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Original poster

Downing Street - ‘Wine Time Friday’

80 replies

AchillesLastStand · 14/01/2022 20:56

Reported in The Mirror tonight. They even bought a fridge…

www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/boris-johnsons-wine-time-fridays-25951853

OP posts:
AnotherRandomUsernom · 14/01/2022 23:06

They disgust me. Arrogant, self indulgent, selfish, ignorant pigs! They all need to go. Can’t look at them, can’t listen to them. There’s no way these fraudsters can lead the British people. We deserve better!

How can the queen possibly be expected to put up with Boris calling round for his audience with her after how he has behaved. No dignity in it for her.

vera99 · 14/01/2022 23:10

Cumnning's doubling down on his coke hints....

Ignorant nonsense from Cohen. FACT: Police do NOT 'scan' bags of those with a no10 pass, u cd walk a grenade or cocaine in if you wanted. Trying to shift blame to police who guard the building is stupid & offensive. Blame lies with the Shopping cart & some staff, NOT No10 guards/custodians

twitter.com/Dominic2306/status/1482099421470994440

justasking111 · 14/01/2022 23:37

No wonder Hancock thought bonking on the job was okay, wonder if there were similar things happening at these parties. Imagine if your OH worked there and rolled in every Friday night, after reading this you'd have to be a bit concerned

justasking111 · 14/01/2022 23:41

No 10 staff been told to wipe messages from their phones that mentioned parties 🙄

Kipperandarthur · 14/01/2022 23:44

Think this is just going to run and run until the road runs out soon.
Cummings has only just started and he’s not going to be satisfied until BJ has gone.

Surely it’s only a matter of time now. There’s no credibility left.

Grantanow · 14/01/2022 23:48

Disgraceful. The buck stops with Boris and he has to go. He was haring to apologise to the Queen about parties but a complete tortoise when it came to apologising (if you believe it was an apology) to the public. Get be rid of him Tories or it will be curtains at the next Election.

justasking111 · 14/01/2022 23:50

Cummings had to be a part of this whole mess before he left so he was a part of the problem. People in glass houses. Hancock and girlfriend stirring the pot. How many others sharpening knives tonight

CalIie · 15/01/2022 00:56

I work in Westminster.

People who don’t work in “the bubble” won’t understand how pervasive the drinking culture is.

My office also used to have Friday afternoons off purely for drinking/partying.

Since the switch to hybrid working, hardly anyone is in the office on Fridays, thus the drinks evening has switched to Thursdays. From about 3PM people start drinking - heavily. After a couple of hours it’s off to the pub until closing time. They might then head to a club or back to the office. Is pretty much recognised that Fridays are basically a write-off.

I’ve had plenty of MPs and their staff join my team to get absolutely sloshed.

Then there is the weekday functions and parties which are also alcohol heavy.

It’s crazy. I am basically a teetotaller and not drinking is a massive handicap in this sector!

Booklover3 · 15/01/2022 02:31

He’s doing a come back tour?

Nooo… don’t come back Johnson. Fuck off!

immersivereader · 15/01/2022 02:38

Just surprised they were shopping at Tesco tbh

Kennykenkencat · 15/01/2022 02:47

I knew some one who worked in Westminster years ago. I don’t think it is a new thing or a single political party thing.

I think from what she has said about her time there that saying Wine time was between 4-7pm on a Friday seems quite restrained. Almost puritanical.

WoodenReindeer · 15/01/2022 02:50

Maybe they could do some Tesco wine recommendations....

Or maybe after a suitcase ful you care a little less? Those qorkers in Tescos must have a few tales to tell...

GrimDamnFanjo · 15/01/2022 02:50

@CalIie

I work in Westminster.

People who don’t work in “the bubble” won’t understand how pervasive the drinking culture is.

My office also used to have Friday afternoons off purely for drinking/partying.

