Johnson and Sunak both fined.

[Workingman]

So you are happy that your MPs can break the law as long as they are not caught. Well done you Tory bot.

You want some criminals to go free, but then not go after the real criminals?

If Johnson did not think it was a party why did he pay the fine and not contest it? Because everything would have come out in court and he would be found guilty and become a criminal.

The lawbreaking Charlatan couldn't risk that.

All MPS. of whatever party, should have all their finances and taxes made public. We employ them, we should know.

[cromwell]

The trouble is that the public have become used to politicians lying to us and to parliament both. Weapons of mass destruction anyone?
Or Lloyd George's blatant selling of honours, or the Westland affair, or the Lavender list.
We should be holding politicians to higher standards of behaviour WM, you are right. But nobody seems that bothered.
It's become almost the norm for them to lie, unpunished.

[Workingman]

We should be holding politicians to higher standards of behaviour WM, you are right. But nobody seems that bothered.

Quite a few seem bothered in this instance. Let's hope they are still bothered come May the 5th. A strong message could be sent.

My local councillor team (3 per ward, all Cons) already know that their time might be up if local opinions are to be believed. It has always been a strong Con area for councillors, but floats between the three major parties for MPs. The next will not be a Con.

[cruiser2]

Our local coujncil is 99% Labour. It will take a massive swing to change that.
I have been given a leaflet by the Lib-Dem candidate. Doubt if I will see any of the other candidates.
I have a postal vote. Saves me going to the polling station.

[Suff]

Ah break the law?

Cycling on the pavement is breaking the law, punishable by a fine, ditto speeding, ditto swearing at a police officer.

You liken this to serious crime and it cheapens serious crime.

What Blair did put the lives of British servicemen and women in the line of fire. Because we could not own up to it and withdraw many lives were lost and many more ruined.

Nothing was done about this.

Now you liken this current situation to cash for questions or westland or selling honours or what Blair did.

Yet these were people who worked together and, mostly, were where they were supposed to be. The press likens it to travelling half way across the world and having a 30,000 party then saying "no, no, you should not gather"

A sense of proportion is needed.but in the furore to get rid of Johnson and undo Brexit, it appears, anything goes.

Well, just remember, what goes around comes around.

The free speech and ability to act without some consequences is a requirement of government. Something honoured in almost every democracy in the world.

If a parliamentarian has exceeded or flouted authority, it is dealt with quietly but visibly to the government community.

This screaming in the press has to stop. It is almost exclusively used against Tory governments because they expect the "sense of honour" to achieve their political aims.

Well if Johnson has any sense at all he will do what Cameron did and, likely, every PM after Blair. Nobody falls because the press want them to. End of story.

So a sense of proportion please and let the press go howl ro the moon and let those who wish to profit by leaks and sensationalism learn that it is just not going to happen.

The most serious accusation here is lying to parliament.

But, here, again, there is a sense of proportion. If the person talking to parliament truly believes what they say is the truth, then they didn't lie. They may be an idiot but that is not a crime and nobody said we could not vote for an idiot.

I'm not interested in the manufactured outrage.

Don't care what it looks like, nobody pulls my strings like this.

[medsec222]

I felt a bit sorry for Rishi on this occasion. Apparently he went through to No 10 to attend a meeting and was caught at the presenting of the cake in passing. I doubt he stayed long enough to see it sliced.

[Workingman]

Suff, as about as weak a defence of the indefensible as I have yet seen, and there are many.

But you are a Tory boy and Boris is your pin-up, so not surprising.

Keep it up, we all need a good laugh in these troubled (Tory constructed) times.

Nobody pulls your strings, you say, but you sure have been triggered.

Meds, if you are right he should have contested the fine in court, he didn't = guilty.

[Suff]

An illegal picture never lies...

He stopped for the cake arrival, he was at the party, guilty, end of story.

Or. Was that an unreasonable doubt.

WM your prior posts on Boris set your attitude to him. There is nothing and I do mean nothing, that he could do which would make you want to support him. Mrs S is the same.

Therefore your position, to me, is as weak and indefensible as mine is to you.

[medsec222]

Meds, if you are right he should have contested the fine in court, he didn't = guilty.

Frank, I would imagine if he opted to go via the Court route that further more detailed investigations of him and others would ensue. This would no doubt throw the cat amongst the pigeons for the the other attendees at the birthday party. More than likely he was encouraged to pay up and shut up!

[Suff]

It will eventually die a death to be resurrected at the next election to grand fanfare.

Nobody is falling on their sword over this one. That way the leakers win. It will have an impact on the next election though and the press and the leakers will make absolutely sure that we are all reminded that nobody fell on their sword.

Of course there are nearly 3 more years for Labour to royally screw up OR to emerge as a viable alternative.

It is why I just ignore it. Because nothing is going to change right now and therefore they might as well just shut up and move on. Not that they will, it sells news.