Gransnet forums

News & politics

Allegra Stratton resigns

(137 Posts)
JenniferEccles Wed 08-Dec-21 16:40:02

She made a tearful speech saying she would regret her lighthearted comments for the rest of her life.

Farzanah Thu 09-Dec-21 10:41:42

This leaked video I believe is evidence of the political game playing which is happening constantly to prevent the public knowing the truth.
Allegra Stratton was at the time employed as Press Secretary, presumably for journalistic skills in knowing how the game is played.
She was merely doing her job in carrying out a dress rehearsal for the evasion and distraction tactics to be employed should knowledge of the alleged party ever come out.
I believe this is what should really concern us.

growstuff Thu 09-Dec-21 10:32:38

eazybee

A great deal of speculation and a great deal of manufactured outrage.

How lovely to be one of those people who has never behaved stupidly in a workplace and never made dubious comments as a joke.

Any employee of Number 10 should surely realise that they are under observation all the time and that there are those who will actively seek to benefit from their indiscretions either politically or financially.

That is where their true stupidity lies.

Manufactured outrage?

Tell that to the people who couldn't visit dying relatives last Christmas or couldn't see family members they hadn't seen for months.

People have a right to be outraged when those close to rule-makers laugh at them.

Jane43 Thu 09-Dec-21 10:27:14

Whitewavemark2

The latest suggestion is that Cressida Dick was protected by Johnson when there were calls for her resignation last year, and her term as Commissioner was extended by 2 years.

Now is pay back time - so no investigation because of lack of evidence.

In fact there is no evidence because there is no investigation.

7 parties now.

No one is buying this.

He seems to favour women who are completely useless at their jobs. Andrew Pierce on Jeremy Vine has just said that Allegra Stratton was just not up to the job and it is why the new three million pound suite was barely used. Apparently when she started the job she was told she would be one of the most recognisable people in the country yet we hardly ever saw her, now we know why. These privileged people don't have to apply for top jobs they are just handed them on a silver platter. Next week’s by election will be very interesting.

Germanshepherdsmum Thu 09-Dec-21 10:22:24

It was inevitable that she would have to resign after that disgraceful clip was shown. She hasn’t been made a scapegoat, she’s gone because of what she did, and quite right too. We have all made mistakes but she was in a very senior position and behaved appallingly. I’m waiting for the results of the investigation to find out who was at whatever went on and who organised it.

Whitewavemark2 Thu 09-Dec-21 10:07:59

Dickens

MaizieD

has Johnson misled Parliament? If not he will stay in place, but if he has done then he would have no choice but to resign.

Johnson 'misleads' (aka 'lies to') parliament every time he opens his mouth in the chamber. I've seen him do it week after week in PMQs. He has never 'corrected the record', though he has been asked to do so by the LOTO from time to time. He has chosen not to resign... Why do anything different now? He won't go until the tories kick him out.

He won't go until the tories kick him out.

I think you are right.

IMO, he's a narcissist and will therefore be incapable of the introspection needed to examine his own motives. It's pathological - quite literally, he cannot help it.

If you look at his past history, and view it through that lens, it would explain his behaviour.

Tories are merciless - look what they did to Margaret Thatcher... she stood firmly by her party's ideology but when the party suffered because of her Poll Tax legislation, they got rid of her. Even those who'd 'worshipped' her previously, stabbed her in the back. And I believe they'll do the same to Johnson if he becomes a liability.

"O would some power the gift to give us to see ourselves as others see us"

... I don't think Johnson has that 'gift'.

The point being that all of that was known even before he was voted in as party leader let alone prime minister.

Those voting him in must hold some responsibility.

Dickens Thu 09-Dec-21 10:02:40

MaizieD

^has Johnson misled Parliament? If not he will stay in place, but if he has done then he would have no choice but to resign.^

Johnson 'misleads' (aka 'lies to') parliament every time he opens his mouth in the chamber. I've seen him do it week after week in PMQs. He has never 'corrected the record', though he has been asked to do so by the LOTO from time to time. He has chosen not to resign... Why do anything different now? He won't go until the tories kick him out.

He won't go until the tories kick him out.

I think you are right.

IMO, he's a narcissist and will therefore be incapable of the introspection needed to examine his own motives. It's pathological - quite literally, he cannot help it.

If you look at his past history, and view it through that lens, it would explain his behaviour.

Tories are merciless - look what they did to Margaret Thatcher... she stood firmly by her party's ideology but when the party suffered because of her Poll Tax legislation, they got rid of her. Even those who'd 'worshipped' her previously, stabbed her in the back. And I believe they'll do the same to Johnson if he becomes a liability.

"O would some power the gift to give us to see ourselves as others see us"

... I don't think Johnson has that 'gift'.

MaizieD Thu 09-Dec-21 09:26:45

Dickens

Urmstongran

I remember David Kelly.
Now that was a shameful sacrifice for this country.

I agree.

I agree too, but WTF it has to do with Stratton's resignation is beyond me...

(this question is rhetorical, don't answer it...)

eazybee Thu 09-Dec-21 09:26:44

A great deal of speculation and a great deal of manufactured outrage.

How lovely to be one of those people who has never behaved stupidly in a workplace and never made dubious comments as a joke.

Any employee of Number 10 should surely realise that they are under observation all the time and that there are those who will actively seek to benefit from their indiscretions either politically or financially.

That is where their true stupidity lies.

MaizieD Thu 09-Dec-21 09:22:30

has Johnson misled Parliament? If not he will stay in place, but if he has done then he would have no choice but to resign.

