Updated: Boris resigns as party leader

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

I should think so too. She should have downed the lot - what a waste of good booze.

Read the room …

Another one: https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politi...idays-25951853

Downing Street staff held 'wine-time Fridays' throughout the pandemic with Boris Johnson regularly witnessing the gatherings.

Sources told the Mirror that the Prime Minister encouraged aides to “let off steam” despite indoor socialising being banned under lockdown rules.

The regular event was so popular that staff even invested in a £142 drinks fridge to keep their bottles of white wine, Prosecco and beer cool.

Now I am actually going to go a bit OLD_BOY here and say, in isolation, I don't think this one is that bad.

Yes, it may be technically against the rules but if staff who are already there have a drink at their desks on a Friday then I don't care. I also don't think others would care as much if this was the full extent of it. Obviously it's not good taking into account all the other stories because more than anything you do wonder just much time they're drinking at No 10.

But it is not a specially organised party that people are invited to attend. The Garden Party was so absurd because it was a mass e-mail, you have a bring a bottle, and people had a literal bloody party.

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by Damien

Another one: https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politi...idays-25951853

Now I am actually going to go a bit OLD_BOY here and say, in isolation, I don't think this one is that bad.

Yes, it may be technically against the rules but if staff who are already there have a drink at their desks on a Friday then I don't care. I also don't think others would care as much if this was the full extent of it. Obviously it's not good taking into account all the other stories because more than anything you do wonder just much time they're drinking at No 10.

But it is not a specially organised party that people are invited to attend. The Garden Party was so absurd because it was a chain e-mail, you have a bring a bottle, and people had a literal bloody party.

A true Old Boy reply would be to let's wait until Sue Gray's report is released.

What might that report say:

• Just publish the facts and let the politicians fight it out.
• Clear No 10 and severely damage the public's trust in British democracy.
• A halfway house leading to both above outcomes arising.
• Find Boris guilty and annoy the person who's commissioned the report.

Think writing the report is not going to be a career-enhancing move for her.

[GrimUpNorth]

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

Think writing the report is not going to be a career-enhancing move for her.

Wouldn't be surprised if she's drunk the best part of a suitcase full of wine tonight and is probably regretting not accepting the invites she had to the Downing Street parties last [insert any date you like]. She must be wondering who she pissed off to get this gig.

[Mad Max]

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

A true Old Boy reply would be to let's wait until Sue Gray's report is released.

What might that report say:

• Just publish the facts and let the politicians fight it out.
• Clear No 10 and severely damage the public's trust in British democracy.
• A halfway house leading to both above outcomes arising.
• Find Boris guilty and annoy the person who's commissioned the report.

Think writing the report is not going to be a career-enhancing move for her.

How is she allowed to actually carry out this investigation, she's Gove's secretary, so Boris is basically her boss.

I don't think she is going to a whitewash but, as a civil servant, I think she'll also be careful not to make any direct assertions about politicians. She'll condemn culture, practices and structures but decide that the exact culpability of a politician is beyond her scope.

Johnson will use that to claim some kind of vindication 'the independent report found no rules were broken by the PM', fire some staff and promise to 'clamp down on boozy culture' as if it were a force of nature he had no control over and attempt to move on.

Originally Posted by Damien

Another one: https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politi...idays-25951853

Now I am actually going to go a bit OLD_BOY here and say, in isolation, I don't think this one is that bad.

Yes, it may be technically against the rules but if staff who are already there have a drink at their desks on a Friday then I don't care. I also don't think others would care as much if this was the full extent of it. Obviously it's not good taking into account all the other stories because more than anything you do wonder just much time they're drinking at No 10.

But it is not a specially organised party that people are invited to attend. The Garden Party was so absurd because it was a mass e-mail, you have a bring a bottle, and people had a literal bloody party.

Waits for OB to suggest it wasn’t a drinks fridge, it was a work related chilled filing cabinet...

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by GrimUpNorth

Wouldn't be surprised if she's drunk the best part of a suitcase full of wine tonight and is probably regretting not accepting the invites she had to the Downing Street parties last [insert any date you like]. She must be wondering who she pissed off to get this gig.

Exactly. In her shoes, luckier people would be booking their annual leave and saying they must have missed that email!

---------- Post added at 00:14 ---------- Previous post was at 00:11 ----------

Originally Posted by Mad Max

How is she allowed to actually carry out this investigation, she's Gove's secretary, so Boris is basically her boss.

Welcome to what the UK has come to.

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

A true Old Boy reply would be to let's wait until Sue Gray's report is released.

What might that report say:

• Just publish the facts and let the politicians fight it out.
• Clear No 10 and severely damage the public's trust in British democracy.
• A halfway house leading to both above outcomes arising.
• Find Boris guilty and annoy the person who's commissioned the report.

Think writing the report is not going to be a career-enhancing move for her.

You are reading too much into it. Publish the facts, I agree with.

---------- Post added at 02:16 ---------- Previous post was at 02:13 ----------

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

A true Old Boy reply would be to let's wait until Sue Gray's report is released.

What might that report say:

• Just publish the facts and let the politicians fight it out.
• Clear No 10 and severely damage the public's trust in British democracy.
• A halfway house leading to both above outcomes arising.
• Find Boris guilty and annoy the person who's commissioned the report.

Think writing the report is not going to be a career-enhancing move for her.

Yes, except that you are just too interested in the facts, are you, Andrew?

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

Yes, except that you are just too interested in the facts, are you, Andrew?

I am.

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

You are reading too much into it. Publish the facts, I agree with.

---------- Post added at 02:16 ---------- Previous post was at 02:13 ----------



Yes, except that you are just too interested in the facts, are you, Andrew?

Well, because there are so many work-related meetings to investigate, the expected delivery date of the report has been put back a week - who would have thought, that once it was made obvious the "workers" were going to be made scapegoats, the same people would start letting more revelations out…

On a related note…

Johnson was facing questions on compliance with the rules after Downing Street admitted he had “commuted” between Downing Street and Chequers at the start of the first lockdown.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/j...eral-x3pfdb6hr

Originally Posted by Damien

I don't think she is going to a whitewash but, as a civil servant, I think she'll also be careful not to make any direct assertions about politicians. She'll condemn culture, practices and structures but decide that the exact culpability of a politician is beyond her scope.

Johnson will use that to claim some kind of vindication 'the independent report found no rules were broken by the PM', fire some staff and promise to 'clamp down on boozy culture' as if it were a force of nature he had no control over and attempt to move on.

[ianch99]

Originally Posted by Damien

I don't think she is going to a whitewash but, as a civil servant, I think she'll also be careful not to make any direct assertions about politicians. She'll condemn culture, practices and structures but decide that the exact culpability of a politician is beyond her scope.

Johnson will use that to claim some kind of vindication 'the independent report found no rules were broken by the PM', fire some staff and promise to 'clamp down on boozy culture' as if it were a force of nature he had no control over and attempt to move on.

plus she will not have jeopardised her prospects of being made a Baroness

[jfman]

She might still if Sta…

Never mind.