if the same thing happens with Bozza. Knowing his luck London Bridge will be called by the weekend.
Boris probably ought to resign but he won't, and I suspect the MPs won't move against him, unless the local election results are absolutely devastating.
I think he may not go now, but he will have to give MPs a cast-iron guarantee that he will not lead them into the next election. Which means him announcing his departure next spring, in time for a new leader installed by the 2023 Conference. And maybe still something of a honeymoon by spring 2024. On new boundaries.
Dammit @Leon if your Casa advises on Tripadvisor that it’s open 12 to 10pm it should be bloody well open now..
Is this the castle you used to swim to?
Looks like it
Shame you have iffy weather. Collioure is delightful in the sun
It was a shame, though my burnt arms and neck would say otherwise. It was still a good place to visit but slightly too touristy for my liking; the streets were packed even on such a gloomy day. I’ve now nearly reached Argelès-Sur-Mer where I’m staying tonight, and my new favourite beer, Cap D’Ona, is brewed. I picked up a couple of bottles from a shop in Collioure and I’m drinking their “Ambrée Triple Bio” which is 7.5% ABV. I’m starting to feel a bit tipsy.. hope the hotel will let me check in!
Would it be conceivable that if BoJo feels he has to go that he will announce it but to take effect in a month to allow successor to be chosen?
Wouldn’t be unusual. That’s the general position. It would be more unusual if he immediately exited and there was an interim leader - constitutionally it’s not really a thing. The queen has to have a PM.
Boris has been an excellent PM in the round, he has handled the biggest issues (Ukraine, Covid, Brexit) extremely well.
But lawmakers can not be lawbreakers.
As an analogy, its like an excellent employee who hits all the KPIs who goes on a bender and attacks a colleague - it is gross misconduct, they have to go, even if they've been hitting their KPIs.
"extremely well" lol. He is a buffoon that leaves a trail of chaos in his wake and is totally unfit for office in every way. I'll give him some credit for his support of Ukraine, but it is no more than any other PM of the last 100 years would have done.
I'm glad you're willing, begrudgingly, to acknowledge the support for Ukraine but that's not all.
Got a Brexit deal through Parliament which his predecessor couldn't? ✅ First country in the world to roll out vaccines? ✅ First country in Europe to lift lockdown? ✅ [Thanks to pressure from MPs] didn't put the country into an unnecessary lockdown over Christmas/New Year (unlike Scotland, Wales, NI and rest of Europe)? ✅ Followed his own laws? ❌
Plenty of ticks in his column. The red X is gross misconduct though, he has to go regardless of how many credits there are in his column.
You are just still trying to justify support that until recently was obsequious and obsessive. As Churchill said, even fools are right sometimes, and you are attempting to cherry pick "achievements" to justify your inappropriate fawning of the worst PM in history.
I don't agree with BR's list and I don't need to. Boris could have personally cured cancer and he would still need to go. You cannot lie to the House of Commons and stay in office. The ministerial code is clear and unambiguous on that front.
So he is right. He broke the law - and lied about doing so. Gross Misconduct. Off you go.
Blair arguably committed gross misconduct over lying to take us to war but Labour kept him until 2007
The slight difference HYUFD is that the concrete evidence on the subject didn’t emerge until much later. We knew he wasn’t telling the truth, wilfully or not, from early on but the only enquiries into it were Hutton (ruled out interference) and Butler (refused to commit himself either way).
Here we have what amounts to a criminal conviction while he’s in office. That should be enough for him to go.
If it’s at a time when Wallace would be likely to replace him rather than one of the many stupid and nasty yes-people Johnson has promoted, so much the better
US inflation has just hit 8.5%, and they DON'T have the European energy crisis
How bad can this get?
Further inflationary pressures from the war in Ukraine, food prices up, gas prices up, steel prices up (Europe's biggest steel works was in Ukraine), also a problem with semiconductor chips as half the neon used in production was made in Ukraine.
Add into that lockdowns in China with all the supply chain shortages that entails and my opinion is we are barely at the beginning of the upward curve.
We are also seeing wage demands start to rise - a classic wage/inflationary spiral.
I'm sitting on over 100k in cash and have been thinking about putting it all into gold.
Likewise. I sold all my shares a few months back, made a decent profit, and now I have basically everything in cash
This is not good if inflation is heading north of 10% (which I think it might be) - not good at all. But what does one do?
shares should hold their inflationary value (they did to a large extent in Zimbabwe) . Any commodity share especially. There will be fluctuations but they will inflate
Boris has been an excellent PM in the round, he has handled the biggest issues (Ukraine, Covid, Brexit) extremely well.
But lawmakers can not be lawbreakers.
As an analogy, its like an excellent employee who hits all the KPIs who goes on a bender and attacks a colleague - it is gross misconduct, they have to go, even if they've been hitting their KPIs.
"extremely well" lol. He is a buffoon that leaves a trail of chaos in his wake and is totally unfit for office in every way. I'll give him some credit for his support of Ukraine, but it is no more than any other PM of the last 100 years would have done.
I'm glad you're willing, begrudgingly, to acknowledge the support for Ukraine but that's not all.
Got a Brexit deal through Parliament which his predecessor couldn't? ✅ First country in the world to roll out vaccines? ✅ First country in Europe to lift lockdown? ✅ [Thanks to pressure from MPs] didn't put the country into an unnecessary lockdown over Christmas/New Year (unlike Scotland, Wales, NI and rest of Europe)? ✅ Followed his own laws? ❌
Plenty of ticks in his column. The red X is gross misconduct though, he has to go regardless of how many credits there are in his column.
You are just still trying to justify support that until recently was obsequious and obsessive. As Churchill said, even fools are right sometimes, and you are attempting to cherry pick "achievements" to justify your inappropriate fawning of the worst PM in history.
I don't agree with BR's list and I don't need to. Boris could have personally cured cancer and he would still need to go. You cannot lie to the House of Commons and stay in office. The ministerial code is clear and unambiguous on that front.
So he is right. He broke the law - and lied about doing so. Gross Misconduct. Off you go.
Blair arguably committed gross misconduct over lying to take us to war but Labour kept him until 2007
Laughable contemptable cowardice. Posting your open support for Tony Blair as cover for your Liar is entertaining even for you.
Just so we're absolutely clear. You support lying. Law breaking. Malfeasance. Corruption of the Rule of Law. Its all acceptable to you.
Boris has been an excellent PM in the round, he has handled the biggest issues (Ukraine, Covid, Brexit) extremely well.
But lawmakers can not be lawbreakers.
