Boris Johnson, FPN's, and Sue Gray report due. Thread 5

[Roussette]

www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/4545092-boris-and-his-fines-part-4

Previous thread!

I was joking.

(p.s. they can't check email addresses against the electoral register, which is why they almost always ask for an address when you report casework).

they don't need an alcohol ban - just leadership from someone with a bit more integrity.

I agree. Johnson’s personal moral vacuum is the problem here. In future it will become a classic study of how leadership affects culture.

Anyone in one of the by-election constituencies? It would be good to ask conservative candidates whether they will sign the No Confidence motion if elected.

I wish I did. I just feel so powerless with all of this. I would like to be proactive with something

I have just been listening to Sky. Steve Barclay did a good job of batting away Kay Burley. Coming up soon is Chris Bryant, Labour Chair of Cttee on Standards and Privileges. He is brilliant and I expect him to echo what a lot of us feel.

Marvellous timing on the Windfall tax, how many of us on here knew that would happen? Announce it, then go off on recess for the warm and fuzzy jubilee, come back and just keep saying 'move on'.
I think they might have a bit of a problem with the move on bit.

Well it won't be warm and fuzzy in the Privileges Committee - they begin work on 6th June.

Been for a walk with a friend this morning.

She's one of those who doesn't pay attention to the news now as she's "bored of it all".

I asked if she had ever considered that that is what the Tory's want? People to become so disenfranchised with politics and the government they can get away with what they want.

Her response? "Well do you think Starmer will do better because I really don't rate him?"

I printed out that losing Johnson doesn't mean switching to a Labour government. Why can't we have a Tory government with a decent Tory PM?

I then had the "all as bad as each other". To which I asked if she could name me 1 PM who has been as corrupt in our lifetime (both 40's).

Couldn't do that. So we got "but covid".

It concerns me so much that people who aren't even Tory or Boris fans particularly buy into this crap.

I think I'd respect and understand more of people could say "but a Johnson has done ........". But they can't. It's always "but x would be worse, they're all the same, got brexit/ covid done"

This government have done a number on a high percentage of the electorate on more ways than 1.

Well - someone at work who "is proud to admit they've voted Tory all their life" has said they won't vote Conservative now whilst Johnson is in charge.

So that's something.

I think that MPs with narrow majorities in certain constituencies will be worried about the next election.

I'm not sure it is just those with narrow majorities that should be worried.

There were of course particular circumstances in North Shropshire, and will be again in Tiverton, but those were massive majorities that were and will be lost.

@itsgettingweird

Oh yes, a very good friend of mine says the same sort of thing.

I cannot discuss politics with her at all. I can't cope with 'they're all the same'. It's the most lazy argument in the world.
No, they're not all the same. There are MPs across the divide who are good principled people, so don't say they are all the same.
And much more like your friend.

It's easier just to not go there because I know that I will never ever change her mind and vice versa. So it's pointless

The ‘but there’s no alternative’ really irks me as well. So you let a dangerous narcissist with no morale rule the country?

Also most people seem to forget they can vote Lib Dem, my friends always seem to think it’s either conservatives or labour.

Morals even…

Yes indeed. I am voting LD at the next GE, it's a tactical vote. And whether I want the Tories out or not, what is important to me is my constituency and my waste of space Tory MP here.

There are always alternatives, I'm a floating voter

Any bets on when you think they'll call the next election? I'm thinking October because they know winter is going to be exceptionally hard and will need to get back in before people experience it.

Don't the Govt still need 2/3rds of the commons to support a GE outside of the fixed term act?

Labour would be nuts to support a GE this coming October and CV despite what we all think, hasn't gone away.

Yes, the number of people i know who say "no alternative/...but labour/they are all the same.... is shocking.... whenever the next GE is called, may well see a very low turn out.

I've no doubt that the conservatives would do well in a GE. Despite it all, they still have a lot of support from the cult.
The new help outlined today by the chancellor won't help everyone though , so they may upset a few people there , but generally speaking they will hammer home what they are doing and keep on about the extra money for this and that.
Never underestimate the conservatives at election time and anyone different to vote for will be written off as 'woke ' or communists or all the same etc. 'militant lefties. '
I hear this every day, most people will still vote for them (around here anyway)

Don't the Govt still need 2/3rds of the commons to support a GE outside of the fixed term act?

It was quietly repealed some months ago. Not that in practice it made much difference - we had two elections after it had been introduced, long before the five years were up.

but generally speaking they will hammer home what they are doing and keep on about the extra money for this and that.

Up to a point, but by then vaccines will be old news, Ukraine may be rumbling on still as a war of attrition, so won't give Johnson as much leverage as he would like to do his Churchill act, and price rises are already beginning to bite.

But no-one who lost someone close and couldn't be with them, or had to give birth without their birth partner will forget that while they were making this sacrifice, Johnson and chums were partying, and Johnson himself was happy for junior staff to take the rap.

Beth Rigby
NEW: This morning two more Conservative MPs - David Simmonds and John Baron - say it's time for Boris Johnson to step down. That's now 18 MPs publicly calling for his resignation (up from 15 before Gray report published).

Slightly off topic, but rumour on Twitter is that Carrie has decamped with Zac Goldsmith!

They will need a lot more than 18 to have the vote of no confidence , another 36 is needed.
They didn't reach it last year.

Carrie Johnson likes them older than her doesn't she ( if it's true !!)

Slightly off topic, but rumour on Twitter is that Carrie has decamped with Zac Goldsmith!

Well, at the Local Government elections, Johnson was seen going to vote on his own, without Carrie adoringly hanging on to his arm. Someone then, I think on twitter, or facebook, said, watch - this is a sign that the marriage is over.

Is Zak Goldsmith married? Carrie, if she wants to be a good RC, should find an annulment from Johnson pretty straight forward - he never intended to keep his marriage vows.

Yes, and this stemmed I think from the local elections when he took the dog instead of Carrie to the polling booth. They've always gone together but didn't this time. And she hasn't been seen.

Peregrina totally agree. I think they have under estimated the british public and they won't forget, it will hang around like a bad smell through to the next GE. He still has to come before a Committee for misleading parliament, and the likes of Good Law Project are preparing a case to investigate why the Met did not look into the Abba party and not adequately looking into his attendance at the many others he attended.

Among the legal team behind the judicial review are Adam Wagner, seen as a leading authority on Covid laws, and the Good Law Project. The legal letter asks the Met to either reopen its investigation, or justify in writing its decision-making, or face court action

I had to look up Zac goldsmith although I knew the name and he was up for London mayor in 2016.
He is married with three children ( according to wiki)

Zac Goldsmith? Well, well, well. God, she can pick them.