Bye bye Boris?

[japancool]

So there was an accusation. Followed by a denial. Hmmm.

Love can take many different guises!

I doubt it. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if it was Starmer's team that released these photos.

 

[japancool]

There can't be

I think we are now in the Purdah period before the local elections when the BBC (by law) is restricted in what and how it reports on political matters

I note the Guardian doesn't mention it on the front page of their website either. All the other papers seem to though.

 

[IanSuth]

I note the Guardian doesn't mention it on the front page of their website either. All the other papers seem to though.

I believe the papers and the BBC have different rules (which does not cover the Guardian's omission), i know the BBC has to walk a very very thin tightrope during election periods, if they interview someone from 1 party they have to give a fair time to every other party involved etc etc, so they tend to just steer clear of most issues

Other than the most recent accusation by a female Tory minister (which is cross party as it is talking about the working environment for all female MP's) you will notice nothing on the BBC politics page is from today

 

[NickGrogan]

No. Members of the ruling party created laws that prohibited gatherings during COVID and then breached their own law, whilst also denying that they had breached their own law, because they didn't know what the law was. Here is one example of the law being applied to ordinary citizens: https://uk.news.yahoo.com/man-found-guilty-breaking-covid-040000895.html

From the link: "Gavin John Wickham, 52, denied an allegation of participating in a gathering of more than two people in a public outdoor place in a tier 4 area.

Following the guilty verdict, the bench issued Wickham with a £200 fine as well as an order to pay a £34 surcharge and £350 costs – a total bill of £584."

Did Boris admit that the law had been broken within Downing St, when asked by the opposition during PMQs? No. He denied any knowledge of these gatherings when aske during PMQs on multiple occasions.

Some are saying 'oh well, it's just like a speeding fine, nothing important' - missing the point entirely. The accusation is that the Prime Minister misled parliament and broke laws that his government pressed on to ordinary citizens. No matter if you think they're trivial. The government must abide by the laws they set at all times, else face disciplinary action and, to potentially have misled parliament and denied wrongdoing, even after a police investigation that resulted in 20+ fines being issued....well...time to fall on ones sword.

You're also saying 'Well it could be worse, we could have Keith/Corbyn/Abbot/A potato as leader' - well yeah, it could be worse. Is that really a good measure to use? The 'well it could be worse' measure? Should we not be demanding more of our politicians and showing them that there are career/legal consequences for things like this?

I presume that you'll be as upset about the fact that Starmer and Rayner have been found to be doing much the same thing at the same time and you'll be calling for them to resign as well?

 

[Employment Law Clinic]

I presume that you'll be as upset about the fact that Starmer and Rayner have been found to be doing much the same thing at the same time and you'll be calling for them to resign as well?

I would. Can you expand, Nick, explain when either of them were found to be doing much the same thing? I haven't heard of any police fines against either of them.


Karl Limpert

 

[NickGrogan]

Angela Rayner was at a lockdown event with Starmer

Labour says no Covid rules were broken at the event, where Sir Keir Starmer was filmed drinking a beer.

www.bbc.co.uk

Police are reinvestigating, and the Labour party have admitted it was an "honest mistake" when they said repeatedly that she wasn't there.

I find it hard to understand how they didn't realise that the deputy leader was there.

If the police don't fine someone, does that mean the rules weren't broken?

 

[KM-Tiger]

If the police don't fine someone, does that mean the rules weren't broken?

No, Durham police say they don't investigate and fine retrospectively, which is not the same as saying no offence was committed.

Met police had a similar policy but made an exception for BJ/10 Downing St. I think Khan'ts fingerprints would be found in that decision somewhere.

 

[Newchodge]

No, Durham police say they don't investigate and fine retrospectively, which is not the same as saying no offence was committed.

Met police had a similar policy but made an exception for BJ/10 Downing St. I think Khan'ts fingerprints would be found in that decision somewhere.

Don't investigate and fine retrospectively. Do you mean Durham police are psychic and investigate and fine people for an offence before they commit it?

 

[KM-Tiger]

I believe it's a question of how long ago. I've not seen any comment on exactly how many weeks/months/years.

 

[NickGrogan]

That's one way of keeping the crime figures down.

Don't investigate anything that happened before 2020

 

[japancool]

It's now on the BBC:

Angela Rayner was at a lockdown event with Starmer

Labour says no Covid rules were broken at the event, where Sir Keir Starmer was filmed drinking a beer.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[simon field]

It's now on the BBC:

Angela Rayner was at a lockdown event with Starmer

Labour says no Covid rules were broken at the event, where Sir Keir Starmer was filmed drinking a beer.

www.bbc.co.uk

Sorry, but the photo in that article clearly shows the look of love! ?

 

[MikeJ]

The retrospective issue is down to the nature of a fixed penalty notice. They were put in place for police to issue in place of arresting people, for relatively low level crimes, and to reduce court time. The principle is if the police catch you doing something AT THE TIME, and you admit it, you can accept a FPN rather than go to court. This also means you don't have a criminal record.

They were never intended as a tool for the police to use at a later date. The reason the Met (and other forces) didn't want to go down this route is it sets a precedent for when an FPN is issued.

 

[MikeJ]

It's now on the BBC:

Angela Rayner was at a lockdown event with Starmer

Labour says no Covid rules were broken at the event, where Sir Keir Starmer was filmed drinking a beer.

www.bbc.co.uk

I find it really odd that Rayner would see a statement issued that said she wasn't there, and not try to correct the record. I quite like her as a person (she's very funny when not being overly political), but this looks like a stupid mistake.

 

[japancool]

I find it really odd that Rayner would see a statement issued that said she wasn't there, and not try to correct the record. I quite like her as a person (she's very funny when not being overly political), but this looks like a stupid mistake.