As an analogy, its like an excellent employee who hits all the KPIs who goes on a bender and attacks a colleague - it is gross misconduct, they have to go, even if they've been hitting their KPIs.
"extremely well" lol. He is a buffoon that leaves a trail of chaos in his wake and is totally unfit for office in every way. I'll give him some credit for his support of Ukraine, but it is no more than any other PM of the last 100 years would have done.
I'm glad you're willing, begrudgingly, to acknowledge the support for Ukraine but that's not all.
Got a Brexit deal through Parliament which his predecessor couldn't? ✅ First country in the world to roll out vaccines? ✅ First country in Europe to lift lockdown? ✅ [Thanks to pressure from MPs] didn't put the country into an unnecessary lockdown over Christmas/New Year (unlike Scotland, Wales, NI and rest of Europe)? ✅ Followed his own laws? ❌
Plenty of ticks in his column. The red X is gross misconduct though, he has to go regardless of how many credits there are in his column.
You are just still trying to justify support that until recently was obsequious and obsessive. As Churchill said, even fools are right sometimes, and you are attempting to cherry pick "achievements" to justify your inappropriate fawning of the worst PM in history.
I don't agree with BR's list and I don't need to. Boris could have personally cured cancer and he would still need to go. You cannot lie to the House of Commons and stay in office. The ministerial code is clear and unambiguous on that front.
So he is right. He broke the law - and lied about doing so. Gross Misconduct. Off you go.
Blair arguably committed gross misconduct over lying to take us to war but Labour kept him until 2007
To their eternal shame so did the British electorate. I wouldn’t be surprised if the same thing happens with Bozza. Knowing his luck London Bridge will be called by the weekend.
Though in 2005 Labour's voteshare did collapse to just 35%. The lowest voteshare for a party winning a majority since WW2.
What saved Blair under FPTP was most Labour defectors went LD not to Howard's Tories
Would it be conceivable that if BoJo feels he has to go that he will announce it but to take effect in a month to allow successor to be chosen?
He would have to. No mechanism for an acting PM to be chosen. Even when prime ministers have been seriously ill (dying, in the case of Bonar Law) they officially stayed in office until their successor had kissed hands.
Boris has been an excellent PM in the round, he has handled the biggest issues (Ukraine, Covid, Brexit) extremely well.
But lawmakers can not be lawbreakers.
As an analogy, its like an excellent employee who hits all the KPIs who goes on a bender and attacks a colleague - it is gross misconduct, they have to go, even if they've been hitting their KPIs.
"extremely well" lol. He is a buffoon that leaves a trail of chaos in his wake and is totally unfit for office in every way. I'll give him some credit for his support of Ukraine, but it is no more than any other PM of the last 100 years would have done.
I'm glad you're willing, begrudgingly, to acknowledge the support for Ukraine but that's not all.
Got a Brexit deal through Parliament which his predecessor couldn't? ✅ First country in the world to roll out vaccines? ✅ First country in Europe to lift lockdown? ✅ [Thanks to pressure from MPs] didn't put the country into an unnecessary lockdown over Christmas/New Year (unlike Scotland, Wales, NI and rest of Europe)? ✅ Followed his own laws? ❌
Plenty of ticks in his column. The red X is gross misconduct though, he has to go regardless of how many credits there are in his column.
You are just still trying to justify support that until recently was obsequious and obsessive. As Churchill said, even fools are right sometimes, and you are attempting to cherry pick "achievements" to justify your inappropriate fawning of the worst PM in history.
"cherry pick"
Covid, Brexit and Ukraine are cherries to you? They're the biggest issues of the last few years, potentially decades, and he handled them well. If Covid, Brexit and Ukraine are cherries then what else should we be looking at?
But it doesn't matter if he's been one of the best PMs of the modern era on the big issues, he got this one specific one categorically wrong.
He did not handle Brexit or Covid "well" by any objective measure; and the fact that you think he did is an insult to all those that lost businesses and lives.
He handled covid better than Labour would have done, and in the circumstances that's really all that matters.
Not sure this is survivable? If ones goes then the other surely has to? Other than at an election have both positions ever been vacated simultaneously?
Boris can survive this if he is brazen enough and his MPs are spineless enough.
So he's in with a decent shout.
Quite. A whole aquarium full of invertebrates. And that's being unkind to the echinoderms, priapulid worms, polyps, whelks and other invertebrates.
Boris has been an excellent PM in the round, he has handled the biggest issues (Ukraine, Covid, Brexit) extremely well.
But lawmakers can not be lawbreakers.
As an analogy, its like an excellent employee who hits all the KPIs who goes on a bender and attacks a colleague - it is gross misconduct, they have to go, even if they've been hitting their KPIs.
"extremely well" lol. He is a buffoon that leaves a trail of chaos in his wake and is totally unfit for office in every way. I'll give him some credit for his support of Ukraine, but it is no more than any other PM of the last 100 years would have done.
I'm glad you're willing, begrudgingly, to acknowledge the support for Ukraine but that's not all.
Got a Brexit deal through Parliament which his predecessor couldn't? ✅ First country in the world to roll out vaccines? ✅ First country in Europe to lift lockdown? ✅ [Thanks to pressure from MPs] didn't put the country into an unnecessary lockdown over Christmas/New Year (unlike Scotland, Wales, NI and rest of Europe)? ✅ Followed his own laws? ❌
Plenty of ticks in his column. The red X is gross misconduct though, he has to go regardless of how many credits there are in his column.
You are just still trying to justify support that until recently was obsequious and obsessive. As Churchill said, even fools are right sometimes, and you are attempting to cherry pick "achievements" to justify your inappropriate fawning of the worst PM in history.
I don't agree with BR's list and I don't need to. Boris could have personally cured cancer and he would still need to go. You cannot lie to the House of Commons and stay in office. The ministerial code is clear and unambiguous on that front.
So he is right. He broke the law - and lied about doing so. Gross Misconduct. Off you go.
Blair arguably committed gross misconduct over lying to take us to war but Labour kept him until 2007
Laughable contemptable cowardice. Posting your open support for Tony Blair as cover for your Liar is entertaining even for you.
Just so we're absolutely clear. You support lying. Law breaking. Malfeasance. Corruption of the Rule of Law. Its all acceptable to you.
The problem with setting a precedent is that the other side will follow it, and try to build on it.
Boris has been an excellent PM in the round, he has handled the biggest issues (Ukraine, Covid, Brexit) extremely well.
But lawmakers can not be lawbreakers.
As an analogy, its like an excellent employee who hits all the KPIs who goes on a bender and attacks a colleague - it is gross misconduct, they have to go, even if they've been hitting their KPIs.
