General UK politics

[Andy_Ross]

Kate McCann (Political Correspondent at Sky News) tweeted
@KateEMcCann
·
1h
Trudy Harrison, PM's PPS, contacted a private charter company on 25 Aug 21 (same date as FCO letter) to secure plane to evacuate animals and staff for Nowzad. A private sponsor funded, but she made clear her role with PM and told staff he was keen to get animals out quickly.

Source at the company said Harrison was keen to get press on the plane to watch animals being evacuated to turn it into a good news story. They added she repeatedly talked about "the boss" and they felt it was obvious her requests came with his backing.

Harrison confirmed to Sky she did contact a number of companies to help "as a constituency MP" (but none of her constituents were directly involved). She admits she did tell staff she was PPS to PM but states Boris Johnson was not involved in any plans around evacuation.

It is notable that her first contact with the charter company, the FCO email (new today) and her letter published weeks ago on same issue all happened on 25 August 21. Dominic Dyer, who worked with Pen Farthing, told Sky PM got involved directly on 25, which unblocked the issues

A No10 spox said: "The PM had no role in authorising individual evacuations from Afghanistan during Op PITTING, including Nowzad staff and animals. At no point did the PM instruct staff to take any particular course of action on Nowzad."

 

[Andy_Ross]

Gavin Barwell tweeted
@GavinBarwell
·
14h
I've been a Conservative councillor, MP and Minister, the Party's Director of Campaigning and Chief of Staff to a Conservative Prime Minister. But it turns out that because I believe Prime Ministers should obey the laws they impose on the rest of us, I'm a leftie

Quote Tweet
BHAFC_#LBFB
@LorenzoBrauer
· 15h
Replying to @GavinBarwell
The only ppl who are angry are you lefties. This is a press witch hunt nothing more. He’s going nowhere.

 

[Andy_Ross]

Barwell a Leftie?

That's quite a shift in the Overton window.

 

[The Don]

Barwell a Leftie?

That's quite a shift in the Overton window.

Maybe it's going to be like the US, you're only a true conservative if you show complete loyalty to the Glorious Leader.

 

[Samson]

I'd trade you guys Trump for Johnson in a heartbeat. Just sayin'...

Agreed. Johnson will take his medicine like Socrates.

 

[Carrot Flower King]

Barwell a Leftie?

That's quite a shift in the Overton window.

It looks to me like "lefty" is being defined as those who value honesty, integrity, competence, ability, a capacity for critical thought, an awareness of the needs of others, among other things.

In which case, count me in!

We'll ignore my voting history and pretty much everything I have ever said about politics, economics, social issues, environmental issues, or pretty much anything...As that might be a bit of a give away as to where my views lie.

 

[jimbob]

It looks to me like "lefty" is being defined as those who value honesty, integrity, competence, ability, a capacity for critical thought, an awareness of the needs of others, among other things.

In which case, count me in!

We'll ignore my voting history and pretty much everything I have ever said about politics, economics, social issues, environmental issues, or pretty much anything...As that might be a bit of a give away as to where my views lie.

And the thing is, there are people who are naturally conservative in both the US and UK who have no party as they also believe in decency. I can think of several posters here who fit that bill.

 

[Andy_Ross]

SKY BREAKING NEWS

BREAKING NEWS: New photos show Boris drinking with the Berkeley Hunt at get together during first lockdown. More to follow…

 

[jimbob]

SKY BREAKING NEWS

BREAKING NEWS: New photos show Boris drinking with the Berkeley Hunt at get together during first lockdown. More to follow…

There is what looks like a fake account called SKY BREAKING NEWS

ETA: Yes

 

[sphenisc]

There is what looks like a fake account called SKY BREAKING NEWS

ETA: Yes

View attachment 46169

Yeah that did seem a bit on the nose.

 

[Mojo]

Yeah that did seem a bit on the nose.

I thought it was rhyming slang, I was just wondering which one.

 

[GlennB]

nm

 

[Andy_Ross]

I thought it was obvious it was a joke, sorry.

Like the posts by Sir Michael Take CBE

 

[jimbob]

Yes, but if I told you in January 2020* that there would be a defence of the PM for an obvious lie including "ambushed by cake" you'd probably think THAT would have to have been satire.


*Or even October 2021

 

[jimbob]

The Overton window for satire has gone way out. Forget Kissinger getting the Nobel Peace Prize.

 

[MarkCorrigan]

He is probably thinking “They all knew I was a compulsive liar when they elected me, what did they think I’d do?”

Which is actually something of a fair point. Boris Johnson is a nasty, racist, manipulative liar and a buffoon, but he didn't magically appear as leader of the country. The small minded little-Englanders elected his party, and by extension him.

I miss Cameron. I didn't like him one bit but at least he wasn't...this.

 

[jimbob]

The Overton window for satire has gone way out. Forget Kissinger getting the Nobel Peace Prize.

Case in point.

The Met is not objecting to Sue Gray's report being published as long as it redacts anything that they're investigating.

 

[Andy_Ross]

Met Police seeks limits to Sue Gray No 10 parties report
.The Metropolitan Police has asked senior civil servant Sue Gray to make "minimal reference" to events they are investigating in her report.

Ms Gray's inquiry into lockdown parties in Downing Street had been due to be released this week.

But the Met has asked her to leave out details of parties they are investigating for Covid rule-breaking.

In a statement, it said it wanted to "avoid any prejudice to our investigation".

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-60166997

 

[Andy_Ross]

The problem here is straightforward. The Govt and The Met are fundamentally untrustworthy. They will collaborate at the highest level to ensure the best possible outcome for themselves

How would a factual civil service report about events the police is investigating "prejudice" their investigation?

 

[The Don]

Met Police seeks limits to Sue Gray No 10 parties report
.The Metropolitan Police has asked senior civil servant Sue Gray to make "minimal reference" to events they are investigating in her report.

Ms Gray's inquiry into lockdown parties in Downing Street had been due to be released this week.

But the Met has asked her to leave out details of parties they are investigating for Covid rule-breaking.

In a statement, it said it wanted to "avoid any prejudice to our investigation".

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-60166997

Well the Met have played an absolute blinder for the government there.

If there is any evidence of wrongdoing, then that must be redacted (because the Met will be investigating anything where there is evidence of wrongdoing) so by definition the report can only contain references to cases where there is no wrongdoing.

The published report will exonerate the government, and whenever the Met report is published in months or years time, it'll be too late and we'll all have forgotten.