22nd March, the Commons Privileges Comittee investigation into Partygate

These details no longer matter. Politics is about the perception of a person who seeks power.

The perception is now Johnson is a liar and sets rules that he does not obey himself.

You cannot argue someone out of a simple perception like that. The detail does not help you - as we see here, the best it does a generate a small amount of debate but it doesn't change the perception.

A more intelligent politician would say, yes, I got it wrong, I see and I was irresponsible. The issue with that is these are the reasons why he was a poor PM.

What he is really afraid of is irrelevance- being laughed at and confined to a diminished life make end of the pier speeches. That looks like his future. Even if it lucrative, he has lost that credibility he would need to tell himself and others that he was good.

Actually he was crap and so really he will make up some rubbish about his colleagues and this country being shit to him. Wait for it, because it's coming.

Yes, I do think insisting that having a leaving bash for two people because BJ needed to 'steady the ship' and saying it was 'essential work' is a total kick in the teeth to all those who couldn't have a wake for their loved ones.

And, before I am challenged, I know I know... workplace is different to a funeral. It is the optics and I'm afraid the great british public will skip the 'workplace' thing and jump straight to 'parties' and be very upset.

QT with no hands up to BJ not lying says it all.

And this guy speaks for most of us... what a star

https://twitter.com/LondonEconomic/status/1639004698530152448

You make an important point about the report. In many senses it is irrelvant, because everyone knows what happened.
I find it interesting that those trying to defend Johnson arent willing to engage in any discussion of why parties were essential for work, all we get is a load of whatabouttery.

And to add to my post... why on earth it would baffle you, god alone knows.

The one thing we would expect from our Government is to lead by example. To keep to the rules and restrictions set by them. Not 200 FPNs and the man at the top lying in the seat of parliament.

Basically, like everything this Government and BJ does... they and he thought they'd get away with it.
Well... they aren't. They are being called to account. And even if BJ gets off scot free, this will be his legacy.
Not the vaccines. Not Brexit.

But partying in No.10 whilst the public could not attend funerals.

See? we can do a soundbite too!

One was about reducing the spread in the community the other was about how guidance was implemented in the workplace

Guidance which aimed to, er, reduce the spread of the virus. That is the bottom line. All the regulations, rules and guidance had one aim. To reduce the spread of the virus.

It's about the optics isn't it?

And even BJ said that the optics didn't look good for people looking over the fence into the garden of No.10 and seeing trestle tables laden with booze and a party going on.

And couple that with BJ's lies and that he didn't mislead parliament (he did) and didn't know he should not have been attending these bashes (because he is incapable of making rational judgements), and making out it was necessary work ... that is why it is conflated with funerals

The optics are really really bad for those that couldn't attend funerals, see their loved ones in their dying days, etc.

The workplace guidance was restricting meeting to 2 people unless necessary for the purposes of work. Plus an obligation to minimise contact wherever possible.

@Janiie On the subject of things that are the same. Why do you think it was acceptable for a 56 year old man to have a birthday party and not millions of children?

@Janiie the workplace is part of the community. Honestly 🙄you Tories.

Someone interviewed on the news afterwards, who knew Johnson well, said he'd no doubt Johnson would very genuinely feel hard done by, at being required to account for his actions.

'You know this inquiry is about Johnson misleading Parliament and not about him attending funerals?'

Sorry I missed this. Exactly. Which is why it baffles me that people keep saying some couldn’t attend funerals. It's 2 completely different things isn't it. One was about reducing the spread in the community the other was about how guidance was implemented in the workplace.

His mask really slips doesn't it? Clenched fists, his mouth twisting with supressed rage. No jolly buffoon there, just a nasty, corrupt, liar of a man who thinks he is answerable to no one.

Also note the dig at Starmer, attempting to suggest he is to blame for raising what Johnson thought was a trivial matter.

They just don’t think they should be held to account at all. Hence attempting to prorogue parliament and kicking all the moderates out of the party. Essentially they don’t believe in democracy or justice, that’s why Starmer got under Johnson’s skin so much.

You would've thought so. What I don't understand is... calling the Privileges Committee a KC when it was made up as follows..
4 conservatives
2 Labour
1 SNP

It makes a mockery of the stupid KC assertions.

@Janiie and can you also confirm that you are 100% OK with Sir Keir Starmer's beer at work and that you disapprove vehemently of the way he was investigated, especially with the second investigation being fully prompted by pressure on the police from the Conservatives?

Surely Dorries is in contempt of Parliament?

But then I guess that's part of the brand.

@Janiie on the subject of answering questions. Can you explain why you think it acceptable for a 56 year old to have a birthday party whilst denying that opportunity to millions of children?

What utter drivel, although I shouldn't have expected any different

She is desperate for that place in the Lords isn't she, whilst making a complete show of herself.

I'm surprised she didn't criticise Harman's necklace whilst she was ranting!

As an aside what is wrong with a fit person retiring at 68?

What is right with an unfit and exhausted person in a tiring job having to wait until 68 to retire? (I’m 69 and am lucky enough to be able to still work part time, but couldn’t have managed full time at 68.)

As an aside, wait until you’re 68 and see. You might feel rather differently.

Well no, you're musing on mumsnet if folk are complacent as I said you've answered you're own question. You don't have to organise a march 20 minutes later but why not have a plan if you feel strongly..May, July?

You are being daft now. I posted something, and you now want an undertaking that I will organise a March in May or July. 😂🤣
Apparently I have 'answered my own question'. Sure!

It's rather ironic that you are posting like this when you fervently support the Tories who have made people's lives infinitely worse over the last 12 years. Now that's the definition of irony.

And your second para shows what you really think. Keep working everybody! Don't expect a pension and a peaceful retirement!

'Are you expecting me to have organised a March twenty minutes after I have posted on here?! '

Well no, you're musing on mumsnet if folk are complacent as I said you've answered you're own question. You don't have to organise a march 20 minutes later but why not have a plan if you feel strongly..May, July?

As an aside what is wrong with a fit person retiring at 68? So may highly skilled experienced people have so much to offer and should be encouraged to continue working. Health issues aside of course, but that is what esa etc is for.

Well indeed borntobequiet.

I think this clip is worth watching again... and it's where we realise Johnson has never been held to account before.

"If I was accused of lawbreaking, and I had to give undertakings to the House of Commons...I'd want the advice of a lawyer."

"The question is, why didn't you take proper advice?"

Bernard Jenkin is single-handedly ending Boris Johnson's political career.

https://twitter.com/PoliticsJOE_UK/status/1638595309424058383