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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To say if you’re feeling sorry for Allegra Stratton…

285 replies

Tillsforthrills · 09/12/2021 08:17

m.youtube.com/watch?v=2b83rSqBLfw

Please don’t.

OP posts:
peboh · 09/12/2021 12:39

I don't feel any pity towards her, she absolutely should have gone. However I agree she shouldn't be the only one, and they're hoping that her going is enough to settle the flames a little. She was upset because she was caught, not because she feels any shame towards her behaviours.
To the people that feel sad because she joked with her colleagues? Do you joke with your work mates about hosting parties whilst people are dying? Joking with colleagues is one thing, laughing about parties that were illegal at a time when people couldn't even visit dying relatives is an another.

SweetPen · 09/12/2021 12:39

Allegra Stratton must have made the young woman feel utterly crap and powerless during that interview bullying exercise.

thecatsinthecradle · 09/12/2021 12:40

Also she's only 41!
Sneering at those less fortunate than yourself must be bad for your skin.

thecatsinthecradle · 09/12/2021 12:44

Taken from Wikipedia. Not sure how true it is, but if so then looks like a nice cosy wee arrangement

To say if you’re feeling sorry for Allegra Stratton…
milkyaqua · 09/12/2021 12:51

I felt a bit sorry for her, all puffy faced from crying and scarfing down 3 tubes of pringles and a tonne of wine or whatever. But after watching that interview with the young mother.... Despicable.

Peregrina · 09/12/2021 12:52

What exactly is a Johnson Tory? One who lies and cheats all the time and runs away on holiday when there is a decision to be made?

herecomesthsun · 09/12/2021 12:57

There was no party?

but she can cry if she wants to
cry if she wants to
cry if she wants to

you would cry too if it happened to you...

herecomesthsun · 09/12/2021 12:58

@Peregrina

I agree. This culture of filming everything is bizarrre. I'm sure all of you could be pulled up on things if you were filmed 24/7

But in this case it was filmed in the fitted out at taxpayers great expense newsroom. So of course they will have cameras there and could have had them turned on because they were practising the presentation, and would want to play it back to get feedback.

It's surprising it's surfaced now though and not before.

timing is everything
ChampagneLassie · 09/12/2021 13:02

Isn't it sad (and typical) that a woman is thrown under the bus? I can't help but think that she is the sacrificial offering to defect attention away from those actually in charge. If there was a party at 10 then I don't think the press secretary is the one who should be held to account. Where is the leadership?
Her crocodile tears just feel like part of the game - she'll lie low for a while and then get a good role for her loyalty.

herecomesthsun · 09/12/2021 13:03

She's a journalist, she could always write a column. Or a book.

expatmigrant · 09/12/2021 13:07

if you lie with dogs you get fleas...

BlameItOnTheBlackStar · 09/12/2021 13:10

@Peregrina

What exactly is a Johnson Tory? One who lies and cheats all the time and runs away on holiday when there is a decision to be made?
A Brexiteer who puts political and personal economic gain ahead of any of those pesky principle things.
Wisewordswouldhelp · 09/12/2021 13:39

@3scape

She's very pro people remaining in abusive situations because it's "their choice" too. Quite honestly Id like to see her become an untouchable employee but she won't. She knows very well how to get what she wants.
Where did you get her being pro people remaining in abusive situations?
turnaroundtime · 09/12/2021 13:42

@Userno63637348

Wtaf! She probably comes from privilege and doesn't know what it's like to live in the real world!
Not particularly. Her parents were very middle middle. She went to a state school up until 6th formI think. So not poor but not crazy privileged either. I feel sorry for her in that she was obviously laughing at the ridiculous situation she was in, like 'wtf am I supposed to say to the press' kind of thing. Her job required her to talk to the press and she was aware that there had been a party. She didn't attend the party has far as I know. Definitely the scape goat.
SweetPen · 09/12/2021 13:50

Not particularly. Her parents were very middle middle. She went to a state school up until 6th formI think. So not poor but not crazy privileged either. I feel sorry for her in that she was obviously laughing at the ridiculous situation she was in, like 'wtf am I supposed to say to the press' kind of thing. Her job required her to talk to the press and she was aware that there had been a party. She didn't attend the party has far as I know. Definitely the scape goat.

I disagree as @expatmigrant says - if you lie with dogs you get fleas...

@Wisewordswouldhelp Where did you get her being pro people remaining in abusive situations?
She says so in the interview

longwayoff · 09/12/2021 13:52

She is definitely a sacrificial offering but save your own tears. She's connected- obviously, or she wouldn't have been given the £125K pa job - and will be handed another job, quietly, in a couple of months which will keep her in shoes and handbags. She is married to James Forsyth political editor of The Spectator and close mate of Rishi Sunak. They are godparents to each others children. Appalling people, the whole caboodle of 'em. Dry your eyes, sympathisers, I doubt she'd cry for you. Ever.

Alltheblue · 09/12/2021 13:55

In less than a minute, the video captures all the shallow amateurism of modern politics: its absence of moral awareness, its capacity for awful judgment and its corrosive sense of entitlement

From the Guardian. Never mind feeling sorry for her. She's emblematic of what's wrong with our government. No, she's not what's wrong with our government. She's just demonstrated it so beautifully that one can't help feeling it's significant.

longwayoff · 09/12/2021 13:57

In fact, that new fascist-leaning tv channel that made Andrew Neil cry will be itching to get her on board. Probably signed up by now.

Alltheblue · 09/12/2021 13:59

I don't think the fact that she's a woman is actually relevant this time. Plenty of heads have rolled recently.

I don't think she was sober, actually. I said this to my husband and he said I was very naive...

KittensWearingWoollyMittens · 09/12/2021 13:59

Why on earth would I feel sorry for her?!

the80sweregreat · 09/12/2021 14:05

She did look as if she had a drink ( or something similar ? ) during that briefing rehearsal !
Very flirty.
The dates for these various parties keep on coming up .. seems it's all one long party up there.
Who pays for it all ? Out of the petty cash ?
..

GattioAnyone · 09/12/2021 14:06

😂

GattioAnyone · 09/12/2021 14:06

Taxation.

roarfeckingroarr · 09/12/2021 14:07

What's wrong with that video? She's right.

I've met Allegra a few times, I like her. She's taken the fall for a bunch of blokes about a party she wasn't even at.

Comedycook · 09/12/2021 14:07

I'm astounded to hear she's only 41 Shock.