Mr Johnson and Mr Cummings

Well he can’t take it with him!
?

Has anyone seen the new makeover? It makes Changing Rooms look like the height of good taste? Has everyone forgotten about the now scrapped news room by the way?

We're talking about Johnson here UG. I think he might have a go

Let's face it Dominic (but I was only going for a walk) Cummings is going to drag up every tiny bit of dirt on Boris that he can , in a desperate attempt to make himself look a lot better than he actually is.
Wouldn't trust him as far as I could throw him!
Boris may well have been trying desperately to get what was needed, as quickly as needed but have to wonder if other companies such as Merceded F1 team, along with the schools that were 3D printed hundreds of PPE items, without being asked, not to mention all those that got stuck in and sewed scrubs and face masks will get the same deal as far as tax goes????

I have to respectfully disagree MaizieD and growstuff. I’m not toeing any ‘party line’. I’m not a member. Just interested in politics.

I actually don't believe you. Sorry...

The state property portfolio benefits. The future incumbents of Downing Street all benefit. There is no personal gain or graft here.

Oh, FGS, Ug. What planet are you on that believe that?
Every new incumbent of the Prime Ministerial flat, be it at No 10 or No 11, gives it a makeover. At our expense.

I really can't think that any future tenant would want for one moment to live with Carrie Antoinette's taste..

Margaret Thatcher changed very little during her tenure. It isn’t mandatory MaizieD.

And why the terse ‘FGS’? You are so quick to be nasty. I never find it necessary to be so personal during a debate.

I’m not a member of the Conservative Party. Believe me or not, it’s your prerogative. I voted Boris because I wanted Brexit. It’s done. We’re out. I’m happy.

The public purse, allows £30,000 a year for the PM's apartment. Wanting to spend more is fine but it needs to be above board. So good try Urmstongran but your argument is yet another logical fallacy.

Nobody is arguing about what was spent or whether it improves the value for the public purse. It's all about whether the difference was funded by a donor initially and that not declared. I'm not sure there is an argument about that not being done except for him putting it all before the right people in parliament asap.

Urmstongran

Margaret Thatcher changed very little during her tenure. It isn’t mandatory MaizieD.

And why the terse ‘FGS’? You are so quick to be nasty. I never find it necessary to be so personal during a debate.

It is 40 years since Thatcher was PM. You're scraping the barrel.

I have deleted the rest of my response...

Good.

Just imagine if Corbyn had spent 200k on gold wallpaper......

This interested me - it’s not just a Thatcher gold star for frugality as Gordon Brown spent virtually nothing either. The biggest issue with Carrie’s refurb is that it’s very much an acquired taste - whoever follows may well be justified in changing the dark green walls and dark wood everything.

This thread seems to have established that Urmstongran and some others don't care about sleaze and cronyism, while others do care about it. There doesn't appear to be much point discussing how many other people care because we don't know. In my opinion, anybody who cares even one little bit about democracy and accountability should care about the standards of elected leaders. That's what some people were claiming was one of the reasons they voted for Brexit.

I haven't a clue what goes on behind the closed doors of Downing Street or in Whatsapp groups, but there's quite clearly something wrong. I have no doubt that some advisers are wracking their brains to think how they can spin their way out of trouble.

Cummings knew that he could achieve the unthinkable. While people were saying "you can't do that" he did it and got away with it - and encouraged Johnson to do the same. It's absolute nonsense to claim that it's always been the same because it hasn't. In the past, if politicians and senior officials were found out acting dishonourably, they resigned or were sacked. Nowadays, they get away with it and people just look the other way or say there's nothing they can do. Quite honestly, if there is really nothing that can be done, it's an admission that democracy is a sham.

Casdon

This interested me - it’s not just a Thatcher gold star for frugality as Gordon Brown spent virtually nothing either. The biggest issue with Carrie’s refurb is that it’s very much an acquired taste - whoever follows may well be justified in changing the dark green walls and dark wood everything.

I disagree. The biggest issue is who paid for it.

I fel the same way as you growstuff

JaneJudge I doubt very much if we're the only ones, but that doesn't really matter. The point is that there certainly are people who care and, as we live in a society where we are still allowed free speech, we can discuss it as much as we want.

If there are people who couldn't care less, maybe because they would do anything for an easy life (who knows?), I don't know why they don't just ignore topics they don't care about. I don't understand why they butt in and contribute comments claiming than nobody cares and it's all a storm in a teacup or try to deflect from the main discussion.

Sorry didn’t make myself clear there growstuff, what I meant was that it will have to be changed again when she leaves Downing Street, at further expense, because few people could live with her choices.

Of course who paid for this refurb is more important.

Surely a neutral refurb that the next incumbent can live with as well is the sensible way to refurbish what is essentially a rented property - and David Cameron had that done not so many years ago at a cost of 68k.

growstuff

Casdon

This interested me - it’s not just a Thatcher gold star for frugality as Gordon Brown spent virtually nothing either. The biggest issue with Carrie’s refurb is that it’s very much an acquired taste - whoever follows may well be justified in changing the dark green walls and dark wood everything.

I disagree. The biggest issue is who paid for it.

It's really the only issue, growstuff.

It’s not the only issue though PippaZ is it? If you live in a rented property it should at least be returned to a ‘bland’ standard decor, not cost the taxpayer (presumably) more to make it habitable for the next incumbent, as it’s not your own home?

How does one manage to spend £200k on decorating a flat? I know it won't be three rooms and a kitchen, but I really can't imagine spending as much as that on wallpaper and carpets.

Maybe the cost of painting everything magnolia should be deducted from the PM's last salary.

I actually think it's ironic that the flat is the issue making the headlines, when he's been responsibly for so much else.

growstuff

Maybe the cost of painting everything magnolia should be deducted from the PM's last salary.

I actually think it's ironic that the flat is the issue making the headlines, when he's been responsibly for so much else.

Absolutely. I’ve been saying that to DH today. The number of times I’ve sausage that’s it, he’s done for and nothing happens. And then something like this looks as if it’s going to finish him off.

vegansrock

Just imagine if Corbyn had spent 200k on gold wallpaper......

He's never struck me as being a gold wallpaper kind of person.

If I moved into somewhere that was painted dark green I'd be straight off to B&Q.

Casdon

Sorry didn’t make myself clear there growstuff, what I meant was that it will have to be changed again when she leaves Downing Street, at further expense, because few people could live with her choices.

Of course who paid for this refurb is more important.

Surely a neutral refurb that the next incumbent can live with as well is the sensible way to refurbish what is essentially a rented property - and David Cameron had that done not so many years ago at a cost of 68k.

I agree.