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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Owen Paterson

250 replies

Francescaisstressed · 03/11/2021 19:41

Political parties aside, surely Owen Patterson avoiding suspension and the Tory party changing the rules for the mates goes against the very core of democracy?

When the people in power can bend the rules when they seee fit, and have noone to hold them to account I find it incredibly troubling.

OP posts:
rrhuth · 04/11/2021 01:04

Is it like the Major government, or is it actually far worse?

Far worse because they are dismantling the system, they are breaking out politics.

LolaLouLou · 04/11/2021 06:35

YANBU. It is disgraceful.

Theworldisfullofgs · 04/11/2021 06:41

They change the rules if they don't like them. Imagine if we all did that.

whatswithtodaytoday · 04/11/2021 06:51

Yes, they are utter shitholes.

Anyone who is annoyed or upset by this - would you please, please vote for whichever party stands a chance of beating the Tories in your local area in the next election. I don't care who. They are NOT all the same, the Tories are far, far worse - especially this lot. I don't want my PM to be 'charasmatic', I want them to be competent and intelligent. Keir Starmer is fine, he'll do. Boris Johnson is a hell of a lot worse.

PermanentTemporary · 04/11/2021 06:56

I would NEVER blame a person for the suicide of their partner or family member. I was blamed by someone for the death of my husband this way. It is not true. Obviously I was part of the picture, a big part, and I have my own guilt to deal with, but to blame me or Owen Patterson for what happened is wrong.

Owen Patterson is, however, a thoroughly corrupt lobbyist and this case has made our country a worse place. Shame on him. I wish I felt the slightest confidence that he would lose his seat at the nect election. I am mystified at the idea that tens of thousands of rational people will vote for this shitbag.

Iggly · 04/11/2021 06:56

I have never been so angry - it is absolutely disgusting.
Imagine received over £8k a month from these companies and claim that you weren’t lobbying. They literally employed him for his connections and expected him to use them.

I watched Andrea Leadsom try and defend herself.

I wondered why on earth she did this. Boris Johnson has an investigation coming because of his flat refurbishment - and oh look let’s delay the process just in time.

I have a conservative MP who voted for this. Disgusting.

And to top it all; a 30 day suspension is hardly that bad a sentence is it?! 30 days to kick about at home when fhe house of commons has a covid outbreak. Take the hit man and be thankful that the sentence is so lenient in the first place.

I look forward to seeing any Tory bots defend this and look forward to the “whatabouttery” nonsense.

As for “there is no decent opposition” crap - how bad do things have to get before you open your eyes. I would vote for Labour if there was an election tomorrow just to get rid of the festering shit we have now.

Iggly · 04/11/2021 06:58

And why do people keep saying “don’t make it party political”?

It is party political - the Tories have made it so.

Stellaris22 · 04/11/2021 07:04

Shrug. Given up caring now. We know this is an uncaring, corrupt government. Pretending to care about things like climate change while their funding does the opposite. Taking money from the poor to help their own. A PM saying he doesn’t care thousands have died from Covid.

We know this but they’ll still win every election, they know it so will keep treating people like rubbish. Taking away access to healthcare.

People know this and still vote for them. So I don’t have the energy to be outraged by a typical Tory move, just desperately sad about our future and what our children will have to inherit.

LadyWithLapdog · 04/11/2021 07:08

Sleazy scumbags. I know they don’t like the scum part of it. Perhaps they could take a vote.

HalfwomanHalfcookie · 04/11/2021 07:12

I get where you're coming from Stellaris, but you MUST keep caring please. If people stop caring the rot will get worse and worse.

Theunamedcat · 04/11/2021 07:14

Starmer won't protect women I won't vote for him boris is corrupt I won't vote for him do we even have another party anymore?

rrhuth · 04/11/2021 07:15

Given up caring now. I understand the sentiment but this response makes me Angry because everyone who does this just lets them get away with it.

We do need for the decent majority to care about conduct in politics.

They know they can get away with it because of responses like yours @Stellaris22 - I know it sounds dramatic but I think we all have to stand up for Britain and part of that is caring about the country.

MarleneDietrichsSmile · 04/11/2021 07:17

Well, the Tories feel they can do whatever they want now

Labour unelectable

So what is anyone going to do …

CovidCorvid · 04/11/2021 07:18

Sadly it’s not just Paterson is it. Haven’t Boris and also Priti Patel been found against by the parliamentary committee for breaking the ministerial code but they can just refuse to accept the verdict? Nothing gets done. They’re so corrupt but idiots keep voting for them.

