The Two-faced, hypocritical Buffoon and his Party set for a Mauling at PMQ's Today..

[A Quiet Monkfish]

It looks like a barbecue gathering, but other food has replaced the cooked meat. The demeanour of the people photographed puts me more in mind of a barbecue than any sort of work setting I experienced in my forty years of as an office worker - I went to similar type gatherings with people I worked with, but they were very much social occasions.

..and this is why the Govt. would love there to be a Police investigation into 'partygate'. It will become so trivialized, with arguments about the size of the buns, was there sauce, how were people sitting, etc.

[Baloo]

So the question is whether they came together for a social gathering or that they had been at work for the day as claimed and were taking some time out and refreshment at the end of the day?

I don't think anybody anticipated the rules about social gatherings changed according to what you had been doing previously during the day. The spirit was that people should just avoid gathering, but were able to do so when this was required to perform work that couldn't be done at home.

[lisvaneblue]

I don't think anybody anticipated the rules about social gatherings changed according to what you had been doing previously during the day. The spirit was that people should just avoid gathering, but were able to do so when this was required to perform work that couldn't be done at home.

You make a good point, but according to Boris et al these people were still at the office. They hadn't finished work and gone off to the local pub. They were in the office private garden taking some refreshment.

Whether people believe that or not who knows. The media certainly don't.

[Baloo]

You make a good point, but according to Boris et al these people were still at the office. They hadn't finished work and gone off to the local pub.

The pubs were all closed. Nowhere to go for a drink after work unfortunately.

[lisvaneblue]

The pubs were all closed. Nowhere to go for a drink after work unfortunately.

So we have a group of workers that could not do their job from home. They had to get to central London, had been advised to avoid public transport, so the journey would likely have not been easy. Restaurants and pubs closed so no where to get a meal or drink then probably a long journey home for many.
In these circumstances I think it reasonable to give them some refreshment at the end of the day before they leave work.

[Hilts]

So we have a group of workers that could not do their job from home. They had to get to central London, had been advised to avoid public transport, so the journey would likely have not been easy. Restaurants and pubs closed so no where to get a meal or drink then probably a long journey home for many.
In these circumstances I think it reasonable to give them some refreshment at the end of the day before they leave work.

Totally reasonable.

Crack open the wine.

I despair.

[Baloo]

So we have a group of workers that could not do their job from home. They had to get to central London, had been advised to avoid public transport, so the journey would likely have not been easy. Restaurants and pubs closed so no where to get a meal or drink then probably a long journey home for many.
In these circumstances I think it reasonable to give them some refreshment at the end of the day before they leave work.

Not exactly. Carrie Johnson and it appears their son Wilf are sat there too.

The rules for everybody else were that if you had to work in the office in-person meetings should take place only if ‘absolutely necessary’. 2-metre social distancing was required in any case. On that very day Hancock told the nation to stick to the rules and not take advantage of the good weather to socialise in groups outside.

The spirit of the rules were in essence to avoid meeting with people if at all possible for everybody’s safety. Not that it was OK if you were a bit hungry or tired. People were restricted from attending funerals at the time in these numbers. Lots of people travelled into work and straight home again day-in, day-out throughout this period, my wife included. We were told to take the rules seriously.

Blithely dismissing anger and criticism directed at this this given the environment we were all struggling in at the time is poor form imo. You and No 10 clearly feel this was all fine and people are overreacting probably just to point score. Not much more we can say really,

[lisvaneblue]

Not exactly. Carrie Johnson and it appears their son Wilf are sat there too.

The rules for everybody else were that if you had to work in the office in-person meetings should take place only if ‘absolutely necessary’. 2-metre social distancing was required in any case. On that very day Hancock told the nation to stick to the rules and not take advantage of the good weather to socialise in groups outside.

The spirit of the rules were in essence to avoid meeting with people if at all possible for everybody’s safety. Not that it was OK if you were a bit hungry or tired. People were restricted from attending funerals at the time in these numbers. Lots of people travelled into work and straight home again day-in, day-out throughout this period, my wife included. We were told to take the rules seriously.

