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Original poster

Do you think previous Prime Ministers would've had No. 10 parties during Covid?

67 replies

Bouledeneige · 09/12/2021 22:22

If they were PM?

I'm thinking:
Theresa May - No
Cameron - Yes or maybe a supper for friends
Brown - No
Blair - Maybe
Major - No
Thatcher - No

What do you think?

OP posts:
ChardonnaysPetDragon · 09/12/2021 23:01

I cannot imaging Gordon Brown and John Major having a party at all. Ever.

RancidOldHag · 09/12/2021 23:05

John Major - the boy who ran away from the circus!

I never saw him as the partying kind

willowstar · 09/12/2021 23:11

@rrhuth I really like Gordon Brown, even more since I heard him on the today programme saying that he has always donated all of his extra income to charity.

Onthedunes · 09/12/2021 23:17

I agree with all suggestions except Blair..

He definitely would and Cherie would have been at the door charging entry fee.

MarshaBradyo · 09/12/2021 23:18

@HighlandCowbag

I don't think May would have tbh, she seemed a bit of an anti social bugger and would have used the rona to get out of social obligations.

Blair definitely would. Whats an illegal party compared to an illegal war? Cameron would have as well, then ran away afterwards.

Ha to last part and agree
DamnYouAutoCarRental · 09/12/2021 23:26

I think most of them would, but would be a bit slicker at having it described as a business meeting and making sure no-one ever heard otherwise.

Gordon Brown would have stuck to the rules.

Original poster
Bouledeneige · 09/12/2021 23:38

I'm not sure they would all have done it for moral reasons - but they would be too aware of the optics and reputation risk.

OP posts:
AdoptedBumpkin · 09/12/2021 23:40

Cameron possibly. Blair at a push.

The rest, no. My guess is most PMs in history probably wouldn't.

GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 09/12/2021 23:49

I went to a party Gordon Brown was at (long before Covid-19) and looked like he was enjoying himself. I don't think he would have gone to an illegal party though. I agree with you assessment, Blair and Cameron might have the others probably wouldn't. Johnson is certainly worst PM of my lifetime and I was born as Thatcher came to power.

Onthedunes · 09/12/2021 23:50

@Bouledeneige

I'm not sure they would all have done it for moral reasons - but they would be too aware of the optics and reputation risk.
Nah, Blair would have already had an excuse ready for any eventuality.

Very shrewd man.

OhWhyNot · 09/12/2021 23:54

Cameron definitely

Blair probably (if celebs there definitely)

May, Brown, Major and Thatcher no

OhWhyNot · 09/12/2021 23:56

Yes Alister Campbell would agree e written the script from Blair before the invites were sent out

madisonbridges · 09/12/2021 23:56

@SilverGlassHare

I’m not keen on Corbyn (I know he hasn’t been PM!) but I absolutely can’t see him doing it.
His brother would deginitely hold one for him, though.
Onthedunes · 10/12/2021 00:01

@OhWhyNot

Yes Alister Campbell would agree e written the script from Blair before the invites were sent out
Yes, it would have been held as an emergency cobra meeting.

The essential gathering.

madisonbridges · 10/12/2021 00:11

@OhWhyNot

Yes Alister Campbell would agree e written the script from Blair before the invites were sent out
Then they'd put together a dossier to hand out to the press to prove their case!
Original poster
Bouledeneige · 10/12/2021 00:11

I think Brown would be very sanctimonious and glum as a Covid PM but at least he's exceptionally intelligent (though entirely lacking in EQ). Blair like a smarmy vicar smiling with sorrow in his eyes giving us soundbites. Cameron was a pretty lazy PM but BJ now makes even him look good. Hate Thatcher - an obligation from my youth. She'd probably let people die in the streets and tell us there was no such thing as society. Just family responsibility to wheel the bodies to the cemetery.

Corbyn? No. He's only got one lens to look at the world through and its certainly not the science.

Not sure who out of the lot of them I'd have trusted - (I can't bring myself to say any of them..). Maybe John Major? How fucking weird is that? Just Edwin Currie popping in for a quickie at lunchtime.

OP posts:
JazzyBBG · 10/12/2021 00:14

Major would have had a soirée with Edwina. Filth. It's always the quiet ones.

Uninterested · 10/12/2021 00:15

I think you have it about right. Some people have morals, some don’t but some of the ones who don’t have morals aren’t stupid.

Being stupid, and having no morals isn’t a great combination

Original poster
Bouledeneige · 10/12/2021 00:17

Well put Uninterested

OP posts:
Justcannotbearsed · 10/12/2021 00:18

I really don’t think they would have done. They would have all known they were asking exceptional sacrifices and just got on with it. (Even Cameron).

But the current prime minister and establishment just don’t get it….

madisonbridges · 10/12/2021 00:20

Did the Boris Johnson actually go the party?

JackieCollinshasnoauthority · 10/12/2021 00:22

@madisonbridges

Did the Boris Johnson actually go the party?
No, because there wasn't a party.
Original poster
Bouledeneige · 10/12/2021 00:23

BJ went to the November leaving do. Apparently.

But I could've asked the same question - would any of them have permitted a party in No. 10 and I think I'd've answered the same way.

OP posts:
madisonbridges · 10/12/2021 00:26

OK. Let me rephrase. Did Boris Johnson go to this non-party? Was it spontaneous or was it pre-planned. Who else went? Do we have any confirmed details about this cheek by jowl party that didn't happen?

madisonbridges · 10/12/2021 00:32

BJ went to the November leaving do. Apparently.
So before tier 3? I don't know when tier 3 came in. I can't even remember the restrictions now! I thought I'd remember them forever!!