Matt Hancock affair

[TheoMeo]

AIBU to be utterly peed off that another one of our Ministers - rather than devoting his time and effort to getting the country out of this mess - is busy carrying on with an aide (which he appointed at great expense to the tax payer) - aaaaaaag.
www.thesun.co.uk/

@MarshaBradyo

I think there’s something we agree on here. CCTV footage being used in this way is surely a breach of data protection. It screams bollocks to me, something is off, very off and a convenient news distraction to carry over into the weekend. This serves the public no benefit at all, whoever this came from has no good intent.

@ButteringMyArse

I don’t know are ‘we’.

I'm certainly not, but perhaps you might clarify whether you understand there's an absolutely vast moral distinction between the two?

What is the situation of data protection for cctv footage out of interest. Is it anything goes?

Don't know.

Not sure it’s beneficial to us though.

There is no legitimate argument that we'd be better off if this level of corruption continued to be hidden. Hancock was playing the public in appointing this woman.

Obviously it's also a strong possibility that whoever was responsible for revealing this story has dodgy motives too. The one doesn't preclude the other.

Don’t know

Papping the wife is awful for her. And has happened due to this story so it’s linked. I’d have to know what the situation is on releasing cctv and WhatsApp to media before deciding how bad it is.

I’m fine with any corruption to be uncovered - isn’t the NAS covering this. I’d prefer less grubby methods of exposure.

This sells I know. But if I had a choice and he is corrupt then get rid of him another way.

Just personal preference, not defending him, he’s an idiot and thought the pics were a bit ill making.

@Nothingyet

There is a lack of sympathy here. He and his aide were engaged in a daily battle saving lives, FGS! Is it wrong for a man and a woman to fall in love? And to try to snatch some happiness in such circumstance?

Oh my god I can hear the World War Two sirens in the background mingled with 'We'll Meet Again' 🎵🎶

Darling, we'll always have Covid.

MarshaBradyo, not to derail but GDPR applies to CCTV footage and briefly (1) Images count as personal information so people need to know that they're being recorded in order to access their data subject rights. (2) There needs to be a clear statement of why CCTV's being used compliant with the GDPR lawful basis for processing (3) Access to the CCTV footage should only be accessible to those who need it as a function of their job (security, management) kept securely & deleted by the data retention deadline

@TheoMeo can you do a second thread please this ones nearly full and I think it’s a topic that may carry on for a while 🙏🏻 Thanks!

@dopenguinsdance

MarshaBradyo, not to derail but GDPR applies to CCTV footage and briefly (1) Images count as personal information so people need to know that they're being recorded in order to access their data subject rights. (2) There needs to be a clear statement of why CCTV's being used compliant with the GDPR lawful basis for processing (3) Access to the CCTV footage should only be accessible to those who need it as a function of their job (security, management) kept securely & deleted by the data retention deadline

Thanks for info! I don’t know where that leaves all this but it’s interesting

I found same for WhatsApp messages, I wasn’t sure how that could be released

Handcock thought this was a police matter when Ferguson did the same.. Hypocritical scrote..

@MarshaBradyo

It’s the principle of what’s happening in the media that I’m deeply concerned about

Yes people are lapping it up. It’s not about him to me, I don’t care what he does. The media used to do more of this and it seems to be stoking up again.

Anyway there’s the demand for it, as per this thread. So I’ll accept I’m in the minority.

I don't think I've ever disagreed with you so I am surprised at your response, how can you not care what he does? Spending nearly a nurse's wage on his girlfriend to do 20 days work? Handing out contracts that had not been through due diligence? I am no Corbynite but he had no chance after being vilified by the press, Brexit lies were unchallenged by the press, if there is demand it is nothing new. It is scary, there is little money in investigative journalism any more, but truth has always been controlled by those in charge of the narrative.

@Bananamilkshakes21
*It was the same for Brexit…vile scaremongering headlines, biased reporting etc, demonising people for their views.

