Has our country ever been in such a state?

As far as I can see and until they can prove otherwise, every single minister is complicit in the blackmail along with the spads.

Not a single one of them should be considered fit to lead the Tory party.

Oops sorry premature posting.

I think having a husband who works for a mainstream TV network is an easy outlet for leakage.

Casdon

GrannyGravy13 there are so many leaks it’s like a colander. I don’t think there’s just one source.

You are probably correct.

GrannyGravy13 there are so many leaks it’s like a colander. I don’t think there’s just one source.

This latest revelation by William Wragg is just disgusting! We are fast becoming a Banana Republic. What on earth is going on with our Government, is there no depth to which they won't sink? Corruption for all to see, yet Johnson hangs on. Just get rid.

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Ah -

We are the denial stage at the moment. Johnson sees no evidence.

Next it will be apparently there is evidence but absolutely nothing to do with me

Then it’s I was aware but had no idea that it was against the rules.

Finally it will be subject to an enquiry n the hope it will all go away.

Growstuff If only people, like some of the posters on here, took more notice of the news from a number of different sources perhaps, the country might be in a better position. I despair sometimes at their lack of knowledge and/or interest.

There's plenty of money available for Tory councils I think.

Being sure is just an opinion and not a fact.

In the past news and gossip spread quickly. James Gilray is a good example of someone whose political and social cartoons were disseminated through out the country at the end of the 18th and beginning of the 19th century. His cartoons were often more scurrilous than what we see now.

Pamphleteering during the mid 16th century - yet another means of spreading, especially about religious and political topics.

If you read 19th century novels you will often find references to newspapers being lent to various households.

Dinahmo

Constituency funding is the reason why so many Tories gained the red wall seats, The govt has been depriving Labour controlled councils of funding for several years.

And still parts of the English public will not wake up to what the Tories are getting up to.

Absolutely correct! I live in one of the wealthiest constituencies in the country and we have benefitted from changes to the formula for funding, as have our schools, whereas more deprived areas have lost out. Most people blame their local council for cuts and don't realise it's because central government has cut their funding.

From the i report :
threatening to withdraw investments from Members of Parliament’s constituencies which are funded from the public purse.

Actually threatening to harm members of the public in constituencies of some Tory MPs?

Have I got that right?

nanna8

Probably the ease of sharing news quickly makes us more aware of this sort of thing. I am absolutely certain it would have occurred before but it was easier to hush it up. It certainly happens here.

I was just going to say something like that, Nanna8.
I’m sure it went on in the past, but truth or lies weren’t spread so quickly or so anonymously.
Most Grans’ opinions would have been shared “over the garden fence” and had less impact.
Now everyone has an opinion and can broadcast it. Everyone can claim to have known how to do things better or say what others are doing wrong.
Doesn’t make what’s going on now any more acceptable.

Probably the ease of sharing news quickly makes us more aware of this sort of thing. I am absolutely certain it would have occurred before but it was easier to hush it up. It certainly happens here.

Constituency funding is the reason why so many Tories gained the red wall seats, The govt has been depriving Labour controlled councils of funding for several years.

And still parts of the English public will not wake up to what the Tories are getting up to.

Who was it said ‘politics is a dirty business’.
They were right, of course.

Have I got this right? The constituents of MPs who want higher standards are being threatened with having funding withdrawn?

Frequently

Appalling but not surprising! Corruption and bullying is rife.

It is because I expect professionalism from the police that I doubt them.

Whitewavemark2

How much confidence do we have in the Met that they will investigate the blackmail?

Dear oh dear

Oh dear, that’s an even lower bar ?

Whitewavemark2

Oh your post is better than I can manage what a bummer.

I'm sure we'll both get some traffic, *Wwmk2)

MerylStreep

I assumed it’s always been this way. I’ve never had very high expectations from the majority of MPs or those within that circle.

Tory MPs weren't averse to making the same sort of threats to their constituents, either.

I'd post a link to remind you but as the said MP is now no longer with us and is regarded as a candidate for sainthood I'll leave it right here...

Oh your post is better than I can manage what a bummer.

Oh, sorry WWmk2, I've just started another thread on this

I've posted a link to video of him actually making his statement to the Committee he chairs, if anyone wants to view it.

Peston’s tweet

Robert Peston
@Peston
·
46m
I understand Sue Gray has found the email from a senior official to PM’s principle private secretary Martin Reynolds warning him the 20 May party should not go ahead, as per Cummings’s revelation and my blog below.