Police called to home of Boris and Carrie Symonds

Wow Red just wow ( except another wow)

Is it in the public interest for us to know of a potential domestic abuse incident for someone who is standing for election as PM?

More to the point, can anyone give me a good reason why it is not in the public interest for us to be aware of concerns of this nature?

This is the nature of being a politician. You should be held up to scrutiny. This is especially true about Boris Johnson.

The public interest in this story is extremely strong and legally virtually water tight.

We should reflect on the background to this a little.

His affair with Carrie Symonds had previously been under scrutiny because there are questions as to whether he is a security risk. He was disappearing, giving his bodyguards the slip for hours at a time to see her whilst he was foreign security. This is a big deal.

So his judgment and conduct over relationships is already under scrutiny.

Part of this story also appears to be that he has no respect for parking laws. He seems to think he is above them and they do not apply to him because he can just pay them off. This is a concern because he does not think the law applies equality, nor should it. He think that you should be able to buy your way out of breaking laws if you have the means. That's a two tier justice system and has serious ramifications for the rule of law and the future integrity of the justice system. It is a potential red flag about corruption and abuse of power.

If you have established a very strong public interest argument then questions over recordings are weak and not particularly pertainent.

The point with Levenson and phone hacking is that phone messages were accessed illegally AND the public interest argument was weak or non existant. They amounted to intrusion and harassment. However Levenson WAS NOT against investigative journalism though there are concerns that the implementation of Levenson 2 would have the unintended side effect of effectively destroying the ability of the press to conduct investigative journalism.

In the Johnson case, you can argue that he was being intrusive and anti-social to his neighbours by disturbing them and parking illegally too. The neighbours therefore have an argument to record this information - the idea they have to do a day by day diary is frankly laughable. You just have to prove the problem.

Just to remind people of why the 'public interest' argument is fair and why recording people without their consent is not illegal under certain circumstances, the recent Panarama programmes on the abuse of vulnerable adults could not have been made. At the heart of this is a concern that Johnson might be abusing his girlfriend.

Those screaming about Levenson and how unfair it is to Johnson might want to reflect on a) the law b) whether we should be concerned about potential abuse c) this man could be the prime minister d) every paper - including right wing papers has covered this story without hesitation.

Because yes its a big deal and yes its a legitimate use of recording without consent. It's just that politically not everyone likes this because it holds them up to scrutiny.

Do you really want politicians to be immune to scrutiny?

The "leftie smear" accusations over this are highly alarming regardless of your political persuasion because this is a movement to restrict accountability over potential abuses of power. It is not a defendable position. Not if you believe in democracy.

The word 'abuse' needs to be stressed on several levels. Concerns over a potential abuse of any kind should be a matter of public scrutiny.

I find it concerning this is even a debate. It is an erosion of governmental accountability by the press which forms part of the triangle of checks and balances between the executive, the media and the law which are crucial to the functionality of a liberal democracy, which prevents abuses of power within society against the people.

It's not 'just a private domestic argument' not on any level. It goes WAY beyond that.

Making a recording (from inside your own home) of neighbours having the kind or row that's audible from inside your home is not just reasonable, but sensible.

Also, the contortions some people will go to deflect criticism from BJ...

Let's all be honest here. If there was a "rumour" that the police had been called to Johnston and Symond's flat, this would have been dismissed as an "obvious lie to smear him".

If there is a recording, suddenly the fact the neighbor recorded it is taken as obvious evidence that the neighbor is a wrong 'un. So the evidence PROVES it must be made up (how Trumpian!)

I don't see why the neighbor shouldn't share the recording? It is in the public interest and was made within his own flat, using normal recording technology (on his phone). Would be different (and intrusive) if it was made using ultra sensitive, specialist microphones or something, of if he was clinging onto the windowsills to make it.

This is infuriating. Dr C is part of the TRA movement that smears predominantly left-wing women as “far right” for not bowing down to gender ideology, and it now turns out that he supports someone who is mates with Steve Bannon. I guess the apparent hypocrisy is easily explained though: the link between both those viewpoints is misogyny.

Dr C having his arse handed to him for coming out in support of Johnson: twitter.com/DoctorChristian/status/1142204203470905347

What is a given is they had a row, the neighbour calling the police for a welfare check is ok, the recording of it is NOT ok, he would not have recorded it if he hadn't got a famous prominent neighbour.

If they were rowing every night then a noise diary should be kept and a formal complaint made to the council but it appears to be a one off. Show me a couple who never argues ... seriously people yelling is quite common you know, and police did what they should do and no complaint was made

But having followed this on here and on twitter, and seen the deflections, the false narratives, the victim blaming, the blind eye turning, the tribalism, and all the rest, I'm no longer surprised.

👋🏽

Well it looks like im not the only one re Leveson.

ThanksHelena

And I agree the real story should be about Boris’ actual behaviour but unfortunately for the neighbour the public don’t tend to like the sneaky shit they did and people are now defending him! I am not surprised by his angry tantrums. I’ve never drank the cool aid and think he is a seriously despicable character. It’s all too late and don’t think Hunt has a chance when it’s the choice of them two.

They invited the papers going after them by going to the papers. The police attended rightly. Neighbours who recorded and sent them to national newspapers are being cry babies now that they’re in the crosshairs. Welcome to the UK press Bozos. Now you know it’s not a good idea to willingly get involved with them

That’s the article I referred to. It’s a piss take to expect that after being told by the police they were satisfied that sending recordings to a newspaper was solely because they had a moral duty to do so and they’re not political whatsoever. I don’t mind why they did but am not buying the lies

Sorry i should have made myself clear Certain publications have proved yet AGAIN that they cant self regulate on their own.