"extremely well" lol. He is a buffoon that leaves a trail of chaos in his wake and is totally unfit for office in every way. I'll give him some credit for his support of Ukraine, but it is no more than any other PM of the last 100 years would have done.
I'm glad you're willing, begrudgingly, to acknowledge the support for Ukraine but that's not all.
Got a Brexit deal through Parliament which his predecessor couldn't? ✅ First country in the world to roll out vaccines? ✅ First country in Europe to lift lockdown? ✅ [Thanks to pressure from MPs] didn't put the country into an unnecessary lockdown over Christmas/New Year (unlike Scotland, Wales, NI and rest of Europe)? ✅ Followed his own laws? ❌
Plenty of ticks in his column. The red X is gross misconduct though, he has to go regardless of how many credits there are in his column.
You are just still trying to justify support that until recently was obsequious and obsessive. As Churchill said, even fools are right sometimes, and you are attempting to cherry pick "achievements" to justify your inappropriate fawning of the worst PM in history.
I don't agree with BR's list and I don't need to. Boris could have personally cured cancer and he would still need to go. You cannot lie to the House of Commons and stay in office. The ministerial code is clear and unambiguous on that front.
So he is right. He broke the law - and lied about doing so. Gross Misconduct. Off you go.
Blair arguably committed gross misconduct over lying to take us to war but Labour kept him until 2007
To their eternal shame so did the British electorate. I wouldn’t be surprised if the same thing happens with Bozza. Knowing his luck London Bridge will be called by the weekend.
Though in 2005 Labour's voteshare did collapse to just 35%. The lowest voteshare for a party winning a majority since WW2.
What saved Blair under FPTP was most Labour defectors went LD not to Howard's Tories
The other thing I have said about this issue, is that it will all end when the voters decisively reject Johnson. Not the conservative party, which he and Cummings were actually responsible for saving - we've already seen that they won't act, so no surprises on this front.
Boris has been an excellent PM in the round, he has handled the biggest issues (Ukraine, Covid, Brexit) extremely well.
But lawmakers can not be lawbreakers.
As an analogy, its like an excellent employee who hits all the KPIs who goes on a bender and attacks a colleague - it is gross misconduct, they have to go, even if they've been hitting their KPIs.
"extremely well" lol. He is a buffoon that leaves a trail of chaos in his wake and is totally unfit for office in every way. I'll give him some credit for his support of Ukraine, but it is no more than any other PM of the last 100 years would have done.
I'm glad you're willing, begrudgingly, to acknowledge the support for Ukraine but that's not all.
Got a Brexit deal through Parliament which his predecessor couldn't? ✅ First country in the world to roll out vaccines? ✅ First country in Europe to lift lockdown? ✅ [Thanks to pressure from MPs] didn't put the country into an unnecessary lockdown over Christmas/New Year (unlike Scotland, Wales, NI and rest of Europe)? ✅ Followed his own laws? ❌
Plenty of ticks in his column. The red X is gross misconduct though, he has to go regardless of how many credits there are in his column.
You are just still trying to justify support that until recently was obsequious and obsessive. As Churchill said, even fools are right sometimes, and you are attempting to cherry pick "achievements" to justify your inappropriate fawning of the worst PM in history.
I don't agree with BR's list and I don't need to. Boris could have personally cured cancer and he would still need to go. You cannot lie to the House of Commons and stay in office. The ministerial code is clear and unambiguous on that front.
So he is right. He broke the law - and lied about doing so. Gross Misconduct. Off you go.
Blair arguably committed gross misconduct over lying to take us to war but Labour kept him until 2007
Laughable contemptable cowardice. Posting your open support for Tony Blair as cover for your Liar is entertaining even for you.
Just so we're absolutely clear. You support lying. Law breaking. Malfeasance. Corruption of the Rule of Law. Its all acceptable to you.
I wasn't so bothered about this a couple of months ago but the only way I would be happy to let it go now is if members of the public who were fined (in some cases thousands of pounds) have their fines refunded.
Its not a lie if he didn't think anything he attended was a party.
Breaking the law is more serious than that.
There was a cake. And a singing of Happy Birthday. By Rishi Sunak.
If he didn't think that was a party...
I've had cake and sang happy birthday while at work before. Still thought of it as work, not a party.
If wishing a colleague a happy birthday, while in the office, while at a work meeting is a "party" then you and I have different interpretations of the word party.
I wasn't so bothered about this a couple of months ago but the only way I would be happy to let it go now is if members of the public who were fined (in some cases thousands of pounds) have their fines refunded.
I am sure Boris would oblige to save his hide, cake for all remains his motto.
Dammit @Leon if your Casa advises on Tripadvisor that it’s open 12 to 10pm it should be bloody well open now..
Is this the castle you used to swim to?
Looks like it
Shame you have iffy weather. Collioure is delightful in the sun
It was a shame, though my burnt arms and neck would say otherwise. It was still a good place to visit but slightly too touristy for my liking; the streets were packed even on such a gloomy day. I’ve now nearly reached Argelès-Sur-Mer where I’m staying tonight, and my new favourite beer, Cap D’Ona, is brewed. I picked up a couple of bottles from a shop in Collioure and I’m drinking their “Ambrée Triple Bio” which is 7.5% ABV. I’m starting to feel a bit tipsy.. hope the hotel will let me check in!
You provide a great service in making me feel comfortably out-unitted. Don't stop!
At the next general election this seriously inhibits any commentary about the pandemic from the Conservatives. If they bring it things like vaccines, which they might, this will come straight back at them.
The Labour poster needs to read, "You cannot trust the Conservative Party", with 'Party' in jazzy letters.
Its not a lie if he didn't think anything he attended was a party.
Breaking the law is more serious than that.
There was a cake. And a singing of Happy Birthday. By Rishi Sunak.
If he didn't think that was a party...
I've had cake and sang happy birthday while at work before. Still thought of it as work, not a party.
If wishing a colleague a happy birthday, while in the office, while at a work meeting is a "party" then you and I have different interpretations of the word party.
Even if that is true, it is hard to argue it was ‘reasonably necessary for work purposes,’ which was the relevant law and should have been comprehensible even to this lot.
However, Johnson then has to explain how raising his glass of beer to a camera while wishing somebody happy birthday in a non-office location wasn’t a party!
Its not a lie if he didn't think anything he attended was a party.
Breaking the law is more serious than that.
There was a cake. And a singing of Happy Birthday. By Rishi Sunak.
If he didn't think that was a party...
