British PM Johnson apologizes for attending party during lockdown

The party is over for Boris, his back benchers will now see him as an electoral liability and seek to replace him.

Gone by the summer.

It's just a party. Small thinking people...

Gone by the summer.

If that's the case, then it's another example of how a democracy where a leader who's upset, for whatever reasons, a majority of the country can be replaced, is better than an authoritarian system where people in that country are stuck with the leader of the authoritarian regime, sometimes for as long as the leader is alive. For examples of the latter, see China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, perhaps Belarus and others. The US used its democracy to oust Trump the most controversial person to have ever sat in the White House, though he and herds of hi rabid followers tried to violently overthrow what had been reported to be a fair election. The authoritarian wannabe's ego had ben hurt because he was shown to be a LOSER.

Johnson is an ***** along the lines of Trump, but at least he didn't sabotage the UK's fight against Covid.

Politicians who do ask or impose restrictions and do not respect them themselves should really take their responsibilities and step out. This has happened all over the world with Covid

Im not sure if they have been fining people in the UK like they did in Australia, but an amnesty on outstanding fines and refund on paid fines is in order I think.

The US used its democracy to oust Trump the most controversial person to have ever sat in the White House, 

That same democracy will be used again later this year in the US will start dismantling the most destructive administration ever, the rules for this outbreak has rattled and destroyed so many peoples lives and institutions, the majority of the people have followed the rules and Johnson like so many liberal leaders in Europe and in the US from Pelosi to AOC, Swalwell, Newsom and Biden and so many more that have been caught either partying, dining is by some person with a camera catching them when they thought no one was looking. Rules for me, but not for thee. The world deserves better than these authoritative hypocrites.

The UK response to lockdown parties, which were not uncommon, varied from a ticking off to a (large) fine for the organiser, and smaller fines for those taking part, should they hang around for long enough for the old bill to take their details.

I would expect the report to demand punishment for the organiser of the party, but just tick off anyone who went, for poor judgement. Everyone knew that Johnson had poor judgement and yet he was still elected as PM, so that's not really a gamechanger.

Johnson has until the report is finished to deliver something concrete to save his political skin.

Omicron is declining and he can take credit for it passing faster than in EU nations, so he has some political capital. Perhaps we will all be getting some freebies this month.

He may decide to call it a day, but if he can deliver, he will probably stay.

The Tories have few alternatives. Rishi Sunak would be the most likely replacement. Possibly the only viable alternative to stand in an election.

Liz Truss has been cosplaying as Thatcher for a few months, but it has been rather embarrassing.

Hopefully not Priti Patel. That would be a worst case scenario.

" Rules for thee but not for me " They are the same the world over, tell you what to do but don't do it themselves. It just shows that it is all about getting the people to comply and that things are not as serious as they are led to believe.

Michael MachidaToday  07:32 am JST

It's just a party. Small thinking people..

I suspect that you would be less forgiving if Boris Johnson were a politician that you disapproved of.

PTownsendToday  07:38 am JST

The US used its democracy to oust Trump...

Don't start on that, you'll...

bass4funkToday  08:43 am JST

The US used its democracy to oust Trump the most controversial person to have ever sat in the White House, 

That same democracy... (cont. p94)

Oh no, too late.

This oaf, this wealth-entitled Bullingdon popinjay, who holds the world in such contempt that he can't even be arsed to comb his ridiculous hair, this adulterous buffoon who refuses to acknowledge how many children he has spat out of his rapine blubberous membrum, this silk-stockinged Billy Bunter has finally reached the end of his electoral rope.

The Conservative Party pulled the switch on Lady Thatcher when she became a liability.

Johnson isn't fit to wipe dogdirt from Thatcher's valet's shoes.

For once in his life, Johnson will have to account for his manifest and manifold inadequacies.

The party is over for Boris, his back benchers will now see him as an electoral liability 

Next general election isn't until May 2024. Will Boris bumble along as a useful idiot to those in the shadows?

Despite the scandal, cronyism and artful dodging, there's no effective opposition to threaten him. Too many issues don't conveniently break down along left/right lines. SNP support will come with the huge condition of IndyRef, and Labour is terrified that Scottish independence gives England to the Tories in perpetuity. Lib/Lab pact, perhaps?

The Covid furlough saved Bojo's bacon, but his backbenchers will soon be baying to balance the books with an Austerity 2 that makes George Osborne look benign. We'll rediscover the two Middle Englands that voted for Brexit: the citizens of the forever neglected fly over counties still radicalised by the 2008 crash, and the well-heeled neighbours terrified of them.

Can Johnson continue to hoodwink both groups with Peppa the Pig, and porkies about pint glasses?

The apology, which stopped short of admitting wrongdoing, was Johnson's attempt to assuage a tide of anger from the public and politicians over accusations he and his staff repeatedly flouted pandemic restrictions by socializing when it was banned.

