Boris - how much longer will he suvive?

[Horse]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-60253231

Four senior aides to Boris Johnson have resigned from Downing Street within hours of each other amid growing pressure on the prime minister.

Director of communications Jack Doyle confirmed his exit shortly after the departure of policy head Munira Mirza.

They were followed by the chief of staff Dan Rosenfield and senior civil servant Martin Reynolds.

[Count Steer]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-60253231

Four senior aides to Boris Johnson have resigned from Downing Street within hours of each other amid growing pressure on the prime minister.

Director of communications Jack Doyle confirmed his exit shortly after the departure of policy head Munira Mirza.

They were followed by the chief of staff Dan Rosenfield and senior civil servant Martin Reynolds.

It's going to be non-stop leaving parties!

[demographic]

It's going to be non-stop leaving parties!

[Asian Boss]

Oh and Theresa May, lol.
I doubt I’d have been able to hold my tongue, she’d have got “Sit down, you had your chance and you were the worst PM in the history of the UK, so give it a rest”.
God she’s horrible.

Starmer got told as well, he let Jimmy Saville off and now he’s crying about a drinks party

I’m gutted that Boris is such a bell end, otherwise he could stand up and take them all to the cleaners.
They should have had Ricky Gervais as the house speaker.

Just in. From the pro Tory Spectator:

“Munira Mirza, the Downing Street head of policy, has resigned over Boris Johnson’s Jimmy Savile attack on Keir Starmer. Mirza, who has worked with Johnson for 14 years and who he named as one of the five women who have most inspired him, quit this afternoon.

In a letter to the Prime Minister, Mirza writes:

‘I believe it was wrong for you to imply this week that Keir Starmer was personally responsible for allowing Jimmy Savile to escape justice. There was no fair or reasonable basis for that assertion. This was not the usual cut and thrust of politics; it was an inappropriate and partisan reference to a horrendous case of child sex abuse. You tried to clarify your position today but, despite my urging, you did not apologise for the misleading impression you gave.’

Mirza is one of the people in Downing Street who was most loyal to the Prime Minister personally. She had worked with him since his London Mayor days and had stayed out of the various factional fights that have raged in Downing Street these past few years. Her departure is devastating for Johnson and an illustration of what a self-inflicted blow his ill-thought out attempt to link Starmer to Savile was.

Mirza found the decision extremely difficult. She has long been one of Johnson’s most valued allies and one of the most creative thinkers in his circle. She praises him as ‘a man of extraordinary abilities with a unique talent for connecting with people.’ She goes on:

Johnson will feel Mirza’s departure

‘You are a better man than many of your detractors will ever understand which is why it is so desperately sad that you let yourself down by making a scurrilous accusation against the Leader of the Opposition.’

Johnson will feel Mirza’s departure. She is someone who has been vital to his remarkable political journey from City Hall to Vote Leave to Downing Street. That she has quit over the Savile line should make Johnson realise what a terrible mistake it was and how it has further weakened his position.

Here is Mirza’s letter of resignation to the PM:

Dear Prime Minister,

It is with great regret that I am writing to resign as your Head of Policy.

You are aware of the reason for my decision: I believe it was wrong for you to imply this week that Keir Starmer was personally responsible for allowing Jimmy Savile to escape justice. There was no fair or reasonable basis for that assertion. This was not the normal cut-and-thrust of politics; it was an inappropriate and partisan reference to a horrendous case of child sex abuse. You tried to clarify your position today but, despite my urging, you did not apologise for the misleading impression you gave.

I have served you for fourteen years and it has been a privilege to do so. You have achieved many important things both as Prime Minister and, before that, as Mayor of London. You are a man of extraordinary abilities with a unique talent for connecting with people.

You are a better man than many of your detractors will ever understand which is why it is desperately sad that you let yourself down by making a scurrilous accusation against the Leader of the Opposition.

Even now, I hope you find it in yourself to apologise for a grave error of judgement made under huge pressure. I appreciate that our political culture is not forgiving when people say sorry, but regardless, it is the right thing to do. It is not too late for you but, I’m sorry to say, it is too late for me.”