I've had cake and sang happy birthday while at work before. Still thought of it as work, not a party.
If wishing a colleague a happy birthday, while in the office, while at a work meeting is a "party" then you and I have different interpretations of the word party.
Mr Johnson does like to have his cake and eat it, especially when it comes to parties and the Party.
Possibly PM Wallace or Javid or Truss by the end of the summer if true.
Though depends on how bad the polling and local election losses turn out to be for the Tories as to whether Johnson and Sunak survive
Direct question. The Prime Minister deliberately mislead the House. Repeatedly.
Do you think he should follow the Ministerial Code and resign?
Blair did not resign after misleading the House over WMD.
Thatcher/Belgrano?
What did she mislead the house about?
Absolutely nothing. The Belgrano was part of a pincer movement that was a threat to the task force. The decision to sink was a tough one but militarily correct. The loss of life was exacerbated by the supporting Argentine vessels fleeing the scene.
I never understood the fuss about the Belgrano. Wars are not won by playing nice.
The essence of war is violence. Moderation in war is imbecility.
Clearly Johnson knew they were parties and the evidence supported that otherwise the police wouldn’t issue the FPN .
He is a pathological liar and needs to go which ironically wouldn’t be the best news for Labour but would be best for the country .
You simply can not normalize lying to the public and parliament without severe repercussions . Johnson has already lowered the bar .
Once you allow politicians a free pass on that you take a hammer and chisel away at democracy .
The Police would issue FPNs based upon what the law is, not whether someone knew something was a party or not. The law didn't say anything about parties.
The law is what matters here, no lie has been proven but nor does it need to, the law matters.
Dammit @Leon if your Casa advises on Tripadvisor that it’s open 12 to 10pm it should be bloody well open now..
Is this the castle you used to swim to?
Looks like it
Shame you have iffy weather. Collioure is delightful in the sun
It was a shame, though my burnt arms and neck would say otherwise. It was still a good place to visit but slightly too touristy for my liking; the streets were packed even on such a gloomy day. I’ve now nearly reached Argelès-Sur-Mer where I’m staying tonight, and my new favourite beer, Cap D’Ona, is brewed. I picked up a couple of bottles from a shop in Collioure and I’m drinking their “Ambrée Triple Bio” which is 7.5% ABV. I’m starting to feel a bit tipsy.. hope the hotel will let me check in!
You provide a great service in making me feel comfortably out-unitted. Don't stop!
Putin dragged Lukashenko to a cosmodrome in far eastern Russia for this. He claims he has secret information about how mysterious “Englishmen” staged a “provocation” in Bucha. Not clear if he means the whole thing is fake or if they murdered hundreds and pretended Russia did it
US inflation has just hit 8.5%, and they DON'T have the European energy crisis
How bad can this get?
It's odd how their inflation rate is higher than ours, and other European countries. I don't know what the explanation is.
The economy was running hot with these pressures when Biden got in, but he pressed on with promised stimulus package, gasoline to the flames, Heading into election year bust will follow the boom.
This happens a lot in politics, a heavy defeat related to some of the first decisions of a new administration, misjudging that they really ought to have laid off spending promises.
US inflation has just hit 8.5%, and they DON'T have the European energy crisis
How bad can this get?
Further inflationary pressures from the war in Ukraine, food prices up, gas prices up, steel prices up (Europe's biggest steel works was in Ukraine), also a problem with semiconductor chips as half the neon used in production was made in Ukraine.
Add into that lockdowns in China with all the supply chain shortages that entails and my opinion is we are barely at the beginning of the upward curve.
We are also seeing wage demands start to rise - a classic wage/inflationary spiral.
I'm sitting on over 100k in cash and have been thinking about putting it all into gold.
Current £1,507.96/oz 50 year high £1,574.37 50 year low £18.76 it says here, can I suggest not absolutely every penny in gold?
The problem with property is it looks toppy what with interest rates due to rise (not that 100k will get you far but I could consider a REIT). Same for the stock markets. (And I'm already invested there).
When I think about how much sleep I'm losing over the thought of losing 8k a year to inflation, I wonder how companies like Apple are managing to sit on $202 billion in cash.
There must be an extraordinary amount of money sloshing around looking for a safe investment at the moment. The question is where is safe...
(Admittedly, it's a nice problem to have while millions will face the dilemma of "heating or eating" later this year)
Its not a lie if he didn't think anything he attended was a party.
Breaking the law is more serious than that.
There was a cake. And a singing of Happy Birthday. By Rishi Sunak.
If he didn't think that was a party...
I've had cake and sang happy birthday while at work before. Still thought of it as work, not a party.
If wishing a colleague a happy birthday, while in the office, while at a work meeting is a "party" then you and I have different interpretations of the word party.
1. Its Covid. You aren't allowed to gather socially. Hence 50 and counting fines issues 2. Its clearly not work. I have eaten cake at work before. I have had birthday gatherings at work before. You aren't working at that point 3. They sang "Happy Birthday" over the cake. Ask any child what a birthday party looks like and its a load of your friends in a room singing Happy Birthday over the cake.
OK, so it wasn't Bunga Bunga like the one where Big Dog Liar waves his can of vaguely beer at the camera. But it clearly was not a work event. Sunak should have known better.
US inflation has just hit 8.5%, and they DON'T have the European energy crisis
How bad can this get?
It's odd how their inflation rate is higher than ours, and other European countries. I don't know what the explanation is.
I'd speculate that the basket of goods that are used to account for inflation is quite a bit more heavily weighted to fuel in the US for several reasons, including heating and air conditioning requirements, large distances for transporting goods, relatively inefficient vehicles etc.
Boris has been an excellent PM in the round, he has handled the biggest issues (Ukraine, Covid, Brexit) extremely well.
But lawmakers can not be lawbreakers.
As an analogy, its like an excellent employee who hits all the KPIs who goes on a bender and attacks a colleague - it is gross misconduct, they have to go, even if they've been hitting their KPIs.
"extremely well" lol. He is a buffoon that leaves a trail of chaos in his wake and is totally unfit for office in every way. I'll give him some credit for his support of Ukraine, but it is no more than any other PM of the last 100 years would have done.
I'm glad you're willing, begrudgingly, to acknowledge the support for Ukraine but that's not all.
Got a Brexit deal through Parliament which his predecessor couldn't? ✅ First country in the world to roll out vaccines? ✅ First country in Europe to lift lockdown? ✅ [Thanks to pressure from MPs] didn't put the country into an unnecessary lockdown over Christmas/New Year (unlike Scotland, Wales, NI and rest of Europe)? ✅ Followed his own laws? ❌
Plenty of ticks in his column. The red X is gross misconduct though, he has to go regardless of how many credits there are in his column.
