Taking the piss.

[Citizen's Nephew]

Re: Taking the piss.

Starmer couldn't ask that question as it's akin to accusing Johnson of lying which is not permissible in the House.

He correctly plays the long game, waiting until today to call on Johnson to resign. If he'd made frequent earlier calls, which would have fallen on deaf ears, the impact would have been negated.

I've just thought about this and I think you're right - it's akin to an accusation and is against the 'rather dated and stupid' Erskine May rules.

[Citizen's Nephew]

Re: Taking the piss.

Starmer couldn't ask that question as it's akin to accusing Johnson of lying which is not permissible in the House.

He correctly plays the long game, waiting until today to call on Johnson to resign. If he'd made frequent earlier calls, which would have fallen on deaf ears, the impact would have been negated.

Just looked and you can't call anyone a blackguard, coward, git, guttersnipe, hooligan, rat, swine or stoolpigeon either, which in fairness, does leave any leader of the opposition a bit stumped when it comes to Johnson!

[Claude Blue]

Re: Taking the piss.

I could be totally wrong here but does asking him if he lied to The House constitute him calling him a liar (I'm aware that's not the done thing though I think it's one of those stupid rules)? He's not stating that Johnson lied, he's asking him 'if' he lied whereby Johnson implicates himself or makes things worse or both? Isn't this the Erskine May bible thing?

You maybe right although I suspect that Starmer and his team deemed it safer not to make this point and risk losing a question.

Lyndsey Hoyle is not the strongest speaker sadly - i guess Starmer may have made this correct point if Bercow was still in situ!!

[Bluebirdman Of Alcathays]

Re: Taking the piss.

You clearly haven't read what I've written, which is that the scandal is disgusting and I don't see how he gets out of it and in all honesty I think he should resign.

But you can't change facts. The email wasn't sent by him. But he attended and tried to deny it and he's in it up to his neck.

There is no problem with sticking to the facts though is there? I always find that quite a useful strategy to employ tbh

I clearly read what you wrote, because I made reference to it and then you responded to my comment.

I'm all for sticking to facts. You said the secretary had a "brass neck" for sending the invitation email. Is this a fact?

[ToTaL ITK]

Re: Taking the piss.

There's a rumour that he shagged priti in the bogs and she's now carrying his love child.
far fetched?....this government...naaaahhh!!

[TWGL1]

Re: Taking the piss.

There's a rumour that he shagged priti in the bogs and she's now carrying his love child.
far fetched?....this government...naaaahhh!!

That’s too believable, it must be false

[A Quiet Monkfish]

Re: Taking the piss.

Come on now, all will be revealed after the senior civil servant's review.
We are all jumping the gun

Sir Kier missed a trick not asking him if he'd lied to the house.
He Johnson couldn't have hid behind the "wait til the findings of the review " comment.

Can't see the backbenchers taking much more brassnecking.
The end is nigh.

I'm not so sure. Over 2 years to the next general election and I think the economy is going to decide who governs the UK in 2024. Scandals like this - however distasteful - tend to have a short-term effect on government popularity. Also personality is a big factor - it's nothing new despite what people say. You can be the leader of the opposition or the Prime Minister and have good, popular policies, but if folk don't like you, you're toast. As they say, it's the economy stupid.

[ninian opinian]

Re: Taking the piss.

I’m confused. 5 weeks ago when Bodger and the Tories were denying there had been any parties at all.

[Hilts]

Re: Taking the piss.

I’m confused. 5 weeks ago when Bodger and the Tories were denying there had been any parties at all.

Keep up.

He thought dozens of pissed up toffs clutching bottles of chablis was a works meeting.

[TWGL1]

Re: Taking the piss.

If Gove was there it wouldn’t be just wine …….

[ninian opinian]

Re: Taking the piss.

If Gove was there it wouldn’t be just wine …….

What about greasy Rishi, he lives next door, did he report the party (cough I mean meeting) to the police?

[TWGL1]

Re: Taking the piss.

What about greasy Rishi, he lives next door, did he report the party (cough I mean meeting) to the police?

I very much doubt it… the police let them in

[lardy]

Re: Taking the piss.

You clearly haven't read what I've written, which is that the scandal is disgusting and I don't see how he gets out of it and in all honesty I think he should resign.

But you can't change facts. The email wasn't sent by him. But he attended and tried to deny it and he's in it up to his neck.

There is no problem with sticking to the facts though is there? I always find that quite a useful strategy to employ tbh

It's not the sending of an email that's the problem!

[JamesWales]

Re: Taking the piss.

It's not the sending of an email that's the problem!

Actually for me, it is. And I think for others hence why 'that email' was leaked. Because other events could be passed off as work meetings taken outside, whereas this quite clearly was an organised social event with BYOB - totally not allowed.

So Boris' only response should have been to condemn it and and not attend. The email changes my perception of it all, hence why I said it.

[cyril evans awaydays]

Re: Taking the piss.

Actually for me, it is. And I think for others hence why 'that email' was leaked. Because other events could be passed off as work meetings taken outside, whereas this quite clearly was an organised social event with BYOB - totally not allowed.

So Boris' only response should have been to condemn it and and not attend. The email changes my perception of it all, hence why I said it.

The tortured alternative reality you are trying to project is that Johnson's functionary, on his own initiative, decided to invite 100 people to a drinks party in complete disregard of the rules at the time, the brass neck of the fella. Johnson for his part should have stepped in when he found out about it and stopped it but should be criticised because he didn't.

The e-mail, which wasn't sent to Johnson, said

"Hi all,

"After what has been an incredibly busy period we thought it would be nice to make the most of the lovely weather and have some socially distanced drinks in the No10 garden this evening.

"Please join us from 6pm and bring your own booze!"

We don't know who the mysterious We and Us referenced in the mail from Johnson's PPS are, just that Johnson and his wife coincidentally racked up whilst it was going on thinking it was a work meeting.

Still the brass neck of the fall guy that sent it seems to be the issue?