Current Affairs

[Onelife]

Even if that's true, and I've seen no evidence either way, I still wouldnt trust Gove, and don't think he could win an election.

As a tory voter I agree that I dont believe Gove could win an election, and that is the determining factor for a leader. I suspect that Brown would not have secured the landslide that Blair secured, and very likely would not have secured a second term, if he had been leader. It is perhaps a sad fact that leadership qualities are now seen purely as the charisma of the leader, this was clearly demonstrated by Theresa May's sad performance, and if Boris has to go the Tory Party must ensure that not only is his replacement a capable politician, but he or she must be able to win over the voters by their personality.

If Gove got his party backing (unlikely) two years would be more than enough time for him to show his worth Imo.

[Mervyn and Trish]

To be clear I'm not defending Boris. Either he lied about the party taking place or he was naive to believe staff who told him it hadn't. Rather like he gave DC the benefit of the doubt.

However, while we have to await the outcome of the inquiry to be sure it appears the party goers were civil servants and while a handful were political appointees the majority would have been at No 10 if Jeremy Corbyn had been PM.

Which makes me worry about the motive behind the video and its leaking. A conscience or pure political malice by a left leaning civil servant?

[Onelife]

Civil service malice has been behind the downfall of many a politician…to be sure.

[Gill W]

So Boris can't win? He's done what you wanted but it's just a smokescreen. If he hadn't done it critics would have attacked him.

Don’t start.

[Mervyn and Trish]

So Boris can't win? He's done what you wanted but it's just a smokescreen. If he hadn't done it critics would have attacked him.

Don’t start.

OK truce. But to be fair I think you started in post 12720. I'm just continuing.

[Quizzical Bob]

If he’s going to announce so called Plan B, it so glaringly obvious that it’s an effort to try to divert attention. However, it’s just adding fuel to the fire.

They’re in meltdown

Agreed. It’s so obvious it’s painful.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Civil service malice has been behind the downfall of many a politician…to be sure.

Sir Humphrey springs to mind.

[Gill W]

On this occasion I don’t think the timing of this evening’s briefing has been used as a divergence tactic. I think our government is seriously worried about the infection rate of the Omicron variant.
My gut feeling is as it was in an earlier post e.g. “No Christmas parties, ban public attendance at sporting fixtures and bring forward the School Christmas holidays. In two weeks’, time we should have a better understanding about which way this variant is going. Act now and we could be saving thousands of unnecessary deaths… and possibly prevent much longer damaging lockdowns next year”.

This Government need to stop hoping for the best and make decisions that give us the best chance of avoiding the worst.

Well, they should be concerned about Omicron. Anybody who has been monitoring South Africa and Oslo has known for more than a week the high transmissibility of Omicron, and in the case of Oslo the possibility there may well be vaccine resistance.

We’ve learnt by now that action should be taken before it seems necessary, so ideally todays action should have been included with the previous announcement.

Up until yesterday, the next review date was set to be 18th Dec, with an announcement to be made on Mon 20th.

I’m pleased that more action has been taken, but I’m under no illusion that what prompted this sudden change was Johnson self interest

[Mervyn and Trish]

On this occasion I don’t think the timing of this evening’s briefing has been used as a divergence tactic. I think our government is seriously worried about the infection rate of the Omicron variant.
My gut feeling is as it was in an earlier post e.g. “No Christmas parties, ban public attendance at sporting fixtures and bring forward the School Christmas holidays. In two weeks’, time we should have a better understanding about which way this variant is going. Act now and we could be saving thousands of unnecessary deaths… and possibly prevent much longer damaging lockdowns next year”.

This Government need to stop hoping for the best and make decisions that give us the best chance of avoiding the worst.

Well, they should be concerned about Omicron. Anybody who has been monitoring South Africa and Oslo has known for more than a week the high transmissibility of Omicron, and in the case of Oslo the possibility there may well be vaccine resistance.

We’ve learnt by now that action should be taken before it seems necessary, so ideally todays action should have been included with the previous announcement.

Up until yesterday, the next review date was set to be 18th Dec, with an announcement to be made on Mon 20th.

I’m pleased that more action has been taken, but I’m under no illusion that what prompted this sudden change was Johnson self interest

Don't start

[Kendhni]

I’m pleased that more action has been taken, but I’m under no illusion that what prompted this sudden change was Johnson self interest

Obviously Stratton and her crocodile tears wasn't enough ... as she was told to make sure her resignation letter was in before the end of the day and handed the speech she had to make.

[Mervyn and Trish]

I’m pleased that more action has been taken, but I’m under no illusion that what prompted this sudden change was Johnson self interest

Obviously Stratton and her crocodile tears wasn't enough ... as she was told to make sure her resignation letter was in before the end of the day and handed the speech she had to make.

