[TobyD]

The public declaration of 3 more Conservative MPs that they've lost confidence in the PM prompted: "a furious reaction from the culture secretary, Nadine Dorries, who called the rebels “a handful of egos” who were “selfish, doing Labour’s work and it’s really not helping their constituents”
From a lady who ate ostrich anus on reality television whilst purporting to represent a constituency isn't that slightly rich?

[Paul B]

https://twitter.com/PippaCrerar/status/1489262472762511365?t=pZgnmUGu_VyA_vnbRW2DLg&s=19

I'd recommend people read the letter in full.

 

[sdm]

https://web.archive.org/web/20220203162904/https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/exclusive-boris-s-policy-chief-quits-over-jimmy-savile-slur

For anyone who wanted to read the letter in full without contributing to that bigoted propaganda machine.

Dear Prime Minister,

It is with great regret that I am writing to resign as your Head of Policy.

You are aware of the reason for my decision: I believe it was wrong for you to imply this week that Keir Starmer was personally responsible for allowing Jimmy Savile to escape justice. There was no fair or reasonable basis for that assertion. This was not the normal cut-and-thrust of politics; it was an inappropriate and partisan reference to a horrendous case of child sex abuse. You tried to clarify your position today but, despite my urging, you did not apologise for the misleading impression you gave.

I have served you for fourteen years and it has been a privilege to do so. You have achieved many important things both as Prime Minister and, before that, as Mayor of London. You are a man of extraordinary abilities with a unique talent for connecting with people.

You are a better man than many of your detractors will ever understand which is why it is desperately sad that you let yourself down by making a scurrilous accusation against the Leader of the Opposition.

Even now, I hope you find it in yourself to apologise for a grave error of judgement made under huge pressure. I appreciate that our political culture is not forgiving when people say sorry, but regardless, it is the right thing to do. It is not too late for you but, I’m sorry to say, it is too late for me.

Yours sincerely,

Munira

[ali k]

Be nice to believe this was a principled resignation. But she’s stuck with him through far worse so it’s clearly a rat fleeing the sinking ship.

[mrjonathanr]

 Not sure Mirza and principled are words I would use together, unless the principle in question is to exploit every shabby prejudice to maximum advantage.

[TobyD]

Be nice to believe this was a principled resignation. But she’s stuck with him through far worse so it’s clearly a rat fleeing the sinking ship.

Rats surely?  To lose one of your advisers is careless,  but four?

[DAVETHOMAS90]

I did enjoy this.



They've edited out the phallus waving Redhead.

[TobyD]

Another government adviser quits:

https://twitter.com/PaulGoodmanCH/status/1489506331816042496?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1489506331816042496%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Fnews%2Flive%2Fuk-politics-60256680

It's beginning to look like the Trump White House.

[tommytwotone]

In respect of "major lieutenants resigning around him", or "puppet head of state clinging on to office before he is finally removed against his will"?

[SA Chris]

Imagine Tory supporters invading No 10 in support of their hero. Rushing there in their hybrid SUVs, trying to find parking, then queuing up at  the door and knocking politely (yes I'm stereotyping).

[TobyD]

In respect of "major lieutenants resigning around him", or "puppet head of state clinging on to office before he is finally removed against his will"?

While the failing PM / president parrots far right internet conspiracy theories in desperation?
All 3 of those.

[SA Chris]

Apparently aides quitting is proof of the PM "taking charge"

 https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/boris-johnson-news-sunak-savile-latest-b2007562.html

Yep, sure it is.

[TobyD]

Apparently aides quitting is proof of the PM "taking charge"

 https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/boris-johnson-news-sunak-savile-latest-b2007562.html

Yep, sure it is.

In the same way that passengers on the Titanic 'disembarked' perhaps?

