Will the Nation accept an apology? Will you?

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?

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,

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

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

.

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

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.

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 note that Professor Van Tam has resigned from his position as deputy chief medical officer.His comment..."the rules are clear and they have always been clear... in my opinion they apply to all "
He has always come across as a man of integrity.

Has he? wow. Well done Prof.

It's a big fat NO from me. The hypocrisy of it all.

my thoughts? well,I think Boris was the fall guy for the Conservative Party when he was "chosen"ie they got in, on the Brexit vote.

and since then, the pandemic? who on earth would want the job now?

certainly not any Labour politician with any sense, and clearly no one on Labour wants it, (not saying that there is anyone there with sense!) but clearly they don`t want the job, else surely they would be telling us what THEY would or WILL do.

Do we have a choice ?. ???

What apology? He’s continuing to insist he thought it was a work related event, not a party. He back-tracked enormously from the initial ‘apology’ during PMQs.
His poor wives and girlfriends, how they were conned!

Absolutely not ! He needs to resign, but guessing he won’t !

Best of a bad bunch, who else is there, got no faith in any of the politicians tbh

Not this again...

Its like that Mussolini bloke. OK, he killed lots of people, but the trains ran on time and who else was there?

twinnytwin

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.

What excellent decisions have they made? Who's telling you that the UK is coming out of the pandemic in a stronger position than most other countries?

The following is taken from the last ONS release dated 10 December. The next release is due tomorrow.

"Gross domestic product (GDP) is estimated to have grown by 0.1% in October 2021 and is 0.5% below its pre-coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic level (February 2020)"

You cannot assume that it's good that it's only 0.5% below February 2020 because the figures for the prior periods weren't that brilliant.

Rumour has it there is more dirt to be dished....

I think it’s good to have entrenched views challenged westendgirl. Otherwise we just float along in a confirmation bias bubble.
Incidentally do I have to be a regular on here for anyone to take any notice of my posts?