PM Boris Johnson - monster thread for a monster twat

[elbows]

Double standards can be deployed within 45 minutes.

 

[elbows]

The ramifications of the photo make themselves felt:

Metropolitan Police to review No 10 quiz decision after Boris Johnson photo leak

The Met reviews its decision not to investigate the December 2020 gathering after photo of PM emerges.

www.bbc.co.uk

But the police then released a statement, saying: "The [Met] previously assessed this event and determined that on the basis of the evidence available at that time, it did not meet the threshold for criminal investigation.

"That assessment is now being reviewed."

Also from that article:

The Met said its inquiry into alleged breaches of Covid-19 regulations in Downing Street and Whitehall has been named Operation Hillman.

Officers will send formal questionnaires to more than 50 people, starting by the end of this week, in relation to eight dates that are being investigated between 20 May 2020 and 16 April 2021.

"This document, which asks for an account and explanation of the recipient's participation in an event, has formal legal status and must be answered truthfully," the Met said.

In most cases the questionnaire will be sent by email and must be answered in seven days, the force said.

 

[Ax^]

unless they are going to public release the end result its still friggin fustrating
will issued police fines be in the public domain?

 

[elbows]

I'm working on the assumption that media, public and political interest means that we'll end up hearing plenty, though not all we would like. Same with the Gray report. The media will amplify what we get and if the amount we get is feeble then the media will try to force the issue in various ways.

 

[Dystopiary]

A questionaire though ffs! It won't fly will it, if the filth try to nab anyone over something minor, and they say, "Nah, give me one of those questionaires and I'll get back to you."
It's always different fucking rules.

 

[Serge Forward]

On the several occasions I was interviewed by officer Dibble, I never once got a questionnaire. I wonder if the questionnaire has a 'no comment' box?

 

[Sprocket.]

On the several occasions I was interviewed by officer Dibble, I never once got a questionnaire. I wonder if the questionnaire has a 'no comment' box?

IME usually accompanied by sharp blows to the ribs with a rubber torch. Mind you, we were trying to protect our community and it’s livelihood, so we probably deserved what we got.

 

[Calamity1971]

 

[BCBlues]

On the several occasions I was interviewed by officer Dibble, I never once got a questionnaire. I wonder if the questionnaire has a 'no comment' box?

Or multi choice answers..
a) yes I was there
b) no I wasnt there
c) I dunno, ask Cummings, he never tells fibs

 

[Kaka Tim]

Or multi choice answers..
a) yes I was there
b) no I wasnt there
c) I dunno, ask Cummings, he never tells fibs

d) I cant answer that until Sue Gray has published her report.

 

[Dogsauce]

It does seem to allow for collusion, rather than simultaneous in-person interviews which could pick up contradictions. Suspect there will be some loyal Tory staff willing to take a bullet for big dog and claim it was all their idea.

 

[Ming]

That must be some sort of narcisist sh*tshow record.... from story breaking to Johnson clearly lying about it in PMQs in just over an hour. I'm wondering what the over/under odds are on a picture showing coke use emmerging.

I think that’s already been done hasn’t it? Clear line of white powder on left of table. Fat one actually.



ETA: Osborne tripping balls on the front bench. I’m sure the Met will investigate with all this evidence. Just like partygate. They police without fear or favour.



ETA further. I often wonder if we‘re still monitored by spy cops if they look at stuff like posts like Osborne in these situations and feel any shame at all for not investigating and prosecuting. Cops aren’t stupid or uninformed in these matters and it’s patently obvious the Tory party is pretty lawless.

 

[cupid_stunt]

So, it looks like Boris & Carrie Johnson are going to have to answer the Met's questions over the parties, and possibly end-up being fined. The Met is reviewing the situation regarding the No.10 Christmas quiz, which hadn't reached the 'threshold for criminal investigation' before, but may do now, based on the photo leaked yesterday.

Now, the Met has also confirmed they are considering launching an investigation over the flat refurbishment, because Labour's lawyers have put in a complaint claiming there's 'reasonable suspicion’ that anti-bribery laws were broken.'

Seems like a reasonable hat-trick of shit for MPs to consider over the mini-recess of parliament, meanwhile Johnson continues to shuffle deckchairs around, in the hope he can save himself.

I doubt it will work, the biggest problem is him, not those surrounding him, and unless he can change, which is highly unlikely, especially in the limited time frame available, so the whole sorry mess will drag on, until a crunch point is reached, which could be any time between now and just after the May elections.

And, on that point, this is a good read, comparing Johnson with Thatcher, when she stopped listening to her ministers & MPs, and thought the world revolved around her -

Looking back on the 1990 ousting of Margaret Thatcher as Conservative prime minister, her chief whip Tim Renton concluded that Thatcher had lost power because she “had ceased having an open mind” about how to unify her party or to govern. “She only wanted to have her own friends around her and she had come to identify No 10 and the job of prime minister with herself,” wrote Renton. “Anyone who stood in her way … was to be dispensed with. They were not of the right faith.”

Yet all the evidence from the so-called reboot of Johnson’s government in the wake of the lockdown party scandals is that this prime minister is now making many of the same mistakes that Thatcher did more than a generation ago. Like her, Johnson surrounds himself with flatterers. Like her, he has come to identify the Conservative government with himself rather than the party or the electorate. Like her, he ostracises those who are not true believers – which in this case means believers in him. There are, of course, some differences. Yet the outcome will be the same.

It then goes into details over current polling, and him creating distractions, and the reasons why that will not work, concluding...