Blithely dismissing anger and criticism directed at this this given the environment we were all struggling in at the time is poor form imo. You and No 10 clearly feel this was all fine and people are overreacting. Not much more we can say really,

I said earlier that I did not agree with what happened. We all found that period of time difficult. I'm just trying to get some balance here. It doesn't look like a piss up to me, nor does it look like a group that are out partying.
It's pretty obvious that the press is making a meal of it and many on this board are too. We don't know all the facts, we don't know what time of day it was, we don't know if it was alcohol free wine, we don't know if they went back indoors for further meetings or what. But everyone is very quick to judge. So be it.

[cyril evans awaydays]

Not exactly. Carrie Johnson and it appears their son Wilf are sat there too.

The rules for everybody else were that if you had to work in the office in-person meetings should take place only if ‘absolutely necessary’. 2-metre social distancing was required in any case. On that very day Hancock told the nation to stick to the rules and not take advantage of the good weather to socialise in groups outside.

The spirit of the rules were in essence to avoid meeting with people if at all possible for everybody’s safety. Not that it was OK if you were a bit hungry or tired. People were restricted from attending funerals at the time in these numbers. Lots of people travelled into work and straight home again day-in, day-out throughout this period, my wife included. We were told to take the rules seriously.

Blithely dismissing anger and criticism directed at this this given the environment we were all struggling in at the time is poor form imo. You and No 10 clearly feel this was all fine and people are overreacting probably just to point score. Not much more we can say really,

Look LisvaneBlue is just trying to bring some balance to the discussion around possible Covid restriction transgressions. In the same way that he argued that Vaughan Gething should be sacked for eating an ice cream sitting on a park bench and that Dominic Cummings was only doing what any normal human being would do for his ailing wife and child, he thinks that this is only an issue because it is open season on Boris Johnson.

It's almost like there is a pattern there!

[SLUDGE FACTORY]

I said earlier that I did not agree with what happened. We all found that period of time difficult. I'm just trying to get some balance here. It doesn't look like a piss up to me, nor does it look like a group that are out partying.
It's pretty obvious that the press is making a meal of it and many on this board are too. We don't know all the facts, we don't know what time of day it was, we don't know if it was alcohol free wine, we don't know if they went back indoors for further meetings or what. But everyone is very quick to judge. So be it.

Never mind a piss up , people were not allowed to do this , no excuses ....these people were in power , making decisions

Either they do what they are told like we do or they get the cane

[Dorcus]

Look LisvaneBlue is just trying to bring some balance to the discussion around possible Covid restriction transgressions. In the same way that he argued that Vaughan Gething should be sacked for eating an ice cream sitting on a park bench and that Dominic Cummings was only doing what any normal human being would do for his ailing wife and child, he thinks that this is only an issue because it is open season on Boris Johnson.

It's almost like there is a pattern there!

I think all this baloney proves is that Tory supporters will support their heroes no matter what. It's a little bit like when Donald Trump said he could murder someone and still get away with it with much of his fan base.

I think the same thing to a lesser degree is true here with Johnson and his cronies. I often wonder if he would lose support with his cheerleaders if he committed a murder. I suspect, to be fair, the vast majority would have nothing to do with him but I wouldn't mind betting there would be a sizeable chunk of his devotees who would still excuse him.

It seems to me that so much of the populace now have an intrinsic hatred of left wing politics they would find almost any excuse to support the Tories. Selfishness abounds.

In this case the poster makes a fair point in suggesting that having some refreshment in the open air after a business meeting is innocent enough, and of course in normal times it would be. But this was during a period when the Health Secretary appeared on television expressly telling the public to avoid such gatherings in the open air, despite the appeal of the lovely weather prevailing at the time.

We can all pontificate whether any law is a good or bad law but at the end of the day the law is the law and it is not to be treated as something to pick and choose adherence to. Lord knows, the Tories have for time immemorial chucked the importance of the law down our throats. When it suits their agenda of course.

