To think this is getting ridiculous…

[RenGreen]

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-59997364

I mean putting to one side she’s the Queen a woman who lost her husband after a 73 year marriage and unable to have her family by her side…a woman herself in her 90s whislt the civil servants whose advice she followed party!!!!

On top of that the other people of this nation who were protecting their loved ones - losing loved ones. Not holding celebrations. I do not believe anyone can defend this PM or his advisor/administration. We can and MUST do better.

Are you suggesting that those attending the parties are aware that Covid is a hoax of some sort?

I'm not suggesting anything, and the question was a literal one - as in why quite so many of them seem entirely happy to mix so freely at a time when frightening warnings are given to evereyone else

Funny how nobody's ever wanted to address that isn't it?

@AlexaShutUp

I'm sorry to say it but we will only do better if people start making better choices at the ballot box.

Well the political parties need to give us better choices to make then!

@Puzzledandpissedoff

I wonder if this'll be the thread where anyone wants to consider WHY they chose to risk all these get-togethers, given the terror they were encouraging in everyone else Could it possibly be that they know something we don't, and is there even worse waiting to come out?

These are questions that have been asked again and again without any answer ...

Because they are only asked by vacuous conspiracists "I'm just asking" - at some point you have to stop asking "but why" like a five year old.

@Wreath21

I used to think that Starmer had integrity, but I am genuinely worried that he will campaign for election on a platform of puritanism and punishment and seek to win the votes of 'middle England', which will lead to mass purges of anyone seen to crack a smile in the workplace, and snoopers round every corner...(all the while doing fuck all about poverty and inequality).

Why on earth would you be "genuinely worried" about that? Has this gentleman shown any particular signs of puritanism, or are you basing that on his comments about Boris's revelling? I took it as comment about inappropriate partying under the circumstances, not a disgust of revelry in general. Perhaps you have confused Sir Kier Starmer with the unspeakable Jacob Rees-Mogg?

Regarding said UJRM, there was a snippet on the radio this morning in which he tried to suggest the rules against indoor assembly, rather than the actual indoor assembling, that were inappropriate. Er, who made those rules again? He was roundly booed by the House. If that's who people are talking about as alternatives to Boris then I'm with them, there are a few things potentially worse.

@Puzzledandpissedoff

Are you suggesting that those attending the parties are aware that Covid is a hoax of some sort?

I'm not suggesting anything, and the question was a literal one - as in why quite so many of them seem entirely happy to mix so freely at a time when frightening warnings are given to evereyone else

Funny how nobody's ever wanted to address that isn't it?

This has been asked and the answer is obvious - they think that no rules apply to them and they don't care about anyone else - that's it. It really is that simple.

Why on earth would Starmer want to purge anyone who smiles?
He's not especially puritanical.

I used to think that Starmer had integrity, but I am genuinely worried that he will campaign for election on a platform of puritanism and punishment

😂😂
Do tell what signs of Puritanism you see in Starmer, or where he has shown himself in the hanging and flogging brigade. Particularly in recent months, since your views are newly formed you suggest.

@liliainterfrutices

Why on earth would Starmer want to purge anyone who smiles? He's not especially puritanical.

Indeed - and in any case going around pissed up and grinning has been such a success......

I wonder if this'll be the thread where anyone wants to consider WHY they chose to risk all these get-togethers, given the terror they were encouraging in everyone else

The same mindset all criminals have (when warned of the threat of prison etc) - they thought they'd never get caught.

@AlexaShutUp

I'm sorry to say it but we will only do better if people start making better choices at the ballot box.

Totally agree. This is the most painful kind of "told you so" but it's beyond belief to me that anyone voted for these people.

@Thelnebriati

We also need much better choices to pick from at the Ballot Box. I can't think of any of the current members of parliament I'd trust to run a bath never mind a Country.

I'm actually scared about who's going to be the next PM. There aren't any good choices, its bad if he stays and the alternatives are worse.

And we don't know if any potential candidates were at the party

If BoJo told me it was raining, I would look out of the window to check. I don’t think he has an honest bone in his body.

Crikey - he's smiling - he better arrest himself

@AlexaShutUp

I'm sorry to say it but we will only do better if people start making better choices at the ballot box.

We couldn't predict this when we went to the ballot box.

@Puzzledandpissedoff

I wonder if this'll be the thread where anyone wants to consider WHY they chose to risk all these get-togethers, given the terror they were encouraging in everyone else Could it possibly be that they know something we don't, and is there even worse waiting to come out?

These are questions that have been asked again and again without any answer ...

I suspect because they’d spent all day working with one another at close quarters and thought “fuck it”, how much more risky is it for us to go into the evening and all get pissed together. Doesn’t make it right but you can kind of see the logic.