Coronado2 · 04/11/2021 07:20

@adarkwhisperinthewoodwasheard

What really gets me is the 'yes, but who else is there to vote for' crowd. Seriously? ANYONE. I mean, literally ANYONE would be better. There is no possible worse option at the moment in the UK. Even Lord Buckethead couldn't be as bad.

Think about it - the current government has basically destroyed the idea of ministerial resposibility, legitimised corruption, proved incompetent beyond the imagination even of the Muppets, is full of bullies and incompetents, and has an inability to come up with any policy other than 'something should be done about this, so that person over there should do it. And because they should do it you can't blame us when it goes wrong'.

I'm no Starmer fan - he has all the charisma of a pissed on bus stop - but he has proved that he's smart, competent and professional (when he was a prosecutor), and at least gives a shit about more than his career, wallet, or school chums. I'm absolutely disgusted by the current administration and the way they have (potentially irrevocably) undermined the UK constitution. If they stay past the end of 2022, it will almost certainly be the end of the union. The devolved nations aren't going to hang around to be dictated to by a Westminister system broken beyond salvation by this government.

I totally agree with this. I don't understand how anyone could think oh well, this Government is terrible, but there's no one else so I'll keep on voting for them. To me there could not be anyone worse.
rrhuth · 04/11/2021 07:25

And why do people keep saying “don’t make it party political”?

People say 'don't make it party political' because they support the Tories, either explicitly or they just currently vote for them.

This issue (paid lobbying) is a Tory problem. The response of changing the rules to get a Tory let off is a Tory policy.

Look at the vote last night - only Tories voted to let Paterson off, other parties all voted against. This is party political.

Iggly · 04/11/2021 07:25

@CovidCorvid

Sadly it’s not just Paterson is it. Haven’t Boris and also Priti Patel been found against by the parliamentary committee for breaking the ministerial code but they can just refuse to accept the verdict? Nothing gets done. They’re so corrupt but idiots keep voting for them.
Yes. But we’ve only had one crack of an election whip with them though?

I guess they’re hoping it’ll blow over by the next election.

rrhuth · 04/11/2021 07:28

Labour is electable, that is a choice the electorate get to make and all politicians know that times change.

MephistophelesApprentice · 04/11/2021 07:30

Disgusting corruption. Say what you like about Starker, he at least seems competent and honest ,(though Boris Johnson would make Emperor Palpatine look honest and beneficent).

HappySantasaurus · 04/11/2021 07:33

It's a complete disgrace and shows their contempt for those of us not amongst the 'elite'. Why people continue to vote for such arrogant twits I will never know. My dead pot plant could do a better job.

kistanbul · 04/11/2021 07:33

After a full investigation, the evidence and results of which were given to a committee for another examination, where he was given the right of reply, he whines that it’s not enough, not fair.

Then he has the gall to blame the official in charge for his wife’s suicide and says she must resign.

So much for concerns about “natural justice”.

He’s disgusting. Don’t vote Tory. Donate to whichever party is second in your constituency.

jgw1 · 04/11/2021 07:36

@OneTC

What's amazing to me is that it's a 30 day suspension

Basically a 30 day holiday for selling out democracy

Nice work if you can get it 👍

This is a very good point. If I or anyone else in any other profession had done what he did, there would be a very short discussion before being escorted off the premises for good.
PermanentTemporary · 04/11/2021 07:37

It's an interesting one re how I should vote next time. I'm suggesting that Tory voters in Patterson's constituency should vote personally, ie vote against him to drive him out. But I like our local MP though I disagree with her hugely. She certainly would be nowhere near any corruption of this type, the thought is laughable. I had decided not to vote for her because her party has made statements I just can't live with. But if I don't vote tactically for her, and lots if people don't, there'll be another Tory in the HOC and Johnson will take that as endorsement of his sleazy shit trough of an administration.

Hmm.

PermanentTemporary · 04/11/2021 07:39

The ENORMITY of Johnson saying 'fuck the rules and ethics, we have to protect Patterson because we're all drenched in the same silage'

jgw1 · 04/11/2021 07:40

@HappySantasaurus

It's a complete disgrace and shows their contempt for those of us not amongst the 'elite'. Why people continue to vote for such arrogant twits I will never know. My dead pot plant could do a better job.
Out of interest has your pot plant also decomposed beyond recognition. It would still do a better job in that state.