Is that not par for the course for all the elites? We have seen multiple photos of politicians and celebrities from everywhere doing something like this. One law for thee, another for me...

BigYenToday  10:14 am JST

@Derek Grebe:

Admirable display of invective there. 10/10 from me.

For once I agree with you :-)

What I have notice in world politics is those leads who endorsed Trump all will be One term or ceased leadership. Abe, Johnston and Morrison. If you compare Johnston, Morrison and Trump they all have the same trates. The most which damage their appeal is self deny. Refusal to admit they were caught out lying. Even with undisplayable evidence. This alone is not the total reason for their dislike but it tops the list of undesirable trates

Oh no, too late.

Not for democracy…

Derek Grebe's eloquent political obituary for the preposterous imposter and shambolic jester, Johnson, describes to a T the gobsmackingly absurd choice of the gaslit UK electorate who voted for that patently roguish character of no moral scruples to lead and represent their country.

This oaf, this wealth-entitled Bullingdon popinjay, who holds the world in such contempt that he can't even be arsed to comb his ridiculous hair, this adulterous buffoon who refuses to acknowledge how many children he has spat out of his rapine blubberous membrum, this silk-stockinged Billy Bunter has finally reached the end of his electoral rope.

The Conservative Party pulled the switch on Lady Thatcher when she became a liability.

Johnson isn't fit to wipe dogdirt from Thatcher's valet's shoes.

For once in his life, Johnson will have to account for his manifest and manifold inadequacies.

Hello, is this the police? Yes, I'd like to report a murder.

Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs) - 12 January 2022

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNEO5vEy8q8

The full PMQs yesterday.

Time is on Boris Johnson side…….

Opposition Labour Party leader Keir Starmer said the British public thought Johnson was “lying through his teeth.”

“He’s finally been forced to admit what everyone knew, that when the whole country was locked down, he was hosting boozy parties in Downing Street," Starmer said. "Is he now going to do the decent thing and resign?”

Johnson is shameless, also appears Teflon coated. The righteous indignation of the opposition   benches was just swatted aside.

Whilst Johnson is backed by 26 members of his cabinet and the majority of his party, Johnson will attempt to ride this out.

What could be the last straw for Johnson is the economy. Inflation, the deepening UK's energy crisis etc etc.

I don’t think there is any Prime Minster in living memory that could have blagged in such an outrageous manner.  

Johnson conservative colleagues will keep a watch on public opinion. At the moment Johnson will front this out.

What a hollow apology !

The righteous indignation of the opposition  benches was just swatted aside.

I watched the whole thing and the body language and reactions of the Tory MPs wasn’t the usual farmyard noises when the opposition parties called for Johnson to resign in the past. There were a few shakes of the head but not much more.

It’s getting dangerous for them to show support for Johnson.

One thing he got right was not smirking. I think the PR people had been in his ear. He needs a lot of coaching on at least giving the appearance of giving a toss about the riff-raff.

He's a goner. They won't go into the next election and let the public judge him, so it's just a matter of when he gets the push. Johnson has got away with a lot, way more than he should have done, but the polls sound like the public have (finally) run out of good will for him.

The last Conservative leader, Theresa May, was brought down by the ERG hard-Brexit wing of the Conservative Party, who have since reemerged as anti-lockdown and anti-environmentalist populists. Johnson will survive until those people have no further use for him. They may think it is worth keeping Johnson for a while just to pin stuff on him or let their preferred candidate adopt a more favourable position. This situation, backroom maneuvers deciding the PM, is little different to Japan and the factions in the LDP/Nihon Kaigi.

bass4funkToday  10:50 am JST

"Oh no, too late."

Not for democracy…

No, too late to prevent you from picking up on the Trump mention even though it's surprising you'd bother even glancing at any articles about the UK or Europe, and going off on yet another incessant rant about Democrats, liberals and the left. Anyway, GOP cheerleaders are the last people who should be preaching to anyone about "democracy." Except for the LDP in Japan and the North Koreans, who comically have the word "democratic" in the official name for their country.

itsonlyrocknrollToday  12:01 pm JST

Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs) - 12 January 2022

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNEO5vEy8q8

The full PMQs yesterday.

Time is on Boris Johnson side…….

Opposition Labour Party leader Keir Starmer said the British public thought Johnson was “lying through his teeth.”

“He’s finally been forced to admit what everyone knew, that when the whole country was locked down, he was hosting boozy parties in Downing Street," Starmer said. "Is he now going to do the decent thing and resign?”

Johnson is shameless, also appears Teflon coated. The righteous indignation of the opposition  benches was just swatted aside.

Whilst Johnson is backed by 26 members of his cabinet and the majority of his party, Johnson will attempt to ride this out.

