Thread 21. Sunak. How many more will be deserting the sinking ship?

[Roussette]

Here we go. Previous thread.

www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/4735780-thread-21-sunak-return-of-the-numpties?page=20&reply=124466839

^"Boris Lord of the Lies hopes WhatsApp messages prove that he was acting on orders of officials when he lied to HoC.

His’s going to say he was advised a “workplace exemption” was in place, covering the parties. He will stress that none of the two dozen witnesses who gave written evidence have said they knew the parties were illegal."^

This is going to be his defence then.

Isn't it beyond odd we knew what was allowed, but he didn't?

IhasSuella Braverman ever been scathing about Dianne Abbot and numbers?

Here we go, Steven Swinford

twitter.com/Steven_Swinford/status/1637740595010478080?t=jYm6_mV7sC4y9tZfePy8cQ&s=19

Johnson will argue inquiry is unlawful because the burden of proof is too low

He says it must go beyond 'balance of probabilities' & prove he is 'significantly more likely than not' to have misled Commons

Committee advised by retired Court of Appeal judge that it's appropriate

Johnson will say committee is politically biased

He will point to Tweets from its chairman Harriet Harman suggesting he 'knowingly lied'

But committee points out Commons approved appointment & she was elected by committee unanimously

Johnson will point to a 'line to take' Whatsapp message from his former director of communications Jack Doyle stating that rules hadn't been broken

He says this message shows he was given assurances and did not mislead

But committee says the assurances were limited
One of most difficult areas for Boris Johnson is social distancing guidelines

Photos clearly show Johnson in rooms without social distancing

In Commons he insisted that the guidance was followed and the rules were followed at all times

How will he square this circle?

Remember those early partygate threads where we were told that the PM didn't have any responsibilities (aka just looking after the pot plants.)

Britain’s Trump

Wasn’t Priti Patel pretty innumerate too?

Not always the biggest Michael Rosen fan, but this from him is fascinating re Suella Braverman's 'plan'

twitter.com/MichaelRosenYes/status/1637612480959598593/photo/1

Johnson's defence hasn't been published by the Privileges Committee.

So only Johnson can have leaked what is in it. Clear attempt to create media headlines and pressurise the Committee and Tory MPs ahead of the hearing.

The defence seems to consist of "I can't think for myself or apply my own legislation & guidelines". My PR people told me to do it.

When we were allowed into my place of work there were signs everywhere about social distancing, masks and other covid rules.
How is it even remotely believable that the person who was responsible for making those rules did not know what they were?

I can see why they might go with the defence of incompetence, to be frank. It has more of a ring of truth about it than most stuff involving Boris Johnson.

So his argument is that the entire legal system needs to be changed, or is it just when it relates to him? He wants them to have to meet the criminal burden of proof, so I take it he also wants any consequences to be part of the criminal process rather than civil. 10 years in prison for deception I believe.

Attacking the 'judge' is always a fuckwitted move. How much taxpayer cash is he wasting on this legal advice? Will he also declare himself a Freeman of the Land?

He may well point to messages telling him what line to take, and others hopefully will point to the messages making it clear that they were trying out various lines to see which one they could get away with.

And they'll round it all off with quoting him joking about how it was the least socially distanced gathering in the country.

I hope to god they don't buy his blatant bullshit. It's got him this far but I hope the bullshit bus is about to finally go over the cliff.

Will he also declare himself a Freeman of the Land?

God I hope so. It would be quite fitting to go from PM to that in under 12 months.

twitter.com/Peston/status/1637753924202496002

From Peston...

'It is an intriguing and novel tactic by Boris Johnson and his lawyers to attack the integrity of the cross-party privileges committee and its chair Harman even before he has presented his evidence to it. See attached from Telegraph. One senior MP tells even this could be contempt of the House. Shades of the Trump playbook'

See link above for Telegraph article

I think Johnson is well aware he doesn't have a leg to stand on. He will also know that Sunak will need to support the recommendations of the Privileges Committee or he will essentially have underminded a key House authority - and in the context of his "integrity, accountability etc" speech that would look terrible.