For anyone of any political persuasion not to see this as a fundamental betrayal of the people by their elected government is absurd. And because trust is the bedrock of democracy, everyone should be clear just how heinous these series of photos really are.

[Baloo]

I said earlier that I did not agree with what happened. We all found that period of time difficult. I'm just trying to get some balance here. It doesn't look like a piss up to me, nor does it look like a group that are out partying.
It's pretty obvious that the press is making a meal of it and many on this board are too. We don't know all the facts, we don't know what time of day it was, we don't know if it was alcohol free wine, we don't know if they went back indoors for further meetings or what. But everyone is very quick to judge. So be it.

We know what the rules were though. It seems to me the ‘balancing’ points you raise are essentially just ‘red herrings’ designed to suggest some doubt still exists when really we’re dealing with straightforward rules here that are ‘black & white’, at least for most people.

This government has attracted a reputation for deceit, double-standards and taking people for fools and this appears to be another example which is may be why it’s being more widely examined. You reap what you sow. And their denials, excuses and wriggling turns a misjudgement into something that just further cements this view with many people.

Anyway, that’s my pennethworth. I try not to get embroiled in online debates tbh and I don’t think we’re going to find a middle-ground we can agree on here so let’s just beg to differ.

[The Bloop]

Shall we all just agree to put aside all of our differences for a day or two, have a kick about over the park, then resume the keyboard hostilities (socially distant of course) on Boxing Day?

[JamesWales]

Shall we all just agree to put aside all of our differences for a day or two, have a kick about over the park, then resume the keyboard hostilities (socially distant of course) on Boxing Day?

This is exactly the kind of thing a fascist would say.

[SLUDGE FACTORY]

Shall we all just agree to put aside all of our differences for a day or two, have a kick about over the park, then resume the keyboard hostilities (socially distant of course) on Boxing Day?

Indeed , let's go fox hunting

[cyril evans awaydays]

I think all this baloney proves is that Tory supporters will support their heroes no matter what. It's a little bit like when Donald Trump said he could murder someone and still get away with it with much of his fan base.

I think the same thing to a lesser degree is true here with Johnson and his cronies. I often wonder if he would lose support with his cheerleaders if he committed a murder. I suspect, to be fair, the vast majority would have nothing to do with him but I wouldn't mind betting there would be a sizeable chunk of his devotees who would still excuse him.

It seems to me that so much of the populace now have an intrinsic hatred of left wing politics they would find almost any excuse to support the Tories. Selfishness abounds.

In this case the poster makes a fair point in suggesting that having some refreshment in the open air after a business meeting is innocent enough, and of course in normal times it would be. But this was during a period when the Health Secretary appeared on television expressly telling the public to avoid such gatherings in the open air, despite the appeal of the lovely weather prevailing at the time.

We can all pontificate whether any law is a good or bad law but at the end of the day the law is the law and it is not to be treated as something to pick and choose adherence to. Lord knows, the Tories have for time immemorial chucked the importance of the law down our throats. When it suits their agenda of course.

For anyone of any political persuasion not to see this as a fundamental betrayal of the people by their elected government is absurd. And because trust is the bedrock of democracy, everyone should be clear just how heinous these series of photos really are.

I don't subscribe to the view that all Tories are bad. I would suspect that most of the friends I have in the South East of England have differing political views to me. I have also worked for some Conservative Ministers who I found honourable and wanted to do the decent thing,

Those people are different to the majority of those in the current government. Johnson is amoral and self entitled and has shaped a cabinet and administration around him that in good part adopt those traits. Good people have been marginalised or were encouraged out as their face and ethics didn't fit. The behaviours demonstrated in the photo and other similar events should not be judged of Left or Right but Wrong and Right.