They have proved this by going after the neighbours who have done nothing wrong.

Helena can you elucidate please?

Leveson anyone?

www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/jun/22/neighbour-who-called-police-over-boris-johnson-row-goes-public?CMP=share_btn_tw

The neighbour who contacted the police over a late-night altercation between Tory leadership favourite, Boris Johnson, and his partner, Carrie Symonds, has gone public with his side of the story.

Tom Penn, who has lived at the property in south London for just over a year, said he wanted to put the record straight on his reasons for recording the row and then dialling 999.

Penn, who heard the loud argument, said he only contacted the police as a last resort after knocking three times at the couple’s flat and was concerned over the “bizarre and fictitious allegations” put to him and his wife since news of the incident broke and dominated front pages.

It comes after the Guardian revealed that police were called to the flat Johnson shares with Symonds in the early hours of Friday morning after the neighbour heard a loud altercation involving screaming followed by slamming and banging. On a recording made by the neighbour, Symonds can be heard telling Johnson to “get off me” and “get out of my flat”

In a statement released on Saturday night, Penn, 29, said: “In the early hours of Friday morning, I answered a phone call from a takeaway food delivery driver. At the same time, I heard what sounded like shouting coming from the street.

“I went downstairs, on the phone to the driver, and collected my food. On the way back into my flat, it became clear that the shouting was coming from a neighbour’s flat. It was loud enough and angry enough that I felt frightened and concerned for the welfare of those involved, so I went inside my own home, closed the door, and pressed record on the voice memos app on my phone.

“After a loud scream and banging, followed by silence, I ran upstairs, and with my wife agreed that we should check on our neighbours. I knocked three times at their front door, but there was no response. I went back upstairs into my flat, and we agreed that we should call the police.
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“The police arrived within five minutes. Our call was made anonymously, and no names were given to the police. They subsequently called back to thank us for reporting, and to let us know that nobody was harmed.

“To be clear, the recordings were of the noise within my own home. My sole concern up until this point was the welfare and safety of our neighbours. I hope that anybody would have done the same thing

“Once clear that no one was harmed, I contacted the Guardian, as I felt it was of important public interest. I believe it is reasonable for someone who is likely to become our next prime minister to be held accountable for all of their words, actions and behaviours.

“I, along with a lot of my neighbours all across London, voted to remain within the EU. That is the extent of my involvement in politics.

“The unpleasant things being said about myself and my partner, and some quite frankly bizarre and fictitious allegations, have been upsetting for not only us, but also for family, friends and fellow Camberwell neighbours, who are currently being harangued by the media. I would ask that you leave private citizens alone and focus instead on those who have chosen to run for power within the public eye.

“The attempts from some areas of the press to instead focus their stories on us, and in particular my wife, have been eye-opening, and very alarming. I would encourage anyone to record any instances where they feel concerned for another person’s safety.”

Scotland Yard said in a statement: “At 00.24 on Friday 21 June, police responded to a call from a local resident in [south London]. The caller was concerned for the welfare of a female neighbour

“Police attended and spoke to all occupants of the address, who were all safe and well. There were no offences or concerns apparent to the officers and there was no cause for police action.”

Johnson has refused to comment on the incident"

Blue there are things that go on very quietly behind closed doors that we have an absolute right to know about and which are illegal.

However way you look at him, Boris Johnson is a totally unsuitable choice for PM. He is our Trump.

Gove not give!

TheClitterati I'd be curious how the neighbor could be both a "lefty" (as he has been "outed" by some) and some sort of Give puppet.
Not everything is a conspiracy. Sometimes things are exactly what they look (and sound) like and I suspect this is one of those times, unfortunately.

Am I the only one wondering how/if the neighbour is connected to Michael Gove?

I think Johnson will be end up being palatable (-ish) to the electorate at large when the alternative is Corbyn. But after that they'll be looking for a productive outcome which I just can't see him delivering. I wouldn't be surprised to see a binary switch from "isn't he a card and what funny hair!" to "why should we listen to this slippery lying cunt?"

I'm not sure why this thread has veered off to a discussion about the neighbours?
I frankly don't give a fuck whether the neighbours are completely honourable, or sly, or what their motivations behind sharing the recording are.
The reason I'm not bothered is because there is approx 0% chance that BJ's neighbor will be our next PM.

Johnson's conduct IS a matter of public interest because there is a high likelihood he may the next PM.

Why the neighbor made the recording (and it is an entirely sensible thing to do if you hear what might be DV) doesn't change the facts of the recording at all. I am glad the neighbour shared it with a newspaper, as it is something the public have a right to know.

I am so sick of the minimising going on on other MN threads and beyond. Variations of the question "Who hadn't had an argument with their dp?" Keeps getting asked. Er, who hasn't had a screaming match with crashes, thumps, throwing objects, insults and "get out of my house!" etc yelled? Me. I have never had that kind of screaming match with DP. That type of argument is NOT normal, and if that is normal in your relationship then you are (at best) in a toxic relationship. At worst you're in a violent one.

The neighbour is lying in my opinion and probably doesn’t like Boris (rightly). He was totally right to call the police. But they came, investigated and said no case. The neighbour recording and sending stuff to papers means they can’t complain about the attention

Trusting Boris to deliver anything is absurd. He’s been a distaster in every role he’s been given. I’m done with Labour and Corbyn and done with the Tory MPs voting that idiot through.