How is the Tory government doing?

Shame on those who tried to defend the indefensible. More Tory whistle-blowing is likely.

It seems that, rather than rant and rave at PMQs (which could backfire in the public's estimation), Labour are going to maintain their dignity by allowing the law to take its course via police investigations.

Norpig wrote:As a life long Labour voter it breaks my heart and winds me up in equal measure that Labour can't put up a fight against possibly the worst PM we have ever had. Up to now he seems to have been teflon plated but the Xmas party could be his downfall.

It shows the state of British politics that people would rather have a lying, cheating ex Public schoolboy running this country and can excuse him of almost any of his many misdemeanors just because it's wacky old eccentric Boris.

If you take emotions out of all this then I think you will see that no one desires to have this behaviour from any government but there simply isn't an alternative to replace them with at the next election.

The only option I see is a large coalition of Labour, SNP, Plaid Cymru, Lib Dem, Greens, etc, and frankly I don't think anyone can bring them all together to achieve this.

I can't foresee a Labour landslide so what else is there other than the Conservatives to be re-elected again?

The Christmas Party is not a killer blow for Boris or the government and will blow over in time - I think Cummings/Barnard Castle and Patterson/attack on the regulator - to be far, far worse - and we've moved on from those.

We get what we deserve I suppose - perhaps if Labour hadn't picked the wrong Miliband or Corbyn we wouldn't be where we are today?

I actually think this could be a killer blow to Boris, whether they act now or in a month or two i can see him being replaced with Sunak. MPs are furious at (again) being wheeled out to defend the indefensible, before more evidence comes to light and completely undermines them. 

Telling that Javid was a no show for any of the morning briefings this morning, looking forward to hearing what they come out with at PMQs.

T.R.O.Y. wrote:I actually think this could be a killer blow to Boris, whether they act now or in a month or two i can see him being replaced with Sunak. MPs are furious at (again) being wheeled out to defend the indefensible, before more evidence comes to light and completely undermines them. 

Telling that Javid was a no show for any of the morning briefings this morning, looking forward to hearing what they come out with at PMQs.

I quite agree with this.

Given the considerable number of times they've had to face the cameras and reiterate/repeat ad nauseam a pre-prepared catchy phrase designed to deflect from the truth on Boris's behalf - and they all use the same pre-prepared wording - the Cabinet must at least be considering their positions.

On the one hand, Boris is an electable figure in our populist society and it is only through him that they got anywhere near positions of power. On the other hand he is a liability who repeatedly paints his Cabinet into a corner - which is eroding their personal credibility.

In today's PMQs Boris changed his statement about the Downing St Xmas bash from "the guidelines were followed" to "I have been repeatedly told the guidelines were followed" i.e. he is trying to distance himself and deflect on to someone else.

There will come a point - and I'm not sure we're there yet - that a serious challenge to his leadership will be mounted from within the party, however it will be done in such a way that Boris will wriggle out without being called to account for his actions e.g. retirement due to health reasons or some other bullshit excuse.

Whilst his tenure may be increasingly embarrassing for Tory voters, killing people through an incoherent Covid strategy and crippling the economy for generations to come is a disaster for everyone and perhaps Tories might wish to think about that rather than focusing solely on disowning him.

Boris has now apologised for the video but still says there was no party? 

T.R.O.Y. wrote:I actually think this could be a killer blow to Boris, whether they act now or in a month or two i can see him being replaced with Sunak. MPs are furious at (again) being wheeled out to defend the indefensible, before more evidence comes to light and completely undermines them. 

Telling that Javid was a no show for any of the morning briefings this morning, looking forward to hearing what they come out with at PMQs.

You're dreaming, it won't have any impact on him in the long term.

Chucking his staff under the bus was basically the only move he had left. Seemed a broken man at PMQs but a surprisingly noisy bench behind him, shameless twats.

Still waiting for the  much heralded Plan B announcement later today.

Is this purely a diversion tactic?

Any minute now!!

wanderlust wrote:Given the considerable number of times they've had to face the cameras and reiterate/repeat ad nauseam a pre-prepared catchy phrase designed to deflect from the truth on Boris's behalf - and they all use the same pre-prepared wording - the Cabinet must at least be considering their positions.

On the one hand, Boris is an electable figure in our populist society and it is only through him that they got anywhere near positions of power. On the other hand he is a liability who repeatedly paints his Cabinet into a corner - which is eroding their personal credibility.

In today's PMQs Boris changed his statement about the Downing St Xmas bash from "the guidelines were followed" to "I have been repeatedly told the guidelines were followed" i.e. he is trying to distance himself and deflect on to someone else.

