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?

[megletthesecond]

Are you nuts?
Those of us who wanted to slow down the pandemic stuck to the rules. Not hard as I'm not am impatient toddler.

[HesterShaw1]

All this "you get the government you deserve" bullshit

Bollocks. I've never voted for the Tories, yet again and again they return to power because of the unjust and archaic voting system in this alleged democracy.

And yes I do expect decent standards from our elected representatives. Call me old fashioned.

[Babybooboodedoo]

I followed the rules because I’m an intelligent, informed person- not because the government told me to. I’m thinking you’re either limited in intelligence, or you’re a psychopath without the ability to feel empathy for others?

[chaosrabbitland]

i ignored the rules and did what i wanted .but the fact is a lot of people did follow them .so to find out that the very goverment lecturing away has flouted those rules themselves is an utter pisstake . if i actually had any respect for those lying tossers who govern us maybe i might consider following them myself

[Loveinacoldishclimate]

1)It was the law.
2) It’s not fair. People were prosecuted and fined for smaller gatherings (eg. young people at university). The people attending and organising the Downing Street party could be liable to the same criminal sanction.
3) Morally it feels wrong. The rationale for social distancing was to reduce the spread of infection and deaths. So it’s pretty low to try to try to find loop holes.
4) The Allegra Strachan press conference prep is really crass. It’s really sticking two fingers up at the public for by and large stayed within the law. Teeheeheeing about “what’s the line to take?” so it doesn’t become a story with traction really shows what those close to the PM think of us.
5) The PM has lied to parliament and tried to avoid giving a factual account. People think politicians all lie however being in contempt of parliament is a big deal. We haven’t been in normal times for a while but there is precedent for resignations.
6) 17th Dec is the review point - whatever way this goes the decision could lack credibility ie if medical advice to lock down fewer people comply. If the decision is not to lockdown many won’t have confidence Govt have taken the decision for how it looks.
7) And finally for me - I’m just so fucking sick of this now. I want to see my family and I want them to be safe. And I want to believe there are serious people in charge who are working to get us there.

[jgw1]

@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?

It has been known for me to sometimes post to poke a bit of fun around and create a stir.

I must say I am most impressed by how well the OP has done that in this post and how sustained they are in continuing it.

Well played.

[SickAndTiredAgain]

@BeaMends

Forgive me if I missed it, but all these people at this party - were they all staff who were normally all working in the building together, and they just all had a bit of a piss-up when they finished work?
Or were there separately invited guests?

Since they’ve denied it happening, they haven’t been forthcoming with the guest list. Dominic Cummings I think has said a couple of journalists were there but then he’s not exactly the most reliable of sources.

Legally it doesn’t matter though, credit to a poster on the other thread for this, dated just before the party occurred.

[Shadedog]

I didn’t have my mum stay with me last Christmas because I didn’t want to kill her. She didn’t want to come because she didn’t want to risk infection. I have 4 dc who were in school until education collapsed at the end of term (remember that?) less than 10 days before Christmas, dh has contact with a lot of people and I work with covid patients. None of us were vaccinated last Christmas, the way it was spreading there was no reasonable expectation that we would be “safe” to mix with elderly or vulnerable people. The idea that we made this decision based on being docile little sheep rather than because we are not first class morons is quite the take. I think we did the right thing and made a sensible, adult decision and it infuriates me that we are being “led” by self-serving, immature, narcissists. My hospital was overwhelmed by the first week of January. It was the worst time of my career bar none.
I personally know someone who got a £200 fine for seeing her brother on Boxing Day which was AGAINST THE LAW. I live in the same area as people who were fined £10k for a party. Damn right I think the government should be held to account. The question is, why do you think they shouldn’t be? You really are a docile little sheep if you think you don’t deserve a grown up, competent government. They’ve really done a number on you.

[SickAndTiredAgain]

Damn right I think the government should be held to account. The question is, why do you think they shouldn’t be? You really are a docile little sheep if you think you don’t deserve a grown up, competent government. They’ve really done a number on you.

Well said.

[MenopauseSucks]

I was in the South East in Tier 4 & my West Country family were all in Tier 2 areas.
I spent Xmas alone as just could not justify driving 4-5 hours across country possibly spreading any virus, let alone Covid.
That is why hearing about Boris's party fucked me off.

