Will the Nation accept an apology? Will you?

So many people in the last couple of days saying Keir doesn't have any original ideas.

It's almost like everyone is being fed the same story and being told to spread it on the internet. You know, like Russian bots or something?

As for pity about the start of the pandemic. That's too ridiculous even for a bot...

Allsorts

It depends if you look at the whole picture, I think on the whole he has done a good job, pity about the start of pandemic, it’s fine with hindsight saying we should have done differently, for example not ordering protective coverings from abroad. He worked with Covid. Keir is continuously rooting through everything to find what he can, helped by charismatic Angela! He hasn’t got an original idea of his own so all he can do is heckle and complain thinking if Boris goes he will have a chance.

How many times with the “hindsight”? All the indicates from places like Italy should have told him to get on with lockdown and banning large events. If I knew with my limited contacts abroad how much more the should the PM have known ?

Definitely not. My dil's father died from covid with no one at his side. My daughter is a nurse who caught covid in 2020 while working with no ppe. She hasn't worked since as it's affected her heart, her kidneys and her liver. He can stick his apology. Yes we've had a good vaccine rollout but lets not forget we've had the highest eath rate in Europe while he and his cronies partied!

MaggsMcG

I dont think they will. However Kier Starmer isa hypocrite be abuse he did something very similarlar so he shouldn't be asking for his resignation action. If Boris party has had enough of him that's a different story. However I don't think any other person is likely to any better. Might as well hang on til 2024 anqd be done with it.

Keir Starmer went to a party ?

Keir has NOT been calling for perpetual lockdowns.

It depends if you look at the whole picture, I think on the whole he has done a good job, pity about the start of pandemic, it’s fine with hindsight saying we should have done differently, for example not ordering protective coverings from abroad. He worked with Covid. Keir is continuously rooting through everything to find what he can, helped by charismatic Angela! He hasn’t got an original idea of his own so all he can do is heckle and complain thinking if Boris goes he will have a chance.

Spot on !

No he shouldn’t resign. He has done a great job since the pandemic began. There was no precedent to follow and I don’t think the current opposition party would have done any better. All I’ve heard is criticism not suggestions about things might be done better. Yes, he made a mistake and he should have apologised earlier. I’m sure he isn’t the only parliamentarian, across all parties, who has gone against ‘the rules’. It just so happens that he got caught out and others didn’t. He didn’t kill anyone - the virus did that, or added to other underlying conditions speeded up someone’s death. This event happened so long ago and we must move on. I accept his apology, am grateful for my vaccines and booster, and look forward to post pandemic life. If Sir Kier had had his way we would have been locked down for the last 2 years and still would be! Then where would the economy be…..

No chance of forgiveness, ever. Whoever thought he would be suitable as our Prime Minister should have researched him and his life before voting. What is surprising is how long people have taken to see this obnoxious and self-serving creature for the liar he is. That apology was not an apology it was another deflection away from the truth. I am ashamed that he represented my country.

NO! NEVER! My Mum died in hospital at 101yrs old from COVID in Oct. 2020 and the nurse called me to say she only had a very short time left and would I like to speak to her because she was crying for me. I did but it was dreadfully upsetting because she was calling my name and begging me to go and see her, but of course I couldn’t. Every time I see that smarmy bastard making excuses reduces me to tears. My Mum calling for me is something I will never forget

Apologies after being caught. Means nothing. The man is beneath contempt. He attended and should have cancelled it. However, how many other Mps attended. The should be sacked. The police should be in to. They broke the law. You and I would have been finded heavily.

Sadly I think enough people will accept it "He's doing his best" "Labour wouldn't have done any better" etc. etc. Meanwhile the albino walrus will waffle on endlessly about Vaccine/Brexit/Vaccine/Brexit?Vaccine/Brexit

icanhandthemback

I don't accept his apology but neither do I see what good is being done with all the handwringing. This continual debating of BJ's wrongdoings seems like it will desensitise people in the long run. Where I was incandescent with rage, I am starting to feel a "give it a rest" attitude. I am sure there are other things the media can report on when it comes to BJ's misdemeanours.
I feel a sense of despair that I can't see anybody who I'd like to govern me at the moment. I can't believe anybody would think Jeremy Hunt is a good option.
The only thing to come out of this for me is that I now see why Boris accepted Dominic Cummings' trip to Durham Castle!
My worry is that this debacle is detracting from some of the more important news stories that are out there.

