[Politics] Tory meltdown finally arrived [was: incoming]...

[Machiavelli]

It seems to be a part of the claim that nobody cares about what Boris etc do, so they can get away with whatever it is. The reality is that most people don’t put politics at the heart of their daily lives. There are other much more important issues. That doesn’t mean they don’t care. They will take everything into account when casting their next vote as that is the next opportunity to register an opinion. The left are too quick to think that people are stupid and that arrogance is often their downfall. They need to relax and let people make up their own minds.

I agree with all of this, but do you really think that the narrative of a media conspiracy is concocted? Do you really think that the (traditional) media in this country is 'balanced' between Labour and the Tories, left and right, Leave and Remain, etc, etc?

 

[dazzer6666]

The point is, it’s not splashed all over the Sun’s front page, it’s about third on their website and is not ‘headline’ news. It’s hard to find many other UK news organisations that are not leading on it. This is obviously because they are still backing Johnson. That said, if they move to support Starmer, they would seemingly only make the move prior to the election when political campaigning takes the spotlight.

It's literally the second article on their online front page under the headline :

'LOCKDOWN BASH Boris & Carrie 'attended "bring your own booze" party at height of lockdown'
DOWNING Street staff were invited to a garden party to 'make the most of the lovely weather' at the height of lockdown, a bombshell email reveals. Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie are alleged to have attended the 'bring your own booze' bash in the garden behind No10 in May, 2020.

after a headline proclaiming Novax potentially having committed a criminal offence.

 

[Neville's Breakfast]

I agree with all of this, but do you really think that the narrative of a media conspiracy is concocted? Do you really think that the (traditional) media in this country is 'balanced' between Labour and the Tories, left and right, Leave and Remain, etc, etc?

No, I probably have a similar view to you on that. The tabloids are just comics really and their ownership is mainly right wing. However they aren’t stupid. They give their readers what they want. If they didn’t they wouldn’t make money. More economic imperative than conspiracy. Nevertheless they are fighting over a smaller and smaller pie. Circulation has plummeted in one generation as they can’t compete with the internet. The bias you are talking about probably doesn’t matter as much as it did 20 and 30 years ago. Personally I never buy a newspaper and don’t click on links to the websites of the tabloids. I mainly read articles from the Guardian, the Times and the BBC to get a reasonable spread of views. I have no reason to believe that there aren’t many others who do the same.

 

[Machiavelli]

No, I probably have a similar view to you on that. The tabloids are just comics really and their ownership is mainly right wing. However they aren’t stupid. They give their readers what they want. If they didn’t they wouldn’t make money. More economic imperative than conspiracy. Nevertheless they are fighting over a smaller and smaller pie. Circulation has plummeted in one generation as they can’t compete with the internet. The bias you are talking about probably doesn’t matter as much as it did 20 and 30 years ago. Personally I never buy a newspaper and don’t click on links to the websites of the tabloids. I mainly read articles from the Guardian, the Times and the BBC to get a reasonable spread of views. I have no reason to believe that there aren’t many others who do the same.

Good. I agree with all of this, apart from the last sentence (like myself, you'll find that others are very different from you and don't replicate our practices). I also think that you've provided very helpful advice for those (like myself) that identify on the left, ie that they can be sanctimonious, convinced they're right/rational and more knowledgeable, and that such attributes are rarely very effective in persuading others.

 

[A1X]

[tweet]1480872355064950786[/tweet]

 

[Napper]

well done to everyone that voted for them

#getthemout

 

[Rambo]

I dont usually comment on Politics and try to give the benefit of the doubt as much as possible but this situation, if true, is just plain ridiculous. How can a 'leader' let this happen?

May 20th was my late fathers last birthday on the planet, and I couldnt spend it with him because of these 'laws'.

My Dad did not like the Tory's and I now I can see why.

I have given you long enough Boris, but now its personal, as it is for a lot of people.

Time to step down.

 

[Surf's Up]

Just as a matter of interest can anyone tell me who Sue Gray and Cressida Dick are ultimately accountable to??

 

[Thunder Bolt]

The Paymaster General, Michael Ellis, drew the short straw to answer questions about the party. Other Tory ministers seem to be in hiding.

 

[clapham_gull]

Just as a matter of interest can anyone tell me who Sue Gray and Cressida Dick are ultimately accountable to??

Well Cressida Dick is accountable to The London Mayor and the Home Secretary. The Home Secretary is accountable to the Prime Minister, but the Mayor of London isn't.

 

[rippleman]

The Paymaster General, Michael Ellis, drew the short straw to answer questions about the party. Other Tory ministers seem to be in hiding.

I have been watching the coverage. The PMG has made an embarrassing balls up. He looks as weak and incompetent as our dear leader. Pathetic.