Once the investigation is done and we have a definitive picture everyone who was at the party, assuming it took place and is found to be illegal, should be hit with the maximum £10,000 fine. And any who don't resign should be fired or posted to count paper clips in a civil service office as far from Whitehall as possible. Shetland would be good.

If remotely it's found there was no party everyone should apologise to Boris.

[Gill W]

Don't start

I should have been clearer.

Don’t start on me.

Other people are posting similar views to me. But I’m the only one you are picking on.

Leave me alone.

[towny44]

I’m pleased that more action has been taken, but I’m under no illusion that what prompted this sudden change was Johnson self interest

Obviously Stratton and her crocodile tears wasn't enough ... as she was told to make sure her resignation letter was in before the end of the day and handed the speech she had to make.

You know this for a fact, or are you just mud stirring?

[towny44]

Don't start

I should have been clearer.

Don’t start on me.

Other people are posting similar views to me. But I’m the only one you are picking on.

Leave me alone.

Didn't some famous film star once say something similar, although I'm not sure you qualify as "subtle and understated".
That is a joke by the way.

[Stephen]

https://www.facebook.com/1216365800/pos ... 059221828/

[Kendhni]

Ah, I see the Tories are creating more diversionary tactics by admitting to another party that was not at number 10.

You do have to start wondering if some of this is being orchestrated by the party grandee to get rid of Johnson, after all he botches up pretty much everything he touches. The levels of corruption, nepotism and incompetence in this government seem to know no bounds. Integrity and honour are seriously lacking in 21st century Conservatism.

[Stephen]

Better get me 500 loo rolls in before the shelves empty

Covid: England braces for Plan B rule changes amid Omicron fears https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-59589195

[Mervyn and Trish]

Don't start

I should have been clearer.

Don’t start on me.

Other people are posting similar views to me. But I’m the only one you are picking on.

Leave me alone.

I'm not picking on you. My post referred to critics, plural. Because I express a view different to yours don't put your victim hat on. But like I said, truce.

[Kendhni]

More information about the party at number 10 are starting to drift out, it appears that neither Stratton nor Johnson were attendees. So why did Johnson not just come clean ... he should have blocked it or made heads roll. The attempts at diversion have failed, and their offering of a sacrificial lamb has not made this go away. Far better comedy than the BBC has ever managed to create.

[Mervyn and Trish]

So where is this information "drifting" from? All I've seen is the police saying there's an absence of evidence a party took place.

But I agree in principle. The sensible political response to the initial claims would have been "I was not at any party and have no knowledge of one, but have asked for an investigation."

[Manoverboard]

I am yet to believe that Boris was at the Party, he isn't completely stupid in spite of what some think.

His strong denial is proof enough but he would almost certainly have turned a deaf ear and a blind eye ( as would I in his position ) to the annual Civil Service type Christmas P*** Ups in the interest of good will and harmony.

[Onelife]

I am yet to believe that Boris was at the Party, he isn't completely stupid in spite of what some think.

His strong denial is proof enough but he would almost certainly have turned a deaf ear and a blind eye ( as would I in his position ) to the annual Civil Service type Christmas P*** Ups in the interest of good will and harmony.

If a party was held in my place of residence, I would certainly have expected an invite.

[towny44]

I am yet to believe that Boris was at the Party, he isn't completely stupid in spite of what some think.

His strong denial is proof enough but he would almost certainly have turned a deaf ear and a blind eye ( as would I in his position ) to the annual Civil Service type Christmas P*** Ups in the interest of good will and harmony.

I agree, I would imagine that a lot of parties were held in work places last year, where staff were not working from home. I know most party venues were closed, but I think officers that were open would have had some sort of party for staff, with wine and nibbles, and probably believed they were following the rules, possibly including the BBC.
A lot of fuss about nothing IMO.

[oldbluefox]

That's how I see it. Contrary to what the media are telling us people were hardly leading a Puritanical lifestyle and there was still much bending of the rules.
Why has it taken so long to emerge? No doubt somebody twelve months later with a score to settle? If this was really such a contravention it should have been reported and dealt with as and when it happened.

[Onelife]

I am yet to believe that Boris was at the Party, he isn't completely stupid in spite of what some think.

His strong denial is proof enough but he would almost certainly have turned a deaf ear and a blind eye ( as would I in his position ) to the annual Civil Service type Christmas P*** Ups in the interest of good will and harmony.

I agree, I would imagine that a lot of parties were held in work places last year, where staff were not working from home. I know most party venues were closed, but I think officers that were open would have had some sort of party for staff, with wine and nibbles, and probably believed they were following the rules, possibly including the BBC.
A lot of fuss about nothing IMO.

I don’t want to be a party pooper but if they didn’t know the rules then they must be thicker than a sausage roll