You are just still trying to justify support that until recently was obsequious and obsessive. As Churchill said, even fools are right sometimes, and you are attempting to cherry pick "achievements" to justify your inappropriate fawning of the worst PM in history.
"cherry pick"
Covid, Brexit and Ukraine are cherries to you? They're the biggest issues of the last few years, potentially decades, and he handled them well. If Covid, Brexit and Ukraine are cherries then what else should we be looking at?
But it doesn't matter if he's been one of the best PMs of the modern era on the big issues, he got this one specific one categorically wrong.
He did not handle Brexit or Covid "well" by any objective measure; and the fact that you think he did is an insult to all those that lost businesses and lives. You keep telling yourself that and eventually even you might believe it. He is an incompetent fuckwit and the worst PM in history. You don't want to see that because you have been trying to convince yourself and others for years that he is some sort of latter day Churchill. You were succoured. He loves people like you. Anyway, must do some work, nice to see you again.
The time to debate his legacy is after he's been turfed out. Which ought to be now.
Its not a lie if he didn't think anything he attended was a party.
Breaking the law is more serious than that.
There was a cake. And a singing of Happy Birthday. By Rishi Sunak.
If he didn't think that was a party...
I've had cake and sang happy birthday while at work before. Still thought of it as work, not a party.
If wishing a colleague a happy birthday, while in the office, while at a work meeting is a "party" then you and I have different interpretations of the word party.
Even if that is true, it is hard to argue it was ‘reasonably necessary for work purposes,’ which was the relevant law and should have been comprehensible even to this lot.
However, Johnson then has to explain how raising his glass of beer to a camera while wishing somebody happy birthday in a non-office location wasn’t a party!
I would strongly suggest that Boris's opponents avoid detailed arguments about what is or is not a party - it risks clouding the issue which should be very simple: he imposed draconian restrictions on the rest of us, and then failed to follow them. In which case, he felt that either (a) it was safe to ignore the restrictions because they were unnecessary; or (b) the restrictions shouldn't apply just to him (possibly through use of what he thought was a loophole).
Either way, he needs to go. Whether he lied to Parliament is moot.
Possibly PM Wallace or Javid or Truss by the end of the summer if true.
Though depends on how bad the polling and local election losses turn out to be for the Tories as to whether Johnson and Sunak survive
Direct question. The Prime Minister deliberately mislead the House. Repeatedly.
Do you think he should follow the Ministerial Code and resign?
Blair did not resign after misleading the House over WMD.
Thatcher/Belgrano?
What did she mislead the house about?
Absolutely nothing. The Belgrano was part of a pincer movement that was a threat to the task force. The decision to sink was a tough one but militarily correct. The loss of life was exacerbated by the supporting Argentine vessels fleeing the scene.
I never understood the fuss about the Belgrano. Wars are not won by playing nice.
The essence of war is violence. Moderation in war is imbecility.
“Mr Speaker I was going to resign but I have concluded the chances of Nadine Dorries slipping through the middle of any leadership contest are too high”.
All Rishi has to do is swallow hard in front of the press, then go home & count his krugerrands. Boris has to get a job & face five years of Carrie rolling her eyes at him every morning over the breakfast table. If I was Sunak I’d be so tempted
Its not a lie if he didn't think anything he attended was a party.
Breaking the law is more serious than that.
There was a cake. And a singing of Happy Birthday. By Rishi Sunak.
If he didn't think that was a party...
I've had cake and sang happy birthday while at work before. Still thought of it as work, not a party.
If wishing a colleague a happy birthday, while in the office, while at a work meeting is a "party" then you and I have different interpretations of the word party.
1. Its Covid. You aren't allowed to gather socially. Hence 50 and counting fines issues 2. Its clearly not work. I have eaten cake at work before. I have had birthday gatherings at work before. You aren't working at that point 3. They sang "Happy Birthday" over the cake. Ask any child what a birthday party looks like and its a load of your friends in a room singing Happy Birthday over the cake.
OK, so it wasn't Bunga Bunga like the one where Big Dog Liar waves his can of vaguely beer at the camera. But it clearly was not a work event. Sunak should have known better.
Sorry but that's utter bollocks.
If you gather for work purposes then having a slice of cake and singing happy birthday during your work meeting is not a party and was not against the law either. People who needed to be gathered together for required work purposes were entitled to eat and talk.
Its not a lie if he didn't think anything he attended was a party.
Breaking the law is more serious than that.
There was a cake. And a singing of Happy Birthday. By Rishi Sunak.
If he didn't think that was a party...
I've had cake and sang happy birthday while at work before. Still thought of it as work, not a party.
If wishing a colleague a happy birthday, while in the office, while at a work meeting is a "party" then you and I have different interpretations of the word party.
Even if that is true, it is hard to argue it was ‘reasonably necessary for work purposes,’ which was the relevant law and should have been comprehensible even to this lot.
However, Johnson then has to explain how raising his glass of beer to a camera while wishing somebody happy birthday in a non-office location wasn’t a party!
I would strongly suggest that Boris's opponents avoid detailed arguments about what is or is not a party - it risks clouding the issue which should be very simple: he imposed draconian restrictions on the rest of us, and then failed to follow them. In which case, he felt that either (a) it was safe to ignore the restrictions because they were unnecessary; or (b) the restrictions shouldn't apply just to him (possibly through use of what he thought was a loophole.
Either way, he needs to go. Whether he lied to Parliament is moot.
This is *not* about the parties any more. Unless he is able to overturn the FPN, they are not in doubt (legally). This is now purely about the layers of lies. No-one should mention the party. Just the FPN and the lies.
US inflation has just hit 8.5%, and they DON'T have the European energy crisis
How bad can this get?
It's odd how their inflation rate is higher than ours, and other European countries. I don't know what the explanation is.
A few explanations - auto fuel has a higher weight (once you take into account that tax is half of the price in Europe) so high oil prices have a bigger impact. Supply and demand are especially out of whack for cars, too - used cars are still up 35% y/y despite a drop in March. Core inflation is higher there too because of higher wage growth. European inflation will probably be higher than US inflation later in the year though, because of gas prices.
Its not a lie if he didn't think anything he attended was a party.
Breaking the law is more serious than that.
There was a cake. And a singing of Happy Birthday. By Rishi Sunak.
If he didn't think that was a party...
I've had cake and sang happy birthday while at work before. Still thought of it as work, not a party.
