AIBU to not understand the outrage over the government’s so-called Christmas party?

[OneRuleForThem]

I feel like this is only an issue if people automatically followed guidelines like robots. We were “told” not to visit our own families over Christmas. Nobody tells me whether I can or can not visit my own family, so I did, and had a lovely and nice normal Christmas last year.

It seems people are up in arms over the fact that Downing Street allegedly (do I have to say allegedly?) had a Christmas party and flounced the “rules” without social distancing. My only reaction is…And? And so? So what? Did anyone expect the government NOT to do something like this? I don’t know why people are up in arms over it tbh. It’s not like this government is brand new to people and they didn’t have prior information that this government backtrack and “do as I say not as i do” ALL THE TIME.

I really don’t get why people are so outraged by this. My main reaction is…why did you listen to them in the first place expecting them to be some kind of moral leaders? AIBU?

Hey OP don't worry, the PM has just called the Christmas party a 'non-event' so don't worry, everyone will definitely stop being outraged now

I follow the rules and have no issue with doing so. But even I can't get behind this uproar - I couldn't care less about what happened a year ago. There's enough going on now. Sure they were hypocrites and whatever, but they are about loads of things. Move on.

Your post just sickens me Op. Are you really pleased with yourself for flouting the law, or are you just posting to deliberately upset people? Either way your morals are in the gutter along with those of the PM and Government.

Many of us made personal sacrifices during the last lockdown, and we did it willingly despite it being upsetting. I personally certainly do not look to the current Government as a moral example to follow, but regardless I missed out on Christmas because it was the right thing to do and avoided putting vulnerable people at risk. My loved ones & friends did the same, as did most of us. We didn't follow the law 'like robots' but to keep ourselves and others safe.

So to see that woman on that video sniggering like a naughty schoolgirl and admitting that a party was held at No 10 - at the height of lockdown when hundreds of people were dying - is an insult. If you can't see why people are disgusted by this then you are beyond help.

Because how can we be expected to follow or believe anything we are told when they’re setting a terrible example?

Sure they were hypocrites and whatever, but they are about loads of things

And we deserve better.

We vote, and pay, these people to do amongst the most important jobs in the country. Your bar for acceptable conduct is incredibly low.

@KurtWildesChristmasNamechange

Hey OP don't worry, the PM has just called the Christmas party a 'non-event' so don't worry, everyone will definitely stop being outraged now

Ok, so lets take what Boris said about not being there and not knowing about it at face value. But his staff thought it was appropriate to have a party and laugh and joke about it. What does that say about the judgement of the person who appointed them and the standards that their boss sets for their behaviour?

@jgw1 and apparently one of the parties happened in the PMs flat, but yeah let's not be outraged because OP thinks we're overreacting.

Fucking 'non-event' my arse.

To be fair it is a "non event" in his head I would guess. He did however make the bold claim that many others share his delusion.

Thank you. This is how I feel about it too. I am just quite confused as to why other people don’t see it in this way.

You're not confused @OneRuleForThem. You're either exceptionally stupid or very goady. Which one is it?

Sturgeon's wading in.

It's a dead cat to distract from police crime and Sentencing bill which is in the Lords today. From January we will no longer be able to legally protest.

@KrispyKale

To be fair it is a "non event" in his head I would guess. He did however make the bold claim that many others share his delusion.

Yeah, I think that probably does accurately reflect his beliefs, if nothing else. It is a genuine description of what's in his head. Probably the closest he's got to truthful for a while.

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/dec/08/boris-johnson-grabbing-more-power-amendments-to-oppressive-legislation-uk

This is getting very little coverage yet affects us all.

Thank you Zebras.

I've seen all my family and friends since the start of all this, had normal Christmas and birthdays too. I felt so sorry for all the zombies flocking to 'eat out to help out' last year. Then 'staying home to thave liveth' and painting fucking rainbows in their windows. Poor buggers will be sat watching the telly waiting to be told what to do next bless them

I'm not surprised but it does make me angry.

However, I pretty much ignored the advice and did what I wanted last Christmas which I'm even more glad about now. I'll be doing the same this year no matter what crap Johnson announces before 24 December.

YABU. Arrogant government that sets rules but does not see them as applying to them, i.e. they are above the law. I do not think this is in any way acceptable.

I think it's to stop people calling for another lockdown. BJ doesn't want to cancel Christmas twice, but he knows he should.

Should he? Is anyone (scientists I mean) calling for a total ban on any household mixing to be brought back?

@ZebrasKnit

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/dec/08/boris-johnson-grabbing-more-power-amendments-to-oppressive-legislation-uk

This is getting very little coverage yet affects us all.

The government says it intends “to introduce a new offence of interfering with the operation of key infrastructure, such as the strategic road network, railways, sea ports, airports, oil refineries and printing presses, carrying a maximum penalty of 12 months’ imprisonment, an unlimited fine, or both”

What's wrong with that? The article suggests that these restrictions will turn the country into a dictatorship. To me, no legitimate protest needs to disrupt any of the things listed. Many protestors will welcome jail time, the Insulate Britain lot for example were practically begging to be sent to prison.

People will still be allowed to protest. There will just be tighter legislation to deter them from causing disruption to the wider public. That's very much a good thing. Any protestor who can't convince the public through reasoned argument should not be allowed to disrupt the lives of people who don't care about whatever issue they're demonstrating about. In a free, civilised society, people should be free not to give a damn about a cause without having people try to force their opinions on them.

Anyway, as for the "party" I think Johnson came out of PMQs very well. All the session did was show how ineffective the opposition are. Starmer is repeatedly being offered an open goal and shoots wide. His questioning was rather distasteful, trying to suggest No.10 are laughing about people dying from Covid, but he is unable to control his party who come across a baying mob.

It was quite funny listening to the SNP idiot saying "I've got nothing to say to the PM" - then immediately saying more.

The speaker admonished the front bench😂 while mentioning public trust in the house.

This wasn’t just some wishy washy “advice”. It was law at the time not to mix indoors with people outside your household.

People listened to the government because these rules for not mixing were based on scientific evidence that the NHS would be overrun by COVID cases if we had a “normal” Christmas. Most people (not the OP obviously) selflessly followed these rules for the greater good.

Of course I’ve realised that Boris Johnson has no moral compass and will do whatever he likes, but to have an elitist party while everyone else had to abide by the restrictions sticks so much in the craw.

My much loved mother in law died around the same time and the rules made a distressing time so much harder. To think of all those people partying at Downing St and having a great old time while we had to sit socially distanced in a crematorium and could not even have a cup of tea with our relatives after the funeral is just horrible.

I hope this finishes him off. He is rotten to the core.

OP has gone very quiet

trying to suggest No.10 are laughing about people dying from Covid

Which is what it looks like to many of us.

They are laughing about social distancing and " roolz".
It's bad enough tbh.

Johnson looked shifty and uncomfortable before giving his pte- prepped soundbites with a wee puff of bravado.
If that floats your boat🤷.