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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to feel gaslighted by the government and BBC?

177 replies

Bavarois · 20/12/2021 10:00

Another photo has appeared, showing the Tories having a 'work meeting' (garden party) on 15th May 2020. The BBC report states 'The 15 May photograph shows a gathering of staff in the Downing Street garden... At that time, gatherings of more than two people were banned in outdoor public places in England. However, because the picture appears to show a private garden, that restriction would not apply. Later on in the pandemic, gatherings were banned in private gardens too.'

We were in LOCKDOWN. We weren't allowed to leave our house for anything other than work, medical supplies, or exercise. Now I'm in Scotland so I might be remembering things slightly differently as our rules were slightly different, so I looked it up. Guardian article from 28th May - 'Johnson said: “We will now allow people to meet in gardens, and other private outdoor spaces'

How can they just lie and lie? And even the BBC?! Shouldn't we be able to trust at least them? It's despicable.

OP posts:
torquewench · 20/12/2021 10:06

Is Downing Street a workplace? All I see is groups of people (2 of whom are in a relationship) some distance apart, outdoors.

Squeezita · 20/12/2021 10:08

YABU. Coronavirus regulations do not apply to Government departments and royal property – unless minsters specifically take steps to make them do so.

madisonbridges · 20/12/2021 10:16

But Downing Street is a workplace. People were allowed to go into work? Surely it's better to have a meeting outside than inside for reducing covid. But even so, if you've been sitting in an office with all these peoole, why does it matter if you're sitting outside the office with the same people?

I get people being annoyed for parties, but now we have to be outraged for people going to work?

DrManhattan · 20/12/2021 10:18

Doesn't look like a typical work meeting for most people

DaisyNGO · 20/12/2021 10:19

@madisonbridges

But Downing Street is a workplace. People were allowed to go into work? Surely it's better to have a meeting outside than inside for reducing covid. But even so, if you've been sitting in an office with all these peoole, why does it matter if you're sitting outside the office with the same people?

I get people being annoyed for parties, but now we have to be outraged for people going to work?

I don't think work drinks were legal for anyone else.
Propagandalf · 20/12/2021 10:37

YABU OP.

The 1st lockdown ended on Mon 11.May.2020.

DaisyNGO · 20/12/2021 10:41

@Propagandalf

YABU OP.

The 1st lockdown ended on Mon 11.May.2020.

I think they made an annoucement on that day but it didn't come into force till 20 something May. I remember my parents had friends in their garden that very day...pretty sure it was a Monday.
DrManhattan · 20/12/2021 10:43

Cant believe there is anyone left still defending this set of muppets

DaisyNGO · 20/12/2021 10:44

This is handy

www.ashtonslegal.co.uk/insights/business-news/covid-19-relaxations-in-law-from-13-may-2020/

I know Adam Wagner has a document with the legals but I find it overwhelming, it will be in there though.

Datgal · 20/12/2021 10:45

It's a friggin joke. Bojo didn't even attend the cobra meeting this weekend. He sent a minion. Arseholes.

OnAWinterMorningFarAway · 20/12/2021 10:47

@DrManhattan

Cant believe there is anyone left still defending this set of muppets
What’s Carrie Johnson doing at a ‘work meeting’? She been running the country, then?
OnAWinterMorningFarAway · 20/12/2021 10:47

Sorry I am agreeing with you @DrManhattan btw!

devildeepbluesea · 20/12/2021 10:47

@DrManhattan

Cant believe there is anyone left still defending this set of muppets
This. But Muppets isn't a strong enough word to describe these complete bastards.
Justcannotbearsed · 20/12/2021 10:52

@madisonbridges

But Downing Street is a workplace. People were allowed to go into work? Surely it's better to have a meeting outside than inside for reducing covid. But even so, if you've been sitting in an office with all these peoole, why does it matter if you're sitting outside the office with the same people?

I get people being annoyed for parties, but now we have to be outraged for people going to work?

Cheeseboard, wine bottle, the PM's spouse there. No social distancing. If that had been in a private garden of any MN here they'd have been howled down - even if it was a meeting of work colleagues.

That's not work.

I'm sure there was lots of teachers, care home staff, funeral directors, nurses, doctors - who wanted to meet up with their work colleagues over cheese and wine after a hard day at work.

They had literally that day told people not to meet up even outside without social distancing.

Everyone was saying that Covid had ripped through no 10 - you can see why.

MeMumI · 20/12/2021 10:55

"I get people being annoyed for parties, but now we have to be outraged for people going to work?"

Ah yes, that work meeting they're so obviously having with no pens, papers or laptops. But instead, have someone who is not a member of govt (Carrie) and her baby. Has she signed the official secrets act? Why is she at a government meeting? Does Boris normally take his wife to business meetings? How does that square with the official secrets act? Particularly given that she doesn't live there (they live next door at number 11).

MmeSosostris · 20/12/2021 10:57

I think a bigger issue is drone footage over a secure area, no?

ElectraBlue · 20/12/2021 10:59

For anyone defending Johnson and his team: do people routinely drink alcohol and eat cheese during work meetings and bring their partner to seat alongside them then?

I need to rethink the way we hold meetings in my office then...

This set up would be weird at the best of time but this was taking place during a strict lockdown.

More lies.

Viviennemary · 20/12/2021 11:02

Why was Carrie there. She isn't a member of the government. It was a social gathering. Thats why they daren't cancel Christmas.

DeclareThePenniesOnYourEyes · 20/12/2021 11:08

@DrManhattan

Cant believe there is anyone left still defending this set of muppets
This. Anyone defending them needs to catch themselves on.
madisonbridges · 20/12/2021 11:10

When I went into the office during lockdown, we didn't have wine but we did have a variety if drinks (I had pop). I don't understand the hangup over cheese - is that worse than biscuits? Had a nice prosecco at the hairdressers while chatting with other customers - should I have stuck to a glass of water.
Wasn't Carrie Symonds part of the Conservative HQ? Do we think Cherie Blair didn't get involved in political discussions? Aren't there pictures of Leo Blair when he was a toddler playing in Blairs office while his father was working?
I can't help feeling the outrage over this would be much less if people politically supported the people in the photo.

madisonbridges · 20/12/2021 11:10

Why is cheese such a triggering food?

echt · 20/12/2021 11:12

YABU because you clearly don't know what gaslighting means.

Redcrayons · 20/12/2021 11:12

I get people being annoyed for parties, but now we have to be outraged for people going to work?
You can’t seriously think this is a work meeting. They are having a drink after work RaaB said to Kay Burley it was after the daily press conference. It’s a social activity.

Of course, we know now that this is a low risk activity however the fact remains that this was not allowed at the time.

This is why people won’t comply. Won’t wear masks, won’t reduce contact over Christmas, won’t get boosters.

DaisyNGO · 20/12/2021 11:13

Madison " can't help feeling the outrage over this would be much less if people politically supported the people in the photo"

I can't help feeling the outrage would have been less if we'd been allowed to socialise and not have number limits at funerals.

Also, many people thought guidance was law - gaslighting - and followed 2m.

DaisyNGO · 20/12/2021 11:18

Helpful video

mobile.twitter.com/AdamBienkov/status/1472846386387468288