Tory Watch

[Mistadobalina]

You got a link for the Kuenssberg story? Would find it incredible that the BBC's most senior political correspondent could be so thick and would surely mean she has to go too.

[Dunners]

Lots of rumours circulating about Kuenssberg, but I too would be very surprised if she was present. If she was then she needs to be fired immediately, but the fact that she's being allowed to carry on for now would suggest the BBC is confident.

But the front pages of The Sun and The TImes are very telling.

[Dunners]

I actually think he's going to double-down and try and bluster his way through with even more restrictions. Whatever happens today, this is going to be spectacular to watch.

[StillSpike]

No link - should have made myself clear - I deduced that because a) she seems to be the closest journalist to No10 and b) she seemed to be remarkably quiet about the matter, even when other journos were starting to pick up on it, and c) even when she did start to mention the party, she was just parroting the "no party, and no guidelines were broken" lies that were being fed to her.

But she's so close with No 10 - some might say dangerously close - that she MUST have known it took place - even if she wasn't there in person.

[Dunners]

Yeah, I'd be amazed if this was the first time she was aware of any party. I don't generally subscribe to the "Laura is a Tory plant" trope, but she is definitely too imbedded in the Westminster bubble.

If anything, the big scandal here is the on-going failure of our media to properly hold Government to account. The Johnson may have lied is hardly news.

[BoniO]

Yeah, I'd be amazed if this was the first time she was aware of any party. I don't generally subscribe to the "Laura is a Tory plant" trope, but she is definitely too imbedded in the Westminster bubble.

If anything, the big scandal here is the on-going failure of our media to properly hold Government to account. The Johnson may have lied is hardly news.

The failure of "our" media to hold the government to account is hardly new is it? They're mostly bought and paid for by the right and have been for many years.

[jamespevans]

[Max B Gold]

No link - should have made myself clear - I deduced that because a) she seems to be the closest journalist to No10 and b) she seemed to be remarkably quiet about the matter, even when other journos were starting to pick up on it, and c) even when she did start to mention the party, she was just parroting the "no party, and no guidelines were broken" lies that were being fed to her.

But she's so close with No 10 - some might say dangerously close - that she MUST have known it took place - even if she wasn't there in person.

She knew. What she has been practising over the last few years isn't journalism. She's a Tory fan girl.

She's stepping down from her current position soon and will no doubt turn up on R4 giving soft soap interviews to her Tory mates.

Starmer needs to call for the Buffoon to resign at todays PMQ's

[Max B Gold]

Oof

Imagine being called out by these shysters. You couldn't make it up.

[Rich Tea Wellin]

Bojo doubling down. No shame.

[Mistadobalina]

Incredible that they're sticking to the no party was held line. At some point surely they are going to have to point out what exemption they believed allowed them to stay within the rules?

It's not being contested that this event happened, so it's a question of language, not content.

Backbenchers briefing aggressively against Johnson now. His own MPs clearly absolutely hate the guy.

[Dunners]

A party clearly took place at No.10. If he knew about it before last night, then he is complicit (at least) in the cover up of what may be a crime. If he didn't know about, then he's incompetent.

There's a third option, that he may be both, however in times gone by either one of the above would be sufficient to result in a resignation.

[BoniO]

Incredible that they're sticking to the no party was held line. At some point surely they are going to have to point out what exemption they believed allowed them to stay within the rules?

It's not being contested that this event happened, so it's a question of language, not content.

Backbenchers briefing aggressively against Johnson now. His own MPs clearly absolutely hate the guy.

But, but, but, but he's better than Corbyn!

Imagine that anyone could still find any way to defend Boris and the rest of this corrupt government. How bonkers would you need to be?

[BoniO]

A party clearly took place at No.10. If he knew about it before last night, then he is complicit (at least) in the cover up of what may be a crime. If he didn't know about, then he's incompetent.

There's a third option, that he may be both, however in times gone by either one of the above would be sufficient to result in a resignation.

These aren't options. They are facts.

Of course he knew about the party. Of course he's incompetent - what more proof do you need? Stop the whataboutery.

[Mistadobalina]

Other events are coming out of the woodwork now that may have gone ignored otherwise. The response to question on whether a party took place on November 13th was particularly mad - 'no but if an event did take place, I'm sure it was within the rules'.

[StillSpike]

Particularly enjoyed the Tory backbencher referring to the upcoming "Covid Cabinet meeting and announcement re Plan B" as a diversionary tactic

[Dunners]

Yeah, there's more information yet to surface.

But he clearly threw Downing Street staff under the bus today, and for that he will suffer reprisals.

[Dunners]

A party clearly took place at No.10. If he knew about it before last night, then he is complicit (at least) in the cover up of what may be a crime. If he didn't know about, then he's incompetent.

There's a third option, that he may be both, however in times gone by either one of the above would be sufficient to result in a resignation.

These aren't options. They are facts.

Of course he knew about the party. Of course he's incompetent - what more proof do you need? Stop the whataboutery.

Er, what about Terry?

[Mistadobalina]

Yeah, there's more information yet to surface.

But he clearly threw Downing Street staff under the bus today, and for that he will suffer reprisals.

Stratton is the wife of the political editor of the Spectator, the political editor of the Sun was his director of Comms at time. Interesting to see where this goes coverage wise of he throws them under the bus.

[StillSpike]

Particularly enjoyed the Tory backbencher referring to the upcoming "Covid Cabinet meeting and announcement re Plan B" as a diversionary tactic

For those who may have missed it.

[Currywurst and Chips]

It's my party and I'll lie if I want to

[Long slender neck]

Already knew they think the rules don't apply to them. Just hope it enrages enough tory voters and MPs.

[Max B Gold]

Already knew they think the rules don't apply to them. Just hope it enrages enough tory voters and MPs.

I was hoping it might enrage Kieth Starmer but he appears to reserve that for socialists in his own party.

[Admin]

The only thing that ever does for Tory leaders is the party itself and them ruthless little shitebags won't hang about in chucking Johnson overboard if he's endangering their seats.

Starmer's pretty irrelevant in all of this. Despite having the biggest open goal of all time, it still feels like him and Labour are barely landing a punch. Ant and Dec though.....

Johnson's dabs are all over the Pen Farthing / animal escape from Kabul but as pointed out elsewhere, it's not even that big a story today. Bit of a shame if you were an Afghan relying on the UK Gov getting you out from under the noses of the Taliban though. Shameful.

Whoever's leaking this party stuff will clearly have more to provide in the way of bad news for Johnson (who's now given every staffer present at the 18th Dec bash an excuse to go rogue and perhaps confirm the man himself was there). This revenge dish is obviously being enjoyed at it's coldest - wonder who the leaker is? A well connected client of mine suggested 2 weeks ago that Cummings / Gove were already on the move with something that would topple BJ before xmas - perhaps this is it? As a mere prole, I can do no more than speculate.

[Dunners]

No10 has, so far, refused to clarify whether Cabinet Secretary Simon Case was at the party.

Simon Case will be responsible for investigating the party.