If wishing a colleague a happy birthday, while in the office, while at a work meeting is a "party" then you and I have different interpretations of the word party.
Even if that is true, it is hard to argue it was ‘reasonably necessary for work purposes,’ which was the relevant law and should have been comprehensible even to this lot.
However, Johnson then has to explain how raising his glass of beer to a camera while wishing somebody happy birthday in a non-office location wasn’t a party!
I would strongly suggest that Boris's opponents avoid detailed arguments about what is or is not a party - it risks clouding the issue which should be very simple: he imposed draconian restrictions on the rest of us, and then failed to follow them. In which case, he felt that either (a) it was safe to ignore the restrictions because they were unnecessary; or (b) the restrictions shouldn't apply just to him (possibly through use of what he thought was a loophole.
Either way, he needs to go. Whether he lied to Parliament is moot.
This is *not* about the parties any more. Unless he is able to overturn the FPN, they are not in doubt (legally). This is now purely about the layers of lies. No-one should mention the party. Just the FPN and the lies.
No, the lies are irrelevant and distracting. It's about breaking the law.
Its not a lie if he didn't think anything he attended was a party.
Breaking the law is more serious than that.
There was a cake. And a singing of Happy Birthday. By Rishi Sunak.
If he didn't think that was a party...
I've had cake and sang happy birthday while at work before. Still thought of it as work, not a party.
If wishing a colleague a happy birthday, while in the office, while at a work meeting is a "party" then you and I have different interpretations of the word party.
1. Its Covid. You aren't allowed to gather socially. Hence 50 and counting fines issues 2. Its clearly not work. I have eaten cake at work before. I have had birthday gatherings at work before. You aren't working at that point 3. They sang "Happy Birthday" over the cake. Ask any child what a birthday party looks like and its a load of your friends in a room singing Happy Birthday over the cake.
OK, so it wasn't Bunga Bunga like the one where Big Dog Liar waves his can of vaguely beer at the camera. But it clearly was not a work event. Sunak should have known better.
Sorry but that's utter bollocks.
If you gather for work purposes then having a slice of cake and singing happy birthday during your work meeting is not a party and was not against the law either. People who needed to be gathered together for required work purposes were entitled to eat and talk.
Carrie attended. Carrie had no reason to be there for a work meeting. Ergo, not a work meeting. Law broken.
And Harper. ERG stable installed last Tory leader, they should be in the frame to win this one too with their runner?
Because of Ukraine, I’d think there’d be pressure to make it a coronation. To me that says Truss, Wallace, or Tugendhat (though his lack of a Gvt experience might be the issue, and I doubt he’ll commit to be sufficiently gung-ho on the NI Protocol). Hunt might squeeze in by outflanking them on the right re: NI.
Possibly PM Wallace or Javid or Truss by the end of the summer if true.
Though depends on how bad the polling and local election losses turn out to be for the Tories as to whether Johnson and Sunak survive
Direct question. The Prime Minister deliberately mislead the House. Repeatedly.
Do you think he should follow the Ministerial Code and resign?
Blair did not resign after misleading the House over WMD.
Thatcher/Belgrano?
What did she mislead the house about?
Absolutely nothing. The Belgrano was part of a pincer movement that was a threat to the task force. The decision to sink was a tough one but militarily correct. The loss of life was exacerbated by the supporting Argentine vessels fleeing the scene.
I never understood the fuss about the Belgrano. Wars are not won by playing nice.
The essence of war is violence. Moderation in war is imbecility.
All Rishi has to do is swallow hard in front of the press, then go home & count his krugerrands. Boris has to get a job & face five years of Carrie rolling her eyes at him every morning over the breakfast table. If I was Sunak I’d be so tempted
Rishi Sunak is only 41, and a week is a long time etc. If he "does the honourable thing" the attention instantly goes to the PM, and there is a way back for him. And, if things don't move in the right direction for him, he can slip away at the next election to spend more time with his wife's money as you say.
I don't think it's in his DNA to do it, but it does make a lot of sense.
Its not a lie if he didn't think anything he attended was a party.
Breaking the law is more serious than that.
There was a cake. And a singing of Happy Birthday. By Rishi Sunak.
If he didn't think that was a party...
I've had cake and sang happy birthday while at work before. Still thought of it as work, not a party.
If wishing a colleague a happy birthday, while in the office, while at a work meeting is a "party" then you and I have different interpretations of the word party.
Even if that is true, it is hard to argue it was ‘reasonably necessary for work purposes,’ which was the relevant law and should have been comprehensible even to this lot.
However, Johnson then has to explain how raising his glass of beer to a camera while wishing somebody happy birthday in a non-office location wasn’t a party!
I would strongly suggest that Boris's opponents avoid detailed arguments about what is or is not a party - it risks clouding the issue which should be very simple: he imposed draconian restrictions on the rest of us, and then failed to follow them. In which case, he felt that either (a) it was safe to ignore the restrictions because they were unnecessary; or (b) the restrictions shouldn't apply just to him (possibly through use of what he thought was a loophole.
Either way, he needs to go. Whether he lied to Parliament is moot.
This is *not* about the parties any more. Unless he is able to overturn the FPN, they are not in doubt (legally). This is now purely about the layers of lies. No-one should mention the party. Just the FPN and the lies.
No, the lies are irrelevant and distracting. It's about breaking the law.
AIUI there's no obligation to resign for that. But the thing that *does* oblige him to resign is lying to Parliament, under the ministerial code. So "breaking the law" is in fact a distraction from the resigning offence.
It’s a good betting point Big G. Tory lead in April looks a worse bet than it did this morning (ignore Survation whose polls trend friendly to Labour, the monthly Kantor poll if any could give Tories their first lead for a while).
Also there is a UK election campaign on, a very good May result for Johnson could mean June general election, a disappointing Conservative night might put a bit of pressure on Johnson.
Possibly PM Wallace or Javid or Truss by the end of the summer if true.
Though depends on how bad the polling and local election losses turn out to be for the Tories as to whether Johnson and Sunak survive
Direct question. The Prime Minister deliberately mislead the House. Repeatedly.
Do you think he should follow the Ministerial Code and resign?
Blair did not resign after misleading the House over WMD.
Thatcher/Belgrano?
What did she mislead the house about?
Absolutely nothing. The Belgrano was part of a pincer movement that was a threat to the task force. The decision to sink was a tough one but militarily correct. The loss of life was exacerbated by the supporting Argentine vessels fleeing the scene.
I never understood the fuss about the Belgrano. Wars are not won by playing nice.
The essence of war is violence. Moderation in war is imbecility.
