The Hancock Affair

[jfman]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

Except that Matt Hancock broke no laws - only guidelines. We all do it..

A principled stand for a politician telling others to follow the same guidelines.

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

Except that Matt Hancock broke no laws - only guidelines. We all do it..

With power comes responsibility. You are always held to higher standards. If you behaved as Matt Hancock did, it wouldn't be plastered over the media.

---------- Post added at 11:20 ---------- Previous post was at 11:19 ----------

Originally Posted by Angua

No thought for Martha Hancock or Oliver Tress in all this.

I'm sure everyone feels dreadfully sorry for them both, I certainly do. But as it's not disputed people aren't discussing that aspect.

[Pierre]

Originally Posted by jfman

A principled stand for a politician telling others to follow the same guidelines.

In this we are in agreement. It’s gross hypocrisy and if he had any moral fibre whatsoever he would step down instead of trying to cling on to his job. He has enjoyed being the centre of attention and the power the last 18 months and having to disappear from the TV onto the back-benches is too much for his ego to take.

But such is the confidence of the Tories and any lack of credible opposition that believe they can do anything they please and get away with it.......and they’re probably right.

[jfman]

Originally Posted by Pierre

In this we are in agreement. It’s gross hypocrisy and if he had any moral fibre whatsoever he would step down instead of trying to cling on to his job. He has enjoyed being the centre of attention and the power the last 18 months and having to disappear from the TV onto the back-benches is too much for his ego to take.

But such is the confidence of the Tories and any lack of credible opposition that believe they can do anything they please and get away with it.......and they’re probably right.

Fundamentally the Tories have successfully shifted the dial on what is, and isn’t, acceptable conduct in a public office (and use of public funds) for the vast majority of the population.

I dare say 20 years ago, possibly even 10, there’s about five sackable offences here regardless of which party it is or which party you support. And it wouldn’t even be contentious on a public forum.

And yes, the opposition being crap helps.

[1andrew1]

Anyone remember what Hancock said about Professor Neil Ferguson?

The UK health secretary has said he would back the police in any action they wish to take over Prof Neil Ferguson breaking social distancing rules by having a woman visit him at his home.

Ferguson, an epidemiologist who has helped shape the government’s response to coronavirus and who advocated the lockdown, made the right decision to resign, Matt Hancock told Sky News.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...er-coronavirus

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Originally Posted by Pierre

In this we are in agreement. It’s gross hypocrisy and if he had any moral fibre whatsoever he would step down instead of trying to cling on to his job. He has enjoyed being the centre of attention and the power the last 18 months and having to disappear from the TV onto the back-benches is too much for his ego to take.

But such is the confidence of the Tories and any lack of credible opposition that believe they can do anything they please and get away with it.......and they’re probably right.

Agreed. Governance in this country has deterioated far more than I could ever have imagined

[joglynne]

I know that all the politicians listed in the following link didn't have affairs but it's still interesting to look back at all the UK political scandals since the 1890s. Sex does seem to be quite a prominent feature from the 1960's onwards.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...United_Kingdom

[Mad Max]

Originally Posted by jfman

A principled stand for a politician telling others to follow the same guidelines.

Totally agree with that, he's an absolute arse, do as we say, not as we do!

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

Except that Matt Hancock broke no laws - only guidelines. We all do it..

You mean the guidelines he set up and told everyone to adhere to?

A quote from Hancock from last year

"We couldn't be clearer that social distancing rules are there for everyone,"

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by jfman

A principled stand for a politician telling others to follow the same guidelines.

Are you actually aware of any principled politicians?

---------- Post added at 14:46 ---------- Previous post was at 14:37 ----------

Originally Posted by Hugh

You mean the guidelines he set up and told everyone to adhere to?

A quote from Hancock from last year

Quite. However, the measure that I would use is capability to do the job.

Of course he was wrong to breach the guidelines. However, in the scheme of things, this is the least of our genuine worries. If you have never breached the guidelines, you are one of a small number of people, I would suggest.

I would far rather that Matt Hancock pursued the coronavirus plan to its conclusion and then got on with the care home funding and restructuring review. That’s what we should be talking about because that is what matters.

Erm, I thought the care home funding and restructuring review was done and dusted - BoJo said in 2019

there was a “clear plan we have prepared,”

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by Hugh

Erm, I thought the care home funding and restructuring review was done and dusted - BoJo said in 2019

Was the review oven ready?

---------- Post added at 15:56 ---------- Previous post was at 15:51 ----------

Originally Posted by Mad Max

Totally agree with that, he's an absolute arse, do as we say, not as we do!

Agreed. I think it will be like the Cummings saga - BoJo won't sack him now but he'll end up walking the plank in due course.

[jfman]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

Are you actually aware of any principled politicians?

While you may be content for the rat race to the bottom many of us are not.

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

Quite. However, the measure that I would use is capability to do the job

Capability is more than just delivering a few PowerPoint slides.

It's getting the nation to trust you and to win the argument that they need to forgo many of the things that they would like to do, like meeting loved ones and attending sporting fixtures. You just cease to be convincing if you ignore the rules that you want the rest of the country to follow. You only need to look at Tony Blair's tattered reputation after the WMD fiasco in Iraq to appreciate the difference that trust in a politician provides.

Nick Hancock knows this and that's why he said that Professor Neil Ferguson* who broke social distancing rules by having a woman visit him at his home did the right thing by resigning.

[Ferguson was the epidemiologist who helped shape the government’s response to coronavirus and who advocated the lockdown.]

He has resigned.

[nashville]

Might be a couple of Divorces coming shortly