Something at the heart of the establishment and media in this country is very rotten and sinister*

The British Establishment was not against Brexit. It was fairly evenly split between leave and remain. Generally the conservative (in the true meaning of the word, not this current government) pro business/industry Establishment was extremely Pro Remain (the odd industry guy like Mr Wetherspoon being the exception). Meanwhile the disaster capitalist/populist Establishment types: Mogg, Johnson, Farage etc were strongly Pro Leave.

For the average person on the street it was basically a question of who you prefer to get screwed by. I voted Remain because those capitalists at least provide jobs.

I wonder if anyone will be compliant if they try to lock us down again? I've followed all the rules, I have seen GC since lockdown eased but still haven't touched,hugged or kissed them. I wear my mask, I wash my hands, I stayed at home for months. I don't think I will be quite so willing if they try it again.

@Legoandloldolls

Jeremy Hunt must thank God every day for the last 16 months he didnt get the job

I still think that the most outstanding achievement by BJ and MH is that they have made JH and MG look reasonable .

Regulus that’s fine I’m getting used to being disagreed with on here ;

But isn’t the National Audit Society looking into contracts? If I have misremembered his fair enough, I’d have to google though to check (lazy)

I don’t think this is investigative journalism- if they did a better report on facts and procedures great. Also how come they can get this stuff? The media is as accountable as any politician to us.

This is about direction of travel to me - do I want more sleaze? No I want more accountability in powerful bodies, media, government. If we can find corruption do it properly and get rid of them. Otherwise it’s a photo, sales and a ‘case is closed’ response.

@ancientgran

I wonder if anyone will be compliant if they try to lock us down again? I've followed all the rules, I have seen GC since lockdown eased but still haven't touched,hugged or kissed them. I wear my mask, I wash my hands, I stayed at home for months. I don't think I will be quite so willing if they try it again.

How about looking at this from another perspective, your preventative actions have kept you healthy (I presume?) so far. So why would it be any different if they asked you to do it again? It worked for you.

But if I had a choice and he is corrupt then get rid of him another way.

He appears to be teflon. He doesn't want to go and Boris isn't currently trying to make him, so even the triumvirate of corruption, hypocrisy and sleaze is evidently not enough. With that in mind, it's hard to imagine a less full on approach would've done anything.

And him having an affair and conducting activities in work, at a time he's preaching social distancing, is undeniably relevant. I am less bothered myself by that part than the corruption, but there's no getting round that it's hypocrisy. And it would be so even if there were no question of nepotism. Therefore of course the public have every right to know. If the Scum had simply printed accusations, he'd be able to deny them.

Brexit is still a massive mistake because:

1. GDP will take a massive hit over the next 20 years as trade is handicapped.
2. Immigration will hardly change as it is, of course, still needed.... Hence the Tories, for eg, hoping/expecting 500,000 Hong Kongers to settle here in the next few years.
3. Travel/retiring abroad has become less convenient.
4. responsibilities, and their costs, which were previously shared - security, science research etc, must now be assumed independently

I'm looking for the pros ....

I think people feel sorry for him because he is a bit goofy and awkward. Like the male cast of the Big Bang Theory. But, let's put this on perspective:

1. He has given huge amounts of taxpayer money to companies run by his family, his neighbours and now his lover's family.

2. He employed and promoted his lover at the tax payer's expense.

3. He snogged his lover (new recruit) during day time hours in the workplace. It's not exactly discrete.

Each of the above in some workplaces may constitute misconduct.

If the media/Boris/Cummings/The Russians were out to get him, he gave them a huge helping hand.

Can you imagine working for a man like that? It might be Boris/Cummings who set him up or it could have been a really fed up employee.

@MarshaBradyo

Hilarious!

Gets his chum a job, screws them, cheats, gives work to his lovers brother, Hancock himself held Ferguson to very high standards.

Hancock has broke the rules, possibly even the law.

You’re ok with this kind of reporting? Released cctv footage, public knowledge which his wife will deal with, I saw she was also papped going to the car.

I mean I know you are. But wouldn’t you prefer something less grotty. Maybe not. I’ll leave you all to it though!

