Current Affairs

[Kendhni]

This was evident in the BBC interview by Justin Rowlatt and also in the CNN interview with Christiane Amanpour.

I have noticed that more and more about him ... very shifty eyes when he comes under pressure.
I wondered if that was his equivalent of the Queen moving her handbag to the other hand

[towny44]

This was evident in the BBC interview by Justin Rowlatt and also in the CNN interview with Christiane Amanpour.

I have noticed that more and more about him ... very shifty eyes when he comes under pressure.
I wondered if that was his equivalent of the Queen moving her handbag to the other hand

I wouldn't call them shifty eyes, but if you refer to the same look that I notice, then I thought his look was the sort you give to someone who you consider in the same way as a squashed dog turd on your shoe.

[Onelife]

You could be right John...he knows what it feels like to put his foot in it

[Kendhni]

I wouldn't call them shifty eyes, but if you refer to the same look that I notice, then I thought his look was the sort you give to someone who you consider in the same way as a squashed dog turd on your shoe.

You could be right, I have seen that exact same shifty look when he is questioned about those who voted for him and his party

[Gill W]

It must be bad if the Daily Mail is up in arms.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/art ... e-own.html

I wasn’t going to bother to post this, as I’ve spoken about government corruption before, but no body else on the form seemed that bothered, if not actually condoning it, just shrugging their shoulders and looking the other way, or even saying that corruption is something to be expected.

But is everyone REALLY okay about what happened yesterday??

[Frank Manning]

No, I am not OK with it. Johnson has not progressed beyond the naughty schooboy phase, and everything is a jolly wheeze chaps. I mean, gosh, snigger, you could have elected that other chap. snigger.

[anniec]

No, I am not OK with it. Johnson has not progressed beyond the naughty schooboy phase, and everything is a jolly wheeze chaps. I mean, gosh, snigger, you could have elected that other chap. snigger.

Neither am I. When even Julia Hartley-Brewer agrees with Angela Rayner's opinion on Tory sleaze, something is pretty seriously wrong. Not sure how long some can continue to believe that all is well with the current government (and, in the absence of a reasonable alternative, I voted for them).

[Manoverboard]

This report states ..." Owen Paterson was found to have broken lobbying rules, but said he was not given the chance to clear his name."

That is absolutely wrong and I believe that the rules should be amended to cater for this obvious need.

He may be as guilty as reported but is it not the case that his wife committed suicide over it ... and yet there are those who still want to milk it to death.

Pathetic

[barney]

This single incident highlights why the country needs a credible opposition to prevent the sitting government doing exactly what they want.
When any government has a majority the size of this one, they are literally untouchable.

[Gill W]

Looks like the U turn is already incoming.

Apparently, Rees-Mogg has announced in the commons that any new standards committee will not look at the Paterson case.

However, there’s still the issue that Parliament has voted for less effective scrutiny of MPs activities. I’m sure that it’s a complete coincidence that Johnson is still being investigated about who paid for his flat renovations

[Kendhni]

But is everyone REALLY okay about what happened yesterday??

When the rules don't suit the behaviour then change the rules rather than the behaviour!!!
This is possibly the most corrupt and nepotistic government of my lifetime.

[Ray B]

Brown envelopes are always changing hands no matter what party, Paterson case is no different.

[Onelife]

If Paterson has time to do two other jobs, then he’s not spending enough time doing the job we are paying him for.

This is a rule I would have them change.

[towny44]

I doubt that corruption can ever be stamped out, the wealthy will always want to seek an advantage, and there will always be someone in a position of power to grant it.
We all tend to seek a benefit if we can, from the self employed trying to minimise their taxable income, to employees helping themselves to items of stationary from work, or salesmen fiddling their expenses.
TBH I suspect most MPs are more honest than the average, because their standards are deemed to be higher than the average, so I dont really get too hot under the collar about these issues.

[Frank Manning]

This report states ..." Owen Paterson was found to have broken lobbying rules, but said he was not given the chance to clear his name."

That is absolutely wrong and I believe that the rules should be amended to cater for this obvious need.

He may be as guilty as reported but is it not the case that his wife committed suicide over it ... and yet there are those who still want to milk it to death.

Pathetic

In yesterday's newspaper there was a quote to the effect that his poor lady wife's death had nothing to do with the scandal. Either way, he is really just a symptom of the problem. There have been plenty of other sleazy chumsy moments with this government, and whatever the concensus is among us, there was considerable critical comment from Times on Line readers yesterday, so I am not alone in my disgust at the Johnson government.

[Ray B]

Best to fall on one's sword than the long knives in the back.

