Gransnet forums

News & politics

Just when Johnson thought it was all over….

(130 Posts)
Whitewavemark2 Thu 16-Jun-22 07:14:42

Up pops partygate again as Lord Geist resigns after admitting when under pressure from the standards committee that Johnson’s conduct fell far short of that expected from a British prime minister, and that Johnson had broken the ministerial code which includes an overarching duty to act in accordance with the law.

Geist stated that he was “sick of being lied to and his portrayal as a “patsy” and after what a friend of Geildt said was “a long night of the soul” Geildt sent a “strongly worded plan letter to Johnson.

Casdon Thu 16-Jun-22 09:01:08

I buy that more than Geidt being nice but dim - I think he deliberately resigned without telling the government he was going to do so in advance - thereby putting them on the back foot. That’s a powerful statement about what he’s found I suspect.

Whitewavemark2 Thu 16-Jun-22 08:57:26

Chris Bryant
@RhonddaBryant
Christopher Geidt is one of the most honourable men I have ever met. In the end he was a decent man working for an indecent prime minister. He thought he could discreetly bring about incremental change but he was repeatedly lied to by No 10. In honour Johnson should resign.

Petera Thu 16-Jun-22 08:57:16

Whitewavemark2 We could encourage the doorman to change the lock.

There's no working door handle, the guard just has to decide not to open it...

(….and the letterbox is a fake, and the doorbell doesn't work, and the '0' is in fact 'O' put on wonkily because the ministry of works ran out of '0's. In fact the whole thing could stand as a metaphor for the current government)

MaizieD Thu 16-Jun-22 08:56:46

oh hell. I've got tablet trouble, too.

'to suss out'

MaizieD Thu 16-Jun-22 08:54:50

Sorry, Wwmk2, but he's got to be dim if it's taken him a year tonsuss out Johnson.?

DaisyAnne Thu 16-Jun-22 08:52:52

HousePlantQueen

I suspect that after yet another evening of "you will never guess what he did today" his wife/family told him to resign for the sake of his own professional reputation. When Johnson goes, and he will, it will be messy, and all associated with him will be forever tainted. I agree that he has been an enabler by not doing something sooner.

I hope all who have supported his behaviour are tainted, HPQ. I wonder if we will ever hear what comes from under the stones when they are turned over.

I have just listened to another car-crash interview on 'Today' with the government puppet trying to sound as if they have credibility. It will be interesting to see if the full resignation letter is published later today.

Whitewavemark2 Thu 16-Jun-22 08:46:34

MaizieD

Whitewavemark2

GrannyGravy13

I thought the ethics advisor was called Lord Geidt

Either he wasn’t up to much, didn’t do much advising or more likely Mr,Johnson refused to listen.

Geidt is an interesting character. I’ve been reading about him.

He was educated privately then went in to Cambridge. He then enlisted in the Scots Guards after Sandhurst. Subsequently Army intelligence and has been linked to MI6.
Became a private Secretary to the Queen but resigned after a row about Charles’ succession.

Known to be suave and charming apparently.

I'm afraid that if it has taken him a year to discover that Johnson had no intention of listening to any advice at all, then, despite his apparently impressive CV, it strikes me that Geidt is just another upper class 'Tim, nice but dim'.

Oh quite possibly, but I would perhaps go along with that only to a certain extent.

Tim nice - not sure that he is entirely dim though.

I’m into spooks and traitors at the moment.

Oldnproud Thu 16-Jun-22 08:46:23

Of all the Prime Ministers we have ever had, there has probably never been one who needs an ethics minister more than Johnson does.
Unfortunately, the very traits that make it so necessary also make such a person's role untenable, as Johnson will only hear what he wants to hear and do what he wants to do.

HousePlantQueen Thu 16-Jun-22 08:42:02

I suspect that after yet another evening of "you will never guess what he did today" his wife/family told him to resign for the sake of his own professional reputation. When Johnson goes, and he will, it will be messy, and all associated with him will be forever tainted. I agree that he has been an enabler by not doing something sooner.

