AIBU to think that the Met Police have "Saved" Boris Johnson?

[SueGray54321]

Just at the very moment when the Sue Gray report on Partygate was about to be released, the police suddenly decided to investigate partying at Downing Street themselves. This was after months of saying they don't investigate historic breaches of lockdown rules. Can't help thinking that they were persuaded to do this to stop the Sue Gray report being released.

The Met then proceed to spend months investigating Partygate offences, thus taking the heat out of the original fury about revelations about lockdown breaches. No doubt this was entirely their intention.

The sum total of the police investigation was one £50 fine for the Prime Minister, for one of the more minor breaches of lockdown rules. Begs the question why he was not fined for any of the other events he attended?

It just smacks of a stitch up, doesn't it?

Photos have leaked on twitter of Johnson and others holding drinks at Downing Street during the lockdown. There are several wine bottles on the table.

I suspect people who don't care are Conservative voters who'd be quite happy to vote the corrupt, lying article who's the PM in all over again.

Beat me to it. Probably brexiteers too, in many cases who'll find any excuse to keep Johnson in office.

So predictable 🙄

Not denying it then...

Predictable because in all likelihood it's true.

No more predictable than your nonsense about only people on twitter and mumsnet caring about this, which is self-evidently not true. Just because you wish it does not make is so.

Johnson is in power because Labour can not get their act together - not because of some kind of establishment coverup/conspiracy.

Few people voted FOR Johnson. They voted AGAINST Corbyn. Corbyn was leading Labour because the partyhad been taken over by Momentum activists who had no idea what appeals to real voters.

Labour have milked Partygate for all it is worth but most voters are sick to the back teeth of Labour and the BBC banging on about it.

Everybody outside the political bubble thinks all politicians of all parties were ignoring the rules - and that Boris’ cake and Starmer’s curry are examples of the same thing. All this does is bring the whole of politics into disrepute.

If Labour want to get elected they want some more credible policies and they need to talk about them in detail - not just put out a headline. They also need some more credible talking heads who will appeal to the floating voters Labour need to win. Starmer is OK if a bit dull. Angela Rayner does not appeal to many and David Lammy lost all credibility when he said a man could grow a cervix.

Stop blaming the rich/ the establishment/ etc and start looking in the mirror.

People are allowed to have different opnions to you something Labour voters have never quite grasped

"Labour have milked Partygate for all it is worth but most voters are sick to the back teeth of Labour and the BBC banging on about it."

Not true. Polling shows voters are still very engaged and angry about it, particularly as the Met's investigation has been seen as, shall we say, opaque.

Polling shows voters are still very engaged and angry about it

Link to the polls then. Particularly those polls which show voters treating Johnson differently to Starmer.

I no longer care about the paltry fine that BJ has had to pay…. But I care massively that the PM lied to parliament saying there had been no parties. Yes, there are more important things going on than Partygate, but fundamentally we need an honest PM to steer us through these crises and we plainly do not have one.

Are all the posters who say we should just move on happy about BJ breaking ministerial code (and, no, the code does not apply to Kier Starmer because he’s not a minister!)

Certainly:

"Beergate stories haven't changed the public perception that Keir Starmer has generally abided by COVID rules

Generally did: 42% (+2 from Jan)
Generally didn't: 28% (-)

Boris Johnson, meanwhile, is still seen as a rulebreaker

Generally did: 21% (+4)
Generally didn't: 70% (-3)"

Source: YouGov twitter.com/YouGov/status/1521532533464354817

It will not make a blind bit of difference. The lying, corrupt mess will still be voted in next election.

Beergate stories haven't changed the public perception that Keir Starmer has generally abided by COVID rules

Slightly different survey in the YouGov link a week later -

Was Starmer’s decision to have beer and takeaway at an MP’s constituency office with colleagues during a by-election campaign - dubbed ‘Beergate’ by the press - a breach of COVID rules?

