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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

AIBU to think that Boris should resign now?

994 replies

Seemslikeagoodidea · 11/01/2022 17:45

Today it has been revealed that in May 2020 invitations were emailed to (allegedly) 100 Downing Street staff, for a garden party. This party happened during the first lockdown, when many people could not visit their elderly relatives, even on their death beds, due to the lockdown rules. The email was sent by one of the PM's top people, and stated that people should "bring their own booze and enjoy the sunshine". Today Boris has been conspicuous by his absence.

I think this is the final straw and shows a lack of judgement and absence of moral fibre. Enough is enough - he should resign and if he doesn't do it then his own party should force him to go.

AIBU?

OP posts:
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5
BashStreetKid · 12/01/2022 14:46

@JaniieJones

'Bollocks. This was at 6 pm, in the garden, at least one non-employee was present, and it was expressly drinks and BYOB, not "during work'

They often work until mn and as a pp pointed out drinking is fine in some workplace situations, like Starmer necking his beer you see. I mean surely that was a party too? Going by the media's very loose definition of one.

But no-one has claimed that they were working.
SickAndTiredAgain · 12/01/2022 14:46

@Clavinova

This was at 6 pm, in the garden

Quite a few press conferences were held at 7pm/8pm if I remember correctly.

On that day the daily briefing was at 5pm with Oliver Dowden talking about how people could meet one other person outside, in a public place.
LookItsMeAgain · 12/01/2022 14:46

He should go.

The other 28-30 attendees of this BYOB garden party should go.

The 70 or so others who were on the email list that kept their gobs shut for this long should also go.

Anyone in the Conservative Party that has covered up for or stood up for the PM throughout the pandemic when he has been speaking out of both sides of his face should go too!

I was really shocked that Starmer didn't jump up to the dispatch box and say to Johnson that he wasn't actually sorry about whatever he spouted out in his 'apology', he was sorry that he was caught and all of the fluff about doing things differently means "next time we'll have to make sure that we don't get caught when we're breaking the law".
End of.

Johnson's reign as PM is coming to an end. His position is untenable and he cannot remain in the role any longer.

Gargellen · 12/01/2022 14:46

The fact that there is a taxpayer funded investigation into this is abhorrent. He must go but all the other attendees are culpable too. They all should go and a caretaker government step in.

SueSaid · 12/01/2022 14:47

@ElenaCouch

Would love to see JaniieJones cover up if Boris ever did a hit and run. I'm sure you would say that sitting in the driver's seat for a mere 25 minutes doesn't actually make you a driver, heavens no. And actually Boris could of been severely hurt and is a saint for not evening claiming damages on his mercedes from the dead plebs family.
Confused
Itsalmostanaccessory · 12/01/2022 14:49

@JuergenSchwarzwald

Social gathers at work were not allowed but people keep bringing up Starmer. He was visiting labour constituencies as part of his job. Once visit was in the evening to host an online labour event from that office, after doing work with that MP. The event was over dinner. So they had dinner whilst working. That wasnt a social event. That was working whilst travelling around constituencies and having to each dinner.

ElenaCouch · 12/01/2022 14:49

One minute you are saying it was clearly work meeting. The next you're saying it's fine because he was only there for 25 minutes.

JaniieJones, he has ADMITTED it was a party. A PARTY. against the law at the time. So the 25 minutes doesn't matter. Comprehend??

boomster · 12/01/2022 14:51

Shame no-one invited Priti Patel:

news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-home-secretary-priti-patel-would-call-the-police-if-neighbours-broke-rule-of-six-12072281

Apparently she would definitely have called the police if her neighbours did this but not her boss
Maybe this leak came from PP not DC (AS IF)

CPL593H · 12/01/2022 14:51

Boris Johnson should resign, but he won't. However, I would imagine he rues the day he set eyes on Dominic Cummings, let alone gave him the power and access he did. There will be something else and with his impressive back catalogue of lies and gaffes and the right wing press being so much more vocal about them, the day he is forced out grows ever closer. I'm not sure it will be enough to get the Tories out but it will mean leadership change.

