Owen Patterson and sleaze- a shameful day in the House

Just watching the news - well that's a U turn and a half.
Jacob R-M looked like he'd eaten a wasp when he had to speak in the Commons. Shame it wasn't before a Packed Chamber.

growstuff

Maizie We really need an irony emoji. Somebody will think you mean it about being hysterical.

... I think the grinning emoji suffices!

growstuff

Maizie We really need an irony emoji. Somebody will think you mean it about being hysterical.

I suppose I could have done

Maizie We really need an irony emoji. Somebody will think you mean it about being hysterical.

MayBee70

Dickens. For years now my daughter, who teaches history, has pointed out the parallels with the Weimar Republic. It’s truly chilling.

We've had threads on here about the slide into fascism in the UK but I think that until people are actually being lined up against the wall and being shot a significant number will still be convinced (in the proper meaning of the word) that everything is fine because we don't yet do that...

You're just being hysterical, Dickens

(Good post, BTW)

Dickens

MayBee70

Dickens. For years now my daughter, who teaches history, has pointed out the parallels with the Weimar Republic. It’s truly chilling.

MayBee70

I agree. I tried to avoid hysteria, but the 'murmur' is too similar not to notice.

My first degree was in German and French and I also have a partially completed history degree. I've studied the language, philosophy and history of Nazi Germany. The parallels in thinking are truly scary.

Dickens Another superb post. I agree with every word you've written so clearly.

I'm 14 years younger than you and I'm hopeful I'll be around for a few more years. The situation in this country distresses me. It distresses me for my children's sake even more.

MayBee70

Dickens. For years now my daughter, who teaches history, has pointed out the parallels with the Weimar Republic. It’s truly chilling.

MayBee70

I agree. I tried to avoid hysteria, but the 'murmur' is too similar not to notice.

Dickens. For years now my daughter, who teaches history, has pointed out the parallels with the Weimar Republic. It’s truly chilling.

One thing I wondered about - this all happened 2 years ago. Apart from Covid meaning that the House wasn't sitting for much of that, why oh why is it not just standard practice that he was suspended as soon as he was found out and then the investigation carried out as in normal jobs ????

dickens good - if depressing post

Maybe Grieve could stand there as an independent? I heard Chris Bryant too, and thought he was excellent. I also heard Kwasi Kwarteng's not so veiled threats about the head of the investigative committee. Disgusting

There are lots of profound observations made by thinkers, philosophers and others throughout the ages on governance and governments. I could not even get close to the acuteness of some of these perceptive analyses, but I am convinced that if a government gives the Vox Pop what it wants, they will overlook, ignore or even condone almost any breaches of any codes of ministerial behaviour. Or, at the very least, will make excuses for it.

Johnson's government's 'majority' has now got what it wanted; a Tory government and / or Brexit. But this is not the end of the matter, just the beginning because the government and its supporters know they are under threat from the opposition - opposition from all sides. So there will be a long and sustained 'cold' war in this country - we are already at war with each other. To protect itself, the government will take whatever steps necessary to prevent its dissolution, legally, illegally, culturally and psychologically.

The political life of this country has changed, possibly irrevocably and I believe we are now living in a dangerous era that has some of the undertones of a previous era - 1930s Germany. We've already created an 'enemy of the people' - I've been told that I'm one of them, one of the "unpatriotic losers" who should be "put up against the wall and shot". We've roused the rabble - although I'm not suggesting that all Tory / Brexiters think like this... if I did believe that, I'd probably put myself against the wall and get it over with.

Allowing for my obvious cynicism, I'm still convinced that our future does not look promising, and I'm glad that, at nearly 80 years of age and not in the best of health, I'm not going to be around much longer to witness our slide into dystopia.

There was another Conservative MP that was quite damning of the whole thing yesterday. A lady MP. But I missed her name. I do want to thank her, too. Although he had Tory party values Dominic Grieve was very outspoken about brexit. As a former attorney general he obviously knew the law inside out and would never have supported what the government are doing now which is why he was hounded out of the party. If I remember right we crowdfunded his campaign when he stood as an independent and all excess money was returned to people. I can’t imagine how distressed he is seeing what is happening to his former party. I bet Ken Clarke is the same. I’ll be interested to see which way MP’s voted yesterday.

Oh yes - Labour analysis showing that of the 59 Tory MPs who signed up to scrap the standards committee - 14 have breached parliamentary standards.

Whitewavemark2

Thought Chris Bryant’s speech yesterday was outstanding.

I agree, so was Peter Bottomley's speech.

MaizieD

Is Grieve still a member of the tory party?

Didn't he stand as an independent in 2019?

No, I don't think he is, but I guess he's still a Tory at heart.

Yes, he did.

Thought Chris Bryant’s speech yesterday was outstanding.

Is Grieve still a member of the tory party?

Didn't he stand as an independent in 2019?

Dinahmo

I forgot to add - another reason for the reversal is that Tory MPs are rather annoyed by the media round Patterson did yesterday. He's also blaming the investigation for his wife's suicide last year

That is absolutely pathetic and shouldn't never have been introduced. It's designed to pull some heart strings. I have no idea why Rose Paterson committed suicide. At the time, Paterson said he had no idea either. If it's true that she was affected by the investigation, it was only his actions which had instigated the inquiry in the first place.

I don't know whether the truth will ever be disclosed, but Mrs Paterson was a friend of Dido Harding. She was also the Chairman of Aintree Racecourse, of which Randox is a major sponsor. Randox was awarded a very lucrative contract for Covid testing. She was also on the main board of stewards of the Jockey Club. It all seems very "cosy".

If it's true that many MPs have been calling for a reform of standards in the HoC, personal details should never have been an issue.

Blaming the investigation for his wife's suicide is a new low, if he hadn't been doing what he was eventually found guilty of there wouldn't have been an investigation in the first place. I would like to see his local association deselect him, who on earth would want to have their local interests looked after by him? It is probably a safe seat ( I haven't looked) but it would be great if it was used as an opportunity for decent Tories, and there are many, like Dominic Grieve to get back into Parliament.

Do I think that Johnson’s government is bad?

Yes I do

Do I think that it is immoral?

Yes I do

Do I think it is an incompetent and corrupt government.

Yes I do

Do I hate them

Of course not.

I don't think they are all bad and some of them must be horrified.

Angela Richardson MP was sacked from her job as PPS to Michael Gove. She said I abstained on the Leadsom Amendment today aware that my job was at risk, but it was a matter of principle for me.

She has now been reinstated [reported on Twitter at 11:36 AM · Nov 4, 2021]

Deedaa

I see my MP voted in favour which doesn't surprise me at all. No point trying to tell him what I think as I'm on his banned list. You wouldn't think a man who makes a great deal of his military career would be so scared of a little old lady.

By any chance, are his initials MF?

I see my MP voted in favour which doesn't surprise me at all. No point trying to tell him what I think as I'm on his banned list. You wouldn't think a man who makes a great deal of his military career would be so scared of a little old lady.