Well I'd argue it's those who've been pushing for a police investigation who appear most happy for this to 'evaporate in sophistry'. That option was always going to kill the publication of the civil service investigation report and delay the eventual outcome for months. Tory MPs appeared to be on the cusp of holding Boris to account and then... poof, the whole thing now disappears behind the veil of a criminal investigation that the noisy Boris opponents have been crying out for for weeks. It's a big shame really. I thought for a moment this might actually be the end of him but can only see it as defeat snatched from the jaws of victory now. Bit surprised it's the people who were fined who you feel sorry for, rather than those who followed the rules. As @Ghost of Barry Endean suggests, this only stays alive if more revelations come out. If not undoubtedly Boris will throw some cash for schools and hospitals at some of the wobbly MPs and letters will duly be withdrawn from Brady's in-tray.
No one thinks that there will be any criminal fall out. This is clearly a political issue. Even if the offences were so black and white that criminal charges were brought, I don't see how this could ever be a jury trial, so I have no idea how Sue Gray's report would impact proceedings. It's an absolute stitch up aimed at buying more time and distracting the public, who they continue to treat with contempt. In times gone by there would be rioting (clearly not the right solution either), but I wonder if the gradual increase in corruption over the last couple of years has numbed people.
I wrote that it was unfair, rather than I felt sorry for those who got fined. It would be hard not to in some cases though, given the excessive nature of some of the fines. And sure, those who abided by the rules to their personal distress have most cause to be angry. It’s true that the Police investigation does mean that certain cans could be kicked down the road, but that’s not a fault of those asking for the Police to take action. That’s a simple demand on the Police to behave without fear or favour. And if the Police can disentangle certain matters then not much needs delaying. The question of whether Johnson lied about there being parties can still be answered in short order. Ms Gray, were there parties? Yes, lots. Was the PM involved in any either by being present, taking part, allowing or encouraging them, in short, did he know about them? Obviously and without question Then did he mislead Parliament when he said all guidance was always followed? Yes.
It surely wasn't beyond the Met's detective skills to decide there was a case(s) to investigate well before the inquiry was commissioned? I wonder how long is the road down which this can will be perpetually kicked?
I'm sure the Met would say they've already addressed this. It's a political hot potato and rightly so, but crime-wise it's up (or rather down) there with littering or not paying your TV licence.
I personally don't understand why they've decided now is the time to wade in. Though despite the insinuations of corruption or desire to help Boris out of a hole by blocking Sue Gray, my bet is something far more benign has happened in the background. Could be as simple as they've received independent legal advice which suggests their decision not to investigate - which I believe the Good Law Project was all over and threatening to sue them for - was legally vulnerable to challenge.
I think this is probably correct. They didn’t all go MUHAHAHAHAHA in Cressida’s office and then decide to wade in. The problem is that they are exerting influence over a report when they do not appear to need to. It’s not a disciplinary body looking into a crime against a person, when quite rightly, the disciplinary body must wait for the law to conclude. It concerns offences that, while meaningful and in the public interest to look at, are of little other consequence. I don’t believe the law is ‘nothing else move ever’ until we have finished. There must be proportion, but you will probably understand the extent of that reach better.
Well, looks like I got my answer on this. The full report he’s promised to publish will be the heavily redacted one. He knew then. As did all the others. Absolute blinder played by Johnson. Absolute blinder. Best part? No-one cares.
Not only do they not care but the Johnson fanboys and fangirls will be cheering the fact that "he got away with it" again. The sad thing is that he sees those fanboys and girls as "useful idiots" and he has nothing but contempt for them.
I once went to see a recording of some BBC TV show Lulu was in and sat in the very front row. While she was waiting to do her singing (or miming), she was stood about a foot away from me with her back to me. It was very obvious that her pony tail was a falsie - held in with hairclips. At the end of the show, during the big final number, they made us in the front row 'invade' the stage area and break out into impromptu enthusiastic dancing, presumably while the final program titles ran. Although I must admit that I did submit to the entreaties to stage invade, I did not dance, but merely wandered around dozily, gawking at the instruments and lights and cameras etc. I think I appeared for 0.00005 of a millisecond in the final shown episode.
No Jonathan Pie (yet) but there's always Rosie Holt (unfortunately her latest isn't on her yootoob channel, yet): https://twitter.com/RosieisaHolt/status/1487071435147333636
Sounds like a perfect Rowley Birkin QC monologue. Awerfwerberwers…Turned out to be Lulu!..awerberfwerfwer…Really quite, quite tiny…werberfwerbere…Huge voice like a Lion Roarrrr!…awerfwerfwer..but of course I was very, very drunk at the time…
Jacob Rees-Mogg on "Political thinking"... His 'apology' for attempting to change the rules for Owen Patterson is breathtaking in its mendacity as are the numerous attempt to talk about "...cake..."
Ian Hislop in savage form giving evidence in front of the parliamentary select committee on standards.
Oh great this is the 'fuller' clip. I urge everyone to sit through because Hislop makes a very good suggestion in it that I'm going to follow. Come hustings for your local MP he suggests that you attend and ask all the candidates: What 2nd job they will try to get after they're elected to office? What sectors they will target for this 2nd job? What unique skills they bring to this future employment? No need to ask about salary or how this 2nd job would impact on their parliamentary duties.
‘Nowhere to hide for Russian Oligarchs’ says Conservative Party, whose leader plays tennis with them for cash.
When did a Conservative Party leader last play tennis with a Russian oligarch for cash? Fact check: It never happened. And when did Boris Johnson play tennis with a Russian oligarch for cash? Fact check: It never happened. Yep, in 2014, a Russian oligarch bid in a fund raising auction for Boris to play tennis with his wife, much like a cake auction to raise money for a kids foreign travel project. But Johnson did not receive cash, and he wasn't even party leader.
So the report or some parts of the report or a summary of the report, those bits that don’t interfere with the oh so sensitive job of handing out fixed-penalty notices, has arrived at Downing Street. Publication, says Politics Live, at 13:00 hours.