Long time back, there was a very good documentary series by the BBC on the Falklands. They got everyone involved at a senior level, except Galteri, Thatcher and Reagan to participate.
The Commander of the Argentine Navy said the Belgians was in a mission to attack the task force. The captain of the Belgians said that he was on a mission to attack the task force. He also has instructions to attack any Royal Navy ships he happened across - such as submarines.
The U.K. government knew, because the NSA was sending decrypts of Argentine communications in real-time - the contents of these was disclosed by Julian Assange and Wikileaks, in one of their data dumps.
Its not a lie if he didn't think anything he attended was a party.
Breaking the law is more serious than that.
There was a cake. And a singing of Happy Birthday. By Rishi Sunak.
If he didn't think that was a party...
I've had cake and sang happy birthday while at work before. Still thought of it as work, not a party.
If wishing a colleague a happy birthday, while in the office, while at a work meeting is a "party" then you and I have different interpretations of the word party.
Even if that is true, it is hard to argue it was ‘reasonably necessary for work purposes,’ which was the relevant law and should have been comprehensible even to this lot.
However, Johnson then has to explain how raising his glass of beer to a camera while wishing somebody happy birthday in a non-office location wasn’t a party!
I would strongly suggest that Boris's opponents avoid detailed arguments about what is or is not a party - it risks clouding the issue which should be very simple: he imposed draconian restrictions on the rest of us, and then failed to follow them. In which case, he felt that either (a) it was safe to ignore the restrictions because they were unnecessary; or (b) the restrictions shouldn't apply just to him (possibly through use of what he thought was a loophole.
Either way, he needs to go. Whether he lied to Parliament is moot.
This is *not* about the parties any more. Unless he is able to overturn the FPN, they are not in doubt (legally). This is now purely about the layers of lies. No-one should mention the party. Just the FPN and the lies.
No, the lies are irrelevant and distracting. It's about breaking the law.
AIUI there's no obligation to resign for that. But the thing that *does* oblige him to resign is lying to Parliament, under the ministerial code. So "breaking the law" is in fact a distraction from the resigning offence.
Lawmakers can not be lawbreakers, so that is a resigning offence.
Lying to Parliament has not been proven. It doesn't need to be though, lawmakers can not be lawbreakers.
Its not a lie if he didn't think anything he attended was a party.
Breaking the law is more serious than that.
There was a cake. And a singing of Happy Birthday. By Rishi Sunak.
If he didn't think that was a party...
I've had cake and sang happy birthday while at work before. Still thought of it as work, not a party.
If wishing a colleague a happy birthday, while in the office, while at a work meeting is a "party" then you and I have different interpretations of the word party.
1. Its Covid. You aren't allowed to gather socially. Hence 50 and counting fines issues 2. Its clearly not work. I have eaten cake at work before. I have had birthday gatherings at work before. You aren't working at that point 3. They sang "Happy Birthday" over the cake. Ask any child what a birthday party looks like and its a load of your friends in a room singing Happy Birthday over the cake.
OK, so it wasn't Bunga Bunga like the one where Big Dog Liar waves his can of vaguely beer at the camera. But it clearly was not a work event. Sunak should have known better.
Sorry but that's utter bollocks.
If you gather for work purposes then having a slice of cake and singing happy birthday during your work meeting is not a party and was not against the law either. People who needed to be gathered together for required work purposes were entitled to eat and talk.
Its not a lie if he didn't think anything he attended was a party.
Breaking the law is more serious than that.
There was a cake. And a singing of Happy Birthday. By Rishi Sunak.
If he didn't think that was a party...
I've had cake and sang happy birthday while at work before. Still thought of it as work, not a party.
If wishing a colleague a happy birthday, while in the office, while at a work meeting is a "party" then you and I have different interpretations of the word party.
Even if that is true, it is hard to argue it was ‘reasonably necessary for work purposes,’ which was the relevant law and should have been comprehensible even to this lot.
However, Johnson then has to explain how raising his glass of beer to a camera while wishing somebody happy birthday in a non-office location wasn’t a party!
I would strongly suggest that Boris's opponents avoid detailed arguments about what is or is not a party - it risks clouding the issue which should be very simple: he imposed draconian restrictions on the rest of us, and then failed to follow them. In which case, he felt that either (a) it was safe to ignore the restrictions because they were unnecessary; or (b) the restrictions shouldn't apply just to him (possibly through use of what he thought was a loophole.
Either way, he needs to go. Whether he lied to Parliament is moot.
This is *not* about the parties any more. Unless he is able to overturn the FPN, they are not in doubt (legally). This is now purely about the layers of lies. No-one should mention the party. Just the FPN and the lies.
No, the lies are irrelevant and distracting. It's about breaking the law.
AIUI there's no obligation to resign for that. But the thing that *does* oblige him to resign is lying to Parliament, under the ministerial code. So "breaking the law" is in fact a distraction from the resigning offence.
Lawmakers can not be lawbreakers, so that is a resigning offence.
Lying to Parliament has not been proven. It doesn't need to be though, lawmakers can not be lawbreakers.
1. "I did not attend a party" 2. Fined for attending a party 3. Q.E.D.
Make or break time for Johnson ... and the tories?
Do they do what they have to do to regain public trust over the next two years? Or do they really go the John Major route and sink the tories for a generation?
Its not a lie if he didn't think anything he attended was a party.
Breaking the law is more serious than that.
There was a cake. And a singing of Happy Birthday. By Rishi Sunak.
If he didn't think that was a party...
I've had cake and sang happy birthday while at work before. Still thought of it as work, not a party.
If wishing a colleague a happy birthday, while in the office, while at a work meeting is a "party" then you and I have different interpretations of the word party.
Even if that is true, it is hard to argue it was ‘reasonably necessary for work purposes,’ which was the relevant law and should have been comprehensible even to this lot.
However, Johnson then has to explain how raising his glass of beer to a camera while wishing somebody happy birthday in a non-office location wasn’t a party!
I would strongly suggest that Boris's opponents avoid detailed arguments about what is or is not a party - it risks clouding the issue which should be very simple: he imposed draconian restrictions on the rest of us, and then failed to follow them. In which case, he felt that either (a) it was safe to ignore the restrictions because they were unnecessary; or (b) the restrictions shouldn't apply just to him (possibly through use of what he thought was a loophole.
Either way, he needs to go. Whether he lied to Parliament is moot.
This is *not* about the parties any more. Unless he is able to overturn the FPN, they are not in doubt (legally). This is now purely about the layers of lies. No-one should mention the party. Just the FPN and the lies.