Most Britons tend to think so, with 24% saying he “definitely” broke the rules and a further 30% thinking he “probably” did so. Only one in five think he probably did not (16%) or definitely did not (5%), with the remaining 25% unsure.

yougov.co.uk/topics/politics/articles-reports/2022/05/09/british-public-say-starmer-resign-beergate

Lovely to see him turn around and fuck them straight under the bus too the corrupt fuckers 😂😂😂

How does he keep getting these bootlicking cunts to join his face eating leopard party

Absolutely.
Not only is Boris a liar (like Tony Blair was imo)
but he is more corrupt than Cameron was too.
In fact he seems to delight in 'gaslighting' the public.
HOW anyone could vote for this shower is beyond me.
The Tories used to be the 'nasty party' but they were good at economics.
This bunch, apart from enriching themselves & a few Oligarch style cronies have totally stuffed up the economy as well as fiddled with the rule of law & prorogued Parliament itself. Johnson Corrupts everything he touches.

No doubt this leak was a result of a pissed off junior cabinet member getting fined and not the PM.

Everyone knows Johnson’s a liar so this will have little effect on his reputation but it’s yet another huge embarrassment for the Met.

Of course they are. However Johnson is a documented liar. We now also know how utterly self serving and incompetent he is. I assume people who will be happy to vote him in for a second term don't care much about integrity or performance.

So you’ll vote for people who’ll make and pass laws that they themselves have no intention of following? And you don’t see any issue with that? Honestly, it’s this type of attitude that destroys democracies.

I think you would expect the lawmakers to abide by the laws they created though?

As you're seeing, OP, many just don't care - and then they wonder why we end up with the governments we do

I'm the first to admit it's not the first thing on my mind, but not to even care seems a bit laisser faire when these are the people (supposedly) running the country

He could probably do anything reprehensible because people just don't care. After all he got Brexit done and people still for some reason find him engaging.

It's not of course about the fact that he broke the rules by having drinks. Some people don't seem to think that the Prime Minister knowingly lying to Parliament matters.

If you think we should get all over this then you should be demanding Johnson resigns. That’s the fastest way it’ll happen. If you don’t want that then you might as well admit you’re a Tory. Which is fine, but don’t beat around the bush.

it’s yet another huge embarrassment for the Met

Not really; after all the Met are paid from public money controlled by the government which Boris leads, so their choices are hardly a surprise and the quid pro quo means they'll be protected on this one at least

At the time Boris Johnson was breaking the rules he was trying to enforce, people had relatives dying....alone. People were unable to be at loved ones funerals, so no, some people can't get over the complete contempt shown by this government.

And of course it screams corruption, its what Boris Johnson does best.

Beergate stories

Several tall stories here:

16 May 2022
Asked to clarify the numbers in attendance Sir Keir confidently said there were “about 15 or so” there. Back in January on LBC’s Call Keir, however, ‘Mr Rules’ claimed there were only about six in attendance. Not a convincing witness, the hesitation in answering Nick Ferrari’s question in January was noticeable. Now he’s changed his answer. It turns out Keir Starmer can takeaway, he just can’t add up…

Video clips in the link -
order-order.com/2022/05/16/starmer-revises-count-up-from-6-to-15-attendees-at-beergate/

"All restaurants and pubs were closed so takeaways were really the only way you could eat," [Keir Starmer] told Good Morning Britain.

Restaurants and pubs with outside seating had been open for two weeks prior to 'Beergate' and Keir Starmer made a point of eating outside with two Labour MPs in Hull the evening before he had a curry takeaway inside in Durham;

In a photograph posted on social media...the two MPs and Sir Keir are seen standing outside a restaurant while maintaining social distancing.
In a caption, Mrs Johnson said: ‘Delighted to welcome Labour leader Keir Starmer to Hull this evening with Emma Hardy MP at Humber Street for a tasty dinner, although a bit chilly sitting out!’ ...

Sir Keir Starmer has been caught acting one way when the camera is on him and another when he thinks it’s not.

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10795283/Keir-Starmer-cancels-speech-amid-claims-hell-forced-RESIGN-hes-fined-beergate.html