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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be really enjoying Boris Johnson's downfall?

998 replies

GrendelsGrandma · 19/01/2022 07:27

I know he'll be replaced by someone equally awful and I know he's not quite gone yet, but I can't remember when I felt uplifted about politics and the ejection of this national embarrassment is warming my cockles. Anyone else feel the same?

OP posts:
Abraxan · 19/01/2022 17:41

@JaniieJones

'If I broke into your house and was there for less than 25 minutes have I been in your house?'

Yes, yes you would have been in my house. However if I worked with you and you came outside into a communal area to have a sandwich that would be work colleagues eating at work. Not having a 'party'.

During this time I was wfh. My school colleagues were mainly in school. Due to my role I needed to support a member of staff struggling with a tech issue.

She called at my home. We sat in the garden - opposite ends of a large garden table, 2m apart.

She stayed less than half an hour.

I offered a cup of tea but she didn't want one. I didn't offer alcohol or food. We weren't stood around in close groups - there was two of us. Dh stayed indoors, as did mil (who lived with us through the lockdown) and Dd. We don't sit close together. We weren't wandering around, glass in hand, chatting about other stuff in close proximity .

It was very much a brief meeting about work, albeit it at my home - it was safer there outdoors rather than in school, as I'm vulnerable.

There could have been no mistaking it as a party, social event, get together or anything other than a work meeting.

At that point the staff in school weren't even allowed to sit at opposite side of the staff room from one another. They had to sit and eat their lunch in their classrooms on their own, with their bubbles. They could use the staff room to store lunch and milk in the fridge and make a drink, but after use they had to wipe it down and leave immediately. All work meetings were being done via online meets, despite most staff being in the same building albeit different rooms. Going into the playground at 4pm with a glass of wine and nibbles, in close together groups, wasn't permitted.

We knew that. Boris knew that.

He's either lying, ignorant or stupid.
None of those options make him fit for his job.

Florianus · 19/01/2022 17:42

jgw1
Unlike the Prime Minister I know when I am at a party even if the invitation doesn't say it is a party.

I have been to numerous work events for which the invitation reads something along the lines of "Please join us after work for drinks to celebrate John Doe's 40 years with the company". Is that a "party"?

jgw1 · 19/01/2022 17:42

@JaniieJones

'Unlike the Prime Minister I know when I am at a party even if the invitation doesn't say it is a party.'

Me too and snacks with work colleagues at work is not my idea of a party.

Anway at least we finally agree, nowhere does it say 'party'.

@JaniieJones

Because another poster seemed to be confused by what a party was I thought I would provide them with a definition from a dictionary. Here it is.

"a social gathering of invited guests, typically involving eating, drinking, and entertainment."

Ask yourself these questions:

was it a social gathering?
were guests invited?
was food consumed?
was drink consumed?
was it a duck?

Alexandra2001 · 19/01/2022 17:45

@JaniieJones

Facts - people at work were allowed to eat and drink at the workplace. Downing Street was their workplace. Facts - BJ attended the event at 6pm for 25mins. He was hardly on the karaoke at 2am. That would have been a party.
ah! i didn't realise that the LD rules had technical work arounds... if we'd known that we would have all gone to see our Nan in London - a 5 hr drive and we would have definitely gone to her funeral, i could have bought my laptop or works phone... perhaps a note pad and pen?

Whats shame the 10s of 1000s of people fined didn't also know about these "technicalities" perhaps you will support them all being compensated?

WindyState · 19/01/2022 17:45

@Florianus

jgw1 Unlike the Prime Minister I know when I am at a party even if the invitation doesn't say it is a party.

I have been to numerous work events for which the invitation reads something along the lines of "Please join us after work for drinks to celebrate John Doe's 40 years with the company". Is that a "party"?

Yes.

Obviously.

Blossomtoes · 19/01/2022 17:46

is very doubtful that it was illegal, given the disinclination of the Met to get involved in a highly debatable matter

Your faith in the utterly corrupt Met led by the Tory puppet Cressida Dick is touching.

jgw1 · 19/01/2022 17:46

@Florianus

jgw1 Unlike the Prime Minister I know when I am at a party even if the invitation doesn't say it is a party.

I have been to numerous work events for which the invitation reads something along the lines of "Please join us after work for drinks to celebrate John Doe's 40 years with the company". Is that a "party"?

@Florianus I think you may have missed my reply to you quoting a dictionary definition of a party.

"a social gathering of invited guests, typically involving eating, drinking, and entertainment."

From your description, there were drinks, it was a social gathering was there also food?

So unless you are saying that the dictionary definition is wrong it looks like you were indeed at a duck.

SueSaid · 19/01/2022 17:46

'Ask yourself these questions: '
'was it a social gathering? '
'were guests invited?'
'was food consumed?'
'was drink consumed?'
'was it a duck?'

  1. No they were work colleagues
  2. Don't think so, they were work colleagues.
  3. Yes, that happens at work and does not equal 'party'.
  4. See 3.
  5. No.
Liz1tummypain · 19/01/2022 17:47

I still can't believe it's going to happen yet. Should have been ages ago of course. Maybe his successor won't be quite such a muppet. We shall see.

