Just switched on as Starmer was asking his last question. Disastrous response from Boris which horribly contrasted with the icy demeanour of his predecessor who then followed him. He really needs to go, I'm afraid.
Not enough to topple Johnson before the next election. But enough to leave the stench of criminality around him for good.
Far too early to say that.
If the Met determine the PM broke the law (considering the flat is one investigated by them) then surely that is the end of Boris.
If the Met determine the law wasn't broken, then that should be the end of the matter too.
Either way, I don't see how this can drag on until the election.
That's a reframing in his favour that doesn't work. The bar is whether he lied to Parliament not whether he gets a fixed penalty notice. If he lied to Parliament he must go. Or to put it differently, if the evidence shows he lied to Parliament about these rule-breaking parties in the middle of a pandemic but he *still* won't resign, Tory MPs simply must remove him. And if they don't the public must punish them with a shellacking in the polls and a landslide loss of seats. If none of this happens we're fucked. It's Banana Republic and total loss of self-respect here we come.
Whether the law was broken, or whether the rules were broken, is the same thing.
Guidelines are not rules. They're guidelines. Laws are the rules.
This lies to Parliament thing is weird because if the threshold to say he lied has been met, the threshold he has to go for other reasons has also already been met. So yes if he's lied to Parliament he should go, but in this case it's an unnecessary and redundant condition.
No, if he lied it doesn't follow he'll get a penalty notice. Likewise if he doesn't get a penalty notice it doesn't follow he didn't lie.
He said he had no knowledge of rule-breaking events. Will the Gray Report (when we get the proper one) and/or the Met investigation show that to be a lie?
Let's see.
If the PM knew the law was being broken by either himself or his team and did nothing about it then he should resign. Whether he'd said to the House that the law wasn't being broken or not.
Not going well for @BorisJohnson. He's tried the tub thumping stuff from PMQs but seems he's misjudged the mood. Lots of glum Tory faces. And Theresa May whacked him
Johnson has totally fecked up the tone in his reply
All that rubbish about Jimmy Saville as well
Missed that. What did he say about Savile?
He said AIUI that it was SKS's fault Saville didn't get prosecuted. Not a comparison I would want to have made about myself - seeing as it was SKS "prosecuting" Mr Johnson this afternoon, unfairly so under Mr J's argument (I think).
I thought you were a honest person G, that is shocking partisan crap and puts HYFUD to shame, I cannot believe you are much worse than him. Only person with a backbone in the place
It was always going to be near-impossible for Boris to handle this situation in the Commons, but I'm surprised he didn't at least attempt the humble contrition gambit. That probably shows how flustered he is.
Blackford making it about him and is going to make the headlines and deflect the story
Andrew Mitchell withdraws support
Boris is on his way out
Blackford pointedly refusing to withdraw an allegation that BJ lied to the house may not be entirely bad politics.
Yes, I'm no fan of Blackford but he's played that perfectly from the SNP's point of view. Already looking past this immediate farce and doing the groundwork on what comes next.
Theresa May excoriating Gray shows No10 didn't observe rules it imposed. "Either [he] hasn't read the rules, or understood the rules or didn't think the rules applied to No 10? Which is it" PM gives her short shrift, full denial mode in tone cld well further incense some MPs
It was clear from the start of this affair that if events did take place the only possible defence was an 'I'm stupid' defence, which is the last gasp defence of any politician.
Since at least some events are acknowledged to have taken place I'm not sure attempting other than an I'm stupid defence is viable.
I thought you were a honest person G, that is shocking partisan crap and puts HYFUD to shame, I cannot believe you are much worse than him. Only person with a backbone in the place
He was poor in the sense making it about him and misjudged how he came across
What's news here? Johnson is and has always been a liar.
The vile corrupt sleazy Tories made this lying piece of shit their leader. They will hopefully follow a similar fate to the disingenuous fat philanderer.
It was always going to be near-impossible for Boris to handle this situation in the Commons, but I'm surprised he didn't at least attempt the humble contrition gambit. That probably shows how flustered he is.