Exactly. Boris bashing is getting very tedious and be careful of the backlash!
My God, people are starving in Afghanistan and we are on brink of war with Russia.
Priorities.

sazz1 Some of us have already agreed that Boris could have done well as PM but has let himself down with all these silly misdemeanours. He has a devil may care attitude which is not suitable for a PM and it's a shame because his good qualities are completely obliterated by his bad behaviour.

Theoddbird

Everyone makes mistakes...I tend to look at the whole picture. Lot of people casting stones...presume they are all perfect.

No, we’re not. But then we’re not Prime Minister.

nj30

Not a resigning matter for me. If everyone involved were working from home at the time and went into the office for a drinks party then there should be repercussions. As I see it, all the people involved were working together indoors at No 10 anyway and migrated to the garden outside for drinks, which is actually safer. No ‘outside’ people were invited. Whenever I have gone to an office party 99.9% of the conversations are about work so I have no doubt that this party was similar and there was much ‘shop-talk’. My concern are those workers who go to the media and shop their boss/colleagues. Must create much distrust in a working environment.

What about Carrie?

Everyone makes mistakes...I tend to look at the whole picture. Lot of people casting stones...presume they are all perfect.

HolySox

Boris says he saw the garden event as a 'works event'. Seems he wanted to encourage his staff, and suggested it was withinh guidelines (outside, socially distanced) so I believe him. Apology accepted. (i.e. forgiven). Afterall, at the start of things he was meeting people to encourage them, following guidelines as they rolled out, but this led to him getting COVID. So he is/was fully aware of the impact of COVID and has championed the fight against it. Invested in vaccines such that the UK was the first to deliver it. Appalled at the comment above that Boris shouldn't take the credit - of course he should. Posters here expect him to take 'blame' but won't give him credit when due.
And I'll raise BREXIT again but onky in as much that the Tories needed Boris in charge to win the last general election ... but now it's done want him out of the way, hence we are being fed a string of sleaze stories for the gullible public to soak up. I have no doubt some of these have an element of truth but I don't see Boris as any different from other high ranking politicians. If anything he is more open about what he does unlike the highly polished acts of Cameron, May and Blair.
But Boris did get BREXIT done, got the UK to the front of the queue for vaccines and we are enjoying minimal restrictions on daily life now.

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I don't accept his apology but neither do I see what good is being done with all the handwringing. This continual debating of BJ's wrongdoings seems like it will desensitise people in the long run. Where I was incandescent with rage, I am starting to feel a "give it a rest" attitude. I am sure there are other things the media can report on when it comes to BJ's misdemeanours.
I feel a sense of despair that I can't see anybody who I'd like to govern me at the moment. I can't believe anybody would think Jeremy Hunt is a good option.
The only thing to come out of this for me is that I now see why Boris accepted Dominic Cummings' trip to Durham Castle!
My worry is that this debacle is detracting from some of the more important news stories that are out there.

Not a resigning matter for me. If everyone involved were working from home at the time and went into the office for a drinks party then there should be repercussions. As I see it, all the people involved were working together indoors at No 10 anyway and migrated to the garden outside for drinks, which is actually safer. No ‘outside’ people were invited. Whenever I have gone to an office party 99.9% of the conversations are about work so I have no doubt that this party was similar and there was much ‘shop-talk’. My concern are those workers who go to the media and shop their boss/colleagues. Must create much distrust in a working environment.

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.

I agree. There are thousands of gransnetters....but you don’t ‘see’ them on here. Just not worth the aggravation.

NO ///and now he has pulled another excuse for not going on a visit ....is he afraid he will face questions ? he should GO and go NOW ...I do wonder if those tories in government that are supporting him are more concerned for themselves and their various perks to risk him going ...........after all, they managed to 'sack' Thatcher and others ...what hold has he got over them !

Let's be perfectly honest here. Apart from older people mainly how many have not broken a single covid lockdown law?
You had people being arrested for sitting on a seat eating a sandwich or meeting a friend for a walk carrying a coffee.
My friend always said there are 3 types of people now.
Those who follow all laws
Those who follow none
Those who pretend to follow all laws but really do as they like.
I think Boris is in the last group along with millions of others.
He's done a lot of good for our country. He worked throughout having covid himself. He's done his best to avoid further lockdowns.
He's not perfect but he's the best we have atm and that's OK for me.

I think we need to see a list of the 100 people who received the invitation to the party, who went and who didn't and where they actually usually worked and where they were all working that day

That would clarify a few of his answers

No. I don't accept his apology, an apology for the public misunderstanding what Boris didn't do! He has to go but the Tories' are short of a substitute vote winner to keep their soft jobs next Election. I thank all the academics and experts (despised by Gove) for the vaccines and the NHS staff and volunteers for delivering them, not Boris.