Matt Hancock affair (3)

[TheoMeo]

Surely you would have cameras in a Government building and surely pointing it at doorways between different areas or departments isn't a bad idea.
It looks like a screenshot of a cctv security camera monitor.

@JaniieJones honestly, it would clearly take too long to explain to you why I emailed.

I wonder whether, if we got enough people together from this thread who were willing to sign their names to a letter of complaint to his local constituency party, it would be more powerful?

The Mumsnet "Mash Matty" Mob, maybe?

'Maybe mumsnetters should have googled and asked first, "Is this something I could find out using my own independent thought and resourcefulness?" I'm looking at you piglet.'

'Which is, of course, exactly what a MN (i.e. me) had already done at 12:18'

But I was quoting your pompous 'independent thought and resourcefulness' comment piglet! I've already apologised for missing the link I'm not sure what else I can say about it. I missed your link sorry (third time just to ensure it's gone in)

'Jesus wept' sounds rude and patronising to me. You've pearl clutched about 'rude and patronising' previously. Just saying..

@Piglet89

I'll email them.

I emailed Cardinal Newman and the Bishop of my local Diocese about Johnson's Westminster Cathedral nuptials. The crux of the response was "All done in accordance with Canon Law - pray for them".

I hope it's not the same this time round.

Do you mean Cardinal Nichols? Cardinal Newman died about 130 years ago.

No, I emailed Cardinal Newman - Canon law says you can still reach him.

Yes, Nichols. Oops. Poor attention to detail on my part there @JaniieJones - mea culpa.

'honestly, it would clearly take too long to explain to you why I emailed.'

You emailed about someone else's wedding. That's the gist of it isn't it. Debating on mn is one thing, emailing about someone's else's wedding is quite another.

'Do you mean Cardinal Nichols? Cardinal Newman died about 130 years ago.'

Oh please say you emailed Cardinal Newman

'Yes, Nichols. Oops. Poor attention to detail on my part there @JaniieJones - mea culpa.'

Ah good to know not just me.

@Piglet89

No, I emailed Cardinal Newman - Canon law says you can still reach him.

Yes, Nichols. Oops. Poor attention to detail on my part there @JaniieJones - mea culpa.

I was impressed that you'd got his email address and even more that he replied. I was going to ask if you'd let me have it. I've got a few intentions he might be able to help with.

Piglet I'm the worst person in the world with names, you could quote all sorts and I'd never notice but I grew up within walking distance of the church he built in Birmingham and when I was married we lived just round the corner from where he is buried. I'm not a stalker honest but it means Cardinal Newman is one name I remember.

You emailed about someone else's wedding. That's the gist of it isn't it. Debating on mn is one thing, emailing about someone's else's wedding is quite another.

It's very easy to see why a Catholic who was denied a Church wedding because their spouse had been divorced, but the first marriage was outside the RC church, would feel very strongly and write to ask why the rules had been interpreted differently for them.

Well done for emailing the church. Total hypocrisy. One rule for those with money and the rest of us can swing :(

But that's Boris and his cabinet all over, isn't it? Absolute total hypocrisy on everything.

Thanks, guys - to those who understand why I emailed Nichols (not Newman - @ancientgran if that's not a pretty efficient way to ask the Saints to intercede, I don't know what is).

I was married in the Catholic church myself (first and only wedding) and am still married (after some frankly bloody awful months during the pandemic with PND and my husband and I and trying to wrangle the world's most energetic toddler while locked down). But the amount of hoops we had to jump through to secure that wedding were not ordinary - and we are both baptised, First Holy Communioned, confirmed Catholics).

I just bloody HATE the hypocrisy and know so many stories of divorced people who couldn't marry in Church. There's a whole other thread on this one.

@the80sweregreat

One rule for those with money and the rest of us can swing

Apparently it's not one rule for them and one for us, as far as Canon law is concerned.

And if you believe that, I'm Cardinal Newman.

@Sostenueto

Yes just seen his constituency party are backing Hancock because he sent a letter of contrition. Well bully for him😡

They’re idiots. I can see that seat being lost the next time it’s contested. The local news is showing a lot of very pissed off constituents.

They will vote for Hancock I bet.
Nothing they do really upsets people.
Plus an election is miles off , so time for people to forget as well

@the80sweregreat

They will vote for Hancock I bet. Nothing they do really upsets people. Plus an election is miles off , so time for people to forget as well

But it has upset them. And while most people in the rest of the country may forget (I don’t think we will), his constituency certainly won’t and it will be brought up time after time in his opponents’ campaigns. I bet the pictures go up in Newmarket in 2024 or whenever we go to the polls.

Hmm. Have to see what happens, but I doubt he'll get the push. People change once they are in the voting booth. Then say, I didn't vote for him .. be interesting to see what happens.

I spied Boris today in grey overalls at Nissan looking like Billy Joel in the ' uptown girl ' video.
He loves 'dressing up ! '

Was there a hi viz and a hard hat too? That's his norm

No hard hat today ; just some clean overalls with prime minister embroidered on it.
Bless. ( more toot for the cupboard)

@the80sweregreat

I spied Boris today in grey overalls at Nissan looking like Billy Joel in the ' uptown girl ' video. He loves 'dressing up ! '

Nissan! That's a brilliant development isn't it. Massive uk 1bn expansion. All the brexit nay sayers on mn adamant it would close down and everyone in Sunderland would be thrust into poverty. Not surprised Johnson is there, it is such good news for the area.

Yes, good news for the area.

All the brexit nay sayers on mn adamant it would close down and everyone in Sunderland would be thrust into poverty

To be fair, that’s exactly what Nissan was saying pre-referendum. It’s very good news that they changed their mind.

This is interesting.... and to me, it sums up what this Tory Government are about.

www.theneweuropean.co.uk/brexit-news/westminster-news/boris-johnsons-bubble-will-burst-8094622

"He might seem to be unharmed by the scandals he presides over, but Boris Johnson's position is more vulnerable than it looks. The fall will come, and it will be swift, brutal and comprehensive

Robert Buckland gave the game away. The justice secretary was unlucky enough to get sent out for the media round this week, as the Matt Hancock scandal continued to pummel the government. And then, perhaps without meaning to, he accidentally revealed No.10's operating principle.

It came on the Today programme, as host Nick Robinson read out a list of all the scandals which Boris Johnson saw no need to take action over: Dominic Cummings' trip to Barnard Castle, Priti Patel breaking the ministerial code over bullying, Robert Jenrick approving a development scheme in a way that benefitted a Tory donor, the No.10 flat refurbishment. On and on it went.

Buckland focused on the last story. "It was aired to death before the local elections and we saw the results there," he said. "The public were not interested in the issue... The prime minister has his finger on the pulse of the nation and is supported, respected, liked and is a prime minister who is getting on with the job of delivering the people's priorities."

You have to get past the linguistic gibber-babble that typifies modern political communication, but once you do, the core message is right there for all to see. Buckland said the quiet part out loud. It doesn't matter what the government does, because they have electoral support. The will of the people is the only principle they adhere to. And if that is secured, all other political values fall away: decency, integrity, transparency, standards in public life. None of it matters

This didn't happen by coincidence. It is the expression of a set political value which took hold of British politics during the Brexit referendum and has now become the default model of politics. It's the consequence of populism."