What the country thinks about Johnson

Wow, just seen it’s going to be a free vote today, Tories have dropped the amendment.

Very sparse attendance by the Tories. They know the truth of the matter and as a result making themselves scarce.

Happygirl79

A would be dictator

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A would be dictator

?
Jess Phillips MP

Keir Starmers speech in parliament was brilliant, it was about what we have in common, about the reason why honesty matters. He was decent and calm and kind. It made me proud.

Starmers speech so very good.

Rising above party politics but focusing instead on “principles”

GrammarGrandma

I was 77 yesterday. I have never voted Conservative and never will, unless the only alternative is an even further right party like Marine le Pen's. I am a socialist and I'm afraid Keir Starmer is not. By the way, I haven't had a cervix since 1990 and am pretty sure I am a woman.

Good on you GrammarGrandma!

I would never dream of not voting but it it came to the situation you describe then I'd spoil my paper rather than not vote. A spoilt paper is a valid ballot and the candidates and their agents get to see it before it is set aside, so it's a chance to say what you think of them.

Only once have I spoilt my ballot. That was in the first Police and Crime Commissioner election, when I wrote what I thought about the idea across the paper. Since then I've moved to Scotland where we don't have such daft things.

Whitewavemark2

volver

He implies that the committee can't be trusted because it has a Labour person at the head of it.

But yeah, keep on with the excuses. That's what they are hoping for. Let's see waht happens with the other parties where we discover he was surprised enough to bring his own wine and pour everybody a drink.

The Labour bod has offered to recuse his head of the committee. So that excuse by the Tories is buggered.

Re the Privileges Committee.

Chris Bryant, chair of the Standards Committee and of the Privileges (Priveleges being an offshoot of Standards) committee posted this very helpful tweet, which includes the parliamentary rules for the make up of the committee.

For the benefit of those who don't follow links, the rules say that:

No member may be candidate for the chair of the .... Committee on Standards unless his party is that of the Official Opposition

Let's ot forget that the Standards committee, with a majority of tory members, produced the report which condemned Owen Paterson.

twitter.com/RhonddaBryant/status/1516446449961246723

Rees Mogg is traducing the honour and impartiality of MPs of all parties by implying that a Labour Chair would contrive a biased verdict. He brings Parliament into disrepute with every word that he says as a Cabinet Minister. He is lying through his teeth. He's doing this because he is wholly and shamefully dishonourable himself.

Parliamentary Committees are where the real work of Parliament is carried out. They are notable for their non partisan biases and their detailed scrutiny of the issues they deal with. Forget about the baying and shouting when Ministers are questioned in the House of Commons. That's a show, a game.... What happens in Committees is real democracy.

Rees Mogg is a despicable toe/tow rag bent on destroying democracy by promoting the idea that the Executive must never be questioned or held to account. He trades on the prevailing ignorance of the ordinary voter of how a parliamentary democracy works. He is trying to undermine the principles of Parliamentary Sovereignty which have been fought for over 4 centuries, ever since the English Civil War.

HolySox, what are you on about?

DH and I were just talking about how scary this is; undermine the press, undermine the rule of law, undermine the church, undermine the character and loyalty of the opposition; undermine anyone who disagrees.

Then tell us it's all for our own good.

HolySox Thu 21-Apr-22 10:40:42
So Boris wasn't fined for the Happy Birthday event?

What game is this HolySox? No 10 confirmed his £100 fine related to a gathering on 19 June 2020. It was his "Birthday Event", as you term it. Why say it wasn't?

There are, of course, more fines to come.

So Boris wasn't fined for the Happy Birthday event?

From what I know it sounds like Carrie shouldn't habe been there (although maybe as tea lady?). If so she should be fined along with other members of the cabinet who wouod have been aware this wouod break the rules ... but Boris was not aware when entered. Apparently people left shortly afterwards. So some doubt here, in my mind, that Boris broke the law and should have been fined. But if the police who have the facts but are swayed by the media might come to the wrong conclusion. Afterall, hasn't Cressida Dick just been sacked due to lack of integrity with the Met?

volver

He implies that the committee can't be trusted because it has a Labour person at the head of it.

But yeah, keep on with the excuses. That's what they are hoping for. Let's see waht happens with the other parties where we discover he was surprised enough to bring his own wine and pour everybody a drink.

The Labour bod has offered to recuse his head of the committee. So that excuse by the Tories is buggered.

Repeating what Michael Manfield QC has asked:

Where is the attorney general, the senior government law officer, in all this? Nowhere to be seen. The person who occupies the role has an overriding obligation to ensure that the rule of law is paramount. No attorney can continue to be part of a government led by ministers found to have flagrantly violated this principle, accompanied by denials and lies – a position clearly understood by Lord Wolfson in his resignation speech as justice minister. Anything less is tantamount to complicity.

