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Original poster

Another fabulous Downing Street Party thread

244 replies

jgw1 · 13/01/2022 13:42

Just in case we need it.

OP posts:
DuncinToffee · 16/01/2022 15:13

Article in the Times today

Boris Johnson was warned about 20 May party by two people who said he should cancel it immediately

But PM said they were “overreacting” & that Martin Reynolds was his “loyal Labrador”

That’s the account of ex No10 official in Dominic Lawson column today

YogaLite · 16/01/2022 15:37

Yeah, that's why he defended his loyal labrador last week, it might be different next week.

I hope there is an all out riot in the streets if Boris decided he is not going after all. Bet they are calmly planning their summer wedding celebration at Chequers as we speak.

ENoeuf · 16/01/2022 15:42

If he goes maybe standards will revert to expected but Johnson has really set the bar for what you can get away with. What can his constituents do? Can they call a by election or write to him?

EducatingArti · 16/01/2022 15:45

@LIZS

They were supposed to be making really serious decisions, and it seems they were pissed all the time.

Not until past four o'clock.

This explains why so many last minute stupid decrees and decisions about schools were issued at 10:00pm on a Friday!
DuncinToffee · 16/01/2022 15:47

Latest No 10 statement

No 10 on suggestions PM was warned about May 2020 drinks in advance: “It is untrue that the Prime Minister was warned about the event in advance. As he said earlier this week he believed implicitly that this was a work event.”

JanuaryBluehoo · 16/01/2022 15:49

It's really odd how they never think, what will happen if this gets out?

It's so odd the whole thing!

ENoeuf · 16/01/2022 15:51

Interesting they’ve denied it so quickly. Hopefully he was warned by email.

Original poster
jgw1 · 16/01/2022 15:53

@JanuaryBluehoo

It's really odd how they never think, what will happen if this gets out?

It's so odd the whole thing!

It might be quicker to say

It's really odd how they never think.

OP posts:
the80sweregreat · 16/01/2022 16:53

Boris Johnson and his very merry civil servants will get away with this
Operation big dog will work. Sue Gray will have a full investigation, a few more ' dead cats' will appear , the press will say that Starmer also broke the rules , the restrictions will lift and it'll blow over in time.
Just my own opinion , I can't see anything else happening really. It's all dragged on too
long now to see any resignations I think.
It's also ages till the next election as well.

rrhuth · 16/01/2022 17:00

@ENoeuf

If he goes maybe standards will revert to expected but Johnson has really set the bar for what you can get away with. What can his constituents do? Can they call a by election or write to him?
I wonder if like the expenses scandal made voters less tolerant of wasteful claims, voters will be less tolerant of lying in future?

Maybe I am just living in hope...

ENoeuf · 16/01/2022 17:00

^^ this is my depressing view as well @the80sweregreat and it will set the bar for standards as non existent. He’s got away with lying to the Queen, apologising to the Queen, ignoring Patel’s bullying, trying to ignore Hancock, what else?

rrhuth · 16/01/2022 17:01

@the80sweregreat

Boris Johnson and his very merry civil servants will get away with this Operation big dog will work. Sue Gray will have a full investigation, a few more ' dead cats' will appear , the press will say that Starmer also broke the rules , the restrictions will lift and it'll blow over in time. Just my own opinion , I can't see anything else happening really. It's all dragged on too long now to see any resignations I think. It's also ages till the next election as well.
Do you think the Tories will reclaim the lost polling points?

I do not see how they turn it all around.

I can see how they turn some of it around, but the focus groups are showing that ministers are getting tainted by association, it is affecting the whole Conservative brand.

Original poster
jgw1 · 16/01/2022 17:04

I can see how they turn some of it around, but the focus groups are showing that ministers are getting tainted by association, it is affecting the whole Conservative brand.

In some ways who you vote for is a matter of habit. If Boris is still Prime Minister in May then the local elections may well see large numbers of people voting for whoever isn't a Tory, which may then make it easier for them to do the same come a GE.

OP posts:
rrhuth · 16/01/2022 17:09

The voters Johnson most needs to retain are the first time switch voters from 2019 - and the red wall seats are showing the strongest anti-Tory feelings.

Combined with Chesham and North Shropshire, there will be real worry in local parties. Hopefully Grin. Starmer must be super-keen for Johnson to stay on.

the80sweregreat · 16/01/2022 17:16

The conservatives know that a new leader might be a great idea, but the problems don't really go away that easily as the opposition can then say to him or her ' your not elected ' and it's always a case of not being the electorate choice. Their hand might be forced for another election, which is ultimately what the LP want to happen, but that won't be good for the conservatives of course
Holding on to Johnson means another year ( maybe) of power , a chance to give more money to their friends and cronies and for the public to overlook past misdemeanors!
Plus who wants to take over now ? Really ?
Might even be a case of making him clear up a lot of his own problems instead of being able to walk away from it all ( as David Cameron did )
Who knows though ?

LittleBearPad · 16/01/2022 22:57

@jgw1

I can see how they turn some of it around, but the focus groups are showing that ministers are getting tainted by association, it is affecting the whole Conservative brand.

In some ways who you vote for is a matter of habit. If Boris is still Prime Minister in May then the local elections may well see large numbers of people voting for whoever isn't a Tory, which may then make it easier for them to do the same come a GE.

Even if they don’t vote for another party they may stay home. Equally as problematic.
DuncinToffee · 16/01/2022 23:00

Oh look another one, Pippa Crerar reports
EXCL: Our @benglaze reveals that Boris Johnson attended yet another No 10 leaving bash in run-up to Christmas 2020 - that of defence adviser Steve Higham, now captain of Britain’s biggest warship. t.co/3GlZGkWYBj

LittleBearPad · 16/01/2022 23:02

I’m starting to feel like Brenda from Bristol - another one!!

Were there any days from March 2020 onwards when the drinks trolley didn’t rattle through Downing Street?

DuncinToffee · 16/01/2022 23:20

The trolley seems to be the only thing that was working

JustJam4Tea · 17/01/2022 07:46

According to the papers operation big dog is in full swing. PM still doesn’t believe he did anything wrong.

Unless they are all given ambassadorships in The Middle East (as his personal private secretary is getting). Then there are likely to be lots more leaks….

LittleBearPad · 17/01/2022 08:11

@JustJam4Tea

According to the papers operation big dog is in full swing. PM still doesn’t believe he did anything wrong.

Unless they are all given ambassadorships in The Middle East (as his personal private secretary is getting). Then there are likely to be lots more leaks….

It’s a hard sell isn’t it that an ambassadorship is a punishment
the80sweregreat · 17/01/2022 09:07

BBC Radio four early this morning has reported that the MPs up north haven't received many complaints at all about the parties etc and it's mostly ' Don't let all this wreck brexit '
They are confident it will be fine
All sounded as if they are waiting on the inquiry

merrymouse · 17/01/2022 09:11

' Don't let all this wreck brexit '

What do they expect to happen? Do they think there is a clause where Johnson leaves and the U.K. rejoins the EU?

Seems like an odd response so I’m suspicious.

Peregrina · 17/01/2022 09:23

But most of the Tory support is still in the south, so if he's upset the voters there, complacency about Johnson may well be more costly than they realise.

the80sweregreat · 17/01/2022 09:45

It's only what I heard this morning , and I've started listening to radio four news again now around 6.30 am.
The reporter talking today was just relaying MPs feedback from the weekend.
Probably many old 'red wall ' voters are worried there might be a swing back to Labour up there? Not sure.
The daily Mail are too busy putting the boot back into Harry and Meghan now to worry about Boris Johnson ' or even covid much.