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This looks problematic for Number 10 – politicalbetting.com
This looks problematic for Number 10 – politicalbetting.com
EXPLOSIVE NEW DETAIL – The MoS has been told that in 2020, during a discussion about whether to appoint Mr Pincher to the post of Chief Whip, the Prime Minister told aides: ‘He’s handsy, that’s a problem. Pincher by name, pincher by nature’.
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So Boris knew this guy had a character flaw, but decided to give him the benefit of the doubt. Isn’t that the charitable, Christian thing to do?
Perhaps Mr Pincher was given a warning before he took up the job? “No groping, please”. Which would be entirely fair
Or are we going to ban anyone from having a job if they have “a reputation”?
"When Mr Pincher quit as Deputy Chief Whip on Thursday after admitting groping two men in a private members’ club, a Number 10 spokesman told reporters that he was ‘not aware of the prime minister being aware [of the allegations] before any appointment’..."
Note the VERY care wordsmithing.
"No Aware of Being Aware" would make a great number for future boffo box-office Big Dog musical.
Score by The Lord Lloyd-Webber (or is is The Lloyd Lord-Webber?) script by Dominic Cummings.
He was living very dangerously, writing that rather good drink column at the same time as putting it away to the extent he allegedly did
At least the Tory whip who kicked the Belgian ambassador in the ass believed he was acting in the line of duty.
AND he didn't go around doing it to parliamentary staff and Young Conservatives, just for jollies.
Or are you more likely to get an appointment if some aspect of your life is a mess because it gives No 10 a decent power of blackmail/knows you'll be less of a threat to big Dog's job ?
"The first sniff finds fragrant roses and a gentle fruitiness. The first sip suggests plenty of spice (some say tar, but I suggest a more mellow liquorice or toffee) and an earthiness which belies the absence of opacity. But it slips over the tongue, warming its way to the throat with an easy astringency as the plum and black cherry flavours flower to full blossom.
Further sips confirm the sensation making a Barolo an ideal accompaniment to manzo all’olio, pampanella or some other traditional and heavy meat dish served in the evening when work is done and pleasure crooks her forefinger."
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One other thing. Boris knew the rumours about Pincher. He believed the rumours about Pincher. He spread the rumours about Pincher himself. But he was also aware of specific allegations relating to Pincher.
https://twitter.com/DPJHodges?s=20&t=zFUDy03k5Y_j3chinBozZA
Here for one night. Hot.
What I cannot understand, is how - against a backdrop of allegations of "misconduct" ruining peoples careers and serious jail sentences for sexual assault - is how anyone could still possibly be going around groping people. Those who do, must be completely reckless and insane.
More than one were closeted.
It can't have been easy for him.
Although he's had 30+ years to deal with it.
https://theculturetrip.com/europe/italy/articles/how-to-eat-cicchetti-like-a-venetian/
Alternatively, brace yourself, summon the 2nd mortgage and go into one of the 5 star hotels, like the Gritti or the St Regis. The food will be good (as it should be) but omg the price. So, not cheapish, sorry
Though I did manage to score a free meal in Venice itself. By simple expedient of leaving the center of the hubbub, and wandering in the outer neighborhoods. Where the locals were celebrating Carnivale in their own fashion. For example, a small street fair featuring kiddie rides with local kiddies dressed in Halloween costumes.
AND another small gathering, where a bunch of gondolieri were cooking up a big pot of seafood stew. When I stood there enjoying the wonderful aroma, a guy handed me a bowl - it was great! Whole seen reminded me of Mardi Gras in New Orleans - NOT the mass crowd scenes at the big parades and fancy balls. Instead, the way they enjoy the festival out in the hoods & hinterlands.
Twitter also awash with rumours Starmer has already been fined and they are busy clearing the decks of policy and setting up interim leadership prior to announcing. Much of it from randoms but not all of it. Interesting and fun but i wouldnt go betting on it!
The 59-year-old said: "(There was) lost luggage everywhere, stacked between baggage belts everyone stepping over it and no one doing anything about it.
"Being brutally honest, it looks like a serious health and safety issue. "No one visible on the ground to explain the carnage or sort out the mess, it seems like lots of luggage has not arrived with passengers and just been dumped.""
https://news.sky.com/story/more-flight-cancellations-as-airlines-re-work-schedules-in-line-with-slot-amnesty-12644134
It seems so and with a vengeance
Johnson has to be overthrown even to start draining the swamp
I am utterly disgusted with Johnson and those keeping him in place
Indeed I am so disenchanted I have not been contributing much, as there is just so much more in life to enjoy than constantly being angry
Politico.com - Air travel is a hot mess. There’s not much the government can do about it.
Prepare for another bruising holiday weekend at 30,000 feet — if you don't get delayed.
https://www.politico.com/news/2022/07/01/air-travel-july-fourth-00043643
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg recently called airline CEOs to a meeting to talk about how to ease the waves of delays and cancellations that have stranded thousands of passengers this summer — during the Juneteenth-Father’s Day weekend, some 3,000 flights were canceled and tens of thousands more delayed. But so far, talking is all that’s happened.
“Our preferred way to deal with these issues is partnership,” Buttigieg said at an industry lunch on Wednesday. He added that DOT will “use whatever authorities are available to us to ensure the customers have a good experience.”
Aviation analysts and legal experts said even if Buttigieg wanted to crack down, there’s not much the government can do in the short term to help air travel run more smoothly.
But so far the administration has been hesitant to flex its authorities to compel action, beyond expediting flight refunds and using its bully pulpit.
“There’s really very little that the government can do because airlines are supposed to be a free-market business,” said airline and travel industry analyst Henry Harteveldt. “They are deregulated and they are supposed to be able to compete as they believe is necessary while not compromising safety.”
