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Original poster

More party activity at Number 10 May 2020

141 replies

Forion · 19/12/2021 19:21

www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/dec/19/boris-johnson-and-staff-pictured-with-wine-in-downing-street-garden-in-may-2020?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

OP posts:
GraceJonesBiggestFan · 19/12/2021 21:16

About this time, my preschooler was refusing to walk past the park on our 1 hour exercise, because they’d chained it shut. People in nearby tower blocks were full on locked down. Benches were taped off. People were saying goodbye to dying loved ones over an iPad.

This wasn’t a work meeting. There are no pens, note-takers, laptops etc. Carrie is there. This is a pisstake.

BarefootHippieChick · 19/12/2021 21:17

They're standing right next to each other.

They're not elbow to elbow, there's gaps between every one of them. Plus they're further away so it's hard to judge how close they really are. But anyway.

Original poster
Forion · 19/12/2021 21:17

But they really weren't!!

People were told to remain socially distanced within their gardens. They weren't permitted to mix or hold communal parties or get togethers.

OP posts:
GraceJonesBiggestFan · 19/12/2021 21:17

Should have explained. My preschooler was refusing to walk past the chained up playground because it was so distressing to her to not be able to use it.

RedRobinRedbreast · 19/12/2021 21:19

@BarefootHippieChick

At least the ones on the grass look like they're attempting to social distance
the photo angle makes it look like they are close together
Original poster
Forion · 19/12/2021 21:20

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-52557524

OP posts:
Original poster
Forion · 19/12/2021 21:22

the photo angle makes it look like they are close together

You really are clutching at straws.

They're not two metres apart, not by any stretch of the imagination.
Camera angles Hmm

OP posts:
xxxGirlCrushxxx · 19/12/2021 21:23

yes....socially distanced street parties!! as everyone said op! not cancelled at all

xxxGirlCrushxxx · 19/12/2021 21:25

@BarefootHippieChick

They're standing right next to each other.

They're not elbow to elbow, there's gaps between every one of them. Plus they're further away so it's hard to judge how close they really are. But anyway.

definitely further away....its clear they are making effort.

Despite op trying to claim they are sardines!

Original poster
Forion · 19/12/2021 21:26

A socially distanced street party is very different to a street party where people are mixing together.

OP posts:
Original poster
Forion · 19/12/2021 21:27

No, they're really not making an effort.

OP posts:
GraceJonesBiggestFan · 19/12/2021 21:28

Not sure why people are throwing the VE Day parties as some sort of “gotcha!”. Those parties are in the news because… they were breaking the law. Just as the vile Johnson’s party was breaking the law. This photo was taken during the first and strictest lockdown. In the second, less strict lockdown, 2 friends were arrested for having a takeaway coffee on opposite ends of a bench!

Original poster
Forion · 19/12/2021 21:28

It's truly pathetic how you try to defend your atrocious leader and his hypocritical cronies.

OP posts:
Abraxan · 19/12/2021 21:29

@Hbh17

I don't care & don't know anybody who does! It is all just so tedious.
Everyone I know cares enough to think the government, and especially Boris, have lost all credibility.

I also know a few ardent try supporters and even they have had enough of him now and are struggling to take anything he says with any sort of seriousness.

In May we lost my grandma. She died alone in hospital without her family. The nursing staff did let her children in, in full masks, aprons and gloves to say a quick 5 minute goodbye each one by one. Her funeral could only be attended by a small number of family members - difficult when she has 6 children, all with spouses, children and grandchildren - most of who couldn't attend. And no wake allowed.

The month before we said goodbye to FIL- only reason dh and mil and bil could be with him is because we fought to get him moved to a hospice the day before. Only two people could be in the room at the time - I have never asked dh if it was him or his brother who made the decision to stand outside, I don't want to upset either of them. 1m of us could go to his funeral with no wake. Officially we weren't supposed to be sat next to one another.

Not to mention DD's 18th birthday celebrations having to be cancelled, missing her exams and her chance to achieve the best results she could, no end of school celebrations, a mockery of exam chaos, another grandparent's funeral in the summer under restrictions, a postponed wedding celebration for friends, and so much more.

So yes, I care. Two very difficult funerals at this time and missed life event celebrations, all whilst Boris sits with his mates drinking wine together.

Boris is not fit for the job.he is an embarrassment to the country and his party. He should step down. Sadly he is also a huge ego and will only go when forced to.

AppleKatie · 19/12/2021 21:29

You know what- I wasn’t having a socially distracted street party because I thought it was against the rules.