 

[Surf's Up]

Well Cressida Dick is accountable to The London Mayor and the Home Secretary. The Home Secretary is accountable to the Prime Minister, but the Mayor of London isn't.

Thanks, so Cressidas Dick has a clear line of political accountability, ultimately to the occupant of No 10. Perhaps that explains why the Met seems to be so reluctant to investigate any of the party allegations (to part answer my own question - the Met apparently have a hastily cobbled together and very convenient policy of no retrospective investigations re Covid)?
And Sue Gray is a senior civil servant so presumably she also is in some way accountable to ministers and No 10?
Can you see where I'm coming from

 

[clapham_gull]

Thanks, so Cressidas Dick has a clear line of political accountability, ultimately to the occupant of No 10. Perhaps that explains why the Met seems to be so reluctant to investigate any of the party allegations (to part answer my own question - the Met apparently have a hastily cobbled together and very convenient policy of no retrospective investigations re Covid)?
And Sue Gray is a senior civil servant so presumably she also is in some way accountable to ministers and No 10?
Can you see where I'm coming from

I think the reluctance to investigate, is the reluctance of the MET to politicise themselves when others are trying to politicise them.

Up to now, there hasn't been that much to investigate in terms of criminality, although those involved were clearly detached from reality.

Police would probably look at it and see:

Staff still expected to work together in an office.
Being encourage (where they could) to work outside.
A drinking culture in Westminster.

I know it looks odd to see people drinking in meetings, but it doesn't to me because I used to work in a drinking culture like that in the 90s and into the evening shift it wasn't just drink...

That kind of culture completely blurs the lines between what is a "drinks event" and a "meeting" and the Police have probably got better things to do.

However, this new revelation is in a completely different ball park which is why the Police are now investigating.

It's a ****ing party organised 5 days before Cummings was finally forced to give a statement..

IN THE SAME GARDEN

They probably used the same odd tables.

 

[nicko31]

By dismissing views with which you disagree in such a contemptuous manner you are still proving my point. Your post sums up the confrontational approach that leads many to vote Tory.

There will always be places like Lichfield, 23,000 Tory majority.

Let me introduce Michael "I would rather have a PM that felt for his staff than a cold fish" Fabricant

https://twitter.com/MarinaPurkiss/status/1480878245398654979

 

[banjo]

The second time I’ve used this term for someone this week, and appropriately so. What a knobhead

 

[Da Man Clay]

Thanks, so Cressidas Dick has a clear line of political accountability, ultimately to the occupant of No 10. Perhaps that explains why the Met seems to be so reluctant to investigate any of the party allegations (to part answer my own question - the Met apparently have a hastily cobbled together and very convenient policy of no retrospective investigations re Covid)?
And Sue Gray is a senior civil servant so presumably she also is in some way accountable to ministers and No 10?
Can you see where I'm coming from

Most forces don’t retrospectively investigate covid breaches - quite simply they get reported quite often (or did at the height of the pandemic) and realistically there was little value in investigating those reports when often the only thing forces would be doing was to give words of advice anyway. The policy won’t have been written on the basis for the No 10 issue. Investigating the No 10 issue would have been out of the ordinary

Chief Constables aren’t really accountable to the PM or the Home Sec. They are accountable to local police and crime commissioners who are the only ones who can sack them.

 

[monty uk]

[QU QOTE=nicko31;10131985]There will always be places like Lichfield, 23,000 Tory majority.

Let me introduce Michael "I would rather have a PM that felt for his staff than a cold fish" Fabricant

https://twitter.com/MarinaPurkiss/status/1480878245398654979[/QUOTE]

Well, I'd rather have a cold fish.

A wet slab of cod would make a far better PM than that buffoon.

 

[clapham_gull]

Chief Constables aren’t really accountable to the PM or the Home Sec. They are accountable to local police and crime commissioners who are the only ones who can sack them.

But the MET are. They are accountable to the Mayor (whose is London's Police and Crime Commissioner) and the Home Secretary.

 

[vegster]

Thanks, so Cressidas Dick has a clear line of political accountability, ultimately to the occupant of No 10. Perhaps that explains why the Met seems to be so reluctant to investigate any of the party allegations (to part answer my own question - the Met apparently have a hastily cobbled together and very convenient policy of no retrospective investigations re Covid)?
And Sue Gray is a senior civil servant so presumably she also is in some way accountable to ministers and No 10?
Can you see where I'm coming from

I think you might find that the ultimate person who will have the authority and the right to hand out the disciplinary penalties is..... Step forward Boris Johnson!!!! So, don't expect much of a penalty from him!

 

[vegster]

But the MET are. They are accountable to the Mayor (whose is London's Police and Crime Commissioner) and the Home Secretary.

And which recent Home Secretary owes her job to a boss who refused to punish her for proven bullying?


Edit: just so long as he doesn't topple a statue Johnson will be fine.