And now over to the fat, mendacious, immoral, bloviating bastard via the constantly smug Guardian

“Johnson admits Starmer not personally involved in Savile prosecution decisions - three days after he implied otherwise

Boris Johnson has finally admitted that Keir Starmer was not personally responsible for any decisions taken not to prosecute the paedophile, sexual predator and TV personality Jimmy Savile.

On Monday, in response to a withering speech from Starmer telling him that he was not fit to be PM, Johnson retaliated by saying that Starmer “spent most of his time [as DPP] prosecuting journalists and failing to prosecute Jimmy Savile”.

This was widely seen as a smear, because Johnson was implying that Starmer was to blame for the failure to prosecute Savile when he wasn’t, and because it was redolent of an online conspiracy theory saying Starmer protected Savile from prosecution. Some of the Tory MPs calling for Johnson’s resignation this week have cited this comment as an example of why is is not a suitable person to be PM.

In an interview today Johnson said:

I want to be very clear about this because a lot of people have got very hot under the collar, and I understand why.

Let’s be absolutely clear, I’m talking not about the leader of the opposition’s personal record when he was DPP and I totally understand that he had nothing to do personally with those decisions.

I was making a point about his responsibility for the organisation as a whole. And I think people can see that. And I really do want to clarify that because it is important.

This is similar to the argument advanced by James Cleverly, the Foreign Office minister, who said that Johnson was trying to compare Starmer’s situation at the CPS over Savile with Johnson’s position in relation to partygate.

But it has taken Johnson a while to issue this clarification. On Tuesday he told the Sun that what he said about Starmer was “fairly accurate”, in a comment interpreted by the paper as Johnson doubling down on his original claim.

And in the Commons yesterday, when Starmer accused him of parroting a conspiracy theory favoured by fascists, Johnson just said: “I do not want to make heavy weather of this, but I am informed that in 2013 [Starmer] apologised and took full responsibility for what had happened on his watch, and I think that was the right thing to do.”

Johnson did not say at that point he accepted that Starmer was not personally involved in the Savile decisions.”

This is what happens when you take your smear advice from Lynton Crosby. You just know that when you upset people like Tobias Elwood and other right thinking people that you got it badly wrong.

And down come Iccy's pants. And Boris's. Again.

[irie]

...
I need Boris to go by the second week in March, if it pans out then I'll clean up on my options.
...

Why this deadline?

What difference would it make to your "options" if Boris went after the second week in March?

(Admittedly, I haven't diligently read all your posts).

[Mussels]

Is this one of those 'the public have spoken' moments?
BBC News - Southend West by-election: Anna Firth wins seat for Tories
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-60254176
86% of the vote with a low turnout, almost no opposition.

[irie]

Why this deadline?

What difference would it make to your "options" if Boris went after the second week in March?

(Admittedly, I haven't diligently read all your posts).

I'm hardly going to share my personal circumstances and finance choices on an open forum am I.

I'm sure you know how various financial tools work, they're totally time and circumstance dependant. Even something very simple like moving money between currencies is very time/circumstance specific, e.g. moving between currencies just a few months apart can mean +/- some fairly decent numbers if politics are at play, if you use leverage or other options then even better numbers.

Shorting a currency is a pretty sensible choice if the government is about to butcher itself in public - and you can afford to take a risk.

In the past I've shorted currencies but in the current [sic] circumstances there are too many random variables to assess risk. Johnson's just one small variable imho.

[Horse]

Is this one of those 'the public have spoken' moments?
BBC News - Southend West by-election: Anna Firth wins seat for Tories
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-60254176
86% of the vote with a low turnout, almost no opposition.

Isn't it a 'thing' that, in certain circumstances, the major parties don't put up a candidate?

[Mussels]

Ah, I was thinking he was the one that died of natural causes. As you were

[Count Steer]

Is this one of those 'the public have spoken' moments?
BBC News - Southend West by-election: Anna Firth wins seat for Tories
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-60254176
86% of the vote with a low turnout, almost no opposition.