Florianus · 19/01/2022 17:47

@Florianus i know you say your just pointing out facts etc etc but the R rate for England is 1.1 to 1.5 and for the whole of the UK is 0.9 to 1.2. So its over 1, pointing out a specific area as being around 1 is distorting the facts.

I have merely said that the R rate in London is between 0.7 and 1.1. That is not "distorting the facts" as you so rudely claim. It is simply repeating the information published this week by the UKHSA.

StoatMilk · 19/01/2022 17:47

You’re a peach OP Hmm

FreedomFaith · 19/01/2022 17:49

Leaving is what he probably wants though. Then he gets to avoid any more blame for the shit he has caused, and he will continue raking in the money.

I'd rather he stayed, continued to suffer through his job and it badly effect his health slowly. Because he deserves it, he's killed people with his decisions. Plus anyone who replaces him won't be any better and we will still be in a shit show. Doesn't matter what the external view is, it's still a donkey in a suit. Although that's unfair on donkeys..

SueSaid · 19/01/2022 17:49

Anywayyyy I think we should focus on the brilliant news that plan b is over, we will have the most open economy in Europe and face masks are to be ditched 🥳

22itsallnew · 19/01/2022 17:51

Partygate is not going away. The public are furious with Johnson. Times up I wish he'd just bugger off

Alexandra2001 · 19/01/2022 17:51

[quote Florianus]**@Florianus i know you say your just pointing out facts etc etc but the R rate for England is 1.1 to 1.5 and for the whole of the UK is 0.9 to 1.2. So its over 1, pointing out a specific area as being around 1 is distorting the facts.

I have merely said that the R rate in London is between 0.7 and 1.1. That is not "distorting the facts" as you so rudely claim. It is simply repeating the information published this week by the UKHSA.[/quote]
Nope, your were trying to infer i was wrong about my " R is over 1 " claim.. thats just twisting things to suit your pro Boris pro Government agenda.

Florianus · 19/01/2022 17:52

"a social gathering of invited guests, typically involving eating, drinking, and entertainment."

There was no entertainment at No.10, as far as I know, so the event immediately fails that description.

A few years ago I went to a wake for an elderly relative. There was eating of canapés and drinking. of a toast. Was that a party?

Your dictionary definition, as so often the case, is too broad.

Blossomtoes · 19/01/2022 17:52

@JaniieJones

'Ask yourself these questions: ' 'was it a social gathering? ' 'were guests invited?' 'was food consumed?' 'was drink consumed?' 'was it a duck?'
  1. No they were work colleagues
  2. Don't think so, they were work colleagues.
  3. Yes, that happens at work and does not equal 'party'.
  4. See 3.
  5. No.
  • Work colleagues can socialise
  • A guest is someone who accepts an invitation, in this case issued by Martin Reynolds
  • Food is a component of a party
  • See 3
  • Alexandra2001 · 19/01/2022 17:52

    @JaniieJones

    Anywayyyy I think we should focus on the brilliant news that plan b is over, we will have the most open economy in Europe and face masks are to be ditched 🥳
    @JaniieJones Start a thread on those subjects? this one is about Bojo the Clown
    jgw1 · 19/01/2022 17:53

    @JaniieJones

    'Ask yourself these questions: ' 'was it a social gathering? ' 'were guests invited?' 'was food consumed?' 'was drink consumed?' 'was it a duck?'
    1. No they were work colleagues
    2. Don't think so, they were work colleagues.
    3. Yes, that happens at work and does not equal 'party'.
    4. See 3.
    5. No.
    @JaniieJones

    I think you are saying that you can't socialise with work colleagues. That is a shame for you.

    If no guests were invited why did the Prime Minister's PPS said out an invitation?

    Cactuslove · 19/01/2022 17:54

    I'm worried that he'll survive this..more of the coverage today seemed to be people starting to feel sorry for him which is frightening!

    Florianus · 19/01/2022 17:55

    Nope, your were trying to infer i was wrong about my " R is over 1 " claim.. thats just twisting things to suit your pro Boris pro Government agenda.

    O for heaven's sake, get a grip. I was merely pointing out that the R rate is different in different parts of the country.

    You don't see, very good at reading posts - I have said many times that I loathe Boris Johnson and have never voted Tory. What I cannot stand are the people here who believe every word they read in the press without properly checking the difference between fact and jouirnalistic opinion given in the hope of spinning a story.

    SueSaid · 19/01/2022 17:55

    'A few years ago I went to a wake for an elderly relative. There was eating of canapés and drinking. of a toast. Was that a party?'

    Yes it must have been!! if people ate and drank together, well yes. It's the new definition of a party.

    22itsallnew · 19/01/2022 17:56

    @JaniieJones here's the invitation -make the most of the lovely weather, bring your own booze = work meeting my arse

    To be really enjoying Boris Johnson's downfall?
    SueSaid · 19/01/2022 17:57

    'think you are saying that you can't socialise with work colleagues. That is a shame for you'

    Nooo you're missing my point. Yes they can it's about location and context though isn't it. Hopefully Sue Gray can understand these things.

    Blossomtoes · 19/01/2022 17:58

    Hopefully Sue Gray can understand these things

    Indeed.

    Swipe left for the next trending thread