In hindsight… we’ll I’d be less bothered but it simply isn’t true that ‘everyone else was doing it’

And even if it was… they should have been aware of the optics of what they do and that the public has a right to see them leading my example and being held to the highest of standards.

It’s unacceptable.

bigbluebus · 19/12/2021 21:32

I remember the VE day party in the street behind us. I saw the photos and video footage on Facebook - there was very little social distancing, even though they claimed to be ( I have it on good authority from someone who was a reluctant guest). DH and I, on the other hand, went for a bike ride, then had a tea party for 2 in our back garden as that was what was permitted in the rules at that time.

This smacks of Cummings taking photos to protect his position after the Barnard Castle debacle.

Abraxan · 19/12/2021 21:33

@DartmoorChef

Hes in work clothes, so are the others. I would imagine that behind the doors there are lots of staff at no.10. Could have been a post work drink after the working day.

I'm failing to get worked up about this one.

Where nhs staff allowed to have wine and cheese parties after work together?

Were school staff allowed to be sat together after work?
I know we weren't - it was against the rules.
Our school staff went to work, did their job and went home. All bubbled, closed staff rooms, no mixing of staff, 2m away from all other adults in the building, all meetings done via zoom either a bit after work hours to let everyone get home to log in there or individual staff sat at the class laptops logging in alone, etc. Not a chance we could have a 'work meeting' together let alone one with wine and cheese!

ElectraBlue · 19/12/2021 21:34

@Hbh17 ''I don't care & don't know anybody who does! It is all just so tedious.''

Really? I guess you don't know that many people then...

Because everyone I know is furious about the fact that they did not follow the rules while everyone else did.

Have a look at Twitter right now and you will see endless messages of people who recall not being able to see loved one, struggling with isolation and having relatives and friends dying alone while in Downing street were partying.

Johnson has to resign. He has lost all authority and credibility.

Aurorie11 · 19/12/2021 21:34

My DM's funeral was in May 2020. Only 10 people allowed, all had to sit separately and no wake.
This was the reality not garden parties

Original poster
Forion · 19/12/2021 21:34

Even his own party has had enough of him. He's a total liability. He doesn't even have the ability to know when he's being tricked into denying something only for proof to be subsequently shown, thus revealing him as a liar. Stupid sod.

OP posts:
Thefuturestory · 19/12/2021 21:35

Knowing the sacrifices and personal risks myself and my friends and colleagues made I bloody care!

OverByYer · 19/12/2021 21:36

I don't care how many people had stupid street parties, this is our PM , he made the rules and he broke them and sat there watching others break them.

I remember May 2020, it was my Dad's birthday and he'd just finished his cancer treatment, and we could not get together to celebrate. I recall stood at the end of the drive talking to him on his doorstep.

BogRollBOGOF · 19/12/2021 21:37

VE Day street parties were supposed to be socially distanced on your frontage. MN was full of vitriol, bile and appocalyptic doom predictions of the second wave (worthy of SAGE) until that was re-directed to Bournemouth beach later in the month.

We were two months away from playgrounds being unlocked (as an afterthought that pubs would be allowed to open first)
We were 4 months away from all children being allowed to resume a quasi-normal education.

My children weren't able to play with any other children for over 4 months because people were so risk averse that unless you really knew what someone thought, there was a strong chance of social suicide in asking someone to play lest you be deemed a Granny Killer.
It was OVER ONE YEAR before they could resume Scouting as the leaders (like many) were too nervous to meet in 2020 (short window of meeting outdoors Sept/ Oct before it was too cold and wet to pull off) and EIGHTEEN MONTHS before we had a normal indoor pack night indoors. On that first night indoors, one of our oldest Cubs was made a Sixer having never been in the Scout Hut before and only doing Zoom/ outdoor activities.
This is the reality of the restrictions, practicalities and fear that was put into the population originating from the government and trickling through agencies like The Youth Association down to community level)

Admittedly there are a lot of mugs out there who righteously went above and beyond... and the government has made a mockery of what the population has sacrificed. All the guilt-ridden propaganda that they piled in, and behind the scenes they did their own thing. I'm too cynical to be disappointed, but having been concerned about the wider damage of lockdown after the initial 6 weeks or so of "flattening the curve", no I will not sit at home with my mental wellbeing crumbling as my life is stolen from me again. I will not watch my now 8 yo slip into depression yet again (he was 6 when this started nearly a quarter of his life ago).

the80sweregreat · 19/12/2021 21:37

My dad died from covid aged 98 in May 2020 and I couldn't be with him
That was the same for so many people. We abided by all the rules. I couldn't even see him at the funeral directors.
It hurts.

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