Priti Patel

[Pariswhenitdrizzles]

Could someone please explain the situation?

Priti Patel travelled to Israel (apparently whilst on a family holiday) to hold meetings with the Israeli government. She didn't tell anyone one apart from Boris Johnson about this, so no one else knew anything about it.

She then commissioned policy in the Dept of international development on the back of these meetings.

Clearly, it's a massive conflict of interest. I get that.

But why did she do it? What's in it for her? Do you think she got paid really well for it by the Israeli government? And why did she not think that the shit would hit the fan if/when other people in government and the general public find out about it?

[MaidOfStars]

I can't think of any motivation other than some kind of glory seeking?

[mustbemad17]

Cos she's a moron?

[engineersthumb]

She is unbelievably pro Israeli. Ex head of the Conservative party "friends of Israel" group (or similar name I can't quite remember). What is behind the source of this I don't know. However, there are many other members who are influential and rich... however you slice it she is tainted now

[Pariswhenitdrizzles]

Ah maybe.

Apparently, the DfID was planning to donate money to humanitarian projects in Golab Heights. Maybe she would've used this as a way of showing how well her department has done, and that she's taken initiative to forge a relationship with Israel (or something along those lines?!)

Just read on the Guardian website that a Tory MP (doesn't say which one) is quoted as saying that the plot against Patel is part of a bigger movement by Tory MPs to reverse Brexit. Right. Okay then

[eddiemairswife]

She's very ambitious,and probably thinks quite highly of herself and that whatever she does is the right thing. Her hero is Mrs. Thatcher, who wasn't known for admitting she was ever wrong.

[Jayfee]

And like Andrea Ledsom ( yeuk) she fancies herseld as pm

[BriechonCheese]

She thinks she is unbreakable.
She also thinks the Tories won't shaft one another because they are fucked if they lose their majority.

[viques]

she is so pro Brexit she thinks she is (was) fireproof as TM needs pro Brexiteers in the cabinet.

[missiondecision]

Career glory and desire to become pm sound plausible but why did Boris keep his mouth shut about it?

[MissionItsPossible]

Probably because like any most politicians she was that arrogant she thought she wouldn't get caught out

[Pariswhenitdrizzles]

She also thinks the Tories won't shaft one another because they are fucked if they lose their majority.

I thought that too Briechon! It definitely puts Theresa May in a difficult position. Especially after Michael Fallon resigned.

[Pariswhenitdrizzles]

why did Boris keep his mouth shut about it?

Maybe she paid him off mission maybe they were in cahoots and planned it all together?!

[VladmirsPoutine]

Apparently Theresa May might let her resign rather than an outright firing. But we all know it's a firing nonetheless. Can't ever recall a secretary of state being summoned back from an official trip to meet immediately with the prime minister.
The wheels have certainly come off Mrs May's cabinet.

[DayManChampionOfTheSun]

It’s all a fucking joke. All the other countries must be looking on and laughing.

The state of our gonernment at the moment would be ott on a comedy sketch show, it is so depressing

[DayManChampionOfTheSun]

Government** obviously, but the typo of ‘gonerment’ might have have a Freudian slip

[SingaSong12]

From what I’ve seen she did not tell anyone in DfID Foreign Office, Borris or the British Embassy in Israel.

[PrivateParkin]

DayMan
Gonerment I love it! Have you considered a career as a headline writer?!

[RhiannonOHara]

why did Boris keep his mouth shut about it? So that if, I mean when, he next fucked up, her actions would divert attention from him to her.

He seems to be getting away with his 'slip of the tongue' about Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe.

[GrumpyMcGrumpFace]

I understood she only told Boris afterwards, which is why she kept having to "clarify" her previous statements (the "oops I lied the last time. Better change that before I'm caught publicly").

I also think she's fancying herself as PM and trying to cosy up to non EU leaders and possible donors.

So glad I can just swim and eat ice cream on holiday.

[VladmirsPoutine]

Patel has essentially made a mockery of the UK government's Foreign Policy goals by acting as some kind of freelance representative. Her position is untenable.

[Jerseysilkvelour]

Who remembers spitting image? This would be such good material for them.

[MaidOfStars]

Agree with the allusion above that she is being publicly sacked/resigning to save BoJo.

[PerkingFaintly]

Handy primer:

Here's A Complete Timeline Of The Increasingly Batshit Story About Priti Patel's Undisclosed Meetings In Israel
For everyone struggling to keep up, which is basically everyone.
www.buzzfeed.com/emilyashton/heres-a-complete-timeline-of-the-increasingly-batshit-story?utm_term=.pj9wZYYqq#.stQ3qRRYY

[VladmirsPoutine]

And lo- she's just resigned.

[mumisnotmyname]

She has just resigned, should help bo-jo