It would make things much simpler if politicians and civil servants had a don’t drink alcohol while working rule. Like teachers. And doctors. And firemen. I can’t think of any job, particularly in the oublic sector, where it’s normal to get drunk while working. Yet apparently in 10 Downing Atreet they routinely have alcohol at their desks while working 🤔

If Boris and the cabinet have been tipsy throughout the pandemic that certainly explains a great deal!

Anyway. He’ll never resign. His cabinet will always support him because they know that as soon as Boris goes, they lose their jobs. They were given their positions because they’re loyal, not because they’re competent.

Which means that the only way to get rid of this corrupt incompetent PM is if MPs pass a vote of no confidence. Write to your MO requesting they represent your view on this.
If you’re waiting for Boris to “do the decent thing” you will be waiting for a very long time. When has he ever acted with integrity???

Boris is a disgraceful, useless chuffer. Didn’t vote for him, never could or would.

But the thought of lockdown under labour makes me shudder. We would’ve been under house arrest. If you look back and think it was hysterical now, I’m betting it would 20x more OTT under a labour gov. They don’t value freedom, THEY know what is best for us.

@KonTikki
Completely agree. I don't think they'll get rid of him. He's there to take the fall until approx 6 months before the next General election.

@VickyEadieofThigh

The very minute the Tories remove Johnson and elect a new leader they will leap up in the polls.

The Tories will remove him - but it seems to me they want to do it closer to an election.

I’m not sure what you’re basing that on but you appear to be unaware of the rising cost of living and inflation, the fact that taxes are the highest they’ve been for 70 years and the parlous state of the NHS - getting rid of Johnson won’t address any of those things. We’ve had a Tory government for 12 years now and most people are no longer fooled.

@Thirtytimesround
I've said for sometime now that all the bars at Parliament should be shut and the restaurants should be barred from serving alcohol. There's a wine cellar worth millions !!! If we have to go get a meal deal or make a sandwich I'm sure they're perfectly able to do the same.

All those who say "they're all as bad as each other" are wrong. There's no way Starmer would allow this stuff on his watch. If he did find out a lockdown party had gone on behind his back he'd be furious and boot them out. Starmer is a person of integrity. Boris is corrupt and a liar and he has fed this culture in his team, and chooses to surround himself with other despicable people.

How do you know a politician is lying? Their bloody mouth is open.

The man is a buffoon, not as much as a buffoon as Boris but still a buffoon. Worse yet, he's a hypocrite. They've ALL done it.

He was pictured doing the EXACT same last May.

www.express.co.uk/news/politics/1549919/keir-starmer-news-labour-party-drinks-lockdown-boris-johnson-partygate

He's too 'anti-establishment' to ever make a strong, level headed leader. He makes endless promises that he never fulfils and instead appears to spend his time simply informing the public what everyone else should do.

I'm so disenchanted with the British Politics scene that I genuinely DON'T KNOW who I will vote for come the next elections. I have been a staunch labour supporter my whole life but each time I vote I find I'm doing it out of habit than support.

@Lesserspottedmama

Boris is a disgraceful, useless chuffer. Didn’t vote for him, never could or would.

But the thought of lockdown under labour makes me shudder. We would’ve been under house arrest. If you look back and think it was hysterical now, I’m betting it would 20x more OTT under a labour gov. They don’t value freedom, THEY know what is best for us.

This also.

The current Labour party is far too totalitarian for comfort.

You’re having a laugh @Arethechildreninbedyet. Starmer drank a can of beer while “standing close to two people”. Sue Gray is currently investigating 13 parties in Westminster. Hardly the same thing now, is it?

Anyone who wanted Brexit to be decided voted for Boris, even remainers who were just sick of all the messing around. They generally did so knowing his faults, knowing that he'd either trip himself up sooner or later or reform himself, accepting that risk, knowing it was worth it to get the direction, and that if worst comes to worst later on, he can be ditched. He's tripped himself up enormously and now he will have to go. No surprises, only he was in a position to stop this steam train that was hurtling towards him for the past two years, and and now he has failed. They will ditch him as soon as there is a clear view of who should lead them into the next election. That's all that's holding things up at the moment. Perhaps they are having trouble finding someone who didn't attend a party?

@rambleonplease

We need better options. I have never been a Tory voter as they have never been on par with my beliefs and values, but right now labour quite frankly need to sort themselves out and give us a viable alternative. At the moment I have no idea what they stand for, they are very very weak.

Our current government are bunch of corrupt imbeciles. But without a strong opposition any government can get away with literally murder. Both sides are crucial for a balanced democracy to work effectively.

It's not difficult to find out what Labour stand for - try their website as a starting point.