SueSaid · 12/01/2022 14:52

'Once visit was in the evening to host an online labour event from that office, after doing work with that MP. The event was over dinner. So they had dinner whilst working'

Riiiiiiight 🙄

justasking111 · 12/01/2022 14:52

[quote Cornettoninja]@justasking111 selling a few poppies doesn’t give you any special insights[/quote]
Didn't work for the Poppy bunch 😂

Devonmaid7292 · 12/01/2022 14:52

Someone must have the email in question??

Wheresthebeach · 12/01/2022 14:53

I think he was at multiple parties...all pretending to be 'work do's' to get around the regs.

The Tories have to ditch him, he's toxic now.

SueSaid · 12/01/2022 14:55

'Boris Johnson should resign, but he won't. However, I would imagine he rues the day he set eyes on Dominic Cummings, let alone gave him the power and access he did'

Yes it intrigues me how he ever such a powerful position, surely he had form for being a duplicitous weasel why was he given so much clout?

Fwiw I supported his Barnard castle trip due to exceptional circumstances before any of my avid fans remind me of this.

onlychildhamster · 12/01/2022 14:55

I am now of the view that maybe he should resign now so the person who takes over can take responsibility for the april hike in gas prices and overall cost of living squeeze.

Hmmm...

Effitall · 12/01/2022 14:55

I couldn’t meet up with my work colleagues in the garden area of where we worked as it was deemed not in the spirit of the rules.

In fact we had to socially distanced within the office and take lunch breaks in twos also.

All 40 people were not in the same office, so even if office gatherings had been allowed they were still mixing between offices.

Notonthestairs · 12/01/2022 14:56

7 Conservative parties.

The PM lies to Parliament.

And we have to pay for them to be investigated.

And people are dredging for reasons why it was all ok.

SafeMove · 12/01/2022 14:57

@JaniieJones You are 'meh' and 'can't get your knickers in a twist' over repeated lying and being contemptuous of the public by the very person who was elected to lead and safeguard us, as a nation. You don't seem to place any gravitas or emphasis on the importance of that role and why a PM lying is bad on very many levels. You are either dumb as rocks or unable to admit you made a mistake and you voted in and continue to support a PM who is very deficient.

That is what is chilling.

BashStreetKid · 12/01/2022 14:57

@Clavinova

This was at 6 pm, in the garden

Quite a few press conferences were held at 7pm/8pm if I remember correctly.

You're showing your desperation. This wasn't a press conference.

Can't you get it into your head: Johnson wouldn't be apologising if he was claiming that this was within the rules? Why are you still trying to make out that it was? Or are you saying he is lying even whilst he is apologising?

Opal8 · 12/01/2022 14:58

In May 2020 I was sat - alone - watching my beloved Aunts funeral over Zoom.

I could not visit her as she lay dying.

A wonderful woman who dedicated her entire life to others.

The PMs "apology" at PMQs today was a disgusting, venal, self serving excuse by a man with no honour.

ElenaCouch · 12/01/2022 14:58

BoJo will be long gone and laughing in your faces and there''ll still be some marionettes on here saying it was a work meeting. BoJo doesn't give a shit about you either, you know. Confused

Itsalmostanaccessory · 12/01/2022 14:58

@JaniieJones

What exceptional circumstances?

I supported him going to family for help with childcare if they got really ill. I'm a single parent. I would have broken the rules and done the same if it was positive and my family had an outbuilding on their land that I could stay in.

But his day trip out? How was that an exceptional circumatance?

You really are a true blue Tory.

justasking111 · 12/01/2022 14:58

Remember when we clapped at 8pm. Went out onto the decking in a garden below us there was a party. Was stunned to see a woman in a pretty short red dress and high heels climbing onto the roof of a shed with a Tumblr of liquid and dance vigorously to the music from the sound system in the garden. It was a BBQ party I filmed the roof dance for posterity.

Like I said not everyone followed the rules set by the government of this country

Roselilly36 · 12/01/2022 14:59

@llanwrst2

I'd prefer an arrest and criminal charges, but resignation would be a step forward. The next Tory leader will at least do the job full time and might treat women better than the misogynist.
Me too. Anyone else would be.
Clavinova · 12/01/2022 14:59

he has ADMITTED it was a party. A PARTY. against the law at the time

Was this party on the 10th May 2020 against the law? Labour MP, Labour Mayor and at least one police officer present. Has Keir Starmer spoken to the MP?

www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/18484861.mp-kevan-jones-defends-decision-attend-100th-birthday-party-lockdown/