What could be the last straw for Johnson is the economy. Inflation, the deepening UK's energy crisis etc etc.

I don’t think there is any Prime Minster in living memory that could have blagged in such an outrageous manner. 

Johnson conservative colleagues will keep a watch on public opinion. At the moment Johnson will front this out.

Yes, at the moment. Anyone would think from reading this comment that Johnson's actually managed to get away with this. I don't think it's apparent that he has yet.

BigYen and Vax - I thank you for your appreciation.

The question remains, though - why on earth can the Labour Party not put forward an opposition which could offer a viable alternative to the Bullingdon Boys' club?

This is an open goal. Starmer was apparently a respected QC and Head of the Crown Prosecution Service.

How can he possibly fail to make political capital out of this?

Johnson is unfit for any office - he was fired from his journalism job for lying - and there he is, in the highest office in the land, getting tanked up on Bolly with his Eton chums on the same day the rest of the country was forbidden to leave their homes.

Starmer - you will never have an easier target than this. Fail now, and you also need to quit.

Simon Foston, I believe Johnson should have stood down from office on his failure to disclose WhatsApp messages with Conservative party donor Lord David Brownlow.

What is truly astonishing, Johnson is alleged to have broken ministerial code not once, but on numerous occasions.

Yesterday PM question time Johnson had the affrontare, effrontery to brazenly, shamelessly evade any personal responsibility. The apology was meaningless.

I skyped UK friends this morning, one choked out "they only had a party",

If that attitude is wide spread, UK has lost the plot.

itsonlyrocknrollToday  01:09 pm JST

Simon Foston, I believe Johnson should have stood down from office on his failure to disclose WhatsApp messages with Conservative party donor Lord David Brownlow.

So do I. However he's not going to contemplate resigning until it starts to look like the Conservatives will force him out if he doesn't.

What is truly astonishing, Johnson is alleged to have broken ministerial code not once, but on numerous occasions.

Yesterday PM question time Johnson had the affrontare, effrontery to brazenly, shamelessly evade any personal responsibility. The apology was meaningless.

I skyped UK friends this morning, one choked out "they only had a party",

Were they Johnson supporters?

If that attitude is wide spread, UK has lost the plot.

It doesn't appear to be. There are even Conservative MPs who are spitting blood about it. You could still be right about the UK losing the plot though.

Sob sob. Sniff sniff. Bozo, you got caught with your mitts in the cookie jar again and you should know better, beings you had CoVid yourself in 2020.

Be a man, set an example for Great Britain and resign. Now.

The question remains, though - why on earth can the Labour Party not put forward an opposition which could offer a viable alternative to the Bullingdon Boys' club?

I’m not a fan of Starmer but his party is ahead in the polls and he is regarded as a better choice as leader than Johnson.

At the moment, Labour led by Starmer is seen as a viable opposition.

Not a BoJo fan either. He may have has a modicum of roguish charm at one time, but now is beginning to resemble the 'picture' in Oscar Wilde's Dorian Gray novel. Doesn't say much for the moral turpitude (or even good taste) of British womenfolk though, that so many would eagerly splay their legs for such a gormless mouth breather.

Maybe one of the reasons why Boris Johnson has ducked and dived successfully is that had roles been reversed Keir Starmer would have locked down England into economic oblivion.

At every step Kier Stammer and the opposition parties has sowed the seeds of a covid doomsday scenario.

A position that yesterday was pointedly put to me.

You are in japan not here. So they had a party.

We did too.

Not good enough. I have been to some terrible parties in my time, but not once did I think I was at a work event.

Sorry respect, Keir Starmer.....

We don't even realize how sad it is that these type of things are making the news these days....

Maybe one of the reasons why Boris Johnson has ducked and dived successfully is that had roles been reversed Keir Starmer would have locked down England into economic oblivion.

At every step Kier Stammer and the opposition parties has sowed the seeds of a covid doomsday scenario.

A position that yesterday was pointedly put to me.

You are in japan not here. So they had a party.

What are you talking about!? Your friends broke Covid rules?? I live in Japan and I have been doing far more than the government told us to keep myself and others safe. They told you that and you didn't admonish them?

As someone said once, we're going to have to change the expression, "avoid like the plague", because it turns out a lot of people won't.

Express sister, can I take it we both are Japanese residents?

I must also take note my friends and employees in Brighton England.

I have not been to able visit my family in England, farmers for as long as I can remember.

I have to take my responsibilities as an employer.

That means listening to those employees if a council hires civilians to peer through letterboxes.

To encourage snooping.

I have a problem with that. My staff have a problem with that.

So much so, they state they would rather partying Boris Johnson is the least of there problems.

A lying leader is a terminal ailing politician.

To pacify his voters, British PM should step down on his own accord when there is still a bit of dignity left, lest be forced to quit unceremoniously in the near future..