Isn't it a 'thing' that, in certain circumstances, the major parties don't put up a candidate.

24% turnout. Which is quite impressive really given that the parties that matter (rightly) didn't contest it. Pretty low to stand against in the circumstances (so UKIP did....and actually got 400 votes. They didn't stand in Batley and Spen though after Jo Cox was murdered. That was also 85-86%).

[Count Steer]

Ah, I was thinking he was the one that died of natural causes. As you were

Birmingham Erdington is due on 3rd March and I think all parties are in that as the incumbent, Jack Dromey, died of natural causes.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

What is everyone's actual prediction on when he goes then?

And how will it benefit you directly? (other than strutting around the house in your pants gurning and doing some sort of delusional victory spasm)

I wouldn't be surprised if he's still there this time next year.

[MrLongbeard]

What is everyone's actual prediction on when he goes then?

Without knowing when the Ukraine will kick off..........

.......... he'll see the year out at least.

[Mr. Dazzle]

And how will it benefit you directly? (other than strutting around the house in your pants gurning and doing some sort of delusional victory spasm)

You say that like its not reason enough.

[DefTrap]

Yeah getting shot of a total charlatan has got to be a good thing right? A Trump-lite with surprisingly (given, you would assume, education and background) very little respect for Parliament and fair-play, relying very much on dubious 6th form tactics of exaggerated swashbuckling fibbery and deflection. He hasn't been playing for the Team for a long time, he's just been saving his own skin.

So no benefit to me other than not have to listen to his bullshit, and discussions about his bullshit, every single effing day on the News.

[Horse]

A fifth adviser has resigned from Downing Street within 24 hours amid pressure on Boris Johnson's leadership

Jumped or pushed?

[Count Steer]

A fifth adviser has resigned from Downing Street within 24 hours amid pressure on Boris Johnson's leadership

Jumped or pushed?

It's being pitched as part of the reshuffle.

I wonder if Johnson get a sly feed on the number of letters submitted? If he were to resign before they have enough, he could stand in the subsequent ballot. Resigning isn't something that is in his psyche so he'll be absolutely sick at the idea.

[Phoenix]

A MUST WATCH video care of the New York Times.

The preamble:

“Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, British people have been largely law-abiding and civic minded. They followed the stay-at-home orders through three lengthy lockdowns, many losing their jobs, missing birthdays, weddings and even the funerals of their loved ones in the process.

So when evidence began to emerge in late November that the staff at 10 Downing Street, the prime minister’s residence and the central office of government, had held a Christmas party during lockdown, people were angry, to say the least. But then, after a steady stream of breaking news made clear it was not one or two but at least 16 parties, several of which Prime Minister Boris Johnson knew about and in some cases apparently attended, that anger transformed to fury. On Thursday, four members of his staff resigned, with one citing his reference to a debunked conspiracy theory while speaking to Parliament as a contributing factor.

To explain exactly why the British are so enraged with Boris Johnson, who was already infamous for his troubled relationship with the truth, we produced a satirical Opinion video with Jonathan Pie, a fictional broadcast reporter created and performed on YouTube by comedian Tom Walker, whose acerbic, satirical monologues have gone viral.

The video contains strong language and adult humor you wouldn’t normally see in the Times, but after being taken for fools, the British public are through being polite.”

The video is here - click.

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/04/opin ... andal.html

If you can’t get it on their site you will find it here on Twitter. No account necessary.

‘Eton - Hogwarts for wankers.’




Have a pleasant weekend.

[DefTrap]

A strike always comes from somewhere once the prey shows some weakness - like a HoP version of a David Attenborough. It's amusing to consider that some of Boris's inner circle have been encouraging him in his madness, riffing about Savile etc, in an attempt to topple him. But it's a bit too sitcom conspiracy theory for my liking. I wouldn't like to base my power bid on something so feeble and childish.

[demographic]

The good part of Boris not jacking is that it shows than many in the current* conservative party up as the toads they are.
The longer he stays the more everyone around him it tainted by it.


*I say current because I think some of the older conservatives were better than this.