Will the Nation accept an apology? Will you?

Just a thought. If the same people were all working together indoors then what difference does it make if they go outside for a break? Even if it did involve food and drink. This is not people from different households meeting up, but work colleagues who are together all the time anyway going outside the building. At least they were at work which is quite something.

From a distance I would say this time he really has to go. Not over this particular issue so much as the deliberate lies and general incompetence and attitude to the electorate overall. He is not a suitable person to represent you.

Definitely No. Anyone else would feel absolutely shamed by this but Boris Johnson seems incapable of feeling shame. He has lied about what the country could expect from leaving the EU and his private life shows the duplicity of this man. He should never have been elected as Prime Minister and he should resign immediately.

GrannyGravy13

I am not sure that Mr.Cummings is the only source of the leaks. ITV’s political correspondent is married to a guy who is a senior civil servant in the Cabinet Office.

It brings new meaning to "We're all in this together" doesn't it, *GrannyGravy!

MayBeMaw

It’s the sheer stupidity of it, the let’s pretend it’s a work do, let’s hope nobody notices and we’ll get away with it.
I don’t think what they did was intrinsically dangerous to anybody’s health but if “were all in it together” then we are all in it together.
And while the buck stops with Boris , I think whoever sent the email should be shown the door along with any others responsible for organising it.
Oh and prosecuted - do you remember the two women who went fur a walk together and took their own drinks?

Yes, I thought about them this evening.

Well finally we agree on something lemon, it is obvious that the next leadership contest(s) should be settled by GN members.

What does that have to do with anything Gill ( it doesn’t!)
I was talking about Jeremy Hunt.
....yeah because MP’s and Labour members made such a good job of the selection process last time, didn’t they?
You remember...they ended up with Corbyn.

Nobody can predict what a leader/PM will be like once in that position and that’s how the wrong people often end up in the top jobs, because of the selection process and the members choice.

lemongrove

That wouldn’t make him a bad choice for PM though, because he was considered hardnosed by the NHS ( in his dealings with them) wouldn’t rule him out.It’s more will he be a popular choice with other MP’s and with Conservative members?

Yeah because MPs and Conservative voters made such a good job of the selection process last time didn't they!

PGAgirl

Yes, you all seem holier than thou, nobody is perfect, we all have flaws, remember the crowds on the beaches, no social distancing there. I see Boris as a maverick in the style of Churchill., he took the bull by the horns and ran with it. It must have taken a lot of courage and foresight to have taken on Covid19 with the purchase and distribution of the unknown vaccine at the time. Weak Labour would have shilly-shallied. joined the EU vaccine purchase scheme and we would be in another of Labour mess-ups. .

. Blimey. Brexit and Churchill and blaming the public all in one neat post.

Iam64 I totally agree about the fines. Surely some enterprising solicitor will organise a case for them.
As for Boris I'm just hoping that Sue Grey hasn't been got at and that her report dams him to hell. He is a serial liar and a cheat.

Just as they did not want a second vote on the Referendum then, or now.

I am turning into a drinking game the number of times he says vaccine rollout in response to any question he is asked. I will be blotto in no time.

Definitely goodbye to North /South leveling up and hello to privatisation of the NHS etc.?

That's going to happen whether Johnson goes or not, HolySox, because that's what the MPs who comprise his majority want and he won't get anything through parliament that prevents it. He's powerless to stop it.

I agree that a GE would be the best thing, but the tories won't give power away that easily. They know they'd lose.

halfpint1

It baffled me as to why his reply about being first in Europe, blah blah, and the wonderfull NHS, blah blah , had any bearing on his bad behaviour. Other countries had the vaccine and their health care services. Just a load of twaddle from him

It was a pitiful effort at his usual parting shot. He always does a little spiel like that at the end of Leader of the Opposition's questions. It was very subdued today...

All very carefully prepared and planned with his team yesterday- and well rehearsed. Like the Political Broadcast tonight. The vast majority, including Conservatives, will see right through it and it won't wash.

It baffled me as to why his reply about being first in Europe, blah blah, and the wonderfull NHS, blah blah , had any bearing on his bad behaviour. Other countries had the vaccine and their health care services. Just a load of twaddle from him

Maw I asked the question about students, people like the two women fined for breaching guidance. I wonder if the good law project will challenge these fines in light of whatmess happening at number 10

It’s the sheer stupidity of it, the let’s pretend it’s a work do, let’s hope nobody notices and we’ll get away with it.
I don’t think what they did was intrinsically dangerous to anybody’s health but if “were all in it together” then we are all in it together.
And while the buck stops with Boris , I think whoever sent the email should be shown the door along with any others responsible for organising it.
Oh and prosecuted - do you remember the two women who went fur a walk together and took their own drinks?

Tulpia

HolySox

Brilliant post and couldn't agree more. I don't give a damn if a bunch of Civil Servants who work together had a drink together a year ago.

To all the left wingers braying for Boris Johnson's head - be careful what you wish for. He is slightly left of centre politically, his replacement is likely to be rather more right wing.

Very kind, or is that brave, of you to agree with me!
I do wonder how many of these 'misdemeanours' of Boris have been stage-managed by his party. Certainly not just Cummings releasing 'inside' info. If Boris goes then it should be via a general election so ALL the Tories go. Then we get someone like Angela Raynor to rebuild our country post COVID?
If Boris resigns the Tory party will appoint a PM we didn't vote for. He/she will be more polished but no doubt carry on behind the scenes the same or worse. And, as you say, will be more right wing, albeit discreetly. Definitely goodbye to North /South leveling up and hello to privatisation of the NHS etc.? So happy with Boris for the time being...

I’m not sure that over 150,00 deaths is “handling it well” Allsorts

I don’t have much time for my MP either. She’s Conservative and as far as I can see, does little for the area.

Politicians in all countries have had to step up to the plate over Covid. Some have done better than others.

What a sad indictment it is of this country that there are people who think we should stick with a lying, cheating, lazy and inadequate man because "who else is there?"

Larry the cat could do better.

twitter.com/Number10cat

Voters are fickle. What’s important to them one week is forgotten the next. I think, rightly or wrongly, and I’m not saying it’s right, but I think voters on the whole vote according to their pocket. Whenever the next election is, it will depend on the financial situation of voters. They will consider which party will be most beneficial to themselves financially. That’s what will inform their vote.

So true MissAdventure Unforgivable, but it isn't going to a vote and with some of the weird votes going through - sewage dumping in rivers & sea for one, I don't trust my MPs either.

I think quite rightly the Nation is disgusted with him. However, although he has only apologised because he was found out, I don’t want him to go because on the whole I think he’s handled it well and can’t think who else can do it.