Page 30 | Boris Johnson’s birthday party

ancientgran · 26/01/2022 11:38

@Clavinova

I can remember Late May 2020 v clearly - it was my son’s 18th. . He didn’t get a party and wasn’t ambushed by a cake.

Boris Johnson's 'birthday gathering' was the 19th June.

oh, he just had a birthday cake with the people he worked with. 30 of them?

George Eustice said "closer to 10" people yesterday - Grant Shapps also denied as many as 30 had been present, telling BBC Breakfast the group had been working together all day.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-60121572

Singing? (banned)

Was singing 'Happy Birthday' banned? I thought we were supposed to wash our hands for 20 seconds to the tune of 'Happy Birthday'?

19 June 2020: Schoolchildren sing Happy Birthday to Boris Johnson

news.sky.com/video/19-june-2020-schoolchildren-sing-happy-birthday-to-boris-johnson-12524667

I felt bad for the littlies I taught; no birthday parties, no food (cake) could be brought in, no singing of happy birthday allowed.

October 2020
Some schools in England have reportedly banned singing in the classroom due to fears it could accelerate the spread of coronavirus.

Children in some schools in England are being told not to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to their classmates, over fears their vocalisations could accelerate the spread of COVID-19.

Some schools are reportedly telling pupils to listen to the song online or hum the tune instead. Others are also said to be discouraging children from bringing in birthday cakes from home to reduce contact points for the virus.

Parent campaign group UsForThem said the ban has been self-imposed by certain schools.

www.classicfm.com/music-news/coronavirus/schools-ban-children-singing-happy-birthday-transmission-fears/

Staffrooms were closed across the country as people weren’t allowed to all eat together.

Hospital staffroom here -

www.imperial.ac.uk/news/196613/imperial-students-provide-over-350-free/

I remember Chris Whitty being a bit like..even at BBQs be careful and use separate utensils

Yes - you could hold a barbecue (or small party) for 6 people from different households in your back garden from the 1st of June 2020.

So if Boris was at his birthday bash, his wife, interior designer and Rishi Sunak were all there then is George Eustice saying there were fewer than 6 people who work in No 10 there?

If the "closer to 10" people had been working together all day then
How come we have seen video of BJ visiting a school, he wasn't even in No 10 all day.
Why was Carrie Johnson working all day with staff at No 10, she doesn't have a job there?
Why was the interior designer working all day with staff at No 10, she doesn't have a job there?
How was Rishi Sunak just passing through if he was working there all day?

Doesn't add up for me but maybe you can explain it.

jgw1 · 26/01/2022 11:38

@DGRossetti

Two squirrels !!

I'm sure they're friendly with the magpies, as they often seem to run around the lawn (well magpies more hop ) together.

There could be a childrens story in that.

Are they having a party or are they at work? The squirrels and rooks in my garden are at work, I can tell this because they are eating and have a bottle of wine.

Clavinova · 26/01/2022 11:42

Singing was banned

Several reports have avoided using the word "banned" -

singing near others was cautioned against...

www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/jan/24/what-were-the-covid-rules-at-the-time-of-boris-johnsons-2020-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

www.itv.com/news/2022-01-24/boris-johnson-had-birthday-bash-during-lockdown-itv-news-understands

Roussette · 26/01/2022 11:44

Exactly Clavinova

No singing.
No choirs
No singing in church

You've proved the point even if you don't like the word 'banned'

ancientgran · 26/01/2022 11:44

@Peregrina

Not just losing though in 1997, but absolutely thrashed. Blair had set out to make Labour electable though, and was maintaining tight discipline in the party. He also had the ear of Murdoch.

As for Labour MPs taking their areas for granted and losing - I hope this time this happens in those Tory areas with the proverbial pigs in blue rosettes getting elected.

I've lived in my house for 25 years, I've never seen any of our 3 Conservative MPs on my doorstep or any other doorstep. I have met one, the first one, when I went to his surgery about a problem we were having at work, he was helpful but I still feel we have been taken for granted.

I have sent two emails to my current, 2019 elected MP, about how I felt about this govt, the first was a few months ago and he was very positive about BJ and co but the one last week was very different. He seems to have a bit of a conversion.

Clavinova · 26/01/2022 11:47

ancientgran
Doesn't add up for me but maybe you can explain it

I haven't read Sue Gray's report.

ancientgran · 26/01/2022 11:49

@Clavinova

ancientgran Doesn't add up for me but maybe you can explain it

I haven't read Sue Gray's report.

But you quoted an explanation from George Eustice, did you understand what he said?

