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To be really enjoying Boris Johnson's downfall Part 2

997 replies

ClaudineClare · 21/01/2022 22:57

A follow on thread from

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4457488-to-be-really-enjoying-boris-johnson-s-downfall?msgid=114425763#114425763

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
draramallama · 24/01/2022 19:53

The ITV report is careful to put events into context:

Carrie Johnson and Lulu Lytle are believed to have presented the prime minister with a cake whilst his wife led staff in a chorus of happy birthday.

At the time there was also intense concern about the potential for singing to spread Covid-19, with choirs unable to meet to rehearse.

SueSaid · 24/01/2022 19:54

@Hawkins001

From now on, should cake and refreshments during a break in the day,.be considered a party ? And why ?
Yes. Some mumsnetters, telly reporters and social media have decreed more than 1 person eating and drinking at work is a party. My dh attended 4 parties today at work, he is worn out.
DuncinToffee · 24/01/2022 19:54

@Hawkins001

From now on, should cake and refreshments during a break in the day,.be considered a party ? And why ?
Call it whatever you like, you could use 'gathering" like No10. It doesn't matter. What does matter is that on 19 June 2020 - indoor gatherings of 2 or more were banned unless it fell within a list of exceptions. Birthday parties (or any social gatherings) were not an exception
jgw1 · 24/01/2022 19:55

@JaniieJones

'If he went for 10 minutes he would have had lots of time to remind the partygoers of the laws.'

It was a cake in an office. These definitions of parties are getting more tenuous by the day. 'Partygoers' I mean, seriously.

The schools that my dc go to are still not allowing cake or the singing of Happy Birthday on dc birthdays.

Are they alone in this?

SueSaid · 24/01/2022 19:56

'Um, have you considered that the person claiming it only lasted 10 minutes - being the person who was breaking the rules and is trying to keep his job - might possibly not be the most credible source for you to be hanging this argument on?'

Oh come on we know there is cctv everywhere. I am sure if he was on the karaoke for 4 hours there'd be solid proof of it.

22itsallnew · 24/01/2022 19:57

It's such bollocks - it's alright to party at work! My DC missed 2 birthdays get togethers other than immediate family due to lockdown. An uncle had his 70th in just his bubble, neighbour had 40th with immediate family only etc etc etc None of us were allowed dispensation for a special occasion. Yet in No. 10 it was Carrie on party

draramallama · 24/01/2022 19:57

Yes. Some mumsnetters, telly reporters and social media have decreed more than 1 person eating and drinking at work is a party. My dh attended 4 parties today at work, he is worn out.

Are we in lockdown today? I must have missed that.

BestIsWest · 24/01/2022 19:57

No singing hymns at funerals but singing happy birthday ok?

Flowertailbird · 24/01/2022 19:59

Your DH isn't the prime minister and we are not in lockdown today. HTH.

GrendelsGrandma · 24/01/2022 19:59

@JaniieJones So if there's a party and you go to it, but for ten minutes or less, does that mean you were never really there? You could write a good murder mystery around that scenario!

draramallama · 24/01/2022 19:59

@JaniieJones

'Um, have you considered that the person claiming it only lasted 10 minutes - being the person who was breaking the rules and is trying to keep his job - might possibly not be the most credible source for you to be hanging this argument on?'

Oh come on we know there is cctv everywhere. I am sure if he was on the karaoke for 4 hours there'd be solid proof of it.

Yeh, because there would be no security issues with CCTV in the Cabinet Office.

You are funny.

hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2021-07-08/debates/DEBB0390-9AFA-4CDA-9F6C-2540404CA4DE/CCTVCamerasMinisterialOffices

Notonthestairs · 24/01/2022 20:00

Johnson apparently attended for 10 mins.

The party (with the party food & cake) lasted longer.

Flowertailbird · 24/01/2022 20:00

Post earlier in response to Janiiejonessaying her husband had a cake at work today and is worn out. For some reason it didn't include her post.

jgw1 · 24/01/2022 20:01

[quote GrendelsGrandma]@JaniieJones So if there's a party and you go to it, but for ten minutes or less, does that mean you were never really there? You could write a good murder mystery around that scenario![/quote]
Oh dear, is poor
@JaniieJones
using that line of argument again.
Just when I thought we had agreed that if I broke into a house and was there for not very long I hadn't been there and so no offence was committed.

DuncinToffee · 24/01/2022 20:01

Peston says that there is a camera at the top of the stairs in No11 for people going in to the PM flat.

Sue Gray apparently was already aware of this birthday cake gathering

draramallama · 24/01/2022 20:02

@Notonthestairs

Johnson apparently attended for 10 mins.

The party (with the party food & cake) lasted longer.

Sure, but he also apparently only attended the garden drinks for 25 minutes and did not recognise that he was at a party. Despite being invited to a party.

I don't recall the police offering members of the public 10 or 25 minute exemptions from the rules when they were arresting people for walking whilst holding coffee.

22itsallnew · 24/01/2022 20:03

@DuncinToffee

Lulu Lytle, she of wallpaper fame, was there but not invited to the party, just waiting to speak to Johnson according to her spokesperson.
She wanted to ask Johnson who was going to pay her enormous bill
Blossomtoes · 24/01/2022 20:04

How many of these gatherings are we up to now? I make it 19, have I missed any?

22itsallnew · 24/01/2022 20:19

@Blossomtoes I know its been said before but it would be easier for Sue Gray to establish when there was a break in No 10's continuous party...

As they prohibited dancing at weddings, singing at funerals, indoor socialising - what on earth were they thinking?! I guess by Christmas 2021 they'd got away with it for months & found it was an in-joke by then(Allegra Stratton laughing about it) that they partied while the people of the country made sacrifices.

Grin to Colin the Caterpillar being called for evidence

SueSaid · 24/01/2022 20:21

'Are we in lockdown today? I must have missed that.'

Err, no. My point was the definition of party to some on here and in Paul Brand's world seems to be eating and or drinking at work. In which case my dh has attended 4 parties today.

draramallama · 24/01/2022 20:22

You're very funny, JJ. You should go into comedy.

jgw1 · 24/01/2022 20:23

@JaniieJones

'Are we in lockdown today? I must have missed that.'

Err, no. My point was the definition of party to some on here and in Paul Brand's world seems to be eating and or drinking at work. In which case my dh has attended 4 parties today.

If eating cake and singing happy birthday with friends was fine on the 19th June 2020, why was the Prime Minister and his government denying it to 1000s of children?
Blossomtoes · 24/01/2022 20:23

I see someone’s trying to derail the thread again by going over old ground. We’ve done that one ad nauseum @JaniieJones, we’re bored with it now.

Notonthestairs · 24/01/2022 20:25

twitter.com/pickardje/status/1485703538575609862?s=21

Includes a tweet from Government about work Christmas parties.

22itsallnew · 24/01/2022 20:26

From the BoJo bday party thread twitter.com/BorisJohnson/status/1241348429546217475

I hope Josephine (now aged 8) writes him another letter about how she doesn't understand why she had to miss her 7th & 8th birthday parties when he had his?