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?

Seeing those pictures has tipped me over the edge.

I care about Covid and I care about people's health. I have been all for lockdowns, masks, distancing and restrictions. But I have to say, seeing those pictures have made me want to ignore every bit of advice the government give. They're such hypocritical gits.

Im fully vaccinated and keep very up to date with Covid news. But from now on I'm making my own decisions about how to keep my family and community safe. Because I know 100% that my intentions are more genuine than the government's.

A lockdown in January is completely unnecessary. Omicron is known to be much milder and far more contagious. We will ALL get it and the vast, vast majority will experience nothing more than a cold. I won't be locking down for it. The economy and my children's education and socialisation is much more important at this stage.

And I won't be listening to gov advice anytime soon. Not all the while Boris and his public school chums see fit to do as they please (predictably).

When I worked in an office it was mainly biscuits and tea. If you were really lucky they may have also had cake.

The best meetings had free pens or post it notes for you to grab as many as you can share amongst everyone there

@MintJulia

During lockdown last year, I had a team meeting in my garden. The office was being deep cleaned. I don't have a partner but my ds was there. It was hot, certainly people had drinks although not alcohol.

Much less smart, no suits, no chess board.

The only thing that makes me think this might have been work, was on a hot summer evening, what sane person wants to sit around in a sweaty uncomfortable suit, when instead they could go home, have a shower, relax and be with their family?

They probably had been at work (you'd hope so given the circumstances!) but this is clearly after work drinks

In meetings in external venues, and after the meeting finishes then yes, wine and nibbles have been provided, arguably it’s still the meeting, because quite frankly we’d all fuck off home if it wasn’t. Not with spouse though.

I’ve also had dinners with clients with wine, arguably it’s still a meeting.

It is the unvaccinated peoplr fault. At least that is what almost everything the government done, that is bad is blamed for.

As much as this was a bloody disgrace I don’t like the way these pictures are being wheeled out years after the event. Same with the Christmas parties. Clearly the pictures were available, so why wait until we’re at a crucial point to bring them out? It’s pure manipulation on the part of the press, at about the time they’re shouting for the government to not introduce restrictions.

Interesting isn’t it that last year the media were clammering for Boris to cancel Christmas, and meanwhile they had these pictures of Christmas parties at Downing Street which they chose not to publish presumably because they knew that if they did, people would be less likely to comply.

Now they’re shouting to the government to not cancel Christmas, and they’re releasing these pictures that a lot of people won’t comply again.

I despise this government and all that it stands for. But the press have been despicable.

Not looking very good for them 2bh. Buffoons could do a better job

Its Carrie's garden, she can use it. I guess they could have been on a break, which is why she sat with them whilst nursing the baby.

The Deputy PM said this was after one of the Sadly Daily Death briefings, dont know if I believe that but either way my issue isnt with Boris and Carrie sat in the garden. My issue is the wine & cheese on a work break, all my employer did was send us a mug and a singular tea bag for one of our meetings. I'd prefer wine and cheese, might make the meetings more palatable.

^ that was supposed to say baboons not buffoons

My partner and me both wfh currently. Despite him working in our dining area, I've never sat in on one of his work calls...! So Carrie definitely shouldn't have been there.

What a load of bs. Fed up of Boris's absolute twaddle now.

Absolute nonsense to use the excuse that 'it's Carrie's garden so she is allowed to be there'. My DH often has Zoom meetings for both work and a voluntary role he performs. I don't sit in the same room and listen in because it's my house and I'm allowed to be there. I send him to a room where he is least likely to get I the way of what I might be doing and out of earshot.
Even if I have friends around (my friends without partners), DH will make himself scarce in another room. He wouldn't dream of sitting in the living room with us just because he lives there!

I’ve also had dinners with clients with wine, arguably it’s still a meeting.

Yes, I agree, but were you still having that kind of meeting in lockdown? I suspect not.

Its Carrie's garden, she can use it. I guess they could have been on a break, which is why she sat with them whilst nursing the baby.

But there was supposed to be no mixing...

