Defending the indefensible - another PM thread

[Seabag]

Dominic Raab appeared to contradict himself and No 10's claim the PM and staff were pictured during a work meeting and said "sometimes they?ll have a drink after a long day or a long week".

He said Downing Street is "fundamentally a place of work" and insisted the actions of those in the picture

-Ok, so if you?re ?at a work meeting? then where?s the note books, iPads, laptops etc? I?m not seeing one of these in this ?workplace?, not even a phone in anyone?s hands.

Which is unusual,no?

https://apple.news/AgcGmgcPRTNSX6qXuoEJMgw

[diable rouge]

That photo is a great visual metaphor for the Upstairs Downstairs world Johnson and his cabal inhabit.

The toffs lording it on the terrace in their comfy seats while the plebs make do with standing around on the grass below. Looking forward to Cold War Steve's take...

[Nigello]

I think that if this pic were showing a Labour or LibDem (I know, unlikely) PM then most of the people complaining about Boris J would be cutting them some slack. We all know that England is not as uptight as it was decades ago, and that work and fun blend (not always welcomed. I can't see this as a major solecism - not like the other parties - and I am not a fan of Boris and his band at all.

[diable rouge]

This cuts across party politics.

They aren't working and are clearly socialising, no different to going to the pub after work in normal times.

Those lucky enough to have a garden weren't allowed to socialise in such numbers.

It was literally one rule for them, another for the rest of us...

[Seabag]

Nigello Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I think that if this pic were showing a Labour or

> LibDem (I know, unlikely) PM then most of the

> people complaining about Boris J would be cutting

> them some slack. We all know that England is not

> as uptight as it was decades ago, and that work

> and fun blend (not always welcomed. I can't see

> this as a major solecism - not like the other

> parties - and I am not a fan of Boris and his band

> at all.

It?s to do with fobbing us off yet again, gaslighting us. And they?ve used up all their ?slack? as far as most people are concerned.

[Nigello]

But they were already in the building, sitting outside. I think it is mischief making and really not the smoking gun that people say/want it to be. (One can believe this and also not be a supporter of Boris. It is called being rational and reasonable and it stops one from being reflexively anti just because it is the default setting.)

[TheCat]

Nigello Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> But they were already in the building, sitting

> outside. I think it is mischief making and really

> not the smoking gun that people say/want it to be.

> (One can believe this and also not be a supporter

> of Boris. It is called being rational and

> reasonable and it stops one from being reflexively

> anti just because it is the default setting.)

Come on Nigello, you've been around these parts long enough to know thats not how things work on the EDF:)

[Sephiroth]

so when police were fining people for sitting on park benches or even sending them home at the same time, people should have just said "I'm outside - I'm here anyway"

Tug Forelock

Doff cap

[Seabag]

Nigello Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> But they were already in the building, sitting

> outside. I think it is mischief making and really

> not the smoking gun that people say/want it to be.

> (One can believe this and also not be a supporter

> of Boris. It is called being rational and

> reasonable and it stops one from being reflexively

> anti just because it is the default setting.)

That?s fine, they were at the building - agreed.

But that isn?t a ?work meeting? yet we?re being cajoled into going along with that, as if we?re mean spirited in not doing so. The whole ?they?re taking time out after the battle against Covid? doesn?t wash either. You don?t see Drs and NHS staff doing the same, no!, they?re actually getting back to work, actually battling covid. However, this is the government, you know the ones who hand down the edicts. Only they?re not following the same ones as we?re given.

In that context, you?re still ok with this and their other indiscretions?

[diable rouge]

Show us the minutes of the 'meeting'...:)

[KidKruger]

My first thought was ?what was the meeting aim, what was the agenda, who took actions, who?s seen the minutes ?? !

[diable rouge]

Can't recall attending any office meeting where the boss' wife was in attendance.

Office parties/social get-togethers on the other hand...

[j.a.]