There will come a point - and I'm not sure we're there yet - that a serious challenge to his leadership will be mounted from within the party, however it will be done in such a way that Boris will wriggle out without being called to account for his actions e.g. retirement due to health reasons or some other bullshit excuse.

Whilst his tenure may be increasingly embarrassing for Tory voters, killing people through an incoherent Covid strategy and crippling the economy for generations to come is a disaster for everyone and perhaps Tories might wish to think about that rather than focusing solely on disowning him.

You were doing well there Lusty until you undid it all by quoting an incoherent Covid policy and a crippling of the economy. Neither are true but let’s not let riddles get in the way of the truth shall we?

This Party thing has certainly put Boris on the spot and coming so soon after the other couple of recent issues has certainly been jumped on by his opponents as a way to get rid of him. I suspect that after investigation, a gathering of workmates in the workplace before leaving for the Christmas break, just like in hundreds of other work places across the country, will be the result. It is possible to do that, including wine and cheese if people stayed at their desks and obeyed distancing rules.

The Met are not investigating so it won’t get messy for the government and Boris will be saved as people switch their attentions to new Covid restrictions, migrant crossings and Christmas (hopefully) celebrations. Consequently I expect Boris to get off with it yet again and without a serious challenge to his leadership. Despite all this, he’s seen as an election winner and given the state of all of the opposition, I expect him to still be there to win again. Sorry but I’m afraid that’s how it will be.

A further update from Ross Atkins

Tory Party fined over PM's flat refurbishment......but the sly lies, denials, cover-ups and diversionary tactics continue. Rules and laws continue to be breached, without shame or genuine apology.

My favourite cartoon this morning was Matt's representation of the door of Number 10 with a party horn protruding from the letter box. 

Not sure why Stratton had to resign if there was no party. No others prepared to stand up for her or admit their guilt?? Total lack of a moral compass. No more whistle-blowers.....yet!?

Great article, as usual, from John Crace. Well worth spending a couple of minutes appreciating.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/dec/08/its-my-non-party-and-ill-lie-if-i-want-to-boris-johnson-is-bang-to-rights

Stern warning from Boris.!

Blimey! Now the Paymaster General is investigating three parties.

Ellis is of course, a Cabinet member so it's a self-policing job.

Update: 7 parties were held apparently.

Strange that the Police - who provided the security at some of these events claim to have no evidence - it's being described as the Malthouse Effect

Now it transpires that the Tory's Chief Press Officer - who issued the denials and advised Boris on what to say - was actually at a couple of the parties so something of a conflict of interest there. Obviously he should have recused himself and STFU given that it just looks like he's trying to clear himself let alone everyone else who attended.

But for now, no independent investigation.

Adding to Boris's woes are the stories coming out that he appears to have lied about the money he received to "decorate his flat" and a number of backbenchers are furious about the covid passport thing.

All in all I don't think it's enough to topple him yet but the natives are definitely getting restless.

wanderlust wrote:Blimey! Now the Paymaster General is investigating three parties.

Ellis is of course, a Cabinet member so it's a self-policing job.

Update: 7 parties were held apparently.

Strange that the Police - who provided the security at some of these events claim to have no evidence - it's being described as the Malthouse Effect

Now it transpires that the Tory's Chief Press Officer - who issued the denials and advised Boris on what to say - was actually at a couple of the parties so something of a conflict of interest there. Obviously he should have recused himself and STFU given that it just looks like he's trying to clear himself let alone everyone else who attended.

But for now, no independent investigation.

Adding to Boris's woes are the stories coming out that he appears to have lied about the money he received to "decorate his flat" and a number of backbenchers are furious about the covid passport thing.

All in all I don't think it's enough to topple him yet but the natives are definitely getting restless.

Eh???

The Paymaster General Michael Ellis is NOT investigating the parties???

So he can't be self-policing himself as you claim - can he???

The Cabinet Secretary Simon Case is the one doing the investigation!!!

Mr Case is the country's top ranking Civil Servant and completely impartial and of course leading a totally independent investigation - unless you are insinuating he is corrupt of course!!!

I have no idea what the Malthouse Effect is - unless you are referring to Kit Malthouse, the Minister of State for Crime and Policing - who gave that woeful interview on this matter a day or so ago.

Christ if you can get simple stuff like this right - which has been widely reported on since yesterday - then no wonder you talk so much biased and prejudicial bollocks most of the time!!!

Anyway this Tweet from Fawkes yesterday seems to be where most of the other stuff you posted originates from -

Whose Head Will Roll Over Downing Street Parties? https://t.co/i53bHG3v4r pic.twitter.com/vJun682exS

— Guido Fawkes (@GuidoFawkes) December 8, 2021