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!

Meanwhile Rishi Sunak spends £500,000 of taxpayers’ cash on focus groups ‘to repair his image’

Neither do our 'fearless press' who will back him no matter what and go all out for the Labour leader and his curry.

Did or didn't Johnson ask for the meeting with Sue Gray?

Zahawi on tv this morning seems to be saying that Johnson got ambushed by the meeting.....

The woman on BBC1 just now is a breath of fresh air after Sophie Raworth's normal compliance.

I really hope this isn't true. It would be another piss take.

I can’t recall whether BJ instigated meetings with Sue Gray but it’s been common knowledge since last week she planned to contact those she named in the report this weekend before Mondays release.

The blatant gaslighting and rewriting of history by this cabinet and sympathetic media is astounding. There’s a lot wrong with the internet but at least it’s a easily accessible archive of a lot of information.

The Times reporting that Sue Gray was surprised that Johnson only received one FPN for what she considered the least his least serious breach of the rules.

Highlighting again how strange it is that Johnson was only investigated for 2 parties.

Carrie Johnson argued the ABBA party of 13/11 was in fact a strategy meeting and therefore a necessary work event. I didn't realise Carrie Johnson worked at Downing Street. I'm also surprised that they couldn't find an office to have their strategy meeting in.

Apparently she will also publish the emails showing that some in Downing Street warned against the BYOB party but were ignored.

She's expecting to finish Tuesday or Wednesday. The PM will then decide when to release it - after PMQs I'm sure!

It's true, reported in a few newspapers now.

From another tweet

The Treasury line on this suggests it’s not a new thing, that the Treasury always does its own polling.

In 2019, Treasury spending on polling was zero pounds.

In 2020 it went up to around £240k

Contracts signed off since June 2020 top out at a total of £1.35m

Meeting was suggested by Samantha Jones - permanent secretary- for a discussion on publication timings.

I can't link to it but there's an article in the Sunday Times called Boris Johnson's Partygate Hangover which sets out a lot more information.

Given that publication could only follow after police had finished I'm not sure what there would be to discuss.

Guardian suggesting that Johnson is expected to scapegoat the head of the civil service Simon Case this week in a desperate effort to save his own job, as both men face stinging criticism in Sue Gray’s report

All this stuff about Sue Gray's "independent investigation" is irritating me.

If Johnson genuinely desired an independent investigation (rather than one that reported to him) he could have appointed someone from outside of Downing Street.

Piggywaspushed ·
"The woman on BBC1 just now is a breath of fresh air after Sophie Raworth's normal compliance."

Certainly was! Wish Jo Coburn could be permanent and ditch the Tory supporter Raworth.

On GMB yesterday

Adil Ray - It's not an independent enquiry as Sue Gray is a civil servant that reports to the Prime Minister & he will decide his own punishment?

James Heappey - Sue Gray is very independent..

Thank you - I missed her name.

Sophie Raworth reminds me of a few people I work with (usually female) and a lot of girls at school. They are rewarded for agreeability and being 'nice'. It is definitely refreshing to see women (Sophy Ridge, and Beth Rigby are two more) who don't do biddable. It visibly rattled and annoyed Zahawi.

The BBC purposely put patsies onto these shows. Partly to keep the government off their backs and partly so ministers will actually go on them.

All the Tories were happy to go on Andrew Marr, yet all refused to go on Newsnight.

"All the Tories were happy to go on Andrew Marr, yet all refused to go on Newsnight."

And Channel 4 news.

If you are on top of your brief and believe in your policies then you should be quite capable of going on a range of outlets.

What a fun morning for Nadhim Zahawi. He spent it going round all the news outlets desperately saying 'I don't know' to who called the SG/BJ meeting.

My favourite encounter was this one...twitter.com/RidgeOnSunday/status/1528282880757190657

Followed by the excellent Jo Coburn who put him through the wringer.

Saying 'I don't know' obviously means BJ called the meeting. I understand SG has denied calling it anyway
"Sue Gray's team reject claim she initiated meeting with Boris Johnson over report"

I believe SG. BJ has form for lying.

I believe SG. BJ has form for lying

So do I, not least because civil servants, no matter how senior, very rarely to never initiate meetings with any senior politician, let alone the PM.

Robert Peston
@Peston
For the first time I can remember, a report by a Cabinet office official will contain photos. The Sue Gray report, when published this week, will - I understand - contain photos of the Downing St parties. The stakes for PM and Cabinet Sec Case very high indeed

Sophie Raworth doesn't do opinions. Have to agree about Sophy Ridge and the quality of her interviews.

What an absolute relief to see Jo Coburn, I too had missed her name, interviewing Zahawi. Sophie Raworth is just not right for the job and should stick to newsreading. Sadly, she's probably just off to do the Chelsea Flower Show - no problem with that - and will doubtless be back next week.

Simon Clarke is recycling the 'they worked very hard' excuse this morning.

The whole government has just become a farce.

We look at Russia in disgust and condemn their invasion of Ukraine - but yet our government is becoming more dietitian and more in control of our media daily.

It sickens me

Dictorial (apparently that isn't even a word but ykwim!)

Dietitian with all that cheese and wine

But yes, basically they are all fine with breaking the law.