Owen Paterson - 'there's nothing to see here...'

[Jordi Culé]

Re: Owen Paterson - 'there's nothing to see here...'

Yet more whataboutery from you - why do you do it so often when there is a bad news story concerning the party of the right on either side of the Atlantic, but never when it is Labour or the Democrats that are under fire?

The clear difference between the Webbe and Paterson cases is that the former has been tried and convicted without a Government whipping it's MPS to vote for a change in the legal process afterwards which would overturn the verdict arrived at on the latter. Jon pointed out earlier that nineteen Tory MPs who had, effectively voted for the abolition of the Parliamentary Commission for Standards had complaints upheld against them in the past by said commission - the Government majority was eighteen.

Also, while sympathy clearly has to go out to Mr Paterson following his wife's suicide, it needs to be pointed out that she took her life in 2020 and he started undertaking paid lobbying work four years earlier.

The suicide of his wife was a strange sideshow and reports have said previously Paterson has suggested the investigation into his corrupt behaviour may have contributed to her poor mental health.

I don’t suppose he’s asked himself what may be the cause of the investigation as he’s stated he feels he’s entirely innocent?

His resignation statement also remarks that he doesn’t want his wife’s death used by political opponents as a “political football,” I may have this wrong but wasn’t the first person to use his wife’s suicide as some sort of mitigating circumstance Boris Johnson?

Boris then still throws him under the bus.

It’s sad but laughable.

[the other bob wilson]

Re: Owen Paterson - 'there's nothing to see here...'

The suicide of his wife was a strange sideshow and reports have said previously Paterson has suggested the investigation into his corrupt behaviour may have contributed to her poor mental health.

I don’t suppose he’s asked himself what may be the cause of the investigation as he’s stated he feels he’s entirely innocent?

His resignation statement also remarks that he doesn’t want his wife’s death used by political opponents as a “political football,” I may have this wrong but wasn’t the first person to use his wife’s suicide as some sort of mitigating circumstance Boris Johnson?

Boris then still throws him under the bus.

It’s sad but laughable.

This tends to confirm that Johnson has more to fear from his own party than the feeble official opposition.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-59188972

[Jordi Culé]

Re: Owen Paterson - 'there's nothing to see here...'

This tends to confirm that Johnson has more to fear from his own party than the feeble official opposition.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-59188972

Can of worms...

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/nov/07/return-of-the-sleazy-party-the-conservatives-and-the-owen-paterson-affair

[life on mars]

Re: Owen Paterson - 'there's nothing to see here...'

Lets have a system where there is no second salary for MP's across the political divide and we pay them more than the 81k they get now , ban all donations including business and Unions as its only for lobbying and influence anyways .

Dear Comrades get tax payers to fund the revolution .

[the other bob wilson]

Re: Owen Paterson - 'there's nothing to see here...'

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/nov/08/corrupt-regimes-cynicism-britain-voters-political-class

[the other bob wilson]

Re: Owen Paterson - 'there's nothing to see here...'

And I’ve been called disrespectful when I say they’re the what’s in it for me party;-

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/nov/10/geoffrey-cox-accrued-at-least-6m-from-second-job-while-a-parliamentarian

https://www.indy100.com/politics/iain-duncan-smith-second-job-sanitiser-b1954936

[the other bob wilson]

Re: Owen Paterson - 'there's nothing to see here...'

Is Tory sleaze becoming something more serious than a mid term blip? I’d be more hopeful if I had more faith in opposition parties pressing home the opportunity they’re being given;-

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10196665/Now-Boris-Johnson-pays-price-polls-Labour-race-ahead-Tories-SIX-points.html

[jon1959]

Re: Owen Paterson - 'there's nothing to see here...'

Is Tory sleaze becoming something more serious than a mid term blip? I’d be more hopeful if I had more faith in opposition parties pressing home the opportunity they’re being given;-

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...IX-points.html

My guess is that Johnson will ride it out.