[Jimmy the Jock]

I don't subscribe to the view that all Tories are bad. I would suspect that most of the friends I have in the South East of England have differing political views to me. I have also worked for some Conservative Ministers who I found honourable and wanted to do the decent thing,

Those people are different to the majority of those in the current government. Johnson is amoral and self entitled and has shaped a cabinet and administration around him that in good part adopt those traits. Good people have been marginalised or were encouraged out as their face and ethics didn't fit. The behaviours demonstrated in the photo and other similar events should not be judged of Left or Right but Wrong and Right.

Not before time . A sensible comment.

[the other bob wilson]

I don't subscribe to the view that all Tories are bad. I would suspect that most of the friends I have in the South East of England have differing political views to me. I have also worked for some Conservative Ministers who I found honourable and wanted to do the decent thing,

Those people are different to the majority of those in the current government. Johnson is amoral and self entitled and has shaped a cabinet and administration around him that in good part adopt those traits. Good people have been marginalised or were encouraged out as their face and ethics didn't fit. The behaviours demonstrated in the photo and other similar events should not be judged of Left or Right but Wrong and Right.

Well said Cyril. In the last five years, I’ve become much more politically engaged than I’d like to be. The reason for that is that in the USA first and now over here men who should never have got within a hundred miles of the White House or 10 Downing Street have taken their countries in awful directions. Yes, I’m a left winger and the two men concerned are to the right politically, but I never felt like this under the hated Thatcher or Reagan, Major, Cameron, May or Bush - Trump and Johnson are dangerous, narcissistic, incompetents who could end up opening the door for worse to come because they have caused changes in the political mainstream which are pretty frightening.

And, to lighten the mood a little;-

https://www.indy100.com/politics/dow...memes-b1979967

[Dorcus]

I don't subscribe to the view that all Tories are bad. I would suspect that most of the friends I have in the South East of England have differing political views to me. I have also worked for some Conservative Ministers who I found honourable and wanted to do the decent thing,

Those people are different to the majority of those in the current government. Johnson is amoral and self entitled and has shaped a cabinet and administration around him that in good part adopt those traits. Good people have been marginalised or were encouraged out as their face and ethics didn't fit. The behaviours demonstrated in the photo and other similar events should not be judged of Left or Right but Wrong and Right.

Thats all fine and dandy and I would agree there have been some honourable Tory MPs. Anna Soubry and Dominic Grieve are two that spring to mind so my post was not meant to include everyone of that persuasion.

However, in this instance we are talking about a Tory government and its transgressions at a significant point in the current crisis. My point was how disappointing it was to see supporters of the government attempting to play down the seriousness of the government's actions.

It would be equally as reprehensible if it were carried out by a Labour, LibDem or any other government and I would be equally as quick to condemn it.

You are right on one thing though, this is plainly an issue of Right v Wrong and I would just have been a little happier if the government's misdeeds had been condemned by one and all.

[the other bob wilson]

https://www.indy100.com/sport/leeds-...chant-b1979271

[A Quiet Monkfish]

Well said Cyril. In the last five years, I’ve become much more politically engaged than I’d like to be. The reason for that is that in the USA first and now over here men who should never have got within a hundred miles of the White House or 10 Downing Street have taken their countries in awful directions. Yes, I’m a left winger and the two men concerned are to the right politically, but I never felt like this under the hated Thatcher or Reagan, Major, Cameron, May or Bush - Trump and Johnson are dangerous, narcissistic, incompetents who could end up opening the door for worse to come because they have caused changes in the political mainstream which are pretty frightening.

And, to lighten the mood a little;-

https://www.indy100.com/politics/dow...memes-b1979967

'Hated' ? They were all democratically elected, as were Trump and Bush.

[the other bob wilson]

'Hated' ? They were all democratically elected, as were Trump and Bush.

My point was that I hated Thatcher (I didn’t hate any of the others I listed), but whatever she was, she wasn’t a wrong un like Johnson is.

[delmbox]

This is exactly the kind of thing a fascist would say.

made me laugh this

[Dorcus]

made me laugh this

Comedy gold 😁

[Dorcus]

'Hated' ? They were all democratically elected, as were Trump and Bush.

Only by a majority!