MaizieD Thu 16-Jun-22 08:34:48

Whitewavemark2

GrannyGravy13

I thought the ethics advisor was called Lord Geidt

Either he wasn’t up to much, didn’t do much advising or more likely Mr,Johnson refused to listen.

Geidt is an interesting character. I’ve been reading about him.

He was educated privately then went in to Cambridge. He then enlisted in the Scots Guards after Sandhurst. Subsequently Army intelligence and has been linked to MI6.
Became a private Secretary to the Queen but resigned after a row about Charles’ succession.

Known to be suave and charming apparently.

I'm afraid that if it has taken him a year to discover that Johnson had no intention of listening to any advice at all, then, despite his apparently impressive CV, it strikes me that Geidt is just another upper class 'Tim, nice but dim'.

MaizieD Thu 16-Jun-22 08:28:52

Katie59

MaizieD

Misleading thread title I think.

Johnson appears to be supremely unbothered about anything anyone does that might cause any other person deep shame. He'll sail through this little storm completely unruffled by it.

Nothing is going to get him out of No. 10.

Currently it suits the Tory party to keep him there to take the flack, until the current problems pass. Then a new untainted leader can replace him, current problems are not likely to be overcome quickly, sterling fell to €1.15 yesterday which is not a good sign, making imports even more costly.

Perhaps nearly three years of horror over Johnson as he sails serenely on from one enormity to the next has ground me down. Last night I found myself inwardly confessing a sort of sneaking respect for the way such a monstrous individual has risen above every single attack involving his complete absence of competence,honesty, integrity, morality, conscience, in short, any virtue or trait by which we judge the worth of an individual. A truly virtuoso performance, I thought...

Whoever thought of the Jabba the Hut jibe that Starmer used at yesterday's PMQs was absolutely in the right of it. Johnson is indeed loathesome and immoveable.

Joseanne Thu 16-Jun-22 08:18:45

oops mark2 not nark2
and certainly not bark2
?

Joseanne Thu 16-Jun-22 08:17:15

Whitewavemark2

Joseanne

Geidt is an interesting character. I’ve been reading about him.
He was educated privately.
'Ere we go, what difference does that make?
He is a man of morals first and foremost. Whatever school/uni he went to, he has done the right thing.

Well no I admit that doesn’t make him interesting?? But his link with the intelligent service does - well to me - at the moment as I’m reading a true story about a Russian KGB’s link to MI 6 and the relationships that he had with our intelligent service and individual MI6. officers.

He was subsequently given some sort of honour by the Queen.

grin
Thank you Whitewavenark2. You've probably gathered on threads that I am often more interested in the person than in pigeon holing them!
You're right in your comment to Casdon that there will always be more bad people to come along next. Its sad.

Whitewavemark2 Thu 16-Jun-22 08:09:58

Katie59

MaizieD

Misleading thread title I think.

Johnson appears to be supremely unbothered about anything anyone does that might cause any other person deep shame. He'll sail through this little storm completely unruffled by it.

Nothing is going to get him out of No. 10.

Currently it suits the Tory party to keep him there to take the flack, until the current problems pass. Then a new untainted leader can replace him, current problems are not likely to be overcome quickly, sterling fell to €1.15 yesterday which is not a good sign, making imports even more costly.

That is because of our current status as an emerging currency. Until we have a government that appears to know what it is doing this will get worse.

Whitewavemark2 Thu 16-Jun-22 08:07:27

casdon yes I’m sure there is, there always will be with a character like Johnson.

What is so dangerous about him though is that he appears to be willing to do anything he can to save his own skin.

Katie59 Thu 16-Jun-22 08:05:58

MaizieD

Misleading thread title I think.

Johnson appears to be supremely unbothered about anything anyone does that might cause any other person deep shame. He'll sail through this little storm completely unruffled by it.

Nothing is going to get him out of No. 10.

