RugbyRebels

I've enjoyed the way that, until today, Johnson has been unable to divulge whether or not he was indeed at the event*. And we know full well that not even this half-fabricated admission would have passed his lips had he been able to keep the facts buried.

I guess the Tories will be praying that not too much of this reputational stink sticks to them once he's gone. Good luck with that.

* which was obviously a work thing with booze, not a party with booze.

Son of Mathonwy wrote:I've enjoyed the way that, until today, Johnson has been unable to divulge whether or not he was indeed at the event*. And we know full well that not even this half-fabricated admission would have passed his lips had he been able to keep the facts buried.

I guess the Tories will be praying that not too much of this reputational stink sticks to them once he's gone. Good luck with that.

* which was obviously a work thing with booze, not a party with booze.

Some speculation that they want to get the May elections out of the way and then mount a challenge. Politically it makes sense since the likelihood is that the Tories will get a right hiding in May and the new person can blame all that on Boris and try to move on.

So Johnson is allegedly refusing to take any blame for the recent events and is about to make a huge raft of changes.

Many of the number ten personalities will be sacrificed in the name of Operational Save the Big Dog.

The military will take over control of anti immigration activities in the channel.

All covid restrictions to end later this month

Gives levelling up report to be published asap.

This is no longer about even pretending to follow science or do the right thing. It’s about doing enough populist stuff to avoid a total disaster in the May elections and perhaps hang on in there.

We have seen the dying days of a premiership before but I’m trying to think of one that was so shameless. Nothing in recent memory really springs to mind, perhaps Lloyd George?

Sandydragon wrote:So Johnson is allegedly refusing to take any blame for the recent events and is about to make a huge raft of changes.

Many of the number ten personalities will be sacrificed in the name of Operational Save the Big Dog.

The military will take over control of anti immigration activities in the channel.

All covid restrictions to end later this month

Gives levelling up report to be published asap.

This is no longer about even pretending to follow science or do the right thing. It’s about doing enough populist stuff to avoid a total disaster in the May elections and perhaps hang on in there.

We have seen the dying days of a premiership before but I’m trying to think of one that was so shameless. Nothing in recent memory really springs to mind, perhaps Lloyd George?

I wouldn't want to be in a vulnerable position right now, like applying for UK citizenship if my skin colour isn't right.

lol Rishi Sunak running when asked obvious and inevitable questions about his fuckwit boss.

This is the guy who's being positioned as BoJo's replacement? A fucking coward that turns and runs as soon as there's pressure put on him?

cashead wrote:lol Rishi Sunak running when asked obvious and inevitable questions about his fuckwit boss.

This is the guy who's being positioned as BoJo's replacement? A fucking coward that turns and runs as soon as there's pressure put on him?

Seems on brand - he's seeking to replace a man who literally hid in a fridge when faced with reporters. We don't have high standards for leaders in this country.

Puja

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/ ... h-25968971

Treasury gives up on chasing £4.3bn of public cash stolen by Covid fraudsters

Which Tyler wrote:https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/ ... h-25968971

Treasury gives up on chasing £4.3bn of public cash stolen by Covid fraudsters

Yeah. They’ve decided it’s better to chase after those who have made a mistake with child benefit instead.

That's great, nice to send a message to furlough fraudsters that they just need to sit tight, get their lawyers to delay things and pretty soon HMRC will give up.

Conservative MP, Christian Wakefield, crosses the floor to Labour. Not sure what his long term politics are vs how much this is just opportunist stunt. My guess is its more the latter.

Sandydragon wrote:Conservative MP, Christian Wakefield, crosses the floor to Labour. Not sure what his long term politics are vs how much this is just opportunist stunt. My guess is its more the latter.

Puja

Stephen Flynn (SNP)

"Can I have confirmation from the Prime Minister?
Is he getting rid of the Covid rules simply because he doesn't understand them"

Sandydragon wrote:Conservative MP, Christian Wakefield, crosses the floor to Labour. Not sure what his long term politics are vs how much this is just opportunist stunt. My guess is its more the latter.

You can't top British politics for drama. This scandal just keeps on getting better.

Sandydragon wrote:Conservative MP, Christian Wakefield, crosses the floor to Labour. Not sure what his long term politics are vs how much this is just opportunist stunt. My guess is its more the latter.

Tiny majority, its not rocket science. I'd hope Labour deselect him at the next opportunity.

His name is Wakeford btw

Banquo wrote:

Sandydragon wrote:Conservative MP, Christian Wakefield, crosses the floor to Labour. Not sure what his long term politics are vs how much this is just opportunist stunt. My guess is its more the latter.

Tiny majority, its not rocket science. I'd hope Labour deselect him at the next opportunity.

His name is Wakeford btw

He stood previously as an independent, so I don't get the impression he is too attached to anyone.

Sandydragon wrote:

Banquo wrote:

Sandydragon wrote:Conservative MP, Christian Wakefield, crosses the floor to Labour. Not sure what his long term politics are vs how much this is just opportunist stunt. My guess is its more the latter.

Tiny majority, its not rocket science. I'd hope Labour deselect him at the next opportunity.

His name is Wakeford btw

He stood previously as an independent, so I don't get the impression he is too attached to anyone.

... hence the tiny minority point.

Banquo wrote:

Sandydragon wrote:

Banquo wrote:
Tiny majority, its not rocket science. I'd hope Labour deselect him at the next opportunity.

His name is Wakeford btw

He stood previously as an independent, so I don't get the impression he is too attached to anyone.

... hence the tiny minority point.

Indeed.

David Davies gives the mandatory ‘in the name of god go’ speech.

But.

If Sue Greys report is a major effort in blandism then it wouldn’t surprise me if somehow Boris hangs on.

Sandydragon wrote:David Davies gives the mandatory ‘in the name of god go’ speech.

But.

If Sue Greys report is a major effort in blandism then it wouldn’t surprise me if somehow Boris hangs on.

I can't conceive of it being anything else.

Remember the Hutton inquiry. Blair's direct lies to journalists were described as follows: 'I consider that the answers given by the Prime Minister to members of the press in the aeroplane cast no light on the issues ...'

And that was from a judge. Grey is a civil servant who reports to Michael Gove. So her ultimate boss is Boris Johnson.

Zhivago wrote:

Superb.

Ted Hastings speaking for most of us i'm sure.

Which Tyler wrote:

And now Sue Gray is not going to publish her report until after the investigation has ended because it would be interfering with an active investigation. A cynic might note that the Met are getting involved at just the right time to delay any resolution and drag everything out. A cynic might note that Dick is firmly in Boris's pocket at the best of time and that this is politically ideal for him to spread this out, to try and create "party-fatigue" in the British public and reduce the outcry to a background hum of, "Not this thing again."

Thankfully, we're not cynics, so we'll all believe that the Met suddenly has reason to investigate today that they didn't a few weeks ago, and that they will certainly come back with a response that's not a muted, "Not enough evidence/not in the public interest to pursue," in three-six months' time.

Puja

Puja wrote:And now Sue Gray is not going to publish her report until after the investigation has ended because it would be interfering with an active investigation. A cynic might note that the Met are getting involved at just the right time to delay any resolution and drag everything out. A cynic might note that Dick is firmly in Boris's pocket at the best of time and that this is politically ideal for him to spread this out, to try and create "party-fatigue" in the British public and reduce the outcry to a background hum of, "Not this thing again."

Thankfully, we're not cynics, so we'll all believe that the Met suddenly has reason to investigate today that they didn't a few weeks ago, and that they will certainly come back with a response that's not a muted, "Not enough evidence/not in the public interest to pursue," in three-six months' time.