SSI - In addition to more general impacts, will be interesting to see IF this negatively impacts Secretary Buttigieg's job performance ratings AND future POTUS prospects.
For the older among us, this is all too reminiscent of poor ole "Back to Basics" John Major and the neverending series of sleaze stories that helped terminate his government.
BJ will not be leading the Tories into the next GE. The hearts of the backbenchers are hardening.
I think every reasonable Tory wants Boris out. It is, as you say, so disenchanting (I'd have gone with demeaning) in the way the governemnt is acting.
I'm baffled as to the astonishingly low bar that seems to have been set for Tory MPs. I applied once, and was rejected out of hand. I imagine they'd have my arm off now given the prevailing standards.
In good times I once thought that the parlimentary party had many good people in their midst. I struggle now to think of anyone I'd trust. Such is the Boris legacy.
Have we mentioned https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2022/07/4991f2943f7b-russian-warships-pass-between-japans-westernmost-islands.html ? Seems a little bit.. interesting… to be trying for 2 fronts of confrontation. Or is Putin flexing his navy to seem like a serious power?
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jul/02/women-accused-of-abortions-in-england-and-wales-after-miscarriages-and-stillbirths
'Women in England and Wales who have suffered miscarriages or stillbirths are being investigated by police on suspicion of having illegal abortions, with some forced to hand over their phones and laptops for invasive “digital strip searches”.
In one case in 2021, a 15-year-old girl who had an unexplained early stillbirth was subjected to a year-long criminal investigation that saw her text messages and search history examined. Police dropped the case after a coroner concluded the pregnancy ended because of natural causes.'
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/jun/29/ruthlessly-organised-tory-rebels-plot-1922-takeover-to-oust-boris-johnson
Looks ominous for BJ.
Obviously not all reputations will even be true, you have a point there, but the jest he made is on the premise the reputation is true, in which case it isn't charitable to appoint him anyway, it's stupid - being charitable doesn't require he be given authority in the party. And with concerns of this nature, you shouldn't take such a chance, when the risk is on others, some of whom might feel they cannot stop the man.
If it was just the PM making a dark joke and he did not think the man was actually a problem I'm not inclined to condemn him for his sense of humour, but make a joke like that in politics and you have to accept what it will look like if it comes out.
https://downwithtyranny.blogspot.com/2011/01/thurber-tonight-my-life-and-hard-times_09.html
My memories of what my family and I went through during the 1913 flood in Ohio I would gladly forget. And yet neither the hardships we endured nor the turmoil and confusion we experienced can alter my feeling toward my native state and city. I am having a fine time now and wish Columbus were here, but if anyone ever wished a city was in hell it was during that frightful and perilous afternoon in 1913 when the dam broke, or, to be more exact, when everybody in town thought that the dam broke.
We were both ennobled and demoralized by the experience. Grandfather especially rose to magnificent heights which can never lose their splendor for me, even though his reactions to the flood were based upon a profound misconception; namely, that Nathan Bedford Forrest's cavalry was the menace we were called upon to face.
The only possible means of escape for us was to flee the house, a step which grandfather sternly forbade, brandishing his old army sabre in his hand. "Let the sons -- ------- come!" he roared.
Meanwhile hundreds of people were streaming by our house in wild panic, screaming "Go east! Go east!" We had to stun grandfather with the ironing board. Impeded as we were by the inert form of the old gentleman -- he was taller than six feet and weighed almost a hundred and seventy pounds -- we were passed, in the first half-mile, by practically everybody else in the city.
Had grandfather not come to, at the corner of Parsons Avenue and Town Street, we would unquestionably have been overtaken and engulfed by the roaring waters -- that is, if there had been any roaring waters. . . .
People ran out leaving fires burning and food cooking and doors wide open. I remember, however, that my mother turned out all the fires and that she took with her a dozen eggs and two loaves of bread. It was her plan to make Memorial Hall, just two blocks away, and take refuge somewhere in the top of it, in one of the dusty rooms where war veterans met and where old battle flags and stage scenery were stored. But the seething throngs, shouting "Go east!" drew her along and the rest of us with her.
When grandfather regained full consciousness, at Parsons Avenue, he turned upon the retreating mob like a vengeful prophet and exhorted the men to form ranks and stand off the Rebel dogs, but at length he, too, got the idea that the dam had broken and, roaring "Go east!" in his powerful voice, he caught up in one arm a small child and in the other a slight clerkish man of perhaps forty-two and we slowly began to gain on those ahead of us. . . .
SSI - Must say that I've always shared Thurber's admiration for his brave old grandfather. And always will.
As was Tractor fan man.
One of key witnesses has told Mail he is ready to testify under oath.
Ex-head of DPP in court presumably defending himself?
Popcorn time.
Poll in @SundayTimesScot: “On the question of whether or not they support independence, 48 per cent said they were in favour while 47 per cent were opposed. Five per cent said they did not know.”
..Nicola Sturgeon has tweeted her delight at the poll. But I can’t see how Scotland isn’t stuck in a cycle of despair if that continues. Even if a vote is held and won by yes, the division won’t end.
At least one witness has told the police they agree to testify, if any fines are challenged
The witness claims the Durham gathering was 'entirely social'
https://twitter.com/avmikhailova/status/1543280745422241793
Starmer appealing it would be political suicide. Looks like he is just trying to keep his job and makes him indistinguishable party wise from Doggy McCakeBlowie
Edit - and would make 'integrity' a bigger joke than it already is
Patel, Raab, or (snigger) Gove could wield the knive with a spectacular resignation, and therefore catapult themselves into consideration.
He has form wrt Johnson of course.
Keir's Curry night piss up with Mazza Foy and The Ginge. Legends.
Starmer surely is better accepting a fine than that if it is true