[Onelife]

I doubt that corruption can ever be stamped out, the wealthy will always want to seek an advantage, and there will always be someone in a position of power to grant it.
We all tend to seek a benefit if we can, from the self employed trying to minimise their taxable income, to employees helping themselves to items of stationary from work, or salesmen fiddling their expenses.
TBH I suspect most MPs are more honest than the average, because their standards are deemed to be higher than the average, so I dont really get too hot under the collar about these issues.

I don’t think there will many of us sticking our hands up and saying not guilty but as far as MP’s go there won’t be many of them saying 'influence' has had nothing to do with them getting rich off the back of consultancy positions.

The whole thing stinks and the one at the top of the pile is the best example of everything that is wrong in our parliamentary system.

[towny44]

I doubt that corruption can ever be stamped out, the wealthy will always want to seek an advantage, and there will always be someone in a position of power to grant it.
We all tend to seek a benefit if we can, from the self employed trying to minimise their taxable income, to employees helping themselves to items of stationary from work, or salesmen fiddling their expenses.
TBH I suspect most MPs are more honest than the average, because their standards are deemed to be higher than the average, so I dont really get too hot under the collar about these issues.

I don’t think there will many of us sticking our hands up and saying not guilty but as far as MP’s go there won’t be many of them saying 'influence' has had nothing to do with them getting rich off the back of consultancy positions.

The whole thing stinks and the one at the top of the pile is the best example of everything that is wrong in our parliamentary system.

If you want change perhaps you could start a new party dedicated to removing sleaze. If you can persuade enough left wing complainers to join you, that should ensure we maintain a conservative govt for decades to come.

[oldbluefox]

It seems sleaze is only confined to the Tory party. You would never catch a Labour MP, a LibDem MP or SNP MP caught up in sleaze would you? I presume they are all honest, upright citizens who would never do such a thing. Are they? I detect a certain amount of hypocrisy here.

[Gill W]

Events have moved on and Paterson has resigned, which is what an honourable person would have done ages ago - although an honourable person wouldn't have used his position for cash gain in the first place.

If the government hadn't tried to use the Paterson case as an excuse for standards committee shenanigans, Paterson would have served his 30 day suspension and the news cycle would have moved on, and would have been forgotten as soon as the next scandal occurred. (probably next week, as scandals are 10 a penny with this government). The government has used the Paterson case for their own ends, and now it's gone badly wrong, they have u turned and thrown him under the bus.

I believe this is largely about Johnson not wanting to be investigated by anybody independent, basically, this is all to protect his own skin.

And if anybody is still just shrugging it off as corruption happens or just professes it to be a bit of a laugh, or indulging in whataboutery how do you reconcile yourself to the fact that Johnson will abandon any position, any person or any principle, in his own self interest?

This is corruption on an epic scale, and it's at the heart of our government. This puts the country in a very bad place.

[barney]

Events have moved on and Paterson has resigned, which is what an honourable person would have done ages ago - although an honourable person wouldn't have used his position for cash gain in the first place.

If the government hadn't tried to use the Paterson case as an excuse for standards committee shenanigans, Paterson would have served his 30 day suspension and the news cycle would have moved on, and would have been forgotten as soon as the next scandal occurred. (probably next week, as scandals are 10 a penny with this government). The government has used the Paterson case for their own ends, and now it's gone badly wrong, they have u turned and thrown him under the bus.

I believe this is largely about Johnson not wanting to be investigated by anybody independent, basically, this is all to protect his own skin.

And if anybody is still just shrugging it off as corruption happens or just professes it to be a bit of a laugh, or indulging in whataboutery how do you reconcile yourself to the fact that Johnson will abandon any position, any person or any principle, in his own self interest?

This is corruption on an epic scale, and it's at the heart of our government. This puts the country in a very bad place.

Then stop voting for them !
It’s as easy as that.

[screwy]

Just wondering if the self righteous were as scathing about the Labour MPs jailed for stealing our cash with the expenses scandal.

I wasn’t on the forum at the time,I’m sure someone will enlighten me.

[Gill W]

Just wondering if the self righteous were as scathing about the Labour MPs jailed for stealing our cash with the expenses scandal.

I wasn’t on the forum at the time,I’m sure someone will enlighten me.

#whataboutery

[Onelife]

If you want change perhaps you could start a new party dedicated to removing sleaze. If you can persuade enough left wing complainers to join you, that should ensure we maintain a conservative govt for decades to come.

Parliament has a Standards committee, one of its jobs is to advise/weed out those who are in breach of theses standards…Boris tried to undermine this process….end of.

[Onelife]

It seems sleaze is only confined to the Tory party. You would never catch a Labour MP, a LibDem MP or SNP MP caught up in sleaze would you? I presume they are all honest, upright citizens who would never do such a thing. Are they? I detect a certain amount of hypocrisy here.

I think the sleaze is split evenly between all political parties but what we can be thankful for is that each political party exposes each other’s sleaze.