Since the switch to hybrid working, hardly anyone is in the office on Fridays, thus the drinks evening has switched to Thursdays. From about 3PM people start drinking - heavily. After a couple of hours it’s off to the pub until closing time. They might then head to a club or back to the office. Is pretty much recognised that Fridays are basically a write-off.

I’ve had plenty of MPs and their staff join my team to get absolutely sloshed.

Then there is the weekday functions and parties which are also alcohol heavy.

It’s crazy. I am basically a teetotaller and not drinking is a massive handicap in this sector!

Agreed. I've worked there too. I'm not excusing at all the rule breaking but for some the drinking is a release from the pressure of dealing with politicians and special advisors.
AnotherRandomUsernom · 15/01/2022 06:06

No excuses. Were the ITU nurses off down the social club after 12 hours on a covid ward? No.

JustJam4Tea · 15/01/2022 06:24

The drinking culture at Westminster is well known, and the rumours of drugs are widespread….

jgw1 · 15/01/2022 06:39

@justasking111

Cummings had to be a part of this whole mess before he left so he was a part of the problem. People in glass houses. Hancock and girlfriend stirring the pot. How many others sharpening knives tonight
Cummings (god why am I defending him) was adamant that the culture in Downing Street needed to change. Perhaps he meant the drinking culture among other things?
countrygirl99 · 15/01/2022 06:57

I occasionally stay away for work and obviously I need to buy a meal back at the hotel after work. I am not allowed to claim for alcohol at all, not even half a pint, only a soft drink. And yet these people making decisions on policies that will affect the lives of millions of people are drinking on the job so regularly that they bought a fridge for the office booze. It does explain some policy decisions I suppose.

TokyoDreaming · 15/01/2022 07:00

@justasking111

No 10 staff been told to wipe messages from their phones that mentioned parties 🙄
That's a big no no.
Closebrackets · 15/01/2022 07:03

@Kennykenkencat

I knew some one who worked in Westminster years ago. I don’t think it is a new thing or a single political party thing.

I think from what she has said about her time there that saying Wine time was between 4-7pm on a Friday seems quite restrained. Almost puritanical.

During a pandemic in which they made it against the law to see family, friends, visit loved ones in hospital etc it is absolutely abhorrent. During 'normal' times not bothered what they do to be honest, but in this case its fucking disgusting.
LadyWithLapdog · 15/01/2022 07:16

This is revolting and inexcusable. I've had colleagues who left after 5-10 years on the job and they didn't get a leaving do. Not even at lunchtime without drinks, as we were still in our offices and meeting on Zoom. Not acceptable, it really turns my stomach.

LavenderAskew · 15/01/2022 07:18

10 Downing Street has a back door!? I always thought the front door was the only entrance. Anyone coming in had to go through it!!

merrymouse · 15/01/2022 07:21

Apparently Wine time Friday and the weathers lovely Wednesday and any other excuse on any day of the week.

Unescorted · 15/01/2022 07:41

@justasking111

No 10 staff been told to wipe messages from their phones that mentioned parties 🙄
The Data Commissioner has pointed out that it would be illegal for them to do so. All it takes is one person in the chain not to wipe their phone and it becomes a lot more serious for them. Would you trust your pissed up colleagues to do that properly?
Ecosralayce · 15/01/2022 07:45

I left my NHS job of 9 years during the pandemic (moved to another job) I left a lot of good freinds and much liked colleagues behind. I wasn't allowed a leaving do because at the time we were not allowed to socialise with those outside of our household. We weren't even allowed to gather for a shared lunch at work because we had a rota for using the break rooms to eat our lunch to avoid mixing without masks on. So I quietly slipped away at the end of my last shift, not knowing when I'd be able to see any of my friends or colleagues again. And went to my next exhausting highly pressured and stresful NHS job. and somehow I managed to do all that without the need to for wine during working hours!

Egghead68 · 15/01/2022 07:51

@LavenderAskew

10 Downing Street has a back door!? I always thought the front door was the only entrance. Anyone coming in had to go through it!!
I heard you can exit through an underground passage too