Will the Nation accept an apology? Will you?

Chestnut

I am not hoodwinked. I agree the e-mail invitation and refreshments were wrong, and too many people were invited etc. It would have been totally wrong to invite anyone who didn't work within the same offices. If it had been colleagues who work together inside simply standing outside with a drink then no problem. I guess that's what we need to know, who is responsible for making this much more of a social event than it should have been.

Apparently some of the people invited did not work in Downing Street but elsewhere.

I'm always bemused by people who post on a discussion site about News and Politics but say they don't want to discuss News and Politics

But I'm probably one of the usual suspects.

Sorry but that kind of comment where people announce they wont answer any questions always makes me smile.

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Yes - the thought of Labour or any of the other political parties running the country is much worse to my mind. Undoubtably Boris etc have made some stupid decisions, breaking their Covid rules, but they've also made excellent decisions that is seeing the UK coming out of the pandemic in a stronger position than most other countries.

This is my view, and I know many agree with me. I shan't be answering any comments from the usual suspects on GN as those who are regular readers of the News & Politics threads (but dare not post) know their views only too well.

If it had been colleagues who work together inside simply standing outside with a drink then no problem

I don't actually think that 100 people sit cheek by jowl in one office in No 10.
Yes, there is a flat upstairs but there about 100 rooms in No. 10.

Chestnut

Who has excused Johnson GillT57?
I agree the rules at the time were draconian and really unfair and harsh to many people. But work colleagues are together all day whether they are inside or outside.

And families who ventured outside their tower blocks to let their children go outside to kick a ball around actually live together.

Just a reminder of what the email actually said:
The text of the invitation reads: "Hi all,

"After what has been an incredibly busy period it would be nice to make the most of the lovely weather and have some socially distanced drinks in the No 10 garden this evening.

"Please join us from 6pm and bring your own booze!"

It was sent in advance. There was no ambiguity, it was a party. It broke the law.

I see that after the apology Johnson gave a different message to Tory MPs in the tearoom He is reported as having told colleagues that "we have taken a lot of hits in politics and this is one of them. Sometimes we take the credit things we don't deserve and this time we're taking hits for something we don't deserve "
So much for his so called apology.

Who has excused Johnson GillT57?
I agree the rules at the time were draconian and really unfair and harsh to many people. But work colleagues are together all day whether they are inside or outside.

I see that JVT is leaving now. Perhaps Johnson should follow the science ?

Tell that to the many families living in tower blocks who were reported by their neighbours for taking their children outside to kick a ball around, tell that to the people walking their dogs on a beach who were reprimanded by the police. Honestly, those who excuse this man are worse than him,

There is no reason why people who mix all day inside at work cannot go outside and stand in the open air! If those teachers and doctors want to stand outside after work then why not.
Because the law at the time said that it was not allowed. We were not able to use discretion, it was Not Allowed.

Because millions of people weren't seeing loved ones - in some cases partners - for months at a time.

Because people were arrested, criminalised and fined for being outside in the open air in groups from more than one household.

Will that do?

Perhaps some had a conscience?

Not for social events no. Perhaps different if work related.

Do you accept every invitation that comes your way?

If 100 were invited to a “work event” why didn’t they all attend?

Okay Chesnut thank you.
So it shouldn’t have been a party, but was one

FannyCornforth

Chestnut - ‘making it more of a social event than it should have been’
What do you mean?
What should ‘it’ have been?
What was ‘it’ supposed to be, before ‘it’ became ‘too social’?

As I said, what it should have been was colleagues who work together inside simply standing outside with a drink. The drink is neither here nor there. They could have had that drink inside in their office, or outside in the fresh air. The problem was the invitation, the food etc. thus making it a true social event. That is what needs to be investigated.

I agree with you Chestnut. I expect more detail will come out.

Yes. Problem.

Illegal.

Just like having a cup of coffee with your pal while walking in the countryside. Maybe they thought is was OK too, but the law said "No". So them's the rules, whether the PPS thought otherwise or not.

Chestnut - ‘making it more of a social event than it should have been’
What do you mean?
What should ‘it’ have been?
What was ‘it’ supposed to be, before ‘it’ became ‘too social’?

I am not hoodwinked. I agree the e-mail invitation and refreshments were wrong, and too many people were invited etc. It would have been totally wrong to invite anyone who didn't work within the same offices. If it had been colleagues who work together inside simply standing outside with a drink then no problem. I guess that's what we need to know, who is responsible for making this much more of a social event than it should have been.

I think I might forgive him if I thought he meant it, but he doesn't, does he. So, I don't forgive him. He will lie again and again.
We were allowed to meet one person outside at that time, if I remember rightly. My friend turned up one day with a two meter long rope, and loops at each end. We went for a "socially distanced " walk, holding on to each end of the rope pulled tight. We spent most of the walk laughing, and our neighbours did too.

In May 2020 I retired after 40 years. I went into the office, where the HR lady stood outside while I put all my work stuff in a pile on my desk. One of the technical staff came in later and sorted out my stuff once I had left. Then phoned me to say he was sorry we hadn't been able to have a hug after 15 years of working together.

Don't make excuses about work bubbles and how it wouldn't have mattered.

There is a reason why people couldn't mix. The rules told us not to. Why is this even being discussed?