Sometimes it takes a whistle blower to bring wrong doing out into the open. It is a shame for his wife but that is on him and the OW. Unless the reporters have made it up and the photo isn't genuine I have no sympathy for him and as for grotty I think Matt Hancock is in the lead for grottiness.

Maybe you are happy for lying useless people to continue with their nefarious ways, that's up to you, some of us aren't happy with it.

@Lemons1571

It’s also psychology isn’t it. They want us all to rebel and say fuck the rules, if he can do it so can I. Much easier to remove all restrictions without a load of flack on 19th then.

Nah, not convinced. People who say fuck the rules (and I have ignored the 'don't see your partner if you don't live with them' rule since last March, along with several other idiotic rules, so I'm in the 'fuck them' camp) aren't going to be bothered by Handjob's doings.

I hope, though, that it will show at least some people that they ought to think a bit more for themselves sometimes.

@ButteringMyArse

But if I had a choice and he is corrupt then get rid of him another way.

He appears to be teflon. He doesn't want to go and Boris isn't currently trying to make him, so even the triumvirate of corruption, hypocrisy and sleaze is evidently not enough. With that in mind, it's hard to imagine a less full on approach would've done anything.

And him having an affair and conducting activities in work, at a time he's preaching social distancing, is undeniably relevant. I am less bothered myself by that part than the corruption, but there's no getting round that it's hypocrisy. And it would be so even if there were no question of nepotism. Therefore of course the public have every right to know. If the Scum had simply printed accusations, he'd be able to deny them.

It's a bit like Al Capone isn't it, the feds couldn't get him so the tax man did. Might have been better to get him for murder and torture but at leas they got him.

AncientGran I’m not happy for them to but have outlined why I hand responded as I did in post to Regulus

To me government and media are accountable. And I think I’d like better from both. Use procedure otherwise it’s easy to dismiss. It already has been.

"I’m fine with any corruption to be uncovered - isn’t the NAS covering this. I’d prefer less grubby methods of exposure. "

He was found to have acted unlawfully by not releasing contracts for scrutiny. That good enough? No? What counts as sufficiently corrupt?

[quote Scaredycatmoo]@Ostara212

** Ostara212

Scaredycatmoo
I’m in the minority of not giving a flying fig about politician’s private lives. Not a fig.

If they do the job well, then I’m happy

And I think Hancock has done a decent job considering the utter enormity of the task he faced.
i don't care either

*But he is a power hungry maniac, see Hansard 30th January.

No point if an equally meglomaniac type comes in his place though, giving all the contracts to their mates.

I don’t even give a care what his motivations are and if power hungry.

For me it’s about delivery. I think he’s done a decent job in the circumstances

Private lives of politicians in my opinion are irrelevant as long as don’t break the law

All about delivery in my eyes[/quote]
I can only assume that you are one of his mates whom he has delivered juicy contracts to, because there is not a lot else that he has done successfully.

*His poor wife. I hate the media.'

This deserves to be reported and they both deserve to be fired but with a boss like his - his only mistake was getting caught!

This is the media doing its job - for once!

@ThewiseoneincognitoThewis How about looking at this from another perspective, your preventative actions have kept you healthy (I presume?) so far. So why would it be any different if they asked you to do it again? It worked for you. Well MH and his lady friend have been having fun and they seem OK so maybe I was a fool to listen to him.

Actually although I am physically OK I'm not sure my mental health is great and my DHs definitely isn't so there is much to consider but the point is if he wants people to follow the rules he needs to set a good example or at the very least not be so obvious.

Marsha gosh no, I don't think it is investigative journalism either, just highlighting that the lack of it leads to more corruption, although I'm not sure the general public has an appetite for facts anymore.
I don't want sleaze reporting but we have to remember no one forced Matts tongue or hand, if you have an important cabinet role it is not too much to ask you to keep your zipper shut. Similar to how you can't join financial institutions if you have a CCJ/debt problem. It is not unreasonable to expect an MP to not indulge in cronyism or adulterous behaviour whilst working.