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Original poster

Gavin Williamson “swearing on his DCs’ life”

191 replies

Loopytiles · 02/05/2019 07:28

Sacked defence secretary says he didn’t leak from the National Security council, and reportedly “swore on his DCs’ life”.

I’m generally cynical and am no fan of Mr Williamson, but if he said this tend to believe him. It’s a rarely used phrase and not one I imagine parents would use if lying.

Am I being naive? Suppose that unless you’re superstitious, nothing bad will happen to your DC if you say it about a lie.

I think there should be a criminal investigation.

OP posts:
downcasteyes · 02/05/2019 07:46

Oh, he's such a reptile, I wouldn't put it past him to sacrifice his children on the altar of the lizard-king if it got him a shot at power.

Ratatatouille · 02/05/2019 07:47

I never trust a man who says this. I've seen way too many threads on here where blokes who have sworn on their kids' lives that they are faithful, actually turn out to have an OW or be having sex with prostitutes every other night or whatever. The kind of man who would say this is not the kind of man who would be bothered about lying "on his children's lives". A decent man just wouldn't say it, even if he was telling the truth.

ShitAtScarbble · 02/05/2019 07:47

100% this

I find that people who swear on DC/their own lives tend to be liars

It's the kind of thing that nobody with a modicum of actual sense would say. It's designed to make you think "Gosh - well, they wouldn't say that if they weren't telling the truth" - manipulative emotive shit at it's worst.

PandorasWhiskers · 02/05/2019 07:49

Sounds like that man back in mad cow disease times that fed burgers to his kids!

Didn’t he swear on his children’s lives?

Bluntness100 · 02/05/2019 07:50

It was led by the cabinet secretary but done by the Security councils. So yes I'd have faith here. They can force the journalist to talk when it's a matter if national security. And they have more powers and are more " senior" than the police, who are limited.

He admits talking to the press on a phone call after the meeting. I strongly suspect the journalist he spoke to has a recording of it.

CressidaBones · 02/05/2019 07:51

Yup, the only people I've encountered who have ever said this phrase have been pathological liars.

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 02/05/2019 07:51

Sorry to change the topic, but I'd never heard of this bloke until yesterday. Is it me with my head in the clouds or do People just seem to.appear out of nowhere.

KarenTheCashRegister · 02/05/2019 07:53

It’s always a sure sign that someone is lying when they trot this phrase out.

ooooohbetty · 02/05/2019 07:53

It's not a rarely used phrase round here. He was obviously just trying to find any way he could to emphasise that he's telling the truth.

Duchessgummybuns · 02/05/2019 07:53

My husband swore in our daughter’s life he never cheated.

Guess what? He did. A lot.

I find people thar swear on their kids’ lives are usually lying. It’s a strange thing to do. Perhaps they think it’s only words and they don’t matter.

HarveySchlumpfenburger · 02/05/2019 07:55

He’s had a few newsworthy moments over the last year. I don’t think he’s been on the front pages on an almost weekly basis like some cabinet ministers though.

NutellaFitzgerald · 02/05/2019 07:56

Definitely the preferred defence of liars because it has zero meaning. No one believes their kids' lives are in any real danger by saying it. It's to give themselves something to say because they can't provide any proof they're innocent and they know it.

An innocent person would be putting forward real reasons why they couldn't have or be using their brain to think of how they can prove it. They wouldn't resort to an empty statement. It's to buy time, and have something to say to and to control their breathing because they are legit panicking.

scarbados · 02/05/2019 07:57

I once worked in residential care with young offenders. As a general rule, any of our residents who swore on anyone's life were lying.

EjectorCrab · 02/05/2019 07:58

Swearing on someone’s life. He’s an MP. Only children swear on someone’s life, and usually when they’re lying!

Ultimately it needs investigating thoroughly and if he is the leaker then he’s a tool.

flitwit99 · 02/05/2019 07:59

Sorry to change the topic, but I'd never heard of this bloke until yesterday. Is it me with my head in the clouds or do People just seem to.appear out of nowhere

I thought this too. I was vaguely aware of the name but couldn't have placed him at all. In fact I couldn't name any of the cabinet right now I don't think. Partly because they seem to change so often and partly because with am so disengaged with Westminster politics just now in a way I never have been in years.

borntobequiet · 02/05/2019 08:01

Williamson has been Sec of State for defence since 2017 and as such has continually been in the news for doing things such as telling Russia to go away and shut up (after the Salisbury poisoning) and threatening to send an aircraft carrier to the South China Sea, prompting China to cancel trade talks.
He’s a tit of the highest order. Probably best to keep your head in the clouds because thinking about having people like him in the high offices of State is deeply depressing.

CuriousaboutSamphire · 02/05/2019 08:04

I find that people who swear on DC/their own lives tend to be liars Yes! It's that emotional blackmail thing!

The only person I have known to use it seriously was then asked which of his children? - by me. His GF was a good friend and we were telling her of his infidelities as he was making her life a misery and she deserved far better.

I would suggest thatMr WIlliamson is not as honest as he is trying to appear! Stupid, meaningless statement that only draws attention to him...which may be his real intention.

HarveySchlumpfenburger · 02/05/2019 08:08

Those are the two things that pop into my head when I head the name born. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if:

a) it was him
b) he swore on his children’s lives that it wasn’t him
c) if he had done it that he would be stupid enough to kick up a fuss about it not bring him rather than just going very very quietly.

Hoppinggreen · 02/05/2019 08:12

Swearing on someone’s life is such meaningless bollocks.
It’s not like MI5 are going to turn up and say “ actually Sir we have proof so which one of your children would you prefer us to execute”
Makes me believe someone less not more

VortexofBloggery · 02/05/2019 08:12

Imagine the uproar if a woman had said it. It is a dreadful thing to say, only digging his hole deeper.

flitwit99 · 02/05/2019 08:15

Williamson has been Sec of State for defence since 2017 and as such has continually been in the news

And I have pretty much never heard of him. Oh dear. I need to pay more attention.

MrsBertBibby · 02/05/2019 08:17

He will be lucky to find a job sweeping the streets.

Oh come on, these people don't face the consequences normal people do. They come out of jail and go straight back to their golden lives. Hell, they monetize the bloody experience.

He's just one scumbag among many scumbags. No principle but self interest. No loyalty but to his brand. No morals but those he imposes on others.

acomingin · 02/05/2019 08:20

A phrase used by unfaithful husbands, in my experience.

MrsBertBibby · 02/05/2019 08:21

Well I believe he's one of those, as it goes.

TatianaLarina · 02/05/2019 08:23

It would be interesting if he is telling the truth, but the oath certainly doesn’t tell us anything.

May personally over-ruled cabinet ministers in the meeting to favour Huawei. It’s quite possible that civil service or the security services leaked the info and Williamson is the fall guy.