DGRossetti · 26/01/2022 11:49

Are they having a party or are they at work?

I guess, very much like the squirrels here, they're working.

Clavinova · 26/01/2022 11:51

Roussette
You've proved the point even if you don't like the word 'banned'

No, I haven't - have any of the prominent lawyers on Twitter said singing 'happy birthday' was actually banned? You haven't provided any links to back up your claim.

Clavinova · 26/01/2022 11:55

ancientgran
But you quoted an explanation from George Eustice, did you understand what he said?

I understood perfectly what George Eustice said - perhaps you are mixing up your ministers?

Roussette · 26/01/2022 11:56

No, I haven't - have any of the prominent lawyers on Twitter said singing 'happy birthday' was actually banned? You haven't provided any links to back up your claim

Your links proved it. Sorry.
Singing is singing whatever the song.

DePfeffoff · 26/01/2022 11:59

@Clavinova

In people not in your bubble, banned. No singing in church for instance

It takes 20 seconds to sing Happy Birthday - I'm not convinced it was banned at all. Boris Johnson wasn't in the bubble when those school children sang Happy Birthday to him.

The law was perfectly clear. No indoor gatherings unless reasonably needed for work purposes. Even no. 10 isn't trying to say that the birthday do was reasonably needed for work.

Clavinova · 26/01/2022 12:00

Roussette
Singing is singing whatever the song

Why couldn't choirs practice outside? The school children sang 'happy birthday' outside.

DePfeffoff · 26/01/2022 12:06

@Clavinova

Roussette Singing is singing whatever the song

Why couldn't choirs practice outside? The school children sang 'happy birthday' outside.

How is that relevant? We're talking about singing in a small enclosed space inside. And a gathering that was against the law.

DGRossetti · 26/01/2022 12:08

How is that relevant?

Squirrel turds ?

ancientgran · 26/01/2022 12:12

@Clavinova

ancientgran But you quoted an explanation from George Eustice, did you understand what he said?

I understood perfectly what George Eustice said - perhaps you are mixing up your ministers?

So could you explain it if you understand it.

To refresh your memory I repeat:

If the "closer to 10" people had been working together all day as you say George Eustice said then
How come we have seen video of BJ visiting a school that day, he wasn't even in No 10 all day.
Why was Carrie Johnson working all day with staff at No 10, she doesn't have a job there?
Why was the interior designer working all day with staff at No 10, she doesn't have a job there?
How was Rishi Sunak just passing through if he was working there all day?

lborgia · 26/01/2022 12:14

Ah, Clavinova, I must be a little confused, maybe because I'm on holiday, one day looks much like the next.

Apologies. Your level of knowledge is phenomenal, and your passion for your work astonishing. My head is spinning with singing and squirrels, washing hands, and birthday cake, I don't know how you do it.

ancientgran · 26/01/2022 12:15

Sorry 2 ministers, George Eustice said closer to 10 and Grant Shapps said they'd been working together all day.

So how and why had they been working together all day?

the80sweregreat · 26/01/2022 12:26

@ancientgran

Sorry 2 ministers, George Eustice said closer to 10 and Grant Shapps said they'd been working together all day.

So how and why had they been working together all day?

They just make it up as they go along. It's the only conclusion!!

Clavinova · 26/01/2022 12:28

DePfeffoff
How is that relevant? We're talking about singing in a small enclosed space inside

I thought singing was banned full stop? And I wouldn't describe a large church or a cathedral as a small, enclosed space.

ancientgran

Perhaps Grant Shapps was only talking about the people who ate the food - I don't know who was standing where or how long they stayed.

You could chant and shout in a park apparently; 3 June 2020

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/jun/03/thousands-gather-in-london-for-george-floyd-protest

And queue for Nike trainers; 15 June 2020

www.thescottishsun.co.uk/money/5703645/shoppers-nike-queues-shops-reopen/

Roussette · 26/01/2022 12:30

PMQ's

And MP has just talked about the party and said "communal singing was banned"

Roussette · 26/01/2022 12:31

The school children sang 'happy birthday' outside

Shame the 30 at BJ's cake party didn't

DGRossetti · 26/01/2022 12:31

@Roussette

PMQ's

And MP has just talked about the party and said "communal singing was banned"

Maybe if everyone was singing a different song it's not communal ?

Blossomtoes · 26/01/2022 12:31

@Roussette

PMQ's

And MP has just talked about the party and said "communal singing was banned"

You couldn’t make this up.

DGRossetti · 26/01/2022 12:31

Although the irony of discussing different tunes when clav is in the thread isn't lost on me.