Johnson changing the Ministerial Code.

[HappydaysArehere]

So when the rules are broken Johnson just changes the rules. How expected is that?What does it mean for our democratic Parliament? ITV news mentioned the deletion of words like truth and integrity. So it won’t be possible to sack anyone for lying to Parliament so long as they apologise and maybe have some cut in salary. What I can’t understand and want to ask is this change possible without the consent of a Parliamentary vote? Can’t help remembering that Putin changed the rules to enable him to stay in power! What is happening to this country while we discuss Ukraine and the cost of living crisis?

[artisanbread]

Classic case of we don't want to follow the rules so we'll just change them. He will count on his usual strategy of people being angry for a while then just forgetting about it, along with the general assumption by the public these days that we should just expect politicians to be liars and cheats.

[Bunnyfuller]

It’s hideous, isn’t it. There doesn’t seem to be anyone able to stophim

[LittleAvocet]

There should be a petition that no one should be able to change the rules for personal gain.

[EcoEcoIA]

Reminds me of the pigs in Animal Farm rewriting "Four legs good, two legs bad" to "Four legs good, two legs better"

[Hawkins001]

From the guardian article

"No 10 said a new version of the ministerial code, published on Friday alongside a government statement saying it is “disproportionate to expect that any breach, however minor, should lead automatically to resignation or dismissal”, has the backing of the Committee on Standards in Public Life and Lord Geidt, the adviser on ministerial interests.

Ministers who knowingly mislead parliament are usually expected to resign – which is stated elsewhere in the code. However, Downing Street declined to say if Johnson would resign if found to have done so.

One reason given for changing the rules was to “avoid incentives for trivial or vexatious complaints, which may be made for partisan reasons"


My analysis I suspect their is more details that the public don't know of, that also help to explain this other than just the obvious,

[Hawkins001]

www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/may/27/boris-johnson-changes-ministerial-code-to-remove-need-to-resign-over-breaches?s=09

[balalake]

Mr Johnson's idea of minor probably differs from most people. He probably thinks fathering children and trying to deny the existence of some is minor.

[HappydaysArehere]

He uses the phrase “my ministers” not her Majesty’s Government or ministers. What else will he change before the next General Election? The government in power has the ability to choose the time of the election to some extent so what can this devious rascal think up to save his skin. I only hope “his ministers” stand up for democracy and show us they are not all tarred with the same brush.

[Hawkins001]

@balalake

Mr Johnson's idea of minor probably differs from most people. He probably thinks fathering children and trying to deny the existence of some is minor.

That's the thing with interpretation of words,

[Hawkins001]

@HappydaysArehere

He uses the phrase “my ministers” not her Majesty’s Government or ministers. What else will he change before the next General Election? The government in power has the ability to choose the time of the election to some extent so what can this devious rascal think up to save his skin. I only hope “his ministers” stand up for democracy and show us they are not all tarred with the same brush.

NOUN
a system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state, typically through elected representatives

Based on that interpretation, democracy will still stand, regardless.

[HappydaysArehere]

@EcoEcoIA

Reminds me of the pigs in Animal Farm rewriting "Four legs good, two legs bad" to "Four legs good, two legs better"

Yes George Orwell got quite a few things right.

[JustTheOneSwan]

If his constituents petition can an election be forced?
I'd move there just to sign that.

[JustTheOneSwan]

@EcoEcoIA

Reminds me of the pigs in Animal Farm rewriting "Four legs good, two legs bad" to "Four legs good, two legs better"

Very apt.
Terrifyingly.

[TorringtonDean]

Completely Animal Farm. The man is a pig. End of.

[GeidiPrimes]

Not even bothering to pretend we live in a democracy, is he. At least it's now becoming apparent what a sham it all is.

[KonTikki]

The problem with Johnson is that he drags everyone down to his level.
This is but the latest example.

[Hawkins001]

@GeidiPrimes

Not even bothering to pretend we live in a democracy, is he. At least it's now becoming apparent what a sham it all is.

That's because

NOUN
a system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state, typically through elected representatives

So based on using the vote as and when, seems to be the way.

[JustTheOneSwan]

It's pretty clear now (if you list Johnson's misdeeds it's blatant) that the MPs aren't going to get him out. Self serving to the maximum and as has been said BJ is rock star material for their individual majorities.
I'm all right Jack in action.

[Mumwantingtogetitright]

It is extremely concerning that this is happening, and what is even more concerning is that there isn't a huge outcry about it. Why isn't there more outrage about this?

[JustTheOneSwan]

@Mumwantingtogetitright

It is extremely concerning that this is happening, and what is even more concerning is that there isn't a huge outcry about it. Why isn't there more outrage about this?

The consequences of individualism laid bare in the news from America and still no one joining the dots.
This isn't the time for Britishness there should be outrage and he should be being hounded out.

[Mumwantingtogetitright]

@JustTheOneSwan

It's pretty clear now (if you list Johnson's misdeeds it's blatant) that the MPs aren't going to get him out. Self serving to the maximum and as has been said BJ is rock star material for their individual majorities.
I'm all right Jack in action.

It's depressing, isn't it.

I wrote to my Tory MP about partygate to all if she considered Johnson to be fit for public office. She said that she would respond when the Sue Gray report was published. Wrote again when the Met Police launched their investigation into partygate. She said that she would respond when the Sue Gray report was published. Wrote again when Johnson was fined for rule breaking. She said that she would respond when the Sue Gray report was published. Wrote again when the Sue Gray report was published. She said.... nothing. She clearly has no intention of holding him to account. 🙄

In the meantime, she is tweeting enthusiastically about the wonderful support that is being offered to local residents as a result of the windfall tax on energy companies. The same tax that she voted against a week or so ago. I am not sure what has changed between now and then...other than the fact that the Sue Gray report has been published.

[ilovesooty]

He's totally unfit to govern.
His backbenchers are largely craven and cowardly and as venal and self serving as he is.
He's surrounded himself with a Cabinet of incompetent, thick nodding dogs.
This isn't about Conservative and Labour. It's about integrity. No previous Prime Minister would have done this. It's absolutely without precedent.

Anyone still planning to vote for him now knowing what he's done is in my opinion utterly lacking in integrity and morals, self serving sociopathic or utterly incapable of understanding who he is.

[itsgettingweird]

@ilovesooty

He's totally unfit to govern.
His backbenchers are largely craven and cowardly and as venal and self serving as he is.
He's surrounded himself with a Cabinet of incompetent, thick nodding dogs.
This isn't about Conservative and Labour. It's about integrity. No previous Prime Minister would have done this. It's absolutely without precedent.

Anyone still planning to vote for him now knowing what he's done is in my opinion utterly lacking in integrity and morals, self serving sociopathic or utterly incapable of understanding who he is.

This.

He's playing political Tetris and constantly moving and turning the blocks. He wants to disenfranchise the population so that this all becomes too much that people just give up, accept it and think this is government and they are all the same.

Part of this is trying to convince the electorate they get him or Starmer.

What's more concerning to me is that a) people actually buy if he goes we get a Labour government and b) that we can still have and will have a Tory government and he goes - yet there is no one (apparently) suitable awaiting in the wings from the 300 odd MPs they have around the country.

I said the other day he's mirroring some of Putins whilst also condemning him. But he's always been extremely careful for only condemning him for his actions in Ukraine.

[Cheesecakeandwineinasuitcase]

It just goes from bad to worse doesn’t it?

[leotardrock]

I'm going to write to my MP again!