Re: Owen Paterson: Anger as Tory MP avoids suspension in rule shake-up
 

I think 'a large percentage of the public' don't give two hoots about 'Partygate'.

Many of the general public don't give a fig about lots of stuff . .

Re: Owen Paterson: Anger as Tory MP avoids suspension in rule shake-up
 

Oh i agree, I'd argue they perhaps should?

Re: Owen Paterson: Anger as Tory MP avoids suspension in rule shake-up
 

I get all the "should be held to higher standard" etc etc, but they evidence by their actions that most don't have any standards.

The output of this is apathy, and referring to that wonderful quote the Hugh researched from Thatcher, if they tried to impose any further restrictions I think most people would just flout them now.

Re: Owen Paterson: Anger as Tory MP avoids suspension in rule shake-up
 

It all depends on what they perceive to be 'important' in their everyday lives . . .

Is the TV still working? *yes*
Is Facebook still working? *yes*
Is my car still working? *yes*
Can I still shop online? *yes*

Re: Owen Paterson: Anger as Tory MP avoids suspension in rule shake-up
 

Very true, but elections are won and lost in the margins. One per cent here, two per cent there.

The knives will be out.

Re: Owen Paterson: Anger as Tory MP avoids suspension in rule shake-up
 

Yes the knives will be out, but it won't be the 'general public' wielding them.

Re: Owen Paterson: Anger as Tory MP avoids suspension in rule shake-up
 

I can't argue with that to be honest. If any sort of household mixing were to be introduced I'd like to think i'd go along with it, but if i'm honest I'd just carry on as normal.

Decisive action was required to nip this in the bud, they've not done that, the moral authority if not gone is in in question. and yet STILL Keir Starmer can't get a fatal blow in

Re: Owen Paterson: Anger as Tory MP avoids suspension in rule shake-up
 

So Johnson has thrown his staff under the bus - that could come back to haunt him…

btw, "I apologise for the impression that was given" is up there with "I’m sorry you felt you were offended" as far as fauxpologies go…

Re: Owen Paterson: Anger as Tory MP avoids suspension in rule shake-up
 

What kind of fatal blow are you expecting? His questions were good and awkward for Johnson, and he got a commitment for No 10 to hand over details of any parties (plural) to the police.

The story has enough traction on it's own though.

Re: Owen Paterson: Anger as Tory MP avoids suspension in rule shake-up
 

Scottish Conservative leader and bang average lineo Douglas Ross has called for Boris Johnson to resign if he misled Parliament. A caveat that, unless he’s completely forgotten about a party he was actually at, doesn’t mean much.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotla...5Bpost+type%5D

Re: Owen Paterson: Anger as Tory MP avoids suspension in rule shake-up
 

To me, it appeared that Boris managed to brush off his questioning quite easily.

The police according to some media sources were already aware of what was going on.

Any inquiry is either going to end in

a. going to be forgotten about
b. a small sacrificial lamb will be offered
c. the police will say not enough evidence

IMHO

Re: Owen Paterson: Anger as Tory MP avoids suspension in rule shake-up
 

https://news.sky.com/story/covid-new...gives-12469075

Premise 1 - we have been repeatedly told "there was no party"

In summary, it has been confirmed by Government sources that both Simon Case and Boris Johnson did not attend the party that the Government sources said didn’t happen…

(I wonder if these "No. 10 spokespeople who seem to have lied albeit unwittingly" were attendees at the party that didn’t happen, as the (non-)party was held at No. 10?)

Re: Owen Paterson: Anger as Tory MP avoids suspension in rule shake-up
 

There could only really be a fatal blow to Boris from this if he were directly implicated, and (so far at least) he doesn’t appear to be. This further erodes his moral authority as a leader but it isn’t the coup de grace. I actually thought Starmer got a good line in for once, referencing the Queen at Philip’s funeral, but he was working the moral authority line, not trying to claim direct culpability.

There is a larger plan at work here, by well-placed persons unknown, to drip-feed material into the public domain that will eventually fatally undermine Boris even without a smoking gun directly implicating him in something. It’s the death of a thousand cuts, nipping and slicing away until everyone is left wondering why on earth he’s still in charge. At that point someone will challenge him for the leadership.

Re: Owen Paterson: Anger as Tory MP avoids suspension in rule shake-up
 

I'll give you the queen line, i'd forgotten about that....

Allegra Stratton resigns, the sacrificial lamb?

Re: Owen Paterson: Anger as Tory MP avoids suspension in rule shake-up
 

I think they have no choice but to give her the boot. That recording is absolutely damning. I’m not certain it will draw a line under things though. It’s open season on Boris and his administration now, and every hack in Westminster will be hunting for the next morsel.