One poll, or even a series of polls, that show public anger is just a snapshot. Short memories and other distractions are likely to bury this 'bad week' or 'bad month'.

If the Tories decide Johnson is a liability they will dump him and bring in a more competent replacement - or even just a replacement!

Labour shows little sign of taking advantage. They have a dull and apolitical leader (who has broken every one of his leadership campaign promises), no clear alternative vision or policies for the country, and are more concerned with destroying the socialist wing of the party than taking on the Tories. The Labour membership is also melting away (which is fatal for electioneering). It has officially dropped from around 570,000 to 400,000 - but the email storm that followed the Labour data leak 2 weeks ago showed that the party still counts as members thousands of people who left up to 2 years ago. It's becoming an empty shell. The SNP are more effective, but have little cut through to English politics.

[the other bob wilson]

Re: Owen Paterson - 'there's nothing to see here...'

My guess is that Johnson will ride it out.

One poll, or even a series of polls, that show public anger is just a snapshot. Short memories and other distractions are likely to bury this 'bad week' or 'bad month'.

If the Tories decide Johnson is a liability they will dump him and bring in a more competent replacement - or even just a replacement!

Labour shows little sign of taking advantage. They have a dull and apolitical leader (who has broken every one of his leadership campaign promises), no clear alternative vision or policies for the country, and are more concerned with destroying the socialist wing of the party than taking on the Tories. The Labour membership is also melting away (which is fatal for electioneering). It has officially dropped from around 570,000 to 400,000 - but the email storm that followed the Labour data leak 2 weeks ago showed that the party still counts as members thousands of people who left up to 2 years ago. It's becoming an empty shell. The SNP are more effective, but have little cut through to English politics.

I tend to agree with you, but I've read a lot of Tories saying things like "you're doing well until you're not" in recent weeks. What I think they mean by that is that, once the electorate change, it's pretty final and there's no coming back - I'd also say that, as much as any British political leader I can remember, there is an element of Emperor's new clothes about Johnson whereby people suddenly see what has been clear to many others for ages.

I mentioned other parties, but, in essence, I meant Labour. They, and especially Starmer, have to recognise the current situation for what it is - one of what will be very few opportunities to turn the next election into something which may not be another disaster, but I don't think he has the political courage to do it and I don't think the party has the political will to do it - they much prefer pointless right v left battles.

[jon1959]

Re: Owen Paterson - 'there's nothing to see here...'

True. These chances don't come along too often.

But the Tories have presented an open goal and Starmer has blasted the ball over the bar into Row Z from 3 yards out.

Johnson has more to worry about from the Men In Grey Suits than the opposition.

Although it sounds as if he may be bored by playing at Prime Minister and fancies a career change to something more lucrative? He may not mind stepping down as long as it doesn't look like he was dumped. Maybe a resignation to spend more time with his families?

[the other bob wilson]

Re: Owen Paterson - 'there's nothing to see here...'

True. These chances don't come along too often.

But the Tories have presented an open goal and Starmer has blasted the ball over the bar into Row Z from 3 yards out.

Johnson has more to worry about from the Men In Grey Suits than the opposition.

Although it sounds as if he may be bored by playing at Prime Minister and fancies a career change to something more lucrative? He may not mind stepping down as long as it doesn't look like he was dumped. Maybe a resignation to spend more time with his families?

[Jordi Culé]

Re: Owen Paterson - 'there's nothing to see here...'

True. These chances don't come along too often.

But the Tories have presented an open goal and Starmer has blasted the ball over the bar into Row Z from 3 yards out.

Johnson has more to worry about from the Men In Grey Suits than the opposition.

Although it sounds as if he may be bored by playing at Prime Minister and fancies a career change to something more lucrative? He may not mind stepping down as long as it doesn't look like he was dumped. Maybe a resignation to spend more time with his families?

Cruel notion there Jon.

Haven’t his families suffered enough?