To ask if your essential meetings involve sitting around in the garden with wine and cheese, with your spouse in attendance?

[AlexaShutUp]

So the justification for the pictures of Boris in lockdown is that they were essential work meetings and therefore allowed. The wine and cheese was apparently because people were working long hours. I have seen no explanation of why Carrie was present.

Do you have essential work meetings of this nature? I don't.

AIBU to think that, in the midst of a pandemic, I'd rather that our decision makers stayed off the booze while carrying out their essential functions? And that unelected individuals who are not employed by the government in an official capacity have no business sitting in on such meetings?

@Clavinova

pastabest The date of the photo is 10th May 2020 There were still travel restrictions in place and the police were actively stopping cars to ensure that they had a legitimate reason for travel...People were still only being allowed out for an hours exercise a day at that point.

The photo was taken on the 15th May 2020 (according to newspaper reports) - rules were relaxed on the 13th May and you were allowed to travel to beauty spots, beaches etc. and enjoy unlimited exercise.

You weren't allowed people in your garden though were you?

Yeah well software company.🤷 I guess that's Johnston's style what with Jennifer the special adviser on tech.

Getyourarseofffthequattro
I don't know why you're sending me other links? Doesn't seem to relate to the people in charge or in fact anything to do with this thread.

You implied that you previously had an important role in a hospital - my links show 'work gatherings' in a hospital in March/April 2020.

@notimagain I love it!!! "Schrodinger's Prime Minister" - is he there or is he not?!

What IS the status of this individual?

And does he give a rat's behind about the people he's supposed to be "leading"? (Clue: regular absences; large collection of slithery invertebrates)

And STILL there are people making excuses for him. I despair.

My only fear is that if/when he goes, we'll get somebody even worse in charge, like Patel, or Truss, or Raab. I've worked in the NHS for a long time; I never, ever thought the day would come when I actually thought Hunt was the best option of a very, very bad bunch indeed.

@Clavinova

Getyourarseofffthequattro I don't know why you're sending me other links? Doesn't seem to relate to the people in charge or in fact anything to do with this thread.

You implied that you previously had an important role in a hospital - my links show 'work gatherings' in a hospital in March/April 2020.

No I didn't. I said I worked in a hospital. Yes, they were wrong, however those people didn't make the rules so it's not at all comparable with what we're discussing here, is it?

Watapalava

Re comparing to funeral behaviour - I’m sorry but only an idiot doesn’t comfort a family member at a funeral - rule or no rule. I never understood how people could be so calllus as to watch someone upset and stay 2m away because Boris said. Have some bloody compassion and common sense

This is one of the most cold and callous things I have seen on here in a long while. Absolutely awful. Take a good long look at what you have written and tell us all that you still stand by it.

If you watch the link the family do try and comfort each other and get told to return the seats. People did as they were told to protect each other and do the right thing no matter how hard - because they are good people, doing their best in a shitty situation. Please don’t blame THEM for doing what they were told was the right thing to do as a justification for the governments contempt, hypocrisy and corruption. FFS.

Getyourarseofffthequattro
You weren't allowed people in your garden though were you?

You were allowed press conferences and meetings in the Number 10 garden.

Oops, should have said vertebrates. (Or possibly, given this government, invertebrates remains just fine...)

@Clavinova

Getyourarseofffthequattro You weren't allowed people in your garden though were you?

You were allowed press conferences and meetings in the Number 10 garden.

That isn't either of those things, is it?

There's no press, and no evidence it's a meeting.

Nope.

My meetings never include alcohol or bringing your partner so they can seat next to you.

They also tend to include things like laptops, paper and pens to take notes with and someone chairing the proceedings.

Maybe we have all being doing them wrong...

And STILL there are people making excuses for him. I despair.

Try and enjoy the contortions. I do. They aren't going to stop, and it's fucking hilarious.

@VikingOnTheFridge

And STILL there are people making excuses for him. I despair.

Try and enjoy the contortions. I do. They aren't going to stop, and it's fucking hilarious.

War Is Peace, Freedom Is Slavery, Ignorance Is Strength And this was a Work Meeting

Let's not forget that Stella Creasy was told not to bring her baby to parliament. Yet Carrie is allowed to bring her baby to Boris's work meetings?

@CheshireKitten123

"I have seen no explanation of why Carrie was present."

maybe because she lives there?

I live with my husband but I don’t sit in on his business meetings . If it was a business meeting then having your spouse / fiancé present was a gross breach of confidentiality . If it was a social event in normal circumstances then fine, but these were not normal times and anyway we are being told it was a business meeting.

Also the law is important all the time not just when there are consequences , we don’t say it’s ok to drink and drive if you don’t kill someone. We say it is wrong because you might kill someone.

Working in Downing Street, being at the seat of power, is a huge privilege, people working there need to be held up the highest standards . If you are making the rules you need to be seen to be following them , not in a mealy mouthed ‘we will do the minimum’ way but wholeheartedly and having regard to the spirit and intention of the law, otherwise how can you ask others to comply.

Getyourarseofffthequattro
No I didn't. I said I worked in a hospital

Did the hospital consultants invite you in for meetings when you worked there? Carrie Johnson was previously head of communications (2018).

I used to work in a doctors surgery, pre covid and at our last meeting before Christmas we would have party food.

No alcohol though!

@Clavinova

Getyourarseofffthequattro No I didn't. I said I worked in a hospital

Did the hospital consultants invite you in for meetings when you worked there? Carrie Johnson was previously head of communications (2018).

Of course they did, it was my job.

@Clavinova

Getyourarseofffthequattro No I didn't. I said I worked in a hospital

Did the hospital consultants invite you in for meetings when you worked there? Carrie Johnson was previously head of communications (2018).

She doesn't work there now though, therefore she should not be there if it is a meeting.

There is nothing you can say that makes it okay, literally nothing.

Getyourarseofffthequattro
There is nothing you can say that makes it okay, literally nothing.

Oh well, at least you won't be voting for Keir Starmer either;

www.thesun.co.uk/news/14826418/keir-starmer-beer-indoor-gathering/

[quote Clavinova]Getyourarseofffthequattro
There is nothing you can say that makes it okay, literally nothing.

Oh well, at least you won't be voting for Keir Starmer either;

www.thesun.co.uk/news/14826418/keir-starmer-beer-indoor-gathering/[/quote]
No, you're right, I won't. What's your point?

But again, he didn't make these rules, did he?

Wonder if his wife was there?

I once had an annoying situation where someone had to "man the phones" in case an important counterparty rang in with a last minute detail. It was the day of the office christmas party (pre covid) and I drew the short straw. A colleague brought me a glass of mulled wine & a mince pie at my desk in consolation.

It's the only time I can recall having a work meeting or being sat at my desk and drinking alcohol. Theres no shortage of the odd lunch or after work drink in my industry but in may 2020 those weren't happening due to restrictions and there was no uncertainty about that.

When will people get it? Tory governments aren't in it for the people! Its policies that help those already wealthy (themselves....), one rule for them another for everyone else, procurement contracts at huge profits to mates.

@Clavinova

Getyourarseofffthequattro No I didn't. I said I worked in a hospital

Did the hospital consultants invite you in for meetings when you worked there? Carrie Johnson was previously head of communications (2018).

For the Conservative party not the government, and it’s irrelevant any way, she worked for neither the government or the party at the time that photo was taken.

Nope, my work meetings throughout the last 21 months have mostly involved sitting in front of a camera with, if I am very lucky, a cup of tea. The very few in-person ones involved sitting at a distance around a table with, again, at most a cup of tea, usually one I had made myself.