But then, Suella Braverman isn't neutral either.

volver

What Rees Mogg thinks.

twitter.com/i/status/1516542722034872324

As JRM no doubt knows, cricket is governed by a set of laws not rules and there is an important distinction between the two. Furthermore, at the highest levels of cricket, the third umpire must be neutral which is where the analogy between cricket and parliamentary procedure falls down.

He implies that the committee can't be trusted because it has a Labour person at the head of it.

But yeah, keep on with the excuses. That's what they are hoping for. Let's see waht happens with the other parties where we discover he was surprised enough to bring his own wine and pour everybody a drink.

HolySox

volver

What Rees Mogg thinks.

twitter.com/i/status/1516542722034872324

Rees Mogg makes a valid point. In the hustle and bustle of No 10 during lockdown it is entirely possible Boris thought they were within the rules.

But the media has run its campaign and it is likely this influenced the decision of the police. Mob rule. As Dickenssays, Boris takes the 'popular' view (isn't that what democracy is about, following the majority) but it seems his downfall could be a consequence of popular view. He could lose his position because he walked into a business meeting and they surprised him with a cake and sang 'Happy Birthday'. Should have just drank beer like Keir...

And when he acted as barman at a leaving do?

GrammarGrandma

I was 77 yesterday. I have never voted Conservative and never will, unless the only alternative is an even further right party like Marine le Pen's. I am a socialist and I'm afraid Keir Starmer is not. By the way, I haven't had a cervix since 1990 and am pretty sure I am a woman.

Your xx chromosomes will not lie?. No need for a cervix.

volver

What Rees Mogg thinks.

twitter.com/i/status/1516542722034872324

Rees Mogg makes a valid point. In the hustle and bustle of No 10 during lockdown it is entirely possible Boris thought they were within the rules.

But the media has run its campaign and it is likely this influenced the decision of the police. Mob rule. As Dickenssays, Boris takes the 'popular' view (isn't that what democracy is about, following the majority) but it seems his downfall could be a consequence of popular view. He could lose his position because he walked into a business meeting and they surprised him with a cake and sang 'Happy Birthday'. Should have just drank beer like Keir...

?

sarah murphy

The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom is a lawbreaker and a liar.

If he is not held to account and told to resign then Parliament is powerless and pointless.
That’s how important this is.
Integrity doesn’t wait until it’s more convenient.
There are no excuses.

I was 77 yesterday. I have never voted Conservative and never will, unless the only alternative is an even further right party like Marine le Pen's. I am a socialist and I'm afraid Keir Starmer is not. By the way, I haven't had a cervix since 1990 and am pretty sure I am a woman.

MaizieD

Coastpath

Lucca Tow rag -

www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Tow%20Rag

I think nosher 54 made that up. ?

Seems to be written toe or tow in many places. Who knows?

Either way I'm glad I have no need of toe rags or tow rags.

Robert Peston

senior Tory MP, the former chief whip Andrew Mitchell, said on my show last night. He said he won’t be voting today, in defiance of the prime minister’s three line whip. And his conviction is that enough of his colleagues will also bunk off parliament and abstain,
such that the opposition party’s motion will be passed, possibly even without the need for a formal vote. We’ll see. But to be clear what is at stake here is different from and arguably as important as whether Boris Johnson should be forced out of office. As I said last …
week, it is whether the conduct of a prime minister perceived to have broken important rules can be properly and transparently assessed by his peers - as you would expect if there were a functioning constitution in a first-past-the-post parliamentary democracy - when
·
that PM benefits from a big Commons majority. It is why - as I said - it is not hyperbole to describe this impasse as a constitutional crisis.”

imo it challenges our democracy

volver

^A quick look on Google Maps reveals ‘Boris Johnson Street’ appears to be in dire need of attention.^

The single-track lane is full of potholes, while the Boris-like vegetation could do with a trim.

metro.co.uk/2022/04/20/ukrainian-town-names-potholed-road-boris-johnson-street-in-honour-of-pm-16500554/

I imagine most streets in Ukraine have holes in them. Bomb holes.

The UK has stood to support Ukraine and as part of that Boris made a personal visit, clearly at risk to his own life. The Ukrainians want to do something to honour the UK and this is a simple way to do it but our media tries to make a mockery out of it. Actually, it is insulting to Ukraine but not surprised the posters here like it, they won't acknowledge anything Boris achieves.

Coastpath

Lucca Tow rag -

www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Tow%20Rag

I think nosher 54 made that up. ?

Lucca Tow rag -

www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Tow%20Rag