UK General Discussion:The Rt. Hon Alex Boris de Pfeffel Johnson, Populist Hero

[CumbrianLefty]

There are so many "highlights" to choose from, the former RCP's first ever Lords member included.

Its up there with Wilson's "lavender list" in terms of tacky awfulness IMO.

[EastAnglianLefty]

It's worth remembering that this is what the list looks like after a significant number of names have been struck off it for failing to meet the standards of behaviour expected of members of the Lords (Bercow; Watson; Karie Murphy; apparently about half a dozen Tory donors.)

[Silent Hunter]

There are so many "highlights" to choose from, the former RCP's first ever Lords member included.

Its up there with Wilson's "lavender list" in terms of tacky awfulness IMO.

RCP?

[CumbrianLefty]

Revolutionary Communist Party/Living Marxism/Institute Of Ideas/Spiked. You know, those grifters.

[Silent Hunter]

Well, Karl Marx must be spinning in his grave in Highgate Cemetery.

[Cassius]

Good to see the odious Tom Watson swapped out for Prem Sikka.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

If one must elevate a distinguished former England cricketer known to be a Conservative to the Lords, would it not have made more sense to go with Strauss? Who is an intelligent and earnest man, the sort that could easily end up being a capable minister. Whatever his other merits, Botham is... not that.

[afleitch]

I do love that they've had five years of scandal in six months and Centrist Dad can't get ahead of them.

[Blair]

Yikes. Get your clipboards out lads.

[Pericles]

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/01/pubs-england-close-control-coronavirus-adviser-graham-medley

Maybe they should have thought of this before opening pubs in the first place? What an incompetent government.

[Silent Hunter]

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/01/pubs-england-close-control-coronavirus-adviser-graham-medley

Maybe they should have thought of this before opening pubs in the first place? What an incompetent government.

The thing is, there haven't really been any major outbreaks linked to pubs - a couple of cases among staff, but no superspreading event. A lot of pubs are taking this very seriously.

[EastAnglianLefty]

One of the problems is that as our test and trace system isn't working properly, we don't have a good idea of where spread is occurring. But anecdotal evidence strongly suggests that the primary avenue of transmission is via workplaces, much more than via social venues. If we had been slightly less keen on trying to racialise the lockdown in Leicester and had paid slightly more attention to the predominant local industries in these areas, that might have given a hint. Incidentally, these are also industries that have a significant presence in Greater Manchester, East Lancashire and West Yorkshire.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

A Conservative MP - reported to be a former minister and in his fifties - has been arrested on multiple charges of rape. Still in custody, name not released yet.

[Blair]

One of the problems is that as our test and trace system isn't working properly, we don't have a good idea of where spread is occurring. But anecdotal evidence strongly suggests that the primary avenue of transmission is via workplaces, much more than via social venues. If we had been slightly less keen on trying to racialise the lockdown in Leicester and had paid slightly more attention to the predominant local industries in these areas, that might have given a hint. Incidentally, these are also industries that have a significant presence in Greater Manchester, East Lancashire and West Yorkshire.

that's interesting: the ST article by Tim Shipman says that they have data showing that household visits and social visits where the main two reasons- yet the article says that stopping these were also the first two and most straight forward levers they had; so  knows how accurate it is.

[CumbrianLefty]

I do love that they've had five years of scandal in six months and Centrist Dad can't get ahead of them.

You say that as if we had a level playing field or something.......

[Silent Hunter]

A Conservative MP - reported to be a former minister and in his fifties - has been arrested on multiple charges of rape. Still in custody, name not released yet.

Quite probably won't be for legal reasons - i.e. it could identify the victim in this case. That's a criminal offence with a potential for an unlimited fine.

[Zinneke]

A Conservative MP - reported to be a former minister and in his fifties - has been arrested on multiple charges of rape. Still in custody, name not released yet.

Quite probably won't be for legal reasons - i.e. it could identify the victim in this case. That's a criminal offence with a potential for an unlimited fine.

Surely if he's charged they'll release the name. Also if he loses the Whip (is that a publicly acknowledged act?)

[CumbrianLefty]

Removing the whip is made public, yes (pretty difficult to avoid when you think about it)

Which may be why a decision on that is being avoided for now.

[NewYorkExpress]

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-53632949

A woman who told police she was raped by a former Conservative minister complained about his behaviour to a senior party figure four months ago.

It is understood that Tory chief whip Mark Spencer spoke with the complainant in April, but Mr Spencer insists she did not make any allegation of serious sexual assault.

The party said it will not suspend the MP while investigations are ongoing.

The MP, in his 50s, was arrested on Saturday and has since been bailed.

The Metropolitan Police said the allegations related to four separate incidents claimed to have taken place between July 2019 and January 2020.

The Sunday Times reported that the allegations against the former minister had been made by an ex-parliamentary employee.

A spokesman for the chief whip said that he took all accusations of harassment and abuse extremely seriously and had strongly encouraged anybody who has approached him to contact the appropriate authorities.

Depending on who this ends up being, could this be enough to bring down Boris Johnson's Government? Surely someone in the Conservative Party could give him a leadership challenge over this?

[CumbrianLefty]

I think that is getting slightly ahead of things for the moment tbh.

(no formal charges yet, for one thing)

[Blair]

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-53632949

A woman who told police she was raped by a former Conservative minister complained about his behaviour to a senior party figure four months ago.

It is understood that Tory chief whip Mark Spencer spoke with the complainant in April, but Mr Spencer insists she did not make any allegation of serious sexual assault.

The party said it will not suspend the MP while investigations are ongoing.

The MP, in his 50s, was arrested on Saturday and has since been bailed.

The Metropolitan Police said the allegations related to four separate incidents claimed to have taken place between July 2019 and January 2020.

The Sunday Times reported that the allegations against the former minister had been made by an ex-parliamentary employee.

A spokesman for the chief whip said that he took all accusations of harassment and abuse extremely seriously and had strongly encouraged anybody who has approached him to contact the appropriate authorities.

Depending on who this ends up being, could this be enough to bring down Boris Johnson's Government? Surely someone in the Conservative Party could give him a leadership challenge over this?

No chance to be blunt!

At worse (or best...) it will lead to the Chief Whip being sacked; a move that was already on the cards after a series of high profile u-turns & cock ups in the commons.

[Blair]

A Conservative MP - reported to be a former minister and in his fifties - has been arrested on multiple charges of rape. Still in custody, name not released yet.

Quite probably won't be for legal reasons - i.e. it could identify the victim in this case. That's a criminal offence with a potential for an unlimited fine.

From what I've read it's because of a recent High Court ruling about naming suspects before they've been charged.

On the subject of the whip I think it's perfectly possible to suspend the whip without telling us who they suspended it from! Like all of things it's just usual practice to inform the House & public when it happens...

[Statilius the Epicurean]

Lots of people were up in arms about Philip May getting a knighthood; but the real shock was the onwer of the Standard getting a peerage after the reports just last week....

Not a coincidence that the Standard was nicknamed the "Daily Boris" while he was Mayor.

[CumbrianLefty]

Not to be confused with his former employer (and current foghorn) the Daily Borisograph.

[CumbrianLefty]

A level "results" are out today in England/Wales - already shaping up to be at least as much of a potential s***show as the Scottish experience in the last couple of weeks was.