A recess next week may gain Johnson a brief breathing space. There will be plenty of propaganda informing us that No 10 is feeling more assured about the future. It will all be worthless. A prime minister who tries to hide in the bunker is ultimately doomed. In the end, MPs care more about their seats and their party than they care about a particular prime minister. That was what 1990 showed. The same thing will happen here, though we may have to wait until May. It could prove to be the one and only instance in his life in which the rules really will apply to Boris Johnson.

No amount of ‘reboots’ or reshuffles can hide the truth: Johnson is finished | Martin Kettle

The parallels with Margaret Thatcher’s 1990 downfall are clear to see, says Guardian columnist Martin Kettle

www.theguardian.com

 

[gosub]

Is he taking the piss?

He's quite right though. Other bits of the media have proved Downing Street had the capability to organise a party in 15minutes.

 

[Petcha]

John Major is currently making an eviscerating speech on Johnson and in fact the entire Tory party. Not just about the parties, but virtually everything, foreign aid, civil rights.. and has called Johnson a liar about ten times.

 

[Petcha]

If Biden can become president at his age when why the hell couldn't Major become PM. Biden looks like a walking corpse, Major looks fit and healthy and is speaking total sense here

 

[bluescreen]

If Biden can become president at his age when why the hell couldn't Major become PM. Biden looks like a walking corpse, Major looks fit and healthy and is speaking total sense here

Seeing that he ceased to be an MP in 2001, first he'd have to get re-elected...

 

[Petcha]

Seeing that he ceased to be an MP in 2001, first he'd have to get re-elected...

Yeh, I know. It was hypothetical. Im sure he wouldnt want it considering he's just said he basically wants to get rid of anti-protest laws, shake up the commons, get rid of lobbying and get rid of the house of lords. I can't see that flying with the party.

 

[killer b]

If Biden can become president at his age when why the hell couldn't Major become PM. Biden looks like a walking corpse, Major looks fit and healthy and is speaking total sense here

a totally deranged new angle in centrist fantasy football politics, I love it.

 

[DaveCinzano]

a totally deranged new angle in centrist fantasy football politics, I love it.

Melchester Rovers are 6-0 down in the Cup Final, and with only ten minutes left injured player-manager Roy Race has made the astonishing decision to sub off stalwart Blackie Gray and bring on the auld fella who sells programmes outside the ground - extraordinary scenes here Brian

 

[Petcha]

a totally deranged new angle in centrist fantasy football politics, I love it.

I'm too young to remember Major's premiership. I'm sure he made mistakes like any PM will, but god, compared to the current idiot he's currently 'criticising' (to put it lightly), I'd take him right now.

 

[scalyboy]

adrian edmondson would be the prime minister to reunite the country in a good way and to start to put the divisive era of johnson behind us. however, for him to enter parliament at least 329 tories must die. and a load of mps too.

He’s got my vote already

 

[Sprocket.]

Deadleg Johnson somehow attempts to emulate his idol, Churchill (another scumbag).
I think Nye Bevan’s assessment of Churchill could be equally applied to Johnson.

“He is a man suffering from petrified adolescence”

 

[Pickman's model]

I'm too young to remember Major's premiership. I'm sure he made mistakes like any PM will, but god, compared to the current idiot he's currently 'criticising' (to put it lightly), I'd take him right now.

tbh theresa may would now be considered strong and stable in comparison to this yahoo

 

[Petcha]

Major got pretty shitty over Brexit there in the Q&A and how fucking pointless it was, those refugees crossing the channel being locked up, and Priti Patel being a cunt (in diplomatic terms). Yes, I'd take him as PM over any over of the leaders of the three main parties.

John Major says Boris Johnson broke lockdown laws and is creating mistrust

Former Tory PM says disregard for honesty and standards puts UK’s democratic future at risk

www.theguardian.com

 

[killer b]

I think it's very easy for former prime ministers to sound statesmanlike and sensible - even Theresa May, who's stint as prime minister was particularly gross, is seen as some beacon of good sense from the back benches. They operate in a world of fantasy though. Their record in office is how you should judge them, not their fine word now they don't have any power.

 

[SpineyNorman]

I'd take major as PM again but only on the understanding that we get a re-run of the whole back to basics omnishambles with Rees mogg cast in the Stephen Milligan role.

 

[Artaxerxes]

I'd take major as PM again but only on the understanding that we get a re-run of the whole back to basics omnishambles with Rees mogg cast in the Stephen Milligan role.

Don’t forget the Cones hotline

 

[Petcha]

I think it's very easy for former prime ministers to sound statesmanlike and sensible - even Theresa May, who's stint as prime minister was particularly gross, is seen as some beacon of good sense from the back benches. They operate in a world of fantasy though. Their record in office is how you should judge them, not their fine word now they don't have any power.

Yeh, I get that. It's easy to criticise from the back seat. One of the questions from one of the journos was whether this was a long held grudge going back to when Boris was a journo in Brussels and got several articles published about Major's government and the EU which were not flattering. Major said they were completely unsubstantiated and when he was asked to clarify with the foreign office what the fuck he was on about, Boris said 'that would involve making a phone call and I can't be bothered'. I'm fairly sure I know who might be the liar there. There might be an axe to grind there but he seemed fairly genuine.

 

[strung out]

If Biden can become president at his age when why the hell couldn't Major become PM. Biden looks like a walking corpse, Major looks fit and healthy and is speaking total sense here

First Tom Tugendhat and Theresa May, now John Major. Whose boots will you be wistfully yearning for the taste of next?