He knows that it will only will only requires Lab, SNP, Green, Plaid, and Libdems and maybe 110 Tory MPs to approve sanctions.

So now it's about exploiting the divisions within the Conservatives. By happy coincidence this will also destablise Sunak's authority (which is why Braverman for example will probably vote against sanctions).

Johnson just needs to provide Tory MPs with just enough cover to justify them voting his way and he can continue being the king over the water or whatever.

I wonder how many Tory MPs will find they have a sudden need to take a trip to Afganistan to avoid the vote?

Tory MPs may end up in a bit of a bind with this. Do they vote for sanctions which would have popular support with the public but means they are admitting they kept a liar in power, or do they vote against and risk a public backlast as there was with Paterson?

Flight to Butlins, Rwanda with 200 Tories on board taking off soon?

"Tory MPs may end up in a bit of a bind with this. Do they vote for sanctions which would have popular support with the public but means they are admitting they kept a liar in power, or do they vote against and risk a public backlast as there was with Paterson?"

Not only does Johnson not care about this bind he wants to amplify it.
Divide and conquer just as Sunak is trying to bring them all under the same roof.
Fascinating if unedifying.

Understand Wednesday's vote on the Windsor framework is likely to take place during Boris Johnson's testimony to the privileges committee (roughly 2-6pm).

Govt scheduling just 90 mins for the debate - which will annoy ERG types who say that's not long enough.

Because the vote is on a statutory instrument not primary legislation, 90 minutes is the standard length of debate. But some had hoped it would be extended given the huge interest in & importance of the topic.

twitter.com/HugoGye/status/1637797278403493890?t=MsYLUy0fqkjUK1vmfK3neg&s=19

This is funny
twitter.com/mrjamesob/status/1637779106707259393

Sounds like she is actually inviting people to risk their lives on small boats

Speaking on a two-day visit to Rwanda, the Home Secretary also accused her Labour critics of “snobbery” and said removal to Rwanda would be “a blessing” for migrants risking their lives to cross the Channel.

twitter.com/charleshymas/status/1637741689950330882?t=ysNOz0CSrdy8oWVEC2LDbg&s=19

Yes... the first tweet under that says this...

"Very good point here: Suella Braverman says being sent to Rwanda is a ‘deterrent’ but then acts like she’s visiting Centre Parcs."

I visited Centre Parcs for a few hours once. That was enough of a deterrent to ever want to go there again, if someone said they were going to send me there I would launch a boat across the Channel to Rwanda.

I’ve heard Claire Bullivant a couple of times now over the last couple of days doing the rounds trying to shore up support for BJ and set the scene for a huge wrong about to be committed against him - ‘I believe he’s our true leader’….

first of all, calm down love. He ain’t Kim Jong Il, second of all; be careful. Nads will scratch your eyes out.

One of my DCs went missing there when she was about 4, so I don't have happy memories! It was one of those blink... where is she moments that felt like a lifetime but was only about 20 minutes. Urghhhhh.....

"The 50-page dossier of evidence Boris Johnson will use in his defence against allegations he misled parliament over Partygate has not yet been handed over to the Privileges Committee, @theipaper understands"

So he's leaked it to The Times and others before even giving it to the Privileges Committee to review.
Classy as ever.

Oh god, 30p Lee has been given his own 1 hour slot on GBeebies. But he has been warned by Ofcom in advance of the May elections.

Ofcom confirmed no rules would be broken simply by Mr Anderson having a TV show, but that he would have to promote all sides of political arguments during the ‘regulated period’ before the poll.
They wrote: “It is an editorial matter for broadcasters how they maintain due impartiality, and there is a range of editorial techniques they may use to do this, such as the inclusion of interviewees who can offer alternative viewpoints, a presenter summarising an alternative viewpoint, and/or a presenter challenging the views of interviewees.”

Can anyone on this thread begin to imagine 30pLee promoting all sides of political argument? I certainly can't!

How many more Tories are going to have a show there? We already have JRM, Esther McVey, and over on TalkTV our friend Nads.