No, the lies are irrelevant and distracting. It's about breaking the law.
AIUI there's no obligation to resign for that. But the thing that *does* oblige him to resign is lying to Parliament, under the ministerial code. So "breaking the law" is in fact a distraction from the resigning offence.
Lawmakers can not be lawbreakers, so that is a resigning offence.
Lying to Parliament has not been proven. It doesn't need to be though, lawmakers can not be lawbreakers.
Should not, I agree- morally, they should resign for that; especially in this case. But this government and most of the parliamentary party has proven that it doesn't give a fig for that. They all knew they had done wrong and hoped to get away with it.
But there is a specific requirement in the ministerial code to resign if you have been found to have been lying to parliament. This is as clear a case of that as you will ever see.
Comments
He's not even the worst PM of the last 15 years.
https://twitter.com/TimothyDSnyder/status/1513876285197635602
And HYUFD would give Putin a veto on European politics.
#Brooklyn l #NY
Police confirm explosive devices are present at the 36th Street station. Several people are down. Trains are being halted.
https://twitter.com/IntelPointAlert/status/1513869148505391108
With Boris long gone off on his lecture circuit.
Here we have what amounts to a criminal conviction while he’s in office. That should be enough for him to go.
If it’s at a time when Wallace would be likely to replace him rather than one of the many stupid and nasty yes-people Johnson has promoted, so much the better
Just so we're absolutely clear. You support lying. Law breaking. Malfeasance. Corruption of the Rule of Law. Its all acceptable to you.
What saved Blair under FPTP was most Labour defectors went LD not to Howard's Tories
https://twitter.com/mikeysmith/status/1513871655482929163
Rishi Sunak, 7 December 2021: “No, I did not attend any parties”
Breaking the law is more serious than that.
He has just been fined for attending the Prime Minister's birthday party and singing Happy Birthday.
Sunak must also resign.
Lots of wine?
Having a slice of birthday cake while in the office on someone's birthday is not a party.
If he didn't think that was a party...
Breaking the law is gross misconduct so he should go.
That doesn't mean he lied to Parliament though. But that's a moot point, the threshold to go has already been passed.
‘No, this isn’t a party. The Conservatives these days are more of a Sicilian-style cartel.’
If wishing a colleague a happy birthday, while in the office, while at a work meeting is a "party" then you and I have different interpretations of the word party.
Sunak probably not and would resign first
It could have been both not-a-party and also a definite breach of Covid regulations.
The Labour poster needs to read, "You cannot trust the Conservative Party", with 'Party' in jazzy letters.
He is a pathological liar and needs to go which ironically wouldn’t be the best news for Labour but would be best for the country .
You simply can not normalize lying to the public and parliament without severe repercussions . Johnson has already lowered the bar .
Once you allow politicians a free pass on that you take a hammer and chisel away at democracy .
However, Johnson then has to explain how raising his glass of beer to a camera while wishing somebody happy birthday in a non-office location wasn’t a party!
The law is what matters here, no lie has been proven but nor does it need to, the law matters.
https://gizmodo.com/first-all-private-astronaut-team-arrives-at-the-interna-1848777001
https://twitter.com/maxseddon/status/1513877588971855886
This happens a lot in politics, a heavy defeat related to some of the first decisions of a new administration, misjudging that they really ought to have laid off spending promises.
When I think about how much sleep I'm losing over the thought of losing 8k a year to inflation, I wonder how companies like Apple are managing to sit on $202 billion in cash.
There must be an extraordinary amount of money sloshing around looking for a safe investment at the moment. The question is where is safe...
(Admittedly, it's a nice problem to have while millions will face the dilemma of "heating or eating" later this year)
2. Its clearly not work. I have eaten cake at work before. I have had birthday gatherings at work before. You aren't working at that point
3. They sang "Happy Birthday" over the cake. Ask any child what a birthday party looks like and its a load of your friends in a room singing Happy Birthday over the cake.
OK, so it wasn't Bunga Bunga like the one where Big Dog Liar waves his can of vaguely beer at the camera. But it clearly was not a work event. Sunak should have known better.
Truss
Tugendhat
Hunt
Wallace
Mordaunt
Javid
Sunak
https://www.betfair.com/exchange/plus/politics/market/1.160663234
https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/inflationandpriceindices/bulletins/indexofprivatehousingrentalprices/february2022
Which ought to be now.
Perhaps Special Celebratory Operation?
Either way, he needs to go. Whether he lied to Parliament is moot.
Is famous as hell...
Tugendhat and Hunt likely to team up to ensure early momentum my Dad said a bit back.
This is yet more evidence Putin was planning a blitzkrieg of his own: he’s obsessed with projecting his fears and flaws onto others.
https://twitter.com/maxseddon/status/1513881079345827844
https://twitter.com/mikeysmith/status/1513871655482929163
If you gather for work purposes then having a slice of cake and singing happy birthday during your work meeting is not a party and was not against the law either. People who needed to be gathered together for required work purposes were entitled to eat and talk.
This is their second entirely private orbital mission.
Compare with the bizarre parade of Sue Origin or Not So Virgin - all about the publicity.
https://twitter.com/OpiniumResearch/status/1513870398101893134?t=d2i3QyD0TqDbALMSsDauzw&s=19
I don't think it's in his DNA to do it, but it does make a lot of sense.
Also there is a UK election campaign on, a very good May result for Johnson could mean June general election, a disappointing Conservative night might put a bit of pressure on Johnson.
The Commander of the Argentine Navy said the Belgians was in a mission to attack the task force. The captain of the Belgians said that he was on a mission to attack the task force. He also has instructions to attack any Royal Navy ships he happened across - such as submarines.
The U.K. government knew, because the NSA was sending decrypts of Argentine communications in real-time - the contents of these was disclosed by Julian Assange and Wikileaks, in one of their data dumps.
We are waiting for Tory MPs - especially the cabinet - to issue messages of support for Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak
The spreadsheet is waiting to record the timing of your statements of support
Just a tweet will do
@TomLarkinSky
https://twitter.com/SamCoatesSky/status/1513882757457395712
Lying to Parliament has not been proven. It doesn't need to be though, lawmakers can not be lawbreakers.
https://twitter.com/NJ_Timothy/status/1513880978145660933
2. Fined for attending a party
3. Q.E.D.
Proven.
Make or break time for Johnson ... and the tories?
Do they do what they have to do to regain public trust over the next two years? Or do they really go the John Major route and sink the tories for a generation?
But there is a specific requirement in the ministerial code to resign if you have been found to have been lying to parliament. This is as clear a case of that as you will ever see.