@BarbaraofSeville

I'm a civil servant. We're told that alcohol must never be consumed on the premises, even in social occasions. Fair enough.

In the days gone by it was acceptable to have the odd glass during a Christmas lunch or if a longstanding team member was retiring, but that's been banned for about 10 years now.

I have a long list of things we aren't allowed to do, that Ministers do daily. It's infuriating that they don't adhere to the standards that are imposed on the ordinary workers.

This with bells on

I've had lots of "informa" business meetings and dinners with clients too. Not much during lockdown when it was wfh!

@Bluntness100

In meetings in external venues, and after the meeting finishes then yes, wine and nibbles have been provided, arguably it’s still the meeting, because quite frankly we’d all fuck off home if it wasn’t. Not with spouse though.

I’ve also had dinners with clients with wine, arguably it’s still a meeting.

Not during lockdown though presumably?

They probably had been at work (you'd hope so given the circumstances!) but this is clearly after work drinks

But it’s not is it. Plenty of meetings can have an hour of discussion at the end, break out groups or small individual meetings, and yes wine and whatever can be served. It doesn’t mean it’s after work drinks.

I’ve been to many like this, and I’m expected to stay. And this is where it makes it subjective. Because this could easily have been part of the meeting.

@Bluntness100

They probably had been at work (you'd hope so given the circumstances!) but this is clearly after work drinks

But it’s not is it. Plenty of meetings can have an hour of discussion at the end, break out groups or small individual meetings, and yes wine and whatever can be served. It doesn’t mean it’s after work drinks.

I’ve been to many like this, and I’m expected to stay. And this is where it makes it subjective. Because this could easily have been part of the meeting.

Hmm. But I'm going to say "plenty" of business cancelled those kinds of things during lockdown?

Rarely, in my experience. Dh has never been there either.

And in May 2020 certainly not,
Every meeting was isolated and via zoom.
My colleagues in school (I was at home due to job role and being vulnerable to covid) weren't allowed within 2m if one another, staff rooms were closed, and for meetings they sat alone at their laptop.

They could have been piled on top of each other having a massive orgy and snorting cocaine and eating puppies and people would still vote for them

Hmm. But I'm going to say "plenty" of business cancelled those kinds of things during lockdown?

Sure but there was no requirement to do so, there was nothing thay said if you have a meeting no alcohol can be consumed.

And plenty didn’t.

@BarbaraofSeville

I'm a civil servant. We're told that alcohol must never be consumed on the premises, even in social occasions. Fair enough.

In the days gone by it was acceptable to have the odd glass during a Christmas lunch or if a longstanding team member was retiring, but that's been banned for about 10 years now.

I have a long list of things we aren't allowed to do, that Ministers do daily. It's infuriating that they don't adhere to the standards that are imposed on the ordinary workers.

You mean little things like not following the public procurement rules and awarding millions in contracts to "VIPs"?

Sadly I think this whole affair has damaged the civil service as well as the government. Many of those pictured in that photo are on the civil service payroll. I expect better from civil servants regardless of what their elected masters get up to. Your senior leaders in the civil service have failed to stand up for these principals as well. The whole lot need to go.

@Bluntness100

They probably had been at work (you'd hope so given the circumstances!) but this is clearly after work drinks

But it’s not is it. Plenty of meetings can have an hour of discussion at the end, break out groups or small individual meetings, and yes wine and whatever can be served. It doesn’t mean it’s after work drinks.

I’ve been to many like this, and I’m expected to stay. And this is where it makes it subjective. Because this could easily have been part of the meeting.

Did you go to many of those in May 2020?

Also what additional risk is there, you’ve been in a meeting all day and you go outside and have a glass of wine after. It’s not like they got together just for a piss up.

@Bluntness100

Hmm. But I'm going to say "plenty" of business cancelled those kinds of things during lockdown?

Sure but there was no requirement to do so, there was nothing thay said if you have a meeting no alcohol can be consumed.

And plenty didn’t.

There was, we were supposed to be working from home where possible. What happened in that garden that couldn't have been done by Teams?