First it was Jennifer, then it was Carrie…

maddyone

RichmondPark

Apparently they were caught in his office in a compromising position by colleagues. Something Matt Hancock resigned over.

Yes that’s true. However the furore over Matt Hancock was really about Covid. The rest of the country were still being told to maintain safe working practices such as social distancing, masks, and screens in workplaces, whilst Matt Hancock was caught on video applying none of these precautions.

I agree.

A married minister caught on camera up against his office door with his hands all over his mistress. I wonder if, by current standards, this would have resulted in his resignation during non-Covid times?

I don’t know the answer to that RichmondPark.Times have changed over the years. It would certainly have been a firing offence years ago. I remember at least one minister being sacked (or forced to resign) in Thatcher’s government. Cecil Parkinson was his name, but I think there was another one, but I can’t remember his name. Today? I don’t know. Actually didn’t Robin Cooke resign from Blair’s government for a similar offence? I don’t know the expectations for today. Maybe after Hancock it would be expected.

David Mellor resigned from John Major's government but in addition to his sex scandal he had accepted a holiday from someone linked to the PLO. Perhaps a sex scandal has never quite been enough on its own.

Sunday: Paul Dacre gets a call from No 10 instructing him to drop the Carrie Story.

Tuesday: Paul Dacre gets a call from number 10 to offer him a place in the House of Lords.

Whitewavemark2

“While his wife of 26 years and mother of four of his kids was having multiple operations and treatment for cancer, Johnson was trying to appoint his mistress as his £100k pa, Chief of Staff.

The guy DRIPS WITH ETHICS. Of course he doesn't need an adviser.”

Agree absolutely.

maddyone

I don’t know the answer to that RichmondPark.Times have changed over the years. It would certainly have been a firing offence years ago. I remember at least one minister being sacked (or forced to resign) in Thatcher’s government. Cecil Parkinson was his name, but I think there was another one, but I can’t remember his name. Today? I don’t know. Actually didn’t Robin Cooke resign from Blair’s government for a similar offence? I don’t know the expectations for today. Maybe after Hancock it would be expected.

I remember Robin Cook resigning over the Iraq war.

Lovetopaint037

maddyone

I don’t know the answer to that RichmondPark.Times have changed over the years. It would certainly have been a firing offence years ago. I remember at least one minister being sacked (or forced to resign) in Thatcher’s government. Cecil Parkinson was his name, but I think there was another one, but I can’t remember his name. Today? I don’t know. Actually didn’t Robin Cooke resign from Blair’s government for a similar offence? I don’t know the expectations for today. Maybe after Hancock it would be expected.

I remember Robin Cook resigning over the Iraq war.

Yes he did, his resignation was over the decision to go to war in Iraq.

He didn't resign when he was forced to admit his affair with his secretary and confess to his wife, apparently after a conversation with Alistair Campbell.

I liked Robin Cook and was surprised to hear about his affair(s).

Yes, you’re right Lovetopaint. I was mistaken, apologies, he resigned over the Iraqi war. He dumped his wife of 28 years in favour of his mistress who worked for him. I read the book his wife wrote it about a few years ago.

Today's Telegraph has a follow-on story -
www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2022/06/21/exclusive-attempt-secure-carrie-johnson-role-prince-williams/
When the £100k appointment didn't wash, there was an attempt to get Carrie into the Cambridges' Earthshot charity - but their staff thought it would be "inappropriate".

Former top civil servant Simon Case admits trying to find a well paid job for Carrie Johnson

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/jun/23/simon-case-challenged-over-role-in-pms-alleged-attempts-to-find-jobs-for-his-wife