Currently it suits the Tory party to keep him there to take the flack, until the current problems pass. Then a new untainted leader can replace him, current problems are not likely to be overcome quickly, sterling fell to €1.15 yesterday which is not a good sign, making imports even more costly.

Whitewavemark2 Thu 16-Jun-22 08:04:30

Joseanne

^Geidt is an interesting character. I’ve been reading about him.^
He was educated privately.
'Ere we go, what difference does that make?
He is a man of morals first and foremost. Whatever school/uni he went to, he has done the right thing.

Well no I admit that doesn’t make him interesting?? But his link with the intelligent service does - well to me - at the moment as I’m reading a true story about a Russian KGB’s link to MI 6 and the relationships that he had with our intelligent service and individual MI6. officers.

He was subsequently given some sort of honour by the Queen.

Casdon Thu 16-Jun-22 08:01:28

Whitewavemark2

GrannyGravy13

I thought the ethics advisor was called Lord Geidt

Either he wasn’t up to much, didn’t do much advising or more likely Mr,Johnson refused to listen.

Geidt is an interesting character. I’ve been reading about him.

He was educated privately then went in to Cambridge. He then enlisted in the Scots Guards after Sandhurst. Subsequently Army intelligence and has been linked to MI6.
Became a private Secretary to the Queen but resigned after a row about Charles’ succession.

Known to be suave and charming apparently.

Surely it has to be the latter, otherwise he could just have cruised. He must have some principles. There’s speculation that there’s more still in the closet on Johnson according to BBC News this morning. Who will want to be the next ethics minister in those circumstances?

Joseanne Thu 16-Jun-22 08:00:39

Geidt is an interesting character. I’ve been reading about him.
He was educated privately.
'Ere we go, what difference does that make?
He is a man of morals first and foremost. Whatever school/uni he went to, he has done the right thing.

Whitewavemark2 Thu 16-Jun-22 07:58:42

MaizieD

Misleading thread title I think.

Johnson appears to be supremely unbothered about anything anyone does that might cause any other person deep shame. He'll sail through this little storm completely unruffled by it.

Nothing is going to get him out of No. 10.

?

We could encourage the doorman to change the lock.

Remember yes minister when Humphrey was locked out of the ministers office?

MaizieD Thu 16-Jun-22 07:55:09

Misleading thread title I think.

Johnson appears to be supremely unbothered about anything anyone does that might cause any other person deep shame. He'll sail through this little storm completely unruffled by it.

Nothing is going to get him out of No. 10.

Whitewavemark2 Thu 16-Jun-22 07:46:39

GrannyGravy13

I thought the ethics advisor was called Lord Geidt

Either he wasn’t up to much, didn’t do much advising or more likely Mr,Johnson refused to listen.

Geidt is an interesting character. I’ve been reading about him.

He was educated privately then went in to Cambridge. He then enlisted in the Scots Guards after Sandhurst. Subsequently Army intelligence and has been linked to MI6.
Became a private Secretary to the Queen but resigned after a row about Charles’ succession.

Known to be suave and charming apparently.

Whitewavemark2 Thu 16-Jun-22 07:39:17

GrannyGravy13

I thought the ethics advisor was called Lord Geidt

Either he wasn’t up to much, didn’t do much advising or more likely Mr,Johnson refused to listen.

Yes he is my tablet knows better apparently. Sometimes I go with the flow??

Whitewavemark2 Thu 16-Jun-22 07:38:28

Geidt said that as ethics minister you are under Johnson’s authority, they have no independence. Frankly it is a non-role. The only entity that can hold Johnson to account it seems is the standards committee and I. Not clear what powers they have.

What I think has become crystal clear is that our constitution will not hold up to a rogue government such as we are seeing with Johnson.

We need a complete overhaul and re-look at how to tackle a rogue government. The rule of law must prevail.

Daisymae Thu 16-Jun-22 07:36:56

I'm just amazed that he hung around so long.