Re: Partygate & Beergate discussion
 

The one thing I cannot dispute is the No. 10 Comms team, they’re a complete shambles and someone is still leaking stuff to the press.

Re: Partygate & Beergate discussion
 

The fish rots from the head as they say.

In the absence of a principled leader - presumably who would throw them under the bus with Simon Case and all the junior officials - why would anyone expect competence and allegiance?

At least there’s some parachutes out there for those on the media/politics merry go round.

https://www.cityam.com/former-downin...oin-bloomberg/

Re: Partygate & Beergate discussion
 

https://www.itv.com/news/2022-05-23/...uring-lockdown

Re: Partygate & Beergate discussion
 

I really don't know why No 10 keeps making these poor decisions but I fear jfman is right.

Nadhim Zahawi now has a reputation as a Johnson stooge after doing those Sunday morning interviews in which he denied he knew who called the meeting with Sue Gray.

It's something that he would have been briefed on; you don't turn up to these shows off your own back without preparation. I just don't know why No 10 is behaving in such an incompetent manner. Just have him say yes we called it, we'll publish the minutes, can we talk about how we're improving governance and tackling the cost of living crisis. The whole government mechanism even today seems to be averse to openness and honesty.

Whatever you might think about Cummings, he was right in predicting leaks of photos. I suspect those junior civil servants tipped him off. https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politi...hotos-27038571

Re: Partygate & Beergate discussion
 

This is the party he wasn't fined for. Probably helps out Starmer these pictures have come to light.

Re: Partygate & Beergate discussion
 

Yep, if this is acceptable, then all bets are off here as far as Starmer is concerned. I would love to see the timestamps of those photos to understand how long he was at the non-party.

Re: Partygate & Beergate discussion
 

Not really, it’s not a party, looks like a toast to someone leaving in the office at the end of the day, in one photo, you can see PMs red box and it’s nothing new, we don’t already know about. Still much of a nothing burger, point has passed Tory MPs will dispose of this PM.

Re: Partygate & Beergate discussion
 

As per the ITV story, it was Lee Cain's leaving do - which others at the same event have got a FPN for.

Re: Partygate & Beergate discussion
 

I suspect even Johnson’s most staunch acolytes such as Zahawi would struggle to argue that what Starmer has done (and been cleared once by the police) is worse than this.

Re: Partygate & Beergate discussion
 

Starmer claims he was eating at the end of the day. I don't see how beer and curry are bad but multiple bottles of champagne and wine are ok.

Re: Partygate & Beergate discussion
 

Indeed.

As I said at the time when Johnson wasn't fined for this and the other parties, this strongly suggest that Starmer is unlikely to be fined either. Johnson apologists like the Daily Mail need to brace themselves for this.

---------- Post added at 17:16 ---------- Previous post was at 17:14 ----------

Because Starmer is held to higher standards than Johnson is the only explanation I can muster.

Re: Partygate & Beergate discussion
 

In fairness to the Daily Mail they’ve only ever deployed it as whataboutery. They’re fully aware there’s nothing to it - the purpose has only ever been to muddy the water in the hope that a strategy can emerge that saves Johnson.

Re: Partygate & Beergate discussion
 

Here comes your ridiculous whataboutery notion again. :rolleyes:

Johnson isn’t going anywhere, regardless of what strategy Daily Mail deploys. Tory MPs moment to oust this PM, is gone.

---------- Post added at 17:31 ---------- Previous post was at 17:29 ----------

Well, you’ve already proven you lacked knowledge on the legal processes on investigations, so your “mustering” standards don’t amount to anything relevant.

Re: Partygate & Beergate discussion
 

I don’t really see how you can considering the notion that this is a diversionary tactic as “ridiculous”. On the last page of the thread you said it wasn’t unusual for politicians to be liars. Heaven forbid they, and journalists of all people, would ever deploy whataboutery!

Johnson only survives because of the lack of obvious successor. Indeed, who wants to take the reigns as inflation hits 10%? Nobody. That doesn’t mean his days aren’t numbered when the time comes. Spineless Tories in marginals facing defeat at the next election will ensure he’s ousted, forgetting they were elected on his coat tails. He can go back to earning more money somewhere else and perhaps, perhaps credibility will return to his office.

Re: Partygate & Beergate discussion
 

Not fined, not guilty.