Nigello Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> But they were already in the building, sitting

> outside. I think it is mischief making and really

> not the smoking gun that people say/want it to be.

> (One can believe this and also not be a supporter

> of Boris. It is called being rational and

> reasonable and it stops one from being reflexively

> anti just because it is the default setting.)

To me personally it looks very much like a group of people who know they probably shouldn?t be doing what they?re doing, but they feel the rules don?t apply to them.

If we hadn?t had all the other revelations then yes, it?d be much ado about nothing. But taken in the wider context it looks very much like 10 Downing St developed the view that they could do as they pleased.

As always, this is a result of the person at the top setting the tone?

[Sephiroth]

the person at the top very much relies on enough of "the little people" siding with them

Irish people of a certain vintage will be very familiar with the Haughey years and similar vibes

[Dogkennelhillbilly]

Nigello Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> i think it is mischief making and really

> not the smoking gun that people say/want it to be.

It's not "mischief making". It was against the rules which the person in the photo himself made. It was also - in retrospect we now know - probably not that risky considering it was outside.

But in any case it's never going to be a smoking gun: anyone who cares already knows Johnson is a liar and a lawbreaker. Anyone who doesn't care won't have their opinion changed by any stupid photo.

[JohnL]

diable rouge Wrote:

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> Show us the minutes of the 'meeting'...:)

There were none because err it was an informal meeting says Raab the genius.

Johnson seems to have lost the darts fans now too.

[diable rouge]

[Seabag]

Holy Fuuck

The Met have gone and referred themselves to the standards watchdog

It?s all getting a little bonkers, no?

https://apple.news/Ai5RW9pbpS4a0wtnMJmvYkQ

[JohnL]

Too much #johnsonout and #dickout hashtags on twitter.

Could the issue of Crown Immunity be being used by the government here - they won't say so but the Police know its there.

Years (30 or so) ago I remember working for a public body that talked about using Crown Immunity for all sorts of stuff - they couldn't in the end.

[Dogkennelhillbilly]

I don't know if there's anyone less qualified to give advice on being a good Christian during COVID than Boris Johnson, but here we are: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/dec/24/covid-booster-jab-boris-johnson-christmas-message

[JohnL]

Jesus also turned water into wine so he has no problem with me drinking it.

[diable rouge]

Surprised it took this long, kinda suggests someone is deliberately leaking stuff drip by drip...by drip...by drip... Japanese water torture stylee...https://www.itv.com/news/2022-01-10/email-proves-downing-street-staff-held-drinks-party-at-height-of-lockdown

EXCL: Email obtained by @itvnews proves over 100 staff were invited to drinks party in No 10 garden at height of lockdown to ?make the most of the lovely weather?.

We?re told PM and his wife attended, with staff invited to ?bring your own booze!?

[diable rouge]

And here's what the Met were tweeting on the day of the BYOB party...

Have you been enjoying the hottest day of the year so far? 🌞

It is important that we all continue to #StayAlert

You can relax, have a picnic, exercise or play sport, as long as you are:

➡️ On your own

➡️ With people you live with

➡️ Just you and one other person

Nothing to see here eh boys in blue?...

[KidKruger]

diable rouge Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Surprised it took this long, kinda suggests

> someone is deliberately leaking stuff drip by

> drip...by drip...by drip... Japanese water torture

> stylee...https://www.itv.com/news/2022-01-10/email

> -proves-downing-street-staff-held-drinks-party-at-

> height-of-lockdown

>

> EXCL: Email obtained by @itvnews proves over 100

> staff were invited to drinks party in No 10 garden

> at height of lockdown to ?make the most of the

> lovely weather?.

>

> We?re told PM and his wife attended, with staff

> invited to ?bring your own booze!?

I always thought it was Chinese water torture, but hey - I guess no-one?s got the monopoly on torture methods !!

[JohnL]

What's Dom doing these days - he seems to be having trouble shopping with the number of shopping trolleys on his blog.