Another fabulous Downing Street Party thread

[jgw1]

Just in case we need it.

@Nordicwannabe I agree with much of your post. The internet has obviously increased opportunities for gaining traction on particular stories quickly.

But the press have never been free. Many, many years ago I wrote my dissertation on English mainstream reporting of the Spanish civil war and then as now stories were framed by media owners and their interests and newspapers selected stories based on what they thought would chime with their specific readership.

So we've always been manipulated and created our own echo chamber.

@DuncinToffee yes indeed the WA they hadn’t bloody read. Same with the restrictions they put in place. Really weren’t thought through.

I hate their incompetency.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn't the Brexit Boris delivered, the same one that Theresa May had ? The one where she was forced out her job from ?
Sorry if I’m wrong in this...

No, it's not the same Brexit. IIRC May's Brexit would have kept the whole of the UK in the Customs Union, for now, until some technology was invented to deal with separate arrangements for NI. There would have been no border down the Irish Sea.

Are they saying they don’t understand the laws they pass?

Wouldn't be the first time - see NI Protocol...

@Peregrina

No, it's not the same Brexit. IIRC May's Brexit would have kept the whole of the UK in the Customs Union, for now, until some technology was invented to deal with separate arrangements for NI. There would have been no border down the Irish Sea.

So Boris' Brexit is exactly the sort of Brexit that he and the rest of the ERG loons were so up in arms about Mrs May's Brexit about, but the latter did not actually include?

So Boris' Brexit is exactly the sort of Brexit that he and the rest of the ERG loons were so up in arms about Mrs May's Brexit about, but the latter did not actually include?

Who knows what goes on in ERG heads - it doesn't seem to include rational thought. I think that May's Brexit wasn't pure enough for them, because although it kept the UK together, it allowed room for the EU. This was the big No, No, the EU has to be expunged from our history. Johnson's Brexit splits the UK, but I think that he and the ERG thought that they could ignore the agreement, which they have done as far as possible.

And it’s the influence of the EU in Northern Ireland (which is actually benefiting NI) that the ERG can’t stand and want to put a stop to - by dismantling the NI protocol that was signed by the Government.

Oh god, can we not do brexit please?
I think the parties are going to cut through to the public in a way brexit/alleged corruption hasn't.

Not sure if we can leave Brexit out of it, party gate being a Remainers plot...

This digression came about because we were asked if they understood the rules. This is supporting evidence that they don't even bother to read the legislation which they troop into the lobbies to vote on. Don't forget that there are division bells in a couple of the local pubs, so that they can down their drinks PDQ and head back to the HoC.

Does anyone else feel sorry for Sue Grey, who was asked to do a report about one party, which became two - both in December, which became 4, with two more in May, and now on in April. And they still keep saying she'll have it sorted in a week or so. I hope she's claiming for overtime, or seconding extra staff in to help her interview.

Should we feel sorry for someone who has been handed a nice big bucket of whitewash?

@DuncinToffee

Not sure if we can leave Brexit out of it, party gate being a Remainers plot...

Exactly. I can't deal with a Torybot invasion!!

Fair point AdamRyan

Is anyone else surprised at the Met effectively delegating its investigative powers to SG at the civil service?
Also, I think I read some comment in the Mail a couple of days ago where the Met said there was no point interviewing govt officials as they would refuse to cooperate to avoid incriminating themselves. I wonder if the Met takes that approach to burglars etc?

Sue gray report being leaked, no evidence of criminality but PM to be censured for allowing a lax culture to develop.

So the minions will take the rap. Quelle surprise.

@AdamRyan

Oh god, can we not do brexit please? I think the parties are going to cut through to the public in a way brexit/alleged corruption hasn't.

It's all part of the same corrupt chumocracy omnishambles though. The wagons circled around Owen Paterson, and an attempt was made to change the rules for him, precisely because he was an outspoken member of the ERG. They were protecting their own.

Similarly, Ree-Mogg is wheeled out to speak weazle words in patrician tones to defend the government when BJ finds himself in yet another untenable position and in return maintains his influential position as Leader of the House, despite having breached standards over the Owen Paterson affair.

Jobs for the boys!

The report will be a waste of time and money. Mark my words- the finding will be it was a work related meeting with drinks.
Boris will rise this out.
I don’t pay too much notice of opinion polls. There isn’t a GE for another two years.
This will be forgotten by many by then.

I meant Boris will ride this out

Others have rightly asked if this scandalous behaviour is likely to cut through when election time comes.

If May results go badly for the Tories a la North Shropshire and Amersham and the PM is replaced, will the country still be persuaded to vote them in again at the next GE on the basis that BJ set the tone and now he's gone it's back to respectable, sensible Conservative government?

My fear too is that he will ride it out.

He's already ducked out under the pretence of Covid.

Tony Driver

BREAKING: No10 has apologised to Buckingham Palace after our story that aides attended boozy parties while the Queen mourned her husband.

Boris' deputy spokesman: "It's deeply regrettable that this took place at a time of national mourning and No10 has apologised to the Palace."

twitter.com/Tony_Diver/status/1481962236088365056?t=9UrHDO_LviJOVfM9IkTWqA&s=19

So an apology for the timing rather than the party itself

‘No evidence of criminality’ isn’t good enough in the circumstances.

Plenty of people broke the rules and were only given warnings, but they didn’t write the rules.