I thought you were a honest person G, that is shocking partisan crap and puts HYFUD to shame, I cannot believe you are much worse than him. Only person with a backbone in the place
Thankfully the Welsh as a whole are not as ignorant as Big G. Wales, like Scotland and London will be a Tory free zone soon...
I thought you were a honest person G, that is shocking partisan crap and puts HYFUD to shame, I cannot believe you are much worse than him. Only person with a backbone in the place
He was poor in the sense making it about him and misjudged how he came across
Not at all he told teh truth that Boris had lied and misled teh house, 100% accurate as everyone knows.
I can't understand why the PM thinks it's effective to tell opposition MPs off for focusing too much on parties during a statement called for that express purpose.
If so, we're there any rules against it at the time?
I was responding to "Parties would have not happened under May's watch, absolutely 100% sure of that"
Which doesn't say anything about rule-breaking parties.
I think the one before Prince Phillip's funeral hits the mark because (a) it actually could have been legal, done differently* and (b) the suitcase!.
The link provided shows that the culture of drinking, which Gray highlights in point 4 is not a Boris thing but wider spread.
4. The excessive consumption of alcohol is not appropriate in a professional workplace at any time. Steps must be taken to ensure that every Government Department has a clear and robust policy in place covering the consumption of alcohol in the workplace.
*Earlier that week, for example, I was sitting on a bench of six but knew practically everyone on all the other handful of benches out the front of the pub.
It was always going to be near-impossible for Boris to handle this situation in the Commons, but I'm surprised he didn't at least attempt the humble contrition gambit. That probably shows how flustered he is.
I can sort of understand it from his pov. Contrition, of attempted, wouldn't call off his internal critics, so a confident, punchy response stirs up his backers at least.
Comments
On bloody fire. A performance for the ages.
Would have helped emphasis the issue.
Andrew Mitchell withdraws support
Boris is on his way out
Tells the PM he no longer enjoys his support
Lawmakers can not be lawbreakers.
@DPJHodges
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Bernard Jenkin and Steve Baker trying to get in. Their interventions could be significant.
https://twitter.com/Mij_Europe/status/1488179717421383686?s=20&t=nQZNfBgj7Fd6QKC6qfr2UA
He will have to be dragged out.
Ask the Speaker to advise which is to be believed - the report in the library of the commons, or the PMs earlier statement.
The suggestion?
Time for Dom's photo drop.
Since at least some events are acknowledged to have taken place I'm not sure attempting other than an I'm stupid defence is viable.
Which doesn't say anything about rule-breaking parties.
The vile corrupt sleazy Tories made this lying piece of shit their leader. They will hopefully follow a similar fate to the disingenuous fat philanderer.
As predicted at the time, the 'it was the longstanding culture at fault' will be the cry. So much for government responding to things quickly.
I take it he's not banned from the Commons for good (thanks to VAR)?
If he had the balls to stand on his feet while taking his punishment would it have been By-election time?????
https://twitter.com/anandMenon1/status/1488180935807979523?s=20&t=nQZNfBgj7Fd6QKC6qfr2UA
Please wait patiently.
Now impertinent upstarts are asking for details!
So unfair.
Theresa May was a zinger. Keir Starmer was impressive today.
I think a lot of tory MPs know what they have to do but Johnson has a habit of getting away with it so I'm still not holding my breath.
(Amazingly, I thought Priti Patel looked pretty pissed off with Johnson and was nodding through much of Keir Starmer's speech.)
Tomorrow is another issue that can wait until, well, tomorrow.
The link provided shows that the culture of drinking, which Gray highlights in point 4 is not a Boris thing but wider spread.
4. The excessive consumption of alcohol is not appropriate in a professional workplace at any time. Steps must be taken to ensure that every Government Department has a clear and robust policy in place covering the consumption of alcohol in the workplace.
*Earlier that week, for example, I was sitting on a bench of six but knew practically everyone on all the other handful of benches out the front of the pub.
The clown refuses to commit