To be ashamed of our Sleazebag PM?

[Sean2001]

If it wasn't bad enough, Johnson presiding over the Paterson vote last week ...

He's now refusing to attend the debate today on sleaze/corruption

He also will not allow the sleaze watchdog to look into his flat refurbishment.

Does Johnson actually think this kind of behaviour is impressive?

I find it deeply embarrassing.

[quote Roussette]@prh47bridge

Bearing in mind Cox's activities are being investigated on all sorts of fronts I think you saying he has not broken any rules, is not true.

He has been referred to the Standards Commission as he undertook some of this work from his parliamentary office which is a breach of the rules.

In footage uploaded online of a British Virgin Islands commission of inquiry hearing on 14 September, Sir Geoffrey can be heard telling the commissioner: “Forgive my absence during some of the morning - I’m afraid the bell went off.”

The bell is when a vote takes place in the House.[/quote]
The possibility that he had used his parliamentary office hadn't been raised (or at least, I hadn't seen it) when I posted. I agree that, if proven, that is a breach of the rules. That appears to be the only current investigation, although I'm sure journalists will be digging to see what else they can find. The investigation by the parliamentary authorities could, of course, broaden if more possible breaches are discovered, but the original story was just about him working in BVI and being very highly paid for it, which is not against the rules provided it is properly declared, which it was.

I'm aware that the bell refers to voting in the Commons. Given the way the Commons has been operating, Cox was able to vote whilst abroad. That was not a breach of the rules. MPs can currently vote from any location - they don't have to physically walk through the voting lobbies as was the case pre-pandemic. There has never been a requirement that MPs listen to the debate before voting. So that footage doesn't show him breaking any rules. It shows him prioritising voting in the Commons over his outside job.

Video here

twitter.com/bbcpolitics/status/1458382702919491586?s=21

I agree that, if proven, that is a breach of the rules

It has been proven. There is footage. I watched it this morning.

I'm sure journalists will be digging to see what else they can find

I do hope so.

I'm aware that the bell refers to voting in the Commons. Given the way the Commons has been operating, Cox was able to vote whilst abroad. That was not a breach of the rules

Yes it was. He was in London holding a long meeting with BVI personnel. Had to physically rush out to vote, and come back.
Unless you can prove otherwise?

Cox has released a statement, confirms he was in his Commons office.

Link in tweet twitter.com/bethrigby/status/1458396418142609415?s=21

@DirectionToPerfection

The whole "they're all as bad as each other" mantra is infuriating.

No, they really are not.

Totally agree. Absolutely hate this approach, as it just suggests a shrug of the shoulder and "well what can we do".

I agree too. It's weak and pathetic. What if we all just shrugged our shoulders and ignored everything going on at the present.

The problem is, MN is not representative of the UK.
You will gets endless posters on here, agreeing with you and trying to outdo each other on how much they hate the Tories, are in real lifeashamed of our Government, sorry for people they consider to have been shafted by the Tories etc etc etc.
In real life, things are a lot more nuanced and lots of the issues considered very important on MN hardly raise an eyebrow.
The Tories were voted in last time and they will be voted in again, until Labour have a credible offering that people can relate to, not just spend all their time (over) reacting, finger-pointing and name calling.
Actually setting out what they would actually do in a given situation instead of just going on about how awful the Tories are and evading questions woykd be a good start.

Excuse me for responding to a page 1 post at this late stage but it came up while I was flipping the thread and I think it's an important point. Please just scroll past if you feel it's not, I am not trying to start an argument!!

People keep saying how MN isn't representative of the UK. Why? It apparently gets 7 million unique users per month. The UK has about 5 million families with 1-2 children. That's a lot of people. I know there will be many bots/trolls/fakes/duplicate accounts (anyone know where I can get stats on that, out of interest?)

I find that the posts are also very diverse, from parents, singles, retired people, lots of different backgrounds and diverging views. Is it just me?

www.statista.com/statistics/961002/households-in-the-united-kingdom-uk-by-type/

As a further response to the point made by the pp, I think people aren't just overreacting and name calling. I think they are now very aware of a scourge - political corruption - that previously was brushed under the carpet. As with any other societal outrage, the first stage to getting rid of it is to acknowledge it exists and raise awareness, surely. So if we need 1000 threads for the next few months basically saying Boris is a twat and we hate him, then so be it. First step in the process. Needs to stay top of the agenda.

Great post Church

Seconded.

@Roussette

I agree that, if proven, that is a breach of the rules

It has been proven. There is footage. I watched it this morning.

I'm sure journalists will be digging to see what else they can find

I do hope so.

I'm aware that the bell refers to voting in the Commons. Given the way the Commons has been operating, Cox was able to vote whilst abroad. That was not a breach of the rules

Yes it was. He was in London holding a long meeting with BVI personnel. Had to physically rush out to vote, and come back.
Unless you can prove otherwise?

There is footage which is alleged to be him holding a business meeting in his parliamentary office. Having seen the footage, it shows very little of his surroundings. That may be his parliamentary office but I haven't been there or seen a photo of it so I can't say for sure. I doubt you can either. I should also point out that the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards (who is investigating this allegation) allows some latitude under this particular rule so, even if that is his parliamentary office, it may not be a breach of the rules. If the Commissioner decides that it is a breach then it is a breach but, unlike you, I will not rush to judgement before the Commissioner has investigated, got all the facts and reached a conclusion.