[audweb]

Last Christmas was my grans last Christmas. She spent it alone in hospital. She saw two people from her huge family that loved her dearly. She died three weeks later. I never got to see her for months before she died.

Of course I’m raging at a government that made laws and chose to break them while the rest of us were sacrificing our last days with loved ones.

[ForgedInFire]

It's wasn't just about listening to the government and following advice- it was law. Did you forget all of the videos of police entering private property and fining the people there for breaking the rules? The police must have known damn well that top government officials were doing the same thing since they are tasked with protecting them. It shouldn't be one rule for us and one rule for them

[KurtWildesChristmasNamechange]

But it wasn't 'just' not being allowed to meet with people. Businesses closed again, income was lost, food waste for countless Christmas parties that had been booked in hospitality venues, travel restrictions that were policed on the motorways, elderly people not allowed visitors in care homes, dying people not allowed their family by their sides.

Many of the restrictions weren't things people could break!

Absolutely tone deaf OP, sorry.

[WrongWayApricot]

Ofc yabu, didn't they try to fine parents for letting kids play in a front garden? I'm not surprised, but I am angry that bojo et al get away with the most atrocious things. And not just as a PM, he's always been an obnoxious piece of work. I actually didn't care when whatshisface travelled the length of the country because he was coming down with covid or whatever. Because in my mind that was a normal human mistake to make. A stupid, risky one, but still one that I'd expect a lot of people did. Stepping down from the podium after telling everyone they mustn't see loved ones for the greater good and stepping into a Christmas party is pretty gross and not a normal human mistake.

[longwayoff]

Have you read The Psychopath Test by Jon Ronson OP? You might find it useful in helping assess what is deemed generally acceptable social behaviour.

[Tootyfilou]

YABVVU. My family, like thousands of others spent Christmas apart last year. We are a family if Doctors and other HCP so the risk was too great for my elderly parents who spent Christmas alone.
If you were happy to flout the law that’s your decision. Hopefully no one caught Covid as a result.
As for the Tories Christmas party. I am not shocked. Its exactly the behaviour I expect from these self entitled murdering bastards.
My one hope is that it will turn the tide against them. I doubt it though. The British public seems happy to be shafted every which way .

[PamDenick]

I don’t think OP will be coming back...
unless she/he was a journalist trying to gauge the mood of the nation.

[GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing]

It was the law, not advice ffs

[whynotwhatknot]

are you saying you never followed any lockdown law from the start op or just christmas

[Yellownotblue]

Obviously there is security at No 10. As such, the police is very likely to have known about the party. Why didn’t they intervene to break it up? Why no fines and no publicity?

It’s shocking, particularly in a year where the Met police has gone out of its way to tyrannically abuse women. But they’re fine turning a blind eye on fucking Tories?

And yes, of course we shouldn’t be in a situation where we have come to expect the government to lie to us.

[SammyScrounge]

I hate the way Starmer and Co are shrieking with outrage. They just come across as petty. It' s boring. There are bigger issues to focus on.

[Exibstudent]

@longwayoff I think that might be my favourite reply on any thread ever.
I have a professional obligation to follow the law, regardless of my opinion of it. I consider the fact that the government is prepared to continually flaunt the rule of law utterly disgusting.

[AnotherOneWithNoGoodName]

Well, you are not BU in expecting them to just do whatever they want, I suppose. They have long form in that.
YABVU to not want to hold the government to account. That is why we are where we are though.

[LunarEclipseWinterSolstice]

Thing is, a shit load of people couldn't visit their families because rules were changed and air and sea travel was stopped mere days before Christmas. These arsehole had spent weeks promising us that wouldn't happen then pulled the rug from under people's feet (it happened to my best friend) when they had already pod for and arranged to see their families. The same government who tried to go against feeding hungry children to punish their parents, and reduce universal credit during a fucking pandemic, and think that £8.84 an hour to look after the most vulnerable in our society it OK. They are SCUM.

[PamDenick]

Bigger issues?
Such as getting puppies out of Afghanistan and abandoning women and children?
Yup. We should all be shrieking. And then shriek some more...