Maybe she was too busy trying to distract Boris.

 

[MikeJ]

Maybe she was too busy trying to distract Boris.

Now that's an odd story. Apparently that's been going round for a while, there's memes about it and Rayner herself has spoken about it in public, on stage. Then the MOS run the story and get all sorts of grief for it.

(not defending the MOS, as it's generally an awful rag)

 

[The Byre]

It could have been worse for Boris - it could have been a Scotsman in kilt opening and closing his legs!

 

[Newchodge]

It could have been worse for Boris - it could have been a Scotsman in kilt opening and closing his legs!

I think it strange that no-one (media) has commented on the fact that Johnson WOULD be distracted by Angela Rayner crossing her legs. I suppose, with his history it is a given.

 

[The Byre]

I suppose, with his history it is a given.

So what you are saying is that AR is a secret weapon and putting a good-looking woman right opposite this over-sexed toad is a deliberate ploy to distract him. (It's a good job that Starmer cannot be similarly distracted by looking at the government's front bench!)

 

[japancool]

(It's a good job that Starmer cannot be similarly distracted by looking at the government's front bench!)

If he likes an evil dominatrix, he can look at Priti Patel.

 

[Newchodge]

So what you are saying is that AR is a secret weapon and putting a good-looking woman right opposite this over-sexed toad is a deliberate ploy to distract him. (It's a good job that Starmer cannot be similarly distracted by looking at the government's front bench!)

Absolutely not. The deputy leader of the Labour party sits on the opposition front bench. I am saying that theTories, by spinning this garbage are actually acknowledging that they believe they have a leader who is led by his knob. So they believe this country is led by a knob. One of the first things they have been right about for a long time.

 

[MikeJ]

The Tories aren't saying though, are they?

One unnamed Tory has said it to the MOS. By which I mean, the MOS got hold of what Rayner said and made up a story.

 

[KM-Tiger]

The deputy leader of the Labour party sits on the opposition front bench.

Correct, and where it all falls apart.

Standing at the dispatch box Boris would not have a line of sight to her legs. There is a table in the way.

More likely this story was spun by Labour to distract from #Durhampartygate.

 

[japancool]

I am saying that theTories, by spinning this garbage are actually acknowledging that they believe they have a leader who is led by his knob. So they believe this country is led by a knob.

Or they're saying that's what Labour believe. Which they do.

You can spin this story to suit whatever prejudice you like.

 

[Ian J]

You can spin this story to suit whatever prejudice you like.

And we all know which way our newest moderator's prejudice lies

 

[Newchodge]

The Tories aren't saying though, are they?

One unnamed Tory has said it to the MOS. By which I mean, the MOS got hold of what Rayner said and made up a story.

Possibly. Are you saying that the MoS lies? Probably, in that case.

And we all know which way our newest moderator's prejudice lies

Every contributor to these forums has prejudices. If I use my moderator role to express my prejudices please report me.

 

[Clodbuster]

Turns out AR put the story out herself,

 

[Newchodge]

Turns out AR put the story out herself,

According to whom?

 

[KM-Tiger]

According to whom?

Other MPs who heard her boasting about it. Search #gingergrowler or #growlergate on Twitter.

 

[japancool]

This is what the BBC has to say about it:

Labour dismisses Tory claims about Angela Rayner as 'smear'

It rejects allegations that its deputy leader "initiated" a story about distracting the PM in Parliament.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Ian J]

Turns out AR put the story out herself,

The whole story is ridiculous as Boris likes pretty younger women not middle aged trouts

 

[UkAppCoder]

... not middle aged trouts ...

... with thunder thighs and knock-knees! LOL!

 

[japancool]

... with thunder thighs and knock-knees! LOL!

Carrie Johnson is hardly that.

 

[UkAppCoder]

Carrie Johnson is hardly that.

You're quite right. Sorry, I was referring to Rayner. I've updated my post to clarify.

 

[The Byre]

The last few posts reflect very poorly on a small group of people. I hope nobody here needs reminding which small group I am referring to.

The same small group might like to look in the mirror and reflect on their own sex appeal - or lack thereof.

 

[UkAppCoder]

The last few posts reflect very poorly on a small group of people. I hope nobody here needs reminding which small group I am referring to.

The same small group might like to look in the mirror and reflect on their own sex appeal - or lack thereof.

But of course, referring to the current Prime Minister as a "toad" reflects very well on yourself!

People in glass houses ...

 

[MikeJ]

Some sexist tripe on here that people should be ashamed of.

 

[MBE2017]

Four MP’s heard AR tell this growler story whilst she was having a fag break. Add it looks like she was with KS having drinks, despite the claim nothing wrong was done.

I find it hard to see the difference between Boris having a quick tipple and KS and AR doing exactly the same?

 

[UkAppCoder]

Angela Rayner deserves everything she gets.

She has brought this entire squalid situation upon herself.

She was the one who brought the nation's attention to her "ginger growler", the very thought of which, incidentally, I find thoroughly disgusting.

I think Angela Rayner is a vulgar little scrubber - uncivilised and crude without two nerve cells to rub together, and I hope she never has the opportunity to disgrace our fine offices of government.

 

[japancool]

Just remember that Rayner was seen as Corbyn's natural successor. That should tell you something.

More worrying is that our politicians - the whole gamut of them, whether it be red, blue, yellow or puce, are spending more time arguing about the events in Westminster rather than getting on with the business of running the country.

And slinging insults like "an out-of-touch government" or "when the opposition was in power" is NOT running the country. I would actually like to see a debate on the merits or otherwise of policy, substantiated by facts not rhetoric, for a change.