[TobyD]

A fantastic quote from an old political opinion article from 2006 about prime minister Tony Blair:
“It is a wonderful and necessary fact of political biology that we never know when our time is up. Long after it is obvious to everyone that we are goners, we continue to believe in our ‘duty’ to hang on, with cuticle-wrenching tenacity, to the perks and privileges of our posts. We kid ourselves that we must stay because we would be ‘letting people down’ . . .” written by Boris Johnson.

[DAVETHOMAS90]

Jeez. That's a beaut.

"..the perks and privileges of our posts".

I read "cuticle-wrenching tenacity" and thought for a moment that this should be in the max hangs thread.

I know that I'm making the same mistake I made about Brexit, when the reality is probably a long way from what I imagine.
How much support does Johnson have within the party?

The media are also polarizing things. We all are, aren't we? I am, in use of the assumptive "We".
All my cognitive biases are at work when I sift through the news, looking for the latest scandal, the video of the resignation speech. Can't seem to find it.
Boris has aspirations of emulating Churchill, when the irony is that he's more likely to be found dead in his bunker.

[TobyD]

Jeez. That's a beaut.

"..the perks and privileges of our posts".

I read "cuticle-wrenching tenacity" and thought for a moment that this should be in the max hangs thread.

I know that I'm making the same mistake I made about Brexit, when the reality is probably a long way from what I imagine.
How much support does Johnson have within the party?

The media are also polarizing things. We all are, aren't we? I am, in use of the assumptive "We".
All my cognitive biases are at work when I sift through the news, looking for the latest scandal, the video of the resignation speech. Can't seem to find it.
Boris has aspirations of emulating Churchill, when the irony is that he's more likely to be found dead in his bunker.

I'd agree it's pretty easy to become blinkered and unaware of how general opinion is on any issue; I pretty regularly read some of the Times and Spectator as well as Guardian, I etc; although I'm sure I am looking at them in a partial way, there is a widespread derision for Johnson, his behaviour and policies, albeit for different reasons. My guess is that people in general are beginning to sour on him at the moment, which may reverse or continue depending on what he does now.

[spidermonkey09]

Perhaps the worst public servant in history finally goes, albeit she had to be forced out. Good riddance.

[battery]

Perhaps the worst public servant in history finally goes, albeit she had to be forced out. Good riddance.

I will celebrate only if she is replaced with someone who has the backbone to admit there is an institutional problem and someone who is not a wannabe politician. We shall see....

[Paul B]

Bas Javid?

[joel182]

Perhaps the worst public servant in history finally goes, albeit she had to be forced out. Good riddance.

devastating that i had no idea who you meant until i checked on the news who it was. could have been any of about half a dozen people. hope the rest of them are gone sooner rather than later, but i doubt it.

[Fultonius]

Can someone put a name to this? My googling hasn't thrown anything up.

[Will Hunt]

Cressida Dick

[James Malloch]

In politics, does acted unlawfully actually means anything?

Over the last few years the government have been found, by the courts, to have acted unlawfully on many occasions.

Does this actually mean anything other than maybe tarnish their image? Are there any consequences, fines, anything?

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/law/2019/sep/24/boris-johnsons-suspension-of-parliament-unlawful-supreme-court-rules-prorogue

https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-acted-unlawfully-with-vip-covid-contract-lane-court-rules-2022-01-12/

http://www.matthewgold.co.uk/high-court-rules-home-secretary-acted-unlawfully-in-accommodating-asylum-seekers-in-inadequate-napier-barracks/


https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.politico.eu/article/uk-government-acted-unlawfully-coronavirus-contract-firm-dominic-cummings/amp/

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/society/2021/feb/19/matt-hancock-acted-unlawfully-failing-publish-covid-contracts-high-court

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/baroness-dido-harding-covid-19-response-test-trace-high-court-b982606.html%3famp

[TobyD]

I think that this ruling applies to Matt Hancock,  not the government as a whole, and that he broke equality law rather than any criminal law, although that's only gleaned from reports,  rather than any legal knowledge.

[TobyD]

https://www.politico.eu/article/boris-johnson-partygate-lockdown-scandal-conservative-london-mayor/

Worth a read.