As for your third point, I misunderstood where he was but please tell me how rushing out of a meeting to vote and rushing back is a breach of the rules. The point of the division bell is it allows MPs who are not present in the Commons to get there and vote. It rings in some pubs near the Houses of Parliament for this very reason. I look forward to your explanation as to exactly which rule Cox broke by voting in the Commons.

What if we all just shrugged our shoulders and ignored everything going on at the present

Well exactly. Then the Tories would decamp en masse to the BVI and only the constituents able to afford the plane fare would get to see their MP.

I look forward to your explanation as to exactly which rule Cox broke by voting in the Commons

The parliamentary rules are crap and need changing. Alas school run duties preventing my further clarification on that atm.

More to watch, Alex Wickham:

Sleaze story carrying on well into 2022. Tories could face 5 serious new standards investigations:

— PM: No10 donations
— Cox: BVI work
— Kawczynski: bullying
— Robertson: gambling
— IDS: hand sanitiser report

Plus Rob Roberts, Lords cash, covid contracts, Afriyie bankruptcy..

I look forward to your explanation as to exactly which rule Cox broke by voting in the Commons
I misunderstood where he was but please tell me how rushing out of a meeting to vote and rushing back is a breach of the rules. The point of the division bell is it allows MPs who are not present in the Commons to get there and vote. It rings in some pubs near the Houses of Parliament for this very reason

Oh dear. I think you are being deliberately obtuse.

You know, as well as I do, it's not about voting in the Commons. MPs cannot use public resources, including tax funded parliamentary offices, for "personal or financial benefit".

There is footage which is alleged to be him

Lol. BBC, ITV, Sky News, Guardian, Independent and the red tops say it's him. Maybe they're all wrong.

I am sure he is very grateful for your unwavering support.

There is footage which is alleged to be him

Lol. BBC, ITV, Sky News, Guardian, Independent and the red tops say it's him. Maybe they're all wrong.

I posted a link to the video earlier, happy to do it again
www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-politics-59234860

Actually... he has said so himself, that he was in the commons at the time, so yes, it IS him.

This "alleged" BS really gets my goat.

If it helps Bridge, my "thoughts and prayers" are with you at this difficult time, as you struggle to accept that he MAY have done something wrong....

The fact that he was advising a government under investigation for corruption by the UK Government (of which he is a representative), in how to avoid this issue whilst, actually using tax-payer funded facilities is... beyond words, actually.

[quote DuncinToffee]There is footage which is alleged to be him

Lol. BBC, ITV, Sky News, Guardian, Independent and the red tops say it's him. Maybe they're all wrong.

I posted a link to the video earlier, happy to do it again
www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-politics-59234860[/quote]
Nice trick, taking a quote out of context to twist my words. I said it is alleged to be him holding a business meeting in his parliamentary office. It is clearly him, but I don't know if that is his parliamentary office. None of the news media are saying definitively that it is his parliamentary office as far as I can see.

Maybe read his statement

He seems to say it's his parliamentary office, along with every other bit of reporting of this. It is desperation to try and say 'allegedly' SURELY, if it wasn't he would be denying it strongly. Here is what he's said..

A statement from Sir Geoffrey’s office said: “As for the allegation that he breached the parliamentary code of conduct on one occasion, on September 14 2021, by being in his office while participating in an online hearing in the public inquiry and voting in the House of Commons, he understands that the matter has been referred to the Parliamentary Commissioner and he will fully co-operate with her investigation.

Does that look like a denial to you?!

It doesn't to me.

Goodness knows why you are so defensive about him.

When you're so desperate to defend the indefensible, that you even contradict the offender!

Nice trick, taking a quote out of context to twist my words. I said it is alleged to be him holding a business meeting in his parliamentary office. It is clearly him, but I don't know if that is his parliamentary office

Don't accuse me of quoting out of context and twisting words. This is what you said...
"There is footage which is alleged to be him holding a business meeting in his parliamentary office"

How is that me twisting words, you said it!!
Now you're saying 'it is clearly him'.

If you had said that there is footage of him allegedly in his parliamentary office holding a meeting, that would be different.

Libelula21
Conducting an affair (or two) while his wife is battling cancer

Doubletoilandtrouble
left when she had cancer

Why do posters keep repeating this untrue and malicious rumour?

Marina Wheeler has written about her cancer - she was diagnosed in May 2019 and given the 'all-clear' three months later in August 2019 after two ops. She separated from Boris Johnson the year before her cancer diagnosis (summer of 2018) and had already obtained a decree nisi in divorce proceedings.

Libelula21

In fact much of your previous post is opinion, rumour or speculation, e.g...

Leaving Arcuri alone in the marital home to take selfies - massive security risk

The Mirror have dated the photo as March 2016 - what was the massive security risk?

The massive security risk was, of course, that the former Mrs Johnson might return home unannounced. Ms Arcuri should consider herself fortunate that this evidently did not happen. So should Bozo. I suspect the current Mrs Johnson will be considerably put out if similar occurs.

The massive security risk was, of course, that the former Mrs Johnson might return home unannounced.

I am pretty sure that the poster was speculating on a government security risk.

@longwayoff Surely "when" similar occurs?