Johnson 'misleads' (aka 'lies to') parliament every time he opens his mouth in the chamber. I've seen him do it week after week in PMQs. He has never 'corrected the record', though he has been asked to do so by the LOTO from time to time. He has chosen not to resign... Why do anything different now? He won't go until the tories kick him out.

Dickens Thu 09-Dec-21 09:18:45

Urmstongran

I remember David Kelly.
Now that was a shameful sacrifice for this country.

I agree.

Whitewavemark2 Thu 09-Dec-21 09:14:40

The latest suggestion is that Cressida Dick was protected by Johnson when there were calls for her resignation last year, and her term as Commissioner was extended by 2 years.

Now is pay back time - so no investigation because of lack of evidence.

In fact there is no evidence because there is no investigation.

7 parties now.

No one is buying this.

lemongrove Thu 09-Dec-21 09:06:12

Misleading Parliament is very serious Far North ( misleading the public....not so much.)

Whitewavemark2 Thu 09-Dec-21 09:05:06

FarNorth

^No choice but to resign^?
I won't be counting on it.

That is assuming that this is a normal constitutional government.

A massive assumption.

FarNorth Thu 09-Dec-21 08:58:39

No choice but to resign?
I won't be counting on it.

lemongrove Thu 09-Dec-21 08:46:14

It’s supposition and speculation about Simon Case Jane he would hardly be asked to head an investigation otherwise. All allegations of Christmas parties either at number ten or the HOC will need to be looked at.There is the get out clause of government buildings (being exempt) but that shouldn’t be used in my view, very unwise politically.
The main thing to come out of this is: has Johnson misled Parliament? If not he will stay in place, but if he has done then he would have no choice but to resign.

Sarnia Thu 09-Dec-21 08:41:53

Just another one in a long list of self-serving idiots who surround our esteemed PM and treat the country like fools.

JaneJudge Thu 09-Dec-21 07:48:50

So someone who was at the party is investigating the party?
Is it like fight club?
confused

BlueBelle Thu 09-Dec-21 07:40:01

I'm convinced Cummings has a hand in this, somehow
Well I hope he washed it afterwards and sang happy birthday

bikergran Thu 09-Dec-21 07:33:23

True or not true, pretend party or not, this woman and others (as I'm sure she wasn't making a selfie show) was making lighthearted fun at a time when many many families were peering through glass windows at their mums, dads, aunties, friends, holding the hand of a dying relative young or old (that's if they were lucky enough to be let in the home hospital) which many weren't.

There will be many more cretins trying to hide under the carpet, trying to delete their messages, WhatsApp, emails etc of what went on, fictitious or not she and others were taking the P**ss.

Lincslass Thu 09-Dec-21 06:39:13

Urmstongran

I remember David Kelly.
Now that was a shameful sacrifice for this country.

Yes it was, and guess he was proven right, Blair and his Government, plus the BBC and other media have a lot to answer for. Of course they never did answer, the lost of trust began here. That’s why I never vote for , or will vote, for Liebour. That war cost millions of lives, the effects are still to be seen. Still this is about Johnson, and there should be a police enquiry, those guilty should hang their heads in shame, and resign. They’ll keep quiet, though and save their own skins, they’ll sacrifice anyone but themselves.

DiamondLily Thu 09-Dec-21 05:11:56

boat

People seem happy that it's going to be investigated but it all depends on who is doing the investigating.

Simon Case, but there is a lot of speculation that he was actually at the party himself..?

bylinetimes.com/2021/12/08/boris-johnson-blocks-investigation-into-his-attendance-at-downing-street-lockdown-parties/

Jane43 Thu 09-Dec-21 04:41:56

Deedaa

Didn't Johnson give her the job because she was a mate of Carrie's? Press spokesperson is quite an important position, especially when all that money was poured into the staging. If this was a run through the least she could have done was take it seriously and not stand there giggling like a school girl. Our family may have been lucky and stayed well last year, but I'd had a rotten Christmas in 2019 after DH died and last Christmas was me handing a bow full of Christmas dinner over to DD on the doorstep. I didn't see much to giggle about at all.

I believe she was given the job because she was a friend of Carrie’s and as I recall a new briefing room costing £2.6 million was set up in Downing Street and I also believe it was used very little. Boris seems to have used it as his own personal cinema.

www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/oct/22/boris-johnson-used-26m-downing-street-briefing-room-to-watch-new-bond-film

The amount of money this government have flung at ‘mates’ is disgusting - the track and trace fiasco which benefited a female former jockey by tens of millions of pounds, Hancock’s friend who was given money to set up a PPE company when numerous people had offered their services and been ignored and there are many other examples. All this coupled with the shambles when we exited Afghanistan should be enough for many Tory voters to see the writing on the wall, it’s just a pity that a general election is so far in the future. I’m still angry that the £125,000 a year Head Of Department at the MOD stayed on holiday for 11 days while his workers were struggling to help people trying to get out of Afghanistan.

Lizzie72 Thu 09-Dec-21 01:36:42

Holly Willoughby wore the jumper first - in 2019

fashionyoureallywant.com/2019/10/30/holly-willoughby-fair-isle-jumper/

vegansrock Thu 09-Dec-21 00:50:08

I think she’d been at the cheese and wine before making that video
I think it was cheesy pineapple in Abigail’s Party .

growstuff Thu 09-Dec-21 00:44:37

I agree with you FarNorth.

I remember when Stratton was appointed to the newly-created role that eyebrows were raised. There were comments that she wasn't the best person for the job and some wondered why she was selling her soul. She didn't do herself any favours with her behaviour.

However, it really isn't the point, which is whether the party/parties took place.