She asked her civil servants to try two things after speeding
1. to arrange a completely safety private course to avoid being reported
2. then she asked to be entered for a course anonymously.
They refused as it was not in their remit.
So she took the points.
This was reported widely as in including the Guardian and the Mail, but its become an issue for two reasons
the attempted cover up
and asking civil servants to collude with the cover up.
Its the second which in my mind is possibly the most reprehensible.
Both speak to her character however - "I am different, I am better, I can be above the law. (and I want to hide my wrong-doings)
Hopefully, another nail in the coffin, tho unlikely to be a sackable offence?
Speed awareness courses are offered for those offenders at the lower scale of speeding.
Maisie thank you, I know it is silly to be upset specially as I have now found practically everyone I know has been caught over the years. I have had my car key adjusted so the speed comes up in large numbers rather than just relying on the speed dial. No more empty country lanes on beautiful sunny mornings for me ☹️
I'm wondering how long Sunak will allow this loose cannon to continue to trundle around the Conservative deck until he decides it might be safer to throw it overboard... particularly as he's beginning to realise that it's pointing in his direction. Just getting the feeling that the "distancing" may already have started. Watch this space.
Points on your license can increase your insurance premium. Not relevant in this case, but something to take into account if caught speeding.
What a load of nonsense, over something so trivial. The usual lynch mob gather to fire their arrows. There is war in Ukraine and the cost of living is beating us all. A spokesman said when a famous person needs a speed awareness course, they sometimes offer one to one to avoid the press!
Am I alone in thinking it really isn't difficult to stay within the allocated speed limit?
I don't think speeding is trivial. Speed limits are set for safety reasons and I do wish national speed limits were lowered for country lanes. I think some drivers forget they could turn the conner and be confronted by a family out walking, or a horse or cyclist.
Wyllow3
She could have actually made it into the opposite, as in "mea culpa", attend the course publicly, and tho there might have been a bit of publicity, "virtue signalled" and made a point of saying how bad she realised speeding was.
but no - she tried to hide it. And got public servants to try.
"Convenience?" My hat.
I very much agree with this.
Far better to have ‘owned up’ at the time, been seen to attend the course (alongside ‘ordinary offenders’).
It could have turned into a real positive, instead it’s prevarication, half truths, dodging the questions….
Honesty is the best policy.
Why can they not realise that?
geeljay
What a load of nonsense, over something so trivial. The usual lynch mob gather to fire their arrows. There is war in Ukraine and the cost of living is beating us all. A spokesman said when a famous person needs a speed awareness course, they sometimes offer one to one to avoid the press!
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
It’s taking precedence over everything really serious going on in the world and in this country.Crazy stuff!
👏👏👏
I am slightly confused that civil servants are not supposed to do anything for their Ministers.
Who has said this? There are is an entire world between not doing something that personally (ie, a matter relating to their personal life) benefits a Minister and not doing anything for Ministers.
GSM, so not the same at all then. The alleged breach of Ministerial Code is because of Braverman trying to get civil servants to take action for something personal.
What are the odds that the civil servant in question was the one in charge of Suella Braverman’s diary?
I see nothing wrong with her asking if it was possible.
Do we have any idea what level of cs was involved? Could have been one of her secretaries.
GSM no of course not- we’re given a bunch of distorted information.
I am probably the only person here who is very worried by the politicisation of the Civil Serpents.
GrannyGravy13
Germanshepherdsmum
Just listened to an interview with ‘Mr Loophole’. He said he has arranged one to one speed awareness courses for high profile clients on the basis that their presence would distract others from what they are there to do.
Yes you are correct that so called high profile people can apply for a one to one speed awareness course.
I am slightly confused that civil servants are not supposed to do anything for their Ministers. Do all Ministers employ non civil servant PA’s to overcome this?
Yes, they do. Their expenses are supposed to cover personal staff, although even they are supposed to do parliamentary work rather than acting as an aide for personal matters.
ronib
GSM no of course not- we’re given a bunch of distorted information.
I am probably the only person here who is very worried by the politicisation of the Civil Serpents.
What's that got to do with this?
Why don't you start a thread, if that's what's bothering you?
Germanshepherdsmum
Do we have any idea what level of cs was involved? Could have been one of her secretaries.
Her "secretaries" aren't supposed to do personal work.
Oreo
I see nothing wrong with her asking if it was possible.
It was against the ministerial code. It was about her personal life. How difficult is that to understand?
Growstuff what? A secretary will manage appointments in the diary….
NanaDana
I'm wondering how long Sunak will allow this loose cannon to continue to trundle around the Conservative deck until he decides it might be safer to throw it overboard... particularly as he's beginning to realise that it's pointing in his direction. Just getting the feeling that the "distancing" may already have started. Watch this space.
If he has any sense at all, the answer is "not long". He made a pledge and this is reflecting badly on him.
GrannyGravy13
NotSpaghetti
MaizieD
The course is a privilege and not offered to everyone apparently. I can't remember who gets offered it. It's a way of getting out of fines and points.
The course is offered if you haven''t done one before and have a clean licence (it's possible to have had points before which have expired). It doesn't get you off the fine, it's just a cheaper fine if you do the course. It only lets you off the points.This may be the reason some are offered and some aren't.
I dont know why you think I'm completely wrong Primrose.
Whether you are offered a course or not is up to the police/prosecution people. I'm pretty sure it's not a right.You can take a speed awareness course every 3.5 years, if you get a speeding fine before the end of the 3.5 years you will receive the appropriate points on your license.
You can also take a separate course for motorway offences.
Would it have been OK if she'd asked one of her civil servants to arrange to send her mother some flowers for her birthday?
Secretaries often do that sort of thing.
MaizieD also there’s a need to note dental, doctor and hospital appointments
in the diary. It helps to know where a minister is in the working day. There might be an emergency etc
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